I quickly realize there is no way I can possibly keep up with all the player movement that continues to go on as hockey begins the transition to the off-season before the puck drops again in September.
Here are some brief news updates:
- When Sochi became host to the Olympics the new arenas were set to house a new professional KHL hockey team. That team, the Leopards, begin play next season. They already plucked two AHL players with NHL experience away. Cory Emmerton who played most of the season with Grand Rapids and two seasons with Detroit is headed over. Mark Olver played parts of the last five seasons with Lake Erie also factoring in 74 NHL games with Colorado will join Emmerton. This comes after Sochi picked up former NHL goalie Michael Leighton who played very well for Donbass this past year.
- For some reason I was always a Joakim Lindstrom fan when he started playing in the AHL in 2005-06. He spent three seasons in Syracuse (remember all entry level contracts are for three years) and also played over 30 games for Columbus. He spent the majority of the next season in the NHL with Phoenix getting in 44 games with 20 points. Then he left. After two seasons in Europe and to my surprise he signed with Colorado. He lasted 16 games before returning to Sweden spending that season and two more with his hometown team. Well guess what. He is coming back again. Now at 30 he signed with St. Louis. Not a bad place to sign.
- Unfortunate news from earlier this afternoon when Oshawa (OHL) announced that Eric Wellwood would become assistant coach. Good that he landed a coaching job but not what the plan was at 24. Wellwood was the player who nearly bled to death after his own skate cut four tendons and an artery in the back of his leg when he fell into the boards while playing with the Phantoms (AHL) last season. He missed the entire season this year. The injury which has been said by many to be one of the worst they have ever seen did enough damage for Wellwood to call it a career. It's not too surprising. As often as I like to call the Flyers out for bad moves they should also be mentioned for good moves. After the injury last season knowing full well recovery was going to be long and difficult the Flyers resigned Wellwood who was a free agent to a new contract for this season. Even though he never got to play again he still got paid during his time of recovery.
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Priceless/Vegas
If I name this the neutral zone I guess I should comment about the hot issues going on in the game. I didn't see the Montreal game Saturday or any highlights. I was only made aware of the Price injury when news broke that he was out for the series. Soon after I saw that Chris Kreider's name started floating around. Was it intentional or an accident? By that night I had finally seen the video.
I love these plays. If you root for New York it was a hockey play. If you are a Montreal fan it was intentional. Chris Kreider is the only person who knows. We can all guess. My initial reaction when I first heard Kreider ran into Price was that it was on purpose. Kreider, as his career continues, is starting to get that reputation of being a bit reckless. I'm usually surprised more players don't target opponents better players. What's the worst that can happen? You get suspended a game or two while the other team loses a star for the rest of the playoffs? It's why the NHL never discloses injuries yet we should act surprised when something like this happens. New York's chances of making it to the next round/Stanley Cup Finals increased immensely after this play regardless of if it was intentional or not. Even if it was, Price isn't coming back.
To the actual play. Kreider makes a good move to chip the puck past the defenseman then skates hard to get to it first. The back checking Montreal player makes slight contact with Kreider right in front of Price. Kreider falls and goes feet first into Price. There are so many variables in the play that I'm not sure anybody can make a correct assumption. Because of this I think Kreider used it to his advantage. There was contact from behind so that could have caused him to stumble. He did have a ton of speed coming head on at net. He might have tried stopping and lost an edge. I've also seen very few players fall feet first into a goalie. Most players when falling also slide to the outside of the goal.
This play happened so fast I find it hard to believe Kreider had time to think about it. I do believe he made up his mind he would crash the net and whatever happened happened. That's where I leave it. If you want to call that intentional then you can.
____________________________________________________________________
Minor league hockey is a fickle beast. San Francisco folded in the middle of the ECHL season. That's bizarre. Doors close and the season is over in one simple announcement. Now Las Vegas finds themselves on the outside. They announced today that they would not be playing next season. The reason was simple. They don't have a place to play. Their lease was not renewed by the current facility, and they couldn't find another place. Las Vegas has been playing since 2003 so it's not like they are new to hockey. According to the team they will be back for 2015-2016. Unfortunate for fans but at least a positive note that they do plan on coming back. All the players become free agents. I'm am Adam Huxley fan. If he stays in the ECHL my guess is he stays on the west coast.
My real question is what do they plan on doing for the playoffs. When San Francisco folded it left 8 teams in the west. Every team made the playoffs. Now they lose another. So I assume every team makes it again except they don't even have enough teams to fill the spots. The only new team coming in next season will play in Indiana so I'm guessing they don't move to the west.
I love these plays. If you root for New York it was a hockey play. If you are a Montreal fan it was intentional. Chris Kreider is the only person who knows. We can all guess. My initial reaction when I first heard Kreider ran into Price was that it was on purpose. Kreider, as his career continues, is starting to get that reputation of being a bit reckless. I'm usually surprised more players don't target opponents better players. What's the worst that can happen? You get suspended a game or two while the other team loses a star for the rest of the playoffs? It's why the NHL never discloses injuries yet we should act surprised when something like this happens. New York's chances of making it to the next round/Stanley Cup Finals increased immensely after this play regardless of if it was intentional or not. Even if it was, Price isn't coming back.
To the actual play. Kreider makes a good move to chip the puck past the defenseman then skates hard to get to it first. The back checking Montreal player makes slight contact with Kreider right in front of Price. Kreider falls and goes feet first into Price. There are so many variables in the play that I'm not sure anybody can make a correct assumption. Because of this I think Kreider used it to his advantage. There was contact from behind so that could have caused him to stumble. He did have a ton of speed coming head on at net. He might have tried stopping and lost an edge. I've also seen very few players fall feet first into a goalie. Most players when falling also slide to the outside of the goal.
This play happened so fast I find it hard to believe Kreider had time to think about it. I do believe he made up his mind he would crash the net and whatever happened happened. That's where I leave it. If you want to call that intentional then you can.
____________________________________________________________________
Minor league hockey is a fickle beast. San Francisco folded in the middle of the ECHL season. That's bizarre. Doors close and the season is over in one simple announcement. Now Las Vegas finds themselves on the outside. They announced today that they would not be playing next season. The reason was simple. They don't have a place to play. Their lease was not renewed by the current facility, and they couldn't find another place. Las Vegas has been playing since 2003 so it's not like they are new to hockey. According to the team they will be back for 2015-2016. Unfortunate for fans but at least a positive note that they do plan on coming back. All the players become free agents. I'm am Adam Huxley fan. If he stays in the ECHL my guess is he stays on the west coast.
My real question is what do they plan on doing for the playoffs. When San Francisco folded it left 8 teams in the west. Every team made the playoffs. Now they lose another. So I assume every team makes it again except they don't even have enough teams to fill the spots. The only new team coming in next season will play in Indiana so I'm guessing they don't move to the west.
Monday, May 19, 2014
Val Wins
Already too far behind to get too deep into the QMJHL champions. Val-d'Or takes it this year behind the play of Anthony Mantha.
REGULAR SEASON
PLAYOFFS
When you look at this team all you really have to notice is Anthony Mantha. Not saying somebody else on this team couldn't emerge as an NHL player, but Mantha is already a highly rated prospect. Detroit once again makes a steal at the 20th overall pick.
He has the height at 6'5 to fit in nicely on a Detroit team built around speed and skill. If he adds a little weight he could be a great presence up front to go along with the European type forward. Of course Detroit is well known for letting players develop so he is certainly looking at a stay in the AHL. His play will determine how quickly he moves up. With the way Detroit does things he seems likely to be in the AHL for at least a full season. I also highly doubt he can keep the same scoring pace.
57 regular season games - 57 goals
24 playoff games - 24 goals
52 penalty minutes in the playoffs isn't too bad either. If he can keep up that physical presence he could be a fun player to watch in the future.
REGULAR SEASON
PLAYOFFS
When you look at this team all you really have to notice is Anthony Mantha. Not saying somebody else on this team couldn't emerge as an NHL player, but Mantha is already a highly rated prospect. Detroit once again makes a steal at the 20th overall pick.
He has the height at 6'5 to fit in nicely on a Detroit team built around speed and skill. If he adds a little weight he could be a great presence up front to go along with the European type forward. Of course Detroit is well known for letting players develop so he is certainly looking at a stay in the AHL. His play will determine how quickly he moves up. With the way Detroit does things he seems likely to be in the AHL for at least a full season. I also highly doubt he can keep the same scoring pace.
57 regular season games - 57 goals
24 playoff games - 24 goals
52 penalty minutes in the playoffs isn't too bad either. If he can keep up that physical presence he could be a fun player to watch in the future.
Friday, May 16, 2014
First of Many
Changes come quickly in the world of hockey. The playoffs are still underway and the first NHL player movements are already taking place. Teams are looking ahead to the draft and free agency. Players are looking at their options for next season and in order to secure a roster spot in Europe many players make the move quickly in order to begin training and become accustom to new surroundings.
The San Jose Sharks first round elimination put them high on the list of teams needing a change. It seems every season in recent memory finds the Sharks with one of the best regular season point totals only to be ousted in the playoffs before reaching the finals. Today began the start of some spring cleaning.
Dan Boyle played his final game with San Jose. Boyle was a key member of the Sharks defense and most notably known for his offense with three straight 50 points seasons to begin his San Jose career. Before that he played a big part of the success of Tampa Bay and their cup winning season of 2003-04. Boyle will become a free agent this summer and turn 38. I can't see him retiring without at least playing one more season as long as the right team is interested. This is where you could insert a Flyers joke. Not now with Ronald Hextall at the helm. I think he gets a deal around 4.5 for one season on a team with a serious chance of winning the cup.
Martin Havlat is the next to go. The big difference is he still has a contract worth way more than he is worth. It's hard to believe Havlat can return to his former self. Since being acquired Havlat has had little success with San Jose. Not only has he missed significant time but his scoring has practically disappeared. Buying out his 5 million dollar deal is the only way out for San Jose. There is no way a team will give him substantial money even at 33 years old. It's going to come down to what Havlat wants to do. He could probably fit in on certain teams at a deep discount like Los Angeles. Otherwise I peg him to look into finding work in Europe.
That will segue us into the next move. We now have our first NHL player moving to Europe. There will be plenty more especially from the minor leagues. Erik Gustafsson has left Philadelphia for the KHL. Think this move comes down to playing time. Gustafsson was a restricted free agent, one that I'd believe Philadelphia wanted to bring back. The problem from the player standpoint is in three seasons he was more often a healthy scratch than in the lineup. That's not a great spot to be in when you want to play. If he does well in Europe there is always the chance an NHL team signs him as a regular in the future.
_______________________________________________________________________
Hadn't planned on it but since we are talking change, the Pittsburgh Penguins are set to announce in about an hour that head coach Dan Bylsma and GM Ray Shero will be fired. When you have a guy like Crosby and Malkin on a team there are no excuses for not winning. Maybe blame can be placed on both but the team as a whole needs to improve. That's the job of a GM. The coach can only work with what he had, and Bylsma got 51 wins out of a team with a lot of injuries and a shaky goalie.
NOON UPDATES VIA TWITTER:
Bob McKenzie was the guy to report Bylsma being fired this morning. He is very reputable. He was also not correct this time. Shero was fired. Bylsma was not. Yet
Always takes a little time for North America to catch up to European news. I'm not surprised if he didn't tell the Flyers. He didn't have to but contractually it would have made sense to potentially create a bidding scenario.
The San Jose Sharks first round elimination put them high on the list of teams needing a change. It seems every season in recent memory finds the Sharks with one of the best regular season point totals only to be ousted in the playoffs before reaching the finals. Today began the start of some spring cleaning.
Dan Boyle played his final game with San Jose. Boyle was a key member of the Sharks defense and most notably known for his offense with three straight 50 points seasons to begin his San Jose career. Before that he played a big part of the success of Tampa Bay and their cup winning season of 2003-04. Boyle will become a free agent this summer and turn 38. I can't see him retiring without at least playing one more season as long as the right team is interested. This is where you could insert a Flyers joke. Not now with Ronald Hextall at the helm. I think he gets a deal around 4.5 for one season on a team with a serious chance of winning the cup.
Martin Havlat is the next to go. The big difference is he still has a contract worth way more than he is worth. It's hard to believe Havlat can return to his former self. Since being acquired Havlat has had little success with San Jose. Not only has he missed significant time but his scoring has practically disappeared. Buying out his 5 million dollar deal is the only way out for San Jose. There is no way a team will give him substantial money even at 33 years old. It's going to come down to what Havlat wants to do. He could probably fit in on certain teams at a deep discount like Los Angeles. Otherwise I peg him to look into finding work in Europe.
That will segue us into the next move. We now have our first NHL player moving to Europe. There will be plenty more especially from the minor leagues. Erik Gustafsson has left Philadelphia for the KHL. Think this move comes down to playing time. Gustafsson was a restricted free agent, one that I'd believe Philadelphia wanted to bring back. The problem from the player standpoint is in three seasons he was more often a healthy scratch than in the lineup. That's not a great spot to be in when you want to play. If he does well in Europe there is always the chance an NHL team signs him as a regular in the future.
_______________________________________________________________________
Hadn't planned on it but since we are talking change, the Pittsburgh Penguins are set to announce in about an hour that head coach Dan Bylsma and GM Ray Shero will be fired. When you have a guy like Crosby and Malkin on a team there are no excuses for not winning. Maybe blame can be placed on both but the team as a whole needs to improve. That's the job of a GM. The coach can only work with what he had, and Bylsma got 51 wins out of a team with a lot of injuries and a shaky goalie.
NOON UPDATES VIA TWITTER:
Bob McKenzie was the guy to report Bylsma being fired this morning. He is very reputable. He was also not correct this time. Shero was fired. Bylsma was not. Yet
Always takes a little time for North America to catch up to European news. I'm not surprised if he didn't tell the Flyers. He didn't have to but contractually it would have made sense to potentially create a bidding scenario.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Edmonton Wins
No waiting around on this one. After Guelph won over the weekend I waited for video. I'm not waiting this time.
The Edmonton Oil Kings won the WHL championship last night over Portland in a game 7. This series is far more interesting than a boxscore would lead you to believe. Let me explain.
Junior league hockey isn't exactly designed to see a franchise become a dynasty. It's basically high school to junior college aged players who leave after 4-5 seasons for either professional hockey or college. Like the NHL, junior league teams hold a draft each season giving the worst teams the highest picks. Players can also be acquired through trades which is a common way for the better teams to consistently stay good. Portland and Edmonton deserve a whole new level of respect.
This finals appearance was the 4th straight for Portland. As a four year player for Portland you could have spent your entire junior league career playing every season in the finals. That's unlikely to occur again. Or this as well. This was the third straight year that Portland played Edmonton in the finals. Some things are hard to explain. Two very good teams with a lot of promising future professionals.
As I did with the OHL winners I will post the final stats for Edmonton with some notes. However there is no way I can go without mentioning at least a few things about Portland. They had the top five leading scorers in the playoffs. They had two of the better defensive prospects coming out of junior hockey who were both top ten NHL picks in Matthew Dumba (Minnesota) and Derrick Pouliot (Pittsburgh). Both are sure fire NHL solid players. Nic Petan (Winnipeg) finished second in the league in scoring. And there are many others who could have an NHL career.
Now the winners.
REGULAR SEASON
PLAYOFFS
We can start at the top. I enjoy the Samuelsson clan a lot more than I did papa Ulf. Henrik is a first round pick of Phoenix. You always have my attention when you can put up over 90 points and 90 penalty minutes. And 51 more in the playoffs. Dang. He has size at 6'3 and skill to become a very solid forward in the NHL. I'm very interested to see how his career plays out.
We move down a spot to Curtis Lazar who put up 41 goals in 58 games. Like Samuelsson he was a first round pick in the draft going to Ottawa and is currently ranked as their best prospect. Lazar should have no issues finding his way to the NHL whether it is next season or in a few years should he come back next season to the WHL.
Drop down to the third leading scorer to find Mitchell Moroz. Moroz is an interesting player and one I find within reason to put on the list. That's because this 32nd overall pick was taken by the Edmonton Oilers. Whether his offensive abilities can translate into the pro environment is yet to be seen. He had more goals this season than all his other seasons combined. But what he does have is a size and toughness the Oilers have been lacking with many of their forwards. He easily lead the team in penalty minutes and is never afraid of body contact. If he can continue to work on his offense he might look good alongside the other young stars. He is currently rated the Oilers 4th best prospect.
Last but not least we jump down to the captain. The Reinhart's just might become the next impressive hockey family. Griffin is the second of the group. His numbers won't jump out at you but his play will. He was taken 4th overall by the Islanders and is considered one of the best prospects in hockey. He also has the size at 6'4 to fit quickly into an NHL position should the Islanders decide to take that route. Otherwise he looks to kick off his career next season in the AHL.
The Edmonton Oil Kings won the WHL championship last night over Portland in a game 7. This series is far more interesting than a boxscore would lead you to believe. Let me explain.
Junior league hockey isn't exactly designed to see a franchise become a dynasty. It's basically high school to junior college aged players who leave after 4-5 seasons for either professional hockey or college. Like the NHL, junior league teams hold a draft each season giving the worst teams the highest picks. Players can also be acquired through trades which is a common way for the better teams to consistently stay good. Portland and Edmonton deserve a whole new level of respect.
This finals appearance was the 4th straight for Portland. As a four year player for Portland you could have spent your entire junior league career playing every season in the finals. That's unlikely to occur again. Or this as well. This was the third straight year that Portland played Edmonton in the finals. Some things are hard to explain. Two very good teams with a lot of promising future professionals.
As I did with the OHL winners I will post the final stats for Edmonton with some notes. However there is no way I can go without mentioning at least a few things about Portland. They had the top five leading scorers in the playoffs. They had two of the better defensive prospects coming out of junior hockey who were both top ten NHL picks in Matthew Dumba (Minnesota) and Derrick Pouliot (Pittsburgh). Both are sure fire NHL solid players. Nic Petan (Winnipeg) finished second in the league in scoring. And there are many others who could have an NHL career.
Now the winners.
REGULAR SEASON
PLAYOFFS
We can start at the top. I enjoy the Samuelsson clan a lot more than I did papa Ulf. Henrik is a first round pick of Phoenix. You always have my attention when you can put up over 90 points and 90 penalty minutes. And 51 more in the playoffs. Dang. He has size at 6'3 and skill to become a very solid forward in the NHL. I'm very interested to see how his career plays out.
We move down a spot to Curtis Lazar who put up 41 goals in 58 games. Like Samuelsson he was a first round pick in the draft going to Ottawa and is currently ranked as their best prospect. Lazar should have no issues finding his way to the NHL whether it is next season or in a few years should he come back next season to the WHL.
Drop down to the third leading scorer to find Mitchell Moroz. Moroz is an interesting player and one I find within reason to put on the list. That's because this 32nd overall pick was taken by the Edmonton Oilers. Whether his offensive abilities can translate into the pro environment is yet to be seen. He had more goals this season than all his other seasons combined. But what he does have is a size and toughness the Oilers have been lacking with many of their forwards. He easily lead the team in penalty minutes and is never afraid of body contact. If he can continue to work on his offense he might look good alongside the other young stars. He is currently rated the Oilers 4th best prospect.
Last but not least we jump down to the captain. The Reinhart's just might become the next impressive hockey family. Griffin is the second of the group. His numbers won't jump out at you but his play will. He was taken 4th overall by the Islanders and is considered one of the best prospects in hockey. He also has the size at 6'4 to fit quickly into an NHL position should the Islanders decide to take that route. Otherwise he looks to kick off his career next season in the AHL.
Monday, May 12, 2014
Guelph Wins
I mentioned before that the Guelph and North Bay championship was a bit of the classic underdog going against the team that was stacked. Guelph took the series 4 game to 1 this weekend. It doesn't explain it all.
I already told of the players and standings that on paper kept these teams far apart. It wouldn't have been shocking had this been a sweep. But North Bay hung in. Of the four loses three were by one goal. The other proved just how good Guelph could be when they won 10-1. In the end the team with a lot of talent ended up victorious.
Instead of getting into all the little aspects, the championship team simply gets their final stats for the season displayed. And maybe a few notes here and there but mainly here.
REGULAR SEASON
PLAYOFFS
Robbie Fabbri won the OHL playoff MVP award. Oddly enough he is one of the better players on the team not to be drafted. Hard to argue when you score 13 goals in 16 games.
I'm most intrigued by Kerby Rychel. He also happens to be the highest drafted player on the team going 19th overall to Columbus. I love a good playoff performer which he was with a team high 32 points. He had a strong season with 90 points and can play a physical game too.
Captain Matt Finn could be a player to watch down the road. On a team with such talent a lot of numbers are inflated for him and a lot of other players. You still have to go out there and perform. Finn showed he can score and be a solid defenseman. He was picked 35th overall by Toronto.
Lastly I'm throwing him in there not just because of his name. When Tyler Bertuzzi first came into the OHL all he seemed to do was fight. Now in his third season he averaged over a point a game while still managing 49 penalty minutes in just 29 games. His playoff stats weren't too bad either. This is what sold me. Bertuzzi, who is Todd's nephew, was picked by the Detroit Red Wings. There is no team I respect more when it comes to drafting players. Plus, they took him in the second round. They see something. My guess is it is the passion and energy he brings on each shift. Hit, score, fight the kid will do what it takes. You can never have too many of those players.
I already told of the players and standings that on paper kept these teams far apart. It wouldn't have been shocking had this been a sweep. But North Bay hung in. Of the four loses three were by one goal. The other proved just how good Guelph could be when they won 10-1. In the end the team with a lot of talent ended up victorious.
Instead of getting into all the little aspects, the championship team simply gets their final stats for the season displayed. And maybe a few notes here and there but mainly here.
REGULAR SEASON
PLAYOFFS
Robbie Fabbri won the OHL playoff MVP award. Oddly enough he is one of the better players on the team not to be drafted. Hard to argue when you score 13 goals in 16 games.
I'm most intrigued by Kerby Rychel. He also happens to be the highest drafted player on the team going 19th overall to Columbus. I love a good playoff performer which he was with a team high 32 points. He had a strong season with 90 points and can play a physical game too.
Captain Matt Finn could be a player to watch down the road. On a team with such talent a lot of numbers are inflated for him and a lot of other players. You still have to go out there and perform. Finn showed he can score and be a solid defenseman. He was picked 35th overall by Toronto.
Lastly I'm throwing him in there not just because of his name. When Tyler Bertuzzi first came into the OHL all he seemed to do was fight. Now in his third season he averaged over a point a game while still managing 49 penalty minutes in just 29 games. His playoff stats weren't too bad either. This is what sold me. Bertuzzi, who is Todd's nephew, was picked by the Detroit Red Wings. There is no team I respect more when it comes to drafting players. Plus, they took him in the second round. They see something. My guess is it is the passion and energy he brings on each shift. Hit, score, fight the kid will do what it takes. You can never have too many of those players.
Friday, May 9, 2014
World's
In the midst of the playoffs the World Championships have kicked off today. It's not nearly as big for some countries as it is for others. Nonetheless it is still a highly respected tournaments overseas. That being said it is something that should be followed especially if you have an unhealthy appreciation for hockey.
How can we not start with Canada losing on opening day to France. France? Really? I looked at their line-up. They have one guy who plays regularly in the NHL. That is Antoine Roussel the ultimate pest for Dallas. Outside of that most of these guys play in Europe. The entire Canadian roster plays in the NHL. That's a stunner of a loss. Stephane da Costa (Binghamton - AHL) put home two goals and former Montreal goalie Cristobal Huet stopped 34 shots as France took it 3-2 in a shootout. Brayden Schenn and Erik Gudbranson scored for Canada.
FRANCE 3
CANADA 2
Shootout
Russia had no issue with Switzerland. Helps to have Alexander Ovechkin who scored a goal and assisted on another with Sergei Bobrovsky in net stopping all 27 shots he faced.
RUSSIA 5
SWITZERLAND 0
Czech Republic against Slovakia is always a good rivalry since the two countries split. The Czechs edged this one out on an overtime goal by Jakub Klepis a former Hershey Bear.
CZECH REPUBLIC 3
SLOVAKIA 2
OT
The host nation Belarus had a difficult time with the U.S. which is to be expected. Johnny Gaudreau had a goal and two assists to lead the U.S. team. Maybe there is more to this guy than I thought. I've seen past Hobey Baker winners of smaller stature find less success at higher levels. This kid scored in his only NHL game and now has the chance to do some damage on the big stage. Jacob Trouba, who I am quickly going to start crushing on and had a very underrated rookie season, scored two goals from defense.
UNITED STATES 6
BELARUS 1
Lots of games tomorrow. Lots of recaps to come plus whatever else I throw into here concerning juniors, minors or the NHL.
And to think I have this tournament for another two and a half weeks, followed by what should be the final rounds of the AHL and NHL playoffs or finals. Then I have to deal with the World Cup for a month. By the time I get myself organized free agency will have started, lots of players will move to Europe and once I am ready for a break the junior league season (which starts a month before pros) will be up and running. It's easy to see why the other sports have faded from my radar overtime when the two I enjoy have an international appeal.
How can we not start with Canada losing on opening day to France. France? Really? I looked at their line-up. They have one guy who plays regularly in the NHL. That is Antoine Roussel the ultimate pest for Dallas. Outside of that most of these guys play in Europe. The entire Canadian roster plays in the NHL. That's a stunner of a loss. Stephane da Costa (Binghamton - AHL) put home two goals and former Montreal goalie Cristobal Huet stopped 34 shots as France took it 3-2 in a shootout. Brayden Schenn and Erik Gudbranson scored for Canada.
FRANCE 3
CANADA 2
Shootout
Russia had no issue with Switzerland. Helps to have Alexander Ovechkin who scored a goal and assisted on another with Sergei Bobrovsky in net stopping all 27 shots he faced.
RUSSIA 5
SWITZERLAND 0
Czech Republic against Slovakia is always a good rivalry since the two countries split. The Czechs edged this one out on an overtime goal by Jakub Klepis a former Hershey Bear.
CZECH REPUBLIC 3
SLOVAKIA 2
OT
The host nation Belarus had a difficult time with the U.S. which is to be expected. Johnny Gaudreau had a goal and two assists to lead the U.S. team. Maybe there is more to this guy than I thought. I've seen past Hobey Baker winners of smaller stature find less success at higher levels. This kid scored in his only NHL game and now has the chance to do some damage on the big stage. Jacob Trouba, who I am quickly going to start crushing on and had a very underrated rookie season, scored two goals from defense.
UNITED STATES 6
BELARUS 1
Lots of games tomorrow. Lots of recaps to come plus whatever else I throw into here concerning juniors, minors or the NHL.
And to think I have this tournament for another two and a half weeks, followed by what should be the final rounds of the AHL and NHL playoffs or finals. Then I have to deal with the World Cup for a month. By the time I get myself organized free agency will have started, lots of players will move to Europe and once I am ready for a break the junior league season (which starts a month before pros) will be up and running. It's easy to see why the other sports have faded from my radar overtime when the two I enjoy have an international appeal.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Ronald
Ron Hextall gets it. He understands that a team needs to build through development. Now he has his chance to change the way management has run the Flyers over the last few decades as the new general manager of the team.
I mentioned before I'd rather stay away from the big stories. A lot has been made of this move which was clearly something coming for awhile. The Holmgren move to president is how the Flyers still take care of former players and coaches. In a sense he was let go without actually being fired. Clarke received the same treatment.
For Flyers fans this can only be a good thing. Management has constantly kept the same mentality over the years. There are three ways I am aware of to acquire players. You can trade, sign or draft. With the win now approach many trades have come at the expense of younger talent. Signings tend to be big contracts to veteran players slightly past their prime. Flyers fans don't need a list. That isn't how Hextall operates.
Hextall is all about building from within. He wants to rely heavily on the draft. He wants players to develop in the AHL first before making the step to the NHL, something that hasn't always happened in the past when the Flyers have rushed to judgement on young talent. He isn't look to sign or acquire those same aging veterans the Flyers throw money at every season. This is how it should be done.
I'm very interested in the moves Hextall makes during this off-season whether it is by trade, free agency or something through the draft. The Flyers do have three picks in the first three rounds which now includes a higher first round pick then they hoped. They should be able to land a solid talent in that position. Hextall is the type who will value picks and try to acquire more instead of trading them away. The Flyers are currently ranked last when it comes to prospects. That has to change.
I'm excited. This is exactly the type of guy that should get the opportunity to see what he can do. It will take some time to stock up on young players. The nice thing is that there are at least a few already with a positive upside. An upside Hextall won't try to trade within two years.
I mentioned before I'd rather stay away from the big stories. A lot has been made of this move which was clearly something coming for awhile. The Holmgren move to president is how the Flyers still take care of former players and coaches. In a sense he was let go without actually being fired. Clarke received the same treatment.
For Flyers fans this can only be a good thing. Management has constantly kept the same mentality over the years. There are three ways I am aware of to acquire players. You can trade, sign or draft. With the win now approach many trades have come at the expense of younger talent. Signings tend to be big contracts to veteran players slightly past their prime. Flyers fans don't need a list. That isn't how Hextall operates.
Hextall is all about building from within. He wants to rely heavily on the draft. He wants players to develop in the AHL first before making the step to the NHL, something that hasn't always happened in the past when the Flyers have rushed to judgement on young talent. He isn't look to sign or acquire those same aging veterans the Flyers throw money at every season. This is how it should be done.
I'm very interested in the moves Hextall makes during this off-season whether it is by trade, free agency or something through the draft. The Flyers do have three picks in the first three rounds which now includes a higher first round pick then they hoped. They should be able to land a solid talent in that position. Hextall is the type who will value picks and try to acquire more instead of trading them away. The Flyers are currently ranked last when it comes to prospects. That has to change.
I'm excited. This is exactly the type of guy that should get the opportunity to see what he can do. It will take some time to stock up on young players. The nice thing is that there are at least a few already with a positive upside. An upside Hextall won't try to trade within two years.
Monday, May 5, 2014
Captain Dean
There are always a hundred different directions for me to take these posts. I try to keep them simple with something that I find interesting or that isn't getting much attention. I don't want the popular stories. I wasn't sure where to take this today. Then I saw a simple post made by the Abbotsford Heat. Dean Arsene retired.
To many it isn't a big deal. Another player retiring. Certain players resonate with me. Dean Arsene was one of those guys. The picture above is from Elite Prospects, a great hockey website for people looking for any type of information on players or teams. I've been with them for four hockey seasons now. Next year will be my 5th season as the AHL update guy. I don't update transactions, transfers or recalls. There are a few reasons. One is that I just don't have that kind of time. Two, they happen so frequently I could never keep up. Lastly, with people spread across the globe somebody almost always will have it posted within minutes of hearing the news. I heard about this early this afternoon. I posted and confirmed his retirement at 10:03 tonight. According to my log sheet the last transaction I posted on the site was July 6th, 2011. Somebody saved this one for me.
Arsene was a defenseman. He was never drafted coming from the WHL. He wasn't going to score you a lot of goals. He was there to play defense and make you miserable and maybe get in a scrap or two or ten. His career started in the ECHL in 2001. I wasn't really following the league at the time to the extent I do now. The next season though he played in the AHL for Hartford. Now he was on my radar. In 50 games he had a goal and 94 penalty minutes. Again, nothing that stands out. It was his next move that proved to be a game changer.
Arsene moved on the following season to join the Hershey Bears. He ended up spending most of his time as a steady piece on the back end for the Reading Royals of the ECHL which included a deep playoff run. By 2004-05 Arsene had earned himself a full time gig in the AHL. Not only was he in the AHL, on one of the best teams playing in the loudest arena, but also now playing against better talents with the NHL lockout lasting all season. Arsene ended the season with 140 penalty minutes and 14 fights. His role increased even more the following season. He played in a career high 68 games racking up 181 penalty minutes and helping the team win the Calder Cup.
Arsene returned to Hershey once again the next season. It was now his third full season and fourth overall playing with Hershey. The guy who was never drafted was named captain of arguably one of the best hockey franchises in North America. He didn't disappoint. He set career highs in points with 15 and penalty minutes with 187. More importantly he was a big player in the community and quickly becoming a fan favorite. His hard-nosed style caused frequent injuries and his next season with Hershey saw him in only 14 games. That didn't stop him from having a dominating presence. He often sat in with announcer John Walton as his analyst generally speaking his mind about the game and other players with very little filter. He was back in Hershey yet again the next season now his 6th straight. While injuries still kept his game appearances low he once again proved a valuable piece come playoff time playing in 22 games and helping Hershey win another Calder Cup.
While prospects and players around him continued to progress to the next level or receive a call-up, Arsene had yet to reach the NHL. Part of it had to do with the organization. Hershey was a breeding ground for talent especially at the time that Arsene played. Sometimes going back and looking at some of these names can even be fun for me.
Just on defense - Brett Clark was captain in Arsene's first year. He played the next seven seasons in the NHL and three times played in all 82 games. A guy named Johnny Boychuk played in every game that season for Hershey. Too bad Colorado eventually traded him after continually keeping him in the AHL. Then came along Mike Green, John Carlson and Karl Alzner.
Arsene knew the depth and talent in front of him. He had worked his ass off to this point just to be a two-time AHL champion. If he wanted to reach his goal he knew he had to make a change. There is no way it came to him easily after all he had done and accomplished in Hershey, but Arsene decided his best chance to make it to the NHL was to go somewhere else. Going for the dream he chose a team he knew would have availability in a struggling Edmonton Oilers squad. He started the season in the AHL with Springfield as the captain in his first season. As the season progressed and Edmonton's struggles and shaky defense continued, Arsene got the call. And don't think people in Hershey weren't ecstatic to hear about it. Arsene ended up playing in 13 games with Edmonton and picked up 41 penalty minutes including three fights and a misconduct.
Those would be the only NHL games he would play. He ended up going to the St. Louis Blues organization the next year. Again he was the captain right away. He played in all but three games and continued his tough style. He left again after one season this time to a struggling Phoenix organization, but played the whole season in the AHL. He departed again after one season to the newly formed Winnipeg organization but once again found himself stuck in the AHL.
For the 5th season in a row after leaving Hershey he changed organizations this season. He landed in Abbotsford, his hometown, to play for the minor league affiliate for Calgary. Once again he found himself wearing the "C" on his sweater. He played in another 42 AHL games.
At some point the body starts to give. Arsene was the kind of guy you really wanted on your team. There was no lack of passion or drive. His leadership was undeniable. I'm not sure if I've ever seen a guy become the captain of a team in his first season three different times in five seasons. Everything Arsene got he worked for in his career. He deserved those NHL games and got them because others also recognized. Even though he bounced around looking for that second chance at NHL glory I'd like to think a piece of Dean never left Hershey. In the game today you probably won't see another guy play that many seasons in a row for one AHL team.
I'm not sure what the next chapter for Arsene holds. Maybe hockey isn't even a part of it. I'd like to think he would make a good coach especially on a lower level because he knows what it takes to get to the top when you aren't blessed with all the talent in the world. Part of me thinks if his interest is to return to hockey it will be with Hershey. Guess we will find out. The town would be thrilled to have him back.
QUICK SIDE NOTE:
As I blabbered on it was made official that the team from Abbotsford, who happened to be the last team Arsene captained, will indeed be relocated to Glens Falls. Good for them. One team leaves and another takes their place.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
A True River Trail
It's not often our area sees 4-6 inches of rain in a quick period without it being related to a tropical system. It happened yesterday and quickly raised river and streams levels. Even I was surprised as I started driving around. I used the heavy rain to my advantage and went for an extended run. My ability to avoid large puddles ended quickly when the route I was running went over a road that was now a creek crossing. I always wonder what the people driving in the 48 degree downpour are wondering when they come across a flooded stream with a runner galloping through. Though I should thank the drivers who all stopped before crossing the water so the spray from the tires would not hit me. Not like I could have gotten any wetter, but it was in the first mile or so. And yes, you shouldn't drive (or run) through moving water. It was less than an inch high and maybe 20 feet. We do creek crosses in runs up to my waist. Think I can handle it.
I always love a good run in the rain. Makes we want to stay out there even longer. Then I started to realize later in the night just how high the water was getting in some of my not-so-local favorite spots. You see, many trails in the area are located near water. In fact the only ones I can think of that don't have that aspect are the ones that have a high elevation. It's natural they follow the water. Most trails follow railroad tracks built years ago which happened to use the same path as rivers. That's because a river follows a path of least resistance which is also generally low in elevation and flat. It's a perfect place for a path. Except when you get a flash flood.
When I got up this morning I saw that the Blue Marsh Lake recreational area was closed. That's not good. That's just a lake. There potentially go those plans for the weekend. Then it was over to the news. Believe me, I wasn't following much last night with hockey on for six hours. I knew what was coming once you could tell how bad the flooding was on the Schulykill.
Very first on the list was Manayunk. Let's start by saying this isn't a place that has never seen flooding before. It's situated close to the river, partly on an island, situated next to a canal and very low. You almost have to expect a flood. In fact part of the island I'm pretty sure is actually beneath the canal. Main street isn't much higher.
Manayunk will clean up quickly. The trails along the river might be another story. Not only that but flooding was extensive up and down the trail. Certain areas are higher off the water or not that close. Other times you could throw a rock into it. But Manayunk is different. The trail goes from paved to crushed stone. It weaves tightly through vegetation with little bridges over runoffs and the canal. It even turns into a wooden bridge structure as you pass between Main St. and the canal. It had to have taken a lot of water.
The good news is the bars and restaurants in the main part of town are open. While this one was pretty bad they have seen and dealt with it before. People were probably on the trails today even if they were probably at the very least muddy. If not, they will be over the weekend. Maybe I will too.
I always love a good run in the rain. Makes we want to stay out there even longer. Then I started to realize later in the night just how high the water was getting in some of my not-so-local favorite spots. You see, many trails in the area are located near water. In fact the only ones I can think of that don't have that aspect are the ones that have a high elevation. It's natural they follow the water. Most trails follow railroad tracks built years ago which happened to use the same path as rivers. That's because a river follows a path of least resistance which is also generally low in elevation and flat. It's a perfect place for a path. Except when you get a flash flood.
When I got up this morning I saw that the Blue Marsh Lake recreational area was closed. That's not good. That's just a lake. There potentially go those plans for the weekend. Then it was over to the news. Believe me, I wasn't following much last night with hockey on for six hours. I knew what was coming once you could tell how bad the flooding was on the Schulykill.
Very first on the list was Manayunk. Let's start by saying this isn't a place that has never seen flooding before. It's situated close to the river, partly on an island, situated next to a canal and very low. You almost have to expect a flood. In fact part of the island I'm pretty sure is actually beneath the canal. Main street isn't much higher.
Manayunk will clean up quickly. The trails along the river might be another story. Not only that but flooding was extensive up and down the trail. Certain areas are higher off the water or not that close. Other times you could throw a rock into it. But Manayunk is different. The trail goes from paved to crushed stone. It weaves tightly through vegetation with little bridges over runoffs and the canal. It even turns into a wooden bridge structure as you pass between Main St. and the canal. It had to have taken a lot of water.
The good news is the bars and restaurants in the main part of town are open. While this one was pretty bad they have seen and dealt with it before. People were probably on the trails today even if they were probably at the very least muddy. If not, they will be over the weekend. Maybe I will too.
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