As I am too deathly lazy this holiday season to come up with my usual blend of witty one-liners and insightful NHL analysis (Hey, it's better than watching Versus at least!) I bring to you, the hockey fanatics of the world, the 12 Days of Hockey Hanukkah.
They are not meant to rhyme, so if you sing it, you will look like a moron. People will laugh at you.
The basic premise was 12-1 thing(s) that certain NHL teams, players, and figureheads could use around the Christmas season. But then I ran out of ideas, and -- despite the fact that I'm a Catholic -- changed it to the 8 Nights of Hockey Hanukkah.
So here we go...
8,000 people at a Coyotes game. It'd be a season high, and the ol' Jobing.com arena would just be rockin'.
7 NHL Officials Fired...Because clearly, 7 of them have to be not enforcing the standards. Stick with me here, I've been watching games religiously since November, and every 7 games seems to let the hooking go. So therefore, 7 officials get canned with some new Walken-ites. Yeah, I know it's a stretch.
6th Place...for the New York Islanders. That's where they could be if they play the Nolan way the rest of the year. The Islanders were mocked so badly (including by this writer, if you may remember) that finishing in the Top 10 in the East would've justified Garth Snow's job as Charles Wang's sock puppet, but, it's Christmas, and they're in 3rd in the Atlantic, and currently in the Top 8. This team of mediocre journeymen and overachievers can hang tough with the top teams in this league (See their 6-0 win over Atlantic last week, and how they manhandled New Jersey earlier this year).
5 Million Votes... For Rory Fitzpatrick. That will get him into the All-Star Game. With Gary Bettman surprisingly in favor, and many hockey commentators (Chris Cuthbert in particular) pissed off, it'll be fun to see how the saga wraps up on January 2nd.
4 Devils D-Men...to replace the joke of a core we've got now. When Brad Lukowich has been your most stable veteran D-man the past two weeks, things are in trouble. Sure, New Jersey's in first place, but do you really think a team who's Top 4 is Lukowich, Brian Rafalski, Paul Martin and Colin White are a core that can get you deep into May and June?
3 Million Viewers - Who watch The NHL On NBC when it opens on January 13. Smart move from the No Hitting League, it got NBC to give it serious promo time on the Cowboys-Eagles Christmas day game. Odds are, anywhere from 20-30 Million people could be watching the game, so why would it be so much to expect 3 million to see Sid the Kid?
2 Million Readers - For my new blog, Battle of New York, where myself and Derek Felix of NYSportsDay.com talk about the Devils and Rangers (and hopefully a third blogger soon for the Islanders) and the issues around the NHL.
And one full head of hair for J.D. Seriously, he's gotta be out of the stuff by now, from the pulling out of it he's had to do watching Keith Tkachuk lead them in scoring, and no, that isn't a good thing, when your leading scorer spends more time at Jack in the Box than on the ice. As I've said before, every move he's made has failed. Other than the idea the Erik Johnson is coming soon, and
The development of Lee Stempniak, what has he to be happy about? Tkachuk, Weight, Guerin, Rucinsky, McKee...they've all busted. Petr Cajanek and Barrett Jackman's development has been arrested. I know players love to come to St. Louis after there retired, but this is just ridiculous.
Come home, J.D.
Merry Christmas Hockey Fans.
-SFM-
Thursday, December 28, 2006
December 18th Column
So, that kid Crosby, he was OK this week.
Thanks to the NHL's fantastic Web casting agreement with Yahoo! and to the fact that living in the New York area allows me to see Sidney Crosby 24 times a year (Thank you, Gary Bettman's convoluted little brain), I was able to watch him torch Philly and the Isles for 10 points in two games. He's got 52 points now, and it's mind-boggling to think that a 19-year old is currently ruling the hockey world. While I may have made my case for Marty Brodeur as an MVP last week, does anyone think a Crosby-less Penguins are still in Pittsburgh TODAY, nevertheless with a playoff shot.
Speaking of the Islanders, they proved how the NHL's convoluted scheduling--not of opponents, but in time between games-- can really hurt a team. On Friday, after not playing for five straight days, they got trashed 7-4 by Sid the Kid's Penguins, and making them look like laughingstocks by #87. But on Saturday, with a returned Alexei Yashin (I know, it's remarkable that I just said that) they went out and, pardon the pun, thrashed Atlanta.
Long Island is a problem market for the NHL right now, but in no small amount is it because of the Isles. This is a likeable team of mostly hardworking role players who really seem to want to win. You have to think the Isle faithful will return to see this team make a run after they were labeled as a punch-line by certain pundits in the NHL-o-sphere.
Sometimes, I can find myself on a power trip. I saw it as a personal, Stephen Colbert-ish victory when--after my column trashing them--both FOX and ESPN made changes to their NFL scoreboards. Now, I'm taking on Versus' NHL Intermissions and postgames. Quoting Matthew Perry, "Could you be any less informative?"
I had this conversation (or something akin to it) with my brother a couple weeks ago:
When you watch NBA, NFL and MLB highlight shows, you get in depth statistics, stuff that goes inside the game. Versus needs to start doing this. Hockey's a fantastic game for stat-freaks and fantasy-nerds. Also, could you please add a bottom line ticker? That would be helpful for the 75% of the time we can't view the scoreboard rolling above your head. Thank you.
Andy Murray has his work cut out for him in St. Louis. He's got a team built for a Stanley Cup in 1997. GM John Davidson has made some major mistakes in his first year. Namely: EVERY SINGLE PERSON HE HAS SIGNED, HAS FAILED. Keith Tkachuk leads them, with 22 points. Martin Rucinsky is just below that with 19. Petr Cajanek is nowhere near his assist levels last year, Jay McKee and Barret Jackman have all missed time due to injury. JD's hair is getting thinner and greyer by the day. Maybe when he returns to the Garden in January, he'll see he probably should've never left.
Is it too early to hypothesize that Ovechkin and Crosby could meet in the playoffs? This year? Bettman and Co. would blow a load, and it's probably too early, still but take a look. Both clubs have the hardest part of their schedules--The West coast trip-out of the way, save for a quick back-to-back in Dallas and Phoenix for the Penguins in January. Now it's just a question of winning against the division, a feat neither team has had much of a problem with this year. Pittsburgh is 11-4-2 against the Atlantic, while the Caps have survived at 5-5-2, but have managed to stick around. It's probably crazy to think, but still, it's a fun dream to have, and something this league needs.
For this to be more than just a friendly rivalry would go toward making this an actual one.
Finally, one more Penguin related topic, kudos to Hockey Night in Canada for giving into the masses. Originally slated to air the Rangers-Maple Leafs game to the nation (Save for Ottawa and Montreal) and leave Crosby vs. the Habs to only Quebec viewers, that plan drew rage from fans across Canada, even though the Rangers are a better team and have that guy Jagr there. Anyway, eventually HNIC and the CBC caved in, and instead of a 9-2 game, they got a 6-3 one. Happy?
Finally, the Nashville Predators drew 12,000 fans Thursday, all of whom I'm sure were making a priority to see the Ottawa Senators for the only time in the next three years.
-SFM-
Thanks to the NHL's fantastic Web casting agreement with Yahoo! and to the fact that living in the New York area allows me to see Sidney Crosby 24 times a year (Thank you, Gary Bettman's convoluted little brain), I was able to watch him torch Philly and the Isles for 10 points in two games. He's got 52 points now, and it's mind-boggling to think that a 19-year old is currently ruling the hockey world. While I may have made my case for Marty Brodeur as an MVP last week, does anyone think a Crosby-less Penguins are still in Pittsburgh TODAY, nevertheless with a playoff shot.
Speaking of the Islanders, they proved how the NHL's convoluted scheduling--not of opponents, but in time between games-- can really hurt a team. On Friday, after not playing for five straight days, they got trashed 7-4 by Sid the Kid's Penguins, and making them look like laughingstocks by #87. But on Saturday, with a returned Alexei Yashin (I know, it's remarkable that I just said that) they went out and, pardon the pun, thrashed Atlanta.
Long Island is a problem market for the NHL right now, but in no small amount is it because of the Isles. This is a likeable team of mostly hardworking role players who really seem to want to win. You have to think the Isle faithful will return to see this team make a run after they were labeled as a punch-line by certain pundits in the NHL-o-sphere.
Sometimes, I can find myself on a power trip. I saw it as a personal, Stephen Colbert-ish victory when--after my column trashing them--both FOX and ESPN made changes to their NFL scoreboards. Now, I'm taking on Versus' NHL Intermissions and postgames. Quoting Matthew Perry, "Could you be any less informative?"
I had this conversation (or something akin to it) with my brother a couple weeks ago:
"What, the Buffalo Sabres beat Montreal 3-1? Well that's just great. Who scored?"
"I dunno, I'm watchin Versus."
When you watch NBA, NFL and MLB highlight shows, you get in depth statistics, stuff that goes inside the game. Versus needs to start doing this. Hockey's a fantastic game for stat-freaks and fantasy-nerds. Also, could you please add a bottom line ticker? That would be helpful for the 75% of the time we can't view the scoreboard rolling above your head. Thank you.
Andy Murray has his work cut out for him in St. Louis. He's got a team built for a Stanley Cup in 1997. GM John Davidson has made some major mistakes in his first year. Namely: EVERY SINGLE PERSON HE HAS SIGNED, HAS FAILED. Keith Tkachuk leads them, with 22 points. Martin Rucinsky is just below that with 19. Petr Cajanek is nowhere near his assist levels last year, Jay McKee and Barret Jackman have all missed time due to injury. JD's hair is getting thinner and greyer by the day. Maybe when he returns to the Garden in January, he'll see he probably should've never left.
Is it too early to hypothesize that Ovechkin and Crosby could meet in the playoffs? This year? Bettman and Co. would blow a load, and it's probably too early, still but take a look. Both clubs have the hardest part of their schedules--The West coast trip-out of the way, save for a quick back-to-back in Dallas and Phoenix for the Penguins in January. Now it's just a question of winning against the division, a feat neither team has had much of a problem with this year. Pittsburgh is 11-4-2 against the Atlantic, while the Caps have survived at 5-5-2, but have managed to stick around. It's probably crazy to think, but still, it's a fun dream to have, and something this league needs.
For this to be more than just a friendly rivalry would go toward making this an actual one.
Finally, one more Penguin related topic, kudos to Hockey Night in Canada for giving into the masses. Originally slated to air the Rangers-Maple Leafs game to the nation (Save for Ottawa and Montreal) and leave Crosby vs. the Habs to only Quebec viewers, that plan drew rage from fans across Canada, even though the Rangers are a better team and have that guy Jagr there. Anyway, eventually HNIC and the CBC caved in, and instead of a 9-2 game, they got a 6-3 one. Happy?
Finally, the Nashville Predators drew 12,000 fans Thursday, all of whom I'm sure were making a priority to see the Ottawa Senators for the only time in the next three years.
-SFM-
December 11th Column
Has anything remotely interesting happened in the NHL this week? I've been looking for three days to find a story to lead off with, and honestly, I can't think of anything that great. The biggest story this week may have happened all the way back in the middle of last week, when it was declared that Vancouver Canucks defenseman Rory Fitzpatrick had gotten more votes than ANY OTHER PLAYER in the entire NHL All-Star voting for the week they had been counting from, and is, probably as we speak, climbing up even further in voting. While I think Fitzpatrick is the wrong player for this, I believe that this could open us up to a new category of All-Star Voting. Like the 25th Man Voting in the MLB, set aside five slots for a hard-working player who's never gonna make an All-Star game. Jay Pandolfo, Sammy Pahlsson, Radek Bonk, someone akin to that who plays on a checking line and does his job the best he can every night.
It's a 12-10 exhibition every year that players wanna skip; consider it a gift to the guys who don't wanna be there.
Pierre-Marc Bouchard's spin-o-rama goal in a shootout against Chicago on Wednesday is just another reason shootouts should be banned. Now that players are doing these spin-o-ramas and trick shots, it's become even worse than an Skills Competition. Marty Brodeur made the point last week that a shooter could flip the puck on his stick, lacrosse style, and carry it in and just whip the puck into the net. There's nothing in the rule against it. The shootout, even worse, has become an insult to the overtime played before it. Have you seen how exciting 4-on-4 OT has been lately? Can't we have 20 minutes, even 10 minutes of that to decide a game instead of this shootout nonsense?
Since I'm such a positive guy, let's name the 10 worst players in terms of plus/minus rating so far this season:
An interesting read in The Hockey News each week has been Ken Campbell's compilation of key statistics to show a player's value. Instead of just goals and assists, he assigns points and half-points to goals and assists that are or set up the first goal, a tying goal or assist, a winning goal or assist, and so on. It definitely makes you think twice about who has value in the NHL.
Now, apparently, everyone and their mothers must be between the benches to call a hockey game. Networks around hockey are trying out different ways of using people in between the panes of glass at center ice. TSN has put both the play-by-play man and color commentator there in Buffalo (with the dependable Chris Cuthbert and Glenn Healy doing a fine job), FSN Detroit is putting Ken Daniels there and leaving color guy Mickey Redmond in the press box for a game, and Versus has also planned to experiment with this during the season. It's interesting that an American network started this trend, with NBC and its inside-the-glass reporters, which will continue this season. Hopefully, NHL players are just as willing to comply with the people standing next to them. It's been reported that Pierre McGuire's gotten into shouting matches with guys because of things he's said. Thankfully, they won't be airing a Phoenix Coyotes game this year will NBC; no JR equals no controversy.
Teemu Selanne just keeps scoring. I'm convinced that the gritless wonder just will not stop his torrid pace. In fact, I'll say it right now: the Finnish Flash has the best chance out of anyone in the current Top 5 scoring leaders (Jagr, Hossa, St. Louis and Crosby) to keep it going and win the Art Ross Trophy at season's end.
Speaking of awards, it's crazy to think that Olaf Kolzig has been the league's MVP to this point in the season. The fact is, when Ovechkin and Semin are on your team, you are not the sole reason for your team's victories. While key to his team's success, a 3.15 GAA and only 10 wins in 21 starts is not MVP-type material. I hate to honk the homer-horn, but Martin Brodeur may be, among goaltenders, the lone namesake to a possible Hart Trophy run. Brodeur has been rock solid, and was in no way responsible for the Devils west coast losing streak in late November. 17 wins, a .919 save %, a defense void of Stevens, Niedermayer and Daneyko, and more saves than any goalie (except, obviously, Roberto Luongo) makes him a prime candidate for more than a Vezina.
-SFM-
It's a 12-10 exhibition every year that players wanna skip; consider it a gift to the guys who don't wanna be there.
Pierre-Marc Bouchard's spin-o-rama goal in a shootout against Chicago on Wednesday is just another reason shootouts should be banned. Now that players are doing these spin-o-ramas and trick shots, it's become even worse than an Skills Competition. Marty Brodeur made the point last week that a shooter could flip the puck on his stick, lacrosse style, and carry it in and just whip the puck into the net. There's nothing in the rule against it. The shootout, even worse, has become an insult to the overtime played before it. Have you seen how exciting 4-on-4 OT has been lately? Can't we have 20 minutes, even 10 minutes of that to decide a game instead of this shootout nonsense?
Since I'm such a positive guy, let's name the 10 worst players in terms of plus/minus rating so far this season:
1. A tie between Petr Nedved and Kyle Calder, both of the Flyers, at -20.
3. Enver Lisin, which sounds like a type of medication that Tim Conway should be promoting in infomercials, of Phoenix at -18
4. Back to Philly, all-world defender Joni Pitkanen is at -17
5. Brian Willsie of the Kings at -16
6. Bryce Salvador of the hapless Blues at -15
7. A three-way tie between Jozef Stumpel, R. J. Umberger, and Adam Foote, -13
10. Fleet-footed defenseman Derian Hatcher of Philadelphia at -12
An interesting read in The Hockey News each week has been Ken Campbell's compilation of key statistics to show a player's value. Instead of just goals and assists, he assigns points and half-points to goals and assists that are or set up the first goal, a tying goal or assist, a winning goal or assist, and so on. It definitely makes you think twice about who has value in the NHL.
Now, apparently, everyone and their mothers must be between the benches to call a hockey game. Networks around hockey are trying out different ways of using people in between the panes of glass at center ice. TSN has put both the play-by-play man and color commentator there in Buffalo (with the dependable Chris Cuthbert and Glenn Healy doing a fine job), FSN Detroit is putting Ken Daniels there and leaving color guy Mickey Redmond in the press box for a game, and Versus has also planned to experiment with this during the season. It's interesting that an American network started this trend, with NBC and its inside-the-glass reporters, which will continue this season. Hopefully, NHL players are just as willing to comply with the people standing next to them. It's been reported that Pierre McGuire's gotten into shouting matches with guys because of things he's said. Thankfully, they won't be airing a Phoenix Coyotes game this year will NBC; no JR equals no controversy.
Teemu Selanne just keeps scoring. I'm convinced that the gritless wonder just will not stop his torrid pace. In fact, I'll say it right now: the Finnish Flash has the best chance out of anyone in the current Top 5 scoring leaders (Jagr, Hossa, St. Louis and Crosby) to keep it going and win the Art Ross Trophy at season's end.
Speaking of awards, it's crazy to think that Olaf Kolzig has been the league's MVP to this point in the season. The fact is, when Ovechkin and Semin are on your team, you are not the sole reason for your team's victories. While key to his team's success, a 3.15 GAA and only 10 wins in 21 starts is not MVP-type material. I hate to honk the homer-horn, but Martin Brodeur may be, among goaltenders, the lone namesake to a possible Hart Trophy run. Brodeur has been rock solid, and was in no way responsible for the Devils west coast losing streak in late November. 17 wins, a .919 save %, a defense void of Stevens, Niedermayer and Daneyko, and more saves than any goalie (except, obviously, Roberto Luongo) makes him a prime candidate for more than a Vezina.
-SFM-
November 28th Column
It's fun to see fans unite in disapproval for what they see as boring.
Saturday night, as the New Jersey Devils took on the San Jose Sharks, the sellout crowd of 17,000 and change saw the Devils, as is customary in hockey, wait behind their net for players to change so they could develop a play. This is quite boring, so the 17,000 decided to boo them soundly every time while their Sharks failed to forecheck. It flabbergasted announcers Mike "Doc" Emrick and Glenn "Chico" Resch, but I say 'go ahead.' It's like in baseball, when a pitcher keeps throwing back to first. It's something you have to do, but so what? If we find it boring, I say jeer it all you want. Because of their raucous and devoted fans, San Jose is quickly turning into a very valuable market for the NHL. A Stanley Cup in the 4th largest TV market in the U.S. (that is, if they can unite the entire bay area) would certainly look good in the papers.
Brett Hull is joining The NHL On NBC when it returns January 6th. He will be a studio analyst. This is a smart move by the Peacock and should make for good TV if they don't limit him to gliding around the rink at 30 Rock. NBC better be smart, and let Hull say whatever he wants. He's a natural for TV -- just watch this commercial of him promoting Mike Modano's All-Star Campaign.
Why is everyone so damn excited about the Boston Bruins all of a sudden? Last I checked, they still reside at the bottom of the Northeast Division. If you head to Versus.com and watch their Week in Review (an internet exclusive and reason No. 1,430 why Versus' NHL Coverage trumps ESPN's) you would think, from what Brian Engblom is saying, they had risen to the top of the East. Same with the other team he features in the Calgary Flames. Let's talk about a team really rising up ... like, say, the first place New York Islanders? How about the unexpected Colorado Avalanche? But let's talk about two last place teams some more.
A great feature on Alexander Ovechkin in this week's Washington Post Magazine. It documents his childhood growing up in Moscow, and talks about his rise to fame in the NHL. This is exactly the type of thing that is needed to promote the game. Talk about these people who play the game. Because that's who they are. They're not mega millionaires who clamor for attention. They're mega millionaires who have stayed humble even through fame.
The Eastern Conference, for a second straight year, is dominating the NHL points race in the early going. Out of the Top 20 scorers in the league, the first 13 play in the East, and 17 of the Top 20 total. The top scorer from a team that doesn't play its home games in California comes all the way down to number 28 (Edmonton's Petr Sykora, 12-12-24). However, the adverse effect comes in when it comes to the goaltending categories. Thirteen of the Top 20 G.A.A leaders are from the West. And in cross-conference play? The West is 26-19-7 vs. the East. Which, realistically is 26-26. What am I trying to prove here? Things are pretty even in the NHL!
The fascination with black hockey players for the sake of them being black has to stop. FSN New York's Devils telecasts, usually one of the more credible ones in the league, shamelessly did it twice during the Devils' most recent western road trip. First it was Georges Laraque in Phoenix. OK, so Georgie's an enforcer, a fun guy to be around. Still, no player is worth spending an entire period talking about. Next, in the aforementioned San Jose-New Jersey game on Saturday, they must have cut to Mike Grier at least five times without any impetus to do so. I'm all for the NHL being diverse, but I'm also against the NHL pandering to a supposed minority audience which, to be frank, is almost nonexistent anyway.
If you're interested in fun hockey video, check out the video gallery at HockeyOK.IT, the official website for the various Italian hockey leagues.
-SFM-
Saturday night, as the New Jersey Devils took on the San Jose Sharks, the sellout crowd of 17,000 and change saw the Devils, as is customary in hockey, wait behind their net for players to change so they could develop a play. This is quite boring, so the 17,000 decided to boo them soundly every time while their Sharks failed to forecheck. It flabbergasted announcers Mike "Doc" Emrick and Glenn "Chico" Resch, but I say 'go ahead.' It's like in baseball, when a pitcher keeps throwing back to first. It's something you have to do, but so what? If we find it boring, I say jeer it all you want. Because of their raucous and devoted fans, San Jose is quickly turning into a very valuable market for the NHL. A Stanley Cup in the 4th largest TV market in the U.S. (that is, if they can unite the entire bay area) would certainly look good in the papers.
Brett Hull is joining The NHL On NBC when it returns January 6th. He will be a studio analyst. This is a smart move by the Peacock and should make for good TV if they don't limit him to gliding around the rink at 30 Rock. NBC better be smart, and let Hull say whatever he wants. He's a natural for TV -- just watch this commercial of him promoting Mike Modano's All-Star Campaign.
Why is everyone so damn excited about the Boston Bruins all of a sudden? Last I checked, they still reside at the bottom of the Northeast Division. If you head to Versus.com and watch their Week in Review (an internet exclusive and reason No. 1,430 why Versus' NHL Coverage trumps ESPN's) you would think, from what Brian Engblom is saying, they had risen to the top of the East. Same with the other team he features in the Calgary Flames. Let's talk about a team really rising up ... like, say, the first place New York Islanders? How about the unexpected Colorado Avalanche? But let's talk about two last place teams some more.
A great feature on Alexander Ovechkin in this week's Washington Post Magazine. It documents his childhood growing up in Moscow, and talks about his rise to fame in the NHL. This is exactly the type of thing that is needed to promote the game. Talk about these people who play the game. Because that's who they are. They're not mega millionaires who clamor for attention. They're mega millionaires who have stayed humble even through fame.
The Eastern Conference, for a second straight year, is dominating the NHL points race in the early going. Out of the Top 20 scorers in the league, the first 13 play in the East, and 17 of the Top 20 total. The top scorer from a team that doesn't play its home games in California comes all the way down to number 28 (Edmonton's Petr Sykora, 12-12-24). However, the adverse effect comes in when it comes to the goaltending categories. Thirteen of the Top 20 G.A.A leaders are from the West. And in cross-conference play? The West is 26-19-7 vs. the East. Which, realistically is 26-26. What am I trying to prove here? Things are pretty even in the NHL!
The fascination with black hockey players for the sake of them being black has to stop. FSN New York's Devils telecasts, usually one of the more credible ones in the league, shamelessly did it twice during the Devils' most recent western road trip. First it was Georges Laraque in Phoenix. OK, so Georgie's an enforcer, a fun guy to be around. Still, no player is worth spending an entire period talking about. Next, in the aforementioned San Jose-New Jersey game on Saturday, they must have cut to Mike Grier at least five times without any impetus to do so. I'm all for the NHL being diverse, but I'm also against the NHL pandering to a supposed minority audience which, to be frank, is almost nonexistent anyway.
If you're interested in fun hockey video, check out the video gallery at HockeyOK.IT, the official website for the various Italian hockey leagues.
-SFM-
November 20th Column
I hate the Cold-fx Mark Messier leadership award. Funny you should ask my opinion. The award really serves no purpose if you give it out to a guy who's been on a team for what, two months? Brendan Shanahan, as great as he is, is no way as deserving of this award. If anything, you have a guy like Marty Brodeur in there to give it to. He's more of a captain to ANY team in the NHL right now, more than any other player in the league. Did we hear Patrik Elias speak out about the third period collapse in a mere 90 seconds last Tuesday?
Also, I really don't need half the second period interrupted for an interview. Living in the New York area, there is nothing new I can learn about Mark Messier.
Speaking of things that will take up half of a Versus broadcast, check out tonight's Colorado-Dallas game. They will be using an innovation called a rail-cam, a camera that hangs above the glass and follows the game on one side of the ice. Many hockey people, including some fancy book author who occasionally writes on this site, are big fans of the rail-cam and think it could truly revolutionize the telecast of a game. It's not hard for a sport that, as John Buccigross said, has actually gotten worse on television the past 20 years. If this works out well, expect to see it on the All-Star game, coincidentally held in the same arena.
Here's my Official Corporate Holiday jersey wish list:
And of course, the gift I always want, yet never get, an authentic Johnstown Chiefs jersey.
I've decided the Washington Capitals are two players away from contending for the Cup. Definitely a #1 defenseman is in order (Hmmm, isn't Ed Jovanovski available after the 'Yotes 6-13 start?), while a second center to play with either Semin or Ovechkin would fit right (Craig Conroy would look nice). They are so much fun to watch, because 1. They work hard. 2. They seem to genuinely enjoy the game and know that they are starting to be taken seriously and 3. Ovechkin, Ovechkin, Ovechkin. Plus, they are light years from the cap, so while Ted Leonsis may speak of patience on his blog until the cows come home and begin to talk to each other on AIM, two marquee players are easily within the Capitals budget.
Nashville and Detroit (52) have more combined points than Chicago, St. Louis and Columbus (50). The beauty part? The Wings and Predators have only played the Jackets, 'Hawks and Blues a combined 7 out of 24 times this season. That means another 17 points for both teams to run up on their division rivals.
It's good to see the people of Atlanta FINALLY respond to a good team. The Thrashers have averaged over 15,000 a game so far this season and have sold out their last two home games (One against the Stars, when most Eastern teams can't draw flies when a Western club comes in). It's interesting that hockey is drawing 15,000 regularly in cities like Atlanta, Carolina and Tampa Bay (Who draws 19,000 a night) while the Islanders, Devils and Penguins can't get 15,000 on a good night. Plus, couldn't you just spend three hours watching Ilya Kovalchuk blast pucks from the blueline?
Say what I may about the Devils' home attendance, and it has been bad on some nights, the Devils have the best home record in all of hockey's Eastern Conference, at 8-1-1. Only Minnesota matches that mark. Makes you worry what'll happen when it turns to January and the Meadowlands draws 16,000 on a regular basis. What no one is realizing about the Devils predicament is that they have faced some unmarketable opponents. Florida twice and the three aforementioned Central Division pushovers plus only two total games against Atlantic Division rivals (None against the Rangers) aren't exactly what rakes 'em in at the 'ol CAA.
-SFM-
Also, I really don't need half the second period interrupted for an interview. Living in the New York area, there is nothing new I can learn about Mark Messier.
Speaking of things that will take up half of a Versus broadcast, check out tonight's Colorado-Dallas game. They will be using an innovation called a rail-cam, a camera that hangs above the glass and follows the game on one side of the ice. Many hockey people, including some fancy book author who occasionally writes on this site, are big fans of the rail-cam and think it could truly revolutionize the telecast of a game. It's not hard for a sport that, as John Buccigross said, has actually gotten worse on television the past 20 years. If this works out well, expect to see it on the All-Star game, coincidentally held in the same arena.
Here's my Official Corporate Holiday jersey wish list:
A Sidney Crosby #87 (With an A on the right) Black Penguins Jersey
An Alexander Ovechkin #8 Retro (Red/White/Blue) Capitals Jersey
A Cam Janssen #25 Red Devils Jersey
A Maxim Afinogenov #61 Blue Retro Sabres Jersey
A Scott Niedermayer #27 (C Included) White Ducks Jersey
And of course, the gift I always want, yet never get, an authentic Johnstown Chiefs jersey.
I've decided the Washington Capitals are two players away from contending for the Cup. Definitely a #1 defenseman is in order (Hmmm, isn't Ed Jovanovski available after the 'Yotes 6-13 start?), while a second center to play with either Semin or Ovechkin would fit right (Craig Conroy would look nice). They are so much fun to watch, because 1. They work hard. 2. They seem to genuinely enjoy the game and know that they are starting to be taken seriously and 3. Ovechkin, Ovechkin, Ovechkin. Plus, they are light years from the cap, so while Ted Leonsis may speak of patience on his blog until the cows come home and begin to talk to each other on AIM, two marquee players are easily within the Capitals budget.
Nashville and Detroit (52) have more combined points than Chicago, St. Louis and Columbus (50). The beauty part? The Wings and Predators have only played the Jackets, 'Hawks and Blues a combined 7 out of 24 times this season. That means another 17 points for both teams to run up on their division rivals.
It's good to see the people of Atlanta FINALLY respond to a good team. The Thrashers have averaged over 15,000 a game so far this season and have sold out their last two home games (One against the Stars, when most Eastern teams can't draw flies when a Western club comes in). It's interesting that hockey is drawing 15,000 regularly in cities like Atlanta, Carolina and Tampa Bay (Who draws 19,000 a night) while the Islanders, Devils and Penguins can't get 15,000 on a good night. Plus, couldn't you just spend three hours watching Ilya Kovalchuk blast pucks from the blueline?
Say what I may about the Devils' home attendance, and it has been bad on some nights, the Devils have the best home record in all of hockey's Eastern Conference, at 8-1-1. Only Minnesota matches that mark. Makes you worry what'll happen when it turns to January and the Meadowlands draws 16,000 on a regular basis. What no one is realizing about the Devils predicament is that they have faced some unmarketable opponents. Florida twice and the three aforementioned Central Division pushovers plus only two total games against Atlantic Division rivals (None against the Rangers) aren't exactly what rakes 'em in at the 'ol CAA.
-SFM-
November 13th Column
As usual, an all-star ballot has provided me with psychopathic rage. It's this year's NHL voting card. Instead just ranting for paragraphs, being completely incoherent and annoyed, let me instead simply list you one player from every team that should be on the ballot who isn't:
Voting will be done entirely via the internet and mobile phones this year, so use that write-in column and plug in someone from the all-reject team!
Encouraging news for HD Hockey fans. Comcast is planning to create a new HD-Sports channel, which will provide you with programming from Versus (including HD NHL Action) and The Golf Channel (MMM...Natilie Gublis Show in Hi-Def). Also good news? Comcast may be picking up HDNet, Mark Cuban's hi-def channel, which presents hockey on Thursday and Saturday nights. As HDNet Global correspondent Dan Rather might say, that makes me more excited than Carol Alt in an NHL locker room.
Manny Fernandez is proving us all that he can be a number one goaltender. After splitting time with Dwayne Roloson for what feels like 50 years, both goalies have performed well this season on their own. Fernandez is 9-4-0 with a 2.15 GAA, while Roli the Goalie is 7-6-1 with a 2.41 Goals Against, while both have a shutout to their name. Of course, Manny has a defensive system around him, and Roli ... well, he had one, but it made a run for sunnier pastures.
A great book for all you hockey history buffs: The Rebel League by Ed Willes. With a bunch hilarious anecdotes about the long defunct World Hockey Association, Willes really paints a picture of the league's various financial and on-the-ice foibles. You can also read the stories of the real-life Hanson brothers from Slap Shot, which, as most of you know, is the greatest film ever made.
Zach Parise is totally the new Brian Gionta. After struggling in his first season, and seeing relegations to the fourth-line and even the scratch list, Zach is playing like man possessed so far this year. According to Devils color analyst Glenn "Chico" Resch, he took power-skating courses over the summer. Few players, as skilled and probably more so than Parise, are willing to go that extra mile. You know what? It shows. Parise's strides look smoother and faster this year.
Adding to the list of well-run sites with good NHL content is NBCSports.com's hockey section. Featuring weekly columns from Off Wing Opinion's Eric McErlain, some guy disguised as a Moose, and a blog from Pierre McGuire, it shows the commitment NBC is laying down to hockey.
Is there a more jovial experience in the game of hockey than hearing Rick Jeanneret call a game for the Buffalo Spermbolts, er, Sabres? Just so much energy to a single game. Watch the highlights of any Buffalo game on NHL.com and tell me it's not fun. An added bonus to the calls are the fact that the TV and Radio broadcasts are simulcast in Buffalo, so you know they won't waste any time on the long, boring, distracting-from-the-game tales the plague other broadcasts.
The Around the NHL All-Reject Team
Chris Kunitz (ANA), Slava Kozlov (ATL), Brad Boyes (BOS), Thomas Vanek (BUF), Matthew Lombardi (CGY), Ray Whitney (CAR), Radim Vrbata (CHI), Brett McLean (COL), David Vyborny (CLB), Jere Lehtinen (DAL), Robert Lang (DET), Steve Staios (EDM), Nathan Horton (FLA), Anze Kopitar (LA), Pierre-Marc Bouchard (MIN), Chris Higgins (MTL), Shea Weber (NSH), Zach Parise (NJ), Rick DiPietro (NYI), Martin Straka (NYR), Joe Corvo (OTT), Mike Knuble (PHI), Ed Jovonovski (PHX), Jordan Staal (PIT), Milan Michalek (SJ), Lee Stempniak (STL), Nikita Alexeev (TB), Darcy Tucker (TOR), Taylor Piatt (VAN) and Dainius Zubrus (WSH).
Voting will be done entirely via the internet and mobile phones this year, so use that write-in column and plug in someone from the all-reject team!
Encouraging news for HD Hockey fans. Comcast is planning to create a new HD-Sports channel, which will provide you with programming from Versus (including HD NHL Action) and The Golf Channel (MMM...Natilie Gublis Show in Hi-Def). Also good news? Comcast may be picking up HDNet, Mark Cuban's hi-def channel, which presents hockey on Thursday and Saturday nights. As HDNet Global correspondent Dan Rather might say, that makes me more excited than Carol Alt in an NHL locker room.
Manny Fernandez is proving us all that he can be a number one goaltender. After splitting time with Dwayne Roloson for what feels like 50 years, both goalies have performed well this season on their own. Fernandez is 9-4-0 with a 2.15 GAA, while Roli the Goalie is 7-6-1 with a 2.41 Goals Against, while both have a shutout to their name. Of course, Manny has a defensive system around him, and Roli ... well, he had one, but it made a run for sunnier pastures.
A great book for all you hockey history buffs: The Rebel League by Ed Willes. With a bunch hilarious anecdotes about the long defunct World Hockey Association, Willes really paints a picture of the league's various financial and on-the-ice foibles. You can also read the stories of the real-life Hanson brothers from Slap Shot, which, as most of you know, is the greatest film ever made.
Zach Parise is totally the new Brian Gionta. After struggling in his first season, and seeing relegations to the fourth-line and even the scratch list, Zach is playing like man possessed so far this year. According to Devils color analyst Glenn "Chico" Resch, he took power-skating courses over the summer. Few players, as skilled and probably more so than Parise, are willing to go that extra mile. You know what? It shows. Parise's strides look smoother and faster this year.
Adding to the list of well-run sites with good NHL content is NBCSports.com's hockey section. Featuring weekly columns from Off Wing Opinion's Eric McErlain, some guy disguised as a Moose, and a blog from Pierre McGuire, it shows the commitment NBC is laying down to hockey.
Is there a more jovial experience in the game of hockey than hearing Rick Jeanneret call a game for the Buffalo Spermbolts, er, Sabres? Just so much energy to a single game. Watch the highlights of any Buffalo game on NHL.com and tell me it's not fun. An added bonus to the calls are the fact that the TV and Radio broadcasts are simulcast in Buffalo, so you know they won't waste any time on the long, boring, distracting-from-the-game tales the plague other broadcasts.
November 6th Column
The NHL needs to make friends (pardon that obligatory joke) with MySpace. It can really promote anything to an audience that advertisers have been trying to get to for years: Horny old perverted men!
No, just kidding, there are one or two teenages on that site. Look at the movie "Borat." If there is no MySpace, does Sacha Baron Cohen's "moviefilm" go on to make more than No. 4 prostitute in Kazakhstan? Seriously, the film made much more than anyone expected, around $25-30 million. That's in only 800 theatres. To put that in perspective, Tim Allen's "Santa Clause 3" made $20 million in over 3,000 cinemas across the country.
Get Versus, NBC and Tom together and promote the league!
In honor of that idea, here's my list of 5 NHL figures that would make great MySpace friends:
With that, we must encourage the NHL to be a leader when it comes to integrating with MySpace and YouTube...
Speaking of which, the NHL HAS gone in the right step including Google Video as one of it's partners, showing full games (on delay) as well as classics. I must say, it's a lot of fun to be able to watch Game 6 of the 1980 Finals on my time. The NHL, however, has a lack of classic clips from 1995-2004 so far. Are you going that far to hide the hideous Glow Puck from all of us?
Let's talk about Jobing.com Arena. Yes, you heard me, Jobing.com Arena. It's the new name for the Glendale Arena in suburban Phoenix, and I must say, it's really embarrassing. It would be more embarrassing however, if this team were actually worth the time of day.
Check out Islanders TV at NewYorkIslanders.com. It's on a free preview now, and it's free for Isles season ticket holders (and I'm sure Johnny from Uniondale enjoys it very much) right now. Great stuff, including full practices (with and without commentary), features on Isles legends, Bridgeport Sound Tiger games, and a feature on the Islander IceGirls. With the diminishing coverage of the NHL in the mainstream media, other teams need to hop on this bandwagon.
Don't expect the logjam in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division to die down anytime soon. These teams don't really mix it up with each other for a while. The Devils play the Rangers, Penguins and Islanders only a combined five times between now and January 1st, whereas after the new year, they meet those three 16 times. The Rangers play the other three teams only eight times, the Penguins only nine times, and the Isles only eight times. Do expect at least one of these clubs to drop down before a three-team sprint to the finish around March. It might be just as good as last year's race, which saw the whole thing won with five minutes left in the season.
-SFM-
No, just kidding, there are one or two teenages on that site. Look at the movie "Borat." If there is no MySpace, does Sacha Baron Cohen's "moviefilm" go on to make more than No. 4 prostitute in Kazakhstan? Seriously, the film made much more than anyone expected, around $25-30 million. That's in only 800 theatres. To put that in perspective, Tim Allen's "Santa Clause 3" made $20 million in over 3,000 cinemas across the country.
Get Versus, NBC and Tom together and promote the league!
In honor of that idea, here's my list of 5 NHL figures that would make great MySpace friends:
5. Sidney Crosby - You know he's totally the guy who only has a lot of MySpace friends 'cuz they all wanna see the girl's he's friends with.
4. Sean Avery - Because everyone posts pictures of their girlfriend on MySpace! Kim Bauer in a Kings jersey, here we come.
3. Keith Tkachuk - Not as much a MySpace page as a map of every Burger King, McDonalds and Wendy's in the greater St. Louis area. Could come in handy some time.
2. Larry Brooks - A great friend, even though he would TOTALLY start drama between you and your friends, saying stuff like "He'll never give into your demands to go out this weekend, because he's too strong of a person. It will never happen. NEVER".
1. Gary Bettman - Who doesn't wanna wake up to a message about how everything is great in your life? Here's how one might go:
"Your friend amounts are up, and while you may be staggered by constant interferences during your day, more people overall are enjoying coming to watch you in person."
With that, we must encourage the NHL to be a leader when it comes to integrating with MySpace and YouTube...
Speaking of which, the NHL HAS gone in the right step including Google Video as one of it's partners, showing full games (on delay) as well as classics. I must say, it's a lot of fun to be able to watch Game 6 of the 1980 Finals on my time. The NHL, however, has a lack of classic clips from 1995-2004 so far. Are you going that far to hide the hideous Glow Puck from all of us?
Let's talk about Jobing.com Arena. Yes, you heard me, Jobing.com Arena. It's the new name for the Glendale Arena in suburban Phoenix, and I must say, it's really embarrassing. It would be more embarrassing however, if this team were actually worth the time of day.
Check out Islanders TV at NewYorkIslanders.com. It's on a free preview now, and it's free for Isles season ticket holders (and I'm sure Johnny from Uniondale enjoys it very much) right now. Great stuff, including full practices (with and without commentary), features on Isles legends, Bridgeport Sound Tiger games, and a feature on the Islander IceGirls. With the diminishing coverage of the NHL in the mainstream media, other teams need to hop on this bandwagon.
Don't expect the logjam in the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division to die down anytime soon. These teams don't really mix it up with each other for a while. The Devils play the Rangers, Penguins and Islanders only a combined five times between now and January 1st, whereas after the new year, they meet those three 16 times. The Rangers play the other three teams only eight times, the Penguins only nine times, and the Isles only eight times. Do expect at least one of these clubs to drop down before a three-team sprint to the finish around March. It might be just as good as last year's race, which saw the whole thing won with five minutes left in the season.
-SFM-
October 30th Column
So the Sabres are once again human. The streak is over. Take a look at how good the Sabres were during it and you'll see that, minus the trouncing of Philadelphia, they still were very impressive - despite winning a few via the skills competition. Overall, they outscored opposing teams 53-28! They were 6-0 on the road, and they still have gotten a point in 11 straight. The Sabres are blessed with four fantastic lines; a solid, if not spectacular, defense; and two very dependable goalkeepers, as Ryan Miller may be an early Vezina favorite...
One problem with Versus is its inability to pick up a big game on short notice. Sure, HDNet televised the Buffalo-Atlanta game, but how many of you know about the Mark Cuban channel or even have it on your cable package? Versus needs to set aside some time to look at some key games during the season, and pick them up. I think we can bear to see the Flyers a few less times than we're scheduled to this year (6 more, plus 4 NBC games)...
Martin Brodeur has returned to inhumanity. One hundred and twenty minutes of shutout hockey, even against a surprising Florida team and the now-forgotten Columbus Blue Jackets, is a testament to Brodeur's skill in the face of the NHL's attempts to destroy him. Every time he's down, he rises up. The man is unflappable.
But his book? I can think of better ways to spend three hours reading...
If you notice stitches above Alex Auld's right eye anytime this week, ask him if the Eagle really hits that hard. Apparently, Eddie Belfour got into a little barroom brawl with Auld while slightly inebriated on Long Island this week.
Where have we heard this before? Oh, yes! How about in March 2000, when Belfour bribed Dallas police officials with up to $1 billion (!) to let him go for slamming a security guard into a wall with pepper spray...
The Chicago Blackhawks aired a home game on television on Saturday night.
Was that a piece of the sky that fell on my head just now?
While Evgeni Malkin still gives me a "meh" reaction, Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal just continue to impress. Crosby's first career hat trick Saturday in Philly is one of the more impressive initial hat tricks in any career. Hopefully, Staal will stay; he's offensively gifted, but unlike his brother, is equal to the task defensively. He could fill in a role the Penguins desperately need if they want to think seriously about making the postseason...
Remember how Dallas was supposed to fail this year? That sure didn't happen. The Stars are 9-2 and would be division leaders if they'd lost in shootouts and overtimes instead of regulation. Mike Modano and Brendan Morrow have forgotten whatever controversy there may have been over the "C" changing between the two players' hands and performed spectacularly. As for which I'd rather have as captain? It's gotta be the two-way playing Morrow...
A team that was supposedly a year away, the Vancouver Canucks, has also impressed folks. The Sedin twins have been dynamite as the new "First Line." Roberto Luongo isn't taking more shots than 50 Cent did before rising to fame, and this defense is playing with a sense of purpose to defend Luongo. All that, plus a division where Calgary is failing (Alex Tanguay...really?) and Colorado and Edmonton aren't expected to be as good (but Edmonton just keeps proving people wrong) could mean a return to the playoffs for the 'Nucks.
Finally, some good news for hockey fans here in the U.S. It looks as if the NHL Network may be set to go from an unidentified location in the Big Apple once January 2007 rolls around.
How you'll be able to get it without Comcast Cable? No clue, but knowing it's there gives hope to any hockey fan...
-SFM-
One problem with Versus is its inability to pick up a big game on short notice. Sure, HDNet televised the Buffalo-Atlanta game, but how many of you know about the Mark Cuban channel or even have it on your cable package? Versus needs to set aside some time to look at some key games during the season, and pick them up. I think we can bear to see the Flyers a few less times than we're scheduled to this year (6 more, plus 4 NBC games)...
Martin Brodeur has returned to inhumanity. One hundred and twenty minutes of shutout hockey, even against a surprising Florida team and the now-forgotten Columbus Blue Jackets, is a testament to Brodeur's skill in the face of the NHL's attempts to destroy him. Every time he's down, he rises up. The man is unflappable.
But his book? I can think of better ways to spend three hours reading...
If you notice stitches above Alex Auld's right eye anytime this week, ask him if the Eagle really hits that hard. Apparently, Eddie Belfour got into a little barroom brawl with Auld while slightly inebriated on Long Island this week.
Where have we heard this before? Oh, yes! How about in March 2000, when Belfour bribed Dallas police officials with up to $1 billion (!) to let him go for slamming a security guard into a wall with pepper spray...
The Chicago Blackhawks aired a home game on television on Saturday night.
Was that a piece of the sky that fell on my head just now?
While Evgeni Malkin still gives me a "meh" reaction, Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal just continue to impress. Crosby's first career hat trick Saturday in Philly is one of the more impressive initial hat tricks in any career. Hopefully, Staal will stay; he's offensively gifted, but unlike his brother, is equal to the task defensively. He could fill in a role the Penguins desperately need if they want to think seriously about making the postseason...
Remember how Dallas was supposed to fail this year? That sure didn't happen. The Stars are 9-2 and would be division leaders if they'd lost in shootouts and overtimes instead of regulation. Mike Modano and Brendan Morrow have forgotten whatever controversy there may have been over the "C" changing between the two players' hands and performed spectacularly. As for which I'd rather have as captain? It's gotta be the two-way playing Morrow...
A team that was supposedly a year away, the Vancouver Canucks, has also impressed folks. The Sedin twins have been dynamite as the new "First Line." Roberto Luongo isn't taking more shots than 50 Cent did before rising to fame, and this defense is playing with a sense of purpose to defend Luongo. All that, plus a division where Calgary is failing (Alex Tanguay...really?) and Colorado and Edmonton aren't expected to be as good (but Edmonton just keeps proving people wrong) could mean a return to the playoffs for the 'Nucks.
Finally, some good news for hockey fans here in the U.S. It looks as if the NHL Network may be set to go from an unidentified location in the Big Apple once January 2007 rolls around.
How you'll be able to get it without Comcast Cable? No clue, but knowing it's there gives hope to any hockey fan...
-SFM-
October 25th Column
We start this week by looking at the biggest headline over the past 5 minutes: The firing of Ken Hitchcock and resignation (i.e. nicely firing) Bobby Clarke.
In the end, Clarke probably would've been fired long ago had he not had the name Bobby Clarke and been the GM in Philadelphia. The Flyers have been so disappointing over the 12-year span Clarke and the three-and-change that Hitch has run the show. They are the Ottawa Senators, with more attention on them in the states and slightly less offensive talent. The Flyers need to change their philosophy, and Paul Holmgren is not the answer for it. Seriously, the guy who put Keith Tkachuk on the U.S. Olympic Team is ready to GM a New NHL era franchise? (And yes, you will get as many Tkachuk fat jokes as you do with Wyshynski. Great minds think alike. And he's also very fat.)
The Ottawa Senators had their first Pizza Pizza game of the 06-07 season last night, beating the Devils 8-1. Pizza Pizza, a Canadian based (Guess what?) pizza chain, offers a free slice to every game the Senators score six or more in a home victory. Frankly, at that point, the Senators would be happy with a victory.
The non-story so far of the NHL season has been attendance. Remember, for every time LA and Colorado miss a sellout by a few hundred seats, or every friends and family only game (Reminder: Less than 10,000) in Chicago or St. Louis, there's a Tampa Bay, who's oversold the St. Pete Times Forum 56 games in a row, and a Columbus or Nashville, who both get over 16,000 a game. Besides, St. Louis has better things to worry about than their struggling hockey team.
An interesting story to follow over the next couple months will be the NHL All-Star voting. For those of you who forgot or never cared in the first place, the first NHL All-Star Exhibition will be January 24 in Dallas. It'll be interesting to me to see who gets in the lineup, whether people go towards the old guard of regulars (Brodeur, Jagr, Forsberg in the East, Sakic, Modano and Hasek in the West) or the new talent (i.e. the chance to see Crosby, Ovechkin and Malkin, on the same line, as well as Phaneuf on D and Lundqvist in goal) that has plunged into the NHL.
Great job by VERSUS on Tuesday night during the 9-1 victory by the Sabres over the Flyers: 10 Goals, and only one (Jiri Novotny's third period tally with the game well out of reach) was talked over by an analyst or reporter's interview.
How impressive has Anze Kopitar been in Los Angeles? For every overrated rookie, there's one of him just being impressive.
Finally, let's point out the absurdity of the Rangers selling t-shirts celebrating Brendan Shanahan's 600th goal. When two were scored with the Rangers.
-SFM-
In the end, Clarke probably would've been fired long ago had he not had the name Bobby Clarke and been the GM in Philadelphia. The Flyers have been so disappointing over the 12-year span Clarke and the three-and-change that Hitch has run the show. They are the Ottawa Senators, with more attention on them in the states and slightly less offensive talent. The Flyers need to change their philosophy, and Paul Holmgren is not the answer for it. Seriously, the guy who put Keith Tkachuk on the U.S. Olympic Team is ready to GM a New NHL era franchise? (And yes, you will get as many Tkachuk fat jokes as you do with Wyshynski. Great minds think alike. And he's also very fat.)
The Ottawa Senators had their first Pizza Pizza game of the 06-07 season last night, beating the Devils 8-1. Pizza Pizza, a Canadian based (Guess what?) pizza chain, offers a free slice to every game the Senators score six or more in a home victory. Frankly, at that point, the Senators would be happy with a victory.
The non-story so far of the NHL season has been attendance. Remember, for every time LA and Colorado miss a sellout by a few hundred seats, or every friends and family only game (Reminder: Less than 10,000) in Chicago or St. Louis, there's a Tampa Bay, who's oversold the St. Pete Times Forum 56 games in a row, and a Columbus or Nashville, who both get over 16,000 a game. Besides, St. Louis has better things to worry about than their struggling hockey team.
An interesting story to follow over the next couple months will be the NHL All-Star voting. For those of you who forgot or never cared in the first place, the first NHL All-Star Exhibition will be January 24 in Dallas. It'll be interesting to me to see who gets in the lineup, whether people go towards the old guard of regulars (Brodeur, Jagr, Forsberg in the East, Sakic, Modano and Hasek in the West) or the new talent (i.e. the chance to see Crosby, Ovechkin and Malkin, on the same line, as well as Phaneuf on D and Lundqvist in goal) that has plunged into the NHL.
Great job by VERSUS on Tuesday night during the 9-1 victory by the Sabres over the Flyers: 10 Goals, and only one (Jiri Novotny's third period tally with the game well out of reach) was talked over by an analyst or reporter's interview.
How impressive has Anze Kopitar been in Los Angeles? For every overrated rookie, there's one of him just being impressive.
Finally, let's point out the absurdity of the Rangers selling t-shirts celebrating Brendan Shanahan's 600th goal. When two were scored with the Rangers.
-SFM-
October 16th Column
- Saturday was my first chance to watch an NHL a game in person this season, as I saw the New Jersey Devils take on the Philadelphia Flyers in the upper deck of Mount Continental. The fun part was seeing how much Devils fans will be screwed over this season. In addition to prices rising for parking ($12 up from $10), souveneir drinks ($5 from $4) and everything else except tickets, the arena had a break in its water main Saturday morning. There was no water in an arena, which I think is bad for a game played on ice (They could always put out the Rock'N'Rollers for a one-night RHI reunion though).
OK, so why the whining? I would've never known had someone gone to the arena the morning of the game and found out. Nothing on the Devils' nor the NHL website, and the only person really reporting it was Eklund, whom always instills confidence in anyone reading. People should've at least known about it, but I guess the attendance number of 14,000 and change might've been lowered further...
-...Which goes into what a mess the Meadowlands has become. Parking structures going up everywhere, Xanadu (the all-purpose remodeling of the Meadowlands, which includes a baseball field, a mall, an ESPN Zone and...indoor surfing?), higher prices. I can't believe I'm saying this but...Go Newark Go Newark Go!
-The game, God forbid I should speak of it, was surprising, in the lack of carnage their was, not on the ice but in the stands. Only one mild argument that died down shortly between a Devil fan in one section and a Flyer fan two sections over (Reason #5,634 why hockey rules all: Fights between fans in different sections). In fact, Philly fans were less present at a Devil game than I'd ever seen them before. Maybe it's because the Devils owned Philly in the Swamp last year or maybe, just maybe, it was because a gentleman wearing some strange Eagles jersey (#81 Owens? Never heard of him) got carried out on all fours. Now if we could only use more pesticides to keep the Rangers fans out.
-Canadian Women's Hockey legend Cassie Campbell became the first woman to ever do color analysis on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday night, calling the Flames-Maple Leafs game as Harry Neale was snowed in at his home in Buffalo. She was, as George Carlin once said, on point, on task and off drugs. To put it another way: She was better than most of the Men's Hair Restoration Club that HNIC has become. The only problem is that she sounded a little distracted at times. No worries: anyone can drift off looking at the loose skin on Bob Cole's neck.
-Speaking of distracted females, Pierre McGuire was between the benches for TSN's (Canada's ESPN) coverage of the Buffalo-Detroit (TGIF: Thank God It's Not Football) a la what he does for NBC's coverage in the U.S. The only difference being that it was just Pierre and Gord Miller, the play-by-play man, with no regular analyst in-between. McGuire showed why he's the best in-betweener; he listens, carries on conversations with players, and most importantly, tells it like it is.
-Anyone who went to the Islanders' home opener was offered a 15-year season ticket deal.
Sorry, too easy I know. Still, as one of the five folks in the metropolitan area who followed the orange and blue's west coast trip, they don't look THAT bad. Maybe a little slow on defense, but they've got great, offensively skilled players up front. They'll challenge for a playoff spot around midseason before a year-end collapse.
-In the NHL 07 vs. NHL 2K7 debate: even for someone who has regular XBOX, the choice is clear: NHL 07 from EA Sports is much better. The new control sticks make the game an absolute must for anyone who's still not bored with NHL'94.
-Ah, the fun of early season standings: Pittsburgh is second in the Atlantic, Florida second in the southeast, and no one technically above .500 in the Central, while the Rangers are in fourth place despite having three of the NHL's top five scorers. Look out for Florida, they have solid veteran leadership in guys like Nieuwendyk and yes, Eddie the Eagle mixed in with young hotshots like Jokinen, Bouwmeester and Horton. They may challenge to be that unsung southern team everyone thought Atlanta would be this year.
-Back to the Devils for a moment, Zach Parise, a sophmore forward who struggled his freshman year, will score 30 goals this campaign. The kid looks bigger, stronger and more confident than in 05-06. With three in his first four, expect the North Dakota product to be this year's Brian Gionta. However, this year's version of Brian Gionta may himself score another 40, maybe even 50.
-The acquisitions of Martin Havlat, Michael Handzus (Zeuuuuuuus), and even Brian Smolinski have already paid off, but the Chicago Blackhawks have to do something about their attendance problems. Their offense might be enough to challenge for an eighth spot, but 8,008 on a Thursday night is just a disgrace in the third largest market in the U.S.
-SFM-
OK, so why the whining? I would've never known had someone gone to the arena the morning of the game and found out. Nothing on the Devils' nor the NHL website, and the only person really reporting it was Eklund, whom always instills confidence in anyone reading. People should've at least known about it, but I guess the attendance number of 14,000 and change might've been lowered further...
-...Which goes into what a mess the Meadowlands has become. Parking structures going up everywhere, Xanadu (the all-purpose remodeling of the Meadowlands, which includes a baseball field, a mall, an ESPN Zone and...indoor surfing?), higher prices. I can't believe I'm saying this but...Go Newark Go Newark Go!
-The game, God forbid I should speak of it, was surprising, in the lack of carnage their was, not on the ice but in the stands. Only one mild argument that died down shortly between a Devil fan in one section and a Flyer fan two sections over (Reason #5,634 why hockey rules all: Fights between fans in different sections). In fact, Philly fans were less present at a Devil game than I'd ever seen them before. Maybe it's because the Devils owned Philly in the Swamp last year or maybe, just maybe, it was because a gentleman wearing some strange Eagles jersey (#81 Owens? Never heard of him) got carried out on all fours. Now if we could only use more pesticides to keep the Rangers fans out.
-Canadian Women's Hockey legend Cassie Campbell became the first woman to ever do color analysis on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday night, calling the Flames-Maple Leafs game as Harry Neale was snowed in at his home in Buffalo. She was, as George Carlin once said, on point, on task and off drugs. To put it another way: She was better than most of the Men's Hair Restoration Club that HNIC has become. The only problem is that she sounded a little distracted at times. No worries: anyone can drift off looking at the loose skin on Bob Cole's neck.
-Speaking of distracted females, Pierre McGuire was between the benches for TSN's (Canada's ESPN) coverage of the Buffalo-Detroit (TGIF: Thank God It's Not Football) a la what he does for NBC's coverage in the U.S. The only difference being that it was just Pierre and Gord Miller, the play-by-play man, with no regular analyst in-between. McGuire showed why he's the best in-betweener; he listens, carries on conversations with players, and most importantly, tells it like it is.
-Anyone who went to the Islanders' home opener was offered a 15-year season ticket deal.
Sorry, too easy I know. Still, as one of the five folks in the metropolitan area who followed the orange and blue's west coast trip, they don't look THAT bad. Maybe a little slow on defense, but they've got great, offensively skilled players up front. They'll challenge for a playoff spot around midseason before a year-end collapse.
-In the NHL 07 vs. NHL 2K7 debate: even for someone who has regular XBOX, the choice is clear: NHL 07 from EA Sports is much better. The new control sticks make the game an absolute must for anyone who's still not bored with NHL'94.
-Ah, the fun of early season standings: Pittsburgh is second in the Atlantic, Florida second in the southeast, and no one technically above .500 in the Central, while the Rangers are in fourth place despite having three of the NHL's top five scorers. Look out for Florida, they have solid veteran leadership in guys like Nieuwendyk and yes, Eddie the Eagle mixed in with young hotshots like Jokinen, Bouwmeester and Horton. They may challenge to be that unsung southern team everyone thought Atlanta would be this year.
-Back to the Devils for a moment, Zach Parise, a sophmore forward who struggled his freshman year, will score 30 goals this campaign. The kid looks bigger, stronger and more confident than in 05-06. With three in his first four, expect the North Dakota product to be this year's Brian Gionta. However, this year's version of Brian Gionta may himself score another 40, maybe even 50.
-The acquisitions of Martin Havlat, Michael Handzus (Zeuuuuuuus), and even Brian Smolinski have already paid off, but the Chicago Blackhawks have to do something about their attendance problems. Their offense might be enough to challenge for an eighth spot, but 8,008 on a Thursday night is just a disgrace in the third largest market in the U.S.
-SFM-
October 10th Column
Let's start out with the new NHL advertisements we've seen with Jonathan Cheechoo and Peter Forsberg this week. First of all, the NHL continues to preach to the choir, only airing its ads on the networks which airs its games on.
The NHL On VERSUS opened up its second season with two of the smallest U.S. markets (Buffalo and Carolina) playing each other. Guess what? The Earth as we know it didn't collapse! It was actually up 14% from last year's fancy-schmancy Philadelphia-Rangers broadcast.
Speaking from a technical sense, I think the graphics package is terrific now. The scoreboard they're using was a really risky move, but it works. My only beefs are that you can't see the numbers at certain points and that you, VERSUS, cannot see your own advertising in the corner boards. As for the broadcast talent: You all know how I feel about Doc, and the studio remains dependable, and Olczyk remains dull. But the one shining player in the VERSUS warehouse was Daryl "Razor" Reaugh, doing color for the Dallas-Colorado game. Reaugh talks to hockey fans like the literate, intelligent audience we are, and throws in an Austin Powers reference to make us even more delighted. If you can, check out his blog (LINK: http://blog.dallasstars.com), the guy is simply hilarious and should be on the fast track to the top of the NHL analyst totem poll with John Davidson gone and Eddie Olczyk duller than a composite stick with a minute left in the third.
Not to harp on TV issues too long, but doesn't the NHL's scheduling format hurt NHL Center Ice, its season-long PPV package? Here in the New York area, I will be able to watch 39 Flyers games this year and 40 Pens contests. What would be the point of paying for half a season?
Moving on to actual hockey issues, how bad has Tomas Vokoun and the Nashville Predators defense been? I know it's the new NHL and all the penalties and what not, but you gave up 14 goals in two games against CHICAGO and MINNESOTA! Jacques Lemaire's Minnesota Wild netted six on you, and the perennially D.O.A. Blackhawks got eight! Perhaps Vokoun is still recovering from the blood clots that kept him out of the '06 playoffs.
The Islanders are still bad. Just thought you should know. Lucky for New Yorkers, with the Mets and Yankees in the MLB playoffs (or at least were at the time), the Rangers and Devils opening close to home, the Jets and Giants in the middle of their season, the Isles, who opened up with games at 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. in Phoenix and San Jose, have been able to fly under the radar. Thank goodness, as the orange and blue have looked atrocious in their first two contests, especially Charles Wang's golden goose, Rick DiPietro. As I count it now, Ricky D. has only 1,146 games left as an Islander. Keep countin' it down, folks!
Zdeno Chara's huge defensive presence was felt in the Bruins' 8-3 loss to Florida on Friday. Chara remains the leagues most overrated defender and playing without Wade Redden and the talented Ottawa core will expose him to how bad he truly is.
First NHL goals this week: Dallas' Loui Eriksson, Los Angeles' Anze Kopitar, New Jersey's Travis Zajac, and Phoenix's Joel Perrault.
Did anyone look more uncomfortable than new Pens' boss Michael Ballsillie in front of the Steel City media on Thursday night during the first intermission of the Flyers-Pens game? Even Mario Lemieux was cynical on the new arena situation, with his whole "House"-ish "Everybody lies" statement.
Carolina is showing exactly why I picked them to finish 7th in the East. They have just looked flat in their first three games, particularly against New Jersey, where they were beaten by a solid Martin Brodeur and four deflection goals. They will make the playoffs, but expect an early exit for the 'Canes.
-SFM-
NOTE to NHL: Find that Tom guy who runs MySpace. Pay him a lot of money. Bombard the social networking site with ads and do the same with YouTube and the retarded/stoner video watching community.
The NHL On VERSUS opened up its second season with two of the smallest U.S. markets (Buffalo and Carolina) playing each other. Guess what? The Earth as we know it didn't collapse! It was actually up 14% from last year's fancy-schmancy Philadelphia-Rangers broadcast.
Speaking from a technical sense, I think the graphics package is terrific now. The scoreboard they're using was a really risky move, but it works. My only beefs are that you can't see the numbers at certain points and that you, VERSUS, cannot see your own advertising in the corner boards. As for the broadcast talent: You all know how I feel about Doc, and the studio remains dependable, and Olczyk remains dull. But the one shining player in the VERSUS warehouse was Daryl "Razor" Reaugh, doing color for the Dallas-Colorado game. Reaugh talks to hockey fans like the literate, intelligent audience we are, and throws in an Austin Powers reference to make us even more delighted. If you can, check out his blog (LINK: http://blog.dallasstars.com), the guy is simply hilarious and should be on the fast track to the top of the NHL analyst totem poll with John Davidson gone and Eddie Olczyk duller than a composite stick with a minute left in the third.
Not to harp on TV issues too long, but doesn't the NHL's scheduling format hurt NHL Center Ice, its season-long PPV package? Here in the New York area, I will be able to watch 39 Flyers games this year and 40 Pens contests. What would be the point of paying for half a season?
Moving on to actual hockey issues, how bad has Tomas Vokoun and the Nashville Predators defense been? I know it's the new NHL and all the penalties and what not, but you gave up 14 goals in two games against CHICAGO and MINNESOTA! Jacques Lemaire's Minnesota Wild netted six on you, and the perennially D.O.A. Blackhawks got eight! Perhaps Vokoun is still recovering from the blood clots that kept him out of the '06 playoffs.
The Islanders are still bad. Just thought you should know. Lucky for New Yorkers, with the Mets and Yankees in the MLB playoffs (or at least were at the time), the Rangers and Devils opening close to home, the Jets and Giants in the middle of their season, the Isles, who opened up with games at 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. in Phoenix and San Jose, have been able to fly under the radar. Thank goodness, as the orange and blue have looked atrocious in their first two contests, especially Charles Wang's golden goose, Rick DiPietro. As I count it now, Ricky D. has only 1,146 games left as an Islander. Keep countin' it down, folks!
Zdeno Chara's huge defensive presence was felt in the Bruins' 8-3 loss to Florida on Friday. Chara remains the leagues most overrated defender and playing without Wade Redden and the talented Ottawa core will expose him to how bad he truly is.
First NHL goals this week: Dallas' Loui Eriksson, Los Angeles' Anze Kopitar, New Jersey's Travis Zajac, and Phoenix's Joel Perrault.
Did anyone look more uncomfortable than new Pens' boss Michael Ballsillie in front of the Steel City media on Thursday night during the first intermission of the Flyers-Pens game? Even Mario Lemieux was cynical on the new arena situation, with his whole "House"-ish "Everybody lies" statement.
Carolina is showing exactly why I picked them to finish 7th in the East. They have just looked flat in their first three games, particularly against New Jersey, where they were beaten by a solid Martin Brodeur and four deflection goals. They will make the playoffs, but expect an early exit for the 'Canes.
-SFM-
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