Over four years ago, I was deeply interested into the world of hockey. Every day during my last years of high school into my first few years of college, I was madly in love with the sport. I still am today, but not as much as I was back then. Changes in lifestyle, ideas, and direction decided that it was time to move on to something different.
And that's just what happened. As you may remember, Reid's Poetry was introduced over a year ago or so so I could show you some of the new poetry that I, myself, have created. Although that blog hasn't seen some activity for some time, it will be flourishing with new poems very, very soon.
The Panorama Shots came along after that and probably one of my most favorite blogs so far. This blog is about the panoramic shots I take everywhere and anywhere in the world. This was one of the newest fields of interest that I delved into and am still doing that.
Because of my increased interest in different areas, most photography, I am sad to announce that it is now the end for Reid's NHL and MLS Insight, probably one of the most longest-running blogs that I have ever been writing about for some years. These sudden new interests in the fields I talked about took up most of my time and I haven't been able to get to analysis or news from the NHL. Although I have tried to do this through working on other projects, it ultimately became too time-consuming to do analysis while at the same time, expressing myself on my other blogs, including the newest blog I am coming out with.
Personally, I'd like to thank everybody for reading my opinions and either criticizing or giving me praise for what I do. I'd especially like to thank Shay Denny, a good friend of mine, for inspiring me to do this as long as I possibly could. Shay, I hope you keep doing that for Reid's Poetry, The Panorama Shots, and my newest blog (which I will talk about at the bottom). I hope you guys check out my other blogs and I will see you on my other sites.
Now to the new blog news. Recently, I've been getting a lot interested in Color Splash, a tool where you paint certain objects while the background is grey. This has been a new interest for me for some time, and I'd like to share some of the photos that I've created with you. The blog will be called The Color World. A new Facebook page will be up in a few days after the new blog comes out, while The Panorama Shots will also get a Facebook page. I encourage you to "like" both blogs and stay up-to-date with the latest panorama shots and Color Splashes that I post on a somewhat daily basis.
Again, I'm very sorry about announcing the end of Reid's NHL and MLS Insight. I hope you puck heads enjoy your hockey and I'll see you around, either there or anywhere else you might find me. Enjoy!
Monday, July 16, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
6 Offseason Stories to Follow
Now that the Los Angeles Kings have been crowned as Stanley Cup champions, its time to move on to stories that are going to be circulating this summer. Here are the 6 biggest offseason stories to follow:
1. CBA talks: The NHL and NHLPA will be expected to begin negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement. The current deal, made back in 2005, is expiring September 15. Gary Bettman, the NHL commissioner, has not made clear yet the league's objective to get a new CBA in place. However, they will most likely want to reduce the players' share of revenue down from 57%, which might not sit well with players and the PA. Because of the CBA, the NHL lost a season in the 2004 lockout. Since the NBA lost about 16+ games this season, it could be no surprise that the NHL suffers a similar fate.
2. Ryan Suter/Zach Parise
Based on what Kevin Allen of USA Today said, these two players are the most desirable free agents on the market. The Predators are still trying to persuade Suter to stay in Nashvile, and Devils GM Lou Lamoriello will do all he can to make sure Parise stays in Jersey. However, as with other players at this point, those who are unsigned this close to July 1 usually tend to explore free agency and other teams that might want them. The Red Wings and the Wild could go after both, while the New York Rangers and those Stanley Cup champion LA Kings might inquire about Parise. So don't expect that Parise and Suter could stay with their respective teams.
3. Rick Nash: Stay or Go?
This has been a hot topic since the trading deadline and it still hasn't died yet. The Blue Jackets will entertain offers for their star forward, who has the right to provide a list of teams that he deemed will suit him better than the Jackets. However, the Jackets will be seeking multiple players in return for Nash and maybe even a few draft picks. They can do with a top goalie prospect or maybe even a proven goalie. Because one way of another, the Jackets have no help in goalie and they need all the players they can get, because they struggled the last few years just trying to win games.
4. Roberto Luongo at the End?
With the up-and-coming of Cory Schneider in the Canucks goal, maybe the best situation for the Canucks is to give up Luongo. However, this won't be an easy trade to make. His market is a small one, and his contract runs some 10 more years. His .919 save percentage might be a good fit for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but as you might be aware, Leafs GM Brian Burke is never a fan of long-term contracts, so we'll see what happens with Luongo.
5. Ovechkin Needs a New Boss
Dale Hunter is out as the Washington Capitals head coach, deciding to return to hockey. So that means Alex Ovechkin will be searching for a new head coach. Hunter seemed to be the tough-love coach that Ovechkin needed. So can GM George McPhee find another candidate that has what Hunter had when he was hired? Maybe.
6. The Red Wings Revamping
Nicklas Lidstrom is finally retired from the NHL and Brad Stuart's rights have been traded to the San Jose Sharks. So this means that the Red Wings are embarking on a renovation project. GM Ken Holland will have to be aggressive this summer, addressing some defensive losses as well as address his team's scoring slumps. The reason they are going after Ryan Suter is that he plays a poised, smooth style that could help take over what Lidstrom left behind.
So here are your six biggest offseason stories to follow. Will we see Rick Nash get traded? Will the Red Wings get what they want to revamp their somewhat struggling team? And will Roberto Luongo get traded away from the Canucks? We'll have to see what happens as the NHL offseason officially begins on Reid's NHL and MLS Insight.
1. CBA talks: The NHL and NHLPA will be expected to begin negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement. The current deal, made back in 2005, is expiring September 15. Gary Bettman, the NHL commissioner, has not made clear yet the league's objective to get a new CBA in place. However, they will most likely want to reduce the players' share of revenue down from 57%, which might not sit well with players and the PA. Because of the CBA, the NHL lost a season in the 2004 lockout. Since the NBA lost about 16+ games this season, it could be no surprise that the NHL suffers a similar fate.
2. Ryan Suter/Zach Parise
Based on what Kevin Allen of USA Today said, these two players are the most desirable free agents on the market. The Predators are still trying to persuade Suter to stay in Nashvile, and Devils GM Lou Lamoriello will do all he can to make sure Parise stays in Jersey. However, as with other players at this point, those who are unsigned this close to July 1 usually tend to explore free agency and other teams that might want them. The Red Wings and the Wild could go after both, while the New York Rangers and those Stanley Cup champion LA Kings might inquire about Parise. So don't expect that Parise and Suter could stay with their respective teams.
3. Rick Nash: Stay or Go?
This has been a hot topic since the trading deadline and it still hasn't died yet. The Blue Jackets will entertain offers for their star forward, who has the right to provide a list of teams that he deemed will suit him better than the Jackets. However, the Jackets will be seeking multiple players in return for Nash and maybe even a few draft picks. They can do with a top goalie prospect or maybe even a proven goalie. Because one way of another, the Jackets have no help in goalie and they need all the players they can get, because they struggled the last few years just trying to win games.
4. Roberto Luongo at the End?
With the up-and-coming of Cory Schneider in the Canucks goal, maybe the best situation for the Canucks is to give up Luongo. However, this won't be an easy trade to make. His market is a small one, and his contract runs some 10 more years. His .919 save percentage might be a good fit for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but as you might be aware, Leafs GM Brian Burke is never a fan of long-term contracts, so we'll see what happens with Luongo.
5. Ovechkin Needs a New Boss
Dale Hunter is out as the Washington Capitals head coach, deciding to return to hockey. So that means Alex Ovechkin will be searching for a new head coach. Hunter seemed to be the tough-love coach that Ovechkin needed. So can GM George McPhee find another candidate that has what Hunter had when he was hired? Maybe.
6. The Red Wings Revamping
Nicklas Lidstrom is finally retired from the NHL and Brad Stuart's rights have been traded to the San Jose Sharks. So this means that the Red Wings are embarking on a renovation project. GM Ken Holland will have to be aggressive this summer, addressing some defensive losses as well as address his team's scoring slumps. The reason they are going after Ryan Suter is that he plays a poised, smooth style that could help take over what Lidstrom left behind.
So here are your six biggest offseason stories to follow. Will we see Rick Nash get traded? Will the Red Wings get what they want to revamp their somewhat struggling team? And will Roberto Luongo get traded away from the Canucks? We'll have to see what happens as the NHL offseason officially begins on Reid's NHL and MLS Insight.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Hail those Kings
Looks like LA finally became the home of all sports champions.
This is thanks to a Game 6 win by the LA Kings over the New Jersey Devils. After 45 years of waiting and waiting for a championship, the Kings finally have one they can call their own.
Dustin Brown had a goal and two assists in this game, while Jeff Carter and Trevor Lewis both gave two goals apiece.
This is what Kings president Luc Robitaille had to say, courtesy of USA Today. "I remember coming here in 1984, my first training camp as a player, and thinking that I wanted to be part of the special group that wins it here. I didn't think it would take this long, but the feeling is amazing.
"These guys can stay in the moment," said Kings coach Darryl Sutter. "They could get there, stay there, and be resilient."
Jonathan Quick, the goaltender for the Kings, won the Conn Smythe as the playoff MVP, posting a 1.40 goals-against average in the postseason. "I know the attention is going to get is going to be great," Quick said. "That's something we've been looking for in this market for a long time."
Dustin Brown is now the second U.S.-born captain of a Stanley Cup champion, joining Derian Hatcher, who won the Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars back in 1999. Also, the Kings are the first No. 8 seed to win the Stanley Cup, and they almost missed the playoffs. They were also ranked 29th out of 30 teams in goal scoring.
But nevertheless, they overcame adversity and won the Stanley Cup. Congratulations to the LA Kings for their Stanley Cup run and finally winning it. Meanwhile, the season is over and the offseason has begun. It'll be interesting to see what goes on this offseason, how the Kings will make changes to defend their title next season, and plenty others. Check back later for more on the offseason.
This is thanks to a Game 6 win by the LA Kings over the New Jersey Devils. After 45 years of waiting and waiting for a championship, the Kings finally have one they can call their own.
Dustin Brown had a goal and two assists in this game, while Jeff Carter and Trevor Lewis both gave two goals apiece.
This is what Kings president Luc Robitaille had to say, courtesy of USA Today. "I remember coming here in 1984, my first training camp as a player, and thinking that I wanted to be part of the special group that wins it here. I didn't think it would take this long, but the feeling is amazing.
"These guys can stay in the moment," said Kings coach Darryl Sutter. "They could get there, stay there, and be resilient."
Jonathan Quick, the goaltender for the Kings, won the Conn Smythe as the playoff MVP, posting a 1.40 goals-against average in the postseason. "I know the attention is going to get is going to be great," Quick said. "That's something we've been looking for in this market for a long time."
Dustin Brown is now the second U.S.-born captain of a Stanley Cup champion, joining Derian Hatcher, who won the Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars back in 1999. Also, the Kings are the first No. 8 seed to win the Stanley Cup, and they almost missed the playoffs. They were also ranked 29th out of 30 teams in goal scoring.
But nevertheless, they overcame adversity and won the Stanley Cup. Congratulations to the LA Kings for their Stanley Cup run and finally winning it. Meanwhile, the season is over and the offseason has begun. It'll be interesting to see what goes on this offseason, how the Kings will make changes to defend their title next season, and plenty others. Check back later for more on the offseason.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Monday Recaps: Rangers Take It Back, Bruins As Well
Big Monday hockey in the NHL, puck heads!! Pretty spectacular finishes to some games, while other teams just managed to get by and take 2-1 series leads. Why don't I just skip the intros and head straight to the recaps, shall we?
Here's Mondays recaps:
Rangers 1, Senators 0
Brian Boyle is certainly proving the difference-maker for the New York Rangers, and he's starting to become a thorn in the Senators' side. With a brilliant 1-0 win over the Senators they now take the home-ice advantage back and lead the series 2-1. Henrik Lundqvist made 39 saves for his fourth NHL playoff shutout.
Bruins 4, Capitals 3
I feel sorry for Capitals fans, as Niklas Backstrom is suspending pending a hearing about a cross-check to Rich Peverley's face, but if he didn't do that and give the Bruins a 4-3 win, the Capitals probably would've lead the series. Instead, they lose out on home-ice advantage and it looks like Dale Hunter could be steaming mad after seeing the play his Capitals made in this game. This has suddenly turned into a Flyers-Penguins series, don't you think?
Blues 4, Sharks 3
Sorry Sharks fans, but the Blues are just smacking people this year. Maybe it's because they're really hungry for the Cup, or they want to bring hope back to Midwest. Either way, the Blues scored on three man-advantage goals and capped off a 4-3 victory in Game 3 and allowed them to take a 2-1 series lead. Jason Arnott, Alexander Steen, Andy McDonald, and Patrik Berglund scored while the Sharks' Brent Burns, Colin White, and Logan Couture scored for San Jose.
That's the recap for Monday. Tuesday looks to be a wild fest of contests. Hope to see you all tomorrow when I recap tonight's game. In the meantime, enjoy your hockey, puck heads!
Here's Mondays recaps:
Rangers 1, Senators 0
Brian Boyle is certainly proving the difference-maker for the New York Rangers, and he's starting to become a thorn in the Senators' side. With a brilliant 1-0 win over the Senators they now take the home-ice advantage back and lead the series 2-1. Henrik Lundqvist made 39 saves for his fourth NHL playoff shutout.
Bruins 4, Capitals 3
I feel sorry for Capitals fans, as Niklas Backstrom is suspending pending a hearing about a cross-check to Rich Peverley's face, but if he didn't do that and give the Bruins a 4-3 win, the Capitals probably would've lead the series. Instead, they lose out on home-ice advantage and it looks like Dale Hunter could be steaming mad after seeing the play his Capitals made in this game. This has suddenly turned into a Flyers-Penguins series, don't you think?
Blues 4, Sharks 3
Sorry Sharks fans, but the Blues are just smacking people this year. Maybe it's because they're really hungry for the Cup, or they want to bring hope back to Midwest. Either way, the Blues scored on three man-advantage goals and capped off a 4-3 victory in Game 3 and allowed them to take a 2-1 series lead. Jason Arnott, Alexander Steen, Andy McDonald, and Patrik Berglund scored while the Sharks' Brent Burns, Colin White, and Logan Couture scored for San Jose.
That's the recap for Monday. Tuesday looks to be a wild fest of contests. Hope to see you all tomorrow when I recap tonight's game. In the meantime, enjoy your hockey, puck heads!
Monday, April 16, 2012
Saturday & Sunday Recaps: Kings Go Up 3-0, Wings' Struggles
Hey puck heads!
I hope you all had a marvelous and Stanley Cup-filled weekend. Did you enjoy the Kings going up 3-0? How about the Sharks blowing it against the Blues? Or maybe it's the Red Wings that has you worried. Well, I have it all right here, so let's swing on down these scores and see what is surprising so far. Why don't we go ahead and start with Saturday.
Saturday recaps:
Capitals 2, Bruins 1 (OT)
Overtime wasn't enough for these two powerhouse teams and it went to overtime, where the Capitals' Niklas Backstrom managed to seal the deal in overtime. The all-time series is now at 1-1, meaning the Capitals have home-field advantage. But can the Bruins overcome this and get back to work to Game 3? Find out in my recap tomorrow. Benoit Pouliot of the Bruins and Troy Brouwer of the Capitals each scored a goal apiece.
Senators 3, Rangers 2 (OT)
Chris Neil finally gave the Senators some breathing room and a chance to take advantage of home ice with a 3-2 overtime win against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Erik Karlsson and Nick Foligno scored for the Senators while Brian Boyle and Anton Stralman scored for the Rangers.
Blues 3, Sharks 0
The best goalie tandem during the regular season in goaltenders Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak were both factors in the Blues' 3-0 victory against the Sharks. They both combined for the shootout and Sharks' Marc-Edouard Vlasic should probably be embarrassed after he tapped the puck into his own net. Then again, Dan Boyle did this two years ago against the Avalanche and still won the series. Can the Sharks do it again?
Blackhawks 4, Coyotes 3 (OT)
The Blackhawks managed to find a way to score in the closing seconds for the second game. This time, they pulled a win and are heading back to the Windy City with the home-ice advantage. Bryan Bickell scored the overtime goal for the Hawks and they beat the Coyotes 4-3 Saturday night at Jobing.com Arena.
Now that Saturday is in the books, let's look at Sunday's game and see who's in the hole and not:
Predators 3, Red Wings 2
I guess I shouldn't be happy with how the Wings played in this game. They lost to the Predators 3-2, which means Predators have the home-ice advantage back and the ability to bring terror down on the Red Wings. Kevin Klein, Sergei Kostitsyn, and Shea Weber scored for Nashville, while big men Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg scored for the Wings
Flyers 8, Penguins 4
Penguins are in a hole now. The defense is struggling and thanks to a 8-4 Flyers win, they are in a hole with no hopes of getting out. If they want to get themselves back up, defense will really need to come in and make a stand against this hot-flying Flyers defense.
Panthers 4, Devils 2
Congratulations to the Florida Panthers...for winning a game! Although they didn't get home-ice advantage back, they did get even in this series by taking a 4-2 win against the New Jersey Devils. Now the series shifts to New Jersey, where we'll see if the mighty Panthers can take down the Brodeur-led Devils. Stephen Weiss scored two in this game by the way.
Kings 1, Canucks 0
I am now pissed after seeing this game. 3-0 Kings lead over the Canucks, thanks to a goal by Dustin Brown, which was all that was needed in a 1-0 Kings win over the Canucks. It looks like another 8 seed could beat a 1 seed and that's not a good sign for me, since I picked the Canucks to win the entire thing.
Those are your recaps for Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy the rest of the hockey and I'll talk to you tomorrow about the three games that are happening tonight. Will the Bruins recover? Can the Senators take advantage at home? And will the Sharks overcome the mount of the Blues goaltenders? We'll see, puck heads!
I hope you all had a marvelous and Stanley Cup-filled weekend. Did you enjoy the Kings going up 3-0? How about the Sharks blowing it against the Blues? Or maybe it's the Red Wings that has you worried. Well, I have it all right here, so let's swing on down these scores and see what is surprising so far. Why don't we go ahead and start with Saturday.
Saturday recaps:
Capitals 2, Bruins 1 (OT)
Overtime wasn't enough for these two powerhouse teams and it went to overtime, where the Capitals' Niklas Backstrom managed to seal the deal in overtime. The all-time series is now at 1-1, meaning the Capitals have home-field advantage. But can the Bruins overcome this and get back to work to Game 3? Find out in my recap tomorrow. Benoit Pouliot of the Bruins and Troy Brouwer of the Capitals each scored a goal apiece.
Senators 3, Rangers 2 (OT)
Chris Neil finally gave the Senators some breathing room and a chance to take advantage of home ice with a 3-2 overtime win against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Erik Karlsson and Nick Foligno scored for the Senators while Brian Boyle and Anton Stralman scored for the Rangers.
Blues 3, Sharks 0
The best goalie tandem during the regular season in goaltenders Brian Elliott and Jaroslav Halak were both factors in the Blues' 3-0 victory against the Sharks. They both combined for the shootout and Sharks' Marc-Edouard Vlasic should probably be embarrassed after he tapped the puck into his own net. Then again, Dan Boyle did this two years ago against the Avalanche and still won the series. Can the Sharks do it again?
Blackhawks 4, Coyotes 3 (OT)
The Blackhawks managed to find a way to score in the closing seconds for the second game. This time, they pulled a win and are heading back to the Windy City with the home-ice advantage. Bryan Bickell scored the overtime goal for the Hawks and they beat the Coyotes 4-3 Saturday night at Jobing.com Arena.
Now that Saturday is in the books, let's look at Sunday's game and see who's in the hole and not:
Predators 3, Red Wings 2
I guess I shouldn't be happy with how the Wings played in this game. They lost to the Predators 3-2, which means Predators have the home-ice advantage back and the ability to bring terror down on the Red Wings. Kevin Klein, Sergei Kostitsyn, and Shea Weber scored for Nashville, while big men Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg scored for the Wings
Flyers 8, Penguins 4
Penguins are in a hole now. The defense is struggling and thanks to a 8-4 Flyers win, they are in a hole with no hopes of getting out. If they want to get themselves back up, defense will really need to come in and make a stand against this hot-flying Flyers defense.
Panthers 4, Devils 2
Congratulations to the Florida Panthers...for winning a game! Although they didn't get home-ice advantage back, they did get even in this series by taking a 4-2 win against the New Jersey Devils. Now the series shifts to New Jersey, where we'll see if the mighty Panthers can take down the Brodeur-led Devils. Stephen Weiss scored two in this game by the way.
Kings 1, Canucks 0
I am now pissed after seeing this game. 3-0 Kings lead over the Canucks, thanks to a goal by Dustin Brown, which was all that was needed in a 1-0 Kings win over the Canucks. It looks like another 8 seed could beat a 1 seed and that's not a good sign for me, since I picked the Canucks to win the entire thing.
Those are your recaps for Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy the rest of the hockey and I'll talk to you tomorrow about the three games that are happening tonight. Will the Bruins recover? Can the Senators take advantage at home? And will the Sharks overcome the mount of the Blues goaltenders? We'll see, puck heads!
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Friday Recaps: Panthers Lose, Kings Surprise
Friday night is in the books, and the road trips certainly made their presence known in these playoffs, which either means the home teams are struggling to score, or the idea of home-ice advantage is irrelevant. We'll find out in these recaps just who made their presence known and who could be a threat down the stretch. And, by the way, did I happen to mention that one of these teams made their first playoff appearance since 2000? Let's take a look at those recaps:
Devils 3, Panthers 2
The Florida Panthers played in their first game in the playoffs since 2000. However, their first playoff game ended in a loss to the competitive New Jersey Devils and a hot Martin Brodeur, who earned his 100th postseason win Friday night. Patrik Elias, Dainius Zubrus, and Ryan Carter scored in this game for the Devils while Sean Bergenheim and Kris Versteeg scored for the Panthers.
Flyers 8, Penguins 5
Flyers are owning the Penguins now-a-days, and now that they have complete home-ice advantage for the rest of the series, it seems like the Flyers have this in the bag. The Penguins have allowed a leaky defense, breakaways, and goals by the bushel to put them in this hole. Now the Penguins have things to fix and must fix them fast before the Flyers win the series and put the Penguins in a first round exit again.
Red Wings 3, Predators 2
The Red Wings took something from the Nashville Predators last night: Home-ice advantage. After their 3-2 win last night, they have three games at home to try and get past the first round. Ian White, Cory Emmerton, Johan Franzen scored for the Red Wings. Shea Weber and Andrei Kostitsyn scored for the Predators, who blew their chance to keep home-ice advantage. Todd Bertuzzi dropped the gloves with Shea Weber, which proves this rivalry is getting fierce.
Kings 4, Canucks 2
This is the biggest surprise of the playoffs so far. Now that the Kings have taken two on the road in Vancouver, they'll have a chance to seal the deal with two games at home with a chance to knock out the number one seed in the playoffs. Plus, Dustin Brown is looking mighty hot after scoring a hat trick Friday night.
Hope you enjoy the Sunday games! Will the Capitals bounce back in Boston? Will the Sharks take over the Blues? Check out all the games Saturday on NBC, CNBC, and NBC Sports Network. See ya, puckheads!
Devils 3, Panthers 2
The Florida Panthers played in their first game in the playoffs since 2000. However, their first playoff game ended in a loss to the competitive New Jersey Devils and a hot Martin Brodeur, who earned his 100th postseason win Friday night. Patrik Elias, Dainius Zubrus, and Ryan Carter scored in this game for the Devils while Sean Bergenheim and Kris Versteeg scored for the Panthers.
Flyers 8, Penguins 5
Flyers are owning the Penguins now-a-days, and now that they have complete home-ice advantage for the rest of the series, it seems like the Flyers have this in the bag. The Penguins have allowed a leaky defense, breakaways, and goals by the bushel to put them in this hole. Now the Penguins have things to fix and must fix them fast before the Flyers win the series and put the Penguins in a first round exit again.
Red Wings 3, Predators 2
The Red Wings took something from the Nashville Predators last night: Home-ice advantage. After their 3-2 win last night, they have three games at home to try and get past the first round. Ian White, Cory Emmerton, Johan Franzen scored for the Red Wings. Shea Weber and Andrei Kostitsyn scored for the Predators, who blew their chance to keep home-ice advantage. Todd Bertuzzi dropped the gloves with Shea Weber, which proves this rivalry is getting fierce.
Kings 4, Canucks 2
This is the biggest surprise of the playoffs so far. Now that the Kings have taken two on the road in Vancouver, they'll have a chance to seal the deal with two games at home with a chance to knock out the number one seed in the playoffs. Plus, Dustin Brown is looking mighty hot after scoring a hat trick Friday night.
Hope you enjoy the Sunday games! Will the Capitals bounce back in Boston? Will the Sharks take over the Blues? Check out all the games Saturday on NBC, CNBC, and NBC Sports Network. See ya, puckheads!
Friday, April 13, 2012
Brent Sutter Out in Calgary
While the playoffs are going on, the Calgary Flames are out of the playoffs and now their coach is out of the organization.
After failing to make the playoffs for three straight seasons with the team, Brent Sutter is finally out of the C of Red and the Flames are now searching for a new head coach to replace him.
The team said on Thursday that both sides have agreed to part ways, this coming after a meeting between Sutter and general manager Jay Feaster, in which both sides had different opinions on how the team should go and the different options they had of doing both sides of issues.
Under Sutter, the Flames had a 118-90-38 record. It went 37-29-16 this season, which was second only to Vancouver but still failed to get them into the playoffs.
Also announced is that Dave Lowry, an assistant coach for the team and a former San Jose Sharks player, will not have his contract renewed.
Surprising? Not really, in my view. Although I expected this last season when they did really poorly and finished farther out of the playoffs than they did last season. Now my second favorite team will have to search for a new head coach. I don't have any options for who the new head coach should be. If this happened earlier, I would've suggested Randy Carlyle as the next new coach for the team, but since he's already been hired by Toronto, he's out of the picture.
Honestly, I think the Flames need to figure out where their players are at and who should come back to be part of the team. I think Jay Feaster has a lot on his hands this offseason and the way things are going, it looks pretty bright and pretty dull at the same time. The new coach needs to find a way to put his players around him and show them what they are playing for: something they're not playing for this year.
As a fan, I believe in the Flames. I also believe that they'll be able to find a new coach that is strongly suited to lead this team to success. So the countdown for the new coach begins. Who will the Flames pick? And will he lead the team? We'll find out in the coming weeks, puck heads!
Picture of Brent Sutter courtesy of USA Today.
After failing to make the playoffs for three straight seasons with the team, Brent Sutter is finally out of the C of Red and the Flames are now searching for a new head coach to replace him.
The team said on Thursday that both sides have agreed to part ways, this coming after a meeting between Sutter and general manager Jay Feaster, in which both sides had different opinions on how the team should go and the different options they had of doing both sides of issues.
Under Sutter, the Flames had a 118-90-38 record. It went 37-29-16 this season, which was second only to Vancouver but still failed to get them into the playoffs.
Also announced is that Dave Lowry, an assistant coach for the team and a former San Jose Sharks player, will not have his contract renewed.
Surprising? Not really, in my view. Although I expected this last season when they did really poorly and finished farther out of the playoffs than they did last season. Now my second favorite team will have to search for a new head coach. I don't have any options for who the new head coach should be. If this happened earlier, I would've suggested Randy Carlyle as the next new coach for the team, but since he's already been hired by Toronto, he's out of the picture.
Honestly, I think the Flames need to figure out where their players are at and who should come back to be part of the team. I think Jay Feaster has a lot on his hands this offseason and the way things are going, it looks pretty bright and pretty dull at the same time. The new coach needs to find a way to put his players around him and show them what they are playing for: something they're not playing for this year.
As a fan, I believe in the Flames. I also believe that they'll be able to find a new coach that is strongly suited to lead this team to success. So the countdown for the new coach begins. Who will the Flames pick? And will he lead the team? We'll find out in the coming weeks, puck heads!
Picture of Brent Sutter courtesy of USA Today.
Game 1 Recaps: Coyotes Get the W, Penguins Blow It
Hey puck heads,
I'm sorry I've been gone for so long and such and haven't really been up to date on my hockey knowledge and such. But hey, when you've got college works like papers to write, films to watch, and digital stories to create, well, it gets a bit tricky taking care of that and watching hockey at the same time. That's also why I've been missing a lot of hockey games, especially Ducks hockey games. But they're out of the playoffs now and it gives me more time to write my papers and such. But there are those of you out there whose teams are in the playoffs. By the way, congratulations to Panthers fans. You actually got into the playoffs when I didn't think you would. Yet, you still have a game to play yet in the playoffs but playing the Devils is probably better than playing the Bruins or Flyers. But I'll get to you guys in a second. I want to give short recaps for the games that have happened so far. Let's start with the games on happened on Wednesday.
Flyers 4, Penguins 3 (OT)
Flyers come back from a 3-goal deficit to knock off the Penguins 4-3 in overtime at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh. Jakub Voracek scored the overtime game winner. This is certainly a blow to the Penguins, who I thought had this game in the bag, but thanks to Ilya Bryzgalov and the remarkable offensive play of the Flyers, the Penguins just couldn't keep up to keep the Flyers from winning Game 1.
Predators 3, Red Wings 2
How about a team that I thought would have a solid chance at getting home-ice advantage in this first round? Well, it's not and apparently the Nashville Predators made sure that the Red Wings wouldn't win when the Predators had that home-ice advantage? Predators took it 3-2 and it made the Red Wings look at an uphill battle. Think they'll come back in Game 2? Red Wings aren't quitters, I can tell you that.
Kings 4, Canucks 2
Shocker of the series so far? The LA Kings are closer to knocking off the Vancouver Canucks, but this is only Game 1 of the series and the Kings got the home-ice advantage with a 4-2 win over the Canucks in Vancouver. Dustin Penner scored the winning goal with 3:14 left in the third period. USA Today and ESPN are calling it a "lucky bounce" but I had the Canucks winning the Stanley Cup this year and if they want to bounce back, they'll have to show the Kings who's the tough in the ever-so competitive Western Conference.
Those were the games that happened on Wednesday. Let's look at games from Thursday.
Rangers 4, Senators 2
Not exactly a miracle in New York, but it was enough to at least give the NY Rangers a 1-0 series lead over the Senators. Marian Gaborik and Brian Boyle scored minutes apart in the second period and it helped them take a 4-2 win in Game 1. Ottawa needs a bounce-back in Game 2 if they want to get past the hot NY Rangers, but the way the Rangers are going right now, Ottawa has an uphill battle.
Bruins 1, Capitals 0 (OT)
The Bruins started off their Stanley Cup defense by winning 1-0 in overtime over the Washington Capitals at TD Garden. Chris Kelly scored the only goal of the game Thursday night, while it was the Washington offense that was a no-show. If Washington wants to knock off the defending Stanley Cup champions, they'll have to find a way to beat Tim Thomas. Look at this way, Holtby is certainly proving himself as a reliable goaltender for the Capitals.
Sharks 3, Blues 2 (2OT)
Um...what? The Sharks won in St. Louis? A surprising team throughout the regular season got beat by a team that has failed to perform to the best of its abilities in the playoffs got a much-needed win against a team that performed well pretty much all year. Martin Havlat scored the game-winner in the second overtime. The Sharks now have home-ice advantage. Will the Blues be able to come back? We'll find out.
Coyotes 3, Blackhawks 2 (OT)
So many overtimes Thursday night but this one is spelling a certain chance for a Stanley Cup in the Phoenix Coyotes. Martin Hanzal scored the winning goal in overtime to lead the Coyotes past the Blackhawks 3-2. However, the loss of Radim Vrbata could really hurt the Coyotes offense, especially if Jonathan Toews is returning to the lineup. Could things turn and send it the Blackhawks way? We'll see.
Those were your recaps for Wednesday and Thursday. Tonight, Game 1 of the Devils and Panthers, Game 2 of Flyers-Penguins, Game 2 of Red Wings-Predators, and Game 2 of Kings-Canucks. Hope you all enjoy the great Stanley Cup Playoffs, puck heads! See you on the puck side!
I'm sorry I've been gone for so long and such and haven't really been up to date on my hockey knowledge and such. But hey, when you've got college works like papers to write, films to watch, and digital stories to create, well, it gets a bit tricky taking care of that and watching hockey at the same time. That's also why I've been missing a lot of hockey games, especially Ducks hockey games. But they're out of the playoffs now and it gives me more time to write my papers and such. But there are those of you out there whose teams are in the playoffs. By the way, congratulations to Panthers fans. You actually got into the playoffs when I didn't think you would. Yet, you still have a game to play yet in the playoffs but playing the Devils is probably better than playing the Bruins or Flyers. But I'll get to you guys in a second. I want to give short recaps for the games that have happened so far. Let's start with the games on happened on Wednesday.
Flyers 4, Penguins 3 (OT)
Flyers come back from a 3-goal deficit to knock off the Penguins 4-3 in overtime at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh. Jakub Voracek scored the overtime game winner. This is certainly a blow to the Penguins, who I thought had this game in the bag, but thanks to Ilya Bryzgalov and the remarkable offensive play of the Flyers, the Penguins just couldn't keep up to keep the Flyers from winning Game 1.
Predators 3, Red Wings 2
How about a team that I thought would have a solid chance at getting home-ice advantage in this first round? Well, it's not and apparently the Nashville Predators made sure that the Red Wings wouldn't win when the Predators had that home-ice advantage? Predators took it 3-2 and it made the Red Wings look at an uphill battle. Think they'll come back in Game 2? Red Wings aren't quitters, I can tell you that.
Kings 4, Canucks 2
Shocker of the series so far? The LA Kings are closer to knocking off the Vancouver Canucks, but this is only Game 1 of the series and the Kings got the home-ice advantage with a 4-2 win over the Canucks in Vancouver. Dustin Penner scored the winning goal with 3:14 left in the third period. USA Today and ESPN are calling it a "lucky bounce" but I had the Canucks winning the Stanley Cup this year and if they want to bounce back, they'll have to show the Kings who's the tough in the ever-so competitive Western Conference.
Those were the games that happened on Wednesday. Let's look at games from Thursday.
Rangers 4, Senators 2
Not exactly a miracle in New York, but it was enough to at least give the NY Rangers a 1-0 series lead over the Senators. Marian Gaborik and Brian Boyle scored minutes apart in the second period and it helped them take a 4-2 win in Game 1. Ottawa needs a bounce-back in Game 2 if they want to get past the hot NY Rangers, but the way the Rangers are going right now, Ottawa has an uphill battle.
Bruins 1, Capitals 0 (OT)
The Bruins started off their Stanley Cup defense by winning 1-0 in overtime over the Washington Capitals at TD Garden. Chris Kelly scored the only goal of the game Thursday night, while it was the Washington offense that was a no-show. If Washington wants to knock off the defending Stanley Cup champions, they'll have to find a way to beat Tim Thomas. Look at this way, Holtby is certainly proving himself as a reliable goaltender for the Capitals.
Sharks 3, Blues 2 (2OT)
Um...what? The Sharks won in St. Louis? A surprising team throughout the regular season got beat by a team that has failed to perform to the best of its abilities in the playoffs got a much-needed win against a team that performed well pretty much all year. Martin Havlat scored the game-winner in the second overtime. The Sharks now have home-ice advantage. Will the Blues be able to come back? We'll find out.
Coyotes 3, Blackhawks 2 (OT)
So many overtimes Thursday night but this one is spelling a certain chance for a Stanley Cup in the Phoenix Coyotes. Martin Hanzal scored the winning goal in overtime to lead the Coyotes past the Blackhawks 3-2. However, the loss of Radim Vrbata could really hurt the Coyotes offense, especially if Jonathan Toews is returning to the lineup. Could things turn and send it the Blackhawks way? We'll see.
Those were your recaps for Wednesday and Thursday. Tonight, Game 1 of the Devils and Panthers, Game 2 of Flyers-Penguins, Game 2 of Red Wings-Predators, and Game 2 of Kings-Canucks. Hope you all enjoy the great Stanley Cup Playoffs, puck heads! See you on the puck side!
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Team Canada GM is Yzerman Again
Who wouldn't think of a better fit for Team Canada than the one and only Steve Yzerman? Nobody, that's who.
At a news conference Monday in Calgary, Hockey Canada announced that Steve Yzerman will return as Team Canada GM for the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. They also announced the full management staff that will be led by Yzerman, who is currently the general manager for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Edmonton Oilers president Kevin Lowe, Detroit Red Wings general manger Ken Holland, St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong, Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson and Hockey Canada vice-president Brad Pascall were also announced as part of the Team Canada management staff.
"The opportunity to work with Hockey Canada again is something I'm really excited about," Yzerman said. "I really, really enjoyed the experience in the past, and really look forward to the next few years. And hopefully all goes well and the National Hockey League players will be participating in Sochi as well."
Like Wayne Gretzky before him, Yzerman will run the team in back-to-back Olympics. Below is what Gretzky texted to ESPN.com
"Right guy for the job, great choice."
I wouldn't agree more with Wayne Gretzky. From now on, Yzerman should be the only choice for Team Canada because no one has his determination and his actions that helped Canada beat the US in the Vancouver Olympics just a few years ago. Yzerman, like Gretzky, knows how to put together a winning team and it's going to be interesting to see how Yzerman manages to put together this team again in time for the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Yzerman is always a perfect choice for any team, but being the GM of Team Canada is truly a fantastic job and one that's worth praise, since he has been able to put together winning Olympic teams. Team Canada is proud to have this guy on board, and the hockey world should be proud of the job he is doing for the hockey world and especially for Team Canada and Canada itself.
At a news conference Monday in Calgary, Hockey Canada announced that Steve Yzerman will return as Team Canada GM for the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. They also announced the full management staff that will be led by Yzerman, who is currently the general manager for the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Edmonton Oilers president Kevin Lowe, Detroit Red Wings general manger Ken Holland, St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong, Hockey Canada president Bob Nicholson and Hockey Canada vice-president Brad Pascall were also announced as part of the Team Canada management staff.
"The opportunity to work with Hockey Canada again is something I'm really excited about," Yzerman said. "I really, really enjoyed the experience in the past, and really look forward to the next few years. And hopefully all goes well and the National Hockey League players will be participating in Sochi as well."
Like Wayne Gretzky before him, Yzerman will run the team in back-to-back Olympics. Below is what Gretzky texted to ESPN.com
"Right guy for the job, great choice."
I wouldn't agree more with Wayne Gretzky. From now on, Yzerman should be the only choice for Team Canada because no one has his determination and his actions that helped Canada beat the US in the Vancouver Olympics just a few years ago. Yzerman, like Gretzky, knows how to put together a winning team and it's going to be interesting to see how Yzerman manages to put together this team again in time for the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Yzerman is always a perfect choice for any team, but being the GM of Team Canada is truly a fantastic job and one that's worth praise, since he has been able to put together winning Olympic teams. Team Canada is proud to have this guy on board, and the hockey world should be proud of the job he is doing for the hockey world and especially for Team Canada and Canada itself.
Monday, February 27, 2012
NHL Trade Deadline: Jeff Carter's a King
Did the LA Kings just get better and better? Fans just got a surprise acquisition from a team in the low-part of the division. That team being the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Jeff Carter is finally heading to LA in a trade that sends Jack Johnson and a draft pick back to Columbus. That means he'll finally be reunited with Mike Richards but not in Philadelphia where they first became a good pair on the ice. He was traded after just 39 games and not including the ones where he was injured, but he is definitely making some headway after helping the Kings win their first game with him. Dustin Brown got a hat trick in that game as well, but nothing's as important right now as Jeff Carter.
I think the Kings needed to find some way to score goals, but now with Jeff Carter, that doesn't seem like much of a problem now. After all, he's repaired with Mike Richards after their hot one-two punch in Philadelphia before they blew up their core teams and shipped them to the Western Conference.
Unfortunately, now with Carter, the Kings need to find some way to gain some success from that Philadelphia connection. They have 129 goals in 61 games, which is ranked 30th in the NHL.
"You look up and down that lineup, they've got some great players," Carter said to ESPNLA.com. "I think it's just a matter of time before things start going their way."
As I said, they're going to need to do this quick. If they have a shot at making the playoffs, they're going to have to do some ground-work and make it back into the playoff picture. Their next two games should not be too tough for this team, although they are on the road and that might factor into how well they play. They're at Nashville and at Minnesota before a home tilt against the Ducks. So if they want to pick up points, I think their next three games are going to be relatively easy ones for them.
Jeff Carter an impact in LA? I think so. But do others think so? We'll just have to wait and see. He's already played in one game and was a factor in them winning. But what about two or three or more? Well, let's just watch and see how far this Kings team can go with Jeff Carter as their new man on the ice.
Jeff Carter is finally heading to LA in a trade that sends Jack Johnson and a draft pick back to Columbus. That means he'll finally be reunited with Mike Richards but not in Philadelphia where they first became a good pair on the ice. He was traded after just 39 games and not including the ones where he was injured, but he is definitely making some headway after helping the Kings win their first game with him. Dustin Brown got a hat trick in that game as well, but nothing's as important right now as Jeff Carter.
I think the Kings needed to find some way to score goals, but now with Jeff Carter, that doesn't seem like much of a problem now. After all, he's repaired with Mike Richards after their hot one-two punch in Philadelphia before they blew up their core teams and shipped them to the Western Conference.
Unfortunately, now with Carter, the Kings need to find some way to gain some success from that Philadelphia connection. They have 129 goals in 61 games, which is ranked 30th in the NHL.
"You look up and down that lineup, they've got some great players," Carter said to ESPNLA.com. "I think it's just a matter of time before things start going their way."
As I said, they're going to need to do this quick. If they have a shot at making the playoffs, they're going to have to do some ground-work and make it back into the playoff picture. Their next two games should not be too tough for this team, although they are on the road and that might factor into how well they play. They're at Nashville and at Minnesota before a home tilt against the Ducks. So if they want to pick up points, I think their next three games are going to be relatively easy ones for them.
Jeff Carter an impact in LA? I think so. But do others think so? We'll just have to wait and see. He's already played in one game and was a factor in them winning. But what about two or three or more? Well, let's just watch and see how far this Kings team can go with Jeff Carter as their new man on the ice.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Vermette Headed to Phoenix
It's been a while since I did my last post. Actually, it's been almost a full month, but we're back into the swing of things as the trading deadline heats up but one team has already got a fighting chance to stay in the playoffs thanks to a new acquisition.
The Phoenix Coyotes have acquired Antoine Vermette from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for several draft picks as well as minor league goalie Curtis McElhinney, whom I didn't know was on the Blue Jackets. But that's off the story for the moment.
"We are extremely pleased to acquire Antoine," Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said to the media. "He is a smart, skilled, two-way center who will be a great addition to our lineup."
If the Coyotes make the playoffs, the conditional fifth-round pick they gave away will become a fourth-round pick. This comes in the wake of the stories that are buzzing around the Blue Jackets that captain Rick Nash and center Jeff Center would be traded and that they were looking for potential buyers. Instead, the Jackets dealt away Vermette.
Anticipation of more players leaving Columbus? Absolutely. The Blue Jackets have the worst record in the NHL and they are looking for ways to build their team again. But this hasn't happened since they went to the playoffs a few years ago. Steve Mason has been erratic in goal and the trade for Curtis McElhinney might signal that backup goalie Curtis Sanford is indeed out, who becomes a free agent this summer.
The Coyotes are getting the best deal out of this because Vermette has proven himself as a valuable player to any club. Unfortunately, his production was down this season and he was looking for a way to build it up again. Well, now that the Coyotes are streaking right now and with the addition of a new player, it sounds as if they're right on target to make the playoffs yet again and he's on the right target to prove he's another valuable player to a team.
What will happen in Phoenix? Vermette brings luck? Will it help the Blue Jackets survive and maybe win a few games before the entire season's over? The rest of the season will have our answers for us. As far as I know, Phoenix is on that right track to become a playoff contender yet again. And for the Blue Jackets, well, it's time for another rebuild.
"We are extremely pleased to acquire Antoine," Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said to the media. "He is a smart, skilled, two-way center who will be a great addition to our lineup."
If the Coyotes make the playoffs, the conditional fifth-round pick they gave away will become a fourth-round pick. This comes in the wake of the stories that are buzzing around the Blue Jackets that captain Rick Nash and center Jeff Center would be traded and that they were looking for potential buyers. Instead, the Jackets dealt away Vermette.
Anticipation of more players leaving Columbus? Absolutely. The Blue Jackets have the worst record in the NHL and they are looking for ways to build their team again. But this hasn't happened since they went to the playoffs a few years ago. Steve Mason has been erratic in goal and the trade for Curtis McElhinney might signal that backup goalie Curtis Sanford is indeed out, who becomes a free agent this summer.
The Coyotes are getting the best deal out of this because Vermette has proven himself as a valuable player to any club. Unfortunately, his production was down this season and he was looking for a way to build it up again. Well, now that the Coyotes are streaking right now and with the addition of a new player, it sounds as if they're right on target to make the playoffs yet again and he's on the right target to prove he's another valuable player to a team.
What will happen in Phoenix? Vermette brings luck? Will it help the Blue Jackets survive and maybe win a few games before the entire season's over? The rest of the season will have our answers for us. As far as I know, Phoenix is on that right track to become a playoff contender yet again. And for the Blue Jackets, well, it's time for another rebuild.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Did Ovechkin Need to Pull Out of the All-Star Game?
Alex Ovechkin received a three-game suspension against the Penguins a few nights ago. Today, he took it to the extreme when he announced that he will not be present for the All-Star Game on January 29th.
He said, "My heart is not there. I got suspended, so why (do) I have to go there?"
The Capitals general manager George McPhee supported Ovechkin's decision to back out of the All-Star Game.
"He really doesn't feel like he deserves to be there and doesn't want to be a distraction," McPhee told ESPN.com earlier today. "When he came in this morning, he said, 'I'm a suspended player and I don't deserve to be there.'"
Excuse me, but there are several problems with Ovechkin not being there and I'll just give you a few right here. 1) He's the biggest star in the league. 2) He puts his team on his back when they are down and 3) He is one of the reasons people watch the All-Star Game.
So I'm sorry, but I don't support this decision. It looks dumb and it sounds dumb. You need to be out there in the All-Star Game and playing. I don't agree with the NHL either on why they won't give Ovechkin a suspension for not participating. Back in 2009, Red Wings players Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk were suspended one game for not participating in the All-Star Game. This time, they chose not to go on with this matter.
They should tack on another suspension. Add a couple games in his suspension or at least fine him a whole lot of money. I don't like why players keep trying to get out of the All-Star Game. One of the main reasons people watch this game is so they can watch their favorite players and favorite all-stars perform on the ice. Is this Ovechkin's way of saying "You did something to me, I'm going to do something back to you?" Is this what this is about? This sounds really dumb and Ovechkin knows he is a big star in the league and that if you miss the All-Star Game, you are letting a lot of your fans down. That's what he's not getting at and I hope that he learns this down the road.
He said, "My heart is not there. I got suspended, so why (do) I have to go there?"
The Capitals general manager George McPhee supported Ovechkin's decision to back out of the All-Star Game.
"He really doesn't feel like he deserves to be there and doesn't want to be a distraction," McPhee told ESPN.com earlier today. "When he came in this morning, he said, 'I'm a suspended player and I don't deserve to be there.'"
Excuse me, but there are several problems with Ovechkin not being there and I'll just give you a few right here. 1) He's the biggest star in the league. 2) He puts his team on his back when they are down and 3) He is one of the reasons people watch the All-Star Game.
So I'm sorry, but I don't support this decision. It looks dumb and it sounds dumb. You need to be out there in the All-Star Game and playing. I don't agree with the NHL either on why they won't give Ovechkin a suspension for not participating. Back in 2009, Red Wings players Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk were suspended one game for not participating in the All-Star Game. This time, they chose not to go on with this matter.
They should tack on another suspension. Add a couple games in his suspension or at least fine him a whole lot of money. I don't like why players keep trying to get out of the All-Star Game. One of the main reasons people watch this game is so they can watch their favorite players and favorite all-stars perform on the ice. Is this Ovechkin's way of saying "You did something to me, I'm going to do something back to you?" Is this what this is about? This sounds really dumb and Ovechkin knows he is a big star in the league and that if you miss the All-Star Game, you are letting a lot of your fans down. That's what he's not getting at and I hope that he learns this down the road.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Ben Blood Needs to Learn Captaincy
It's been a full week and a half since the last post and I'm sorry I didn't post anything up sooner, like my thoughts on the Cammalleri trade and such, but I'm busy with school and well my teachers like to give a lot of work. But that's all done now as we head back into the frame and I'd like to talk about something outside the realm of the NHL and that's about the game between North Dakota and Minnesota and a brawl that happened after the game.
Ben Blood, an assistant captain for the North Dakota men's hockey team and a fourth-round draft pick of the Ottawa Senators, got into an altercation with a Minnesota player after the game. He was mad after an opposing player who came off the bench, slashed at his legs. Later, North Dakota head coach Dave Hakstol stripped Blood of his assistant captaincy, meaning that to earn it back, he has to prove himself as a leader on the ice in a positive aspect.
I never followed the kid that much because I was too busy covering the NHL and the MLS but I hear from people who knew and wrote about him, that he was a very good assistant captain and a good draft pick for the Ottawa Senators. But this altercation might change some minds. In fact, Bob's Blitz, a local blog that covered the game, says that Blood should not play another game for the Fighting Sioux.
Whoa, whoa. Calm down a little bit. Just because he got into a scrum with a Minnesota player doesn't mean that he should be kicked off the team. He's young and he needs time to develop his attitude and his respects for the opposing team, even if they did something that might seem a little over-the-top or edgy. But let's look at something much better than just a kick-off.
I think stripping the captaincy is a great idea for now because it'll teach him that being a leader means not getting in over yourself all the time and going after an opposing player, even in the handshake line. The thing he needs to work on is biting his tongue. As team captains or an assistant captain, you're supposed to find some peace between the two players and provide leadership without physically engaging the other players because of something you believe is wrong. A captain should make wise decisions and make those decisions that are not based on personal vendetta but on a career and the great choices you have when you make the right decision. And certainly, fighting another player was not the right decision.
Ben Blood might never get his assistant captaincy back, but he is a good player. He just needs to learn how to control his attitude and his temper and just play hockey. After all, it's just a game and a game should be fair and not full of this kind of a mess. Let's just hope he is able to control his temper by the time he gets to be an Ottawa Senator or whatever team he gets traded to (if Ottawa decides to trade him away.)
Ben Blood, an assistant captain for the North Dakota men's hockey team and a fourth-round draft pick of the Ottawa Senators, got into an altercation with a Minnesota player after the game. He was mad after an opposing player who came off the bench, slashed at his legs. Later, North Dakota head coach Dave Hakstol stripped Blood of his assistant captaincy, meaning that to earn it back, he has to prove himself as a leader on the ice in a positive aspect.
I never followed the kid that much because I was too busy covering the NHL and the MLS but I hear from people who knew and wrote about him, that he was a very good assistant captain and a good draft pick for the Ottawa Senators. But this altercation might change some minds. In fact, Bob's Blitz, a local blog that covered the game, says that Blood should not play another game for the Fighting Sioux.
Whoa, whoa. Calm down a little bit. Just because he got into a scrum with a Minnesota player doesn't mean that he should be kicked off the team. He's young and he needs time to develop his attitude and his respects for the opposing team, even if they did something that might seem a little over-the-top or edgy. But let's look at something much better than just a kick-off.
I think stripping the captaincy is a great idea for now because it'll teach him that being a leader means not getting in over yourself all the time and going after an opposing player, even in the handshake line. The thing he needs to work on is biting his tongue. As team captains or an assistant captain, you're supposed to find some peace between the two players and provide leadership without physically engaging the other players because of something you believe is wrong. A captain should make wise decisions and make those decisions that are not based on personal vendetta but on a career and the great choices you have when you make the right decision. And certainly, fighting another player was not the right decision.
Ben Blood might never get his assistant captaincy back, but he is a good player. He just needs to learn how to control his attitude and his temper and just play hockey. After all, it's just a game and a game should be fair and not full of this kind of a mess. Let's just hope he is able to control his temper by the time he gets to be an Ottawa Senator or whatever team he gets traded to (if Ottawa decides to trade him away.)
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Should Brad Marchand Have Been Suspended?
Welcome to 2012, puckheads! Okay, I know this seems a bit late and such, but I was a little too busy recently with my classwork, especially since it's Jan Term and it seems like it's becoming a living nightmare of some sorts. But I hope you can forgive me now as we discuss another big hit problem that occurred in last Saturday's game between the Bruins and the Canucks.
Bruins forward Brad Marchand was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for clipping Canucks defenseman Sami Salo in last Saturday's game. Later on, he was given a five-game suspension and will forfeit approximately $152,000. As every player generally is, Brad Marchand was disappointed with the suspension.
"I'm obviously a little disappointed, but I wasn't expecting as many games as I got," Marchand said. "That's the decision, and we have to move on."
But like other players in the league, he says he will not change his style of play. As many of you remember, Alex Ovechkin and Matt Cooke previously had statements that they would not change their style of play. But will Marchand hold up his word? Or do we sense a change? And should he have been suspended?
Once again, the popular issue of head shots comes to play. Of course, it did give Sami Salo a concussion so I believe there is some justice behind this ruling. But just like many other players and team personnel from around the league, there are going to be multiple stories. I personally believe that if you cause a player to get a concussion, there should be justice. So I'm going to believe the stories about Salo getting a concussion for right now. If there's more developing stories in the future, that might change.
Bruins President Cam Neely believes that the suspension is too long because he believes there was no malice behind that hit.
"I personally believe with Brad that it was more of an instinctual move." Neely said.
Okay, so let me get this straight. Marchand used his instinct and because of that, he landed one player with a concussion and landed himself with a five-game suspension. I personally believe that you should use your instinct if it helps your team. But if it involves a certain player getting injured and such, then I probably wouldn't use my instinct and instead I would use my brain and find the most probable outcome that wouldn't affect the player or myself in any way. Obviously, that is not what Brad Marchand did.
The suspension is fair because it shows the justice behind giving other players serious concussions. We don't need any more good players out of the game and I believe that Marchand should not be disappointed because this is exactly what people around the league are trying to get rid of. The dirty hits need to stop and if it's for personal vendetta, then it definitely warrants a lot more. So listen, puckheads, we don't need our good players out of the game. So Marchand definitely got the justice that he most righteously deserved.
Bruins forward Brad Marchand was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for clipping Canucks defenseman Sami Salo in last Saturday's game. Later on, he was given a five-game suspension and will forfeit approximately $152,000. As every player generally is, Brad Marchand was disappointed with the suspension.
"I'm obviously a little disappointed, but I wasn't expecting as many games as I got," Marchand said. "That's the decision, and we have to move on."
But like other players in the league, he says he will not change his style of play. As many of you remember, Alex Ovechkin and Matt Cooke previously had statements that they would not change their style of play. But will Marchand hold up his word? Or do we sense a change? And should he have been suspended?
Once again, the popular issue of head shots comes to play. Of course, it did give Sami Salo a concussion so I believe there is some justice behind this ruling. But just like many other players and team personnel from around the league, there are going to be multiple stories. I personally believe that if you cause a player to get a concussion, there should be justice. So I'm going to believe the stories about Salo getting a concussion for right now. If there's more developing stories in the future, that might change.
Bruins President Cam Neely believes that the suspension is too long because he believes there was no malice behind that hit.
"I personally believe with Brad that it was more of an instinctual move." Neely said.
Okay, so let me get this straight. Marchand used his instinct and because of that, he landed one player with a concussion and landed himself with a five-game suspension. I personally believe that you should use your instinct if it helps your team. But if it involves a certain player getting injured and such, then I probably wouldn't use my instinct and instead I would use my brain and find the most probable outcome that wouldn't affect the player or myself in any way. Obviously, that is not what Brad Marchand did.
The suspension is fair because it shows the justice behind giving other players serious concussions. We don't need any more good players out of the game and I believe that Marchand should not be disappointed because this is exactly what people around the league are trying to get rid of. The dirty hits need to stop and if it's for personal vendetta, then it definitely warrants a lot more. So listen, puckheads, we don't need our good players out of the game. So Marchand definitely got the justice that he most righteously deserved.
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