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Home / Archive: 05. January 2009
by Bryan Thiel…
The past calender year has been one of the busiest and most successful in the NHL’s recent memory.
The year began with the highly anticipated Winter Classic between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres, which ended in storybook fashion as NHL Wonderkid Sidney Crosby scored the shootout winner amid piling snow, letting out a ferocious cheer as the puck crossed the line.
From there we entered into a flurry of activity throughout the month of February, including a 25-deal trade deadline day as teams prepared for the future—whether their concern rested on draft day or their future plans involved the NHL playoffs were another matter.
As the Spring weather began to filter through the dreary winter drab, the NHL playoffs came with it, along with so many memories: The first glimpse of an upstart Boston Bruins squad, the cement-like properties of Patrick Thoresen’s groin as he faced Mike Green’s slapshot crotch-on, the “coming to power” of the dynamic Pittsburgh Penguins, and the Detroit Red Wings once again leaving their stamp on the year as the NHL’s best.
In June we had the entry draft headlined by Steven Stamkos, and another free agent class wreaked havoc on the economic future of the NHL by exploiting an ever-rising salary cap and the Tampa Bay Lightning.
And once that was all done, it was time to start another season with brand new storylines, dramatics, and Sean Avery quotes.
But while the 2008 has brought us so many memories—Avery-related (the face-first screen of Martin Brodeur, interning at Vogue, and anger management class) and non Avery-related (um…Ray Emery is in Europe now…and…uh….Wade Belak got traded)—it’s time to look towards a new year and new memories that may or may not involve Sean Avery.
Speaking of which….
The Sean Avery Saga
Let’s face it—like him or not, the man sells papers, or gets website viewerships, or whatever phrase is replacing “so-and-so sells papers” in the near future.
Avery’s brash attitude, disregard for human decency, and keen fashion sense has people talking about him, and with his latest exodus from the inner circles of the NHL, many fans are wondering the same thing:
Will we or won’t we ever see Sean Avery in an NHL uniform again.
The fact is, he’s forced himself to the forefront of everyone’s mind.
The only thing that’s for sure at this point is that if he returns, it won’t be in Dallas.
10. The Colorado Avlanche’s Injury Concerns
Right off the bat we’re hitting them where it hurts: In Colorado.
While Brian Willsie is (I’m sure) an important part of the Avalanche’s future, the Avalanche have two injuries that will be interesting to monitor: Paul Statsny’s broken arm, and Joe Sakic’s herniated disc/unfortunate snowblower accident injury (otherwise known as a mutilated hand).
Statsny’s injury isn’t too devastating to the Avs and their future, as he’ll only be out a month, but it’ll still be interesting to monitor how Statsny comes back from the injury: Will it take him a while to get his hands back (this would be a terrible joke if I said it about Sakic) or will his transition from IR to ice be flawless?
Fresh off a five-year extension (signed in November), the Avs need Statsny at full health so that he can continue his development and be a centrepiece of a maturing Colorado attack, and hopefully have the Avalanche competing for top spot in the Northwest again by the start of 2009/10.
As for Sakic, his latest injuries leave the end of his career in question. After a frustrating and injury-shortened 2007/08, Sakic hoped to return to health this year but evidently that wasn’t to be.
Is Sakic due to try it again next year in hopes of exiting on his own terms or will he hang up the skates for good at the end of the year?
But before you answer that you have to factor in that next year’s Winter Olympics will be played in British Columbia, Sakic’s home province.
Is the drive still there to represent Canada next Winter, or is Sakic going to pass the torch on to a younger generation?
It’s all up to Burnaby Joe.
9. Brian Burke’s Toronto Pipedream
I get it, we’re all tired of hearing about Brian Burke and the fact he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
But while the Burke news is old news, many eyes will remain glued to this team for the better portion of 2009.
As the trade deadline approaches, speculation is soaring about whether Tomas Kaberle will be traded, what the future holds for Vesa Toskala, Justin Pogge, and Curtis Joseph, and who’s in and who’s out as Toronto begins to build for the future.
While the trade deadline is the most immediate source of intrigue for the Leafs, it won’t be the only one: Where will they be come draft day? Will they be trading up? What will free agency bring (or not bring) this team?
Like’em or lump’em (I don’t know…I read it in a book once) the Leafs will probably do something to impact your favorite team at some point in the calender year.
Sidenote: If you’d rather not have the Leafs impact your team, then watch this; it always cheers me up.
8. The Phoenix Coyotes and the Columbus Blue Jackets
Just for a minute we’re going to ignore the fact that the Coyotes are receiving financial aid from the NHL and that the Blue Jackets are currently; these are going to be two exciting teams in 2009 folks.
As Steve Mason continues to make a case to unseat Montreal’s Carey Price as the best goaltender under the age of 22, the Blue Jackets have stockpiled young talent up front as well.
When Derick Brassard gets back from his shoulder injury, Nikita Filatov finds his game, and Rick Nash finds some linemates that can keep up for an entire season (Most likely Brassard) then this team will be solid and fun to watch—an attitude that can hopefully be established next season, while the defense has proven that they can hang tough on most nights.
I expected big things from them at the start of this year, but hopefully the Jackets can finish strong and transfer that over to a hot start next season.
As for the Coyotes, they’ve found a way to plant themselves in seventh for the time-being with some exciting young (yet inconsistent) scorers in Martin Hanzal and Peter Mueller, a few solid veterans in Shane Doan and Oli Jokinen, and a defense that trusts itself more and more each game.
With a variety of pieces already in place and some yet to find their NHL legs (Kyle Turris) the Coyotes may be in line to surprise a few people not only this season, but early on next year as well.
And who knows, if neither of these teams can string together a few winning streaks, then maybe we can turn our attention back to the financial aid and attendance issues.
After all, exposure is exposure right?
7. The Race for the Calder Trophy
As we already mentioned, Derick Brassard is injured and out for the rest of the season, and that means your rookie of the year is going to have to outshine a closely knit pack.
Behind Brassard players like Kris Versteeg, Patrik Berglund, Blake Wheeler, Drew Doughty, Alex Goligoski, Luke Schenn, and Mikhail Grabovski were all making a name for themselves.
With Brassard out, it’s now up to one of them to truly rise above the pack and prove that they are the premier rookie of the 2008 class.
While some are goal-scoring virtuosos, others are point-producers. Others still have stepped into an NHL lineup, eaten up big time minutes or taken on a top-line role, and haven’t missed a step.
These kids are only going to get stronger down the stretch this season.
6. Mats Sundin’s Impact on the Vancouver Canucks
For the last half of 2008, we were waiting for Mats Sundin to make a decision on where he was going to play.
Then, with 13 days to go in the 12th month of the year (I’m sure if there was a 13th month in the year it would’ve been 13/13) Sundin decided upon the Vancouver Canucks.
So now we’re left with a few more questions: How will Sundin perform with the Canucks? Once Roberto Luongo comes back does Vancouver suddenly rise to the top as a contender in the West? Does Sundin stick around for another year if Vancouver catches some late-season success?
And you thought the questions would stop once he came back. Who knows? We may have another “semi-retirement” on our hands in a years time.
5. A Pat Quinn Return to the NHL
1,318 NHL games coached, 657 NHL wins, 15 career playoffs appearances, and two Jack Adams awards—you’d think that’d be enough to get someone a job interview at least.
Apparently it wasn’t.
After being let go by the Toronto Maple Leafs following the 2005/06 season, Pat Quinn never received a call from an NHL team inquiring about the future Hall of Famers’ services.
So, like his former goaltender Curtis Joseph, Quinn decided to return to the International Ice Hockey ranks where he was once an Olympic Champion, as well as a World Cup of Hockey champion.
He won gold as Head Coach of the Under-18 Canadian team and is now serving as Head Coach of the Canadian World Juniors where Canada won a strong-willed opening game 8-1 over the Czech Republic, and thrashed Kazakhstan 15-0 on Monday night.
While the tournament is far from over, Quinn is hoping that a fifth-straight gold (and fifteenth overall) for Canada will be enough to get him back into the coaching ranks of the NHL.
After all, Brent Sutter and Craig Hartsburg each coached Canada to two consecutive gold medals at the World Juniors and they’re coaching in the NHL now without anything close to the track record Quinn has.
There’s no doubt in my mind that Quinn is the best coach not to have an NHL job right now, but look for that to change in 2009.
4. Martin Brodeur’s Re-Assault on the History Books
This was it. This was supposed to be the year that Martin Brodeur would surpass fellow French-Canadian Patrick Roy as the winningest goalie in the history of the NHL and Terry Sawchuk as the stingiest goalie in NHL history.
Coming into this season, Brodeur had 538 career wins and 96 career shutouts, both totals good enough to place him second on the respective lists.
Six wins and two shutouts later, Brodeur’s march to the Hockey Hall of Fame was put on hold thanks to injury.
So as of November 1st, 2008 Brodeur had 544 career wins (7 behind Roy’s 551) and 98 career shutouts (5 behind Terry Sawchuk’s 103).
In other words, whether it’s over the last two months of the 2008/09 season, or the first few months of the 2009/10 season, Brodeur will not only break those records, but he’ll be well on his way to establishing almost untouchable benchmarks including a very likely (and vaunted) 600 wins.
But hey, why stop at 2009? His 600th win would have to come in 2010, along with, oh who knows? Another Olympic Gold maybe?
3. Malkin vs. Crosby
Ever since Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby faced off for the Calder Trophy in 2005/06, everyone thought that that was it: These were the two undisputed faces of the NHL, no questions asked.
But no one factored in Evgeni Malkin.
Many thought that Crosby’s toughest battle was going to be convincing the fans who was the best player in the NHL between himself and Alexander the Great—not the best player on his team.
Despite being overlooked early on though, Malkin has made a serious case for himself over the past few years.
Malkin took home the Calder trophy in 2007 with 85 points in 78 games. Granted that was nothing compared to Crosby’s 102-point rookie season, but that’s one piece of hardware that Crosby will never win—the Calder.
Then again if Malkin had to go up against Ovechkin in his rookie year, he may not have a Calder either.
Over his short career, Crosby has earned himself a Hart trophy, a scoring title, and a Pearson award, but Malkin looks to be gunning for some of that hardware himself this season.
On top of that, many were caught off-guard by Malkin carrying the Pens in Sid’s absence last year, and the thought of a fall-off this season? Well Malkin dismissed that notion with even stronger play.
As far as production goes, Sidney’s point-per game average (1.37) still has Malkin beat (1.27), but the feisty Russian playmaker is certainly cementing himself as a strong foundation for the Penguin’s future.
2009 could be an interesting year to watch these two battle it out for Penguin supremacy, especially if Malkin holds on to the scoring title.
2. John Tavares vs. Victor Hedman
This race could simply come down to whatever team that picks number one overall needs more: A workhorse defenseman, or a superstar forward.
Note to Tampa Bay: You went with a forward last year. In fact, you made an attempt to sign every available free agent forward as well. Go defense, Mike Smith will thank you.
For what has seemed like months, the jury has been out on who is going to be the number one overall pick in the 2009 entry draft.
Is it going to be Tavares, the focal point of so many trade rumors in the OHL, or is it going to be Hedman, one of the most highly touted European defenders ever?
As the preseason started up, Hedman was ranked at number one in a survey conducted by TSN (six of ten NHL scouts had Hedman pegged as number one).
As we approached the World Juniors, Tavares had sidled into the number one slot in TSN’s rankings (8 out of 10 scouts), while International Scouting Services had Hedman at number one.
Now the two are selling themselves as best they can on the world stage with potential employers lapping it up.
And until one of their name’s are called with the number one pick this June, I still don’t think we’ll know who the true front-runner is.
And once that happens? I think this will be one of those debates that will just go on for years.
1. The Detroit Red Wings
It’s kind of cliched to pick the defending Stanley Cup champions as the most interesting story to follow for the 2009 year—after all, they are the defending champions, and no champion has won back-to-back titles since…well…the Red Wings in 1996/97 and 1997/98.
But despite the Wings trailing the San Jose Sharks and Boston Bruins by seven points for first in the league, it’s impossible to count them out: They have one of the most balanced attacks offensively in the leauge, one of the most responsible defensive squads, and while their two goalies (Chris Osgood and Ty Conklin) aren’t the greatest, they know how to stop pucks when they need to and win games.
But what makes this team even more interesting to follow during the 2009 year, is what could happen in the offseason.
Marian Hossa signed a one-year deal with the Wings because he wanted to win a cup. Now the rumor is that he’s happy in Detroit and would love to stay there (and who wouldn’t want to, what with the chance to play with Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk) for the foreseeable future.
But in looking at Detroit’s upcoming free agents, you have to wonder how that’s going to work. Along with Hossa’s upcoming unrestrictedness, you’ve also got Zetterberg hitting the open market after this season, and Johan Franzen testing the waters as well.
Granted these are the only three free agents the Wings have of note this offseason, but they’re currently sitting only $274,000 under the cap meaning there isn’t much room for a raise for anyone.
So is a higher-priced contract going to be traded? Will everyone resign for less-than-market value to stay with a contender? Or will the Wings just cut their losses, let someone walk, and then just fill from within like they always have?
Whatever their strategy, Detroit’s cap structure will undoubtedly be something to behold, as the NHL’s model of consistency looks to stay that way for at least the next year.
by Jack Porter…
Porter’s Weekly Leafland is back after a short break for holidays and I’ve got a triple-packed installment for you.
Well, Mats Sundin is a Canuck, and he lost the tiny shred of respect I had for him.
First, Sundin has said all along that he was in it for a Cup. Yet he rejects offers from the Montreal Canadians and New York Rangers to sign with the Canucks? By the way, both Montreal and New York are ahead of the Canucks in the standings.
I’m sure the five million dollars was the reason. I mean, I can’t really blame him for taking that type of money, but please don’t try to save face by completely contradicting yourself saying that it’s about being on a team that has a chance at the Cup.
Hello? There is no way in heck the Canucks are going to beat the Red Wings or the Sharks with or without Roberto Loungo. I won’t even get into the whole “joining a team mid-season” thing, as more than enough people have commented on that.
I will say, however, Sundin will not be that good.
He said that he is just in training camp condition, meaning he won’t be in the starting line up for a week or two, leaving Sundin about half the season to play. Even at a point per game that will give him 41 points.
Five million for 41 points, if even that many?
Moving on to a happier subject, Leafs forward Dominic Moore is turning into the feel-good story of the 2008-2009 Toronto Maple Leafs.
Just 39 games into the season Dominic as passed his career high in points with 20, and is on pace for 42. Besides the on-paper stats, Moore has been digging in the corners and leading by example on a young Leafs team.
Also, Moore has seemed to spark linemate Jason Blake who has six points in his last 10 games. Moore has clicked well with rookie linemate Jeremy Williams, as well.
Finally, the rumours coming out of Leafland are plentiful.
First, there has been whispers of a trade with Columbus that would involve both Nik Antropov and Pavel Kubina.
Second, Thomas Kaberle appears to be on the trading block, due to poor play, lack of toughness, and the need for rebuilding in Toronto.
Thirdly, Justin Pogge may find himself back with the Leafs after disappointing performances from both Vesa Toskala and Curtis Joseph.
Also, on a side note, the Leafs appear to be shopping the likes of Vesa Toskala, Jeff Finger, Jason Blake and Alexei Ponikarovsky.
By James Borbath…
The Raptor season is on the verge of being defined one way or the other. There is lots of talk of trades in the air but many that don’t make a lot of sense. The next move made by Bryan Colangelo will be huge to his reputation with the Raptor fan base. Colangelo once had the full trust and faith of the entire Raptor Fan base. But the days of him being the Raptors Savior have given way to people questioning his every move. This next move will be the one that defines him in the minds of the fans.
So no pressure at all. You also have the star player losing his spell over the Raptor fan base as well. Chris Bosh who is still untouchable according to Colangelo is no longer that to some in the Raptor Fan base. They have let fear of him leaving in 2010 combined with a drop off in his play make it seem he is expendable. The argument is that if Bosh where to leave in 2010 the Raptors would end up with nothing. But that is not exactly true. They would gain a ton of cap room that can be used to find a new star if they are forced to go that route. The truth is that Bosh has not given anyone reason to turn their back on him. He has busted his butt for his entire Raptor Career. It has been a true joy to watch him grow into the player he is today. He is being tested though to lead this team back from
a terrible start.
Colangelo needs to find a way to help his star do that. It is up to him to convince Bosh that he can provide him the support. Together they will need to lead this team back to respectability. Colangelo has not exactly been made to look good by his firing of Sam Mitchell. Jay Triano is a popular move in the sense of he is a Canadian and people are pulling for him to have success. But Colangelo saw what we all did and that was that Mitchell had lost the attention of his team. It is not that Mitchell was as bad a
coach as his detractors would have lead you to believe. But if a coach has lost the attention of his team it is over.
So together Triano and Bosh with the help of Colangelo have to try and save this season from going very wrong. Can they do it? It will not be easy. The Raptors Schedule does not get any easier till March. So this team will face a really tough challenge to remain in the race. One thing is for sure the Raptor Fan base is running out of patience fast and who can blame theme. They were promised a team that would be a contender in the Eastern Conference and what they have got is far from that to this point.
by Elisabeth Galina…
Dear Diary,
As part of my anger management classes I’m supposed to keep a diary. It’s supposed to help release some feelings I might be having. Like, if I want to call my ex-girlfriend a dirty pirate hooker I mean, uh, a not nice name then I’m supposed to write it down instead of calling a press conference. I’m also supposed to write in this dumb journal whenever I get the urge to wave my hand in front of Brodeur’s fat face. They also have me doing Yoga and meditating. All I can think about is going to Paris to check out the spring line and starting a fight with cry-baby Crosby and they have me meditating three times a freaking week! It sucks, though, I gotta do this otherwise Bettman said he’ll reinstate me in the NHL but make me play on the fourth line for the Senators. Me playing for the Sens is like Isaac Mizrahi designing for Target. It’s like dude, you are such a talented designer but Target, bitch please! Midwestern housewives shouldn’t be able to wear your clothes. They should stick to wearing their pastel Colts track suits when they pick up their even less fashionable offspring at Jim Sorgi Elementary School in Santa Claus, Indiana. Vomit, much! And speaking of vomiting what the hell does Cuthbitchbert see in “Celine” Dion Phanegg anyway? Dude looks like the retarded love child of Eli Manning and Michael Phelps. Gross.
You’ll never believe who my new best friend is: TO. That’s right Terrell Owens and I hang out all the time in Dallas. He is soooo much fun! Yesterday we went shopping and I helped TO pick out the perfect Burberry trench coat. He’s gonna look so superduperfly wearing that at the next Cowboys post-game press conference! After shopping me and my new BFF went to a BBQ at Tony Romo’s house. But we had to leave because I got drunk and hit on Romo’s mom and punched Jason Witten in the face.
Hmmmm. What else have I been up to? Oh right, I’ve been working on a screenplay based on my life. Here’s the first scene.
The Good, The Bad and the Avery
Written by Sean Avery
INT. BATHROOM - NIGHT
Sean (aged 7) stands on a stool in front of a huge vanity mirror. Celine Dion’s version of “All By Myself” plays in the background as Sean, dressed in an oversized Toronto Maple Leafs jersey and a string of his mother’s pearls applies cherry red lipstick.
SEAN
One day I’m gonna get out of this damn town! I’m gonna show the world that this Pickering boy’s gonna make something of himself. I’m gonna, I’m gonna…
Sean pauses and puckers up. He looks at himself intently in the mirror and winks.
SEAN
I’m gonna write for Vogue magazine!
FADE OUT.
Man, I am totally gonna get an Oscar for that. I already called Tom Ford and he’s making me a tux. It’s gonna be sweet. Oh, I’m also designing hand bags.
Later.
Sean
By Desmond D’Souza…
This time of year, most people put on a couple of extra pounds. The term “Holiday Weight” has been coined to explain individuals’ lack of exercise/over-eating around Christmas and New Years. Whether you’ve stuffed your face full of turkey on the 25th or making yet another new years resolution about keeping active, something has to give. It isn’t hard work to be lazy, so lets go through some ways to make 2009 different… no more excuses, it’s time to get fit.
One of the most basic ways of getting exercise is incorporating it into your daily routine. Think about what you do throughout the day. Is there time to hit up the local gym? Maybe get together with a couple of friends to play a pick-up game of your favourite sport? These are the simplest ways of getting exercise but for some reason are the hardest to commit to. There always seems to be some kind of excuse to miss a workout session or to postpone a game with the buddies. By the end of the night, you end up at a bar sitting around WATCHING the game instead of participating in it.
It doesn’t take a lot of will power to say, “I’m going to the gym three times a week”… but it does to actually stick to it for more than one week. How do you stick to a routine? One of the most effective ways is to hire a personal trainer.
The reason being is now you HAVE to exercise. Sure, it may cost a bit of money to hire one but now that you have invested in keeping fit you are more likely to be motivated. There’s a guy/girl out there who is getting paid whether you attend the sessions or not. So you might as well attend and get the benefits of working one on one with a certified professional.
Sessions mainly happen at a gym or at your home. I suggest doing them at home just because even if you don’t feel like working out that day, once you hear that knock on the door it gets even harder to avoid.
Being the big city it is, Toronto has a vast array of personal trainers for hire. Just typing it into a search engine or visit the Where to Catch the Game Guide, will give you an overwhelming amount of results. So if you truly want to keep that holiday weight off and are serious about getting in shape, hiring a personal trainer might be the best decision you’ve ever made.
If you’re the type of person who just wants to keep active, recreational sports are a great alternative. All the time we hear about house-league sports for kids but there are many house-league sports for adults too. For example, pick-up games of basketball are easy to organize just by going to your local community centre. By going to a local rink you can find out a schedule for when shinny (pick-up hockey) is being held. The problem with this is that there are so many people that have that exact same mind-set. If you don’t show up, it’s no big deal because there are so many people that you probably won’t be missed.
Boxing is such an under-the-radar type sport that many people don’t know how useful it can be in keeping active. There are many different ways to on how to make boxing a part of your daily routine. First, you can head over to the local gym and start working on the punching bag. This is a great way to start and will really help work your upper body. The downside is how many times will you really go to the gym? Secondly, you can get a personal trainer who specializes in boxing to help you out. This would be ideal because you get the advice of someone who knows the art of boxing and you would know that you are doing everything right. Also, the personal trainer would be able to show you how to work different parts of your body while boxing. And of course, it’s always a lot safer with the guidance of a professional. Finally, for the real lazy people out there just pick up a Wii and get Wii sports. You do get a workout playing the boxing game but it does get a bit repetitive.
Staying active consistently is extremely hard if you aren’t motivated. Keeping in mind these tips will hopefully help in deciding what course of action is right for you. 2009 is here, the question is will you stick through your new years resolution or give up in the middle of February? Lets hope it’s not the latter.
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