Mr. Hedges,
As a loyal follower of the Columbus Blue Jackets and the National Hockey League, I feel it my duty to inform you that the holdout you have masterfully guided Nikolai Zherdev through is about to come to an end. Today, Joffrey Lupul signed a 3 year, $6.935 million contract, and all your squabbling about comparables ends right there. There isn't a more perfect comparable to Zherdev than Lupul. For example:
- They are both top 10 draft picks, one year apart.
- Their rookie and second seasons are the exact same years.
- Their career points are a difference of one in favor of Zherdev. Lupul does have one more goal than Nicky, though.
- Their rookie scoring numbers are identical.
- In their second season, Zherdev managed one more point in less games.
That's it in a nutshell, to use your words. Meaningful discussions with Columbus in June is laughable, you were waiting to see what Lupul would get and Doug was waiting to see what Lupul would get. Well, Lupul got $35,000 more than Doug offered you a week ago. Regardless of what you told the CP, Zherdev's different set of circumstances on the ice, which is what he gets paid for, is apparently now worth roughly $6.935 million.
Have fun trying to prove why your client deserves $2.065 million more than Joffery Lupul.
Sincerely,
Tim Wingfield
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Monday, August 21, 2006
And then there were two...
We're down to two RFAs that the illustrious Doug MacLean has yet to sign...Dan Fritsche and the well noted Nikolai Zherdev. Personally, I'm not overly worried about each, it's August afterall, signing them today isn't going to put many pucks in the net next week.
Fritsche will likely fall into line fairly soon, he doesn't have a huge amount of leverage in the negotiation of his second contract. He's played a fair share of NHL games sooner than most thought he would, and he's been a servicable NHLer, but the production isn't there to be playing much hardball. Danny will sign soon enough, I'm sure.
Zherdev, though...this one seems much more interesting. TSN covered it well today, following on the Dispatch yesterday. Nicky is threatening to play in Russia for the year...a place he couldn't WAIT to get out of three years ago. Snuck out in the middle of the night with his skates and what he was wearing. Sounds like a guy who'd LOVE to play a season in the RSL, doesn't it?
MacLean is playing hardball, and I think rightfully so. Zherdev's poor, underperforming start last year isn't some great secret. With Nasher out, he had every chance to step up and be The Man for the Jackets, and he'd take nights off. Was demoted to the 3rd and 4th line, even healthy scratched a couple times. Didn't seem to have much of an effect on him, he just kept doing his thing. The arrival of Fedorov and the return of Nash turned not only Z around, but the whole team. He went on a tear, starting arguably with his end to end rush through the Blackhawks the day after Christmas.
But, how does all that factor in now? Doug is using Oct and Nov of last year as his, "Zherdev needs to prove something," stance. Zherdev is using the rest of the season as proof that he has proved something. Personaly, I'm with Doug...play a full 82 games and the money will fall in your lap, Nicky.
The kid has unreal talent and potential, but tapping it through that thick skull has proven tricky so far, and this just seems to be the latest chapter.
Fritsche will likely fall into line fairly soon, he doesn't have a huge amount of leverage in the negotiation of his second contract. He's played a fair share of NHL games sooner than most thought he would, and he's been a servicable NHLer, but the production isn't there to be playing much hardball. Danny will sign soon enough, I'm sure.
Zherdev, though...this one seems much more interesting. TSN covered it well today, following on the Dispatch yesterday. Nicky is threatening to play in Russia for the year...a place he couldn't WAIT to get out of three years ago. Snuck out in the middle of the night with his skates and what he was wearing. Sounds like a guy who'd LOVE to play a season in the RSL, doesn't it?
MacLean is playing hardball, and I think rightfully so. Zherdev's poor, underperforming start last year isn't some great secret. With Nasher out, he had every chance to step up and be The Man for the Jackets, and he'd take nights off. Was demoted to the 3rd and 4th line, even healthy scratched a couple times. Didn't seem to have much of an effect on him, he just kept doing his thing. The arrival of Fedorov and the return of Nash turned not only Z around, but the whole team. He went on a tear, starting arguably with his end to end rush through the Blackhawks the day after Christmas.
But, how does all that factor in now? Doug is using Oct and Nov of last year as his, "Zherdev needs to prove something," stance. Zherdev is using the rest of the season as proof that he has proved something. Personaly, I'm with Doug...play a full 82 games and the money will fall in your lap, Nicky.
The kid has unreal talent and potential, but tapping it through that thick skull has proven tricky so far, and this just seems to be the latest chapter.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Off season so far...
Draft is over, the free agent madness has begun in the NHL, and so far MacLean and Co. have wowed us with the signings of Anders Ericksson, Tomas Kloucek, and Ty Conklin. Of course, there's that whole Denis for Modin thing, too...
First off, Modin makes the Jackets better instantly. This guy does it all...scores, plays good d, kills penalties, goes in the corners, goes to the net, and probably makes a mean Swedish meatball. He's going to bring an upgrade to both special teams and 5 on 5, so this is a good move.
Losing Denis seemed to be inevitable. But given the relative talent of Denis and Leclaire, Denis and his larger salary were the ones to get shipped off. (And for what Tampa signed him for...wow.) So the net is now Leclaire's, with I'd guess Conklin as his back up. Though it appears Norrena will get a shot at that spot, too, since Ty has a two-way deal signed. (For the conspiracy theorists out there: Norrena is listed on the Jackets roster with Leclaire, Conklin as "in the system.")
As for the other signings on D, not sure what to make of it at this point. Seems 5 of the 6 defense spots are pretty much locked in with Foote, Berard, Klesla, Westcott, and Hainsey. So, just need to fill that 6 slot, and we've got Johnson, Tollefsen, Ericksson, and Kloucek to slug it out for that spot. Personally, I figured it was about time for AJ to step up and take his place on the big club, we'll find out in September.
Lots of things to look forward to in September...yet again...
First off, Modin makes the Jackets better instantly. This guy does it all...scores, plays good d, kills penalties, goes in the corners, goes to the net, and probably makes a mean Swedish meatball. He's going to bring an upgrade to both special teams and 5 on 5, so this is a good move.
Losing Denis seemed to be inevitable. But given the relative talent of Denis and Leclaire, Denis and his larger salary were the ones to get shipped off. (And for what Tampa signed him for...wow.) So the net is now Leclaire's, with I'd guess Conklin as his back up. Though it appears Norrena will get a shot at that spot, too, since Ty has a two-way deal signed. (For the conspiracy theorists out there: Norrena is listed on the Jackets roster with Leclaire, Conklin as "in the system.")
As for the other signings on D, not sure what to make of it at this point. Seems 5 of the 6 defense spots are pretty much locked in with Foote, Berard, Klesla, Westcott, and Hainsey. So, just need to fill that 6 slot, and we've got Johnson, Tollefsen, Ericksson, and Kloucek to slug it out for that spot. Personally, I figured it was about time for AJ to step up and take his place on the big club, we'll find out in September.
Lots of things to look forward to in September...yet again...
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Draft Day
So the Jackets picked up Derick Brassard with the 6th overall. Admittedly, I don't know a heck of a lot about the kid. Though he did put up 44 goals and 116 points in 58 games in the Q this year. Not bad, but scoring usually isn't a real problem in the Q. But, as I said before, I know very little about the kid. Hopefully I can hit rookie camp next week and get a look.
In the second round, the Jackets apparently traded the 36th pick away to St. Joe, but I can't find what we got in return. I'm guessing picks of some nature, because nhl.com and TSN have nothing about it. Of course Metro is down, and hfboards is slllooowww, so can't find anything on it. Guess I'll just wait for the Dispatch in the morning.
One other draft comment...WTF was Minnesota thinking? They traded a first round pick AND Patrick O'Sullivan to LA for Pavol Demitra? OK, Demitra is a scorer, no doubt about that and the Wild need somebody who can play offense. But the Roloson trade is now Roloson and O'Sullivan for Demitra...seems a bit lopsided, and not in Minny's favor. O'Sullivan was almost a shoe-in to make the Wild this year, he just led the AHL in scoring. Obviously he wouldn't have put up Demitra numbers, but the kid was looking good. We'll see how it turns out...wonder how Demitra will take to playing defense first, second, and third?
In the second round, the Jackets apparently traded the 36th pick away to St. Joe, but I can't find what we got in return. I'm guessing picks of some nature, because nhl.com and TSN have nothing about it. Of course Metro is down, and hfboards is slllooowww, so can't find anything on it. Guess I'll just wait for the Dispatch in the morning.
One other draft comment...WTF was Minnesota thinking? They traded a first round pick AND Patrick O'Sullivan to LA for Pavol Demitra? OK, Demitra is a scorer, no doubt about that and the Wild need somebody who can play offense. But the Roloson trade is now Roloson and O'Sullivan for Demitra...seems a bit lopsided, and not in Minny's favor. O'Sullivan was almost a shoe-in to make the Wild this year, he just led the AHL in scoring. Obviously he wouldn't have put up Demitra numbers, but the kid was looking good. We'll see how it turns out...wonder how Demitra will take to playing defense first, second, and third?
Monday, June 19, 2006
Not feeling so good...
Usually at the end of the season, I feel pretty good for whoever is hoisting the Cup. Even when it's the Wings, I still feel pretty good for the players and fans of the winning team...but I don't have that feeling this year.
At all.
There are so many things that just drive me nuts about Carolina that I can't be happy that they won. Just can't.
I have no problem with hockey in the state of North Carolina. I'm a firm believer in the more hockey spreads, the better it is. Having a team in Raleigh is not a bad thing...neither is having one in Nashville, Tampa, Atlanta, or Miami.
My feelings stem directly from having to deal with Peter Karmanos on a number of levels...
1. 1997 - The city of Columbus is on the verge of building a new arena (and soccer field) to lure an NHL team (and give the Crew an actual home). Issue 1 is hotly contested, but things are looking up. Just before that election, Peter J. Karmanos Jr. comes waltzing into town carrying the Hartford Whalers in his pocket. He woos some people, gets on TV, gets in the paper, and does just enough to get The People thinking, "Hey, we don't need to vote for that, Pete will bring us a team ANYWAY!!"
WRONG! Days before the election, we see Karmanos on TV live from Raleigh announcing that he's moving his team there...but it's too late for our vote here, Issue 1 goes down by narrow margin. (Later McConnell did his thing, but that's a different subject.)
2. I worked for Compuware, Pete's "real" company. He started it many years ago, and it's a fairly successful company. But, thanks to Pete's management and lack of foresight, CPWR has been in the tank for many years after his Y2K money dried up. While I was there, everybody took mandatory pay cuts...good way to win friends. After my third pay cut in less than six months, I finally got out, but not before I vowed to never pull for Carolina again as my own personal crusade against the short, bald guy from michigan with a rather severe Napoleon Complex. (CPWR closed at $7 today...guess those options Pete gave me with a strike price of $21 are pretty much worthless...)
3. During the lockout, you couldn't find anybody quicker to pop off about "linkage" and salary caps and, "We'll lock 'em out for YEARS if we have to!" than Peter Karmanos. This guy was a loose cannon the whole time complaining about the money he was losing. (Yeah, same guy who started the whole mess with the Fedorov offer sheet just to piss off his Detroit rival, Illich.) It was rarely constructive out of Pete, it was combative.
4. The good folks of Carolina have barely noticed this team all year. Now I know there are die-hards there that have been to every game, but the attendence figures don't lie. Announced crowds of 10k are under that. This particular Carolina team has been AWESOME all year, not just in the playoffs. Eric Staal alone should have had them cramming at the turnstiles, but it didn't happen. In April, 3 weeks before the playoffs started, the Canes played a home game before 12,137...6,000 under capacity. This is a division leading, headed for the playoff team taking on Ovechkin...12k. Pathetic.
But wait, there's more...a gentleman from the greater Columbus area went online three days before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals and bought two tickets to the game. Lower bowl, blue line. Guess that's all they had left.
Game 7, Eastern Conference finals tickets were available just before face-off.
Some Carolina apologists in the past have said, "Well, wait until we win, you'll see!!" Well, you're winning. You won all year, and now you have the greatest trophy in professional sports in your possession...better sell out the season.
I hope that whole thing came off as bitter because it is. No, not jealous that they won, our situations are entirely different. Just totally bitter...the man who took a dump on Hartford with a fly-by shitting on Columbus now owns the Cup.
Somewhere there's a Carolina fan who bought a jersey the day the team was announced. He or she hasn't missed a game. They died when the Wings took them out a few years ago. This person lives and breathes Hurricane hockey. For that person, I am genuinely happy...they deserve to enjoy this. For Pete and the folks who didn't bother to show up in November to see one of the most explosive teams in hockey...well, it feels pretty empty in that sense.
At all.
There are so many things that just drive me nuts about Carolina that I can't be happy that they won. Just can't.
I have no problem with hockey in the state of North Carolina. I'm a firm believer in the more hockey spreads, the better it is. Having a team in Raleigh is not a bad thing...neither is having one in Nashville, Tampa, Atlanta, or Miami.
My feelings stem directly from having to deal with Peter Karmanos on a number of levels...
1. 1997 - The city of Columbus is on the verge of building a new arena (and soccer field) to lure an NHL team (and give the Crew an actual home). Issue 1 is hotly contested, but things are looking up. Just before that election, Peter J. Karmanos Jr. comes waltzing into town carrying the Hartford Whalers in his pocket. He woos some people, gets on TV, gets in the paper, and does just enough to get The People thinking, "Hey, we don't need to vote for that, Pete will bring us a team ANYWAY!!"
WRONG! Days before the election, we see Karmanos on TV live from Raleigh announcing that he's moving his team there...but it's too late for our vote here, Issue 1 goes down by narrow margin. (Later McConnell did his thing, but that's a different subject.)
2. I worked for Compuware, Pete's "real" company. He started it many years ago, and it's a fairly successful company. But, thanks to Pete's management and lack of foresight, CPWR has been in the tank for many years after his Y2K money dried up. While I was there, everybody took mandatory pay cuts...good way to win friends. After my third pay cut in less than six months, I finally got out, but not before I vowed to never pull for Carolina again as my own personal crusade against the short, bald guy from michigan with a rather severe Napoleon Complex. (CPWR closed at $7 today...guess those options Pete gave me with a strike price of $21 are pretty much worthless...)
3. During the lockout, you couldn't find anybody quicker to pop off about "linkage" and salary caps and, "We'll lock 'em out for YEARS if we have to!" than Peter Karmanos. This guy was a loose cannon the whole time complaining about the money he was losing. (Yeah, same guy who started the whole mess with the Fedorov offer sheet just to piss off his Detroit rival, Illich.) It was rarely constructive out of Pete, it was combative.
4. The good folks of Carolina have barely noticed this team all year. Now I know there are die-hards there that have been to every game, but the attendence figures don't lie. Announced crowds of 10k are under that. This particular Carolina team has been AWESOME all year, not just in the playoffs. Eric Staal alone should have had them cramming at the turnstiles, but it didn't happen. In April, 3 weeks before the playoffs started, the Canes played a home game before 12,137...6,000 under capacity. This is a division leading, headed for the playoff team taking on Ovechkin...12k. Pathetic.
But wait, there's more...a gentleman from the greater Columbus area went online three days before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals and bought two tickets to the game. Lower bowl, blue line. Guess that's all they had left.
Game 7, Eastern Conference finals tickets were available just before face-off.
Some Carolina apologists in the past have said, "Well, wait until we win, you'll see!!" Well, you're winning. You won all year, and now you have the greatest trophy in professional sports in your possession...better sell out the season.
I hope that whole thing came off as bitter because it is. No, not jealous that they won, our situations are entirely different. Just totally bitter...the man who took a dump on Hartford with a fly-by shitting on Columbus now owns the Cup.
Somewhere there's a Carolina fan who bought a jersey the day the team was announced. He or she hasn't missed a game. They died when the Wings took them out a few years ago. This person lives and breathes Hurricane hockey. For that person, I am genuinely happy...they deserve to enjoy this. For Pete and the folks who didn't bother to show up in November to see one of the most explosive teams in hockey...well, it feels pretty empty in that sense.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Ryan Smyth moves back DOWN the list...
Two posts...and several months ago I blogged that Ryan Smyth was such a pain in the ass that he moved up my list around Bert and into rarified air occupied only by Sean Avery and Kirk Maltby.
Well, having just sat through a rather enjoyable game 6 of the Finals, I've come to the conclusion that I am WAY wrong about Smyth...he doesn't belong on the same page with Avery and Maltby, he doesn't even belong in the same book. Hell, he should be in a different library from those two because this guy would do anything in his power to win a hockey game. If removing his right arm and beating a defenseman with it would give the Oilers a scoring chance, I believe Smyth would do it.
Over the season I got to see a lot of the Oilers, and enjoyed watching them. This team moves up the ice without regard for their own bodies, let alone their opponents. I might be one of the few people outside of Edmonton not surprised by their run through the playoffs.
But, during those games I never thought much of Smyth, even though the guy was a major piece of their team. But in the playoffs, I've been enamoured with the guy. He'll do anything to get a goal, to win a game, and on Monday a chance win the Cup.
Now, next fall I'll probably be right back to screaming for somebody, ANYBODY to get Smyth out of the way, but for now I've got to give the guy the credit he's due.
Well, having just sat through a rather enjoyable game 6 of the Finals, I've come to the conclusion that I am WAY wrong about Smyth...he doesn't belong on the same page with Avery and Maltby, he doesn't even belong in the same book. Hell, he should be in a different library from those two because this guy would do anything in his power to win a hockey game. If removing his right arm and beating a defenseman with it would give the Oilers a scoring chance, I believe Smyth would do it.
Over the season I got to see a lot of the Oilers, and enjoyed watching them. This team moves up the ice without regard for their own bodies, let alone their opponents. I might be one of the few people outside of Edmonton not surprised by their run through the playoffs.
But, during those games I never thought much of Smyth, even though the guy was a major piece of their team. But in the playoffs, I've been enamoured with the guy. He'll do anything to get a goal, to win a game, and on Monday a chance win the Cup.
Now, next fall I'll probably be right back to screaming for somebody, ANYBODY to get Smyth out of the way, but for now I've got to give the guy the credit he's due.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
The Weekend of Hockey
This was one of the best hockey weekends for our family, possibly ever. Starting at about noon on Friday, we headed north to Findlay for Brendan's first travel tournament. Findlay hosts a mini-mite tournament every year about this time, and it's a lot of fun for the kids. All five CCYHA teams made the trip up, so lots of familiar faces on the ice and in the hotel. All in all a great time...so to recount the weekend...
4PM Brendan and his Predators play their first game against one of the host teams. The kids played a great game and got the win. Following the game, the whole team had a pizza party, and celebrated Justin's birthday at the pizza place. (Reservation for 50. :) ) After the party, back to the pool to turn the kids loose, because they were WAY more intersted in the pool than the hockey, anyway. But, the Jackets were on at 7. So, more hockey. That was followed by the opening ceremonies in Turin. No hockey, but it's the Olympics.
Saturday, back to the rink for game #2 for the Preds, and they again play a great game and win that one. Happy mini-mites everywhere, and a lot of smiling parents. Then, another team meal, this time at the local BWs, and the US women's game is on TV...more hockey. After lunch, back to the hotel where...yes this will be shocking...but there was even MORE hockey on as the Canadian women were playing AND the Frozen Tundra game between Wisconsin and Ohio State started. But, we didn't get to see much of either of those games because it was time to head back to the rink for more mini-mite hockey, which is the best kind of hockey, afterall.
Saturday evening saw the Predators win their third straight game and earn themselves a trip to the championship. In this game, though, Brendan took a nasty spill. Typical mini-mite chain reaction where one kid falls and takes out another kid...and Brendan was at the end of the chain. He got hit from behind by a sliding teammate and did a full flip in mid-air landing on his back pretty hard. He laid there for a bit, coaches out to check on him, but he just nodded and hopped back up. I think he was way more stunned than hurt, didn't complain about anything hurting other than his cheek where his helmet hit it.
So, lots of cheering in the locker room, more happy mini-mites, and bigger smiles for the parents. We head back to the hotel and what's on TV? That's right MORE HOCKEY! This time around it's time for Hockey Night in Canada as the hotel actually had CBC on the channel line up. A bit of the Leafs and Rangers, and then it was time for the Jackets and the (real) Predators...which didn't exactly go the Jackets way.
On to Sunday and the finals...but before we got there, there was more Olympic hockey to watch, so we did. In the finals, the Predators once again prevailed, and earned a nice big trophy and they each got a medal for their efforts. Big pile of mini-mites at the end of that one, and VERY large smiles for the parents. (And the coaches. :) )
That should be the end of the hockey weekend, right? WRONG! Beer league time! Sadly, it was the lowlight of the weekend as we got shutout the second straight week. But, it was a nice ending to the weekend of hockey...
...which continues for two more days: Pred practice tomorrow and more beer league fun on Tuesday. Then Olympic hockey...well, maybe it'll never end!
4PM Brendan and his Predators play their first game against one of the host teams. The kids played a great game and got the win. Following the game, the whole team had a pizza party, and celebrated Justin's birthday at the pizza place. (Reservation for 50. :) ) After the party, back to the pool to turn the kids loose, because they were WAY more intersted in the pool than the hockey, anyway. But, the Jackets were on at 7. So, more hockey. That was followed by the opening ceremonies in Turin. No hockey, but it's the Olympics.
Saturday, back to the rink for game #2 for the Preds, and they again play a great game and win that one. Happy mini-mites everywhere, and a lot of smiling parents. Then, another team meal, this time at the local BWs, and the US women's game is on TV...more hockey. After lunch, back to the hotel where...yes this will be shocking...but there was even MORE hockey on as the Canadian women were playing AND the Frozen Tundra game between Wisconsin and Ohio State started. But, we didn't get to see much of either of those games because it was time to head back to the rink for more mini-mite hockey, which is the best kind of hockey, afterall.
Saturday evening saw the Predators win their third straight game and earn themselves a trip to the championship. In this game, though, Brendan took a nasty spill. Typical mini-mite chain reaction where one kid falls and takes out another kid...and Brendan was at the end of the chain. He got hit from behind by a sliding teammate and did a full flip in mid-air landing on his back pretty hard. He laid there for a bit, coaches out to check on him, but he just nodded and hopped back up. I think he was way more stunned than hurt, didn't complain about anything hurting other than his cheek where his helmet hit it.
So, lots of cheering in the locker room, more happy mini-mites, and bigger smiles for the parents. We head back to the hotel and what's on TV? That's right MORE HOCKEY! This time around it's time for Hockey Night in Canada as the hotel actually had CBC on the channel line up. A bit of the Leafs and Rangers, and then it was time for the Jackets and the (real) Predators...which didn't exactly go the Jackets way.
On to Sunday and the finals...but before we got there, there was more Olympic hockey to watch, so we did. In the finals, the Predators once again prevailed, and earned a nice big trophy and they each got a medal for their efforts. Big pile of mini-mites at the end of that one, and VERY large smiles for the parents. (And the coaches. :) )
That should be the end of the hockey weekend, right? WRONG! Beer league time! Sadly, it was the lowlight of the weekend as we got shutout the second straight week. But, it was a nice ending to the weekend of hockey...
...which continues for two more days: Pred practice tomorrow and more beer league fun on Tuesday. Then Olympic hockey...well, maybe it'll never end!
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Ryan Smyth moves up the list
Since the Jackets have a rare weekend off, I'm taking in the Oilers again after just watching the Jackets take them in an shootout on Thursday. Tonight they have the Canucks in Edmonton, and so far its entertaining. (Way more entertaining than the Wild and Coyotes...somewhere there's paint drying more exciting than that game.)
So, Ryan Smyth has a redirect goal doing what he does best...standing in/on the crease and annoying the goalie. He did it all night to Denis on Thursday, and did enough of it to Anaheim last week that Giguere drew a couple penalty minutes for chasing him down and smaking him with his glove.
As such, I have determined that Ryan Smyth has now surpassed Bertuzzi on my top three most hated players list. No threat of the top two going anywhere...Sean Avery and Kirk Maltby have those two spots locked up until they decide to quit playing. But slot number three is now Smyth's. Was Bert's, but Bert has pretty much lost the edge that got him there, and Smyth is about to don the Red and White of Canada and annoy me even more in the next few weeks.
So, Ryan, welcome to the top!
So, Ryan Smyth has a redirect goal doing what he does best...standing in/on the crease and annoying the goalie. He did it all night to Denis on Thursday, and did enough of it to Anaheim last week that Giguere drew a couple penalty minutes for chasing him down and smaking him with his glove.
As such, I have determined that Ryan Smyth has now surpassed Bertuzzi on my top three most hated players list. No threat of the top two going anywhere...Sean Avery and Kirk Maltby have those two spots locked up until they decide to quit playing. But slot number three is now Smyth's. Was Bert's, but Bert has pretty much lost the edge that got him there, and Smyth is about to don the Red and White of Canada and annoy me even more in the next few weeks.
So, Ryan, welcome to the top!
Friday, January 20, 2006
One to remember
Every so often you have one of those nights that's going to stick with you. Tonight was that night for my oldest son, Brendan, and in turn for me.
On Tuesday this week I told Brendan I'd take him to the Blue Jackets game tonight if he wanted to go, and he did. He laid his jersey out on the chair this morning, and when I got home at 5:15 he was asking when we'd leave. I ask who his favorite player was, knowing the response was going to be a rather loud "RICKY NASH!"
So, off to the Jackets game we go, ready to watch them whip up on the Blues. The game had very little whipping, and it was a one goal game for the most part. Blues up one, Zherdev ties it. Blues up again, Vyborny ties it. Blues up one more time, Hrdina ties it with about 13 minutes to go. As soon as it was tied, Brendan says, "I'm ready to see a shootout, dad!" I told him he had to get through overtime, which required the Jackets to kill about 1:40 of penalty time at the end to get to the shootout, they did.
In the shootout, Denis stops the first shooter then Balastik misses for the Jackets. Denis stops the second guy from the Blues, and out onto the ice steps #61 along with cheers beside me of, "LET'S GO RICKY NASH!!!!" Nash, being Nash, scores an absolute amazing goal by crashing the crease and one handing the puck around the goalie and into the net. The place erupts, as it should after seeing that. Denis stops the last puck, and the game is over, Jackets win 4-3 in a shootout.
Now's when the fun starts... :)
We're pretty good friends with Dan Singleton, the video coordinator with the Jackets, and his wife, Karin, emailed me earlier in the week to see if we'd be interested in meeting Dan downstairs following the game. Since Brendan was going along, I took her up on the invite, but didn't tell him about it. When we met up near the staris, his face lit up at the possibility of meeting "a hockey player."
We got downstairs and stood behind the barrier and saw hockey players going past, Brendan asking who each one was and dad doing his best to figure them out without numbers. (Dad did alright, too, even recognized a couple of the St. Louis guys.) While we were standing there, one of the managers from the Blues walked up and gave him an official Blues game puck. That was pretty cool to a six year old, didn't matter that it said Blues on it, either.
Of course, we're waiting on one specific guy to come out, and it's getting late. "Where's Ricky Nash, dad?" was asked a few times. Finally, he stepped around the corner, and Brendan went silent. Other kids are getting cards and stuff signed by anybody that will walk out, so he notices he has a puck in his hand. A few of the players wives were standing there, so Adam Foote's wife scrapes up a silver puck signing pen, gives it to Brendan, and he's all set. He strides up to Nash, coming allllll the way up to mid-thigh on Rick, and holds the puck and pen out. Rick obliges, smiles, and hands it back...and thoroughly made a six year olds day, week, possibly year. Nash didn't say a word, just bent down, signed it, and handed it back. The look on Brendan's face was priceless.
Of course, that's where the silence portion ends. He was so excited and proud of his newly signed puck that I heard it recounted a number of times on the way home. Before the garage door had shut he was upstairs telling his mom. I have no doubt that all the grandparents will know about this before they have their morning coffee.
Oh, and stupid dad owns a camera phone, and has uttered the words, "I have NO use for a camera in my phone," a few hunnert times. And, I didn't use it for this either...forgot all about it.
But, that's how Brendan went from just going to see the game with dad to getting quite possibly the only Rick Nash autographed St. Louis Blues puck in existance.
On Tuesday this week I told Brendan I'd take him to the Blue Jackets game tonight if he wanted to go, and he did. He laid his jersey out on the chair this morning, and when I got home at 5:15 he was asking when we'd leave. I ask who his favorite player was, knowing the response was going to be a rather loud "RICKY NASH!"
So, off to the Jackets game we go, ready to watch them whip up on the Blues. The game had very little whipping, and it was a one goal game for the most part. Blues up one, Zherdev ties it. Blues up again, Vyborny ties it. Blues up one more time, Hrdina ties it with about 13 minutes to go. As soon as it was tied, Brendan says, "I'm ready to see a shootout, dad!" I told him he had to get through overtime, which required the Jackets to kill about 1:40 of penalty time at the end to get to the shootout, they did.
In the shootout, Denis stops the first shooter then Balastik misses for the Jackets. Denis stops the second guy from the Blues, and out onto the ice steps #61 along with cheers beside me of, "LET'S GO RICKY NASH!!!!" Nash, being Nash, scores an absolute amazing goal by crashing the crease and one handing the puck around the goalie and into the net. The place erupts, as it should after seeing that. Denis stops the last puck, and the game is over, Jackets win 4-3 in a shootout.
Now's when the fun starts... :)
We're pretty good friends with Dan Singleton, the video coordinator with the Jackets, and his wife, Karin, emailed me earlier in the week to see if we'd be interested in meeting Dan downstairs following the game. Since Brendan was going along, I took her up on the invite, but didn't tell him about it. When we met up near the staris, his face lit up at the possibility of meeting "a hockey player."
We got downstairs and stood behind the barrier and saw hockey players going past, Brendan asking who each one was and dad doing his best to figure them out without numbers. (Dad did alright, too, even recognized a couple of the St. Louis guys.) While we were standing there, one of the managers from the Blues walked up and gave him an official Blues game puck. That was pretty cool to a six year old, didn't matter that it said Blues on it, either.
Of course, we're waiting on one specific guy to come out, and it's getting late. "Where's Ricky Nash, dad?" was asked a few times. Finally, he stepped around the corner, and Brendan went silent. Other kids are getting cards and stuff signed by anybody that will walk out, so he notices he has a puck in his hand. A few of the players wives were standing there, so Adam Foote's wife scrapes up a silver puck signing pen, gives it to Brendan, and he's all set. He strides up to Nash, coming allllll the way up to mid-thigh on Rick, and holds the puck and pen out. Rick obliges, smiles, and hands it back...and thoroughly made a six year olds day, week, possibly year. Nash didn't say a word, just bent down, signed it, and handed it back. The look on Brendan's face was priceless.
Of course, that's where the silence portion ends. He was so excited and proud of his newly signed puck that I heard it recounted a number of times on the way home. Before the garage door had shut he was upstairs telling his mom. I have no doubt that all the grandparents will know about this before they have their morning coffee.
Oh, and stupid dad owns a camera phone, and has uttered the words, "I have NO use for a camera in my phone," a few hunnert times. And, I didn't use it for this either...forgot all about it.
But, that's how Brendan went from just going to see the game with dad to getting quite possibly the only Rick Nash autographed St. Louis Blues puck in existance.
Monday, October 17, 2005
Where does it stop?
No, not the losing...although it would be nice if that stopped soon, too.
But, the injury bug, when will it move on to a different team? First Ricky, then Rusty, then Brule, and now Fritsche. Awkward fall, carried off the ice...rumor has it it's his ankle. How long do we lose THIS guy who was playing well and figured into the Jackets success? 4 weeks? 6? 8? Good thing we have all these spare forwards at the moment. But, Fritsche's fire will be missed...
Hopefully four days off does the Jackets some good. Staring at a homestand that starts with a Sharks team that just tore them limb for limb, two games against the always tough and division leading Wings, followed by a game with the currently unbeaten Preds isn't much of a run to "get well" against.
While we're asking "where does it stop," next on the list is the parade to the penalty box...where does THAT stop? Killing 12 minutes of penalties in a period has happened too many times for it to just be coincidence. These guys need to start moving the feet and get in position - hooking, holding, and interference are on the box score way too often. Just because the penalty is working pretty well doesn't mean we have to "showcase" it every game.
But, the injury bug, when will it move on to a different team? First Ricky, then Rusty, then Brule, and now Fritsche. Awkward fall, carried off the ice...rumor has it it's his ankle. How long do we lose THIS guy who was playing well and figured into the Jackets success? 4 weeks? 6? 8? Good thing we have all these spare forwards at the moment. But, Fritsche's fire will be missed...
Hopefully four days off does the Jackets some good. Staring at a homestand that starts with a Sharks team that just tore them limb for limb, two games against the always tough and division leading Wings, followed by a game with the currently unbeaten Preds isn't much of a run to "get well" against.
While we're asking "where does it stop," next on the list is the parade to the penalty box...where does THAT stop? Killing 12 minutes of penalties in a period has happened too many times for it to just be coincidence. These guys need to start moving the feet and get in position - hooking, holding, and interference are on the box score way too often. Just because the penalty is working pretty well doesn't mean we have to "showcase" it every game.
Thursday, October 06, 2005
0-1 Because of 0-fer 9
Wow, what can be said about the Blue Jackets power play last night in Washington? Nothing, really, because that's what it produced. No goals and barely even any shots on goal. At one point the Jackets had 3 power play shots in 7 power play opportunities. 3 shots in (roughly) 14 minutes of power play time? Ouch.
Conversely, 5 on 5 the Jackets looked great. Possibly as good as they ever have. Great puck possession, good passing, good cycling, just an all around solid 5 on 5 performance. Why, then, couldn't they do that same stuff with an extra player?
Other than the power play, the game wasn't that bad of a debut for the Jackets. Dan Fritsche proved he should be on the roster, and possibly be centering Nash and Vyborny some time late next week. Nash proved his ankle needed a little more rest. (Rest it Friday, too, Ricky...it's a long season.) Zherdev continued to prove he thinks there's an i in team...must be lost in the translation. He showed flashes of genius, as always, but the total lack of effort is troubling. He needs to go to the Dan Fritsche "This is how you move your feet" school.
Another source of learning for Zherdev was on the other bench in his countryman Alexander Ovechkin. WOW is about all that you can use to describe this guy. While the media is still swooning over everything Crosby (and his one assist in the Devs PASTING of the Pens), Ovechkin has quietly been overlooked. That's not going to last long, he's the best player the Caps have on the ice right now. He'll need some help because it's a long season, but he's the real deal.
One other note: Not a huge fan of the shootout (for the "individual" reasons behind it), but glad to see Dany Heatley officially win the first shootout in NHL history last night. Couldn't have happened to a better guy.
Conversely, 5 on 5 the Jackets looked great. Possibly as good as they ever have. Great puck possession, good passing, good cycling, just an all around solid 5 on 5 performance. Why, then, couldn't they do that same stuff with an extra player?
Other than the power play, the game wasn't that bad of a debut for the Jackets. Dan Fritsche proved he should be on the roster, and possibly be centering Nash and Vyborny some time late next week. Nash proved his ankle needed a little more rest. (Rest it Friday, too, Ricky...it's a long season.) Zherdev continued to prove he thinks there's an i in team...must be lost in the translation. He showed flashes of genius, as always, but the total lack of effort is troubling. He needs to go to the Dan Fritsche "This is how you move your feet" school.
Another source of learning for Zherdev was on the other bench in his countryman Alexander Ovechkin. WOW is about all that you can use to describe this guy. While the media is still swooning over everything Crosby (and his one assist in the Devs PASTING of the Pens), Ovechkin has quietly been overlooked. That's not going to last long, he's the best player the Caps have on the ice right now. He'll need some help because it's a long season, but he's the real deal.
One other note: Not a huge fan of the shootout (for the "individual" reasons behind it), but glad to see Dany Heatley officially win the first shootout in NHL history last night. Couldn't have happened to a better guy.
Monday, October 03, 2005
Brule is in...
As of this afternoon, Gilbert Brule is officially a Blue Jacket for the upcoming portion of the season. That he signed and it went to the wire is not shocking, so did Nash and Klesla in their respective signings. (Each for a lot more cash, too...hello new CBA.)
So, now that Brule is in the fold, and you don't sign him to scratch him, who DOES get the scratch?
My guess at this point is Geoff Sanderson. Don't get me wrong, Sandy's still got it...especially in the wheels department...but coming out of preseason, he doesn't have it like those he's competing with. Down the left side he's already behind Nash and Zherdev which puts him on the third line at best. The third line is the likely home for Brule, too, as he'll likely get the same treatment Ricky did his rookie year.
Another option is to scratch Shelley and bump Sandy down to the fourth line, but relegating him to the checking line could be worse than just scratching him. Afterall, it worked so well for him in Buffalo that we landed him in '00.
Two players I don't think are scratchable to make room for young Gilbert are Tyler Wright and Trevor Letowski. These two kill penalties WAY too well to be in the press box in the "New NHL."
So, Brule's on-ice audition starts Wednesday night in Washington. All the best to him, we'll see how it shakes out.
So, now that Brule is in the fold, and you don't sign him to scratch him, who DOES get the scratch?
My guess at this point is Geoff Sanderson. Don't get me wrong, Sandy's still got it...especially in the wheels department...but coming out of preseason, he doesn't have it like those he's competing with. Down the left side he's already behind Nash and Zherdev which puts him on the third line at best. The third line is the likely home for Brule, too, as he'll likely get the same treatment Ricky did his rookie year.
Another option is to scratch Shelley and bump Sandy down to the fourth line, but relegating him to the checking line could be worse than just scratching him. Afterall, it worked so well for him in Buffalo that we landed him in '00.
Two players I don't think are scratchable to make room for young Gilbert are Tyler Wright and Trevor Letowski. These two kill penalties WAY too well to be in the press box in the "New NHL."
So, Brule's on-ice audition starts Wednesday night in Washington. All the best to him, we'll see how it shakes out.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Welcome Back Danny
OK, I'll admit it...I'm a homer. Big time when it comes to the local NHL franchise, and moreso with our Ohio born draftee, Danny Fritsche.
Two years ago, Danny was a big surprise coming out of camp and made the big club. He stuck around until it was time to join the US Junior team, which he helped win a gold medal in Finland. After returning, he went back to juniors, no point in hanging around Columbus since the Jackets had just made the coaching change, and the season was in "Salvage Some Pride" mode by mid-January.
Last season, he had another shoulder issue, but apparently unrelated to those before. He stared out in Sarnia, but was traded to the London Knights not long after he returned from his second stint with the US Junior team. While with London, he got valuable seasoning without worrying why he wasn't in the NHL. He won a Memorial Cup, and in the process was key in shutting down this Crosby guy (you may have heard of him) in the final, where he had a goal and two assists.
So, fast forward to this season, and it looks like Danny will be ready for Prime Time. He did a fine job in the rookie tournament in Traverse City, but came out of the tournament with a couple nagging injuries. Those kept him out of the first week of training camp, but he was finally cleared to skate last week. Just in time for a trip to Pittsburgh to make his case to stay in the NHL again.
WHAM...7-2 Pens.
OK, he's got another shot, this time in Detroit.
POW...9-0 Wings.
The flu ripped through the team, so the squads sent to both games were pretty thin. Nothing against Fritsche, but those were two tough games to make your preseason debut.
Finally, no more flu, a few more vets, and a home game in Columbus. David Vyborny gets out of the box about 6 minutes into the game, gets the puck, flips it over the defense and Fritsche is gone...red light is on a few moments later, and it's 1-0 good guys. The impressive thing about it, he pulled away from the defenseman as he got deeper in the zone. The kid has always played a no bull s**t type game, taking it at guys rather than around him, so the speed never really came into play or got noticed. It got noticed last night.
Later in the game he was out on a power play, and was the only guy on the weak side. He worked to the open space (hopefully Zherdev was paying attention at the time) and got a nice pass and a good shot off. Didn't score on that one (did later, didn't get to see it, though), but showed his just all around hockey sense. His play with the puck is great, but his play away from the puck was noteworthy. No floating at the blue line, no watching the point man, his feet never stopped moving and he got himself into open ice to receive a pass.
So, we finally get to see Danny on the ice in Columbus, and it appears he's grown up nicely while he was gone. I can't see how he won't make the team, and I can see him moving up the depth chart pretty quickly if he keeps playing like he did on Friday.
Two years ago, Danny was a big surprise coming out of camp and made the big club. He stuck around until it was time to join the US Junior team, which he helped win a gold medal in Finland. After returning, he went back to juniors, no point in hanging around Columbus since the Jackets had just made the coaching change, and the season was in "Salvage Some Pride" mode by mid-January.
Last season, he had another shoulder issue, but apparently unrelated to those before. He stared out in Sarnia, but was traded to the London Knights not long after he returned from his second stint with the US Junior team. While with London, he got valuable seasoning without worrying why he wasn't in the NHL. He won a Memorial Cup, and in the process was key in shutting down this Crosby guy (you may have heard of him) in the final, where he had a goal and two assists.
So, fast forward to this season, and it looks like Danny will be ready for Prime Time. He did a fine job in the rookie tournament in Traverse City, but came out of the tournament with a couple nagging injuries. Those kept him out of the first week of training camp, but he was finally cleared to skate last week. Just in time for a trip to Pittsburgh to make his case to stay in the NHL again.
WHAM...7-2 Pens.
OK, he's got another shot, this time in Detroit.
POW...9-0 Wings.
The flu ripped through the team, so the squads sent to both games were pretty thin. Nothing against Fritsche, but those were two tough games to make your preseason debut.
Finally, no more flu, a few more vets, and a home game in Columbus. David Vyborny gets out of the box about 6 minutes into the game, gets the puck, flips it over the defense and Fritsche is gone...red light is on a few moments later, and it's 1-0 good guys. The impressive thing about it, he pulled away from the defenseman as he got deeper in the zone. The kid has always played a no bull s**t type game, taking it at guys rather than around him, so the speed never really came into play or got noticed. It got noticed last night.
Later in the game he was out on a power play, and was the only guy on the weak side. He worked to the open space (hopefully Zherdev was paying attention at the time) and got a nice pass and a good shot off. Didn't score on that one (did later, didn't get to see it, though), but showed his just all around hockey sense. His play with the puck is great, but his play away from the puck was noteworthy. No floating at the blue line, no watching the point man, his feet never stopped moving and he got himself into open ice to receive a pass.
So, we finally get to see Danny on the ice in Columbus, and it appears he's grown up nicely while he was gone. I can't see how he won't make the team, and I can see him moving up the depth chart pretty quickly if he keeps playing like he did on Friday.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Zherdev has me wondering
After watching the Jackets play the Wings Thursday night I came away wondering if this is the real Nikolai Zherdev or the preseason "meh" Nikolai Zherdev.
Far too many times away from the puck he just stood there with his stick at his waist watching the play. At one point, all he had to do was crash the net and he would have had a rebound with Jimmy Howard pulled way out of position. But, instead he decided to hang five feet inside the blue line.
Movement away from the puck is too big in the NHL for Zherdev to be watching at the blue line, even if it is preseason. Gilbert Brule isn't standing around, this kid's motor never stops. Granted, he's trying to impress, so he should be going all out. Maybe a better example at this stage is David Vyborny not mailing in his preseason games and watching the other four guys on the ice play.
I get how a player could decide not to take preseason serious, nothing counts, and they're throwing shootouts in just for fun. But, habits can be formed, and bad habits at that. Nicky's defense leaves a lot to be desired, and in the "New NHL" there are a ton of penalties being called, so his ice time will be limited by each kill we have. Does he want to spend the ice time he's actually getting loafing at the blue line?
Far too many times away from the puck he just stood there with his stick at his waist watching the play. At one point, all he had to do was crash the net and he would have had a rebound with Jimmy Howard pulled way out of position. But, instead he decided to hang five feet inside the blue line.
Movement away from the puck is too big in the NHL for Zherdev to be watching at the blue line, even if it is preseason. Gilbert Brule isn't standing around, this kid's motor never stops. Granted, he's trying to impress, so he should be going all out. Maybe a better example at this stage is David Vyborny not mailing in his preseason games and watching the other four guys on the ice play.
I get how a player could decide not to take preseason serious, nothing counts, and they're throwing shootouts in just for fun. But, habits can be formed, and bad habits at that. Nicky's defense leaves a lot to be desired, and in the "New NHL" there are a ton of penalties being called, so his ice time will be limited by each kill we have. Does he want to spend the ice time he's actually getting loafing at the blue line?
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Some nuggets from the Sunday Disptach
As always, the Jacket info in the Sunday Dispatch is the highlight of the weekly hockey coverage. This week was no different, and the two articles they had shed some light on a couple of issues: ticket renewals and how the roster is shaping up.
On the ticket side, 92% of season ticket holders have renewed their tickets already, and the team anticipates that rising to 96%. Not too bad. While readers of the Dispatch are writing into the editor to tell him that he should print every morsel of Buckeye football coverge he can find, and other fans explaining that 80% of the city only wants to read about the Browns, the Blue Jackets fans quietly went about making their point with their wallets rather than writing the paper to complain. Things are looking good for another loud season in Nationwide, especially if Doug's quote at the end of the article comes true: "The best thing we can give our fans," MacLean said, "is a better team."
The probable training camp roster wasn't that surprising, but it was nice to see it in print, especially since it seems the Dispatch gets the best info out of the front office. After going through the guranteed contracts, there are 18 roster spots filled. That leaves five spots if the Jackets are to carry the full 23 man roster, which is unlikely because of the salary cap. For all intents and purposes, we've got 11 guys slugging it out for probably three spots on the full time roster.
It appears the defense is set with 6 guys having guranteed deals already, but Aaron Johnson and Francois Beauchemin to slug it out for the 7th spot. Given our injury problems on the blue line last season, healthy competetion between these two will be a good thing. Based on what I've heard out of Syracuse, it seems it should be a pretty tight race. We've seen Johnson in Columbus, but apparently he didn't really build on that last year. While Beauchemin, snagged off the waiver wire from Montreal last September, came in and played a solid season for the Crunch. Enough to earn him a two year deal with the Jackets.
On the offensive side, things get a little more interesting. The year off gave the Jackets draftees more of a chance to mature. Dan Fritsche used the time to help London win a Memorial Cup and put up 35 points in 28 games with the Knights. Alexandre Picard upped his game some more scoring 40 goals and 85 points in 60 games with Lewiston in the Q. Recently signed Jaroslav Balastik led the NHL star laden Czech Elite League in goals. Joakim Lindstrom hopped the pond to play 13 games with the Crunch, and mananged 4 goals and 4 assists in his short time there. And this doesn't even take into account this year's pick in Gilbert Brule, who some say was the steal of the draft at the 6th overall selection.
All of that leads to what should be an entertaining training camp. We have finally compiled enough draft picks of NHL quality to make the fight for spots interesting. Plus, even the guys with a guranteed contract don't have a guranteed spot on the team. Outside of Nash, whose spot on the top line was cemented in two months into the '03-'04 season, every other spot is open to be won. Preseason games might not be boring for a change.
Friday Night Football
Hilliard Darby - 28
Central Crossing - 0
North Union - 6
Cardington - 34
Waynesfield-Goshen - 50
Lima Perry - 12
Darby continues to look good, their defense giving up 7 points in its frist two games. North Union starts another Jekyll and Hyde season winning week one in fine fashion then getting whacked in week two. Uncle Kev's team in Waynesfield won another squeaker, but according to Uncle Kev once again started off slow.
On the ticket side, 92% of season ticket holders have renewed their tickets already, and the team anticipates that rising to 96%. Not too bad. While readers of the Dispatch are writing into the editor to tell him that he should print every morsel of Buckeye football coverge he can find, and other fans explaining that 80% of the city only wants to read about the Browns, the Blue Jackets fans quietly went about making their point with their wallets rather than writing the paper to complain. Things are looking good for another loud season in Nationwide, especially if Doug's quote at the end of the article comes true: "The best thing we can give our fans," MacLean said, "is a better team."
The probable training camp roster wasn't that surprising, but it was nice to see it in print, especially since it seems the Dispatch gets the best info out of the front office. After going through the guranteed contracts, there are 18 roster spots filled. That leaves five spots if the Jackets are to carry the full 23 man roster, which is unlikely because of the salary cap. For all intents and purposes, we've got 11 guys slugging it out for probably three spots on the full time roster.
It appears the defense is set with 6 guys having guranteed deals already, but Aaron Johnson and Francois Beauchemin to slug it out for the 7th spot. Given our injury problems on the blue line last season, healthy competetion between these two will be a good thing. Based on what I've heard out of Syracuse, it seems it should be a pretty tight race. We've seen Johnson in Columbus, but apparently he didn't really build on that last year. While Beauchemin, snagged off the waiver wire from Montreal last September, came in and played a solid season for the Crunch. Enough to earn him a two year deal with the Jackets.
On the offensive side, things get a little more interesting. The year off gave the Jackets draftees more of a chance to mature. Dan Fritsche used the time to help London win a Memorial Cup and put up 35 points in 28 games with the Knights. Alexandre Picard upped his game some more scoring 40 goals and 85 points in 60 games with Lewiston in the Q. Recently signed Jaroslav Balastik led the NHL star laden Czech Elite League in goals. Joakim Lindstrom hopped the pond to play 13 games with the Crunch, and mananged 4 goals and 4 assists in his short time there. And this doesn't even take into account this year's pick in Gilbert Brule, who some say was the steal of the draft at the 6th overall selection.
All of that leads to what should be an entertaining training camp. We have finally compiled enough draft picks of NHL quality to make the fight for spots interesting. Plus, even the guys with a guranteed contract don't have a guranteed spot on the team. Outside of Nash, whose spot on the top line was cemented in two months into the '03-'04 season, every other spot is open to be won. Preseason games might not be boring for a change.
Friday Night Football
Hilliard Darby - 28
Central Crossing - 0
North Union - 6
Cardington - 34
Waynesfield-Goshen - 50
Lima Perry - 12
Darby continues to look good, their defense giving up 7 points in its frist two games. North Union starts another Jekyll and Hyde season winning week one in fine fashion then getting whacked in week two. Uncle Kev's team in Waynesfield won another squeaker, but according to Uncle Kev once again started off slow.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
"New NHL"...until the TV schedule comes out
OLN has released the games they are going to air in the "New" NHL. Seems they picked the same old teams that the Old NHL liked to promote.
I get how TV ratings work, and how you want the most eyeballs possible watching those games, so it makes sense to put the bigger markets on nationally. So, seeing Detroit, the Rangers, Boston, the Avs, and St. Louis on the schedule 8 times each isn't so shocking, from a market standpoint. From an "exciting hockey" standpoint, the Rangers haven't been to the playoffs in 7 years, the Blues are shadows of what they were the last time the NHL iced a game, and the Avs have lost some luster as well.
On the flip side, the NHL is out to market some of its new stars, and it should. Sidney Crosby's Penguins get 7 appearances and Alexander Ovechkin's Capitals get 6, so the last two first overall picks will be seen plenty. 2003's first overall pick is a Pen, so if Fleury sticks in Pittsburgh he'll be on TV with Crosby. First overall pick from 2002, Rick Nash, is on OLN once. (NBC, never.) This is the same Rick Nash that was all the talk in this year's World Championships...which is another event in which nobody in the US saw Rick perform. 2001's top pick, Illya Kovalchuk, is on OLN twice, so the top pick theory goes out the window pretty quickly.
Maybe OLN meant to showcase young American hockey stars: Zach Parise 2 appearances with the Devils, Ryan Suter 1 with the Predators, Ryan Kessler 1 with the Canucks. Nope, guess that wasn't it, either.
No, it seems OLN looked at the standings from the last season, tossed in the Rangers and the hockey hot bed of Minnesota and put them on TV. But, that can't totally be true, either, because the defending Western Conference champion Calgary Flames are on OLN one time. Playoff teams Toronto, Ottawa, and Nashville are on a combined one time.
So, the criteria for who is on and how many times aren't real clear. I was hopeful that when the contract went away from ESPN, that ESPN's favorite teams would cease hogging all the ice time. Guess that didn't happen. With 58 games on the air, that's 116 possible teams to make the schedule. Getting all 30 teams to air two times should be fairly easy, and a good way to expose the entire league, which is in DIRE need of exposure.
Thank God for Center Ice.
I get how TV ratings work, and how you want the most eyeballs possible watching those games, so it makes sense to put the bigger markets on nationally. So, seeing Detroit, the Rangers, Boston, the Avs, and St. Louis on the schedule 8 times each isn't so shocking, from a market standpoint. From an "exciting hockey" standpoint, the Rangers haven't been to the playoffs in 7 years, the Blues are shadows of what they were the last time the NHL iced a game, and the Avs have lost some luster as well.
On the flip side, the NHL is out to market some of its new stars, and it should. Sidney Crosby's Penguins get 7 appearances and Alexander Ovechkin's Capitals get 6, so the last two first overall picks will be seen plenty. 2003's first overall pick is a Pen, so if Fleury sticks in Pittsburgh he'll be on TV with Crosby. First overall pick from 2002, Rick Nash, is on OLN once. (NBC, never.) This is the same Rick Nash that was all the talk in this year's World Championships...which is another event in which nobody in the US saw Rick perform. 2001's top pick, Illya Kovalchuk, is on OLN twice, so the top pick theory goes out the window pretty quickly.
Maybe OLN meant to showcase young American hockey stars: Zach Parise 2 appearances with the Devils, Ryan Suter 1 with the Predators, Ryan Kessler 1 with the Canucks. Nope, guess that wasn't it, either.
No, it seems OLN looked at the standings from the last season, tossed in the Rangers and the hockey hot bed of Minnesota and put them on TV. But, that can't totally be true, either, because the defending Western Conference champion Calgary Flames are on OLN one time. Playoff teams Toronto, Ottawa, and Nashville are on a combined one time.
So, the criteria for who is on and how many times aren't real clear. I was hopeful that when the contract went away from ESPN, that ESPN's favorite teams would cease hogging all the ice time. Guess that didn't happen. With 58 games on the air, that's 116 possible teams to make the schedule. Getting all 30 teams to air two times should be fairly easy, and a good way to expose the entire league, which is in DIRE need of exposure.
Thank God for Center Ice.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Why the Wings?
Since the FA season has opened, it seems plenty of prognosticators are still picking the Wings to win the Central. Why?
Osgood back in net? Datsyuk is in Russia, and may not come out of Russia. Zetterberg is as yet unsigned, too. That leaves the Wings with a veteran core. A core that has won the Stanley Cup, which isn't to be denied, but won it four years ago and before the "off year."
Chelly is 43, Yzerman 40, Shanny and Schneider 36, and $7 million man Lidstrom is 35. Kirk Maltby is a relative youngster at 32. Buying out McCarty seemed to be buying out a bit of the heart of the Wings, not that they'll be short on leadership.
But, here's the question: Can the aging Wings hang in the "New NHL" where the game is to opened up and speed to be a bigger factor? Can the perfectors of the left wing lock win in a non-left wing lockable NHL? The last time we saw the Wings they were getting bounced from the playoffs by a quick forechecking Calgary team. In round 1, the speedy Predators gave them fits for 6 games. Now, this type of game will be coming at them more often than not.
If obstruction truely goes away this year, can the Wings still stay on top of the Central? The Predators improved their playoff roster, the Jackets youngsters are all a year older and have been complemented by some solid free agent pick-ups, and Chicago seems to be putting together a solid team.
I don't think the Central is the toughest division in hockey this season, but it's not getting any easier for the team whose big acquisition was Andy Delmore.
Osgood back in net? Datsyuk is in Russia, and may not come out of Russia. Zetterberg is as yet unsigned, too. That leaves the Wings with a veteran core. A core that has won the Stanley Cup, which isn't to be denied, but won it four years ago and before the "off year."
Chelly is 43, Yzerman 40, Shanny and Schneider 36, and $7 million man Lidstrom is 35. Kirk Maltby is a relative youngster at 32. Buying out McCarty seemed to be buying out a bit of the heart of the Wings, not that they'll be short on leadership.
But, here's the question: Can the aging Wings hang in the "New NHL" where the game is to opened up and speed to be a bigger factor? Can the perfectors of the left wing lock win in a non-left wing lockable NHL? The last time we saw the Wings they were getting bounced from the playoffs by a quick forechecking Calgary team. In round 1, the speedy Predators gave them fits for 6 games. Now, this type of game will be coming at them more often than not.
If obstruction truely goes away this year, can the Wings still stay on top of the Central? The Predators improved their playoff roster, the Jackets youngsters are all a year older and have been complemented by some solid free agent pick-ups, and Chicago seems to be putting together a solid team.
I don't think the Central is the toughest division in hockey this season, but it's not getting any easier for the team whose big acquisition was Andy Delmore.
Saturday, August 27, 2005
It's about time...
This blog thing sounded like a good idea at the time, but keeping up with it has been a bit tougher. And, getting caught up in the fun that has been the return of the NHL has kept me occupied for a while. So, we'll try this again...
Quite a few things have happened in the hockey world since my last entry.
In March. :)
Previously I wrote about things covering the NHL as a whole, as it seemed appropriate at the time. Now that the NHL has decided to grace us with their presence again, time to go back to being All Blue Jackets, All the Time. (OK, most of the time.)
As a Jackets fan, I am absolutely THRILLED with the way we're shaping up for this season. The roster it looks like we're going to camp with is hands down the best collection of players we've seen in Columbus in our short history. Top of that list is none other than Rick Nash. I can't wait to see what our little Ricky has grown into in his year away. His exploits on the other side of the pond last season are well noted, and he apparently lit it up at Team Canada's Olympic training camp. What do we have in this kid? And, big thanks to Doug, we have it for another five years.
Beyond Nash, it looks like our season is going to hinge on how well our kids come together and play. Can Klesla toughen up, use his size, and play like his 130-ish PIMs in the Czech league last year indicate? Will Zherdev continue the mind-boggling moves? Does Fritsche use his extra year in juniors and Memorial Cup winning experience (and giving Crosby all he wanted) to come into the NHL and make an impact? Does Picard stick on the big team? (This is a big question for me personally, I'm not sure I've ever seen the kid skate.) And, what about Brule? Can he drop jaws in camp to earn a few games once the season starts? And will those games earn him more? I've heard it's possible.
All these questions and more will start to be answered in just a shade over two weeks. This is going to be the best training camp we've ever seen. The competition for positions is going to be awesome to watch. Who earns the spot with Vyborny and Nash? Who gets to set up Zherdev? Which rookie is going to put a veteran down a line? Damnit, more questions!
Are you ready for some football?
My other love this time of year is high school football, just for fun I'll toss out scores for at least three games: Hilliard Darby (where we live), North Union (where I played (many, many years ago)), and Waynesfield-Goshen (where my brother is assisstant coach).
So for last night's update...
Hillard Darby - 39
Westland - 7
North Union - 32
Fairbanks - 15
Waynsfield-Goshen - 41
Lockland - 27
BONUS SCORE!
Sycamore Mohawk - 28
Elgin - 7
(Any guesses on where my wife went to high school?? :) )
Quite a few things have happened in the hockey world since my last entry.
In March. :)
Previously I wrote about things covering the NHL as a whole, as it seemed appropriate at the time. Now that the NHL has decided to grace us with their presence again, time to go back to being All Blue Jackets, All the Time. (OK, most of the time.)
As a Jackets fan, I am absolutely THRILLED with the way we're shaping up for this season. The roster it looks like we're going to camp with is hands down the best collection of players we've seen in Columbus in our short history. Top of that list is none other than Rick Nash. I can't wait to see what our little Ricky has grown into in his year away. His exploits on the other side of the pond last season are well noted, and he apparently lit it up at Team Canada's Olympic training camp. What do we have in this kid? And, big thanks to Doug, we have it for another five years.
Beyond Nash, it looks like our season is going to hinge on how well our kids come together and play. Can Klesla toughen up, use his size, and play like his 130-ish PIMs in the Czech league last year indicate? Will Zherdev continue the mind-boggling moves? Does Fritsche use his extra year in juniors and Memorial Cup winning experience (and giving Crosby all he wanted) to come into the NHL and make an impact? Does Picard stick on the big team? (This is a big question for me personally, I'm not sure I've ever seen the kid skate.) And, what about Brule? Can he drop jaws in camp to earn a few games once the season starts? And will those games earn him more? I've heard it's possible.
All these questions and more will start to be answered in just a shade over two weeks. This is going to be the best training camp we've ever seen. The competition for positions is going to be awesome to watch. Who earns the spot with Vyborny and Nash? Who gets to set up Zherdev? Which rookie is going to put a veteran down a line? Damnit, more questions!
Are you ready for some football?
My other love this time of year is high school football, just for fun I'll toss out scores for at least three games: Hilliard Darby (where we live), North Union (where I played (many, many years ago)), and Waynesfield-Goshen (where my brother is assisstant coach).
So for last night's update...
Hillard Darby - 39
Westland - 7
North Union - 32
Fairbanks - 15
Waynsfield-Goshen - 41
Lockland - 27
BONUS SCORE!
Sycamore Mohawk - 28
Elgin - 7
(Any guesses on where my wife went to high school?? :) )
Friday, March 18, 2005
Now what?
As the title suggests, I'm a glutton for punishment, so in the hockey world, now what?
Well, the stewards of the highest level met last week and this week to say the same things they've said for months...NHL has a cap offer, NHLPA doesn't want it. This is an issue for me because the PA decided to accept a cap at the last minute, and now Bobby is SHOCKED that the NHL would offer the cap again, and it would be lower. Amazing...somebody sign Bob up for an entry level econ class at any university. (This guy graduated from Harvard???)
So, since their doing their hard headed thing, still...on to the NCAAs!
Basketball - this is hands down the best time of the year with the NCAA tournament going on. Hours of college hoops to be enjoyed this weekend, and probably the best one and done tournament going.
But, the hockey NCAAs get drawn Sunday morning, which means the Road To Columbus starts next weekend. With my Frozen Four ticket purchased, I'm really looking forward to this one. I've never been to the Frozen Four, and am still kicking myself for not going to it in Cincinnati a couple years ago.
With OSU season tickets, I've been rather tuned into how the NCAAs are picked...and WOW is this a screwed up system. (www.uscho.com explains it very well, look for anything about the Pairwise Rankings.) It's a pretty good system, but has some flaws that allow teams to move up by losing to the right team. (It might be a worse system than the BCS in that respect.) But, OSU has been on the bubble for the last couple weeks. I can't fathom second place in the CCHA not getting into the tournament, but it's a strong possibility.
All in all, while Bob and Gary continue their "negotiations" I'm settled in watching the CCHA Super 6, bits and pieces of the WCHA Final 5, and a pile of college basketball. Life without the NHL isn't so bad...anybody at the NHL or NHLPA noticing that?
Well, the stewards of the highest level met last week and this week to say the same things they've said for months...NHL has a cap offer, NHLPA doesn't want it. This is an issue for me because the PA decided to accept a cap at the last minute, and now Bobby is SHOCKED that the NHL would offer the cap again, and it would be lower. Amazing...somebody sign Bob up for an entry level econ class at any university. (This guy graduated from Harvard???)
So, since their doing their hard headed thing, still...on to the NCAAs!
Basketball - this is hands down the best time of the year with the NCAA tournament going on. Hours of college hoops to be enjoyed this weekend, and probably the best one and done tournament going.
But, the hockey NCAAs get drawn Sunday morning, which means the Road To Columbus starts next weekend. With my Frozen Four ticket purchased, I'm really looking forward to this one. I've never been to the Frozen Four, and am still kicking myself for not going to it in Cincinnati a couple years ago.
With OSU season tickets, I've been rather tuned into how the NCAAs are picked...and WOW is this a screwed up system. (www.uscho.com explains it very well, look for anything about the Pairwise Rankings.) It's a pretty good system, but has some flaws that allow teams to move up by losing to the right team. (It might be a worse system than the BCS in that respect.) But, OSU has been on the bubble for the last couple weeks. I can't fathom second place in the CCHA not getting into the tournament, but it's a strong possibility.
All in all, while Bob and Gary continue their "negotiations" I'm settled in watching the CCHA Super 6, bits and pieces of the WCHA Final 5, and a pile of college basketball. Life without the NHL isn't so bad...anybody at the NHL or NHLPA noticing that?
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
I believe in Miracles
No, not the miracle that would have to happen to see NHL hockey any time before 2025, the miracle that happened 25 years ago today in Lake Placid. Dubbing it a miracle is probably a stretch, but Al Michaels etched that title in stone.
We've all heard the underdog college kids from the US upsetting what amounted to a pro team from the USSR story a number of times. We've heard the comparisons of it being the equivalent of Mt. Union beating the New England Patriots in football.
How I remember is a bit different than all that, I was 8. Didn't really understand hockey, as it wasn't top of the "To Play" list in central Ohio in 1980. Also, I only watched bits and pieces of the game. Part of the reason was we already knew the result when it was aired, and my brother and I were busy re-playing the game in the kitchen with two yard sticks and a mayonaise lid. And, even though I didn't watch the game from beginning to end, I bought books and posters of the team, and watched whatever I could on it. It was an amazing story, and still is.
Now, I have the game on DVD (thanks to a buddy with a DVD burner and TiVo), and have seen it more than a few times. Yet, every time I watch that or Miracle and hear Al ask, "Do you believe in miracles? YES!" it still sends chills down my spine.
We've all heard the underdog college kids from the US upsetting what amounted to a pro team from the USSR story a number of times. We've heard the comparisons of it being the equivalent of Mt. Union beating the New England Patriots in football.
How I remember is a bit different than all that, I was 8. Didn't really understand hockey, as it wasn't top of the "To Play" list in central Ohio in 1980. Also, I only watched bits and pieces of the game. Part of the reason was we already knew the result when it was aired, and my brother and I were busy re-playing the game in the kitchen with two yard sticks and a mayonaise lid. And, even though I didn't watch the game from beginning to end, I bought books and posters of the team, and watched whatever I could on it. It was an amazing story, and still is.
Now, I have the game on DVD (thanks to a buddy with a DVD burner and TiVo), and have seen it more than a few times. Yet, every time I watch that or Miracle and hear Al ask, "Do you believe in miracles? YES!" it still sends chills down my spine.
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