Youth will be on Display for the Islanders in 2012

 

Calvin de Haan is one of many Islanders prospects who will get a chance to contribute this year. {Credit – Dustin Hall}

It seems like every off-season the Islanders have the same questions swirling around them.  Will they use all their cap-space to land some quality players? Will they get some kind of clarity on the arena situation?

As usual the answer to both questions seems to be no. This off-season's attempt to save the Coliseum is a re-hashed plan that didn't work the first time and can't be expected to work this time. (the RFQ is up today so we will see if some developer swoops in to save the day)  As for the team itself, they made a couple of low-level signings when free-agency first started but  just a few days later GM Garth Snow announced that the roster was pretty well set.

Of course the Islanders are still about six and a half million below the projected cap floor, but with CBA negotiations still ongoing there is no way to know where the floor will actually end up. The Islanders of recent years have made it their way to only spend the money that is necessary, so until that number is set in stone the Islanders won't be bringing in any extra pieces. Without the floor to force the Islanders to make signings, their true intentions will become apparent.

If that is the case, then this year's team will be very heavy on youth.  This team is going to have lots of spots to fill and the solutions (if there are to be any) are going to come from the Islanders prospect pool. The current Islanders team has 11 forwards, 5 defenseman, and Evgeni Nabokov and Rick Dipietro as the goaltenders.

That includes three players almost certain to make the team that are currently on entry level contracts (Nino Niederrieter, Travis Hamonic, Casey Cizkas).  In order to field a complete team they are still going to need at least one more forward, one more defenseman, and the goaltender who will take over after if (when) DiPietro gets hurt. If they don't need to add players to reach the salary floor these players are going to come from their farm system.

With the current structure the Islanders have only six players on the team that are 29 or older (4 of which are 34 or older), contrast that with six players who are 23 or younger to go along with any prospects who make the team.

What that equals is a team that is going to be very young. This team will put the drafting and scouting of Garth Snow and company on full display.  The Islanders have always been a young team (26.704 average age in 2011-12) but this year they will be even younger and more dependent on their young players.  The future has been the focus for this team since Snow took office and the future is now for the young talent he has amassed.

This may not actually be a bad thing, as forcing the Islanders to pay to reach the floor hasn't put a better team on the ice, as their last-place Atlantic division finishes have shown.  The Islanders have shown they won't (or can't) bring in a difference maker through free agency, they merely bring in (and overpay) players like Mark Eaton and Marty Reasoner.

The way the Islanders have been operating recently clearly hasn't been working.  This year will at least be something different we can almost certainly expect to see touted prospects like Calvin De Haan and Ryan Strome be a part of this team and get a chance to contribute. They may not be able to get the Islanders to the playoffs but they can at least offer hope for the future.

 

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Florida Panthers Gamble with Signing of Peter Mueller

During last year’s NHL offseason, Florida Panthers GM Dale Tallon wasn’t afraid to roll the dice on a player with health related questions. While other teams were afraid to commit to Tomas Fleischmann after he was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism (a condition that caused him to miss 60 games while playing for the Colorado Avalanche), Tallon was quick to offer the forward a four year contract worth $18 million.

The move paid off handsomely for the Florida Panthers as Fleischmann not only led the team in scoring but was also able to play in all 82 games while posting career highs in goals (27), assists (34), and points (61). The man known as “Flash” more than lived up to his contract in his first year with the Panthers and brought fans out of their seats with some dazzling goals.

With the success the Panthers had with Fleischmann, it should come as no surprise that they’d be willing to gamble on another oft-injured forward with great potential.

Peter Mueller hopes to rekindle his career with the Panthers. (Ric Tapia/Icon SMI)

And gamble they did as Tallon signed 24- year-old Peter Mueller to a one-year contract for $1.725 million. Although Mueller is still in the early stages of his career, he has already dealt with serious concussion problems which forced him to miss the majority of two seasons with the Avalanche.

According to Mueller though, he is ready for a fresh start in South Florida, “There are no red flags. Everything is a go. I’m coming in with a great attitude. I’m ready to rock and roll this coming season.”

There’s no doubt that Mueller, when healthy, could be just the type of player that the Panthers could use in their lineup. At 6’2″, 209 pounds, Mueller adds a size element to a group of Panthers forwards that sorely could use it. Too often last year other team’s were able to manhandle the Panthers upfront, which kept them from getting into an offensive rhythm.

Yet, Mueller simply wasn’t brought aboard by Tallon for his size alone. Before his injuries began to pile up, Mueller put together two impressive season’s with the Phoenix Coyotes, scoring 54 points in his rookie season and then following it up with a 36 point campaign. If the forward can remain healthy, he should help bolster a Panthers offense that was often relatively anemic last season.

If Tallon is to be believed, Mueller should be able to rekindle his career like Fleischmann did a year ago.

“He seems to be revitalized. He understands this is a great opportunity,” Tallon said. “He’s a top six forward with size and skill. If he plays well, he could be here for a very long time.”

The parallels between Mueller and Fleischmann are a bit uncanny. Both suffered injuries with the Avalanche and must have wondered whether they would ever play in the NHL again. Both were given a second chance by the Florida Panthers and Dale Tallon.

If Mueller has it his way, the similarities won’t end there. He’ll hope to make the Avalanche regret not re-signing him.

Just as they do with Tomas Fleischmann.

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Quotes of the Week: Sheroisms

This week’s Quotes of the Week looks at some of the many so-called Sheroisms–pithy quotes from former Philadelphia Flyers coach Fred Shero. Shero was famous–not only for his dark sunglasses or for his nickname, ‘The Fog’, but also for writing quotes on a chalkboard to inspire his team. Some, he took out of quotation collections, others he made up himself. I’ve also included a few quotable quotes from Shero found in interviews and profiles from the 1970s, when he led the Flyers to back-to-back Stanley Cups.

Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire. [2]

I like to have a different answer for everyone. [1]

Bobby Clarke’s million dollar smile

I want my players to skate like hell and then get off the ice. [1]

Win today and we walk together forever.[3]

Sure, [Bobby Clarke] is mean. Anybody who expects to be truly great has to be mean. I’m talking about Gordie Howe, who could carve you. Or Rocket Richard. Or Milt Schmidt. They were mean. They took care of the opposition. [3]

Only a mediocre person is always at his best. [3]

He that will not when he may, he shall not when he will. [3]

If [Kate Smith] really means that much [to the Flyers' success], I think we ought to put her on the payroll. I like the song, but it won’t put the puck in the net. [1]

Shero the player (Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame)

Fame is a vapor. Popularity, an accident. Riches take wings. Only one thing endures, and that is character. [3]

An oak tree is just a nut that held its ground.[3]

Hockey is where we live, where we can best meet and overcome pain and wrong and death. Life is just a place where we spend time between games. [3]

SOURCES:
1. Mulvoy, Mark. “Hockey’s Eclectic Wizard.” Sports Illustrated, 26 May 1975.
2. Reed, JD. “In The Rocket’s Red Glare.” Sports Illustrated, 17 May 1976.
3. Bonander, Ross. Hockey Talk: Quotations about the great sport of hockey, from the players and coaches who made it great. Delabarre Publishing (2011).

Last Week: Legendary Canadiens
Next Week: Contemporary Hockey Writers

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

The Day the Mark Messier Era Ended in New York

A decade of futility for the New York Rangers that started in the late 1990′s began with one event in July of 1997. It wasn’t a game the Rangers lost, a trade they made, or a free agent they signed (although there would be many to follow).

No, the day that led to seven straight non-playoff seasons for the Broadway Blueshirts was the day their captain walked away.

When Mark Messier signed with the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent in the summer of 1997, it closed the book on one of the most successful eras in Rangers’ history. Although Messier’s first tour of duty in New York only lasted six seasons (he would return for four more seasons from 2000-04), he became a legendary figure in New York.

From 1991-97, the Rangers made the playoffs five times, won two Atlantic Division Championships, two President’s Trophies, one Eastern Conference Championship, and the Stanley Cup in 1994. When the final buzzer sounded after Game 7 of the Finals in 1994, Rangers’ play-by-play announcer Sam Rosen said “This one will last a lifetime!” The same could be said for all of the memories Messier gave to the fans in New York.

That is why it was so hard for many fans to fathom that ‘The Captain’, their captain, would be allowed to walk away as a free agent. For a city and an organization that was (and still is) synonymous with giving out large contracts to lure free agents, why wouldn’t the Rangers be willing to overpay to keep Mark Messier in New York?

Depending on who you ask, the reasons for the messy divorce between Messier and the Rangers are very different. If you ask Messier, or at least if you asked him fifteen years ago, one of the reasons that he decided to leave was that he felt he was “disrespected” by Garden management.

In an article in the New York Times, Messier said, “When July 1 came around, other teams were allowed to come in my living room, and things changed…I guess they (the Rangers) felt they didn’t need to, that my loyalty (to New York) was so strong.”

Messier waves to the crowd after his final NHL game. (Image Credits: JR_in_NYC)

Rangers’ President and General Manager Neil Smith’s offer to Messier of a one-year $4 million contract was not well received by the Rangers’ captain. In Jeff Z. Klein’s biography of Messier, the author writes “he (Messier) was telling reporters how slighted he felt by what he thought was the Rangers’ deliberate insult.”

According to Rangers’ management, Messier’s decision to leave New York was all about the money that Vancouver threw his way. While it was reported that teams such as the Islanders, Capitals, and Red Wings all offered deals similar to the Rangers’ offer, the Canucks offered Messier a minimum of three years at $6 million per year, with an option for two more years at $5 million per year.

After Messier signed with the Canucks, Madison Square Garden CEO Dave Checketts rhetorically asked “How long should we pay for that Cup?” The Rangers felt that he wasn’t worth the money, and fifteen years later, it is likely that every Canucks fan will agree.

However, even with Wayne Gretzky for two more seasons, the Rangers missed Messier’s presence in the lineup and in the locker room. Maybe things would have turned out differently if Joe Sakic made it to Broadway.

After losing Messier to the Canucks, the Rangers signed the Avalanche center to a three-year $21 million contract. But the Avalanche decided to match the Rangers’ offer for Sakic, who was a restricted free agent.

The Rangers and their fans would like to forget the years that followed. Seven years came and went without a playoff appearance. The carousel of mercenaries that made their way to the Garden, including Theo Fleury, Eric Lindros, Pavel Bure, and Messier himself in 2000 as a 39-year old, just highlighted how dysfunctional that time period in Ranger land was.

But it all goes back to the day that Messier left, and a situation that, in hindsight, both sides would do differently.

 

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Kris Versteeg: The Value behind the Contract

On July 23rd the Florida Panthers took a giant step forward as an organization when they signed Kris Versteeg to a four-year deal worth $17.6 million, avoiding an unnecessary arbitration hearing and eliminating the possibility that Versteeg could become an unrestricted free agent next offseason.

Semin received a one year deal worth $7 million on July 26th from the Hurricanes (Kelly J. Stoner/Flickr)

Not only was this a necessary move, retaining their third leading scorer (54 points) from the 2011-2012 season, it was also a savvy move considering the price they were able to keep him at. Versteeg's contract will carry an annual $4.4 million cap hit, which may sound pricey but when compared to similar player's it's a bargain. Take Alexander Semin as a comparative example. Both Semin and Versteeg tallied 54 points in 2011-2012 but Semin recently signed a one year deal worth $7 million. Add in the fact that Semin (28) is two years older than Versteeg (26) and you can see why this signing is so impressive.

Of course there is an argument to be made as to whether Versteeg's career numbers justify anything more than what the Panthers offered. Outside of his 2011-2012 performance there has only been one instance where he has tallied more than 50 points in a season and that came during his rookie year of 2008-2009. Does a perennial 40-50 point winger deserve to be paid as a top 50 forward? In the case of Kris Versteeg, you better believe it.

There are a multitude of things that GM's look at in order to gauge the correct price for a player. Previous production, age, potential, character, etc; all of these things are taken into account when trying to find the correct dollar amount. For a 26 year old NHLer like Versteeg your first instinct would be to look at his previous production. If that's the case then justifying a multi-year contract worth over $5 million a season is unrealistic for a player who perennially produces 40-50 points a season. It's also the wrong way to look at the Versteeg situation. If you want to truly gauge Versteeg's value then his potential must play an important role.

It's an odd thing to say that a 26 year old who is entering his 5th professional season should be looked at as still having room for growth. Most players at that age have cemented themselves as a specific style or caliber of player. Of course there is still room for improvement but it's limited for the vast majority of players. Versteeg is a unique case though.

After a rookie season where he notched 22 goals and 31 assists while being a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy he was involved in an odd dispute between the NHLPA and NHL where a clerical error led to him becoming an unrestricted free agent after his entry level contract expired.

The Blackhawks managed to retain him but after a sophomore season where his production dipped (20 goals, 24 assists) they shipped him off to Toronto in an apparent salary dump. He only lasted 53 games with the Maple Leafs before being dealt to the Philadelphia Flyers who were in the midst of a Cup run and when the season ended he was once again traded, this time to the Panthers for a second and third-round pick.

In the span of three seasons Versteeg played for four different organizations, never getting the opportunity to get his feet beneath him. Could the constant movement have taken its toll on Versteeg's development?

Versteeg looks to increase his production after tallying a career high 54 points in 2011-2012(Jerome Davis/Icon SMI)

Odds are that the organizational shuffle that Versteeg was put through stunted his growth to a certain degree. Consistency is one of the most valuable assets when bringing up a young player. Without consistency a player isn't allowed to become comfortable in their situation therefore disallowing them to focus on growing to their full potential. Versteeg has yet experience that consistency and his production has most likely suffered as a result. Who knows what type of player he would have become if he were given the chance to play multiple seasons for the Maple Leafs or the Flyers. Luckily for the Panthers they are about to find that out just how good he can be in the upcoming seasons.

For the first time since his 2^nd season he will be given the opportunity to skate with the same team in back to back seasons. He will also be paired with Tomas Fleischmann and Stephen Weiss to recreate one of the most productive top lines in the 2011-2012 season. With another season under his belt and another year of playing alongside two talented veterans Versteeg will finally be given the chance to show everyone just how valuable he truly is. It's not unfeasible to predict that Versteeg will become the Panthers go to man and at $4.4 million a year, he is a massive bargain if that prediction comes to fruition.

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Previewing the Dallas Stars Roster

Halfway through free agency, the Dallas Stars have had one of the most proactive offseason’s of any team.  The Stars have acquired veteran forwards and defensemen in Derek Roy, Jaromir Jagr, Ray Whitney, and Aaron Rome.

Aaron Rome should be a quality addition to the Stars blue line this season. (Icon SMI)

Taking into account these transactions, and considering the talent, chemistry, and youth the Stars have, the word “optimism” would be an understatement for next season. Although, on paper, the Stars still don’t look to be an elite team of the Western Conference, you would have to think they are a favorite to clinch a playoff spot next season, particularly in the 4th-6th seed range. This Stars team (on paper, once again) has to be the most promising roster to take the ice in at least four seasons in Dallas. Fans should be applauding the moves by the front office and the new ownership.

In order to win in the NHL, the franchise and ownership must be willing to take some amount of risk with their resources, and we see this with this offseason’s transactions. There are only two negative points to raise about this offseason thus far for the Stars. First, the age of Whitney and Jagr is questionable, as there is a solid chance one or both of these players does not reach the level of production they had last season; nevertheless, management signed Jagr to only a one-year contract and Whitney to a two-year deal, so the risk is somewhat controlled. Second, the trade of Mike Ribeiro does raise eyebrows. On first thought, the trade of Mike Ribeiro to the Washington Capitals can leave a fan somewhat incredulous; however, the Stars received promising young center Cody Eakin and a second-round draft pick. Management must have felt that Ribeiro no longer fit into the equation. Perhaps the lack of speed in the new acquisitions made management believe they needed to replace one aging veteran forward with a younger talent. Eakin certainly has lots of upside, as he could produce in the 20-goal range during the next season or two. Considering these positives and negatives, the Stars should receive an “A-” at this point in the offseason. This grade could change, but fans should commend the direction that management is taking the team. The Stars should have an acceptable amount of depth (something that has eluded the team in recent years), as well as a quality amount of talent up front, on defense, and in net.

With the players signed thus far, here is my depth chart for the Dallas Stars in the upcoming 2012-2013 season:

Offensive Lines

• Loui Eriksson – Derek Roy – Michael Ryder
• Ray Whitney – Jamie Benn – Jaromir Jagr
• Brenden Morrow – Cody Eakin – Eric Nystrom
• Tom Wandell – Vernon Fiddler – Radek Dvorak

These lines could be adjusted slightly; for instance, Benn and Roy could swap the top-two spots in the center position. On initial thoughts, one would want the speed and skill of Eriksson paired with Jagr’s intelligence and craftiness; however, it appears to make more sense to mix youth and experience in the top-two lines. Having Whitney paired with Roy and Ryder or Jagr would be a line chock-full of experience, but it would also risk being sluggish. Separating Benn and Eriksson with the “elders” of the top six would be a way to balance speed and experience appropriately. Also, Tom Wandell, Toby Petersen, and Tomas Vincour could also see some playing time on the third or fourth lines. Finally, note Eakin’s role as the third-line center. The Stars still have a legitimate need for a reliable third-line center. Eakin may be able to fill this role, but the Stars probably shouldn’t chance this if the organization is banking on a playoff appearance. Winning the Pacific Division will come down to what team has the most depth.

Defensive Pairings

• Alex Goligoski – Trevor Daley
• Stephane Robidas – Aaron Rome
• Mark Fistric – Philip Larsen

Philip Larsen is quickly developing into a go-to defender for the Stars. (StarsFanDebbie / Debbieshockeyphotos)

Goligoski is in a contract year, so he should be expected to up his productivity this season. Aaron Rome was a nice addition, and he should cement the second defensive pairing with his physical, gritty, and reliable play. Larsen proved himself to be a rising talent in the NHL. Last season, Larsen recorded a +11 +/- rating on a defensive unit that was plagued with poor +/- numbers. Larsen was tied for the best +/- for a defensemen on the team last year with Sheldon Souray. If he continues to be reliable and productive, he has a chance to get some minutes on the second pairing. Surprisingly, defense looks to be one of the stronger points for a Stars team that has suffered from unsound defensive-zone play in the recent past. Jordie Benn, Jamie Benn’s older brother, and Maxime Fortunus could serve as reserve defensemen for the roster.

Of course, goaltending will once again be the Stars strong-point, as Kari Lehtonen and Richard Bachman continue to prove themselves to be one of the best goalie tandems in the NHL. Throughout his tenure on the Stars, Lehtonen has been the most reliable player on the entire roster, and there isn’t a reason why this should change for the 2012-2013 year.

Considering the makeup of the roster and front office, fans should be anticipating a promising year from these Stars.

 

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Maple Leafs Have Enough Talent in Top-Six to Reach the Playoffs

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Phil Kessel has a better supporting cast in Toronto than many seem to believe (Jeanine Leech/Icon SMI)

It’s a hot-button topic in Toronto that has caused a divide among the city’s hockey fans for the last few years. Do the Toronto Maple Leafs have enough skill among their top-two lines to bolster them into the playoffs and perhaps into contention for the Stanley Cup?

At centre are Mikhail Grabovski and Tyler Bozak. On the wing you will find Joffrey Lupul, Phil Kessel, Nikolai Kulemin, Clarke MacArthur and newly-acquired James van Riemsdyk.

First let’s look at Grabovski and Bozak, who find themselves under constant scrutiny from the Toronto fans and media.

Some would tell you Grabovski and Bozak are, in fact, a solid one-two punch down the middle, while others would say Grabovski would be perfect to fill the Chicago Blackhawks’ need of a number two centre and Bozak shouldn’t be any higher in the lineup than the second line either.

Grabovski, 28, notched 23 goals and 28 assists for 51 points in just 74 games last season. That’s six, one and seven off his career highs, which isn’t too bad considering that he set those numbers in seven more games in 2010-2011. He’s also proven to be a finesse centreman who isn’t afraid to stick up for his teammates.

Bozak, 26, didn’t quite put up the same statistics as Grabovski last season, but he still managed to play a key role with 47 points in 73 games while receiving a fair share of shorthanded ice time.

Neither are very big, but what they lack in size is made up for in play making ability. That, their impressive ability to create offensive plays out of seemingly nothing, comes in handy when playing with the likes of Lupul and Kessel.

There’s no doubt that the combination of Grabovski and Bozak are a big reason why Lupul and Kessel managed 25 and 37 goals respectively while scoring at a point-per-game pace (keep in mind that Lupul had his season shortened to 66 games). Lupul, who was even named a finalist for the NHL’s Masterton Memorial Trophy this year, and Kessel were the clear-cut offensive leaders on a Leafs team that maintained a high level of play for much of the season.

Will Nikolai Kulemin rediscover his 30-goal form in 2012-2013? (Icon SMI)

Below them are van Riemsdyk, Kulemin and MacArthur, two of whom may not quite be at top-six winger level.

Both MacArthur and Kulemin showed they can play that exact role, but that was two seasons ago. They both tailed off in 2011-2012, although MacArthur’s slide in statistics was somewhat expected.

MacArthur notched 43 points last season, 19 less than his 2010-2011 total. Along with Kulemin, MacArthur is one half of a duo that sees plenty of ups and downs both offensively and defensively. Nevertheless, both have shown they can be effective point scorers in the NHL and are crucial to the Maple Leafs’ success.

In particular, Kulemin played an important defensive role for the team; he was used in a penalty killing spot quite frequently in 2011-2012.

Finally there is van Riemsdyk, who, as everyone knows by now, was acquired from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenceman Luke Schenn earlier this summer. There are so many question marks surrounding van Riemsdyk that it’s almost unbelievable, but one thing is for sure: there is not one person who follows the Toronto Maple Leafs that believes he won’t be used in important situations right from the get-go.

A few of the same questions that concern van Riemsdyk are ones that also concern Kulemin and MacArthur.

Will they remain healthy? Will they be able to score 30 goals again/for the first time? Are they worthy of keeping their top-six spots?

Regardless, history has shown us that, not including van Riemsdyk, the players above assemble a group of top-six forwards that is solid enough to lead the Leafs to success from an offensive standpoint. Now they must do that over the course of a full season rather than just pre-All-Star Break. With the addition of van Riemsdyk, which also gives the Leafs more depth with a seventh player to rotate through the top-six, that’s certainly possible.

While another asset or two is needed up front for the team to reach Stanley Cup contention, it’s time for fans to start looking back on the good that came out of last season. That is, of course, that the Maple Leafs have shown how well they can actually play.

It shouldn’t be long before that’s translated into regular season success.

Twitter: @LukasHardonk | Email: lukas.hardonk@gmail.com | Lukas' archive

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This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

5 Must-See New Jersey Devils Games During 2012-13

For hockey fans, although the summer lasts only two months, it seems like an eternity since we have seen a live game, heard a goal horn or witnessed an incredible deke followed by a top-shelf goal. It gives us plenty of time to ponder the upcoming season and how many days until our heroes are back on ice. For the New Jersey Devils and their fans, they are still recovering from a double-whammy of heartbreak — losing in the Finals to the Los Angeles Kings and then losing their captain Zach Parise via free agency.

But there is always next season, and in October the promise of another run at Lord Stanley’s Cup will rise up and captivate us night in and night out. Here are the five most intriguing games that New Jersey will play in the upcoming season — yes there will be a season.

David Clarkson – Empty Netters – Flickr

1) October 17 vs. NY Rangers (Game 3) – the Devils will face-off against their biggest rivals for the first time since Adam Henrique eliminated them in overtime of Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Some of the names on both rosters will have changed by the time the puck drops that day, but you can be sure there will be some fireworks; it could be a line brawl in the opening seconds, maybe a scoreless goalie-duel or it could be another war of words between the two coaches. Regardless, both teams will be looking to get an early edge on their rival in the standings in the latest installment of the Hudson River Rivalry.

2) November 11 vs. Minnesota (Game 12) – After 502 games with the Devils (194 goals/410 points) Parise will play his first game against New Jersey at the Prudential Center. Knowing Devils’ fans, expect the 28-year-old to be booed every time he touches the puck or his name is announced by the PA announcer. For Parise it will probably be strange to play against so many good friends and ex-teammates, but for the Devils’ players it will be less weird because there is only one Parise and 19 other Wild players to contend with.

3) December 21 vs. Philadelphia (Game 30) – Just in time for Christmas, the Devils and Flyers will finish up a home-and-home set; in fact it will be the third time the two teams play in a span of 10 days. New Jersey will start a five-game road trip on December 11 in Philly, followed by stops in Florida, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh and Philly again on Dec. 19. After making such quick work of the Flyers in the second round last year, and three games in such a short period of time, expect that the two teams will battle for every inch of open ice (nothing new). They played some wild games last season, and the 2012-13 season will be no different — hopefully for Brayden Schenn he doesn’t try to challenge Ilya Kovalchuk to another fight, (maybe big brother steps in) because last season that didn’t work out too well: WATCH THE CARNAGE HERE

4) February 9 vs. Los Angeles (Game 51) – With football season just ending (Super Bowl 48 in Feb. 3), many of the casual fans will be back and starving for some live action. NBC might even televise this game — the only rematch of last year’s Stanley Cup Finalists in 2012-13. My money is on Johan Hedberg starting this game in the Devils crease: he was 2-0 against them during last regular season, and coach Pete DeBoer might want to give him the afternoon start rather than Martin Brodeur who will likely play in the next two games (vs. NYR & Phil).

5) March 21 at Montreal (Game 71) – The playoffs will be just over the horizon and both teams should be vying for a playoff spot. Brodeur always excels in his home Province and it will also be the second match-up between the two squads in five days. Who knows what either team will look like by then, maybe Scott Gomez will even be in the lineup for the Habs — or the Devils! If the following season is Brodeur’s last, this will be one of his last appearances in Montreal as a player. I may even make an appearance that day in the arena to celebrate my 37th birthday.

Dan Rice can be reached via Twitter: @DRdiablo321 or via email: drdiablo321@yahoo.com

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Tim Thomas and the Evolving World of Social Media

note: Whether you agree or disagree with what Thomas said is your own opinion. This isn't the forum to address whether his comments are right or wrong.

Tim Thomas knows how to create a media stir. In a twelve-month span, Thomas went from being a Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe Trophy-winner to a goaltender known more for his off-ice quotes than his on-ice play.

The two-time Vezina-winner’s latest political stance came earlier this week. On his facebook page, Thomas gave his opinion on the CEO of Chick-fil-A’s view against gay marriage by writing, “I stand with Chick-fil-A.”

Like the other political opinions that Thomas has made, the overwhelming response to his latest stance has been negative. The consensus is the perception of Thomas was better when he was just known for stopping pucks with the Boston Bruins.

However, the reaction about what Thomas said highlights the impact of social media on the NHL, and the slippery slope in which the league could be heading.

In today’s NHL, it appears that playing the game isn’t enough to satisfy fans. Where a player goes to eat, the relationship he has with his teammates, and how he interacts with his fans are becoming just as important as his performance on the ice.

Social media has given fans an opportunity to find out what their favorite players do when they aren’t on the ice. After all, you don’t need to “like” a player’s facebook page to see their highlights or “follow” them on twitter to find out how many goals they scored last season.

To their credit, all 30 NHL teams have embraced this concept in order to satisfy the current fan base and attract new fans as well. For example, the New York Islanders have had either a prospect or a current player take over the Islanders’ official twitter account for an hour and answer tweets from the fans.

However, instead of asking questions about the game itself, such as 'What has been your most memorable game in the NHL?' or even something as small as how a player likes to tape his stick, some of the questions that were answered had nothing at all to do with the game.

When Islanders' defenseman Travis Hamonic was answering fans’ questions, there were a few questions that he answered that involved the game itself. But, there were many other questions that had nothing to do with any on-the-ice aspect of playing the game. Two such questions that Hamonic answered were, '(Do you like) Cauliflower Pizza or Plain Pie?' and 'How much of a tool is @MMoulson (Islanders' forward Matt Moulson) like in real life?'

If players all around the National Hockey League can talk about a variety of topics and not have to worry about “just being a hockey player”, then why should Tim Thomas be criticized for expressing his opinions?

Yes, the topics that Thomas has been outspoken about certainly are much more serious than what other players choose to discuss when it comes to their personal lives. However, just because the issues that Thomas chooses to discuss on his social media page impact more than just people who are hockey fans, does that mean that he is less focused on hockey than his teammates or opponents?

In February, Thomas was in hot water for comments he made on his facebook page about supporting the Catholic Church in its dispute over access to contraception. When Thomas was asked about his comments, the Bruins goalie said, “I don’t think that when you become an athlete that you sign away your right to be an individual.”

Although social media wouldn’t change Thomas’ views, maybe the social media platforms that we give athletes are partly responsible for the backlash that Thomas has received. As of July 28th, Thomas’ facebook page is “liked” by 28,476 people. As far as his hockey career goes, there is nothing on his facebook page about what Thomas does on the ice that can’t be found on some other site.

In fact, if the topics weren’t what they were, then Thomas would embody what fans seem to want on social media: honest statements that let the fans know what the player is doing or thinking about.

Whether you agree or disagree with his political views, Thomas is right about one thing. Just like you and me, Thomas is an individual who is allowed to have his own views in his personal life. However, for the fan who likes a player because of what he does on the ice, then the social media platform that the player has away from the rink shouldn’t matter. The focus on athletes needs to shift back to their on-ice performance instead of their off-ice opinions.

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Quotes of the Week: Legendary Canadiens

This week, a short collection of quotes by and about some of the great Montreal Canadiens–and some of the greatest ever to play the game.

The Rocket (Library and Archives Canada)

The Rocket put me in the Hall of Fame. [3]
Elmer Lach

Rocket was so competitive, and he was stronger than a horse. [1]
Gordie Howe

I never knew in advance what I was going to do on any given play. Everything I did was done spontaneously, without any forethought. [4]
Maurice Richard

There are goals, and there are Richard goals. [6]
Dick Irvin

All of Maurice was in his eyes. [4]
The Archbishop of Montreal, at the funeral for The Rocket

We represent all of French Canada, and we know that a lot of people are counting on us. [5]
Jean Béliveau, during the 1967 Stanley Cup Finals

Le Gros Bill

Jean Béliveau would love to play the game anonymously. He appreciates respect and admiration but it embarrasses him because at heart, he thinks he’s just an ordinary fellow who happens to be able to play hockey. [4]
Senator Hartland de Molson

When I picked up [the Stanley Cup] I couldn’t believe it. The thing is lighter than a feather.[4]
Henri Richard

Guy Lafleur has more moves than a monkey on a mile of vine. [2]
Lynn Patrick

If I could be a forward, I would want to be Bob Gainey. [7]
Ken Dryden

Bob Gainey is the greatest hockey player in the world. [4]
Anatoli Tarasov

There’s no stop to hockey'you can’t pause and recharge your courage. [4]
Bob Gainey

 

SOURCES:
1. Swift, EM. “Love That OT.” Sports Illustrated, 9 May 1994.
2. Mulvoy. Mark. “To Pick A Golden Flower.” Sports Illustrated, 1 Mar 1971.
3. Stubbs, Dave. “On Elmer Lach and Émile (Butch) Bouchard retirement ceremony.” Montreal Gazette, 7 Dec 2009.
4. Bonander, Ross. Hockey Talk: Quotations about the great sport of hockey, from the players and coaches who made it great. Delabarre Publishing (2011).
5. Axthelm, Pete. “Winning One For The Rocket.” Sports Illustrated, 24 Apr 1967.
6. Wind, Herbert Warren. “Fire On The Ice.” Sports Illustrated, 6 Dec 1954.
7. Dryden, Ken. The Game.  Wiley Press (2003).

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Getting to Know the 2012-13 Colorado Avalanche

Greetings, Avs fans.

My name is Ian, and I write to you from Guelph, ON (just down the road from Jamie McGinn’s hometown of Fergus); I have a huge passion for the game of hockey and for writing, and have been working towards combining the two for a few years now. As such, it’s my pleasure to introduce myself to you and to begin the process of immersing myself in the team that I have the opportunity to cover here at The Hockey Writers.

Now, if you’ve taken the time to visit this site and check out this post, chances are you’re already interested in the Avs in some way, whether as a casual fan of the team or the league in general, or as one who has been down since ’95 (or beyond). Having said that, as a guy living in a timezone where in-depth Avs coverage is at a minimum, and since we’re currently in the dog days of summer, I thought it would be good to take a moment and consider what this team is all about.

A quick look at the standings reveals that the Avalanche finished the 2011-12 NHL season in the 11 spot out West, 16th overall in the NHL; they posted 88 points in 82 games, a mere 7 points back of the Cup champions from Los Angeles (with 1 more regulation win than the Kings to their credit). Offensively, Colorado averaged 2.43 G/G (ranked 25th in the league), and allowed 2.66 GA/G (15th). The Avs also ranked in the top half of the league in special teams and shots / shots allowed per game (stats via NHL.com). All of this is not to suggest that the Avs would have made a Quick trip to the Final had they managed to squeak into the playoffs, but rather to provide some context as to where this young team has been and where they could be going.

Gabriel Landeskog (Jeanine Leech/Icon SMI)

And a young group they are. According to QuantHockey.com, the Avs had the youngest squad in the NHL during the 2011-12 season, with an average age of 26.067. In fact, the core of the Avs roster is composed of several former high draft picks, all of whom were drafted after the lockout.

The two most prominent picks for Colorado were Matt Duchene (3rd overall in 2009) and reigning Calder trophy winner Gabriel Landeskog (2nd, 2011). Last season’s leading scorers were both selected in the 2nd round, with Ryan O’Reilly going 33rd in 2009 and Paul Stastny being selected 44th in 2005. Add-in a potential stud D-man in Erik Johnson (former #1 overall pick in 2006, acquired via the St. Louis Blues), a potential franchise goalie in Semyon Varlamov (23rd in 2006, acquired via the Capitals for a pick that became Filip Forsberg) and a standout pest in Steve Downie (29th, 2005), and you have the makings of a young, exciting and dynamic team that could and should begin to challenge the top teams in the Western Conference as early as this season.

Oh, and did I mention that the Avs currently have $16,141,667 in cap space? According to CapGeek.com, the Avs currently have the 9th lowest payroll in the NHL, even after signing P-A Parenteau to a 4-year, $16 million deal this off-season and after locking up the services of David Jones at the same price / term. With complimentary players such as Jamie McGinn, Chuck Kobasew, Cody McLeod & John Mitchell taking up smaller slices of the pie (and don’t forget about veteran Milan Hejduk, still under contract for one more year), and with a blueline that largely comes in at a relatively low cost, Colorado certainly has some flexibility in terms of adding some talent prior to the start of training camp. If this were to happen, it would most likely be through some sort of trade as the free agent pool (save for Shane Doan) has pretty well dried up.

In short, it seems as though GM Greg Sherman & head coach Joe Sacco (both with the team since 2009) have some solid pieces to build on and work with as the 2012-13 NHL season approaches. Having said that, this team will once again be in for a battle out West, and the cause certainly wasn’t aided by improvements made by key division rivals this summer. Either way, the Avs certainly are one of the league’s up & coming teams, and I very much look forward to writing about them on a regular basis.

Now, all of this is of course a somewhat cursory and introductory look at the Colorado Avalanche. As the summer progresses and as a new season begins, I will do my best to offer up in-depth player and prospect profiles, draft histories, franchise nostalgia pieces and commentary on current events surrounding the team. In the meantime, feel free to leave a comment or hit me up in twitter with any Avs-related topics that you’d like to see addressed.

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Relocation of Albany Devils Would Be Business as Usual in AHL

Increasing media attention is being paid to the precarious position of the AHL’s Albany Devils, and the question of whether or not they will have to relocate – perhaps to Glens Falls, NY.

The details of the Devil’s plight, and the interest displayed by the mayor of Glens Falls have been well documented by the media, and even other AHL squads have commented on the situation (although the team blog in question has since disappeared).

After only two seasons, some are suggesting that the the New Jersey Devils’ AHL affiliate – the Albany Devils – are relocating. Is the AHL concerned?

In short, the team owns a terrible attendance record recently, ranking last in AHL average attendance in both of the past two seasons, with fewer than 3 500 fans in each year. The team has three years remaining on a five-year deal with the Times Union Center, but there is an out clause that can be activated this December. So the Devils will play in Albany this coming season, but where they play in 2013-14 is undecided.

Even if the good citizens of Albany may be in danger of losing their team, how concerned is the AHL?

AHL Relocation Facts

While the death or movement of an NHL franchise is a rare event – particularly under Commissioner Gary Bettman’s watch – the AHL is far different than the stately NHL. The AHL structure is far more fluid and franchises’ life-cycles can be far shorter (although the Hersey Bears have been going strong since 1938).

In the past ten years 11 AHL franchises have relocated, five have suspended operations, while another six have resumed operations.

For example, in the past ten years, 11 AHL franchises have relocated, five have suspended operations, six have resumed operations, two teams have been added through expansion, two have switched names while remaining in place, and the Quebec Citadelles even merged with the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2003, only to splinter away a year later as the Toronto Road Runners.

Conversely, the NHL has seen exactly one franchise relocate in its past ten years, with the league seemingly doing everything it can to keep the clearly unviable Phoenix Coyotes in place, including taking ownership of the franchise itself.

So is the Devils’ Story Big News?

The people of Albany have enjoyed hosting an AHL team for 20 years, and no doubt some of them would regard the loss of the current team as the community’s loss.

But the AHL has shown that it’s quite comfortable with a more natural position on its membership, allowing teams to come and go as the market dictates.

Keep in mind, however, the league worked hard to grow to 30 teams so that each NHL squad could have access to a dedicated AHL affiliate. So while the league may appear casual by comparison with the NHL when it comes to franchise relocation, the AHL would be far more concerned about a team that threatened to hang ‘em up for good, vice just relocating.

Change is normal in the AHL; fans more accustomed to the NHL’s stability shouldn’t expect AHL President David Andrews to interfere Bettman-style.

AHL franchises have to work hard to succeed, and sometimes even then change is needed.

Just consider it part of the excitement.

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Ray Shero's Pittsburgh Penguins: Ready for Another Stanley Cup Run?

Ray Shero (Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE)

When Ray Shero first arrived on the scene from the Nashville Predators, he brought a hockey mindset of toughness and grit to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He signed players who brought their hard hat and lunch pail to the rink on a nightly basis.

In Shero’s 1st year as general manager of the Penguins, he signed Jarkko Ruutu and Mark Eaton. He also acquired Gary Roberts and Georges Laraque. These were players who did not have much flash, but did have workman-like attitudes.

This was Shero’s brand for success as he turned a Penguins team around that had not made the playoffs in the prior four seasons leading up to his arrival as general manager. He was not interested in stockpiling 40-goal scorers because he knew that he had that kind of talent in players like Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. Shero’s goal was to create a well-balanced hockey club which was very difficult to play against every single game.

Shero brought in veteran players who contributed in different but very important ways to the Penguins. Once Shero got ahold of the Penguins they had veteran leadership in their locker room. They had gritty players who played a physical brand of hockey.

Shero realized that the Penguins needed balance at both ends of the ice. He brought in shutdown defensemen like Hal Gill. Shero also found character players like Bill Guerin and Petr Sykora. None of these players were in their prime or known as the most talented hockey players in the league, but they filled roles on the Penguins which made the team stronger as a unit.

Since the Penguins won their 3rd Stanley Cup in franchise history, the balance has been swinging on a pendulum. Two seasons ago, the Penguins were one of the best defensive hockey teams in the NHL, but lacked scoring due to injuries. Last season, they were the highest goal-scoring hockey club in the league, but struggled mightily down the stretch at the defensive end of the rink.

The Philadelphia Flyers proved in the 1st round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs that they were a better hockey club than the Penguins. The Penguins’ weaknesses were exposed.

“They (Flyers) played a terrific series and proved that they were a better team. 188 days of the regular season went down and kind of unraveled for us in 10 days,” said Shero.

The Penguins gave up 30 goals in six games against the Flyers. Shero should have made defense an immediate off-season priority.

Zach Parise (Icon SMI)

Instead of going after Zach Parise harder than anyone else on the free agent market, Shero should have been searching for a different type of player. The Penguins showed that they lack defensemen who were gritty and play a shutdown in-your-face style of defense, or veterans who were willing to sacrifice their body to win.

Over the last few years, the Penguins have seen a lot of their character players leave like Arron Asham and Mike Rupp. In addition to these departures, they are also missing an influential veteran presence in their locker room despite the fact that core players like Crosby and Malkin have been in the league for quite a few years now.

Shero’s managing principles have seemed to change. He has focused his efforts on finding the most talented players on the market instead of searching for the key ingredients that make up a well-balanced hockey team.

It’s no secret that Head Coach Dan Bylsma wants the Penguins to play a north and south style of hockey. Bylsma wants the puck moving forward in the opposing team’s defensive zone as much as possible and he wants puck possession.

Other the hand, no matter how skilled and gifted the Penguins look on paper at both ends of the ice, they are not always going to own possession of the puck. They need to fill huge holes that were exposed towards the end of the 2011-12 season when they could not keep the puck out of their net, especially in the playoffs.

The Penguins do have a surplus of young defensemen, but how many of these so-called talented defensemen have proven themselves in the NHL? None of them. Many of them have spent time at the NHL level, but none of them have played an entire season.

“We like our defense the way that it is. If there is a chance to upgrade, we certainly are going to do that. We'll go with what we have at this point, and the same thing up front,” said Shero.

This should be a major concern for the Penguins. They need a couple of defensemen who may not move the puck with ease but will stop Alex Ovechkin every single time he has a 1-on-1 opportunity. They also need players who are willing to block shots and sacrifice their body in front of a Zdeno Chara slap shot. They need players who are difficult to play against.

Although the Penguins won 51 games in the regular season, they were 15th in the league in goals against. Although Shero may disagree, the Penguins were too easy to play against in their defensive end.

“I don't think we were easy to play against. Physically we played the game the right way (and) defended the right way,” said Shero.

Shero has also stated that the Penguins have a team goal every season to surrender less than 200 goals. This past season, the Penguins did not reach their defensive team goal. They surrendered 218 goals against. Defense needs to be more of a focus by Shero and he needs to find defensive improvements at both ends of the ice going into this season.

If the Penguins weren’t easy to play against and defended the correct way, they would not have given up 30 goals in six playoff games when goals are supposed to be harder to score than the regular season.

Whether the coaching mentality of Bylsma has influenced Shero to change his philosophy, we will never know, but Shero has been chasing a different type of player over the past few years. Shero needs to adopt his old philosophy and find more character players who fill specific roles on the Penguins.

The Penguins already have enough pure talent on their roster to win a Stanley Cup. They scored enough goals to beat the Flyers in the 1st round of the playoffs but could not keep enough rubber out of their own net. Evidence has shown that talent alone will never win a Cup in this era of hockey.

Since Byslma won the Stanley Cup in his inaugural season, his plan to all out attack has worked in the regular season but has not been very successful in the playoffs when every team puts on the defensive clamps. This attacking style preached by Bylsma has seemed to influence Shero into bringing in players who only want to play an offensive style and lack a defensive presence.

The Penguins do not need all goal scorers and they do not need all puck moving defenseman. They need a balance at both ends of the ice which consists of physical shutdown defense and a physical fore-check. The burden should not rest  solely on the defense either. They need forwards who are willing to block shots and fill roles besides trying to score goals.

“We'll do our homework and see if we can upgrade our team at some point,” said Shero. “My most important thing and job as a general manager is to have the best team we can and the best team possible.”

If Shero does not develop a well-balanced hockey team this season the Penguins will disappoint like they have since their Stanley Cup run in 2009. Opposing teams need to hate to play against the Penguins. Right now, they have the goal scoring talent, but they need to become tougher and better defensively. They do not need to be searching for anymore scoring talent. Shero needs to fill the Penguins roster with unselfish character guys who are willing to sacrifice goal scoring stats to win hockey games.

 

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Calgary Flames: Forever a Shame

While the immediate on-ice future of the Calgary Flames is anything but predictable, one constant that will remain part of the organization going forward is the continuation of the Forever a Flame program.  The controversial honorary process was first implemented this past winter when former Flame defenseman great Al MacInnis saw his number 'honored ' before a game against the St. Louis Blues on February 27^th.

 

Jarome Iginla is unlikely to have his #12 permanently retired by the Flames (Rachael Haugan/Flickr).

While MacInnis being honored is certainly an obvious move by the franchise, that fact in which he was honored is unfortunate and the Forever a Flame program will most certainly serve as a major player in granting future honorees such as Joe Nieuwendyk, Theoren Fleury, and Jarome Iginla underwhelming recognition as the program chooses to honor rather than permanently retire the jersey numbers of those selected.  As such, Al MacInnis' #2 would be available for a future player as may Jarome Iginla's #12 and/or Theoren Fleury's #14.

 

This new lethargic honoring system is also done by the Toronto Maple Leafs although they carry it out understandably as their franchise was founded in 1917 and the sheer magnitude of players deserving of a number retirement over that span would leave the current number rotation too limited.  For the Flames to operate in a similar manner is outlandish by comparison, having been in Calgary since only 1980 and only having retired two numbers prior to enacting the Forever a Flame initiative- Lanny MacDonald's #9 and Mike Vernon's #30.  While both were heavily influential during the Flames formative decade and members of the team's only championship club in 1989, it was Al MacInnis who received the Conn Smythe trophy that season as the playoff MVP and still holds the all-time assist record for the franchise.  Additionally, Miikka Kiprusoff has supplanted Mike Vernon as the best Flames goaltender of all time as he holds the franchise records for wins and shutouts.

 

Despite this, MacInnis and likely Kiprusoff and Iginla will receive an honor unbecoming of their contributions to the franchise and unequal to that of MacDonald and Vernon.  Flames President Ken King begs to differ, as he believes the Forever a Flame program 'is a

Al MacInnis raising the Conn Smythe trophy in 1989. He is the first player to receive recognition under the Forever A Flame program. (puckpassion/flickr)

high, high honor not second to anything.  We will have many more facets than this.  It's the beginning of a new tradition, and we need to be bold and brave enough to do it for all of the good reasons we have.'  While the facets to which President King referred to include a $25,000 charitable donation to charity of choice and a 'wall of fame' implemented in the Saddledome concourse, King has failed to clarify all, or any, of the good reasons for doing this.  He may claim that it is second to none and he may sincerely mean that, but in actuality the Forever a Flame program does not permanently retire the number of the player in question and as such does not hold as much significance as a jersey retirement no matter how flowery the descriptive prose is.

 

Going forward with this initiative will unfortunately give the impression of second-tier status, as it is a pedestrian way of honoring true all-time greats.  It is simply not feasible for a franchise such as the Flames to honour the great players in their limited history in such a cautious fashion.  The St. Louis Blues, a team with a longer history, certainly made no hesitation when they chose to retire MacInnis' #2 a few years ago.  While MacInnis did capture a Norris trophy there in 1999, he still spent 3 more seasons in Calgary and captured a Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe trophy.  MacInnis was a champion in Calgary, and it is truly unfortunate that the Forever a Flame program is inherently unable to honor a champion appropriately.

 

While inaugurating the program with MacInnis is controversial, it is tolerable given the amount of time that had passed since he had last donned a Flames jersey.  It would be heavily surprising if the honouring, not retiring, of Iginla's #12 and Kipprusoff's #34 were conducted without much public outcry calling for a more permanent and ironically, honorable, way of paying tribute to these current franchise greats.

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Christian Ehrhoff Might Not Need An Offensive Rebound

(Micheline/SynergyMax)

After scoring 14 goals in back-to-back seasons, and recording 94 points in two seasons for the Vancouver Canucks, big things were expected of Christian Ehrhoff going into last year’s free-agency.

But rather than making it to free-agency, the Buffalo Sabres acquired his rights and signed Ehrhoff to a 10-year $40 million contract. When Ehrhoff signed that contract, those expectations only got higher, expectations that were not entirely lived up to.

Ehrhoff fell victim to the injury bug that found its way around the Sabres locker room, missing 16 games total last season, which contributed to his drop in offensive production.  Some people see this as a down season for Ehrhoff, but his play last season just needs to be looked at in a different light.

Despite having a low season, Ehrhoff was a consistent force on the Sabres' blue-line and in front of their net. He averaged 23:03 of playing time, a team high, and had more than 20 minutes of playing time in 58 of his 66 games played.

He was perhaps the Sabres' best defenseman last season; some argue that fact because of Ehrhoff's minus-2 rating last season. But, what needs to be taken into account is the Sabres' lack luster offense, that averaged just 2.57 goals last season, and how it influenced that statistic.

Staying on the subject of offense, Ehrhoff's five goals and 32 points was his second lowest total in his last five seasons.  While finishing the season with lower numbers, Ehrhoff still ranked number one in scoring among Sabres defensemen, and seventh among the entire team. For Ehrhoff to have a “low” season, and rank that high among the rest of his team needs to be a wake up call to both him and his teammates.

When you look at the team Ehrhoff came from, a team full of offensive prowess, where he was on the powerplay with the likes of the Sedin twins, a drop in points and powerplay production should not surprise anyone.

The Sabres though were a better team when Ehrhoff did produce. The Sabres were 20-4-1 when he tallied at least one point, and were 6-0-0 when Ehrhoff had a multi-point game. These numbers have to force Sabres' fans to give Ehrhoff a break, or at least buy him some time before he is on Ville Leino’s level.

For a Sabres team under the rule of Lindy Ruff, a coach that likes his defenseman to play an offensively minded game and jump into the play, Ehrhoff is sure to rebound and see a jump in his offensive production.  However, if Ehrhoff does not rebound, his defensive play should tie over his critics and keep him out of the Sabres' doghouse.

But, if Ehrhoff does rebound, and is able to maintain his defensive presence, Ehrhoff could wreak havoc from the Sabres' blueline next season with the well rounded play he would bring to the Sabres’ roster.

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Will the Dallas Stars Sign One Last Free Agent Forward?

The 2012 NHL free agent frenzy began with a bang for the Dallas Stars, with the team making some of the biggest splashes in the league, at least in terms of talk.

Could Victor Oreskovich be a good fit for the Stars organization? (Icon SMI)

Much buzz surrounded the signings of 40 year-old veterans Ray Whitney and Jaromir Jagr, as well as the trade with the Buffalo Sabres that sent Steve Ott out and Derek Roy in. Add in the signing of defenceman Aaron Rome and the first week of free agency was a very busy one for the Stars.

The Western front has gone quiet since, however, with the team making little in the way of other moves, aside from the signing of restricted free agents like Mark Fistric and Richard Bachman, as well as other small moves.

The Stars wasted no time in assembling what they believe to be a competent and talented forward core going forward. According to NHLnumbers.com, Dallas has 13 pro forwards ready for next year (this is counting Jamie Benn, who is still an RFA but will surely be signed before the season begins). Toby Petersen will likely be sent to the AHL and be replaced on that list by Cody Eakin, but the total of 13 forwards, a healthy number for any NHL team, still remains.

Dallas, however, often rolled with 14 forwards last season, leaving open the possibility of an AHL callup.

But according to this post over at Texas Stars fansite Hundred Degree Hockey, the AHL’s Stars also have 13 forwards under contract. Taking into consideration the possibility of one of those players being promoted to the bigs, that could leave an open roster spot for one lucky contract recipient.

Dallas GM Joe Nieuwendyk seems content with his current group of NHL forwards, as well as the top prospects in the system that are currently battling their way up the ranks, so it seems unlikely that anyone will be signed to a one-way NHL contract.

The AHL’s Stars seem to be in a healthy spot as well, with a solid mix of experienced AHLers and promising prospects. However, this potential open roster spot allows for the organization to do a bit of gambling and sign a player with a possible high reward.

The cream of the free agent forward crop is all but gone, but there still remains a handful of players that feel they have something left to prove, and have shown enough promise in one way or another to suggest that signing them might yield a high return, if they are willing to accept two-way contracts.

Here now is a quick rundown of five current free agent forwards, and why they could be a good fit for the organization.

 

1) Gilbert Brule

Drafted 6th overall by Columbus in the 2005 entry draft, Brule, 25,  has struggled to consistently produce offense at the NHL level. However, he managed to score 37 points in 65 games on a woeful 2009-2010 Edmonton Oilers roster, as well as a respectable 14 points in 33 games on the defense-oriented Phoenix Coyotes last season. Might not be a serious scoring threat in the NHL, but could be a great complement to talented prospects like Alex Chiasson and Reilly Smith.

2) Rod Pelley

Strong and hardworking, Pelley, 27, is a prototypical blue collar forward. He logged reliable penalty kill minutes with the New Jersey Devils in 2009-2010 and was being touted by some as a possible anchor on the Devil’s checking line, but never seemed to move past fourth line minutes, both on the Devils and then on the Anaheim Ducks last season. With 256 games under his belt it’s less likely that he’d be willing to accept a two-way contract, but Pelley could still be a major shutdown force in Texas, especially paired with Petersen and Francis Wathier.

3) Victor Oreskovich

At 6’3″ and 215 pounds, Oreskovich, 25, has the perfect frame to go along with his hit first, ask questions later style of play. He can’t really be counted on for anything aside from hitting, including fisticuffs, but he’s a good energy player that can annoy and frustrate opposing teams, and who doesn’t love having those types of guys on their team? There are other similar players still available in free agency, but the 19 playoff games that Oreskovich logged during the Vancouver Canucks’ failed 2011 Cup Run, and the playoff experience that comes with them, put him ahead of the curve.

4) Eric Fehr

A member of the esteemed 2003 draft class, Fehr’s career has had it’s ups and downs. He torched the WHL for 111 points in 2004-2005 and scored 21 goals in 69 games for the Washington Capitals in 2009-2010, but his development has been stalled over the years by multiple injuries. Fehr was given a second chance in Winnipeg last season, but never moved past the fourth line and only managed 3 points in 35 games. Still, it’s hard to ignore the potential upside with a 6’4″, 26 year-old former 20-goal scorer. He’s easily worth a shot with a one-year, two-way contract.

5) Jamie Arniel

A bit of an oddity for the list, considering that Arniel, 21, has only played 1 game at the NHL level. He had a disastrous 2011-2012 season for the AHL’s Providence Bruins, scoring 24 points and going -17 in 74 games, and was not tendered a qualifying offer by Boston. But he led those same Providence Bruins in scoring the season beforehand with 50 points in 78 games, so he’s shown that he is capable of producing at that level. Considering his young age, another contract would be worth the risk.

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Impact players? Newcomers add depth to Flames organization

Jiri Hudler (26, in middle) is one of several new faces in the Flames line-up. (Icon SMI)

When your National Hockey League franchise misses the playoffs for a third straight season and its American Hockey League affiliate loses in the second round of the playoffs, it’s natural to presume that changes are coming. So it’s not all that surprising that Calgary Flames general manager Jay Feaster has been active, via trades and free agency, in bringing in some new faces to both the Flames and the Abbotsford Heat for the 2012-13 campaign.

But the prevailing question is whether the Flames’ additions will transform them into a playoff team, or merely allow them to tread water in the extremely competitive Western Conference.

In the interest of answering that question, here is a quick glance at the Flames spring and summer-time additions.

D Dennis Wideman
Acquired: trade with Washington
Price Tag: $5.25 million cap hit
Arguably the Flames’ flashiest move of the summer was acquiring Wideman’s rights from Washington prior to July 1. Wideman fills a need in Calgary’s top four – he can eat minutes and provide some flash on the back end, while allowing the team to shelter Chris Butler, Derek Smith and T.J. Brodie a bit. He’s also expected to bolster Calgary’s middling power-play with a much-needed cannon from the point. That said, the cap hit is high.
Potential Impact: Moderate; He’ll definitely improve the power-play, but he was in the bottom pairing for the Capitals in the playoffs.

D Brady Lamb
Acquired: college free agent
Price Tag: $925,000 cap hit
A veteran of four years of wars in the NCAA, including a national championship win, Lamb brings some veteran presence to the Flames’ organization despite technically being a rookie. A Calgary native, Lamb will probably start in Abbotsford and will provide some physicality on the back end. He’s also got a bit of offensive flair to his game, so he could find a home on the Heat power-play before too long. The fact that he hasn’t played any pro at all makes him quite valuable for a Heat club that was hamstrung by injuries and the AHL development rule last year.
Potential Impact: Minimal; He’ll be in the AHL, at least to start, due to Calgary’s log-jam of defenders.

D Joe Callahan
Acquired: free agent
Price Tag: AHL contract
Added as a depth option for Abbotsford, Callahan is a fairly reliable veteran with AHL stints in Springfield, San Antonio, Portland, Bridgeport, Worcester, Utah, Rochester and Hamilton. He’s also amassed 46 NHL games between the Islanders, Sharks and Panthers.
Potential Impact: Very Minimal; AHL body, but will likely sit often due to AHL development rule.

D Zach McKelvie
Acquired: free agent
Price Tag: AHL contract
At times a star with the U.S. Military Academy hockey team in the NCAA – he was a conference all-star in 2008 – McKelvie was unable to turn pro for two years as he served with the American armed forces to fulfill his service requirements. He wobbled between the Providence Bruins and Reading Royals last season and is probably just a depth option for the Heat.
Potential Impact: Very Minimal; AHL (or ECHL) body, but he’s got potential.

F Roman Cervenka

Dennis Wideman was added by the Flames in late June. (Tom Turk/THW).

Acquired: free agent
Price Tag: $3.775 million cap hit, including a lot of potential bonuses
Sometimes touted as the best forward outside of the NHL, Cervenka was courted by many teams but signed by the Flames, possibly because Calgary’s lack of top-six scorers meant that Cervenka is immediately going to get a lot of ice-time. He was very good in the KHL, but he’s also 26 and has never played North American hockey before. If he can adjust to the ice-size and speed right away, he’ll be a good addition.
Potential Impact: Moderate to High; If he can get adjusted to the NHL game quickly enough, he’ll give the Flames some upper-end depth.

F Jiri Hudler
Acquired: free agent
Price Tag: $4 million cap hit
If you’re Jay Feaster and you’ve just signed a flashy Czech forward who’s never played in North America before and speaks no English, it probably seems like a smart idea to sign a veteran Czech who’s played in North America for years and has a Stanley Cup ring. You’d be right. Hudler will provide the Flames with a nice depth option, but he’ll suffer a bit from not having the line-mates he had in Detroit.
Potential Impact: Moderate; Hudler’s a great complementary player. His impact depends on who he’s supposed to be complementing.

F David Eddy
Acquired: college free agent
Price Tag: $532,000 cap hit
Jumping to the pros after three years at St. Cloud State, Eddy plays a strong two-way game and has some offensive upside. He’ll anchor a fairly underrated forward group in Abbotsford.
Potential Impact: Minimal (in the NHL), Moderate (in the AHL); Eddy probably won’t crack the Flames roster for awhile, but he’ll give Troy Ward some great depth in key situations.

F Sven Baertschi
Acquired: 2011 NHL Draft
Price Tag: $1.425 million cap hit, including a lot of potential bonuses
After a five-game emergency call-up in the winter, 2011 first round pick Sven Baertschi finally hits the NHL full-time this season. Baertschi was incredible at times in his short stint and while he’s likely going to have some adjustments to make once he’s a full-timer, he’s going to give the Flames a lot more offensive options.
Potential Impact: Moderate; Baertschi will be given every chance to score, but he’ll have to adjust to the physicality of NHL defenders.

F Max Reinhart
Acquired: 2010 NHL Draft
Price Tag: $870,000 cap hit
The eldest son of former NHLer Paul Reinhart, Max is a very adaptable, cerebral player. He made the jump from the WHL to the AHL late last season and looked strong. He’s got a bit of work to do in terms of adding body mass, as he’s still rather lean, but he should become Abbotsford’s all-situations utility player right away. He’ll get a long look at the NHL camp because of his last name and junior playoff success alone.
Potential Impact: Moderate; Reinhart will be a great top-six option in Abbotsford and could provide great bottom-six support in Calgary, provided that he can add some mass and not lose what makes his game work.

F Turner Elson
Acquired: undrafted free agent
Price Tag: $548,000 cap hit
Signed after a fairly strong performance as a try-out at last year’s training camp, Elson graduates from a very good Red Deer Rebels team and will have to forge an identity as a pro. He’s shown leadership capabilities in Red Deer, as well as being a rough-and-tumble two-way player that makes life hard for the opposition. He could project to be a Lance Bouma type over time, but he’ll have to show he can hack it in the AHL first.
Potential Impact: Minimal; Elson has to show what he can offer at the AHL level.

F Ben Street
Acquired: free agent
Price Tag: $575,000
A familiar name to Heat head coach Troy Ward (who was an assistant coach when the University of Wisconsin was recruiting), Ben Street had a good five-year tenure with the Badgers, even serving as captain for two (albeit injury-shortened) years. He has since put up very good numbers in the ECHL and strong numbers in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He’ll add an offensive option for the Heat that doesn’t have to be hindered by the AHL’s development rule.
Potential Impact: Minimal (in the NHL), Moderate (in the AHL); Street’s been great in the minors, but not great enough to earn an NHL call-up. He projects to be a depth option for Calgary, at least until he shows how well he fits into their systems.

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Edmonton Oilers All-Time Roster

Any talk of Oiler greats starts with Wayne Gretzky (Phil/Flickr)

With the Edmonton Oilers previous season well over, and the upcoming season months (hopefully) away, Oiler fans are sitting, awaiting the next big Oiler news. They have had an eventful offseason already and fans and management alike are taking some time to catch their breath before their next move.

In watching current budding stars Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins not to mention looking forward to arriving potential talents like Nail Yakupov and Justin Schultz, it got me thinking about the Oiler greats of the past, the dynasty of the 80′s and other stars that have suited up for the blue and orange.

With that in mind I set out to put together the best Oilers lineup of all time, and what that would look like spanning 30+ years.  Not just the mostly purely talented but the most balanced lineup in team history.

In the end the aforementioned trio of Eberle, Hall and Nugent-Hopkins were left off, based on simply too small a sample size to go up against the rest of the names on this list.  While I am quite confident their name will one day, and soon, be among the ones listed, they’ll have to wait their turn.

Forwards:

LW	C	RW
Glenn Anderson	Wayne Gretzky 'C'	Jari Kurri
Ryan Smyth	Mark Messier 'A'	Craig Simpson
Esa Tikkanen	Doug Weight	Ales Hemsky
Todd Marchant	Craig MacTavish	Kelly Buchberger

 

When putting together the lineup, the first line was pretty easy to put down, with three Hall of Famers.  The legendary Wayne Gretzky, arguably hockey’s greatest player was the first name down as #1 centre and team captain.  His wings were not that much more difficult with Anderson and Kurri, number two and three on the Oilers all time goals scored list.  Kurri is one of the most complete players in NHL history as well as being one of it’s best goal scorers, and the chemistry between he and Gretzky was almost unstoppable.  One of the better power forwards of his time, Anderson went to the net hard and did the dirty work to be successful, a perfect complement on our 1st line.

Mark Messier is a no-brainer as #2 centre and assistant captain.  The Moose is second all-time in Oiler assist leaders and third in points, not to mention one of the best clutch players in history.  Ryan Smyth on the left side, leads in almost all offensive categories in terms of active Oilers including, goals, assists, points and penalty minutes, he’s also a heart and soul type player that can play up and down a lineup.  Craig Simpson gets the nod on the right side, in his 7 seasons as an Oiler he averaged 31 goals per year with a total of 185 in those years, good for 7th on the all-time Oiler list.

Doug Weight is the third line centre.  An Oiler for 9 seasons, Weight lead the Oilers through some down years and still put up big numbers, averaging 0.98 points per game during that time.  Esa Tikkanen on left wing is a player that did a lot of things for the Oilers.  He was a pest, and hard to play against, but also very talented and scored 178 goals in his 7+seasons with the team.  Ales Hemsky gets the nod on the right side, for as much as he drives Oiler fans crazy with stretches of inconsistency, his talent is undeniable and he has put up numbers at a point per game pace when fully healthy.  The problem being he has had very few healthy seasons, but has still amassed 431 career points as an Oiler.

Defence:

LD	RD
Paul Coffey 'A'	Kevin Lowe
Charlie Huddy	Chris Pronger
Steve Smith	Jason Smith

 

Again the first couple of names did not take a whole of effort to come up with.  Paul Coffey is not only one of the best Oilers of all-time but one of the best in all of hockey.  A pure skater, Coffey is second all-time in NHL scoring by defencemen, trailing only Ray Bourque.  He holds just about every Oilers offensive record by defencemen whether its regular season or playoff, all-time or single season.  The other name on the top pairing is Kevin Lowe, the current Oilers president is also the team’s all-time leader in games played and is second behind Coffey in points.

On the second pairing, Charlie Huddy gets an automatic nod, another member of the Oilers ’80′s dynasty he joins Coffey and Lowe as being in the top 3 on the Oilers all-time list of goals (2nd), assists (3rd) and points (3rd) by defencemen.  Chris Pronger joins him, and while still considered Public Enemy #1 during his one season, it was one great season.  He helped lead the team from the 8th seed in the West all the way to game 7 of the Stanley Cup in 2006.  He lead the team with 21 points in the playoffs and a +10 rating.

Author of the infamous goal in his own net in ’86 against the Flames, Steve Smith is remembered for much more than that as an Oiler.  A three time Cup champ with the Oilers, Smith is 4th on the Oilers all-time list of goals, assists and points.  Jason Smith is also on the third pair, a gritty, physical defenceman who can clear the front of the net.  He also brings leadership, as he is tied with Gretzky as the longest serving captain in team history.

Goaltenders:

G

Grant Fuhr

Andy Moog

 

Hall of Fame goaltender Grant Fuhr is #1 in our lineup, he backstopped the Oilers to four of their five championships and was a five time NHL all-star.  One of the best clutch goaltenders of all-time, he is also the Oilers all-time leader in wins.

The backup spot was more challenging and came down to a debate between Bill Ranford and Andy Moog.  In the end Moog got the nod.  While Ranford is the all-time leader in games played and second in wins, Moog has an Oilers record of 143-53 for a .730 winning percentage,  far better than that of Ranford’s.  He also formed an impressive duo with Fuhr during a large portion of their ’80′s dynasty, he won three Stanley Cups with the team, one as the starter.

Coach:

Glen Sather

Perhaps an obvious choice, Sather’s numbers and tenure speaks for itself.  ”Slats” was the Oilers head coach for 14 seasons, coming over with the team from the WHA.  He coached a total of 842 games and had 464 wins which is tops all time amongst Oiler bench bosses.  He also led the team to 4 Stanley Cups and only missed the playoffs in one season as coach, which ended up being his last in 1993-94.

*stats courtesy of hockeydb.com

While this roster will no doubt spark much debate about players deserving to be added or removed, as it certainly did with me and my circle of colleagues, the fact is the Edmonton Oilers have had no shortage of star players throughout their history and ones that have made a lasting impression on the organization and fans.  Oiler fans are hoping that the new crop of blue chip youngsters will resemble past Oiler greats and will bring modern playoff success to Oil Country and look to re-write this roster with their names etched in.

That, however is a debate for another time, and the current young guns have a lot to prove before they can even enter that conversation.

 

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.

Carolina Hurricanes Sign Alex Semin to 1-Year Deal

The Carolina Hurricanes further bolstered their offense Thursday afternoon, signing former 40-goal scorer Alex Semin to a 1-year deal. The contract will pay him $7 million for the 2012-13 season.

Semin signs 1 year deal with Carolina.

— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 26, 2012

After weeks of speculation and a longer stay on the free agent market than anticipated, Carolina signed the Russian native for a deal that will expire on July 1, 2013. GM Jim Rutherford had previously stated that he was interested in brining Semin aboard on a short-term basis, and that’s exactly what was accomplished in this transaction.

'We have done a lot of research about Alexander, and discussions about his fit with our team have included people at many different levels of our organization, including players, coaches and staff,' said Rutherford in a press release.'What's been clear throughout this process was his commitment to wanting to play in the NHL, and compete against the world's best players.

'Alexander's elite skill level and ability to score from the wing fill an important need on the ice, and we hope that a fresh start in Carolina will serve both Alexander and our team well.'

What does this signing mean for Carolina? That all depends, of course, on what Semin they’ll be getting. Will it be the dangerous sniper capable of finishing among the top goal-scorers in the league, or will it be the locker room distraction that can harm the team’s chances of returning to the playoffs? Only time will tell.

If it’s the former of the two scenarios, the Canes should be able to crack into the top 10 in the NHL in scoring next season. Between the addition of Semin and the trade for Jordan Staal, Carolina’s forward corps has a whole lot more potential than in 2011-12. Couple these signings with a developing and healthy Jeff Skinner, and all of the sudden the Canes could very well sport one of the most potent offenses in the league.

'I'm very happy to be a Carolina Hurricane,' said Semin. 'It's a great fit for me. I look forward to playing with great players, and putting together a winning season.'

 

This article was originally published at: The Hockey Writers.