by Graeme Boyce… The other day Maple Leafs fans were hoping that Jason Blake would repeat his five-point game and lead the team, possibly inspire the team.
After scoring three early goals, the Leafs were well on their way to a punishing victory against the Thrashers. Grabovski was returning from his league-imposed rest and all looked rosy for a feisty, if not electrifying, game.
These days we hear how, since arriving, Blake has been not-so-appreciated in the locker room. More importantly, Blake cannot be traded.
He was part of a loss that was tough to swallow. The Leafs should have won the game. I, along with a few other witnesses, saw the result of letting players skate or fly by.
I can understand momentary lapses of reason, and goals as a result of being simply out-played, but as a result of laziness is a bit much. These guys are professionals, after all.
I propose this trade today: Kaberle and Kubina for Cory Hodgson.
New players gelling nicely these days include the May, Mayers and Mitchell line. Speaking of lines, Antropov is unfortunately not doing so well lately, to be polite.
I did some chatting at the pub lately, and these are the theories: He’s simply overrated and overpaid, he’s saving himself from injury in the hopes of a trade, or he’s lazy and thus easily checked by opposing players.
Regardless of engaging teams who are struggling and mired in a losing streak, and opportunistically thinking about somehow taking advantage of depression, the Leafs have always been squarely instructed to focus on their hard work game plan.
As a process defined by coaches and technical staff employed to ensure the success of the plan, executed by players, The Leafs should systematically win each game.
The Leafs are facing off against Carolina tonight, and I predict the team will win. They will win because they’ll win for the coach.
They really let Coach Wilson down the other night, giving up four successive goals to enable the dramatic come-from-behind loss, and had incredibly almost done the same thing against Carolina.
The ‘Canes will come out hard. They know the Leafs typically have been slow to wake up this year, and have clearly demonstrated it by giving up early leads, and lately, then giving up a huge lead.
Here we go again.
If Hagman, one of the Leafs’ two Vikings (the other being Frogren), scores first, then he’ll be tied for the team goal-scoring race. We all know it’s not a race, of course, as these players give 110 percent each and every shift, from the veterans whom we expect so much more from, on down to our vaunted rookies.
Scoring is a matter of chance, and can only occur based on puck possession and puck movement, from one end of the rink to the other, with a goal the result.
Alexei Ponikarovski leads the team in goals scored.
Over the last five games he has graced us with one goal, against Philadelphia, yet still enjoys playing over 20 shifts and 15+ minutes a game.
Antropov is leading the team with total points, averaging less than a point a game.
Maybe trading players is all about the spin, after all. Maybe Burke simply has to position Poni and Antropov as our leading players and highly valuable, team leaders, veteran playmakers… and proven scorers.
Surely the Leafs can attract a star player, one possibly underachieving this season, who will make oodles more in sponsorship and endorsement monies than playing in Nashville or Tampa Bay.
Back to possession and what makes a star a star.
As far as statistics go, I’m sure someone will one day verify that a game was won despite the team not having possession of the puck as long as the opposition. Luck and skill balanced.
Blake certainly proved the quantity versus quality equation last season, shooting the puck at the net a lot, and earning a defining stat (Shots On Goal), does not equate to goals scored.
I wonder what his percentage of shots versus points was against Carolina when he got his incredible five?
Again, Blake has an opportunity to repeat tonight, as does White who scored the other night too. I’d like to see him get a goal a game.
He needs to take a lesson from Yvan Cournoyer and (based on a CBC profile I saw when I was a kid) buy a whack of ultra-heavy pucks and practice taking shots every day in the summer. Well, that assumes White takes the summer off.
Stempniak and Moore continue to gel, and really need consistency from Blake in order to achieve career seasons.
Stempniak will begin to score, as he seems energized lately, and Moore should, by good fortune, be scoring more goals. As veterans, they should be picking up their games going into the latter stages of the season.
The veterans all, in a cynical view, would realize the most lucrative part of the season is upon them. This is their walk down the runway, for all to see.
They offer sizzle, great entertainment value, great passes and, most importantly, great goals.
The latter creates demand: “I want him on my team.” Demand enables cash.
The Leafs management might do well by offering joint deals with coveted players, perhaps including as a package deal those aforementioned rights (sponsorship and endorsement) along with appearance fees, etc, as well as equity in new ventures.
In fact it’s likely that the Leafs can attract quality players by expressing a vision that not only includes a Stanley Cup, but a fully commercialized and monetized run.
Leafs 4, Carolina 2.
Enhancing value every step of the way.
by The Daily Hurt… The Toronto Raptors decline is getting worse. Clueless on offense and weak on defense, the Raptors are spiraling out of control.
Sunday afternoon’s 117-113 loss to the Phoenix Suns was yet another flimsy performance from a team that lacks direction and leadership.
A quick scan of the box score suggests that the Raptors had kept up with one of the leagues top contenders from the Western Conference. Toronto shot 54-percent from the field and all five starters scored in double figures, three of them had 20 points or more.
Also, considering the Raptors were without starting point guard Jose Calderon, the 21 assists Toronto had sounds like a reasonable return.
Injuries to center Jermaine O’Neal and Jason Kapono didn’t help matters, but in reality, it is unlikely that either would have prevented Sunday’s loss, another at home, another when the Raptors simply couldn’t execute when they needed to.
Steve Nash scored nine points but dished out a season-high 18 assists to pace the Suns and Amare Stoudemire thrashed his way to 31 points. Shaquille O’Neal chipped in 16 points including connecting on all four free-throw attempts but he fouled out late in the fourth quarter.
Phoenix has now won nine consecutive games against Toronto.
Toronto’s ineptness on offense was glaring in the fourth quarter. Having rallied back from a 97-87 deficit after an Amare Stoudemire dunk, the Raptors had tied the game at 102 on a dunk from Joey Graham with 7:03 remaining.
Phoenix called a timeout and went to a high percentage play on the reset. While Shaq doesn’t impact games in the same way that he once did, he remains a handful to guard in the low post and his ability to hit the baby hook shot is still tough to defend and that’s what the Suns went to. This old dog doesn’t need new tricks.
The Raptors response was painful. Anthony Parker, the Raptors makeshift point guard in Calderon’s absence, pulled up for a 15-foot jump shot. It was hard to say if it was the play Raptors coach Jay Triano had wanted or if it was just a broken play because Toronto didn’t appear to have any idea what they wanted to do themselves.
Parker’s shot missed and Nash grabbed the rebound. On the ensuing play, Nash sucked Raptors rookie Roko Ukic into fouling him while trying for a three pointer. Nash calmly drained all three free throws and pushed Phoenix’s lead out to five.
Two more free throws from Nash after Ukic again fouled the Suns leader on the next play, this time after a miss from Andrea Bargnani. In a flash, Phoenix were quickly back out to a seven-point lead and out of reach.
The Raptors did manage to close the gap to within one point at 110-109 but once again, when Toronto needed calm leadership, nobody stepped up.
Chris Bosh, who had just moments earlier scored a basket and was fouled by O’Neal missed a crucial free throw, went missing. Whenever the Raptors look to their franchise man for a big play, Bosh seems to look elsewhere.
If Bosh does have the ball in his hands, his “move” consists of nothing more than a stutter step followed by a jump shot. Rarely does he attack the hoop and when he does, it’s without conviction.
Far too often, the Raptors gamble on offense and hope that it pays off, especially when the game is close. Just like it was against the Indiana Pacers on Friday night.
After doing all the hard work coming back from a 24-point deficit in the fourth quarter to get within one point, Toronto hoped and prayed that someone - anyone - could just hit a huge jump shot and save the day.
Unorganized and chaotic, the Raptors don’t seem to have any “go-to” move. Every play on offense differs from the last.
Not surprisingly, Parker’s three-point shot which would have given the Raptors the lead, missed. At the other end, Nash who had taken just five shots all day spun his way into the paint and scored a lay up. It wouldn’t be fair to say that Nash pierced Toronto’s defense, because it was hardly airtight. It never is.
The Raptors, needing a three-pointer to tie the game with less than 13 seconds remaining in the game, managed to get three shots off - all misses. Bosh, twice fumbled Parker’s botched lay up attempt.
Another groan from the crowd, another opportunity missed by the Raptors to show that they are making progress.
The media has been buzzing for the past few days about the impending transfer of the Brazilian playmaker Kaka, from AC Milan to Manchester City—and as I write that sentence, I cannot believe that a player would want to make that switch.
I will try to take a completely objective view of the entire transfer: the financial, and the football factors.
ARE AC MILAN DOOMED IF KAKA LEAVES?
To put it very simply: no. Kaka is a fantastic player and epitomises AC Milan in many ways but players can be replaced. Figo left Barcelona for Real Madrid, and Juventus sold Zinedine Zidane to the Madrid based club not long after that when both of them were “indispensible” to their respective clubs and nobody saw them crash and burn after their respective sales.
AC Milan will be around a £100 million richer and will not only have the ability to compete in a deflated transfer market, but they have the likes of Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato who can replace Kaka—albeit only on paper.
Either way, Kaka’s loss will be felt by them for awhile but in the long run, nobody offers £100 million for one player and that is perhaps why AC Milan are contemplating Kaka’s departure.
AC Milan will also feel a sense of irony, albeit bitter, because they are not saints in any way in the transfer market—having tried to destabilize many a club over the past few years.
CAN MANCHESTER CITY COMPETE IF KAKA DOES ARRIVE?
It’s very strange how the word “compete” changes from league to league. As far as the Premier League is concerned, “compete” means being able to defend first and foremost and also possessing the ability to be up for a fight.
The English Premier League is also played at a slightly higher tempo than the Italian League and that, to a large extent, will take acclimatising to as far as the Brazilian is concerned.
The transfer market has been used ostensibly in the past by clubs like Real Madrid - so what Manchester City are doing is nothing new. Chelsea did contemplate signing Ronaldinho in his prime for an amount of money not unlike the one suggested in this case, so this is not a change in any way.
But a club which has leaked goals 19 goals in 20 matches is hardly calling for a flamboyant player. A team which cannot defend, cannot win consistently even if it had Kaka and Lionel Messi in its ranks. The Premier League doesn’t allow such a cavalier approach to football.
If Kaka does move to Manchester City, it will turn heads for good or bad. Players will want to play with the likes of Kaka and Robinho, and that coupled with the monetary merits of joining the club will appeal to many players in the world who have quality.
The bottom line is that this signing is more ostensible than necessary.
Andy Roddick: ROD looked good, very solid and very businesslike. He got things underway for the 2009 Australian Open at Rod Laver, 11 am today. He obliged to my appetite by serving a lovely American bagel, with blue cheese IN THE FIRST SET (6-0). Quite like the way he looked from the baseline, impressed with his ball-timing as well. He’s through in straight sets and he is here to stay.
Jelena Jankovic: Jammerin’ JANK, looked the best until now in 2009 in set one. She sprayed more in set two, but her aggression, positive body language and taking the ball early to hit clean winners from the baseline does not bode well for her opponents. She has definitely beefed up a bit in her shoulders as well (off-season training); I do like the pale olive green outfit.
Ana Ivanovic: I don’t think Ana is anywhere near the form she would like to be at this stage. As they say, the first week of a slam is all about survival, but Ana looks too ordinary at this point. I am saving my chips away from her, at this point. Her egg-plant colored outfit looks dodgy as well. Upset beckons?
Novak Djokovic (De-Joker): Nole looked vintage in the first two sets. The first two sets were typical him – sleek groundies, moving the opponent around and clean ball-striking. Then a letdown in the third that led him to go down 0-4. The defending champion of yesteryear would have let the third set go, but Nole fought back to take it 7-5. Looks fine … but a definite potential for improvement. At the end, the shirt swap with the Italian was lovely … Soccer it up.
Marathon: A record was created in the Aus. Open history – Mueller defeated F-Lopez in a marathon, 16-14 in the fifth, it was the longest match played in Australia (over five hours). It must have been quite debilitating for it was 130 F court temperature … and the sweltering heat is energy sapping. Muller I am sure heads straight to the drip room. Good on the southpaw from Luxembourg.
Miscellaneous: DelPotro, local favorite Tomic and Baghdatis are all through in straight sets. Moya went down in straight sets, the FED swatted him easily in the warm up tournament too (retirement?)
Evening Session: The evening session has Seppi taking on Federer, and Dellaqcua (local favorite) taking on Hantuchova. Dellaqcua is the local favorite born in Perth (Western Australia) who reached the fourth round last year defeating Schnyder and Mauresmo on the way. Her grandmother was in the stands shedding tears every time Dellaqcua won … and since she did not have sponsorship, she got all her dress-kit from K-Mart.
by Tyler Hill…
No doubt there were many changes for the Leafs over the off-season. New faces came in to begin the “first” year of the Leafs rebuilding process, while many fan favourites left to make cap room, and to make room for some younger guys.
However, this article isn’t about what the Leafs did over the off-season, but rather about the changes that might come at trade-deadline day.
Although the day is set for March 4th, which is well over a month away, I say, why not start now? Distance in time has never stopped me before; I did write an article about the (2009) draft back in September. So here we go; who stays, who goes?
Nik Antropov: A few rumours surround this leafs, such as he may be involved in a package deal with Kubina. Despite the rumour, I don’t see Antropov going anywhere. He’s the top guy and one of the best leaders on the ice. It may have taken him longer to grow into the player he was expected to be, but now he is one of the guys they can build around in the future. Stays!
Jason Blake: I, myself would like to see Blake stay in Toronto. I think he is a skilled player, but since coming to Toronto he hasn’t been playing the way people thought he was going to play unfortunately. Now that Brian Burke is the Leafs GM, older guys, especially the ones that aren’t contributing to the team on a regular basis, will have no place in the Leaf locker room. Going.
Grabovski/Hagman: They just came in this season. Both are playing well and there is no reason to trade them at this time. Therefore, it likely will not happen. Stay.Ryan Hollweg: If Brian Burke has any sense at all, he will trade Hollweg. Since he came to Toronto, all he has managed to do is show us how much of an idiot he is. The total of games he was suspended this season is greater than his point total, which happens to be two. People say he brings grit, but they are wrong. He’s worse than Sean Avery, at least Avery can put the puck in the net on occasion. Going!
Jamal Myers: He may only have a few more points than Hollweg, but at least he hasn’t been suspended and hasn’t made himself look like a complete moron. Myers is all the grit we need (well…Brad May might help). Myers is a fighter and is here to stick up for teammates, aside from that he has some skating ability and jumps in on the rush. Myers is helpful in the corners; he is big and not afraid to go in hard on the puck. He has the ability to be a leader and will be an important part of the team. Stay
Dominic Moore: Some thought he was washed up when he came to Toronto, but since arriving in the city his game has improved and he looks rejuvenated and speedy on the ice. He has 23 points in 45 games which is about a point every second game, good enough for a second or third liner. Stay
Alexei Ponikarovsky: One of Toronto’s few Star players. He has 30 points through 45 games and the Leafs would be struggling (more than they are) without him. The only way Poni would leave is if they get a descent player and a draft pick in return for him. It is unlikely any GM will give up that much for him. Staying
Matt Stajan: Impressive young talent Stajan is becoming a valuable member of the Leafs, not only as a player on the ice, but, perhaps as a piece of trade bait later on. To a team that wants a skilled young forward to bring speed to the line-up Stajan may not be safe from a trade at the deadline. Possibly going.
Lee Stempniak: When he came to the Leafs no one knew of him and now a month later!…they still don’t? Stempniak hasn’t done, well, anything really. I expected him to be one of the hard working guys and that is great on the back check and fore-check. On occasion, Stempniak has done so but more often than not, he seems to be lagging and hardly noticeable on the ice. However, I think he may get a second chance from Brian Burke. Staying
Thus concludes the forwards, later in the week I will be making a similar list for defenseman. My original intention was to include the entire team, but due to the lack of available time I was forced to cut this short and I am unsure when I will be able to write the follow up to this.
by Stoker Dafire …
When perusing the annals of prize-fighting history and discussing the most feared fighters of modern times, it seems there is only one weight class that could produce the kind of sheer knockout power that could strike bone-chilling fear into boxing’s toughest opponents, and that weight class is the heavyweight division.
Suddenly, our minds and imaginations are launched on an incredible journey back to a time when everyone wore a Fedora hat, and the air was filled with the stench of stale cigar smoke that seemed to float lazily through the rafters of the dimly lit boxing arenas.
The sound of leather covered fists smacking against ribs and facial bones was grossly overdubbed by the drone of drunken fans shouting obscenities at the two battered and weary fighters.
Joe Louis Barrow once fought a fighter named King Levinsky who, before a fight with Louis, was incapacitated by thoughts of impending doom, Levinsky was terrified of Joe Louis; the great boxing columnist Jimmy Cannon was at ring-side for the Louis vs Levinsky fight, Cannon stated that it was the first time he’d ever witnessed a fighter being carried “into” the ring.
During the time of his historic fight with Muhammad Ali in “Rumble in the Jungle,” George Foreman traveled in the company of two beautiful-but-menacing dogs, which made him seem much more fearsome than he actually was.
Certainly one of the toughest and most feared heavyweight fighters to ever step in the ring was a boxer named Charles “Sonny” Liston. Liston’s entire life is shrouded in mystery. Liston believed his birth date was May 8, 1932, but no documentation exists, and many experts believe Liston was actually a few years older.
The 24th of 25 children fathered by Tobey or Tobe Liston, Charles “Sonny” came into the world in a tenant’s shack 17 miles northwest of Forrest City, AR. “I had nothing when I was a kid but a lot of brothers and sisters, a helpless mother and a father who didn’t care about any of us,” he said. “We grew up with few clothes, no shoes, little to eat. My father worked me hard and whupped me hard.”
The family worked in cotton fields and Sonny’s father Tobey was a raving lunatic alcoholic who battered young Sonny on a daily basis; as a result of these violent events Sonny chose to run away to St Louis, MO to live with his Aunt.
Life on the streets is challenging in any city, St. Louis was no exception; only the street-wise and tougher kids learn the survival skills necessary to get by; Sonny Liston seemed to fit in perfectly with this type of violent clientele.
Usually this type of violent behavior in society gets progressively worse, before long Sonny Liston found himself doing hard time up-state. In 1950, he and two others were arrested for armed robbery of two gas stations and a diner.
Pleading guilty to two counts of first-degree robbery and two charges of larceny, he was sentenced to five years on each charge to run concurrently. It was during this stint at the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City that Sonny Liston learned the skills of boxing; and although he didn’t know it then, these basic skills would eventually make Sonny Liston the heavyweight championship of the world.
On Oct. 30, 1952, Liston was released on parole, he turned pro the following September. His first pro fight lasted 33 seconds: Liston leveled Don Smith with his first punch. At that exact moment in history Liston’s reputation as a feared heavy-handed puncher had been born.
The following years saw Sonny Liston get into epic and well-documented battles with St. Louis police officers, which awarded him more lengthy stays at the Missouri State Pen and a nine month stay in a prison work-house; apparently, Liston had beaten up a burly cop, stole his gun, and threw him head first into a trash can.
Upon Liston’s release he moved to Philadelphia PA, “the the city of brotherly love,” however, Sonny decided to bring his anti-social behavior there with him, he got into more trouble in Philly, for resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.
These events led to Liston’s boxing license being suspended by the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission on July 14, 1961. The suspension was honored in all states.
Liston’s license was reinstated three months later. In December he knocked out fourth-ranked Albert Westphal to position himself for a shot at the champ, Floyd Patterson.
Despite protests by the NAACP, which wanted Patterson to avoid fighting Liston, whose reputation as a thug was deemed detrimental to the civil-rights movement, the fight took place on Sept. 25, 1962 in Chicago.
It lasted only two minutes, six seconds. Sonny Liston had knocked out the great Floyd Patterson and was now “the new” Heavyweight Champion of the world.”
The rematch with Patterson took place in Las Vegas on July 22, 1963, and Liston again knocked out Patterson in the first round.
According to Sonny Liston, Cassius Clay was no threat, but on Feb. 25, 1964 Liston found out how wrong he was. Liston quit on his stool in round six. While there were cries that Liston threw the fight, the 7-1 favorite cited a shoulder injury as the reason he couldn’t continue.
The famous “phantom” punch rematch took place on May 25, 1965, in Maine, and this time there was no doubt in most fans minds that the fix was in. Ali threw what looked to be a short, six-inch, right-hand punch, and it floored Liston. Liston fell, rolled over, climbed to his knees, and then fell again.
One of Liston’s assistant trainers later said Liston threw the fight for fear of being murdered by Black Muslims.
On Jan. 5, 1971, Liston’s body was discovered at his home. Coroners determined he had died at least a week earlier.
The cause of death remains a mystery, but today, some 38 years later, many rumors still exist, one of the more popular ones is that Sonny was either given a lethal overdose of morphine or else someone—possibly mobsters—held a gun to the champs head and forced him to do it.
At least one acquaintance suggested Liston was involved in a loan-sharking ring and was demanding a bigger stake.
The truth surrounding his death may have went to the grave with Sonny and could possibly stay there for eternity. “Night Train” by James Brown was Sonny Liston’s favorite song.
Well at a certain time of night, now
I’ll be comin’ with the wind
Where there isn’t a beginning
And there is no end
Oh and everything is floatin’
Everything is on time
And I know that we’re all goin’
To the end of the line.
—James Brown
by Miah D… If you think about taking a session at the University of Montreal, drop by the faculty of Theology, and pick a course named “The Religion of the Montreal Canadiens.”
It isn’t new to anyone; Montreal is crazy about its hockey team.
The latest proof we have is that wild trade rumour sending Vincent Lecavalier to Montreal.
All about speculations, all about rumours, but the Media just loves every minute of it! I have got to admit, it is entertaining. I mean, think of it for just one moment: Lecavalier in a Montreal jersey, wouldn’t that be awesome?
Let’s take a look at that crazy month that sent the No. 4 as virtually close to Montreal as possible:
December 10: Former NHL referee Ron Fournier weighs, on local Radio channel CKAC, the possibilities of having Lecavalier with the team. No big deal there, it has been an on-going conversation ever since Lecavalier was born!
January 6: Ron Fournier “confirms that the Tampa Bay Lightning will proceed to important changes before the trade deadline (…) and has more information telling that if everyone wants to work in the same direction, it is possible.”
January 9: His agent, Kent Hughes, declares to RDS that he had a discussion with (owner) Oren Koules and got the confirmation that those are unfounded rumours.
TSN reported the same matter, adding that “Vinny Lecavalier fully expects to be a Tampa Bay Lightning for life.” Steven Stamkos was also announced to be a healthy scratch that day.
January 10: ESPN. Pierre LeBrun has the same speech; they simply won’t trade the man. But it seems “Jussi Jokinen is definitely on the trade block.”
January 12: Back to ESPN. GM Brian Lawton declares that he is not calling teams on Vinny Lecavalier; while another NHL executive replies “believe me, they are talking to teams.”
La Presse’s Mathias Brunet was “on the phone for hours,” and according to the information he got, Tampa Bay is seriously studying the offers; but disagreement stands among owners on whether or not they are trading him.
For TSN, Daren Dreger says Chris Higgins, Thomas Plekanec, PK Subban, and draft picks might be in the story. Higgins is always virtually traded anyway (Marian Hossa, Mats Sundin, anyone?).
Jacques Demers reports on RDS that his source ensures him that the owners are having a significant debate over the decision of making a trade.
On the other hand, RDS.ca learns that the Tampa Bay Organization was just trying to determine Vincent Lecavalier’s value.
In Montreal, during his mid-season press conference, GM Bob Gainey went as simple as “we don’t talk about trade rumours.”
In other words, “We have been hearing those same rumours in 2001. No Daniel Briere, no Mats Sundin later, it is the same story. Give me a break!”
January 13: SportsIllustrated columnist Michael Farber advises Vincent Lecavalier to say no. “Maybe the circus in Tampa has got you down (…) but leaving the circus for the zoo is not much of an improvement.” Ouch, that was a painful one!
On La Presse, journalist Nicolas Berube reports that Vinny Lecavalier considers Montreal to be in a good position in case a trade had to happen.
On the other hand, when questioned about the possibility of playing in Florida, Tomas Plekanec just replied that he is not really good under the sun. What?
CBCSports. “How would it be to play for the Montreal Canadiens? It would be great, but after 10 years spent in Tampa, in my mind, I want to stay here.” – Vincent Lecavalier
CBC calls this whole fuss “Vinnymania.”
Jan 14: Jason Williams goes to the Blue Jackets.
The man himself talks to RDS, saying that these last days have been really hard for him; as he has been following the story over the Internet. “It was pretty busy.”
At least, the player has received the equivalent of a non-trade clause from his team as the organization will consult him and his agent before proceeding, IF they were to proceed.
*Jan 15: The cousin of the best friend of the ex-wife of my friend’s brother’s stepbrother’s son’s best friend reported that one of his sources’ best friend actually saw Vincent Lecavalier’s cousin’s girlfriend’s brother the other day; who confirmed that he is actually on his way to Montreal, in return of Alex Kovalev, Carey Price, the Kostitsyn brothers, Andrei Markov, Guy Carbonneau, and three dozens of autographed sticks by Canadiens legends!
Notes from the side:
RDS’s crew had a few suggestions:
Pierre Bouchard (five Cups with the Montreal Canadiens, son of Emile “Butch” Bouchard): Chris Higgins, Max Pacioretty, PK Subban, Mike Komisarek, and two first round draft picks.
Bertrand Raymond (Columnist in Le Journal de Montreal): Chris Higgins, Thomas Plekanec, Alex Tanguay, Josh Georges, and two first round draft picks. He however précised that if he was on the Lightning’s side, he wouldn’t agree to trade Lecavalier unless Carey Price was included. “Franchise player for franchise player.”
Dave Morissette (played 11 years for the Habs): Andrei Kostitsyn, Sergei Kostitsyn, PK Subban, and two first round draft picks.
by Bryan Thiel… Ever since the World Juniors ended, the talks has heated up about who is going to go first overall.
With the way John Tavares played during the WJHC, he cemented himself in some scouts minds as to who should be the first overall pick come June.
But the towering Victor Hedman won’t go away. A 6′6, 220 pound defenseman is a gem of a defensemen. A big guy that can skate and knows what to do with his size is hard to find at any point in his career, but finding him young? For many team’s that’s too hard to pass up.
Both players have their enticing qualities. Tavares has dynamic offensive skills which in two games have already made him a fan-favorite in London. He’s creative, he knows how to shoot, and he’s not exactly tiny either (6′0, 203 pounds).
One of the biggest problems with Tavares though (and it’s not something he can control) is that everyone wants to get their name in the paper when he’s on the ice. In the past week’s CHL All-Star game, Tavares was levelled by Zach Kassian, forcing Knights’ fans to hold their breath as Tavares skated off the ice favoring his arm, visibly frustrated and uncomfortable.
After the game Kassian had no ill-will about the hit, and credited it for “getting his name out there” at a “game you play to be remembered”.
Hedman meanwhile, already has the same kind of experience many European rookies come to North America with—men’s league experience.
Last year after spending two seasons (and part of last season) on MODO’s J20 team, Hedman had proved he was ready for a callup. He was a +22 with 29 points (15 goals and 14 assists) in 50 J20 games, and once being called up to the Swedish Elite League Hedman kept that momentum going with four more points and a plus-one rating.
The one thing that Hedman could stand to work on though, is his mean streak. For a big defenseman (usually compared to Chris Pronger) he could stand to be a little more aggressive (not to Pronger-like levels though).
Looking at the standings right now, the bottom-five shakeout in the following order:
1. New York Islanders—28 points
2. Atlanta Thrashers—35 points
3. Ottawa Senators—36 points
4. St Louis Blues—37 points
5. Tampa Bay Lightning—38 points
The next closest teams in both the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference are the Los Angeles Kings with 40 points (West) and the Toronto Maple Leafs with 41 points (East).
The previous “Top-Five” listed above isn’t necessarily accurate. Remember the Draft Lottery still needs to take place, but in going with the bottom-five teams in the league, we’re currently looking at the only five teams with a shot at the first overall pick because no non-playoff team can move up, at most, four spots (and they can only drop one spot) thanks to the Draft Lottery.
So with each team currently holding an equal (we’ll call it equal because the season isn’t over yet) shot at the first overall pick, who makes more sense: Tavares or Hedman?
New York Islanders
Looking at the Islanders right now, it’s hard to fathom them anywhere but the first overall position come June. They’re last in the league in wins (12), 26th in goals-per game (2.48), 29th in goals allowed-per game (3.54), and in the middle of the road with regards to penalty killing (12th—82.4%) and power play proficiency (18th—17.4%).
Franchise (and I only say this because he’s there for another twelve seasons) goaltender Rick DiPietro also looks to have encountered trouble with his knee and may be out for the rest of the season, furthering the Islanders’ problems.
While the Islanders have a bunch of solid prospects (Kyle Okposo, Blake Comeau, and Josh Bailey) up front, with Sarnia Sting forward Justin DiBenedetto sitting third currently in OHL scoring.
On the back end, Mark Streit has become the most productive defenseman while Chris Campoli has started to turn the corner and find his 30-point form once again. The Islanders have a handful of defensive prospects in the CHL including Jared Spurgeon and Jyri Niemi, but many of them are being touted as strong offensively with some having a bit of trouble on the defensive end.
Verdict: Both Hedman and Tavares would help the Islanders, but Tavares could be the way to go.
The biggest thing (and while this can’t determine who they draft this year) is Rick DiPietro’s health. If he can finally figure out a way to stay healthy, then not only will he cut down on the goals-against (third-worst in the league) but he’ll also help out some of younger defensemen hone their skills in their own end.
If DiPietro can get healthy and some of those young defensemen can adapt to the NHL, then bringing in Tavares could provide the Islanders with a line of John Tavares, Josh Bailey, and Kyle Okposo, which will hopefully bump up the Islanders’ goal production.
With the opportunity to take either of these guys though, the Islanders can’t go wrong (unless they trade the pick) and Hedman could help just as much as Tavares on the back end.
Atlanta Thrashers
Here’s an interesting scenario if I ever saw one: Ilya Kovalchuk is given the captaincy with just over a year-and-a-half to his impending free agency, meaning the Thrashers’ are going to have to sell Ilya on the fact they want to contend.
Bryan Little is having a break-out season and could have 35 goals by years’ end and Angelo Esposito hunting for his third 30-goal season in four years in the QMJHL, the Thrashers have some talent up front.
Riley Holzapfel, while not expected to be a dynamo in the NHL, may also put up some solid totals over his career, and Brett Sterling has proven he can score goals in bunches in the AHL (as well as play some inspiring hockey alongside Little) but he still needs to earn himself an extended look at the NHL level.
On the back end, the two Thrashers that everyone knows and talks about are Tobias Enstrom and Brois Valabik. Valabik brings a big presence at 6′7 and 240lbs, but not much of an offensive streak. If Valabik can develop into the kind of shut-down defender the Thrash want and need though, then the offensive burden can hopefully be left to Tobias Enstrom, although the Swede is currently suffering through a troublesome season while Zach Bogosian will hopefully become a big-time power play catalyst for this team.
In addition to that, the Thrashers also have Paul Postma still serving time in the CHL, and he’s already posted a career-high with 48 points in 46 games this season for Calgary, tying him for first amongst WHL defensemen in the scoring race with Jonathon Blum, a Nashville commodity.
