GREGSKY'S EASTERN CONFERENCE NOTEBOOK: NIGHTMARES IN THE EAST

Welcome to another edition of Gregsky’s Eastern Conference Notebook. In the spirit of Halloween, I will take a look at the horror facing the bottom half of the conference and see if there is any hope left in the nightmare start to the season for some of these teams.

Islanders
Nothing too horrific happening to the Isles to start the season, their horrors are yet to begin. Right now they are the hottest team in New York and have the fans (for now) leaving the paper bags at home. Strong special teams have kept the team from Long Island afloat. They have been more of a nightmare for opposing teams, as they have been tougher to beat than in the past. I don’t think they will sustain much longer though so fans will don the masks after Halloween passes.

Sabres
Playing .500 hockey giving up 3.40 goals/game is spooky for Sabres fans. Not used to seeing their team struggle this much this early, the horror show of management mistakes over the summer have the fans a bit squeamish over the results. Playing for a full 60 minutes has been frightfully missing so far this season and they will be lucky to escape October without a worse record.

Capitals
With the improvements this team made in the off-season they should be in a better spot in a weak division. The fear at the start of the season was defense, but that hasn’t been the problem. Injuries and lack of scoring has been the evil lurking around the team so far. Once this team gets rolling the early part of the season will just be a bad dream, but for now the nightmare of inconsistency looms large.

Rangers
Maybe blood and gore is just what the Rangers needed to spark them into putting the puck in the net. Jagr giving up a few chicklets to the puck dentist seemed to get him going after a horrific month and they may want to start a ritual of bashing him in the mouth before every game. Really, the issue is not clicking on the power play. An area that was hyped to be deadly has in fact been dreadful.

Panthers
Projected to be a much better team this season, the Panthers have struggled out of the gate. An upgrade in net was supposed to be a boost and while 3.09 goals against isn’t horrific the 2.36 goals/game makes it spooky. The real problem for the club is when they take their show on the road. Winning only 1 game out of 6 on the road is enough to make any fan scream.

Thrashers
Cue the Death March music now. The start to the season has been a classic horror show for the Thrashers. Leading the league in goals against the nightmare may not end for the team this year. They lost too much over the summer and didn’t do enough to replace the pieces that helped them make the post season last year. Their coach has already felt the axe and a total lack of scoring may spell trouble for their future as they are still trying to reach a deal with Hossa. The fans that do show up to witness this horror on ice may want to borrow the paper bags that Islanders fans haven’t had to use yet.

Devils
Maybe the moniker is fitting for Halloween, but no one is used to including this team as part of a creep show. Maybe it is due to only playing 1 game at home so far this year, but view just 1 game and you can see that this isn’t your father’s New Jersey Devils. Lack of defense has been the devil of the Devils and poor special teams play has them dwelling in the dungeon of the conference. Maybe the hiring of Sutter on Friday the 13th was an omen, but right now the Devils are bedeviled.

SUM IT UP IN A SONG

Just a little musical musing to start the day folks, as I find some lyrics to sum up some recent NHL happenings and show my age. Enjoy.

“Meet the new boss…same as the old boss” – The Who
The NHLPA hires Paul Kelly to head the union. Another lawyer in the mix – just what the game needed. Bob Goodenow simply calls him Mini-Me. Can’t wait for him and Bettman to clash in an epic battle of the geeks.

“I ain’t the reason you gave me no reason to return your call. You built a house of cards and got shocked when you saw them fall…You can’t take the effect and make it the cause.” – The White Stripes
Mismanagement in Atlanta, Toronto, Nashville and Edmonton has lead to one coach fired and several others on the hot seat. It’s time for some GM’s to feel the heat, don’t you think?

“See how he dances, see how he moves from side to side. See how he prances, the way his hooves just seem to glide. He’s just a one-trick pony, but he turns that trick with pride.” – Paul Simon
Year in and year out Tomas Holmstrom shows us all why he is at his best when he creates havoc in front of the opponents net. I’m sure, to a man; the Wings would all say he is the most valuable player on the team.

“You done lost your good thing now…” – B.B. King
A 3–5–0 start for the Buffalo Sabres suggests they may have made a few mistakes over the summer. What do you think?

“How you treat the weak is your true nature calling.” – Jane’s Addiction
The Carolina Hurricanes look poised to dominate the Southeast Division as every other team is struggling out of the gate.

“The kids are alright…the kids are alright.” – The Who
Patrick Kane and Jonathan Towes in Chicago and Andrew Cogliano and Sam Gagner in Edmonton are giving fans something to sing about early on this season.

“There’s a fog upon L.A. and my friends have lost their way…” – The Beatles
The Kings defensive woes continue to undo the hard work their forwards create for them. Some think the problem lies in the net, but the guys playing in front of the goaltender are more to blame. If the blue-line doesn’t turn things around soon, it will be a long season for Kings fans.

“Safe complaining, ‘cause everything’s rotten, go insane and ain’t a thing forgotten, feelin’ cozy, rats in the cellar, cheeks are rosy, skin’s turning yellow, losers party, lookin’ rather lazy, see my body, pushin’ up daisies…New York City blues…” – Aerosmith
The lack of scoring, team defense and any resemblance of chemistry have the Rangers searching for answers to the awful funk they are in to start the season. I had a feeling this would happen given their history of signing “Big Name” free agents and getting little bang for their buck.

“This is a thing I’ve never known before it’s called easy livin’…” – Uriah Heep
In Phoenix nothing is easy. Looks like another long season in the dessert for the dogs.

THE KID DRIVES ME CRAZY SOMETIMES

So there I was sitting at my desk blankly staring at the computer, teeth clinched tight - palms as sweaty as an NHLer wearing the new RBK uniform, minding my own business trying to mentally nurse myself through the strongest coffee buzz of all time without completely wigging out, when all of a sudden I heard a loud “Dad!” coming from behind my chair. The shout startled me as if I just found out Brian Engblom’s hair was made out of muskrat pelt. When my ass finally came down from orbit and hit the chair, my eyes still twitching like Kyle McLaren hopped up on Sudafed waiting for the puck to drop, I slowly turned to face the noise maker behind me suddenly realizing why lions sometimes eat their young and answered with a surprisingly calm “what is it son?” “Do you think I’m pressing too much?”

Are you kidding me? This kid just scared the ever-living shit out of me and he wants to know if I think he’s pressing too much? Pressing his luck maybe as I think he snuck up behind me on purpose, but nonetheless I answered him with the first thing that came to my mind “It’s Thursday morning, what are you worried about?” He had a look on his face as if he was about to get demoted to Peoria and was just waiting for the call to come. “I’m seven games into the pre-season and I only have two goals, I’m just wondering if maybe I’m pressing too much out there” he said with concern in his voice. My initial thought was to bust out in laughter, but knowing that he takes Bantam hockey seriously I refrained and responded with “pressing?” “The coach has you in a checking role, why are you worried about goals?” “I know” he said, “but if I can show him that I can score he might take me off the third line.” Here we go, another morning talking shop with the boy before he heads out to school. He continued as I let out a deep sigh, “We have trouble scoring, and since I was the second leading scorer on my team last season, I just feel like I can contribute more to the team this year.” “But I can’t do it on the third line.” He was right. He can put the puck in the net and set up others, I’ve seen it first hand over forty times during the last two seasons, but he can’t do it this year when he spends every shift in the defensive zone. Even though this year his new coach has yet to see that the boy is being wasted offensively, he has seen how responsible he is defensively and uses that to help the team’s overall performance. However, explaining that to a kid who wants to be a sniper is as difficult as finding someone on the Atlanta Thrashers roster who can score some goals.

So I cautiously responded with “Give it time, like you said it’s pre-season and your coach is still learning what his players can do.” “So if he puts you in a checking role then you play that style of game, banging in the corners, chipping the puck out of the zone, fore-checking and back-checking like a madman, chewing up minutes, don’t worry about goals they will come.” I sat there looking at him, hoping that my infinite wisdom was sinking in without shattering his confidence level in the slightest bit, when he responded with “Yeah, but this was supposed to be my breakout year and my line can’t even breakout of our own zone.” “Thanks anyways Dad.” Those words hit me like a Chris Simon chop to the face. Being a father first and foremost, my fatherhood instinct instantly kicked in “Look buddy” I said with a lump in my throat as I realized this really has him tied up in knots on the inside, “Facing adversity is what makes a person strong, you are no stranger to that and this year isn’t any different than what you’ve faced since you started playing.” “I’m not a coach and even though I could be the fact remains that I’m not, so all I can tell you is to respect what your coach wants you to do and continue to work hard and everything else will fall into place.” “Eventually, your coach will put you in a position where you are playing with more skilled line-mates and you will have the opportunity to show him what you can do, until then just play the game and have fun.” “Don’t worry about goals and pressing too much and all of that stuff just go out there do your thing and have fun.” “That’s why you play isn’t it?” “Because it’s fun?” He nodded without saying anything letting my words sink in. He sat there looking up at the picture of him and I sitting with the Stanley Cup that hangs on the wall above my desk. After a few moments of silence and an intense stare at the picture he said “You’re right Dad, it is fun no matter if we win or lose or if I score or not or if I’m on the first line or the third.” “I just love to play and can’t imagine doing anything else.”

It was my turn to nod without saying anything feeling as if I just gave a team a motivational speech before a crucial game seven. Then, just as I was celebrating my apparent victory of wisdom within my mind and patting myself on the back as if I scored an overtime goal, the boy chirps in with “Maybe I’ll ask the coach if I can play center on that line this weekend.” “That way if we can win a face-off and control the puck we might be able to get it out of our zone and get some chances on offense.” “Thanks Dad” he said standing up and smacking me on the shoulder, “I knew you could help me out.” Within a second he was gone like Peter Stastny on a breakaway, leaving me feeling exposed and confused like Darren Pang in an 8-0 blowout. All I could do was put my face in my hands shake my head and chuckle to myself wondering what to do with that boy. He is such a good kid and he tries so hard to do the best he can and just never seems to catch a break no matter what. Maybe things will turn around for him this year, in fact, I’m sure they will it’s only a matter of time.

The coffee is now cold and I sit here once again starring at the computer screen wondering what to write about today. Thanks, son.

ANOTHER QUICK TRIP AROUND THE RINK

This morning nothing in particular is jumping out at me when I look around the league, instead several things of note are screaming for attention. So I will take a quick trip around and comment on my observations.

It seems the Rangers are having some chemistry issues – Drury on the 3rd line? Shanahan has zero goals? The most hyped team in the off-season is dwelling in the cellar in their division? I mean really, I questioned if the Rangers made a mistake back in July, but I didn’t think that they would struggle this much this early.

Win and they will come. Seems that is the message sent by Sabres fans as their home sellout streak comes to an end. Just kidding Sabres fans, Monday night games are hard to sellout that’s probably why you only have four of them this year.

“In some respects I suspect that you have a respectable side” – Jack White (of The White Stripes) Only I’m not sure that Jesse Boulerice could ever show that side of himself on a sheet of ice. Jordan Tootoo is next on the watch list as his recent play won’t go unnoticed by the league. A little respect will go long way boys, let’s think about the consequences before the decision to take an opponents head off.

Hockey fans in the U.S. – The NHL Network – Comcast has it – find it - get it – enough said.

The Kings need to solve their goaltending problem soon or else they will be out of the mix by mid November.

Going “Wild” in Minnesota. The tight defensive style still works for wins in this league, despite the push for more goal scoring, 5-0 and only giving up 4 goals is a feather in the cap for this system.

Some one please stop the bleeding! If your team is struggling to score goals just hope the Leafs are coming up on your schedule, they’re giving them away by the truckload.

Okay, so the Bruins hung in tough on their opening road trip, but let’s see how they play at home before we all eat crow for our doomsday predictions.

Blue Jackets need to find a 1st line center – maybe that was something they should have addressed over the summer?

Atlanta needs to find someone who can score. Anyone? Hello?

Through 6 games Sheldon Souray is only a minus 3. Are things looking up?

The Stars are 2-2-2 overall, 2-0-1 at home and 0-2-1 on the road, 16 goals scored and 16 goals surrendered. Is there a trend here?

Martin Gerber is earning his paycheck in Ottawa, haven’t heard an “on the block” rumor about him since the season started.

HAS FREE AGENCY KILLED RIVALRIES?

If video killed the radio star, then free agency killed team rivalries. In this day and age of professional sports with free agency and heavy amounts of player movement each and every year, are there any real rivalries left? I’m not talking about fans hating fans of other teams and the like, rather the rivalries that take place between the teams and the players themselves. Since I’m a hockey guy I will focus on the NHL and it’s situation therefore bypassing all of the overdone and played out media bullshit surrounding the Red Sox and Yankees of MLB. With that said, are there any true rivalries left in the NHL? Yeah I know that you have the Habs and Leafs and Leafs and Sens and Rangers and Islanders and I suppose you can add the Ducks and Kings and the Wings and Avs and Flames and Oilers to start forming a list, but once again that seems to be mostly fan driven more so than amongst the players themselves. Yes, certain teams have a history against one another for one reason or another that has happened in the past, but most of the players involved have since moved on and the players on those teams today just don’t carry the same grudge. I’m sure that incidents will happen and the players will retaliate and such and there will be a brief moment where we’ll hear the wait until next time routine, but nothing that can sustain and form a true rivalry. The NHL has attempted to force feed the fans divisional rivalries with their skewed schedule (thank God that’s changing), but even the fans don’t buy into that failed experiment. When I really take a look into the game today there seems to be a total lack of rivalry between the players on the ice. Back in the 70’s you had real rivalries between teams that down right hated each other, any time the Bruins and Flyers met or the Rangers and Flyers faced off you could feel the distain the moment you walked into the building. Then again, the players back then stayed on their teams for much longer periods of time and developed that hatred over time. Today, it is even hard for the fans to keep the hate going when one year they are cursing the ground a player walks on and the next year they embrace the same player when he joins their team. Player movement has absolutely watered down the entire notion of team rivalries in the game today. Sure there are battles that still take place especially later in the season when teams are fighting each other for playoff spots, but even then after the game players are friends with each other having played with one another not too long ago. The true distain is gone. You can hear it in the voices of the players themselves during the post-game interviews where they constantly churn out the standard pre-rehearsed lines to the media. The messages are always the same even though the faces change. I guess what I’m driving at here is let’s just stop talking about rivalries altogether because I’m afraid true rivalries are dead. The hype just doesn’t work anymore. Yes Islanders fans you can still chant “Rangers suck”, yes Leafs fans you can still hate anyone wearing a Habs jersey and so on, but let’s call it like it really is, fan rivalry not team rivalry.

#26 - THE NHL GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PETER AND PAUL

Despite the title, you won’t find any fire and brimstone in the following passage. Nor will you have to fear any evil or wrath of God. Instead, you will only find me preaching about a young up and coming super talent and how closely he resembles his legendary father. Yes, I will climb up on my soapbox and sing praises of the young and bow in humility to a legend.

Even though it is still very early in the season, when you take a look at the stats leader-board for individual skaters at this point you find one constant name in the top ten of five different categories. You can see him in the #1 spot in goals, in a tie for #7 in assists, tied for #1 in points, a nine way tie for #2 in +/- and a four way tie for #1 in shooting percentage. I am of course, talking about Paul Stastny of the Colorado Avalanche. If anyone expected this kid to level off after his 28 goal 50 assist 78 point season last year, you are sadly mistaken. There doesn’t seem to be any “slump” in this kid and we may have yet to see just how good he can be. If the start of this season is any indication, he is primed to show the world that he belongs among the NHL elite.

The comparisons to his legendary father Peter have been well documented, but if you weren’t lucky enough to have witnessed Peter dominate (I thank my lucky stars I got to see him many times beat the ever living snot out of the Bruins and Whalers for years) all you have to do is picture Paul in a Nordiques or Devils jersey and you can get an idea. Okay so good old dad was a bit more dominating in his first six seasons, but remember he also played in an era where goaltending was weak (the same era Gretzky tore up the league, not that it would have made a difference to either of them). Production aside, when you watch Paul play it is his smarts and creative ability coupled with his strength and drive to the net that reminds one of Peter. They are very similar in size (Peter 6’ 1” 200lbs. and Paul 6’ 0” 205lbs.) and as fluent of skaters as you will ever see. Peter joined the NHL at age 24 and Paul had his first full season at 21. When you take a look at dad’s production at age 20 (25-27-52) playing in Czechoslovakia and weigh that against Paul’s totals from last year, it leaves you with a sense that greatness is still to come from Paul. Considering Peter exploded at age 24 (39-70-109) one can only imagine how much better Paul will be in a couple of years.

I’m sure that Paul takes the comparisons to his father in humble fashion and most likely talks “pops” up as the greater player, but one thing that he won’t want to mirror his dad in is the lack of a championship ring. As long as Paul keeps playing the way he is (and the Avs keep building and adding pieces to the puzzle), that Stanley Cup ring may just be in his future.

Can I get an Amen? Amen!

GREGSKY'S EASTERN CONFERENCE NOTEBOOK

This is the first edition of my Eastern Conference Notebook, where throughout the season I will be taking a look at how the East is taking shape. I don’t usually make predictions this early, but for my first notebook post I will make an exception.

1. Ottawa – Until proven otherwise they are the best of the East and the best in their division.

2. Pittsburgh – The kids are out to prove last year was no fluke, a year older and a year wiser.

3. Carolina – After an embarrassing end to last season, they will rebound back to the top of the Southeast.

4. N.Y. Rangers – Despite holes on the blue-line, the offence, especially the power play will put the Rangers in a solid playoff spot.

5. Buffalo – Even though they will drop off a bit from last season, they are still a tight and fast team.

6. N.J. Devils – They will struggle from time to time to find scoring, but Marty will keep them in the mix.

7. Philadelphia - They made enough improvement to make the postseason, after that it’s anyone’s guess.

8. Toronto – Fighting tooth and nail with the Habs, Caps and Panthers to end the season and claim the last spot, the Leafs squeak in.

9. Montreal – Another just miss year, but not for long.

10. Washington – They will look strong for stretches and suspect for stretches, they are still a year away from being a playoff contender.

11. Florida – Vokoun and health problems will once again deny Jokinen a trip to the postseason.

12. Tampa Bay – This is the year the wheels fall off. The “Big 3” experiment fails and the window of opportunity closes. Defense and goaltending will need upgrading.

13. Boston – A season of transition for the Bruins, learning a new system will tighten up the defense, but goal scoring will become the issue.

14. Atlanta – A total fall from grace will have the fans in Atlanta scratching their heads as to which team will show up from night to night. Most nights it won’t look pretty.

15. N.Y. Islanders – Hillary Duff will be the most attractive addition for Isles fans. As for the bench, the best looking thing will be Ted Nolan.

As the season goes along I will be breaking down the conference and take a deeper look into each division and individual teams. So be on the lookout for Gregsky’s Eastern Conference Notebook and Miser’s Western Conference Roundup as we have your season covered here at Around The Rink.

LETTING THE COFFEE DO THE TALKING

Seems like the coffee is dictating my thoughts once again this morning along with giving me the sensation of feeling my hair grow. I don’t expect anyone to understand that statement unless they too have more caffeine than blood in their system. In which case, seek help before it is too late, you really don’t want to be in my situation. Which leads me to the point I’m attempting to make – can’t think straight – brain flooded with too many thoughts – having trouble with order and organization skills – fearing complete meltdown. With that said, please forgive me if today’s post sounds like - I’m talking like I have a paper asshole – like a screen door with a busted hinge just flapping in the breeze – it is just the coffee talking. Really. Now that you’ve read my disclaimer, I will shake the rust off of my Andy Rooney impression and throw my scatter-brained thoughts your way. Oh, lucky you.

You ever notice that Joe Thornton tears up the league during the regular season and runs out of gas somewhere in the middle of the 2nd round of the playoffs?

Ever think it would be great to see Rick Nash getting an opportunity to play with players on his level?

Have you ever wondered how good the Bolts would be if they would have been smarter about how they spread the payroll around?

Is there anyone left who views Sergei Fedorov as a top tier player?

You ever notice the size of Barry Trotz’s head makes him look like he has no neck?

Ever wonder if the Wings would look as good if they played in a tougher division?

Am I the only one who thinks that Shea Weber will one day win a Norris trophy?

Does anyone outside of Bruins management really think Glen Murray is still a 1st line winger?

Will there ever come a day when Ilya Kovalchuk won’t feel like he has to do it all by himself?

Ever wonder what the Senators would look like without Spezza and Heatley?

Will this be the year that Ovechkin scores 60 goals?

Has anyone thought about who on the Sabres roster will fill the leadership role this year?

Am I the only one who would love to see a Penguins vs. Sharks final?

Ever wonder how tense a poker game between Mike Keenan, John Tortorella and Andy Murray would be?

Will it really shock anyone if Chris Chelios is still playing when he’s fifty?

Is it just me or does Dave Tippett really look like Elliot Gould?

If I was granted one wish I might be tempted to use it to give Gaborik a bionic groin.

Speaking of groins, will that be Sidney Crosby’s Achilles heel?

Speaking of heels, which team will sell the farm to get Forsberg on their roster for the 2nd half?

You ever notice that Ray Ferarro’s teeth seem to be too big for his mouth?

Is it just me, or does all of the tough talk that comes from Don Cherry seem strange when his wardrobe looks like he should be leading the annual parade in Northampton, Ma?

Will this year’s Ducks mirror last year’s Hurricanes?

Ever wonder if Barry Melrose’s hair is really a helmet? (think Ming the Merciless from Flash Gordon)

When I look at Canucks logos throughout history, I’m left wondering if there are any art schools in Vancouver.

Is there a better role model for kids in today’s NHL than Joe Sakic?

Speaking of kids, will John Tavares burn out before he’s 30?

Ever wonder if Olli Jokinen will ever see playoff action?

Will there be a better rookie this year than Washington’s Nicklas Backstrom?

How long will we have to wait for the Hawks to name a captain?

Ever wonder how many times the King’s players will sit through a “Good cop – Bad cop” routine this year with Crawford and Lewis at the helm?

Is it just me, or is the best thing about the Islanders bench Ted Nolan?