07 Oct 2009 by Ian in Toronto Maple Leafs
Unless the Toronto Maple Leafs start winning pretty soon, GM Brian Burke’s recent trade with the Boston Bruins for injured 36-goal scorer Phil Kessel is going to drastically swing in favour of the Beantowners.
Burke gave up two first round picks and a second rounder for the 21-year-old forward and then promptly signed him to a five-year $27 million contract. The problem is, he let his personal feelings interfere with his job, which is trying to improve the team at the lowest cost possible.
Burke was in the driver’s seat all along when it came to the deal as the restricted free agent Kessel flat out told the Bruins he had no interest in playing for them anymore. In fact, even if Kessel had wanted to stay with the team, it still didn’t seem likely to happen as Boston was basically already at the salary cap. This is when Burke should have pounced and tendered an offer sheet to Kessel as there’s no way the Bruins would have been able to match it unless they did some serious salary juggling to make room for Kessel’s contract, especially at over $5 million a year.
The problem is, Burke let his personal feelings enter the transaction and the Leafs paid for it by trading away an extra first round pick, which could turn out to be in the top eight if the club doesn’t turn the ship around over the next season. If Burke would have went to Kessel with an offer sheet and Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli couldn’t match it, Boston would have only received a first, second, and third round pick for losing him.
While Kessel may turn out to be a very productive player for the Leafs in the future, Burke should have at least tried to get him for lower draft picks. He basically had the Bruins at his mercy, but his dislike for offer sheets clouded his vision and it cost the club more than it should have. What most fans also forget is that Burke made a deal with Chiarelli before acquiring Kessel in which he gave up a second and third round pick to Boston in return for a second rounder, therefore losing another draft pick in the process.
Burke’s dislike for offer sheets stems back to the summer of 2007 when he was the GM of Anaheim and his Edmonton Oilers’ counterpart Kevin Lowe tendered a $21.25 million, five-year offer sheet to Ducks’ restricted free agent forward Dustin Penner. Burke couldn’t match the offer and although he received adequate compensation in the way of draft picks, he’s been crying about it ever since.
But offering contracts to restricted free agents is well within the rules. However, it’s hardly utilized these days. It is the strategy Brian Burke should have used to land the player the Leafs wanted while retaining an all-important first round draft pick. This is especially true while trading for an injured player. While Kessel may come back as strong as ever, there’s also a chance his shoulder surgery won’t allow him to shoot the puck like he used to. If Burke is getting paid to improve the Leafs in the most effective manner, he didn’t really do a good job of it with the Kessel deal.
17 Oct 2008 by Craig in NHL 2008
The NHL season has just started, but we have a full schedule of games this weekend. Certain teams are off to bad starts and others are playing un-characteristically great. We will see a lot of rivalry games this weekend and it should be extremely fun to watch.
Edmonton Oilers vs Calgary Flames Home and Home
These teams historically don’t like each other and they will play a home and home series this weekend. If you watch these games you can expect a high emotion level, as if were a playoff game. The crowds will be into the games, and cheering as if the games were life or death. Both these teams are good and expect to make the playoffs this season, and both are fun to watch. Edmonton is young, fast and creative on offense and might be the most entertaining team in the league. Players like Hemsky, Horcoff, Cole, Gagner and Cogliano will lead the Oilers attack . Calgary plays a tough physical and solid all around hockey game. The pressure will be on there defense to stop the high flying Oilers. If Calgary wants to win these games Dion Phaneuf and Robyn Reghir will have to play like the all stars they are. Up front Calgary have some talent of there own, Jerome Iginla is one of the best players in the league and Todd Bertuzzi and Mike Cammalleri will help out. The problem for Calgary to this point of the season has been goalie Miikka Kiprusoff, who has looked horrible. Kiprusoff will have to play like he used to because Calgary doesn’t really have a useable back up. If Edmonton wants to win these games they will need to match the physical intensity of Calgary and get some secondary scoring. I am going to watch these games, they should be highly entertaining. Calgary vs Edmonton is the best rivalry in hockey and I would expect these two games to be filled with emotion. Look for two close games that are fast and physical. I don’t like to pick hockey games, but I would expect these games to be split.
San Jose Sharks vs Anaheim Ducks
Friday night, we will be treated to a match up of favorites in Western conference. These two teams are off to completely different starts, San Jose has looked great and Anaheim has looked brutal. The Ducks have looked bad everywhere goaltending, goal scoring, defense and special teams. The Ducks need to stay out of the penalty box, if they don’t they will continue to lose hockey games. Anaheim desperately needs there stars to show up, guys like Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Teemu Selanne need to be productive. San Jose is off to a 4 -0 start and have looked like the best in the West. Goalie Nabokov has been excellent and the team has been producing in front of him. Patrik Marleau looks like the coaching change has allowed him to play like the player of old and Joe Thornton is still a star. These two teams are very familiar with one another and would expect a good game on Friday night. San Jose is playing a lot better then Anaheim right now, but playing an old rival in San Jose might be the boost that the Ducks need. Ducks win, I just think they will be up for this game. Close game it might even come down to a shootout.
New York Rangers vs Detroit Red Wings
An all original six match up, that should be fun to watch. Both teams are highly talented and have huge expectations for this season. The Rangers are coming off there first loss of the season and the Red Wings are yet to get it going. The Rangers have leaned a lot on there second line for production, but will need there stars like Drury, Gomez and Naslund to play well to beat the Wings. The Red Wings are full of Stars like Hossa, Datsyuk, Zetterberg and Lidstrom, and it is hard to find any weaknesses. These teams don’t get a chance to play that often and the fans of the two franchises should be excited to see what happens. This could be a measuring stick game for both team and I expect a close battle. Two of the best teams in the league, you can’t go wrong if you choose to watch this game.
Boston Bruins vs Ottawa Senators
Northeast battle, both teams are off to a 1-1-1 start. I think these teams will fight it out all year and battle for playoff spots. Senators captain Alfredsson may miss this game and leave the Sens looking for some help. Boston is a deep team with guys like Bergeron, Ryder, Savard and Chara. Both teams have the same question marks, goaltending is the key to both teams. Neither team is overly comfortable with starting goalies and which ever goalie plays the best will lead there team to victory this weekend. In the Sens want to win Spezza and Heatley will have to play great games and put some points up on the power play. Look for a fast physical game between these two, before the years out the Senators and Bruins will hate each other. I will pick the Bruins to win, because I really don’t like Gerber as the goalie in Ottawa.
Should be a great weekend of hockey and there are even more games to check out. Toronto vs New York and Vancouver vs Buffalo on Friday. Saturday has some great match ups Colorado vs Dallas, Phoenix vs Montreal and Philadelphia vs San Jose. With a full schedule, this seems like the official start of the National Hockey League season. Original six match ups, home and home series and divisional rivalries rule this weekend. Watch as many games as you can, enjoy the action and cheer on your team.
09 Oct 2008 by Craig in NHL 2008
Well, its finally here, the NHL season officially gets under way tonight. Yes, there was a couple games in Europe, but this feels like the real thing. I already went over the Red Wing vs Maple Leaf game for you, but there’s a few more tonight. At this point there is a hope for all teams, everyone feels they have a chance to win. An NHL season is long and grueling and in many ways on opening night most teams will have the healthiest roster they will have all year on the ice. It’s time for the rookies to prove they belong and for the veterans to prove they are still at the top of there game. There’s excitement in eight cities tonight, because hockey is back and there teams will be starting there chase for the Stanley Cup.
Boston Bruins vs Colorado Avalanche
I think these are to fringe teams in the NHL this season, both of which will be looking to get off to good starts. For Boston it is all about health, they do have there best player back in Patrice Bergeron. Bergeron missed most of last year with concussion problems, but he seems healthy now and is ready to lead the Bruins. Patrice will join an already deep front line with newly acquired Michael Ryder, Marc Savard and Phil Kessel. The biggest question the Avalanche have to answer early this season is whether or not Peter Budaj is a number one goalie. There whole season might hinge on whether or not he can take that next step and become a consistent all around NHL net minder. The same old characters will have to score some goals for Colorado this year, guys like Sakic, Hejduk, Svatos and Wolski. The Avalanche will play a gritty style game led by former Maple Leaf Darcy Tucker and a healthy Ryan Smyth. Both these teams have decent veteran defense cores Boston with Chara and Ward. Colorado will counter with Foote and Liles on defense. In my opinion this might be the most crucial game of the night, both teams need to get off to good starts this year. On paper these teams look very similar, and it looks as if they will play a close game. Colorado is at home and I think they will come out with a win 3 – 2 in a shootout.
Calgary Flames vs Vancouver Canucks
An all western Canada match up should be a treat to watch on opening night. Both teams have made some changes in the off season and have some big expectations for this season. Great goaltending for both teams will make it a low scoring game, Kiprusoff for Calgary and Luongo for Vancouver. Calgary and Vancouver are both defense first teams that boast solid units from the blueline. Phaneuf and Reghir lead Calgary from the back end while Ohlund and Salo are healthy and ready for the season in Vancouver. The biggest difference between these two teams is the depth in the forward lines. Calgary has great front end talent with Iginla and Cammalleri, with other guys like Bertuzzi, Langkow and Lombardi as solid offensive players. The Canucks went out and got Pavel Demitra to go along with the Sedins, but they will need contributions from guys like Bernier, Pyatt ane Wellwood. I look for this game to be fast and for both teams to play aggressive physical games. There should be some fights and remember these teams don’t like each other very much. The game is in Canada and the fans will be ready, loud and excited to get the season going. The atmosphere will be as if the game is truly important and players will all feed off that. This should be the best game of the night and I think Calgary will win 3 -1 with an empty net goal.
Anaheim Ducks vs San Jose Sharks
Two perennial power houses in the Western Conference will do battle on opening night. Both franchises have been competitive for a lot of years and will be looking to do much of the same this year. The Sharks will be playing a new system under a new coaching staff. New system same old players Joe Thornton will lead the way and need help from Marleau, Cheechoo and Mihalek. I am interested to see if the new puck possession style will work in San Jose or if they will be the same old team. Anaheim looks like the team that won a Stanley Cup a couple years back and Scott Niedermayer is the Captain again. They still have Pronger and Selanne, but the team is truly led now by young stars Getzlaf and Perry. Both teams have great goaltending, Nabokov in San Jose and Giguere in Anaheim. The Sharks went out and got the puck moving d – man they have always looked for in Dan Boyle and they hope that is enough to put them over the top. These are two of the top five teams in the West and this should be a good battle. I am torn, but I will pick San Jose wins 4 -3 in an exciting game worth watching.
Yes, it is just the first game of the season, but it is worth getting excited for. We haven’t seen good hockey in months and now it is time to see who is truly the best teams this season. Things to watch in these games are can Bertuzzi and Iginla play together in Calgary, can Peter Budaj be the number one goalie in Colorado and is San Jose playing a more Red Wing style game under the new coaching staff. It is the first night and these questions can’t be answered in one night, but the talk is over lets drop the puck. Enjoy the action and I hope your team gets off to the start they hope for.
01 Oct 2008 by Craig in NHL 2008
Anaheim Ducks - The Ducks ran into some cap issues this off season and had to make some tough decisions about there club. They bought out Todd Bertuzzi and traded Mathieu Schneider, so they could get under the cap. Anaheim is still very talented and will be looking to have a good season. Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger will lead the team from the back end and they still have all world goalie J.S. Giguere. Defense will not be the problem with the Ducks, they are going to need to manufacture ways to score goals. Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and Teemu Selanne will have to have good years for Anaheim up front. The Ducks aren’t as good as they were when they won the Cup a couple years ago, but they are still contenders in the West. Look for them to play great defense and fight for there division title.
Atlanta Thrashers - There’s not much to say about this team, there is a better chance they finish in dead last place then make the playoffs. They still have Ilya Kovalchuk as by far there best player and only true goal scorer. They made a trade for Mathieu Schneider and have a couple decent players in Colby Armstrong. Slava Kozlov and Jason Williams. Well this team straight up, isn’t good at all, in fact they might be the worst team in the league. If you are a Thrashers fan, get ready for a long season and a good draft pick next year.
Boston Bruins – The Bruins look good, they look like a playoff team. Bruins fans should get excited, the team is heading in the right direction and making the right decisions. Every night the Bruins will put out a solid top 6 forwards that will include Marc Savard, Michael Ryder, Patrice Bergeron and youngster Phil Kessel. Zdeno Chara is the captain and one of the best defenseman in the NHL. Its yet to be seen who the starting goalie is, but a healthy Manny Fernandez and Tim Thomas will make a good one two punch in net. I see Boston as a playoff team, but they need to stay healthy. They are heading in the right direction, but I don’t think they are deep enough yet to withstand major injuries.
Buffalo Sabres – This team is a confusing one I can’t figure out if they are going to be very good, or miss the playoffs. They are fast up front with Maxim Afinogenov, Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek and should score some goals. They finally managed to keep a player by signing under rated forward Jason Pominville to a multi year deal. They have one of the best goalies in the NHL with Ryan Miller and a veteran defense core. The Sabres should fight for a playoff spot this year and be tough to play on a nightly basis. Miller is going to have to have a good season in the net, and Thomas Vanek will have to earn his money.
Calgary Flames – The Flames look good, they look like Western Conference favorites this season. Once again they will be led by super star Jerome Iginla, but Flames management went out and got him some help with Mike Cammalleri and Todd Bertuzzi. Secondary scoring will be key to Calgary having a great season. The defense is big and tough with Robyn Reghir and Dion Phaneuf. Miikka Kiprusoff will need to be back to his Vezina self because they don’t have much of a back up. The Calgary Flames will be an extremely tough team to play as they always are. They are big and physical and may intimidate some teams. Iginla is one of the best goal scorers in the NHL and if they get contributions by other players the flames will win. This team will hit, hard, fight and claw there way to a division title this year.
Carolina Hurricanes – I’m not to sure what to say about Carolina, they aren’t the worst team in the East, but they are far the best. They may be a team in limbo, they have some good pieces, but not a whole team yet. Eric Staal is the leader on the ice and they also have streaky forwards Tuomo Ruutu and Sergei Samsonov. Cam Ward is a good goalie and a healthy Frank Kaberle will lead the defense. The Hurricanes don’t look like a playoff team this year, but if they play hard they should have an alright record.
Chicago Blackhawks – This is the best young team in hockey, and I think this is the year they finally make the playoffs. Young super star forwards Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp will lead the offensive charge. The three of them will combine to be one of the best top lines in the NHL. In free agency the Hawks went out and got all star defenseman Brian Campbell and steady goalie Christabel Huet to improve there club. Campbell will lead the team on the power play and be the puck moving d – man they desperately needed last season. This team is offensively talented and I think they have a good chance of leading the league in power play goals. They are young and they will be the best team to watch in the league this season, like last years Washington. All offensive, all the time. Check out this team this year, if they stay healthy they will make the playoffs.
Colorado Avalanche – Goaltending is the big question mark with this team, Petr Budaj isn’t a proven starter and they don’t have a suitable back up. There are lots of good veterans on this team including team captain Joe Sakic, Adam Foote, Darcy Tucker and Ryan Smyth. This team will have to play tough games every night to make the playoffs. Budaj will have to surprise everyone and become a true number one goalie, and the young forwards will have to provide a lot of offense.
19 Sep 2008 by Craig in NHL Trophies
The National Hockey League is known for embracing its history and showing all its fans the comparisons between the past, the future and the present. Annually the league hands out a slew of yearly awards for the years top players. Most of these awards are named after the greats in the game of hockey, and are great honors to win. The trophies are handed out in a lavish event following he Stanley Cup finals, the NHL holds a “Grammy Like” ceremony. A lot of the players are there along with hall of famers and NHL greats alike. For the people who are new to the league I am going to explain a few to you, and a little about the history of the awards.
The Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is awarded to the champion of the NHL, Lord Stanley’s Cup is obviously the most important award the National Hockey League hands out.
The Hart Trophy
The Hart is the NHL’s version of the Most Valuable Player in the league. A little different then most professional sports leagues the award is for the player who is most valuable to his team. The original trophy was donated to the league in 1923, and can be found in Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Wayne Gretzky won eight straight Hart’s between 1980 – 1987, Sydney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin won it the last two years respectively.
The Vezina Trophy
This is the goalie trophy, handed out to the net minder who has been the best that season. The trophy is a memorial to great Canadians goalie George Vezina and has been awarded annually since 1927. Martin Brodeur has won the award four of the last five seasons and the great Patrick Roy won the trophy three times.
The Calder Trophy
The NHL’s best rookie is awarded the Calder Trophy at years end. The trophy is named after Frank Calder, a former president of the National Hockey League. A lot of NHL greats have won this award and over history a lot of Hall of Famers win the Calder in there first season. NHL greats Terry Sawchuk, Bobby Orr, Mike Bossy, Mario Lemieux and Peter Forsberg have all won the trophy. Last year Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane won the Calder.
The Jack Adams Trophy
The coach judged to be the best that season wins the Jack Adams award. Jack Adams the man was a coach and manager in the Red Wings organization and the trophy was donated by NHL broadcasters. A lot of great coaches have won this award including Don Cherry, Scotty Bowman and Pat Burns. Last year there was a surprise winner when Washington Capitols head coach Bruce Boudreau took home the award.
The Norris Trophy
Named for the late owner and president of the Detroit Red Wings James Norris. The award is handed out annually to the leagues top defenceman. In recent history the award had been dominated by future Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom who has won the award an amazing six of the last seven years. Bobby Orr won the trophy a record eight times and Ray Bourque won it five times.
The Art Ross Trophy
This trophy is not voted on, it is given to the player who records the most points in the season. Art Ross a manger with the Boston Bruins donated the trophy in 1947. Guy Lafleur won the award three straight years in the 1970’s, Wayne Gretzky won the award an amazing ten times and Jaromir Jagr won it five times. Along with the Hart Alex Ovechkin won the Art Ross last season.
The Selke Trophy
The best defensive forward in the NHL is awarded the Selke Trophy. The award is in honor of Frank Selke who managed great NHL championship teams. The first four times the trophy was handed out it was won by Montreal Canadiens great Bob Gainey who was an excellent defensive forward. In recent years the award has been won by players like Steve Yzerman in 2000, Michael Peca in 2002 and Pavel Datsyuk last season.
Lester B. Pearson Trophy
The trophy is named after former Prime Minister of Canada Lester B. Pearson, and has awarded since 1971. This is a special award to a lot of players because it is voted by the players themselves. The players vote who they think the most valuable player of the league is. Last year it was won by Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby won in 2007. Dominik Hasek won the award in back to back years in 1997 – 1998 and Phil Esposito won the first award in 1971.
There are plenty more awards the NHL hands out, Maurice Richard Trophy (top goal scorer), Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP), Lady Byng Trophy (sportsmanship), Masterton Memorial Trophy (dedication to hockey) and the Jennings Trophy (fewest goals against average).
Teams can also receive awards like the Presidents’ Trophy (top regular season team), Clarence Campbell Bowl (western conference winners) and the Prince of Wales Trophy (eastern conference champions).
You can find all these trophies displayed at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The National Hockey league does a great job honoring its players. The league celebrates its past and respects all the people who were involved in the game. These trophies are ingrained in the game and young players dream of winning some of these awards. Most of these awards have a lot of history some of which have been around since the 1920’s. To win an award and look at the engraved names and see NHL icons and your idols alike. The National Hockey League treats its players like true celebrities on award night which is truly unique to the league. To be a true hockey fan you need to respect the past, because without the greats of this game there would be no game. If you have a chance check out the Hockey Hall of Fame, you will find this game is full of great stories and emotions and you will not be disappointed.
19 Sep 2008 by Craig in NHL History
Although the National Hockey League had been around for some time in 1942, when the Brooklyn Americans folded the league was left with six. The Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins and Chicago Black Hawks were left and it stayed the same for the next 25 years.
The Stanley Cup, is awarded annually to the Champion of the NHL. Unique to the National Hockey League the same Stanley Cup is awarded ever year and carries a lot of history and tradition. The name of the winning players, coaches, management, and staff are engraved on it for future generations to appreciate. The Stanley Cup was donated by Lord Stanley to be presented to the best amateur hockey team in Canada, but was purchased by the NHL in 1947, although he had been contested for by the NHL since 1926.
The 25 year original six era was dominated by dynasties. The Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup nine times in the 25 years, but have not been able to win it since 1967. The Montreal Canadians won five straight Stanley Cups 1956 – 1960, led by “The Rocket”. From 1948-1954 the Detroit Red Wings won seven consecutive regular season titles, no other team in NHL history have ever matched there regular season success.
Maurice “The Rocket” Richard of the Montreal Canadians became the first player to score 50 goals in one season in 1944-1945. Scoring 50 goals became the mark that all NHL goal scorers would try and reach, and is still the benchmark today.” The Rocket” played in Montreal from 1942 to 1960 and was widely considered the best player in the game and was idolized by Canadians fans. Richard was the first player to reach 500 goals in a career, he had 544 goals and 965 points over his career with Montreal.
Gordie Howe or Mr Hockey as you may know him played his first professional game in 1946 as a member of the Detroit Red Wings. He was an 18 year old right winger, who quickly established himself as a tremendous goal scorer and play maker. Gordie was a great goal scorer, but its important not to over look his physical toughness, he was as feisty as they come not shying away from fights. The saying “Gordie Howe hat trick” was coined for the way Gordie played. a goal, an assist, and a fight in one game. Mr. Hockey’s career spanned five decades and he retired as the highest scoring player in NHL history. Howe and Richard will go down as the best players of the era and be compared to each other forever.
In 1958 the colour barrier was broken in the NHL when Willie O’Ree played for the Boston Bruins. Willie only played 45 career NHL games, and faced constant taunts and racism, he scored four goals in his career. In 1956 Jacques Plante a goalie with the Montreal Canadians became the first to wear a face mask. Hard to imagine today, but goaltenders used to block shots with nothing protecting there face from the puck. Plante was good , but Terry Sawchuk was arguably the best goalie of the Era. Terry made his NHL debut in 1950 as a member of the Detroit Red Wings and amassed 501 wins and 115 shutouts over his career (including playoffs) Terry helped lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to there final Stanley cup in 1967.
In the early days a lot of the NHL was controlled by the Norris family, they had a stake in as many as four NHL teams. The Norris family owned the Detroit Red Wings, had a partnership with the Blackhawks and had control of Madison Square Gardens where the New York Rangers played. The Chicago Blackhawks history has always been one of disappointment, never having a team that was dominant for an extended period of time. Chicago did win a cup in 1961 led by the newly acquired Ted Lindsay and Glen Hall, but haven’t managed to win one since.
In 1952, Hockey Night in Canada was brought to the airways. The CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) put a hockey game between t
weekly game quickly became the highest rated shows on Canadian television and still is highly rated to this day. The first players union was introduced in 1957, by Red Wings forward Ted Lindsay as a result of the owners not opening up the books. The players wanted increased wages and pensions, this caused a rift between the players and the ownership and Lindsay was traded to the Blackhawks as a punishment.
The NHL has had its ups and downs in its historic run as the dominant hockey league in the world. A lot of hockey people will tell you that between 1942 and 1967 you could have witnessed the best game ever. The rivalries were great between the teams and there players. Dynasties ruled the era with the Montreal Canadians, Toronto Maple and Detroit Red Wings battling it out every year for the right to win Lord Stanley’s Cup. Hockey will never be as pure as it was in the original six era, we will never see players like Gordie Howe or Maurice Richard in today’s game. The mixture or skill and toughness made the game exciting no matter what brand of hockey you preferred. Along the way technology made the game more excess able and a lot of people were exposed to the game for the first time. All hockey fans should look back at the history, I guarantee you will have a better appreciation for the game. The NHL is full of history that is un-matched in any other professional leagues. Hockey players dream of skating around the ice lifting Lord Stanley’s Cup or having there name written along the sides of there idols.