I hope that everyone is having a safe and wonderful Holiday Season in these tough times in which we all live. While on my holiday break from posting, I have been watching a ton of games and figured that I’d post a few thoughts just before the new-year begins. Enjoy!
Isn’t it strange when a player just seems to flourish under a certain coach? Case and point: Ryder and Julien.
I don’t really care that Ovechkin chews tobacco; as a matter of fact I wouldn’t care if drank like a fish, chased after women or hung out at the casino as long as he continues to be the most exciting player to watch. Remember that boys will be boys.
It’s good to see Jonathan Quick getting a shot along with former Hockey East rival Corey Schnieder. I hope they can stick.
I hope that the Hawks were just playing possum with the Wings in that Winter Classic preview.
I can’t wait for that Bruins vs. Sharks match-up on the schedule! Will Lemieux be a factor or a farce by then? Hmmm…
Come on Toronto, you can’t keep playing decently and end up seeing Tavares in a Leafs sweater next year. Just look at the Isles for the formula.
Swapping Kovalchuk for Gaborik won’t do either club or player any good, forget that one folks.
Well I hope you all have a great New Year and check back in 2009 for upcoming posts continuing the series: Celebrating 100 Years of Habs Hockey.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
HEY BRUINS...DON'T CHANGE ANYTHING...YET
So let me ask you, have you ever had one of those questions that seem to just pop in your head at a time when you’re not even focused on the subject? You know, like when you’re rushing around getting ready for work making sure you have everything you need before you leave (The old … Spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch pat down) when out of nowhere you’re blindsided by the instant memory of your crazy uncle pulling the “Hey kid, pull my finger” trick on you when you were five. That kind of question that you just can’t get out of your head after the initial trigger, like “Why is it that my uncle shit his pants and then proceeded to point and laugh at me?” You know what I mean? Or maybe that’s just me. Damn… maybe I should have thought that one through a bit more before putting it down. Somehow I don’t think coffee helps my thought process.
Anyway, that kind of question popped into my head the other day while heading into work. I was minding my own business, thinking about what I was going to face for the next nine and a half hours, when one simple question started to pinball around upstairs. Should the Bruins even think about tweaking the roster in time for the playoffs? And of course that one simple question nagged at me all night and ended up opening up a slew of other questions that just won’t leave my melon. So now I’m at the point where I have to write about it just to get it out of my head and into yours. Oh, lucky you!
Before we start to tackle the questions (Why is it that there are always questions when it comes to the Bruins? Sorry another question just popped in there for a second.), let’s take a look at just what the Bruins have been doing lately and how they are getting it done during their surge to the top of the East.
The Bruins success can be attributed directly to the fact that they can roll four lines and produce effective puck possession and scoring from each line. The Bruins are the best 5-on-5 team in the league; which allows them the luxury of not having to rely on the power play as their bread and butter. Ranking at #5 the PP isn’t struggling by any means and their PK is holding steady at #8, so special teams for the Bruins are just an added bonus. Coach Julien has his troops committed to the system and the proof is in the pudding (9-1-0 in the last 10 games). Goaltending has been rock solid with both net-minders sporting top 5 spots in both save% and goals against average. Just about every player on the roster is a plus player. What the Bruins bring to the table every night is hard work, discipline, speed, puck possession and firepower topped off with a tough, physical style and that is just too much to handle for opponents.
For the first time in years the Bruins are sitting in the catbird seat and sitting pretty at that. They are so deep at the center position that a player the caliber of Patrice Bergeron sees more time on special teams than anything else and sometimes plays on the wing. Most nights they have a problem getting players like Nokelainen and Sobotka into the lineup. With both goaltenders playing superbly they can afford to let Rask get more playing time in the minors. Injuries, so far, haven’t seemed to hurt the B’s as they haven’t missed a beat since the loss of Ference, Ward and Sturm. In fact with the return of Sturm it poses a question of who do you sit to make room for Sturm? That is a good dilemma to have and the Bruins know it. How many teams would kill to have too much depth?
With all of that said, let’s now get back to the question: Should the Bruins even think about tweaking the roster for the playoffs? My answer is: for the playoffs yes, but for right now “don’t fix what ain’t broken” is the best approach. Even though they took their foot off the pedal in the 2nd half of the game against Tampa Bay, they still managed to win and Julien and the boys know exactly how to correct that “running around” bit they displayed. Right now they are still on top of their game and if I were them I wouldn’t change a thing. That in no way means that I wouldn’t be on the phone to Atlanta to set up a package for Kovalchuk and looking West for another veteran defenseman offering up one or two roster players the likes of Bergeron, Sturm, Kobasew, Nokelainen, Stuart, Hnidy, Ference or Fernandez.
Some Bruins fans may be swearing at me right now for even suggesting that the B’s trade away some of the names I mentioned, but the reality is that the roster is too inexperienced to go far in the playoffs as is. If all you want to accomplish is a first round win, then I guess go with what you have and ride it till it fails. If you want to make a serious run, then you need to go out and get what will put you over the top. The Bruins are so deep that they can afford to move some of the names I mentioned above. It’s only a matter of what you want to call a successful season, a 2nd round loss or the Stanley Cup Finals. Can you picture the impact a player like Kovalchuk would bring? Adding another playoff tested D-man to solidify the backend too risky? What happens if some of these kids hit a wall or wear down? Don’t you think that with a bit of tinkering this team could go the distance?
Did you see what just happened there? Another friggin’ bunch of questions just invaded the space! I guess the questions surrounding the Bruins won’t go away, but at least now the questions are positive which is a sure sign that finally this franchise is on the way back up to the standards it set for itself from the beginning. Maybe I’m just a big softy when it comes to Original Six teams doing well or maybe that’s just me showing my age, either way all the Bruins really need to do is just keep doing what they’ve been doing and be set up and prepared to pull the trigger on deals that will help them in the post-season. There is no need for any of the playoff questions to be answered right now. The Bruins shouldn’t change a thing yet; there is no need to. Right now life is sweet for the B’s, just “let the good times roll” and stay healthy.
Anyway, that kind of question popped into my head the other day while heading into work. I was minding my own business, thinking about what I was going to face for the next nine and a half hours, when one simple question started to pinball around upstairs. Should the Bruins even think about tweaking the roster in time for the playoffs? And of course that one simple question nagged at me all night and ended up opening up a slew of other questions that just won’t leave my melon. So now I’m at the point where I have to write about it just to get it out of my head and into yours. Oh, lucky you!
Before we start to tackle the questions (Why is it that there are always questions when it comes to the Bruins? Sorry another question just popped in there for a second.), let’s take a look at just what the Bruins have been doing lately and how they are getting it done during their surge to the top of the East.
The Bruins success can be attributed directly to the fact that they can roll four lines and produce effective puck possession and scoring from each line. The Bruins are the best 5-on-5 team in the league; which allows them the luxury of not having to rely on the power play as their bread and butter. Ranking at #5 the PP isn’t struggling by any means and their PK is holding steady at #8, so special teams for the Bruins are just an added bonus. Coach Julien has his troops committed to the system and the proof is in the pudding (9-1-0 in the last 10 games). Goaltending has been rock solid with both net-minders sporting top 5 spots in both save% and goals against average. Just about every player on the roster is a plus player. What the Bruins bring to the table every night is hard work, discipline, speed, puck possession and firepower topped off with a tough, physical style and that is just too much to handle for opponents.
For the first time in years the Bruins are sitting in the catbird seat and sitting pretty at that. They are so deep at the center position that a player the caliber of Patrice Bergeron sees more time on special teams than anything else and sometimes plays on the wing. Most nights they have a problem getting players like Nokelainen and Sobotka into the lineup. With both goaltenders playing superbly they can afford to let Rask get more playing time in the minors. Injuries, so far, haven’t seemed to hurt the B’s as they haven’t missed a beat since the loss of Ference, Ward and Sturm. In fact with the return of Sturm it poses a question of who do you sit to make room for Sturm? That is a good dilemma to have and the Bruins know it. How many teams would kill to have too much depth?
With all of that said, let’s now get back to the question: Should the Bruins even think about tweaking the roster for the playoffs? My answer is: for the playoffs yes, but for right now “don’t fix what ain’t broken” is the best approach. Even though they took their foot off the pedal in the 2nd half of the game against Tampa Bay, they still managed to win and Julien and the boys know exactly how to correct that “running around” bit they displayed. Right now they are still on top of their game and if I were them I wouldn’t change a thing. That in no way means that I wouldn’t be on the phone to Atlanta to set up a package for Kovalchuk and looking West for another veteran defenseman offering up one or two roster players the likes of Bergeron, Sturm, Kobasew, Nokelainen, Stuart, Hnidy, Ference or Fernandez.
Some Bruins fans may be swearing at me right now for even suggesting that the B’s trade away some of the names I mentioned, but the reality is that the roster is too inexperienced to go far in the playoffs as is. If all you want to accomplish is a first round win, then I guess go with what you have and ride it till it fails. If you want to make a serious run, then you need to go out and get what will put you over the top. The Bruins are so deep that they can afford to move some of the names I mentioned above. It’s only a matter of what you want to call a successful season, a 2nd round loss or the Stanley Cup Finals. Can you picture the impact a player like Kovalchuk would bring? Adding another playoff tested D-man to solidify the backend too risky? What happens if some of these kids hit a wall or wear down? Don’t you think that with a bit of tinkering this team could go the distance?
Did you see what just happened there? Another friggin’ bunch of questions just invaded the space! I guess the questions surrounding the Bruins won’t go away, but at least now the questions are positive which is a sure sign that finally this franchise is on the way back up to the standards it set for itself from the beginning. Maybe I’m just a big softy when it comes to Original Six teams doing well or maybe that’s just me showing my age, either way all the Bruins really need to do is just keep doing what they’ve been doing and be set up and prepared to pull the trigger on deals that will help them in the post-season. There is no need for any of the playoff questions to be answered right now. The Bruins shouldn’t change a thing yet; there is no need to. Right now life is sweet for the B’s, just “let the good times roll” and stay healthy.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
GREGSKY'S EASTERN CONFERENCE NOTEBOOK : NORTHEAST DIVISION
Welcome to Gregsky’s Eastern Conference Notebook. Let’s take a quick look around the Northeast, now that we are creeping up on twenty games into the season, and see what signs are starting to appear that can give us some insight into what to expect for the next twenty games.
Here are a few questions to chew on:
Where have the Senators gone?
The Senators are taking up residence at the bottom of the division instead of their normal perch at the top. This is due to the fact that they lost key cogs on the blue-line over the last couple of seasons and did little to replace them. It’s not like the Sens can’t score or anything, the guys paid to put the puck in the net are doing their jobs just fine. It is the fact that they can’t stop the opposing team from scoring that trip this team up. Not that this fact should in any way excuse Nick Foligno for not working harder on his defensive game (4 points and a –11 is shameful). Just who is the anchor of this defense? Chris Phillips (-8)? Volchenkov (-4)? Jason Smith (-2)? To top it off the Sens are using a quality backup goaltender in Alex Auld as a workhorse when everyone knows that that is a recipe for disaster. Unless this team solves its leaky defense issues their view won’t change much over the course of the next twenty games.
Are we starting to see Buffalo’s true colors (3-5-2 in the last 10)?
The Sabres started the season on fire with Vanek finally living up to his paycheck. The problem for the Sabres is that it takes more than one guy to win consistently (Afinogenov this means you). Miller is doing all he can in the net to steal some games, but even that is not enough. The fast start is keeping them in the race for now, but they need to find consistent secondary scoring if they want to remain in the middle of the pack. If they don’t they will be cursed to be a .500 team over the next twenty games and perhaps loose some real estate in the conference.
Are the Bruins ready to turn the corner?
The Bruins are for real, for now. Just about every player on the roster is a plus player. They are at the crossroads at this very moment and as well as they have started, it remains to be seen if they can sustain their tough style of play. It does appear that Coach Julien has his troops fully committed to the system, which I for one never doubted his ability to do so, but the nasty injury bug usually shows up this time of year to dash the hopes of this surging team. If the “Big, Bad Black and Gold” can stay healthy through this next stretch they will indeed be for real and a real threat to challenge for the conference crown. Both goaltenders have been steady and that is a plus for this team who have worked so hard to solidify their blue-line the last couple of seasons and the payoff is on display this year. Missing Andrew Ference due to his injury is a bit of a problem for the B’s (this means that Mark Stuart has more ice time than you would like him to have and Matt Hunwick has to show that he belongs), I wouldn’t be surprised if they go shopping for another defenseman to help hold the fort. They do have a stockpile of forwards they could use as bait (Sobotka or Nokelainen come to mind since both can’t make the roster at the same time) and don’t forget that they also have Rask in the minors who could make Fernandez expendable to a team struggling at the goalie position. Right now that is a good problem to have over the injury bug and the Bruins are poised to take it to the next level, the next twenty games will be crucial to weather or not they will be able to.
What is stalling the Canadiens push for dominance?
Relax. There is nothing to worry about in Hab Land. The Canadiens had some jump right out of the gate at the start of the season and since have played like a .500 team, but in reality they have kept a nice pace and if it wasn’t for the Bruins’ superb play they would be leading the division. The scorers are scoring, the defense is steady, and goaltending for the most part have kept them in it, so there is no problem with the core of this team. The only area of their game that has been lacking and is the root cause of their recent .500 play, is they have lost the spark on the power play. It is strange to see considering that they had one of the most potent PP units in the league just last year. All in all the Canadiens are in good shape and in a good position so if they focus on getting the power play clicking over the next stretch they will ease all of the fears in Montreal. Just breath people the sky isn’t falling.
Does anyone really think that Burke can save the Maple Leafs?
Brian Burke nor anyone else can save the Leafs this season. This team isn’t rebuilding it’s imploding. The only thing anyone can do with this club now is blow it up and start over. The roster is filled with one-dimensional forwards and too many offensive minded defensemen, which translates to poor play in their own end. Goaltending hasn’t been sharp (it’s not like the team has been out-shot on most nights) and that isn’t helping the situation any. The bottom line is IF they can jump out to an early lead, and a big lead at that, they can hang on long enough to win some games, but with no commitment to defense they won’t win many. The only area they play well is the power play, and for some reason this year they are staying out of the box (good thing because they suck on the PK), so one would think that this would be something to build on, but not this team. Lack of defensive discipline will haunt this team not only over the next twenty games, but the rest of the season if major changes aren’t made to the roster. The front office can only help restructure the team, it’s not like Burke can slap a bucket on his head and help stop the bleeding on the ice. You can blame the front office and the coach, but when all is said and done it is the players that have to execute and this team has failed to execute so far and give no indication that they are even trying to turn it around.
Here are a few questions to chew on:
Where have the Senators gone?
The Senators are taking up residence at the bottom of the division instead of their normal perch at the top. This is due to the fact that they lost key cogs on the blue-line over the last couple of seasons and did little to replace them. It’s not like the Sens can’t score or anything, the guys paid to put the puck in the net are doing their jobs just fine. It is the fact that they can’t stop the opposing team from scoring that trip this team up. Not that this fact should in any way excuse Nick Foligno for not working harder on his defensive game (4 points and a –11 is shameful). Just who is the anchor of this defense? Chris Phillips (-8)? Volchenkov (-4)? Jason Smith (-2)? To top it off the Sens are using a quality backup goaltender in Alex Auld as a workhorse when everyone knows that that is a recipe for disaster. Unless this team solves its leaky defense issues their view won’t change much over the course of the next twenty games.
Are we starting to see Buffalo’s true colors (3-5-2 in the last 10)?
The Sabres started the season on fire with Vanek finally living up to his paycheck. The problem for the Sabres is that it takes more than one guy to win consistently (Afinogenov this means you). Miller is doing all he can in the net to steal some games, but even that is not enough. The fast start is keeping them in the race for now, but they need to find consistent secondary scoring if they want to remain in the middle of the pack. If they don’t they will be cursed to be a .500 team over the next twenty games and perhaps loose some real estate in the conference.
Are the Bruins ready to turn the corner?
The Bruins are for real, for now. Just about every player on the roster is a plus player. They are at the crossroads at this very moment and as well as they have started, it remains to be seen if they can sustain their tough style of play. It does appear that Coach Julien has his troops fully committed to the system, which I for one never doubted his ability to do so, but the nasty injury bug usually shows up this time of year to dash the hopes of this surging team. If the “Big, Bad Black and Gold” can stay healthy through this next stretch they will indeed be for real and a real threat to challenge for the conference crown. Both goaltenders have been steady and that is a plus for this team who have worked so hard to solidify their blue-line the last couple of seasons and the payoff is on display this year. Missing Andrew Ference due to his injury is a bit of a problem for the B’s (this means that Mark Stuart has more ice time than you would like him to have and Matt Hunwick has to show that he belongs), I wouldn’t be surprised if they go shopping for another defenseman to help hold the fort. They do have a stockpile of forwards they could use as bait (Sobotka or Nokelainen come to mind since both can’t make the roster at the same time) and don’t forget that they also have Rask in the minors who could make Fernandez expendable to a team struggling at the goalie position. Right now that is a good problem to have over the injury bug and the Bruins are poised to take it to the next level, the next twenty games will be crucial to weather or not they will be able to.
What is stalling the Canadiens push for dominance?
Relax. There is nothing to worry about in Hab Land. The Canadiens had some jump right out of the gate at the start of the season and since have played like a .500 team, but in reality they have kept a nice pace and if it wasn’t for the Bruins’ superb play they would be leading the division. The scorers are scoring, the defense is steady, and goaltending for the most part have kept them in it, so there is no problem with the core of this team. The only area of their game that has been lacking and is the root cause of their recent .500 play, is they have lost the spark on the power play. It is strange to see considering that they had one of the most potent PP units in the league just last year. All in all the Canadiens are in good shape and in a good position so if they focus on getting the power play clicking over the next stretch they will ease all of the fears in Montreal. Just breath people the sky isn’t falling.
Does anyone really think that Burke can save the Maple Leafs?
Brian Burke nor anyone else can save the Leafs this season. This team isn’t rebuilding it’s imploding. The only thing anyone can do with this club now is blow it up and start over. The roster is filled with one-dimensional forwards and too many offensive minded defensemen, which translates to poor play in their own end. Goaltending hasn’t been sharp (it’s not like the team has been out-shot on most nights) and that isn’t helping the situation any. The bottom line is IF they can jump out to an early lead, and a big lead at that, they can hang on long enough to win some games, but with no commitment to defense they won’t win many. The only area they play well is the power play, and for some reason this year they are staying out of the box (good thing because they suck on the PK), so one would think that this would be something to build on, but not this team. Lack of defensive discipline will haunt this team not only over the next twenty games, but the rest of the season if major changes aren’t made to the roster. The front office can only help restructure the team, it’s not like Burke can slap a bucket on his head and help stop the bleeding on the ice. You can blame the front office and the coach, but when all is said and done it is the players that have to execute and this team has failed to execute so far and give no indication that they are even trying to turn it around.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF HABS HOCKEY: STRENGTH UP THE MIDDLE
One of the many things that have always impressed me about the Montreal Canadiens over the years; is their ability to effectively use strength up the middle in order to let the wings’ fire power do its damage. The center position has always been a key factor in the success of the Habs offensive prowess. Although overall it hasn’t primarily been the centers that garner the most attention, the wings, defense and goaltenders usually get the spotlight when it comes to the most celebrated Canadiens players, there have been some that have won the hearts of fans and media alike. I think over the years the media has been more critical of centers than any other position players, but that just may be a weird coincidence or perception on my part, nonetheless, even though they may have faced more scrutiny they have indeed won the praise of all.
Some of the best centers the Canadiens have ever had did the dirty work, the grinding and back checking that created the turnovers that led to offensive attacks. The ability to move the puck and draw the defense in, then to dish it perfectly to an open winger with the cannon loaded has been a staple for the Habs for decades. They used their strength, speed and skill to make the offense effective and allow the wings to fly. If you couldn’t tell by now, this week’s celebration focuses on my favorite Montreal Canadiens centers over the years.
The following courtesey of Gregsky's Collection. http://aroundtherinkwithgregsky.blogspot.com/2008/07/once-in-lifetime-offer-from-gregsky.html
ELMER LACH
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
664 215 408 623 478 1940-1954 14
JEAN BELIVEAU
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
1125 507 712 1219 1029 1950-1971 20
HENRI RICHARD
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
1259 358 688 1046 928 1955-1975 20
PHIL GOYETTE
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
375 62 120 182 44 1956-1963 7
RALPH BACKSTROM
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
844 215 287 502 348 1956-1971 15
JACQUES LEMAIRE
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
853 366 469 835 217 1967-1979 12
DOUG RISEBROUGH
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
493 117 185 302 959 1974-1982 8
PIERRE MONDOU
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
548 194 262 456 179 1976-1985 9
PIERRE LAROUCHE
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
236 110 126 236 59 1977-1982 5
DOUG JARVIS
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
560 91 154 245 151 1975-1982 7
KEITH ACTON
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
228 78 110 188 229 1979-1984 5
GUY CARBONNEAU
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
912 221 326 547 623 1980-1994 13
RYAN WALTER
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
604 141 208 349 419 1982-1991 9
BOBBY SMITH
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
505 172 310 482 430 1983-1990 7
BRIAN SKRUDLAND
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
475 78 139 217 592 1985-1993 8
KIRK MULLER
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
267 104 143 247 292 1991-199 5
DENIS SAVARD
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
210 72 107 179 215 1990-1993 3
PIERRE TURGEON
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
104 50 77 127 50 1994-1997 3
Some of the best centers the Canadiens have ever had did the dirty work, the grinding and back checking that created the turnovers that led to offensive attacks. The ability to move the puck and draw the defense in, then to dish it perfectly to an open winger with the cannon loaded has been a staple for the Habs for decades. They used their strength, speed and skill to make the offense effective and allow the wings to fly. If you couldn’t tell by now, this week’s celebration focuses on my favorite Montreal Canadiens centers over the years.
The following courtesey of Gregsky's Collection. http://aroundtherinkwithgregsky.blogspot.com/2008/07/once-in-lifetime-offer-from-gregsky.html
ELMER LACH
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
664 215 408 623 478 1940-1954 14
JEAN BELIVEAU
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
1125 507 712 1219 1029 1950-1971 20
HENRI RICHARD
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
1259 358 688 1046 928 1955-1975 20
PHIL GOYETTE
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
375 62 120 182 44 1956-1963 7
RALPH BACKSTROM
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
844 215 287 502 348 1956-1971 15
JACQUES LEMAIRE
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
853 366 469 835 217 1967-1979 12
DOUG RISEBROUGH
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
493 117 185 302 959 1974-1982 8
PIERRE MONDOU
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
548 194 262 456 179 1976-1985 9
PIERRE LAROUCHE
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
236 110 126 236 59 1977-1982 5
DOUG JARVIS
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
560 91 154 245 151 1975-1982 7
KEITH ACTON
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
228 78 110 188 229 1979-1984 5
GUY CARBONNEAU
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
912 221 326 547 623 1980-1994 13
RYAN WALTER
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
604 141 208 349 419 1982-1991 9
BOBBY SMITH
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
505 172 310 482 430 1983-1990 7
BRIAN SKRUDLAND
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
475 78 139 217 592 1985-1993 8
KIRK MULLER
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
267 104 143 247 292 1991-199 5
DENIS SAVARD
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
210 72 107 179 215 1990-1993 3
PIERRE TURGEON
GP G A PTS PIM SEASONS YRS
104 50 77 127 50 1994-1997 3
Friday, October 17, 2008
50 KIDS TO WATCH THIS YEAR NOT NAMED CROSBY, OVECHKIN AND MALKIN
The NHL is in full swing and right away the league’s youth movement is making its presence felt in a big way. The game is getting younger and faster and the kids are recharging a product that desperately needed a shot of adrenaline to the heart. I do hope that the league takes notice of the fact that there are some amazing kids playing today and contributing early and often. This is the perfect time to start promoting these kids to help carry the flag and put the NHL back on the tongues of sports fans and the media. There is a ton to get excited about in these kids and the league’s future looks bright with them on board, so I can’t help but feel like the league should tap into its youth movement and package it as a must see product. Look beyond Crosby, Ovechkin and Malkin and see what today’s youth has to offer. So far it looks damn good.
Only problem is this is the NHL I’m talking about and the league has a history of “missing the boat” when it comes to opportunity to promote itself. So, with that said, I’m going to give you a list of 50 kids (in order of age) to watch this year NOT named Crosby, Ovechkin and Malkin, because I'm not sure the league will.
50. Steven Stamkos – Tampa Bay Lightning – 18
49. Colton Gillies – Minnesota Wild – 19
48. Jakub Voracek – Columbus Blue Jackets – 19
47. Brandon Sutter – Carolina Hurricanes – 19
46. Kyle Turris – Phoenix Coyotes – 19
45. Patrick Kane – Chicago Blackhawks – 19
44. Mikkel Boedker – Phoenix Coyotes – 19
43. Kyle Okposo – New York Islanders – 20
42. Bryan Little – Atlanta Thrashers – 20
41. Milan Lucic – Boston Bruins – 20
40. Wayne Simmonds – Los Angeles Kings – 20
39. David Perron – St. Louis Blues – 20
38. Peter Mueller – Phoenix Coyotes – 20
37. Patrik Berglund – St. Louis Blues – 20
36. Nicklas Backstrom – Washington Capitals – 20
35. Jordan Staal – Pittsburgh Penguins – 20
34. Jonathon Towes – Chicago Blackhawks – 20
33. Viktor Tikhonov – Phoenix Coyotes – 20
32. Phil Kessel – Boston Bruins – 21
31. Devin Setoguchi – San Jose Sharks – 21
30. Sergei Kostitsyn – Montreal Canadiens – 21
29. Anze Kopitar – Los Angeles Kings – 21
28. Guillaume Latendresse – Montreal Canadiens - 21
27. Marc-Edouard Vlasic – San Jose Sharks – 21
26. Vladimir Sobotka – Boston Bruins – 21
25. Carey Price – Montreal Canadiens – 21
24. Derick Brassard – Columbus Blue Jackets – 21
23. Tyler Kennedy – Pittsburgh Penguins – 22
22. Wojtek Wolski – Colorado Avalanche – 22
21. Brandon Dubinsky – New York Rangers – 22
20. Kris Versteeg – Chicago Blackhawks – 22
19. Paul Stastny – Colorado Avalanche – 22
18. David Krejci – Boston Bruins – 22
17. Patrick Kaleta – Buffalo Sabres – 22
16. Blake Wheeler – Boston Bruins – 22
15. Lucas Kaspar – San Jose Sharks – 23
14. Kyle Quincey – Los Angeles Kings – 23
13. Steve Bernier – Vancouver Canucks – 23
12. Ryan Suter – Nashville Predators – 23
11. Mike Richards – Philadelphia Flyers – 23
10. Milan Michalek – San Jose Sharks – 23
9. Fabian Brunnstrom – Dallas Stars – 23
8. Jeff Carter – Philadelphia Flyers – 23
7. Mike Green – Washington Capitals – 23
6. Robert Nilsson – Edmonton Oilers – 23
5. Patrick O’Sullivan – Los Angeles Kings – 23
4. Shea Weber – Nashville Predators – 23
3. David Booth – Florida Panthers – 23
2. Andrei Kostitsyn – Montreal Canadiens – 23
1. Dion Phaneuf – Calgary Flames - 23
Only problem is this is the NHL I’m talking about and the league has a history of “missing the boat” when it comes to opportunity to promote itself. So, with that said, I’m going to give you a list of 50 kids (in order of age) to watch this year NOT named Crosby, Ovechkin and Malkin, because I'm not sure the league will.
50. Steven Stamkos – Tampa Bay Lightning – 18
49. Colton Gillies – Minnesota Wild – 19
48. Jakub Voracek – Columbus Blue Jackets – 19
47. Brandon Sutter – Carolina Hurricanes – 19
46. Kyle Turris – Phoenix Coyotes – 19
45. Patrick Kane – Chicago Blackhawks – 19
44. Mikkel Boedker – Phoenix Coyotes – 19
43. Kyle Okposo – New York Islanders – 20
42. Bryan Little – Atlanta Thrashers – 20
41. Milan Lucic – Boston Bruins – 20
40. Wayne Simmonds – Los Angeles Kings – 20
39. David Perron – St. Louis Blues – 20
38. Peter Mueller – Phoenix Coyotes – 20
37. Patrik Berglund – St. Louis Blues – 20
36. Nicklas Backstrom – Washington Capitals – 20
35. Jordan Staal – Pittsburgh Penguins – 20
34. Jonathon Towes – Chicago Blackhawks – 20
33. Viktor Tikhonov – Phoenix Coyotes – 20
32. Phil Kessel – Boston Bruins – 21
31. Devin Setoguchi – San Jose Sharks – 21
30. Sergei Kostitsyn – Montreal Canadiens – 21
29. Anze Kopitar – Los Angeles Kings – 21
28. Guillaume Latendresse – Montreal Canadiens - 21
27. Marc-Edouard Vlasic – San Jose Sharks – 21
26. Vladimir Sobotka – Boston Bruins – 21
25. Carey Price – Montreal Canadiens – 21
24. Derick Brassard – Columbus Blue Jackets – 21
23. Tyler Kennedy – Pittsburgh Penguins – 22
22. Wojtek Wolski – Colorado Avalanche – 22
21. Brandon Dubinsky – New York Rangers – 22
20. Kris Versteeg – Chicago Blackhawks – 22
19. Paul Stastny – Colorado Avalanche – 22
18. David Krejci – Boston Bruins – 22
17. Patrick Kaleta – Buffalo Sabres – 22
16. Blake Wheeler – Boston Bruins – 22
15. Lucas Kaspar – San Jose Sharks – 23
14. Kyle Quincey – Los Angeles Kings – 23
13. Steve Bernier – Vancouver Canucks – 23
12. Ryan Suter – Nashville Predators – 23
11. Mike Richards – Philadelphia Flyers – 23
10. Milan Michalek – San Jose Sharks – 23
9. Fabian Brunnstrom – Dallas Stars – 23
8. Jeff Carter – Philadelphia Flyers – 23
7. Mike Green – Washington Capitals – 23
6. Robert Nilsson – Edmonton Oilers – 23
5. Patrick O’Sullivan – Los Angeles Kings – 23
4. Shea Weber – Nashville Predators – 23
3. David Booth – Florida Panthers – 23
2. Andrei Kostitsyn – Montreal Canadiens – 23
1. Dion Phaneuf – Calgary Flames - 23
Friday, October 10, 2008
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF HABS HOCKEY: HEROES HANG FROM THE RAFTERS
They are revered in our hearts. Their spirit fills the air. There is honor in their in their legacy. There is glory in their achievements. They are heroes who hang from the rafters.
Just one look upward in the house of Habs tells the story. The championship banners, conference and divisional banners and the retired numbers looming overhead is an awesome sight to behold regardless if you are taking the ice or taking a seat. It holds a presence unmatched by any other arena in the world; all you have to do is look up.
In honor of the Montreal Canadiens and the heroes that hang from the rafters, A.T.R. presents the following pictorial tribute to the retired (and soon to be) numbers of the greatest team in all of sport. All photos courtesey of Gregsky's Collection. http://aroundtherinkwithgregsky.blogspot.com/2008/07/once-in-lifetime-offer-from-gregsky.html
JACQUES PLANTE
DOUG HARVEY
JEAN BELIVEAU
BERNIE GEOFFRION
HOWIE MORENZ
MAURICE RICHARD
GUY LAFLEUR
DICKIE MOORE
YVAN COURNOYER
HENRI RICHARD
SERGE SAVARD
LARRY ROBINSON
BOB GAINEY
KEN DRYDEN
PATRICK ROY
Just one look upward in the house of Habs tells the story. The championship banners, conference and divisional banners and the retired numbers looming overhead is an awesome sight to behold regardless if you are taking the ice or taking a seat. It holds a presence unmatched by any other arena in the world; all you have to do is look up.
In honor of the Montreal Canadiens and the heroes that hang from the rafters, A.T.R. presents the following pictorial tribute to the retired (and soon to be) numbers of the greatest team in all of sport. All photos courtesey of Gregsky's Collection. http://aroundtherinkwithgregsky.blogspot.com/2008/07/once-in-lifetime-offer-from-gregsky.html
JACQUES PLANTE
DOUG HARVEY
JEAN BELIVEAU
BERNIE GEOFFRION
HOWIE MORENZ
MAURICE RICHARD
GUY LAFLEUR
DICKIE MOORE
YVAN COURNOYER
HENRI RICHARD
SERGE SAVARD
LARRY ROBINSON
BOB GAINEY
KEN DRYDEN
PATRICK ROY
Monday, October 6, 2008
JUST IN CASE YOU WERE BUSY WATCHING FOOTBALL
Hey gang, I know you watched the opening of the NHL regular season on Sunday, right? You did watch hockey on Sunday, didn’t you? Please tell me you were at least aware that the NHL opened its season this weekend in Europe and Verses was showing two games on Sunday. You were aware, right? Right? (Whew!) For a minute there I thought you were going to tell me that you were too busy watching football all weekend to notice that hockey had started or something equally as ridiculous as that. Okay people, you have to stop scaring me like that or I’m going to start thinking that you’re not paying attention.
Just in case you missed it, here are a few things that I noticed. (Because I was watching)
The games this weekend left me wishing that they showed a bit more of Prague and Stockholm.
Three out of the four teams that played escaped from Europe with points.
Tampa Bay gave up twice as many goals than they scored, no surprise to me, but Melrose might want to focus attention there.
Marty St. Louis’ backhand goal was a thing of beauty!
Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley look sharp, not sold yet about the rest of the team.
This could be a year where Malkin absolutely dominates, IF, he drives to the net like he did on his first goal.
Markus Naslund looks too comfortable with the Rangers, he could easily net 30+ this year if he can stay healthy.
Jaromir who?
Alex Auld continues to be one of the better backup goaltenders in the league.
Brandon Dubinsky is New York’s best-kept secret. Not bad for a big Alaskan boy, there should be more press on this kid.
And finally… BRIAN ENGBLOM NO LONGER LOOKS LIKE HE IS WEARING A MUSKRAT PELT ON HIS MELLON!!! Looking sharp Brian, it’s about time you made the adjustment. Now maybe we can start taking you seriously!
Just in case you missed it, here are a few things that I noticed. (Because I was watching)
The games this weekend left me wishing that they showed a bit more of Prague and Stockholm.
Three out of the four teams that played escaped from Europe with points.
Tampa Bay gave up twice as many goals than they scored, no surprise to me, but Melrose might want to focus attention there.
Marty St. Louis’ backhand goal was a thing of beauty!
Jason Spezza and Dany Heatley look sharp, not sold yet about the rest of the team.
This could be a year where Malkin absolutely dominates, IF, he drives to the net like he did on his first goal.
Markus Naslund looks too comfortable with the Rangers, he could easily net 30+ this year if he can stay healthy.
Jaromir who?
Alex Auld continues to be one of the better backup goaltenders in the league.
Brandon Dubinsky is New York’s best-kept secret. Not bad for a big Alaskan boy, there should be more press on this kid.
And finally… BRIAN ENGBLOM NO LONGER LOOKS LIKE HE IS WEARING A MUSKRAT PELT ON HIS MELLON!!! Looking sharp Brian, it’s about time you made the adjustment. Now maybe we can start taking you seriously!
Monday, September 29, 2008
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF HABS HOCKEY: GRANDPA'S STORIES OF YESTERYEAR
If you are of a “certain age”, then you grew up hearing about the early days of the Montreal Canadiens. For most though, the stories of yesteryear have long faded and have been sadly relegated to the works of historians, who mind you, do an absolutely fantastic job researching the past in order to preserve it for the future, but it’s the stories handed down from generat
ion to generation that seem to get lost. Most people my age and younger never had the stories of old told to them due to the tragic misfortune of growing up in a much busier society where our elders have been cast aside and ignored instead of revered as wise, experienced and worth listening to.
Lucky for me, I was born in a small farming community where growing up you had nothing but time. Time to simply enjoy life, the outdoors and the friends and family that made up your existence. I grew up learning to respect my elders and learning from them. When I say I was lucky, it’s not just because of where I was born, rather it’s because whom I was born around. No, we’ve never had anyone rich or famous in our clan, we are a hard working simple family that just happens to be crazy about sports. It all started with my grandfather, who as a kid was very athletic and played minor league baseball, his passion for sports his whole life was only overshadowed by the caring and strength he possessed when it came to molding his family. As a son of one of seven brothers who came to this country in 1900, my grandfather was part of the first generation of our family to grow up American. Coming from humble beginnings he developed a strong work ethic and an uncanny passion for all things sports related. Using the word “addicted” seems merely to scratch the surface when describing his love of sports. You have to understand we’re talking about a man who knew everything there was to know about the four major sports. Since the age of ten he saved every sports page, magazine, program, media guide, etc. just to back up his word incase anyone dared to dispute his knowledge. You only needed to challenge him once to find out you NEVER EVER want to make a mistake of that magnitude again. This man would have made ESPN’s resident trivia guru Howie Schwab look like a dumb-assed huckleberry who done “gra-G-a-tid from the sixth grade”. He loved to talk about game strategies and the inner complexities of game plans, sometimes on a level way over my head so I did a lot of listening and a little head nodding as if I truly understood. It is because of him, that this common trait that my father, uncle, brother, my son, and myself all have for sports even exists. Yes, I was lucky to have been born around this man. I was lucky that he cared enough to make sure that I knew about the heroes of his time and their glories and the games that they played.
The stories I grew up listening to were fascinating, and since I spent an enormous amount of time as a child with my grandfather, I had little choice but to hear them again and again. My favorites, of course, were the stories of hockey, the early years of the NHL (and before there was an NHL) and the fervor in which those men played a simple kids game with such skill and grace mixed with just the right amount of brutal force. Sometimes I would close my eyes while listening to him talk about Joe Malone, “Newsy” Lalonde, Cy Denneny, “Cully” Wilson, Howie Morenz, “King” Clancy, Lionel Hitchman and Eddie Shore and it would take me to a place of roaring fans hovering just above the ice surface all clamoring and waiving their hats in the air charged up in a deafening mix of joy, frustration and excitement.
I remember him talk about some players with a tone to his voice that just drew you in. You couldn’t help but to cling onto every word. One such name that always stuck with me was Sprague Cleghorn. Whenever my grandfather mentioned his name it was always accompanied with “one of the nastiest players to have ever play the game” as if this was a title given to him at birth. The stories involving Cleghorn I remember to have been filled with vicious hits (mostly leaning on the dirty side) and a sheer will to drive the puck end to end and slam it into the back of the net with a vengeance. He spoke of the 1921-22 season, the year that Cleghorn was reunited with his brother Odie in Montreal, in a trade that sent Harry Mummery and Amos Arbour to the Hamilton Tigers. According to my grandfather, “that trade changed the face of the team” it not only gave the Canadiens a whole new look, but was among one of the first ever multi-player trades to take place which in turn changed the face of the league. Cleghorn went on a rampage that year punishing opponents on both sides of the ice. Sprague led the league in penalty minutes and along with brother Odie led the Canadiens in scoring. He and his brother scored four goals each in one game to lead the Habs to a win over Hamilton. “He played that season as if he was on fire”, my grandfather would say. This conjured up images in my mind of him barreling down cross-ice and laying out an opponent at the top of the circle by any means necessary. The way my grandfather described the force in which Cleghorn played, was intense. It was as if he had no choice but to grit his teeth and squint his eyes to make the nastiest face he could when he said his name just in order to capture the rage Cleghorn displayed on the ice. I remember one time as a child sitting at his kitchen table listening to him talk of Cleghorn and him taking vicious revenge against a few of his former team-mates in Ottawa, my father chirped in “Pops, stop filling the kid’s head full of stories about goons, tell him about some of the greats.” “He wasn’t just a goon! He gave the Canadiens grit and determination. He was one of the greatest skaters the game had ever seen”, my grandfather snipped back taking exception to my dad’s comment. I just sat there with my eyes darting back and forth wondering if things would escalate. “Whatever, Pops” my father sarcastically retorted to avoid an argument, much to my relief. It was times like that, that made me listen intently to my grandfather spin the tales of the early years and the players like Sprague Cleghorn. He had a lot to tell and I was just the right sponge to absorb it.
Sprague Cleghorn’s statistics while a member of the Montreal Canadiens may not go down in history among the greats this team has seen, and some may just remember his antics, but his impact still ripples throughout the franchise as well as the league today. He is just one of many impact players over the years to have pulled a Canadiens sweater over his head, part of a special team at a special time in history. His time with the Habs bore historic fruit in the first Stanley Cup for the team as members of the NHL in 1924. One thing is certain, the Montreal native left it all on the ice each time he played and he left fans with memories to share and stories to tell.
ion to generation that seem to get lost. Most people my age and younger never had the stories of old told to them due to the tragic misfortune of growing up in a much busier society where our elders have been cast aside and ignored instead of revered as wise, experienced and worth listening to.Lucky for me, I was born in a small farming community where growing up you had nothing but time. Time to simply enjoy life, the outdoors and the friends and family that made up your existence. I grew up learning to respect my elders and learning from them. When I say I was lucky, it’s not just because of where I was born, rather it’s because whom I was born around. No, we’ve never had anyone rich or famous in our clan, we are a hard working simple family that just happens to be crazy about sports. It all started with my grandfather, who as a kid was very athletic and played minor league baseball, his passion for sports his whole life was only overshadowed by the caring and strength he possessed when it came to molding his family. As a son of one of seven brothers who came to this country in 1900, my grandfather was part of the first generation of our family to grow up American. Coming from humble beginnings he developed a strong work ethic and an uncanny passion for all things sports related. Using the word “addicted” seems merely to scratch the surface when describing his love of sports. You have to understand we’re talking about a man who knew everything there was to know about the four major sports. Since the age of ten he saved every sports page, magazine, program, media guide, etc. just to back up his word incase anyone dared to dispute his knowledge. You only needed to challenge him once to find out you NEVER EVER want to make a mistake of that magnitude again. This man would have made ESPN’s resident trivia guru Howie Schwab look like a dumb-assed huckleberry who done “gra-G-a-tid from the sixth grade”. He loved to talk about game strategies and the inner complexities of game plans, sometimes on a level way over my head so I did a lot of listening and a little head nodding as if I truly understood. It is because of him, that this common trait that my father, uncle, brother, my son, and myself all have for sports even exists. Yes, I was lucky to have been born around this man. I was lucky that he cared enough to make sure that I knew about the heroes of his time and their glories and the games that they played.
The stories I grew up listening to were fascinating, and since I spent an enormous amount of time as a child with my grandfather, I had little choice but to hear them again and again. My favorites, of course, were the stories of hockey, the early years of the NHL (and before there was an NHL) and the fervor in which those men played a simple kids game with such skill and grace mixed with just the right amount of brutal force. Sometimes I would close my eyes while listening to him talk about Joe Malone, “Newsy” Lalonde, Cy Denneny, “Cully” Wilson, Howie Morenz, “King” Clancy, Lionel Hitchman and Eddie Shore and it would take me to a place of roaring fans hovering just above the ice surface all clamoring and waiving their hats in the air charged up in a deafening mix of joy, frustration and excitement.
I remember him talk about some players with a tone to his voice that just drew you in. You couldn’t help but to cling onto every word. One such name that always stuck with me was Sprague Cleghorn. Whenever my grandfather mentioned his name it was always accompanied with “one of the nastiest players to have ever play the game” as if this was a title given to him at birth. The stories involving Cleghorn I remember to have been filled with vicious hits (mostly leaning on the dirty side) and a sheer will to drive the puck end to end and slam it into the back of the net with a vengeance. He spoke of the 1921-22 season, the year that Cleghorn was reunited with his brother Odie in Montreal, in a trade that sent Harry Mummery and Amos Arbour to the Hamilton Tigers. According to my grandfather, “that trade changed the face of the team” it not only gave the Canadiens a whole new look, but was among one of the first ever multi-player trades to take place which in turn changed the face of the league. Cleghorn went on a rampage that year punishing opponents on both sides of the ice. Sprague led the league in penalty minutes and along with brother Odie led the Canadiens in scoring. He and his brother scored four goals each in one game to lead the Habs to a win over Hamilton. “He played that season as if he was on fire”, my grandfather would say. This conjured up images in my mind of him barreling down cross-ice and laying out an opponent at the top of the circle by any means necessary. The way my grandfather described the force in which Cleghorn played, was intense. It was as if he had no choice but to grit his teeth and squint his eyes to make the nastiest face he could when he said his name just in order to capture the rage Cleghorn displayed on the ice. I remember one time as a child sitting at his kitchen table listening to him talk of Cleghorn and him taking vicious revenge against a few of his former team-mates in Ottawa, my father chirped in “Pops, stop filling the kid’s head full of stories about goons, tell him about some of the greats.” “He wasn’t just a goon! He gave the Canadiens grit and determination. He was one of the greatest skaters the game had ever seen”, my grandfather snipped back taking exception to my dad’s comment. I just sat there with my eyes darting back and forth wondering if things would escalate. “Whatever, Pops” my father sarcastically retorted to avoid an argument, much to my relief. It was times like that, that made me listen intently to my grandfather spin the tales of the early years and the players like Sprague Cleghorn. He had a lot to tell and I was just the right sponge to absorb it.
Sprague Cleghorn’s statistics while a member of the Montreal Canadiens may not go down in history among the greats this team has seen, and some may just remember his antics, but his impact still ripples throughout the franchise as well as the league today. He is just one of many impact players over the years to have pulled a Canadiens sweater over his head, part of a special team at a special time in history. His time with the Habs bore historic fruit in the first Stanley Cup for the team as members of the NHL in 1924. One thing is certain, the Montreal native left it all on the ice each time he played and he left fans with memories to share and stories to tell.
I like to believe that somewhere out there a young boy is listening to his grandfather tell the stories that were told to him about the early days of the Canadiens and special players like Cleghorn, it helps me believe the world is a better place. My grandfather left us 20 years ago, but his stories still live on inside each member of my family. I hope that it is not too late for you to talk to yours. At least I know that there will be one future grandfather who will pass the stories down, thank you grandpa.
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