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by Shane House…
Last season, the trade deadline was highlighted with the trade of Marian Hossa to Pittsburgh for Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, prospect Angelo Esposito and a first-round draft pick. The trade was made by the Penguins in hopes of making a serious push for the Stanley Cup and it was almost successful, barely losing out to the much-more-experienced Detroit Red Wings.
This year, Pittsburgh seems to be paying the price for that trade because there lineup is now lacking a lot of toughness and grit. But that’s the price you pay at the trade deadline. Teams are willing to give up all there young assets in order to make that big run for Lord Stanley.
So what will be given up this year and for who?
Here are the top 12 players that will be available at the trade deadline:
12. Niclas Havelid—Atlanta Thrashers
The underrated defenseman’s contract is up at the end of the season, so the Thrashers will be looking to unload his reasonable contract on a team that is looking for depth in the back end. Look for maybe Boston or Calgary to make a move on the steady blue-liner.
11. Vesa Toskala—Toronto Maple Leafs
When the season began, Toskala was arguably the best asset the Leafs had and was what the team was going to build around. Now the netminder has become one of the worst starting goalies in the NHL.
Even still, a new change of scenery might not hurt and some teams might be looking to the netminder to help in goal with a playoff run or fill a void in net. I could see Detroit, Ottawa, Calgary, or the Islanders interested.
10. Steve Sullivan—Nashville Predators
This is an intriguing prospect because two months ago people weren’t sure whether or not he would be back. He is a very fast player with a quick release. It all depends on whether or not his back can hold for the season. If it doesn’t show any wear or tear come trade deadline, he will be a very-wanted commodity.
He could fit in anywhere on either the first or second line and do well. I would expect Anaheim, Pittsburgh, or any team that needs backup scoring to want his services.
9. Mathieu Schneider—Atlanta Thrashers
Schneider is almost 40 and is not as fast as he used to be, but he still can still run a power play and pass the puck with the best of them. Although he may not be cheap, he will get any struggling power play going. Expect Pittsburgh, Columbus, the Rangers, and even Montreal if they can’t get a hold of Tomas Kaberle.
8. Keith Tkachuk—St. Louis Blues
He has been a rental player before, and will be a rental player again this trade deadline. He may not be the best playoff performer, but he is still solid and can play on any second line in the NHL.
Look for a playoff team to rent his services, more specifically a team that needs to give their second line a little more pop and a little more grit. Look for Pittsburgh, Chicago, and maybe even look to Phoenix to trade for his services.
7. Manny Fernandez—Boston Bruins
An interesting situation has risen in Boston. The tandem of Tim Thomas and Fernandez has been solid and the two combine for the best save percentage of any team in hockey. But Tuukka Rask is waiting in the wings and is ready for experience. Yet, their forwards keep getting injured and could use some depth.
If there were a trade to come for this player, I could see Calgary, Detroit, or even Washington looking into his services.
6. Nikolai Antropov—Toronto Maple Leafs
Although he isn’t the biggest name on this list by any means, he could be the biggest center available come trade deadline. He is great in front of the net and is a good stick handler also.
If Brian Burke doesn’t see what he likes, I can see him trading Antropov at the deadline. Teams that would be interested in his services would be Chicago, Columbus, Calgary, and Florida.
5. Tomas Kaberle—Toronto Maple Leafs
If it wasn’t for Jay Bouwmeester being on the market, Tomas Kaberle would easily be the best defenseman on the market. He can run any power play that is having trouble and is easily one of the best passers in the game today.
If he decides to waive his no trade clause, then I could see him going to Montreal, the Rangers, Washington, maybe even Florida??
4. Marian Gaborik—Minnesota Wild
Poor Minnesota. Tried to sign him, he refused. Tried to play him and he got injured. When he came back, they tried to trade him and then he got injured again. Now he is expected to come back sometime after the trade deadline. Minnesota is always in the run to make the playoffs so it all matters where they are when the deadline comes.
I imagine if they are willing to trade him that a couple teams are willing to take a risk on him. I could see him alongside Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in Pittsburgh, or he could also be heading off to Vancouver to play along side Mats Sundin as well.
3. Jason Spezza—Ottawa Senators
Ever since that amazing start to last season, this team has been on an unstoppable spiral. Ever since this spiral, Jason Spezza has been a one-dimensional player. He seems to have forgotten about defense. But he is still able to put up 100 points if he has the right line mates.
He is still young and even though he has both a big and long contract, lots of teams would be willing to trade for him. Columbus, Anaheim, maybe even Montreal if they can’t get Lecavalier.
2. Jay Bouwmeester—Florida Panthers
Easily the most desirable player available at the trade deadline, Bouwmeester has it all. He has size, speed, and scoring ability. Plus he can get nasty if he has to. All that is missing is some playoff experience.
With him being as young as he is, any team would be interested in trading for him. Toronto, Edmonton, New York Rangers, and Ottawa are all in the front-runners trying to trade for him.
1. Vincent Lecavalier—Tampa Bay Lightning
This is easily the best player available right now. Every team drools to have a player of his skill. He is easily one of the top 10 players in the game today at any position. The problem with a player of this caliber is that you need to give up a lot in order to get him and few teams have the assets to get him.
That’s why only one team comes to mind. Montreal. They have the players, prospects, and draft picks available to bring this guy to Montreal. Not to mention a fan base that cries his name every time he is in town. He even got a 10-minute ovation during the All-Star game.
by Shane House…
While watching the Carolina game, I saw an Arizona offense pick apart one of the top ten defenses in the NFL and then do the same the week after against Philadelphia. In both games, the commentator talked about how Kurt Warner used a quick release to distribute the ball when the blitz was used.
Both teams had great defenses and even better pass rushes, but the thing that seems to be overshadowed when talking about this is the extraordinary play of the offensive line. This line has not only played well, but has stepped up their play with every level of competition that they have gone up.
They held off an average Atlanta defense, then completely stopped a Carolina defense, then for three out of the four quarters practically shutout the Philadelphia defense as well.
Every game has risen the bar higher and every game they reach that level of excellence.
Russ Grimm has done an amazing job to prepare this offensive line and will coincidentally face the ultimate test in protecting against the “Steel Curtain” defense of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On an offensive line that has mostly no name players, one name does stand out. Levi Brown has been the anchor of this line throughout the season and playoffs and ever since he was drafted fifth overall in 2007. He has shown signs of improvement almost every game. He is the leader of this offensive line and is the star of the group. Levi Brown has a bright future and will become an all-star lineman further on in his career.
With Russ Grimm’s coaching and Levi Brown’s help, the most under-appreciated part of Arizona’s offense might be the most important. Their pass protection is the key to whether this offense succeeds or fails and whether Kurt Warner can distribute the ball well enough to win this game.
If this line can hold and the offense can score early, that will be the key to the Super Bowl success of the Arizona Cardinals.
by Shane House…
When the playoffs began and the match-ups were made, the Arizona Cardinals were already written out. People said that Atlanta would beat the Cards and then Carolina would beat the Falcons on route to the NFC Championship game. That’s how most saw it atleast.
But somehow the Cardinals beat the odds and beat a team with a young quarterback to win the Wild Card game. Who’d a thunk it.
Next round was the Carolina Panthers. A team that all season never lost at home and the Cardinals were 0-4 in east coast games. Basically the Cardinals were going to get killed in Carolina because they had no chance. But somehow they did it and not only beat the Panthers, they destroyed them winning 33-13.
Finally it was the NFC Championship Game. The Cardinals were at home to face the Eagles to decide who goes to the Super Bowl. Last meeting, the Cardinals were absolutely annihilated by the Eagles 52-20 on Thanksgiving which meant that the same would happen this time. Once again everybody was wrong and the Cardinals handed the Eagles a loss on route to Tampa Bay and the Super Bowl.
Everybody is calling this the cinderella story. Saying that this team shouldn’t be here. Saying that this team is the worst team to ever be in the Super Bowl.
First off, to even be in the Super Bowl means that you must have played a hell of a playoffs. You can win all those games in the regular season but you know what, it doesn’t matter if you can’t perform in the playoffs, and I think this team has proven now that in the clutch, this team is better then almost every other team in the league.
They have shown grit, they have shown the ability to score when it matters, and they have shown the ability to play defense. All the abilities needed to win games in the NFL.
But where did all of this come from. I mean for such a mediocre team, how did they get this far?
Was it the arm of Kurt Warner. I mean, he has won in the playoffs multiple times and been a Super Bowl MVP.
Maybe it was Larry Fitzgerald. He has played amazingly these playoffs and deserves all the credit in the world.
But as much as they were key catalysts in victories over Carolina, Atlanta and Philadelphia, none of them planned all week what plays to call, who plays where and they go.
The Arizona Cardinals coaching is what got them to the Super Bowl.
They were the ones who figured out how to hold the second and third leading rushers (DeAngelo Williams and Michael Turner) in the league to a combined 101 yards and one touchdown.
They were the ones who figured out how to handle great defenses in both Carolina and Philadelphia by using quick passing routes.
It was Ken Whisenhunt and his team of coordinators that won those games. They picked the plays, they taught how to execute them.
They are the ones that got the Cardinals to the Super Bowl. There amazing play calling and preparation for all the playoff games is what got them to where they are today.
So when you think about who got the Cardinals to the Super Bowl this year, just remember that these were the guys that turned this team around and got them to where they are at today.
by Shane House…
Ever since Jason Blake was signed last year, he has gotten a bad rap.
People seemed to think that he would get 30-40 goals when he came here, but to be honest, that whole thought was set up to fail.
He is a solid player. He can put the pick in the net but not 40 like he did the year before he was signed. He is just a grinder that can put the puck into the net and that’s what people need to realize.
When people finally do realize this, that’s when they will be happy with his play.
I know it will be hard I mean it took a couple months into the season for me to realize it too but now that I do, I can see that Blake is a good player.
Last year he still played well. Even though he was in the doghouse of then coach Paul Maurice all season, he still managed 52 points. And that came without a real linemates that he had no real chemistry with.
So, after all that went on last season, he came into this season as (for lack of a better word) a bust. He was damaged goods. He is too old and can’t score anymore. That’s the label that the media put on him.
But it might have been a better thing for him because now people aren’t expecting as much from the 35 year old. Which means less weight to carry on his shoulders.
The thing about it was that he did not realize that till two months into the season.
But now that he has, he has been one of Toronto’s best players. Ron Wilson was quoted as saying “I don’t think I’m stepping out on a gang plank here or anything, but he’s been our best player the past two months.”
If you can get the coach that benched you at the beginning of the season to say that about you, then you are doing something right.
In the past 23 games, he has gotten 19 points and ten goals. But the one stat that I would like to mention is this.
When Blake played for the Islanders, on average Jason Blake would get around 50 PIM a season. This was when he scored 25 goals consistently remember.
Last year, Blake only got 24 PIM the entire season. He also got only 15 goals the whole season remember.
In the past three months, Blake has gotten 24 PIM in only 33 games. In those 33 games, he has 12 goals and 25 points.
The point I am trying to make is that the Blake we have seen this season is how Blake has always played. This is what he does. He plays fast hockey where he handles the puck and is willing to get rough when needed.
That’s a good hockey player by the sounds of it. To be honest, I will take a gritty, two-way 25 goal-scorer any day then a finesse, one-way 30 goal-scorer because two way players prevent goals as well.
So why not embrace what we have in Jason Blake instead of criticizing him for what he isn’t. I am happy with what he has done. And with a four million dollar contract in this economy, he isn’t going anywhere for a long, long time.
by Shane House… Coming into this season, there were not a lot of expectations for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Now that I think about it, the only real expectation was that the Toronto Maple Leafs were going to shoot for the first pick overall in this years draft and grab John Tavares.
But with that now a far dream, all we can now hope for is that the team does badly enough where we fall into the top five and stay there—which we are currently at right now.
But until then, we have to handout awards to these players because they have worked hard and deserve them.
Who will win the coveted Dougy Gilmour award? Or who will receive the Aki Berg Award?
The Jamie Macoun Award – Ian White
This Award goes to the player who has the sickest facial hair on the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Come on. Ryan Hollweg has a great one, too but nothing can beat Ian White’s. Hell, my friends don’t even say his name anymore, we just chant “Mo” to the television screen like off “The Simpsons.”
Considerations: Ryan Hollweg
The Andrew Raycroft Award – Andrew Raycraft
This Award goes to a player who, after performing at a low level for the Leafs, goes on to another team to perform very well.
No other player even comes close to exhibiting these qualities then Andrew Raycroft. He played so badly for the Toronto Maple Leafs and then goes on to perform very well for the Colorado Avalanche.
Considerations: Kyle Wellwood, Alex Steen
The Bryan McCabe Award - Tomas Kaberle
This Award goes to the most hated player who is the most booed and churped player on the Toronto Maple Leafs, both on and off the ice.
This was a difficult decision for me because there was no clear whipping boy for the media this year, this was close.
But if you combine stupid decisions combined with disappointing play, Tomas Kaberle has been under the most scrutiny and wins this award. Wouldn’t have imagined him for this award last year.
Consideration: Jason Blake, Pavel Kubina, Vesa Toskala
The Aki Berg Award – Ryan Hollweg
This Award goes to the player that shows the biggest plug qualities on the Toronto Maple Leafs.
This was an easy decision because Ryan Hollweg all the qualities of a plug. He contributes nothing to the team, he makes a lot of mistakes, and nobody wants him around. Let’s hope he is a one time winner.
Considerations: Jason Blake, Pavel Kubina
The John Pohl Award -Jeff Finger
This Award goes to the player who has the funniest name while being able to make funny slogans/comments about.
Although his name may be simple, a smelly finger can go a long way. You can put anything with this name and it is just fun to say.
Considerations: None
The Lonny Bohonos Award – Jeremy Williams
This Award goes to the player that most surprises everybody by performing past expectations.
This award was easy to hand to Jeremy Williams because nobody thought he would play at the level he has been playing at. Lets hope he can keep it up.
Considerations: John Mitchell, Mike Van Ryn, Ian White
The Tie Domi Award – Jamal
This award goes to the player who shows the most combined grit and enforcing ability on the Toronto Maple Leafs.
This was a tough decision because nobody has really come out as the enforcer of this team. But the award had to go out to somebody so I decided to give it to Jamal. He has shown the most consistent amount of grit and fight all season.
Consideration: Ryan Hollweg, Andre Deveaux
The Sergei Berezin Award - Grabovski
This award goes to the player with the sickest dangles, combined with the best hair on the team.
This award was an easy decision for me because Grabovski has shown that he can pullout a sick dangle at least once a game. That combined with his golden locks made him an easy pick for this award.
Consideration: Pavel Kubina, Jason Blake
The Doug Gilmour Award - Ian White
This Award goes to the player that demonstrates the most leadership qualities while also showing determination towards winning.
This was a tough decision not because of the amount of leadership, but the lack of leadership on this team. So I had to look for players who lead by example and show determination and nobody shows this more then Ian White.
He fought through adversity to become a top player for this team and he never gives up.
Considerations: Dominic Moore, Curtis Joseph
The Wendel Clark Award – Luke
This Award goes to the player that is most favored by fans.
This kid was an instant celebrity when he made the team this year and it has not stopped. Everybody who is a hockey fan in Toronto knows about this guy and would do anything for him.
Considerations: Dominic Moore, Ian White, Curtis Joseph
The Borje Salming Award – Kubina
This Award goes to the player who plays very good defense, while contributing on offense.
This was a tough decision because there are two players who have played better then Kubina.
One has been White and the other has been Van Ryn. The problem was that Van Ryn has been injured a lot while Ian White offense came a lot from him playing forward. Becasue of this, I chose Kubina.
He has played very well so far and deserves it.
Considerations: Mike Van Ryn, Ian White, Tomas Kaberle
The Nikolai Borschevsky Award - Ponikarovsky
This Award goes to the leading goal scorer of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Although it be by a small margin, Ponikarovsky is the leading scorer of the Toronto Maple Leafs with 14 goals so far. Which is more then half of what Jeff Carter has with 29 goals.
Considerations: Nik Antropov (13), Niklas Hagman (11), Mikhail Grabovski (12)
The Mats Sundin Award – Nik Antropov
This Award Goes to the player that scores the most points on the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Nik Antropov has been, for the most part, the most consistent player for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He currently leads the Leafs by one point with 33 points. Which is exactly half of what Crosby has who has 66.
Considerations: Matt Stajan (32), Alexei Ponikarovsky (30), Tomas Kaberle (26)
by Shane House…
Coming into this season, there were not a lot of expectations for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Now that I think about it, the only real expectation was that the Toronto Maple Leafs were going to shoot for the first pick overall in this years draft and grab John Tavares.
But, with that now a far dream, all we can now hope for is that the team does badly enough where we fall into the top five and stay there. Which we are currently at right now.
But until then, we have to handout awards to these players because they have worked hard and deserve them.
Who will win the coveted Dougy Gilmour award? Or who will receive the Aki Berg Award?
Guess you will have to see and find out.
by Shane House… 
Before a few nights ago, Justin Pogge was a goaltending prospect for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Sure, people were touting him as the next great Leafs goaltender, but until a few nights ago, all the proof we had was his World Junior Championship performance three years ago.
Although it was a great performance, it was three years ago—and since then, Pogge has been toiling in the minors with everybody wondering if he would pan out like everybody expected.
Well, a few nights ago all that changed when Justin Pogge made his first professional start in the NHL against the Atlanta Thrashers—and did not disappoint. While receiving some of the best defense that the Toronto Maple Leafs have played all season, Justin Pogge also played stellar.
He played his angles really well, he moved across the net with general ease—and for it being his first NHL game, he showed a lot of poise and kept his nerves in check when the pressure was on.
So what does this mean for the Toronto Maple Leafs?
It shows that the organization was right in believing that Justin Pogge does have the capabilities to be a good goaltender in the NHL. In the one game Pogge played, he showed the potential to be a N.1 goaltender, while showing more room for growth as an NHL hockey player.
What it also shows is that the Maple Leafs might have a goaltending controversy in their near future. Although Vesa Toskala has played better lately, his overall inconsistency throughout the season leaves room for improvement or in this case, makes room for a little bit of competition in between the pipes.
I honestly do believe that for now, Toskala’s job is safe. He has two years left in his contract and as of late has been good enough to keep his job for this season.
When he is on his game he can play as good as any goaltender in the NHL, and I feel that Pogge needs a little more seasoning before he can handle full time duty playing an NHL schedule.
But as of now, it is too early just yet to tell whether Pogge can play this well for the rest of the season—but with Curtis Joseph showing his age and Vesa Toskala playing inconsistently all season, Pogge is making a case to stick with the big club.
by Shane House…
Everybody knows that eventually this season, Brian Burke will make his mark on this team. Until he starts making moves, all we can do is speculate as to whom he will trade, and whom he will try to pursue.
So when he eventually does try to make his move, these are the players who I think he will try to go after, and what he will give up.
Jay Bouwmeester—Exactly what Burke likes in a defenseman. He is big, he can move the puck, he can skate, and most importantly, he can hit. He has all the tools to lead a defense, and I can see him gelling much better with Schenn then Kaberle. Can’t you?
What the trade will be: Most likely, the trade for Bouwmeester will be Kaberle, and sadly, a third round draft pick. But we will be getting much more in return.
Samuel Pahlsson—I believe this trade will happen and for a couple of reasons. Firstly, Pahlsson is a solid face-off man that is good both on the penalty kill, and on a fourth line basis. Secondly, if he trades for Pahlsson, it will somewhat get the reporters off his back about him hating Europeans, but mostly the first part.
What the trade will be: I could see this trade being a straight up trade of Samuel Pahlsson for Alexei Ponikarovsky. Maybe a fifth round draft pick coming from Anaheim as well.
Sean Avery—I know I might get a lot of heat for this one, but lets think about it. Burke likes one or two antagonizers on every team he has. Vancouver had Ruutu, Anaheim had Moen and May. Toronto has, no one. Avery is obviously available and I could see one salary dump for another coming.
What the trade will be: Toronto will trade Jason Blake for Sean Avery and a conditional draft pick. The condition being that Avery doesn’t say anything stupid for the rest of the year.
Rob Schremp—This is my out of left field pick. The Leafs are looking for a first line center and barring where the team is, I think if they aren’t close enough to being a last place team, then Burke will go this route.
He has first line potential and is a solid contributor everywhere on the ice. Plus Edmonton has a lot of young centers and could use a winger.
What the trade will be: If Edmonton is in the playoff race, then they will be looking for both depth and size. Antropov has size and Ponikarovsky brings depth. The trade would be Antropov and Ponikarovsky with a second round pick for Rob Schremp.
So there you have it. I think that at least two of these trades will happen. I also think that Stralman will be traded for a prospect, but have no clue who it might be. The Leafs will probably also trade for just draft picks, but all barring on who they .
by Shane House… The man has spent his entire life defying the odds to get to the NHL.
He was first drafted by the Dallas Stars in the fifth round, 161st overall, in the 2001 NHL entry draft. Not exactly the best spot to be drafted.
After being drafted, he went back to the OHL to refine his game on a horrid Sudbury Wolves squad that made him look average at best. Giving him a losing record and a GAA over three goals.
Regardless, he still plugged on and the next season in 2002-2003, started out the year in the ECHL with the Lexington Men O’War.
Thats right, I said it—the Lexington Men O’War. Talk about humble beginnings.
Once again regardless, he plugged on, and after recording a solid record in the ECHL, he was called up to the AHL where he would stay, posting once again, a GAA of over three playing for a horrid club.
But, the next season came, it was a new season, where he would get every opportunity to turn a new leaf and start a new chapter.
As a back-up, only playing 21 games behind.
But it was a little better, seeing him get a 2.83 GAA meaning he finally cracked below the three mark.
Yay. Good for you.
But finally, when the 2004-2005 season came, it was his chance to shine. After showing he can play at a high level he was finally going to be shown the starting spot of an AHL club if not for one problem:
The 2004-2005 NHL lockout.
This basically meant that instead of showing his skills in a starting spot, he would be pushed aside by NHLers who had already achieved what he wanted.
Still, that season, he kept moving forward, and finished the year with the Houston Aeros with a 2.42 GAA and a .915 SPCT over 46 games. Finally showing that he may have a shot, oh yes, at cracking the NHL.
The next year finally showed Mike Smith something that he hadn’t seen in a long time, some luck.
For the first time in his career, the 2005-2006 season showed him a good team and a starting role where he showed that he belonged. Where, in 50 games he posted 25 wins and 3 SO to go with a 2.50 GAA and a .917 SPCT for the Iowa Stars.
The Dallas Stars noticed this and decided that the kid finally paid his dues and deserved a shot at the NHL.
But it came with one catch.
He had to compete with another player for the spot—fellow AHL netminder and teammate Jason Bacashihua, who had also paid his dues.
Luckily for Mike Smith, he had a great camp and showed the Dallas Stars management that he belonged, making the Stars able to send poor Jason Bacashihua to the St. Louis Blues for a bag of pucks, and an autographed John Davidson picture. When he had hair.
So, for the next two seasons, Mike Smith was living the life as an NHL netminder, learning the ropes, behind a then great goalie in Marty Turco, looking like the next incumbent to take the thrown as the Dallas Stars’ starting netminder.
Then, something catastrophic, something so horrifyingly bad that it would make people throw up just at the thought of it. He was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning, in what would be a huge trade deadline deal sending Brad Richards and Johan Holmqvist to Dallas for Jussi Jokinen, Jeff Halpern, a fourth-round pick—and yes, Mike Smith.
But, it wasn’t all bad. Tampa Bay has nice weather, he has people he knows going with him to Tampa Bay, and—well that’s about it.
But unlike before, there was something that there that he did not have in Dallas—a starting role for him to take.
And he took it. But as well as he played and as hard as he tried, he couldn’t finish off the season well. He ended the year with the Lightning of with three wins, 10 losses, and a not-so-impressive .893 save percentage
Then thank god, the offseason came, which brought so much light to an organization that had gone through so much despair the previous season.
Tampa landed some big-name free agents in Radim Vrbata and Ryan Malone. They picked up veterans like Mark Recchi and Gary Roberts. They also landed the first-overall pick in Steven Stamkos.
Finally, in what would be the turning point for the Tampa Bay Lightning, they landed the biggest mullet in coaching history by signing Barry Melrose to coach the Tampa Bay Lightning back to the promise land.
So everything was looking rosey again back in Tampaland. With a load of offense and a solid goaltender in Mike Smith, things were looking up.
But a dark cloud loomed in the distance—lack of defense.
What poor Mike Smith didn’t know is that in order for a team to be successful, they need defense.
Something that Tampa Bay management seemed to forget about.
But regardless once again, the season started. With the Tampa Bay Lightning playing there first game of the season in Europe, and with a starting role waiting to be taken, Mike Smith had it all.
But, sadly, his bad luck came back to bite him.
And hard too.
The team had no chemistry. They had no defense. They had nothing.
Even though this season Mike Smith has been playing extremely well with a .922 save percentage and a 2.55 GAA. The team in front of him has been horrid.
Barry Melrose was fired, Steven Stamkos has been—for lack of a better word—a bust, and Radim Vrbata hated Tampa Bay so much, that he opted out of playing there to play for a minor-league team in Slovakia.
Pretty much sums it up right there.
Sadly, it seems to be getting to Mike Smith too, with him telling the Tampa Bay Tribune that “I don’t know if we’re a dumb team, if we just don’t get it or we don’t deserve to be in this league, I don’t know, but we are making the same mistakes we talk about game in and game out.”
The poor bastard.
And with no end in sight, I see no relief coming to Mike Smith any time soon.
One thing I do know is that Mike Smith does deserve to be in the NHL. He is a solid goaltender who can start for any team in this league. Sadly, he has to start for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
by Shane House… Webster’s Dictionary describes a leader as a first or principal performer of a group. Somebody who has a commanding authority or influence for whoever they represent. Whether it be a party, or a team, or even a country.
But what is the best example of a leader?
Is it somebody who leads by example?
Somebody who takes charge of a situation?
Or is it somebody who brings progress?
Each of these examples can be used in all aspects of life, but how many can be used in sports?
When we think of leaders in sports, most of us think of a strong individual who motivates his team not only with words, but by example as well. Leadership is measured by success, after all. I mean, if somebody is leading but not producing, then how good of a leader can they really be?
There has to be progress. There has to be some sense of accomplishment after a certain amount of time. If you give a person the opportunity to lead a team and the team under-performs, then the leader is the one who pays for that failure.
I know this because I am a sports fan. All of us here on TOsports are sports fans—young and old—and we all have taken somebody’s leadership into doubt whether it be in sports or real life.
We can’t help it. It’s our nature, whether we are right or wrong. We always have to question someone’s leadership whether it be on the ice, field, or court.
But it’s OK, because with leadership comes character. Character comes from being in all situations good and bad, and because they have been in these situations, they’re able to cope more effectively with whats going on around them and make smarter decisions.
The problem with this is some people in sports don’t get the chance to use what they learned from their mistakes. Instead, they are passed on for someone else while they are left waiting for that second chance.
But out of all of this, one thing best prepares a person to become a leader, and that is confidence.
When a person has confidence, they have the ability to show their team they can do anything. That they can step out on that field and throw that great touchdown or make that amazing play to change the course of the game.
That is what makes a leader—performing in the clutch.
Great leaders have the ability to bring out the best in people and those around them better.
Brett Favre is the best example of that. Right now he is playing for a team that without him, would be 7-9 AT BEST.
But with Favre playing, he has the Jets in playoff contention and has the entire team making plays on both sides of the ball.
Another example is Mats Sundin when he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He always played with average players and never had another superstar to play with, but instead of complaining, he took what he had and he made them better.
That is what a leader does. He makes people better while leading by example, and that example is playing with class, heart, and a determination that inspires people to rise up and better themselves, both as a player, and as a human being.
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