http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php Hockey Fan Zone, Hockey Message Board. en Sat, 31 Jul 2010 20:44:14 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=54 Sat, 15 May 2010 12:14:13 GMT At five o'clock this morning, i awoke from the worst night's sleep i have had in years. I dressed in my Bruins jersey, still stained with a few tears from last night. I drove to the local mart for a coffee and a paper, and it started right away.

The man in front of me with the look of shame, and the head shake as he walked away.

I picked up a copy of the Boston Herald, expecting the title that followed....

"Collapse that will live in infamy", written by Steve Buckley. The next man in line turned at started to say, "What a disgra"... I half rudely cut him off.

I did not want to hear it.

Don't Do it Bruins Fans. Don't be negative today.

Do you have a right to be, yes. Should you be, yes, will you be, yes.

But...you should not be.

This is what i saw when i turned on my computer this morning.

http://i40.tinypic.com/jjoc4z.jpg

Oh, that and video's of Boston Bruins fans trashing the ice at TD Garden.

Raw emotion says you should be upset, embarrased and angered. Hell even Bruins winger Shawn Thornton agrees....

On the reaction of the fans, who showered the ice with mini towels: "If I was them, I'd be reacting the same way. What kind of reaction would you expect from them? If the roles were reversed and we were in Philly right now and we won, I'd expect the exact same reaction from their fans. So don't blame them for the reaction at all."

I guess when you have a historic collaspe the way the bruins did last night, there will be negativity everywhere. Most of that comes from raw emotion and passion, and in my opinion it is so much easier to focus on the rotten side of things.

I will continue to PROUDLY support my favorite team.

We have finally found the goaltender of the future in Tuukka Rask, who up until last night has been revered in boston as a mini saviour, as evident by the constant and deafaning "Tuukka Time" chants at every home game.

Every team goes through the valley before they reach the peak, and i see nothing but positive things happening for the bruins in the future, and i refuse to dwell on the way the 09/10 season ended.

From the first drop of the puck this year, the bruins were ravaged by injuries. Yes, i know the trade of Phil Kessel to the Leafs hurt the offense, but losing one player should not make that much of a difference over the course of an entire season...but when you lose savard, strum, krejci, lucic and a plethora of others over the course of the year, it will and did have a huge impact on the bruins abilitiy to score goals.

First to worst in one season. Toss in a 10 game losing streak in the middle of the year for added frustration.

All that...and yet this team STILL made the post season dance. Giving the goal scoring woes, they had to change the team strategy around and play a more defensive oriented game in order to win, and for the most part, it was sucessfull.

The emergence of Tukka Rask as our #1 goaltender and a former Vezina winner in Tim Thomas kept the team in games, and we had a defense that stepped up game after game while the team tried to find a way to get the offense in gear.

Much to the dismay of doubters everywhere it worked well enough to get the bruins into the playoffs, and it worked well enough for the bruins to outlast olympic hero Ryan Miller and the heavily favoured buffalo sabres.

And then it began, signs everywhere, hats worn, jerseys dispalyed.

All by "Bruins Fans"

Last night i witnessed a crazy bruins fan on a busy interesction in town, "Proudly" wearing his black and gold, holding a sign in support of his team, yelling at cars, honking horns, letting all who would hear him know that the bruins had a big game that night. I wonder if he is anywhere to be found this morning.

I stand for bruins fans everywhere, when i say this.

Do Not hold hang your head low, do not burn jerseys, discard hats, take down your bruins flags, and DO NOT litter the ice of the team you claim to support.

Take a step back and breathe, relax and think.

This could be the biggest learning experience this team has ever had, for they will never want to feel this way again.

Heading into 2010/2011 with a healthy team, a Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin, possibily a Joe Colborne and a full of season of reflection, and i can almost guarantee that the bruins will not have these kind of struggles next year.

I think of what they had to go through this season, and i choose to focus on what they did, rather than what they did not.

I am PROUD that with all they dealt with, that they even had a chance to be in that position in the first place. And i will continue to support my team, dressed in bruins gear, ready to take on the "negative" bruins fans. ]]> Alex Primakoff http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=54 http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=53 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 21:16:04 GMT As I was browsing through my selections of NHL games to watch last night, i quickly checked off my options. No Bruins or Flames game to take in, so i... As I was browsing through my selections of NHL games to watch last night, i quickly checked off my options. No Bruins or Flames game to take in, so i went with the game i thought would prove to be the most entertaining. Not knowing that i would miss an epic game between the rangers and devils, i chose to watch the lightning and capitals instead. The biggest factor in making that choice would be the opportunity to once again watch Alexander Ovechkin, who in my opinion is the most exciting player in the game today.

While AO did not stand out per say, he did have one point and another "questionable" check, the player who commanded the most attention was Steven Stamkos.

Now Clearly, the Tampa Bay Lightning have some household names, Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis, but the bolts are quickly becoming stamkos' team.

Since being drafted 1st overall in 2008, the young sniper has tallied 93 points in 124 NHL games. With 48 goals and 45 assists in just a season and a half, it is clear that stamkos' star is on the rise.

At this point in the 2009/2010 season Stamkos has totaled 47 points, which puts him in second on the tampa scoring list, comfy in between St. Louis and Lecavalier, and his 25 goal total is more than double St. Louis and Lecavalier combined.

Now, one the rare occasion when networks in the united states show hockey highlights, they tend to show the usual suspects first. They will show the Crosby's, the Ovey's and the Kovey's, but hardly a moment of attention is given to other NHL players such as Stamkos.

When stamkos was first hyped as the draft choice of the lightning, I am sure that most hockey fans will remember the "seen stamkos" campaign. Bumper stickers, billboards, beach planes flying with signs, not to mention the "seen stamkos" website.

It is my opinion that kind of marketing for a player is clearly lacking in the NHL today, and perhaps it is that kind of push that would make the casual hockey fan turn into a die-hard fan, no matter what team he or she chooses to support.

At this moment with or without advertising or endorsements, stamkos is slowly working his way into the upper echelon of NHL players and as evident by the skills he has displayed in his solid start in the National Hockey League, if you have not heard of or "seen" stamkos, you soon will. ]]> Alex Primakoff http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=53 http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=52 Sun, 20 Dec 2009 12:18:55 GMT When Mason Raymond was drafted in the second round, 51st overall in 2005, many wondered if he would even become a starter in the NHL. Raymond has... When Mason Raymond was drafted in the second round, 51st overall in 2005, many wondered if he would even become a starter in the NHL. Raymond has come a long way after the day he was drafted by the Canucks. What is his potential? A career third liner with limited offensive upside? Or could he become a top 6 forward that could round out Vancouver’s offensive group quite nicely? Well before we get to that, let’s take a look at how Raymond made his way to the NHL level.

After having a successful career at the Junior A level with the Camrose Kodiaks, Raymond went on to have a fair amount of success with the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs of the WCHA. He was named to the WCHA All-Rookie Team in 2006, while in his sophomore season Raymond led the Bulldogs in scoring with team-highs of 14 goals, 32 assists and 46 points. Raymond's points total, good for second in league scoring behind Jonathan Toews, included a league-leading 28 power play points. He was twice anointed WCHA Player of the Week and was awarded the Mike Seiler Award, as the Bulldogs' Most Valuable Player.

Raymond chose to forego his final two years of college eligibility to turn pro and reported to the Canucks' minor league affiliate, the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League (AHL) to finish the 2006–07 AHL season. He scored his first AHL goal in his debut with the Moose on March 23, 2007 against the Grand Rapids Griffins.

The following season, Raymond made the Canucks' roster out of training camp and picked up his first NHL point in a season-opening losing effort against the San Jose Sharks on October 5, 2007. Nine games into the season, he was assigned to the Manitoba Moose, but was recalled in December and scored his first NHL goal in his first game back on December 12 against Jean-Sébastien Giguère of the Anaheim Ducks. Later that game, he also assisted on Moose teammate Jason Jaffray's first NHL goal. Known for his skating ability, Raymond won the Canucks' fastest skater segment of the team's 2008 SuperSkills Competition with a time of 14.283 seconds. On March 17, 2008, he suffered a knee injury after a knee-on-knee collision with defenceman Keith Ballard in a game against the Phoenix Coyotes, sidelining him for the rest of the season. He finished his rookie NHL campaign with 21 points in 49 games with the Canucks.

Raymond had a quick start to his second season in 2008–09, scoring 10 points in his first 13 games, but trailed off to add just 13 points for the remainder of the campaign. He was named to the sophomore team for the 2009 YoungStars Game in Montreal. Could the sophomore jinx be the reason why Raymond struggled? Maybe. However, Raymond scored his first NHL playoff goal in game three of the second round against the Chicago Blackhawks, a 3–1 win for the Canucks. He would go on to add another goal in a 7-5 loss in game 6 which ultimately decided Vancouver’s fate. After a disappointing end to a promising season, Canucks fans were hoping that Raymond’s impressive display in the playoffs would carry over into this season. After having a productive off-season, it seems that Raymond’s hard work has finally paid off.

Pavol Demitra’s offseason shoulder surgery and a second procedure in the fall opened a second-line opportunity for the 24-year-old Raymond. So far, Raymond has taken advantage of this opportunity and has been one of the best offensive players for the Canucks next to the Sedins.

After getting off to a slow start in October, Raymond has gone on to score a career high 14 goals along with 10 assists in 35 games while playing with Ryan Kesler and Mikael Samuelsson for most of the season. With the recent hot streak, Raymond’s confidence seems to be at an all time high. Kesler has been impressed with what he’s seen from Raymond so far this year. "When you have it (confidence) you feel good and it’s effortless out there…” Kesler told the Canucks’ official web site. “Mase is playing good, we’re using our speed to our advantage and Mase is capitalizing on his scoring chances."

Raymond’s effort against the Washington Capitals on December 18th may have been his best NHL game he’s ever played. The way that Raymond played in that game has really showed Canuck fans how he has come a long way to finally becoming a legit top 6 forward. On the game-tying goal against the Caps, Raymond and Henrik Sedin broke in on defenceman Shaone Morrisonn with Raymond carving a trail down the right side with his body English screaming pass. He quickly put it into overdrive when Morrisonn dropped back just a hair to take away the pass, but instead of firing wildly at Theodore, May Ray displayed sublime patience in slamming on the breaks and zigzagging the puck around the flopped netminder. On the contrary, the game winning goal blew the roof off of GM Place considering it was an important goal at a crucial point in the game. Raymond took the rebound off a point shot by Christian Ehrhoff and again showed poise with the puck when he was able to out-wait Theodore and put home his second of the game on the power play.

Poise, patience and perfection. A thing of beauty it truly was. With the skill and patience that Raymond is finally demonstrating, it really looks like this young star is coming into his own. Is he a game-breaker? Not yet. Could he be in the near future? Yes. If Raymond can keep up his consistent effort every night, Canuck fans could be in for a treat for many years to come. ]]> ssingh http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=52 http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=51 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:39:34 GMT AUTHOR’S NOTE - Keep in mind that this is a fantasy post, and the likelihood of Sidney Crosby actually leaving Pittsburgh is slim to none. Also keep... AUTHOR’S NOTE - Keep in mind that this is a fantasy post, and the likelihood of Sidney Crosby actually leaving Pittsburgh is slim to none. Also keep in mind that this is the author’s opinion. If you have your own opinion on this topic, please express it in the comment box. Thank you.


Sidney Crosby is one of the greatest players in the game today. Companies such as Reebok revolve around him, and he is the most recognizable face in the game of hockey (save, Wayne Gretzky). Yesterday, I was thinking about something to write about, when it hit me: What if Sid the Kid was traded? How would fans react? How would the media react? How would other NHL teams, coaches and his fellow players react? Needless to say, I had quite the headache afterwards.


This is what we are about to discuss for this Wednesday.


1. Where would he go?
Obviously, in order to start this article, we would need to find out where Mr. Crosby would go. What team would be in need of a player like number 87? Crosby is a type of player that gets loads of assists. Somebody who likes to not only score, but also to set people up. What kind of a team has a star player, with no one to play with? That’s right.


The Atlanta Thrashers have their star forward Ilya Kovalchuk who is also one of the best players in the game. Before last season, the only players Kovy had to apparently pay with, were Todd White and Bryan Little. However, with the arrivals of a rejuvenated Nik Antropov, and resident hot-shot, Max Afinogenov, the team is starting to come along.


Somebody such as Crosby could finish the Jenga tower. Think about it. He could also bring hockey alive in the Atlanta area, just like Ovie has done to Washington, and Gretzky did to LA. The only concern with this deal, is Atlanta’s cap could come off the hook if they re-sign Kovalchuk.


Another team that could quite possibly take Pittsburgh up on their offer if they would be willing to trade Crosby, is the New Jersey Devils. Their go-to Centreman at this point are Danius Zubrus and Travis Zajac. While I do believe Zajac and Zubrus are very capable players, Zubrus is currently injured, and the Devils badly need a Centre.


Just think about it, Alex Rodriguez, Sidney Crosby and Brett Favre all in the same town!! Wait…. Forget that last guy.


They would probably have to give up a lot of their players to get this deal done, so it may be a long shot for the Devils. Either way, they would benefit from this trade in at least one department. Hey, maybe they’ll get their GF ahead of the Flyers.


2. Who would he go for?
Okay, so we’ve got two very worthy candidates for Sid, in Atlanta and New Jersey, but before I decide which team gets the gold, let’s see what they both have to offer!! Since Crosby, himself, is a Center, the Pens would probably want one back.


The Centers currently on the New Jersey Devils roster are, Danius Zubrus, Travis Zajac, Rob Neidermayer, Dean McAmmond and Rod Pelley. Do any of these measure up to Crosby? No, however this obviously isn’t going to be a two-man trade. Since Crosby is 22, they would obviously want a player with longevity back, and the only two Centreman on the Devils under the age of 30 are, Rod Pelley and Travis Zajac. Zajac finished last season with 62 points in 82 games, and already has 28 points in 31 games this campaign. He is a very promising hockey player.


Pelley, on the other hand, played all of last season in the AHL with Lowell, and currently has 2 points in 28 games this year with the Devils in the NHL. While his numbers may not be too impressive at the moment, he could definitely turn into a star. I’m going to throw both players into this deal., so that the Pens get promise for one of their best players.


I am also going to add two other players into this. Gritty defenseman, Bryce Salvador is one. The Pens need to get tough, and Brooks Orpik seasoned with Eric Godard isn’t going to cut it. The second player I’m adding, is prospect, Nick Palmieri. So let’s take a look at the trade I’ve mustered up for the Devils. Criticism is welcome.


To NJD: C Sidney Crosby
To PIT: C Travis Zajac, C Rod Pelley, D Bryce Salvador, RW Nick Palmieri.


So that is what I could get from the Devils. Onto Atlanta. While looking at the Thrashers roster, I noticed that the majority of their players were either acquired this, or last season. This team has gone through a major makeover, and it is definitely showing on the ice. Would adding Sid to the mix help, or destroy this magic in the making?


Nevertheless, I’ll take a crack at it. There are only three full-time Centremen on the Thrash, Jim Slater, Marty Reasoner and Todd White. I have the pleasure of knowing some die-hard Thrasher fans, and they say that the only thing Jim Slater is good for on the ice is skating.


One look at his statistics can back that up quite nicely. Seriously, why is this guy not in the KHL yet? He has only scored 20 points once in his 4 year NHL career. However, then you come across Marty Reasoner who seems to have stepped up his game lately, and comes in nicely in clutch situations. The Pens could find use for him.


In the proposed Devils trade, there were two prospects in the deal (Pelley and Palmieri), and the Pens would definitely want more than just Reasoner. I’m not sure if the Thrash would do this, but what if you threw in Evander Kane? Here is what I’ve got from Hot-lanta.


To ATL: C Sidney Crosby
To PIT: C Marty Reasoner, LW Evander Kane


So what do you think? Please, if you don’t like it, let me know.


I’ve put together two deals. One from the Devils, and one from the ATL. It seems like both these teams are sitting quite nicely near the top of their conferences, but who wouldn’t pass up an offer on Mr. Hockey Jr.? Looking at the Thrashers, they are in re-building mode, and Don Wadell, wouldn’t want anything drastic done to his team, however, it seems that moving two players isn’t too bad, and getting a player like Crosby isn’t too bad either.


I’d say, the Thrashers would be sold on this deal more than the Devils on their offer.


3. How would the Media/Fans react?
Most regular hockey fans would be something around the lines of, “ZOMG CROSBY 1Z TR4D3D?!?/!11!/?1!” , then you’ve got your types of fans who live, sleep, eat and breathe hockey. They would demand an explanation. Especially since this is the middle of the hockey season, and the Penguins are near the top of the conference. “Who needs to trade him at this point?” However, this is just an author’s opinion on how it would go, and this trade would likely never happen.


As far as the media goes, I’m will cover how I think the American media will react followed by the Canadian media.

The Americans: SportCenter Anchor, John Anderson, will probably mention a little smidge about it, then show a small clip of the interview of Crosby saying that he is happy to be in Atlanta. ESPN will then go back to airing highlights from every single College Football game that happened. Anywhere. Ever.
With the Atlanta media….well, nothing will happen.


The Canadians: TSN’s SportCentre, would likely have a 30 minute montage of reports; interviews with players, coaches and fans; Crosby goal highlights with Gord Miller screaming in the background, and Pierre McGuire ranting about him. How would you react?


Ladies and gents, thank you for taking some time to read this addition of Wrenching Wednesdays here on HFZ.
http://bleacherreport.com/users/1513...el-the-amazing ]]> http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=51 http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=50 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:21:47 GMT Welcome to the first ever, Wrenching Wednesday. Once a week, I will sum up what I think about certain topics, just like I would in any other regular... Welcome to the first ever, Wrenching Wednesday. Once a week, I will sum up what I think about certain topics, just like I would in any other regular post, but here I’ll be posting it in a different format. So instead of just talking about it for a third of the post, I’ll make an entire post about it. It may be a rant, or it may be a Top 10. Without further ado, let’s get started.


My favourite hockey team is the Pittsburgh Penguins, but I live in Canada, and I am not a subscriber to Centre Ice. So how do I get to watch my team play? I would have to pay 20 bucks a month to get Gamecenter Live. In my opinion, that is a very hefty price for an online service that isn’t 100 percent reliable.


When GCL first came out last season, and they had a free preview for the month of October, I planned on trying it out to see if it was worth the amount of money that it was. I found the reception wasn‘t good at all, it lagged constantly. Needless to say, the price tag was way too high.


However, many people just like you and me, broadcast games over the internet for free on live streaming websites such as Ustream, and Justin.tv. I would either watch that, or listen to the games over XM Radio. However, the streams were my first choice. It’s nice to be able to see your favorite team play, over just listening to the action.


I will admit, the lagging was worse than GCL on U and JTV, but it was better than paying $240 a year just to watch hockey. What I would usually do, is go on to a hockey message board like HFBoards, look for a thread on the game I would like to watch, and then skim through the posts to look for a link to a stream.


It would usually work, until just recently, where I was looking through a GDT for the game between my Pens and the Carolina Hurricanes. Every single time a link would pop up, I would click on it, and it would work for about 2 minutes, and then shut down.


I think it was pretty clear to me, and the disgruntled posters, that the NHL was patrolling HFBoards and shutting down every link that came up. I have been boiling up inside about this for the past couple of days. Why would the NHL want to stop their own fans from watching their games? Yes, it does violate copyright laws, but has anybody ever heard of fair use?


If the NHL wants us to stop streaming their games, maybe they should consider drastically lowering the prices of GCL, which are outrageous. Another thing that they could and should be doing, is actually broadcasting live games over their own channel, the NHL Network. The NFL does it, why can’t they?


All we get are the recordings of the games that happened the night before and they are in the middle of the afternoon, when all of their viewers are in school or at work, so how are we supposed to watch them? In the end, it all comes down to is money, and I realize that. However the NHL is going one way in that category, down. Maybe it would help if they stopped moving their teams “down”.


If the NHL wants any fans, they should let them watch their games. Thank you for reading. If you’re feeling lucky, add your opinion in the comments. Link to B/R Profile: [url]http://bleacherreport.com/users/151303-michael-the-amazing[/url] ]]> http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=50 http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=49 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:34:00 GMT Good afternoon, HFZ. Just to let everyone know, I got my H1N1 shot yesterday and my arm is in quite the amount of pain. Giving the circumstances, a... Good afternoon, HFZ. Just to let everyone know, I got my H1N1 shot yesterday and my arm is in quite the amount of pain. Giving the circumstances, a lot of pain and emotion will be put into this post :). After my slightly controversial Top 10 list the other day, I knew that I had to come out with a bang today. I have many topics that I wish to discuss with all of you, so let’s get cracking. My B/R Profile is linked at the bottom of the page.

If anyone has been following the NHL rather closely this season, you would know that Colin Campbell and his goons have been cracking down on questionable plays cette saison. There have been a lot more suspensions on plays this year than previous NHL seasons.

Sabres F, Patrick Kaleta; Flyers F, Danny Briere and Capitals F, Alex Ovechkin, have all been victims of questionable suspensions on albeit questionable hits. What I’m going to do here, is go through the three hits and decide whether they are suspension-deserving.

The first hit on trial is the Patrick Kaleta hit on Jared Ross of Philadelphia. It could’ve easily been a regular hit--if Kaleta didn’t approach Ross with such speed. The Flyers had rung the puck around the net, and goalie Martin Biron had played it for Ross. Kaleta came speeding in and drilled his shoulder into Ross from behind. Poor Jared was about 2 feet away from the boards.

Ross was left temporarily unconscious, and left the game. Now, there is one key piece of evidence here. Looking at the video replay, look closely and you will see, that when Kaleta commited to the hit, Ross didn’t have his back away from the boards. When Jared turned toward the boards to protect the puck, Kaleta couldn’t do anything about it, since he had already commited to the hit.

Me? I think it’s a dirty hit, but he did not deserve the two gamer.

Next, there’s Briere‘s elbow. It was the Colorado Avalanche vs. the Philly Flyers and Scott Hannan had just scored for Colorado. Out of nowhere, Danny Briere of Philly hits Hannan with a high elbow. OK, let’s review; here are a couple things that weren’t specified in that hit description.

Briere did indeed leave his feet for the elbow, and it did come after the goal was scored. However, he did not blind side Hannan. If fact it almost felt like slow motion. The hit itself wasn’t at Hannan’s head, it was at his chest and Scotty also got up right after the hit and was ready to celebrate with his teammates.

Dirty hit? Not in my opinion. I would give him a major penalty, but that’s all. The suspension is a joke.

Now for the Oveckin knee-on-knee collision with Carolina Hurricanes defenseman, Tim Gleason. Gleason had gotten the puck behind the net, and was skating up the boards with it. You could tell Ovechkin was going for the hit while Gleason was on the boards.

Gleason expertly cut in to the middle of the ice in an attempt to start a play. Ovechkin attempted to adjust to the sudden turn, but he caught Gleason on the knee by accident. It was clearly an accident. Not only that, but Ovechkin was suspended for two games. I’m not fond of the Capitals, but it was clearly an accident. Ovie was even injured in the play.

Suspension? Laughable. I would have given Ovechkin a two minute penalty for kneeing.

I think it’s clear that Colin Campbell is looking to send a message, but people like Chris Pronger have done things much, much worse than these three plays and has gotten away without a even a one game suspension.

Moving on to my second topic of the day. The Northwest division is currently being led by the Calgary Flames, however teams like Colorado and Vancouver are getting very close to the top of the division as well. The Flames only lead by one point over Colorado, and that lead could be gone by tomorrow morning, since the Avalanche play Pittsburgh.

Calgary plays a tough opponent in Phoenix tonight, and Vancouver is up against Philadelphia. A win for Vancouver over a league powerhouse like the Flyers could do magic for them. Be on the lookout for those games tonight. Tomorrow, Minnisota plays Anaheim. With their new clutch guru, Guillhaume Latendresse, Minnisota has been on a roll. Look for them to get into division contention in the next few weeks or months.

Before I leave, I have an announcement to make regarding this very blog. I will still post here once or twice a week, but from now on, a series here on Wednesdays, called “Wrenching Wednesdays”will take place. I’ll have features like Top 10’s and controversial plays, all reviewed on every Wednesday on this blog. It’s just a little something for people to look forward to in the middle of the work week.

Thank you for reading today. All comments are welcome, and I’ll see everyone soon. Link to my B/R Profile: [url]http://bleacherreport.com/users/151303-michael-the-amazing[/url] ]]> http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=49 http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=48 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:33:14 GMT When the greatest sports teams on the planet play each other, there has to be exposure. When I say exposure, I mean that the greatest news teams... When the greatest sports teams on the planet play each other, there has to be exposure. When I say exposure, I mean that the greatest news teams around the world are covering this one event of epic servings. When said event finally takes place, the game must be televised with the best broadcast teams possible covering that immaculate event.


However, sometimes things don’t go as well as planned, and the broadcasters picked for this game aren’t the world’s best. Here is what I’m talking about. Ladies and Gents, I give you the Top 10 Most Annoying NHL Play-by-Play Announcers in the game today!


10. Paul Steigerwald
We’ll kick things off with the dullest person to ever call a hockey game. Some commentators will go home after a game with laryngitis. This is not the case with this FSN Pittsburgh staff member. Nope, he is more of an “I’ll save my voice for tomorrow” kind of guy. The thing is, he doesn’t use his voice tomorrow, or ever.

Here is a video of Paul Steigerwald in action: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_Cd01UWfaE[/url]


9. Pierre Houde
Anyone who can understand French, knows that Mr. Houde is very biased toward the Montreal Canadiens. The other night is a good example. I was watching a game between the Canadiens and the Nashville Predators, when a Predator player had an open net on Carey Price and the player decided to shoot the puck too soon. The puck was shot right into Price, who was over on the other side of the net. Even though the Preds’ forward visibly shot the puck right into Carey Price, it didn’t stop our good friend, Pierre, to say in French “Oh! What a save by Price!!!” Did he see that Price didn’t make the save? Probably.

Here is a video of Pierre Houde in action: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF8uctkouZ0[/url]


8. Mike Emrick
Since many people call him the greatest ever, I’ll probably get a lot of disagrees with me putting Doc in this list, but since this is my opinion, I kind of have to. A couple things contribute to me putting Doc on this list. Some of them include, the fact that he works for NBC, who I really hate; he is pro-America in his National broadcasts, even though we get the NBC feed in Canada, and his broadcast style is annoying.

You don’t believe me? Here’s an example of a goal called by a regular commentator, “He shoots! He SCORES!” Here is a Doc Emrick call, “DRIIIIIIIVE…. SKAAAAAAAAAAR!!!!!!” I’m not trying to hate on one of the best, but that is pretty annoying.

Here is a video of Mike Emrick in action: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhJkBKuBKYM[/url]


7. Joe Bowen
Holy Macona!! When will this guy retire?? While I look at the daunting squiggly red lining under the Leafs’ Broadcaster’s catchphrase, I will attempt to write a description of him…..hmmm…. Sorry, I just can’t.

Here is a video of Joe Bowen in action: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRXWHGBykDQ[/url]


6. John Ahlers
This man is the cockiest announcer in the game today. He always sounds unbelievably shocked when the Anaheim Ducks get scored against. Whenever Jonas Hiller makes a nice save, he sounds like he was expecting it the entire game. When the Ducks’ score, he is basically shouting, “You suck, we just scored against you, AGAIN”.

Another thing that he does is that he always focuses on the positive for the Ducks, and the negative for the team that they’re playing against. Example: “Well, the Ducks are 15th in the west, but the Penguins Power Play is only at 14%”. My eardrums rattle just writing about him.

Here is a video of John Ahlers in action: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owKlhdXufGI[/url]


5. Peter Loubardias
If you don’t recognize this unique name, it’s OK. Even I had to double check to make sure that I got the name right. Peter Loubardias is the Jim Hughson of Junior hockey. He calls all the big CHL games and the Memorial Cup for Rogers Sportsnet. He also occasionally calls Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames games.

I’m not going to lie, when I first heard his voice, I thought it was a joke. His voice is twice as unique as his name, and if that was a good thing, we wouldn’t be talking about him right now. To get where I’m coming from, take a look at his video.

Here is a video of Peter Loubardias in action: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRwMRcP3BvE[/url]


4. Ken Daniels
This former CBC employee doesn’t know when to stop talking. While constantly cutting off his broadcasting partner Mikey Redmond, he is incredibly annoying. He yells when he doesn’t have to, is too biased towards Detroit and unintentionally impersonates Pierre McGuire.

Here is a video of Ken Daniels in action: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6KtT334M_4[/url]


3. Bob Cole
What isn’t there to say against Bob Cole. This aging CBC commentator misses calls, botches names, noticeably favours Toronto if they’re playing, and has the absolute farthest thing from a broadcasting voice. Up until the lockout, he was acceptable, but the 2005-06 season brought problems to his broadcasting style, and he has never been the same.

One thing that ropes many people into the fact that he is not good at all, is that the fake enthusiasm that is brought into his game when two teams besides Toronto are playing, is overwhelming. It is also showing that his memory isn’t as good as it used to be. Not only the botched calls, but this is the way that Mr. Cole would call a game without the Maple Leafs taking part in it. “Here comes the center, and it’s picked off byyy…. The left winger on New York, back to the line to the defenseman….” and so on and so forth. He not only misses names, but he forgets them too. That is a lethal combo.

Here is a video of Bob Cole in action: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhQtzuWW_uc[/url]


2. Dave Mishkin
Mr. Dave Mishkin, is the only radio commentator on this list. However, the reason that he is here is a good one. It’s hard to believe that a human is making the deafening shriek that comes out of his mouth when his Tampa Bay Lightning score. Even though I have a tendency to over-exaggerate, that is not the case here. Goals, saves, hits, the only way to describe him is irritating.

However, I will add that no matter how much the way that he calls games irritates me, I have a huge amount of respect for him. The vocal capabilities that he expresses are amazing. Since you’re probably dying to hear him, let‘s get to the video, shall we?

Here is a video of Dave Mishkin in action: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Z45n6Ttvog[/url]


1. Rick Jeanneret
Out of every single annoying and bad commentator out there, this long time Buffalo Sabres commentator takes the cake for the absolute worst commentator in the NHL today. This could quite possibly be his last year as commentator, since he is getting older and his contract ends near the end of this season.

However, one thing that I enjoy about him is that he gets every call right, no matter what team Buffalo plays against and no matter how old he is. He is a good commentator, but the way that he explodes out of his seat when Ryan Miller makes a mediocre save and holding the word “score” for 6 or 7 seconds when the Sabres score, is a very annoying way to call sports.

Here is a video of Rick Jeanneret in action: [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGhNw5g6KD4[/url]


I hope you enjoyed this read, and if you disagree with my picks, or want to add your own, feel free to do so in the comment section. As always, here is the link to my Bleacher Report profile: [url]http://bleacherreport.com/users/151303-michael-the-amazing[/url] ]]> http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=48 http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=47 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:56:43 GMT Hello HFZ, sorry for the big wait on this post. As always, the link to my Bleacher Report profile will be at the bottom of the page. There are a... Hello HFZ, sorry for the big wait on this post. As always, the link to my Bleacher Report profile will be at the bottom of the page.

There are a few things that I feel need to be discussed today, so let’s get cracking. The Atlanta Thrashers have a 10-9-2 record, and are off to a reasonable start, but the big killer for them, is inconsistency. One night, they’re eating Buffalo’s head, the next two nights, they’re losing close games to teams like Boston and Pittsburgh, who are both very close to Buffalo in the standings.

What’s going to happen to Atlanta? There are so many pleasant suprises in the east this year, with the Islanders holding there own, the Senators bouncing back and Tampa actually having a winning record. Does the Thrash have enough fire power to take home some extra games?

Speaking of inconsistency, the Vancouver Canucks fall into that category quite nicely. They’ve creamed Colorado twice, yet they’ve also lost to Anaheim 7-2. Where will the Canucks fall? It’s way too early to tell right now. They’ve been everywhere from 6th in the West, to last. Keep an eye on them tonight. They face the Chicago Blackhawks.

One more thing that I’d like to cover today, is the amount of hockey videos being watched on video-sharing sites, like YouTube. If you go to the Sports section of YouTube, or “Being Watched Right Now”, you will see countless hockey videos. Fights, goals, hits, that goal celebration of the Swedish guy going through the glass, it’s all there. It seems surprising that hockey is only the number 3 or 4 sport in North America sometimes…

Thanks for reading!
([I]Link to my Bleacher Report Profile: [url]http://bleacherreport.com/users/151303-michael-the-amazing[/url] [/I] ]]> http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=47 http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=46 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:50:58 GMT Ladies and gentleman, hello and welcome to my blog. My name is Michael The Amazing, and despite my slightly obnoxious username, I'm not amazing. I'm just the average teenage hockey fan, looking to make his mark in sports writing.

I was asked to write on this site by Alex Pirmakoff. He saw my work on a sports website called, Bleacher Report, and asked me to write here. Of course, I didn't even have to think about it and my response was a resounding "yes". I'll have a link to my BR profile on the bottom of the post.

Now, let's get down to business.

There are so many thing to write about in the hockey world, but I realize that everyone's time is valuable, and it would take too long to write about all the current possible topics.

I decided to start on a topic that has bothered me lately. Since the LA Kings began their huge start to the season, people have been wondering if they can keep it up. Can they? The fans have shown their thoughts about the fast starts for teams like the Avs on NHL.com. A NHL.com poll is asking people where they think the Avs will finish in the NW, and 31% of NHL fans think that the Avs will finish second in their division, the 1st and 3rd positions both have 24%, respectively.

So, that's what the fans think about the Avalanche....who are currently first in the West.
Then you have the Kings, who are 5th in the west. If the fans, well the NHL.com visitors, think that les Nordiques won't even win their division, what do they think of LA? I want your opinion.

Another topic I'd like to discuss before I go would be the Florida Panthers' new 3rd jersey. In case you don't know, the Panthers are unveiling their new 3rd jersey this year. I personally love third jerseys and I am always kept in the know about them on a website called Icethetics. The blogger has some sort of connections, because whenever a third jersey is leaked onto the internet, he is the first to get to it, and post it onto his website.

Usually, a 3rd is leaked about 3 weeks or a month before the official release of the jersey, but the Panthers have been extremely good about not letting the public getting their hands on the jersey before it's release. However, on November 11th, the jersey was finally found on the internet. It may be just a sliver but it gives you a good idea of the jersey.

Link here: [url]http://www.icethetics.info/blog/2009/11/11/panthers-3rd-leaked.html[/url]

What do you think of the jersey?

Anyways, I'm going to let all of you get on with your day, however I thank you for reading, and hope to be back soon!

([I]Link to my Bleacher Report profile:[url]http://bleacherreport.com/users/151303-michael-the-amazing[/url][/I]) ]]> http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=46 http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=45 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 22:47:03 GMT *exculpate* EK-skuhl-payt; ek-SKUHL-payt\ , transitive verb: To clear from alleged fault or guilt; to prove to be guiltless; to relieve of... exculpate

EK-skuhl-payt; ek-SKUHL-payt\ , transitive verb:

To clear from alleged fault or guilt; to prove to be guiltless; to relieve of blame; to acquit.

With apologies to dictionary.com, it seems ironic that exculpate was the chosen word of the day, for at this very moment, i am trying to figure out where exactly the blame lies for the boston bruins 2-3 start to the 2009/2010 season.

We are just a mere five games into the season tilt, and while it is too early to go into a full blown panic, I'll keep this to a mini-rant.
Just a few concerns that come right to mind...

The Big, Bad Bruins ?

Last season they were back with an explosive offense, a stingy defense, and hitting at every chance. So far, not so much.

As of this moment having played that fifth game, the bruins have scored 15 Goals, minus savard's goal in the shootout win vs the islanders.

Of the 15 goals, seven have come against the carolina hurricanes, the only game the bruins have looked in sync so far. In the 3 losses, they have been out scored 14-5.

In the 2 wins, they have a slighter advantage with a 10-5 lead in goals, and that also includes the 7-2 victory.

And what about the hitting ?

The one glaring notice is that the bruins are not the same physical team they were last season. Currently, Milan Lucic leads the team in hits with 13, and as on observation, Alexander Ovechkin (who has also played 5 games) is second in the NHL with 20 hits to his credit.

The PP, and the PK have both been deplorable a best and special teams play overall has been a nightmare, as evident by the short handed goal scored by the avalanche this afternoon.

Those who take stock in the plus/minus category must be going crazy at this point, as only one of the bruins top 5 d-men have a positive rating. Mark Stuart is a plus four, while new addition Derek Morris is struggling with a minus 4.

Goaltending...

Did Tim Thomas suddenly forget how to stop a puck ?

Thomas has now given up 12 goals in 3 games, not what we would expect from the reigning vezina trophy winner.

Rask has given up 7 goals in two games, too early to judge, over rated, over valued, or are they a victim of the horrid defense played in front of them.

Perhaps the bruins are not used to the early homestand as they usually open the season with a long west coast road trip that allows them to gel.

Luckily for them, they play 4 of the next 5 on the road with a chance to correct these issues, and get on the right track, otherwise, this mini rant may become a full blown meltdown. ]]> Alex Primakoff http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=45 http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=44 Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:20:41 GMT Buffalo has began their season by scoring four goals in the first three games of the season. For most teams, this would be a huge problem. The Sabres... Buffalo has began their season by scoring four goals in the first three games of the season. For most teams, this would be a huge problem. The Sabres managed to escape with five out of a possible six points to start the year.

Buffalo's real test will come this Tuesday when they host the Red Wings at HSBC arena. Detroit has not got off to a great start, and will be quite a challenge for the Sabres. The Sabres have put 116 shosts on goal in the first three games, at least 35 in each game. Buffalo has been putting plenty of shots on goalies, but were unable to score more than twice in one game.

Not only have the goaltenders of Nashville and Phoenix been holding the Sabres offense down, it has been the backups doing the job. Jason LaBarbera stopped 37 shots and Pekka Rinne stopped 41 shots: both not good enough to beat Buffalo.

Buffalo has scored four goals this year: the lowest total in the league. They still managed to gain five points, putting them 2nd in the Northeast Division, with a game in hand over first place Ottawa (6 pts.)

On the other hand, Washington has scored 20 goals in 5 games, but they only have 5 points. The main reason for that is the 18 goals they have allowed. With a lot more games against the Western Conference this season, Buffalo may see a lot more of the lower scoring games.

It has only been three games, and there is much much more hockey to play. Buffalo is not used to these defensive battles. Three years ago, Buffalo led the league with 308 goals. They were able to win games with 5,6, and 7 goals. Of course that was with Daniel Briere and Chris Drury. Still, Buffalo should be scoring more than two goals a game. This is not how head coach Lindy Ruff wants games to be played. Buffalo went into Nashville and beat them at their own game.

Buffalo's defense and goaltending has allowed them to win these close games. The Sabres have allowed three goals in as many games. Tyler Myers has already proved that he will be a big factor on the team this season. Not only has he played solid defensivley, he made a big play to assist on Thomas Vanek's game winning goal against Phoenix.

Players to watch:
Patrick Kaleta drew 10 minutes in penalties in the game against Phoenix. Buffalo capitalized on the final power play. Kaleta also delivered a huge hit on Petr Prucha in the second period. Sabres' fans should expect to see more of this and other teams need to be aware. Also, In the game against Nashville, Tim Kennedy was the one aggravating the defense and causing issues. ]]> KevinJames http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=44 http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=43 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:57:06 GMT When it comes time in your fantasy hockey draft to select a goalie, one critical thing to be wary of is goalies sharing time in net. You might be... When it comes time in your fantasy hockey draft to select a goalie, one critical thing to be wary of is goalies sharing time in net. You might be drafting a stud with a 2.1 GAA, but if he only gets 50 starts, it's going to hurt you in the long run. So here a handful of teams that have a cloudy picture between the pipes, and what it should mean for you at the draft table.

TORONTO - Toskala/Gustavsson
Toskala faced the same handicap when he split time in San Jose, only this time, his space is being crowded by a new guy from overseas. Gustavsson is a big unknown, but the situation seems to indicate that he's going to start a good number of games. Then again, it doesn’t mean Toskala should be shown the door. He's a still a very good goalie and either one could put up some good numbers on a Toronto team that promises to be tough on defense for the first time in many, many years.

ANAHEIM - Hiller/Giguere
While it seems on the surface that Hiller should be the undisputed #1 based on his amazing playoff run, the fact is, Giguere is a huge cap hit and he's still got talent. Similar to what almost played out in Chicago last year, it's possible that the Ducks would look to shop Giggy, but to do that, he has to get in some games. Expect this to be a steady rotation for the first half of the season until someone gets hurt, dealt, or emerges as an undisputed #1.

NY ISLANDERS - DiPietro/Roloson/Biron
The first #1 goalie threesome in recent memory. Don't be surprised to hear the term 1C emerge at some point. Even if DiPietro does the expected and sits in the E.R for half the year, there's no clear cut winner among the other 2. Roloson is surely winding down his career, but may be good for a run here and there. It's somewhat shocking that Biron couldn't land a better situation than this. He still has a chance to emerge as a #1 goalie someday. Regardless of all that, do you really want an Islanders goalie on your roster? Didn't think so.

NASHVILLE - Rinne/Ellis
The Predators have a history now of burning through the goalie of the month club. Every season a hot hand emerges to push out last year's hot hand. Will Rinne be the one to break the mold? Unlike with Vokoun and Mason, Ellis actually stuck around to confuse the situation. Expect him to get a good number of starts this season, which should lower the value of Rinne on your draft list. And don't be afraid to take a chance on Ellis with a very late pick.

WASHINGTON - Varlamov/Theodore
Again, the general public has all but forgotten Theodore once again and have crowned Varlamov the starting goalie in Washington for the next five years. Put things in perspective. He was hot for a couple weeks, then showed a weak glove hand against the Pens. You didn't see guys lining up to draft Brian Boucher, even after his 5 game shutout streak a few years back. (though, I'm tempting to draft him as a Flyer this year). Yes Varlamov has been on the radar for some time as an up and coming goalie. Just don't get silly and place him in your top 10.

LOS ANGELES - Quick/Ersberg
Let's face it, you're not interested in drafting a goalie from the Kings anyway. But if you were, it's not worth taking a chance on either guy being the #1. Let it play out for a month or so and pick up the winner as a free agent around Thanksgiving. He's still be available, and you won't look silly at the draft. ]]> http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=43 http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=42 Mon, 31 Aug 2009 12:16:44 GMT When it comes to drafting a fantasy hockey team, there is no greater joy than the moment you call a name and hear 3 other GM's groan, "I forgot about that guy!". These players will be overlooked by your average GM for a plethora of reasons. Mostly, because they're not as smart as you. Some of these guys had below average seasons last year, due to injury, etc. Others are traditionally undervalued. These guys will slide a round or two beyond where they should. Don't miss out on them.

[U]Offense[/U]

[B]Derick Brassard[/B] - Brassard started the 2008 season on fire, before being derailed by a season ending injury. Many managers may have forgetten about him completely. Assuming he's back to health, this could be a major breakout season for Brassard. Pull him out in a late round and you'll get your money's worth.

[B]Jason Spezza [/B]- With the sudden collapse of the Senators last season, followed by the Dany Heatley saga, most GM's will take it out on guys like Spezza. Don't be surprised to see him sliding into the later rounds. If that happens, snag him up. His goal totals have remained in the mid-30's. Only his assists slipped a bit last year. Expect Spezza to get back to at least a point-a-game pace in 2009.

[B]Paul Stastny [/B]- Statsny may well be the forgotten man at your draft table this fall. Don't be part of the crowd. His downturn in points over the last 2 seasons is all about injuries. Assuming he's fully recovered, you can expect a major rebound this season.

[U]Defense[/U]

[B]Zach Bogosian[/B] - 9 goals in 47 games as a rookie isn't too shabby. If he can stay in the lineup for the whole season, he just may be dark horse worth nabbing in a late round.

[B]Kurtis Foster [/B]- Foster has a great points per game average over his career. The problem has been injuries. He seemed to show that he's fully recovered in the handful of games he played at the end of last season. Most GMs will ignore Foster completely. Save him for a late round pick and cash in big time.

[B]Wade Redden [/B] - Don't give up on Wade Redden just yet. Most GMs will have written him off at this point due to the disappointing season he had in 2008. He's still a talented player. Probably the best the Rangers have to offer when Gaborik is out. Expect a return to the 10 goal territory for Redden.

[B]Lubomir Visnovsky[/B] - Visnovsky totaled only 31 points points last season, but he did so in only 50 games. Many GMs will overlook him after his injuries last season, and an average performance in 07; however, remember he scored close to 20 goals in the 2 seasons before that. Expect him to pop in 15 or so this season and get back to prominance as a top fantasy defenseman.

[B]Ryan Whitney [/B] - Whitney struggled after returning from injury half way through the season. Don't let that fool you into passing on him at your draft table. Whitney was on track to be one of the top fantasy defensemen last year before the hurt came. With a new start in Anaheim next season, Whitney should get back to form, particularly with Pronger clearing the way for more ice time.


[U]Goalies[/U]


[B]Pascal Leclaire[/B] - It will be easy to forget and overlook Leclaire going into this season. He got off to a slow start, was injuried most of last season, then was moved to a falling Senators squad. But remember, he was a rising star in 2008, and Ottawa isn't blowing up their team. The Senators could easily bounce back to the playoffs this year, and Leclaire could certainly get back to the top 10 in the process.

To get more free fantasy hockey tips and tools, visit [URL="http://www.landsharkhockey.net"]http://www.landsharkhockey.net[/URL]. Landshark Hockey offers a free draft guide and draft ranking tool to help generate your draft sheet. ]]> http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=42 http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=41 Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:18:25 GMT Here are my Eastern Conferene predictions: 1. Boston 2. Washington 3. Rangers 4. Pittsburgh 5. Carolina 6. Philadelphia 7. Buffalo 8.... Here are my Eastern Conferene predictions:

1. Boston
2. Washington
3. Rangers
4. Pittsburgh
5. Carolina
6. Philadelphia
7. Buffalo
8. Toronto
---------------------
9. Montreal
10. New Jersey
11. Florida
12. Atlanta
13. Tampa Bay
14. Islanders
15. Ottawa

Boston:
Solid team. I expect a repeat performance from last year. They led the league in goals against per game with 2.32 and save percentage of .925. After topping 50 wins last year, I expect the same from them this year. The good start really helped them finish in first place. They posted a record of 23-2-1 in November and December last year.

Washington:
AO and the caps seek revenge this ear. After a game seven collapse in the playoffs, expectations are higher once again this season. They have six 20-goal scorers returning from last season, including defenseman Mike Green, who tallied 31 goals alone (the rest of the defense scored 12). The only thing stopping them from the #1 spot is the goaltending.

Rangers:
Yes. I picked the rangers to win the division. The team has added Brian Boyle, Chris Higgins, Marian Gaborik, Donald Brashear, and Ales Kotalik. They lost some guys as well, but this team is going to be revamped and ready to go this October. The team will get a lot of help from Henrik in goal. Also, John Torterella will make this team even better.

Pittsburgh:
The Penguins look like they are going to be a real tough team to beat. I think that the short summer will begin to wear them down at some point in the season. They may have somewhat of a hangover from winning the Cup, but have a very good chance to make it to the finals again.

Carolina:
The hurricanes didn't make any major moves as the rest of their division has improved. It will be tough for the Canes to go as far as they did last year, but Cam Ward will help tremendously. As long as they get off to a good start, unlike last season, this team will finish fifth in the conference.

Philadelphia:
The addition of Chris Pronger will improve the team, obviously. One of the biggest question marks for Philly is how Ray Emery will do in goal. If Emery plays well, this team will have enough support to make the playoffs.

Buffalo:
The Sabres have taken some cheap shots the past few years and no one stepped up and fought back. This season, teams are going to start respecting Buffalo. Steve Montador has arrived, and Mike Grier is back. The Sabres need to get a full season from Tim Connolly, who could greatly contribute. Also, a healthy Ryan Miller is always a good thing.

Toronto:
I don't believe Toronto is capable of winning a playoff round, but I can see them snatching the final spot from Montreal. With Brian Burke, Toronto will be much more competitive. They were dead last in save percentage last year (.885), which shows why they didn't have one month with a winning record. I expect this team to show significant improvements this season

Montreal:
The whole team has been remodeled. I don't think that the team will click right away. I think there are too many new players on the team. All of the chemistry will be messed up and it will take some time before all of the lines are synced up. Montreal will struggle through the first half of the season, and wont be able to overcome it. They will fall short at the end.

New Jersey:
The Devils are always a tough team to play against, especially with the trap. They did lose Brian Gionta, Scott Clemmensen, and John Madden, which puts more pressure on Brodeur. I can't see him doing better than he has been. If Brodeur gets injured, there isn't a reliable backup like last season. I expect the Devils to be a tough opponent, but not good enough for the playoffs.

Florida:
The Panthers just dont have anyone capable of stepping up as a leader. By losing Jay Bo, Florida isn't going anywhere for a few years. It is time for them to build around the two solid goaltenders they have (Vokoun and Clemmensen). Florida is a hard working team that just needs a big name player or two.

Atlanta:
They need a goalie. They have a good group of players, but they need to convince Kovalchuk to stay. If they lose him, they are going downhill. Atlanta needs some help before they make the playoffs again. Expect the same kind of outcome as they have had the last two seasons.

Tampa Bay:
Almost the same situation as Atlanta. They need solid goaltending. They have plenty of talen on the team. Their biggest concern is defense. Last season, Tampa didn't have anyone with a positive plus/minus. However, they added Mattias Ohlund who was +14 last year, and Matt Walker who was +7. I believe Tampa will begin to improve this year, getting about 30 wins.

Islanders:
Rebuilding. A few years from now, the Isles will be a very good team, but right now, they just don't have what it takes to compete. Their goaltending is solid, but the offense needs to improve, which is just what they are working on.

Ottawa:
With Heatley no longer there......(eventually) the team is going to suffer from the loss. They need Leclaire and Elliot to perform well to even have a chance at the playoffs. I don't see Ottawa having much success this year.

From the East, I am choosing Washington to make it to the Finals ]]> KevinJames http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=41 http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=40 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:33:34 GMT http://s1.zetaboards.com/NHSL/index/
See Below

So here's something that really gets to me.. Yea I’m not liking what Heatley’s doing, but what was management thinking when they gave him the “A”, permanently?! I remember watching the first or second game since he'd been promoted; with that fancy letter on his jersey he started it off with an undisciplined 10 minute misconduct cross-check to a player the opposing team... In a close loss if I remember correctly..

That being said, up till a few months ago I loved Heater! Didn't think he was ever much of a team player, but still thought he carried some sort of loyalty. If he really wanted it, personally I think he would've given it more time, Considering the Sens pretty much gave him new life after asking for a trade after what happened in Atlanta… You’d think he’d value them enough to honour his role.

Anyways, that's it for my rant.. And that's my opinion and my opinion only.. I don't wanna judge on something probably blown out of proportion enough thanks to the media (and his recent comments) but still from what’s out there I'm pretty P!ssed off..

Anyways, I'm asking who get's the "A" next year. When Alfie retires I dunno who's our next Captain.. Spezza? Phillips? Fisher? I dunno... Hard to believe Heater had it, that's why I kinda want Neil to take a bigger role with his new contract and add some of that team leadership.

I really don’t like talking about who to trade, or who to sign or whatever, but If I'm Murray I'm looking at what kind of player brings dedication, leadership, respect & professionalism, and a great work ethic to the team. Bottom line is he's the type of guy this organisation needs on and off the ice. Never once has he gone on and given less than %100. If he can add up some of the numbers he had a few years ago (15 goals - 17 assists) then he's for sure worth the 2Mil as a player and a leader!!

Volchenkov looks like a good candidate too, we've lost a lot of our core players in the last few years (Schaefer, Havlat, Smolinski, Vermette, Eaves, Corvo, Preissing, Mesjaros, etc..), trying to build around the young core we have going now might take a few new, or maybe even a few old faces. Kovalev anyone??


Here's the roster we had going in the cup finals:

Dany Heatley - Jason Spezza - Daniel Alfredsson
Mike Fisher - Peter Schaefer - Mike Comrie
Antoine Vermette - Chris Kelly - Oleg Saprykin
Patrick Eaves - Dean McAmmond - Chris Neil
Brian McGrattan

Andrej Meszaros - Wade Redden
Joe Corvo - Tom Preissing
Chris Phillips - Anton Volchenkov
Christoph Schubert

Emery - Gerber


And here's what we had going last year:

Daniel Alfredsson "C" - Jason Spezza - Dany Heatley "A"
Mike Fisher - Nick Foligno - Ryan Shannon
Chris Kelly - Chris Neil - (Mike Comrie)
Jesse Winchester - Jarkko Ruutu - Shean Donovan
Christoph Schubert - Cody Bass **

Filip Kuba - Chris Campoli
Chris Phillips "A" - Anton Volchenkov
Jason Smith - (Brendan Bell)
Alexandre Picard - Brian Lee


Alex Auld - Brian Elliott - Pascal Leclaire **


Big changes.. still that's not a bad team, with Karlsson maybe coming up and Leclair coming in I'm looking forward to next year! Nothing a little tweaking can't do (But wait, 10 Defensmen!! - include Schubert/Karlsson). Most still beleive Ottawa comes out strong next year and contends for a top spot in the East. Can't wait!!

Interesting to hear some thoughts, there’s so many questions that need to be dealt with come training camp. My previous articles goes more into detail on current team issues, but now how do you think these new faces will do?? Can some of these prospects fit in the spot?? What about all those defensemen, there was talk of Smith retiring?? Whatever happens salary needs to be shed so something's gonna happen.

Should be an interesting few weeks…

Also, please check out a website for a fantasy league which we started about a week ago. Trying to promote as best I can, fill out a form to take on a roll for the site as we're getting a pretty big reception, if it's full there is a waiting list. Send us some feedback,
Thanks,

http://s1.zetaboards.com/NHSL/index/ ]]> Wet_cheese http://www.hockeyfanzone.com/blog.php?b=40