Merry Christmas Eve, puck heads!
I just wanted to write you a little something to say 'Merry Christmas" and I hope you're having an awesome Christmas with your family and friends! I hope you all have a good time opening presents, eating a big turkey dinner tomorrow (if turkey is on your Christmas menu), and overall just enjoying each other's company.
I would not be as grateful as I am today if it wasn't for my family, my friends, and especially you, the people who love hockey and like to hear what I have to say. So thank you very much for enjoying my posts and for listening and enjoying what I have to say. Now it's time for you to spend some time with your family and friends.
Go enjoy it and Merry Christmas to all!
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Why Reid Urban Wants You to See "Concussion"
As you are well aware, concussions are no laughing matter. They happen in hockey lots of times. Marian Hossa and Chris Pronger are among those who have had concussions in the NHL. Chris Pronger is currently retired and dealing with problems of memory because of the concussions he stained on the ice. Well, as you are well aware, the movie "Concussion" starring Will Smith is out in theaters on Christmas and I, for one, am going to go see that movie. There is one industry that doesn't want you to go see it: The NFL.
Yes, a few days ago, Katie Couric of Yahoo released an article explaining why the NFL doesn't want people to go see Concussion. They even get more details about concussions linked to suicides from the parents of Adrian Robinson. Robinson was a former linebacker who committed suicide at age 25 and was later found to have been dealing with the effects of CTE, a degenerative brain disease that causes problems with memory and function of the brain. Couric asks experts about the impact of CTE and one expert, Dr. Ann McKee of Boston University states that "Individuals with CTE usually experience cognitive problems - memory lapses or behavioral systems like depression or irritability." So, as you can see, CTE is a major problem that we, as a society, are trying to eradicate to protect our players and to protect people who play football or who want to play football.
So, in this movie, the NFL is the one being put under the microscope, as the article states. Dr. Bennet Omalu is the man who linked football to CTE, and this movie chronicles the case about former NFL Hall of Famer Mike Webster, who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and died at 50 from a heart attack. Omalu does an autopsy on him and later finds that he does have CTE and tries to get the NFL to reason with him. Well, surprisingly enough, the NFL turns a blind eye to this, and that's why the NFL doesn't want people to see this movie. It basically scrutinizes them for turning a blind eye to this important finding in health. Football players are dying of CTE and the NFL says it is not because of their game. So they try to ignore Omalu's claims. In the movie, even his own allies and superiors are trying to deter him from going any further. Does Omalu listen? No. He keeps going and tells people to tell the truth and to acknowledge the presence of CTE being linked to playing football.
Although the NFL has enhanced safety for its players to help them prevent CTE and brain damage, it almost feels like they should've done something back then, so that Mike Webster could still be here talking with us today. To me, if the movie is confirming what the NFL has done and that it turned a blind eye to this very important issue, then the people responsible for siding with the NFL need to be ousted from their positions. It's a very important message. Putting business and the prospect of trying to get money over peoples' lives and their health is a thing that sickens me. I care about every individual and living the best and healthiest life that they can. And here, if the NFL is saying "Screw you. This is a business. We're gonna keep you in the game no matter how painful it is," then get out. Just get out! Roger Goodell probably should've been gone a long time ago, but this movie might put the icing on the cake for him. He's already had problems with players, like Tom Brady in Deflategate or Ray Lewis in the domestic abuse incident, but now he has a problem with players who might have CTE.
In April, a federal judge approved a billion-dollar class action lawsuit settlement brought by thousands of former players who claimed the NFL buried the dangers and consequences of playing football. I applaud them for bringing this forward because like I said, if the NFL did something about this, everybody responsible should not even be part of the NFL. They could've come out and said "We acknowledge this. We're going to take every precaution we can to protect our players," but they didn't. They just let them play on and they kept getting hurt and hurt and hurt and nobody said something. To me, that smells foul.
So, for me, I want you to go see this movie. This movie tells the truth. This movie tells what the NFL did and holds them accountable for all the damage they have done to their players. I want this movie to be the truth. There are thousands of football players out there right now who demand to know why the NFL covered this up, why they allowed players back out onto the field, and why they try to close the door on a man who found out what happened and tried to get the league to understand what is happening. I want every person, every corporation, and every business in the world to understand that money is not the most important thing in the world, it's the people. The people are important and having them healthy is the most crucial thing you can have. Forget about racking up thousands of dollars to line your own pocket. Think about those who want to be healthy, who want to live their lives with families and be able to go home every day and be with their families and kids and wives. The NFL may have taken that away for many football players. I want accountability. The NFL may have acknowledged this, but if the movie is coming out, then they missed saying something. And that's what I want to see. I want to see the miss. And I want you to see it too. I want you to know what happened. Bennet Omalu was trying to get his research onto the NFL's desk and they tried to throw it aside, saying it's "evolving" or "completely false," but it's not. And if they have known about it for years, well shame on them.
Concussions are no picnic and nobody should have to go through them. We should be able to protect our people and let them live healthy lives and go home to their families and be able to spend time with them. Every human being is an important one and that's what I believe. Even those I don't know well or know at all, I still care about them too. And those who play football, I especially care about. Because every day, I want them to win or lose as a healthy individual. That's what's important. Forget about money. Forget about politics. Focus on the health and well-being of our players, our warriors, and every other human being that lives on this planet. Care about them. Let them live healthy and have a long life. Let's do that.
So go see the movie. Forget what the NFL is. They are trying to save face and I would say Forget Face. Go see it. Go see what the NFL has done. I will. And I hope this movie brings some hope and light to those who are living with CTE right now. We already have lost many promising players to suicides and deaths linked to CTE, like Webster and Robinson and even Junior Seau. Let's stop another one from happening. In my words inspired by Bennet Omalu (or Will Smith): Go see the movie "Concussion." Go see it!!
To see the Yahoo! article about why the NFL doesn't want you to see Concussion, go to: http://news.yahoo.com/why-the-nfl-doesnt-want-you-to-see-concussion-162042545.html. This article by Katie Couric and Steven Shapiro.
Yes, a few days ago, Katie Couric of Yahoo released an article explaining why the NFL doesn't want people to go see Concussion. They even get more details about concussions linked to suicides from the parents of Adrian Robinson. Robinson was a former linebacker who committed suicide at age 25 and was later found to have been dealing with the effects of CTE, a degenerative brain disease that causes problems with memory and function of the brain. Couric asks experts about the impact of CTE and one expert, Dr. Ann McKee of Boston University states that "Individuals with CTE usually experience cognitive problems - memory lapses or behavioral systems like depression or irritability." So, as you can see, CTE is a major problem that we, as a society, are trying to eradicate to protect our players and to protect people who play football or who want to play football.
So, in this movie, the NFL is the one being put under the microscope, as the article states. Dr. Bennet Omalu is the man who linked football to CTE, and this movie chronicles the case about former NFL Hall of Famer Mike Webster, who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and died at 50 from a heart attack. Omalu does an autopsy on him and later finds that he does have CTE and tries to get the NFL to reason with him. Well, surprisingly enough, the NFL turns a blind eye to this, and that's why the NFL doesn't want people to see this movie. It basically scrutinizes them for turning a blind eye to this important finding in health. Football players are dying of CTE and the NFL says it is not because of their game. So they try to ignore Omalu's claims. In the movie, even his own allies and superiors are trying to deter him from going any further. Does Omalu listen? No. He keeps going and tells people to tell the truth and to acknowledge the presence of CTE being linked to playing football.
Although the NFL has enhanced safety for its players to help them prevent CTE and brain damage, it almost feels like they should've done something back then, so that Mike Webster could still be here talking with us today. To me, if the movie is confirming what the NFL has done and that it turned a blind eye to this very important issue, then the people responsible for siding with the NFL need to be ousted from their positions. It's a very important message. Putting business and the prospect of trying to get money over peoples' lives and their health is a thing that sickens me. I care about every individual and living the best and healthiest life that they can. And here, if the NFL is saying "Screw you. This is a business. We're gonna keep you in the game no matter how painful it is," then get out. Just get out! Roger Goodell probably should've been gone a long time ago, but this movie might put the icing on the cake for him. He's already had problems with players, like Tom Brady in Deflategate or Ray Lewis in the domestic abuse incident, but now he has a problem with players who might have CTE.
In April, a federal judge approved a billion-dollar class action lawsuit settlement brought by thousands of former players who claimed the NFL buried the dangers and consequences of playing football. I applaud them for bringing this forward because like I said, if the NFL did something about this, everybody responsible should not even be part of the NFL. They could've come out and said "We acknowledge this. We're going to take every precaution we can to protect our players," but they didn't. They just let them play on and they kept getting hurt and hurt and hurt and nobody said something. To me, that smells foul.
So, for me, I want you to go see this movie. This movie tells the truth. This movie tells what the NFL did and holds them accountable for all the damage they have done to their players. I want this movie to be the truth. There are thousands of football players out there right now who demand to know why the NFL covered this up, why they allowed players back out onto the field, and why they try to close the door on a man who found out what happened and tried to get the league to understand what is happening. I want every person, every corporation, and every business in the world to understand that money is not the most important thing in the world, it's the people. The people are important and having them healthy is the most crucial thing you can have. Forget about racking up thousands of dollars to line your own pocket. Think about those who want to be healthy, who want to live their lives with families and be able to go home every day and be with their families and kids and wives. The NFL may have taken that away for many football players. I want accountability. The NFL may have acknowledged this, but if the movie is coming out, then they missed saying something. And that's what I want to see. I want to see the miss. And I want you to see it too. I want you to know what happened. Bennet Omalu was trying to get his research onto the NFL's desk and they tried to throw it aside, saying it's "evolving" or "completely false," but it's not. And if they have known about it for years, well shame on them.
Concussions are no picnic and nobody should have to go through them. We should be able to protect our people and let them live healthy lives and go home to their families and be able to spend time with them. Every human being is an important one and that's what I believe. Even those I don't know well or know at all, I still care about them too. And those who play football, I especially care about. Because every day, I want them to win or lose as a healthy individual. That's what's important. Forget about money. Forget about politics. Focus on the health and well-being of our players, our warriors, and every other human being that lives on this planet. Care about them. Let them live healthy and have a long life. Let's do that.
So go see the movie. Forget what the NFL is. They are trying to save face and I would say Forget Face. Go see it. Go see what the NFL has done. I will. And I hope this movie brings some hope and light to those who are living with CTE right now. We already have lost many promising players to suicides and deaths linked to CTE, like Webster and Robinson and even Junior Seau. Let's stop another one from happening. In my words inspired by Bennet Omalu (or Will Smith): Go see the movie "Concussion." Go see it!!
To see the Yahoo! article about why the NFL doesn't want you to see Concussion, go to: http://news.yahoo.com/why-the-nfl-doesnt-want-you-to-see-concussion-162042545.html. This article by Katie Couric and Steven Shapiro.
Worst NHL Players Going Into Christmas
It may be Christmas, but some surprising players in the NHL are heading into that break not on good terms with their play this season. The three-day break for players begins Wednesday and because of that, there's really no chance we would change our perception of them going into the holiday season. So let's take a look at the six players so far this season who have disappointed us:
Ryan Kesler (Anaheim Ducks): Oh, I wish he didn't end up having a disappointing season so far, but he has. The Ducks had signed him to a six-year, $41.25 million that doesn't kick in until next season, but if his play keeps up like this, the Ducks will be sure to want their money back. Kesler has four goals and 12 points, currently ranked fifth on the Ducks, and has been a major part of the Ducks' woes. He and Ryan Getzlaf were expected to be the mean tandem at center ice, but that hasn't been the case so far this season. His strength production is also down to 0.7 points in 60 minutes. Usually when the Ducks have problems like this early on, they don't really recover until next season. The Ducks don't want to wait til next season, so Kesler's gotta find some way in the next couple of games to get his production back up or else they'll be out of the playoff picture for good.
Marian Gaborik (Los Angeles Kings): The Los Angeles Kings have been known to bring players that haven't done well with their recent clubs and somehow find success. Well, this season, Marian Gaborik hasn't found success. He currently only has seven goals and 12 points and he usually posts 60 points in a season. That means Gaborik's gonna have to go rapid-fire on point production if he expects to get to 60 by the end of the season. The other problem is that he's on the line with Anze Kopitar, who's been having a great season so far. Gaborik's even-strength production of 1.1 points out of 60 is the worst of his career. The good news for the Kings is that they lead the division. The bad news is that if Gaborik can't get his point production back up to speed, they may fall out of that top spot.
Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins): Wowser! Here's a guy I never thought would get on this list. By far, he is one of the best players in the game, and that's why we hold him to such high expectations. But right now, he is falling way short. He has only six goals and 22 points, and his 6.5% scoring rate is less than his normal amount. The bigger surprise is that they actually do better in play and creating scoring chances when Crosby is on the bench. But like a big star, we expect him to snap out of this slump. Like James Harden in Houston, his poor play has already gotten a coach fired, so even though the whole state of the season so far is not on him, if the Penguins don't get better, it will all be on him and that's not fair to a guy who means so much to the Penguins and who got them a Stanley Cup championship at one point.
Dan Girardi (New York Rangers): Girard has been dealing with a knee injury lately, which is why he has not been on the ice much for the New York Rangers, but the Rangers players are actually driving the play 10% more when Girardi's on the bench. Ryan McDonagh, his primary partner on defense, is actually doing better when Girardi's not on the ice, playing a 53% possessed player without him while playing 38.6% player with him. If this is all about an injury issue, I would suggest the Rangers keep him out of the lineup while he rests that knee. Hey, if they play better without him, might as well just do that until he's ready to come back.
Matt Carle (Tampa Bay Lightning): For some reason, we don't hear much from Tampa Bay because they play in Florida, where basketball and football take all the glory. But for Matt Carle, who is the most expensive defenseman that the Lightning have right now, he has no points in 31 games. You can't have that. The Lightning are lucky enough to have Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman, but for Carle, he's gotta be better than this. He is also the worst possession blue-liner for the Lightning right now. Like Crosby and Girardi, when he's on the bench, the Lightning do better with puck possession and skating up the ice. No points is unacceptable to any player who is the most expensive player the team has. He might be moved if he can't somehow find a way to help the Lightning propel the puck into the offensive zone more often.
Jonathan Bernier (Toronto Maple Leafs): You know, every year, I'm always hoping that Jonathan Bernier can play with a Maple Leafs team that can help him in the defensive end. Well, maybe his struggles this season are what the Maple Leafs wanted so they can land a high draft pick and get a goaltender. But coach Mike Babcock is not liking this from him with a 3.21 goals-against-average and a .889 save percentage. He was supposed to be the Number 1 netminder but those numbers are not No. 1 worthy. Bernier started this season 0-8-3 before being sent down on a conditioning assignment, and has allowed three or more goals nine times in the 14 games he has started. He might be shipped out for good if he can't get any help from defensemen.
I know we expected more from these players this season, especially with Crosby, Kesler, and Gaborik, but if your production is down when the team depends on it most, you might be looking at being shipped out from your respective teams. Now, I grant you, this is only early in the season and we still have four more months to go, but four months can come quick to the NHL players and if they want a legitimate shot to win the Stanley Cup, they have to find a way to get their production back up to the way it was before. Let's hope the Christmas season gives them some time to reflect on what happened and what they need to do to get better.
Ryan Kesler (Anaheim Ducks): Oh, I wish he didn't end up having a disappointing season so far, but he has. The Ducks had signed him to a six-year, $41.25 million that doesn't kick in until next season, but if his play keeps up like this, the Ducks will be sure to want their money back. Kesler has four goals and 12 points, currently ranked fifth on the Ducks, and has been a major part of the Ducks' woes. He and Ryan Getzlaf were expected to be the mean tandem at center ice, but that hasn't been the case so far this season. His strength production is also down to 0.7 points in 60 minutes. Usually when the Ducks have problems like this early on, they don't really recover until next season. The Ducks don't want to wait til next season, so Kesler's gotta find some way in the next couple of games to get his production back up or else they'll be out of the playoff picture for good.
Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins): Wowser! Here's a guy I never thought would get on this list. By far, he is one of the best players in the game, and that's why we hold him to such high expectations. But right now, he is falling way short. He has only six goals and 22 points, and his 6.5% scoring rate is less than his normal amount. The bigger surprise is that they actually do better in play and creating scoring chances when Crosby is on the bench. But like a big star, we expect him to snap out of this slump. Like James Harden in Houston, his poor play has already gotten a coach fired, so even though the whole state of the season so far is not on him, if the Penguins don't get better, it will all be on him and that's not fair to a guy who means so much to the Penguins and who got them a Stanley Cup championship at one point.
Dan Girardi (New York Rangers): Girard has been dealing with a knee injury lately, which is why he has not been on the ice much for the New York Rangers, but the Rangers players are actually driving the play 10% more when Girardi's on the bench. Ryan McDonagh, his primary partner on defense, is actually doing better when Girardi's not on the ice, playing a 53% possessed player without him while playing 38.6% player with him. If this is all about an injury issue, I would suggest the Rangers keep him out of the lineup while he rests that knee. Hey, if they play better without him, might as well just do that until he's ready to come back.
Matt Carle (Tampa Bay Lightning): For some reason, we don't hear much from Tampa Bay because they play in Florida, where basketball and football take all the glory. But for Matt Carle, who is the most expensive defenseman that the Lightning have right now, he has no points in 31 games. You can't have that. The Lightning are lucky enough to have Victor Hedman and Anton Stralman, but for Carle, he's gotta be better than this. He is also the worst possession blue-liner for the Lightning right now. Like Crosby and Girardi, when he's on the bench, the Lightning do better with puck possession and skating up the ice. No points is unacceptable to any player who is the most expensive player the team has. He might be moved if he can't somehow find a way to help the Lightning propel the puck into the offensive zone more often.
Jonathan Bernier (Toronto Maple Leafs): You know, every year, I'm always hoping that Jonathan Bernier can play with a Maple Leafs team that can help him in the defensive end. Well, maybe his struggles this season are what the Maple Leafs wanted so they can land a high draft pick and get a goaltender. But coach Mike Babcock is not liking this from him with a 3.21 goals-against-average and a .889 save percentage. He was supposed to be the Number 1 netminder but those numbers are not No. 1 worthy. Bernier started this season 0-8-3 before being sent down on a conditioning assignment, and has allowed three or more goals nine times in the 14 games he has started. He might be shipped out for good if he can't get any help from defensemen.
I know we expected more from these players this season, especially with Crosby, Kesler, and Gaborik, but if your production is down when the team depends on it most, you might be looking at being shipped out from your respective teams. Now, I grant you, this is only early in the season and we still have four more months to go, but four months can come quick to the NHL players and if they want a legitimate shot to win the Stanley Cup, they have to find a way to get their production back up to the way it was before. Let's hope the Christmas season gives them some time to reflect on what happened and what they need to do to get better.
Sharp, Niemi Best Former Team
Well, the Chicago Blackhawks certainly didn't look like their usual Blackhawks going into the American Airlines Center, and it certainly didn't help that two of their former teammates were playing for the Stars.
This was Patrick Sharp's first regular-season game playing against the Blackhawks and he didn't disappoint. He scored 11 goals into the third period to give Dallas the 2-0 lead and Antti Niemi played a spectacular game in net, leading the Stars to a 4-0 win over the Blackhawks on Tuesday night.
This meeting was the first of five between the likely Western Conference contenders. It featured the league's top three scorers in Patrick Kane of the Blackhawks and Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin of the Stars.
Said Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews of the loss: "They just grabbed the momentum and never let us get it back. I think we didn't do what we had to do to take it back, either."
That was true. Dallas has proven itself this season to take the lead and never let up. In fact, Dallas is becoming a big threat to the rest of the Western Conference because of that. They have proven scorers in Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn to help them get it done. They also have the former Blackhawks in Patrick Sharp and Antti Niemi, who have proven they can win and be a factor in contributing to a team's win, and I think that's what the Stars needed this offseason and they have it, leading the Central Division and by some margin.
I don't think this loss hurts the Chicago Blackhawks, at least maybe not yet. The former Stars players wanted to stick it to their old team and I don't blame it. Stan Bowman decided he didn't want Patrick Sharp around anymore and he just wanted to show Bowman he can still be a factor, no matter where he plays. I'm sure Bowman is happy for Sharp playing well, just maybe not against his team. Either way, the Stars still lead the Central Division and that means if the Blackhawks are meant to play for the Stanley Cup this year, there's gonna have to keep winning because the Stars somehow manage to keep winning.
This meeting was the first of five between the likely Western Conference contenders. It featured the league's top three scorers in Patrick Kane of the Blackhawks and Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin of the Stars.
Said Blackhawks' Jonathan Toews of the loss: "They just grabbed the momentum and never let us get it back. I think we didn't do what we had to do to take it back, either."
That was true. Dallas has proven itself this season to take the lead and never let up. In fact, Dallas is becoming a big threat to the rest of the Western Conference because of that. They have proven scorers in Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn to help them get it done. They also have the former Blackhawks in Patrick Sharp and Antti Niemi, who have proven they can win and be a factor in contributing to a team's win, and I think that's what the Stars needed this offseason and they have it, leading the Central Division and by some margin.
I don't think this loss hurts the Chicago Blackhawks, at least maybe not yet. The former Stars players wanted to stick it to their old team and I don't blame it. Stan Bowman decided he didn't want Patrick Sharp around anymore and he just wanted to show Bowman he can still be a factor, no matter where he plays. I'm sure Bowman is happy for Sharp playing well, just maybe not against his team. Either way, the Stars still lead the Central Division and that means if the Blackhawks are meant to play for the Stanley Cup this year, there's gonna have to keep winning because the Stars somehow manage to keep winning.
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
First Attempt at AHL: Bakersfield Condors
So as you know, this is an NHL blog, which means everything NHL: signings, scores, opinions, you name it. Well, very recently, I've been attending AHL games, in particular Stockton Heat games against the Bakersfield Condors. Only two times so far and in those two times, the Condors have won by a score of 2-1 in the first game and 3-2 in the second game. The AHL might not be exciting for most of us, but for those in the Central Valley, especially in Stockton and Bakersfield, I'm guessing they are grateful for some hockey, no matter what level it is. So for my first attempt at AHL, I'm going recap the game between the Bakersfield Condors and the Ontario Reign. Bear with me here!
The Bakersfield Condors, who are 11-11-2-1 so far this season, just went into the Christmas break with a point after a 2-1 overtime loss to the Ontario Reign on a Sunday afternoon at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario. Matthew Ford scored the only goal for the Condors while Joel Lowry scored for Ontario while Sean Backman scored the overtime goal for the Reign. The Condors were the only ones that scored on the power play, while the Ontario Reign had none on their power play opportunities. The Condors' Ben Scrivens stopped 24 of 26 shots while the Reigns' Peter Budaj stopped 19 of 20.
The Ontario Reign look very good this season at 16-4-2-1, just like their counterparts in the NHL, the Los Angeles Kings. Meanwhile, the Condors are at .500 and looking for some kind of spark. They host the Stockton Heat the day after Christmas and will be looking for another win against this team this season. For a while, I always thought the Condors would be a good team coming out of the gate, but that certainly belonged to Ontario after winning the Calder Cup last year.
Well, the Condors go into Christmas looking good, but they can certainly use a little more offense in their game. Maybe with the Stockton Heat coming to town, they can get that, but they have to find it somehow.
Well, that's my first attempt at the AHL. I know, my analysis isn't that good, but it's the AHL. Players are always being recalled and sent back to the NHL, but I'll be going to a lot of games this season, particularly the Stockton Heat. Hopefully, I'll get better at this as the season progresses along.
The Bakersfield Condors, who are 11-11-2-1 so far this season, just went into the Christmas break with a point after a 2-1 overtime loss to the Ontario Reign on a Sunday afternoon at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario. Matthew Ford scored the only goal for the Condors while Joel Lowry scored for Ontario while Sean Backman scored the overtime goal for the Reign. The Condors were the only ones that scored on the power play, while the Ontario Reign had none on their power play opportunities. The Condors' Ben Scrivens stopped 24 of 26 shots while the Reigns' Peter Budaj stopped 19 of 20.
The Ontario Reign look very good this season at 16-4-2-1, just like their counterparts in the NHL, the Los Angeles Kings. Meanwhile, the Condors are at .500 and looking for some kind of spark. They host the Stockton Heat the day after Christmas and will be looking for another win against this team this season. For a while, I always thought the Condors would be a good team coming out of the gate, but that certainly belonged to Ontario after winning the Calder Cup last year.
Well, the Condors go into Christmas looking good, but they can certainly use a little more offense in their game. Maybe with the Stockton Heat coming to town, they can get that, but they have to find it somehow.
Well, that's my first attempt at the AHL. I know, my analysis isn't that good, but it's the AHL. Players are always being recalled and sent back to the NHL, but I'll be going to a lot of games this season, particularly the Stockton Heat. Hopefully, I'll get better at this as the season progresses along.
Spurgeon to Remain With Wild
The Minnesota Wild will be having one of their reliable defensemen around for a little while longer.
They have signed Jared Spurgeon to a four-year contract worth $20.75 million that begins next season. The deal was announced on Monday, before the Wild played the Dallas Stars.
So far this season, the 26-year-old defenseman has four goals and 12 assists with a plus-four rating through 31 games. He also has 65 blocked shots this season, a team-high. Only defenseman Ryan Suter has been on the ice more than Spurgeon.
Certainly, the Wild want to lock up one of their best defenseman for a few more years. 65 blocked shots is impressive and helps his goalie. The Wild are currently fourth in the Central, behind Dallas, St. Louis, and Chicago. If they want to make a move and jump to the top of the Central, they certainly need Jared Spurgeon. But good for Jared Spurgeon that he's with a club that wants him long-term and for a guy who definitely wants to be there.
Good luck, Minnesota!
So far this season, the 26-year-old defenseman has four goals and 12 assists with a plus-four rating through 31 games. He also has 65 blocked shots this season, a team-high. Only defenseman Ryan Suter has been on the ice more than Spurgeon.
Certainly, the Wild want to lock up one of their best defenseman for a few more years. 65 blocked shots is impressive and helps his goalie. The Wild are currently fourth in the Central, behind Dallas, St. Louis, and Chicago. If they want to make a move and jump to the top of the Central, they certainly need Jared Spurgeon. But good for Jared Spurgeon that he's with a club that wants him long-term and for a guy who definitely wants to be there.
Good luck, Minnesota!
Blackhawks To Win Another Title?
Could the Chicago Blackhawks actually go for a fourth title?
If there's anything GM Stan Bowman can do, it's that he can rebuild on the fly and still keep this team elite in the NHL. He knows how to disassemble the team, figure out what parts need to go out and what needs to come in, and tie it all back together to make one superstar team. Just remember that he did the same thing after the 2010 and 2013 Stanley Cup titles.
Whether or not Stan Bowman's genius will show itself will be left undecided until the playoffs, but right now, he's putting together the right tools to make another Stanley Cup championship seem possible.
After the championship last season, Bowman had to take care of salary cap issues, and cut ties with Brandon Saad and Patrick Sharp. He also allowed Johnny Oduya to hit the free agent market last summer. Many other depth players also were lost to free agency.
Despite all these lost players, the Blackhawks still come in with the fourth-best record in the NHL. So how did they do it? Well, there are many factors contributing this season to the Blackhawks' stellar fall. There's the rookie Artemi Panarin who plays like Patrick Kane and is racking up the points on offense and replacing the ones that were lost this offseason.
Another major factor is Artem Anisimov. He came over in the Brandon Saad trade. Right now, he is the No. 2 center that the Blackhawks have been trying to find. Right now, he is on pace to score between 20 and 25 goals, maybe even more if he gets the puck a little more often.
I know it's hard for this team to replace Johnny Oduya, who's been a stellar force on that team for many years. But look no further than defense Trevor Van Riemsdyk and he has been averaging 20 points a game helping to become an effective presence on the defensive line for the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks originally had Trevor Daley, but was later traded to Pittsburgh because he didn't quite fit into the Chicago system.
Goalie Corey Crawford is starting to step up. Right now, he already has five shutouts and his GAA of 2.16 and save percentage of .927 are better than last season. Not only his performance, but those of the star players like Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are effective as usual, and Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Brent Seabrook prove to be among the NHL's most defensive trio.
I like how the Blackhawks have played so far. They certainly are a playoff team, day in and day out. The core players are looking stellar as usual and the up-and-coming players are starting to make a drastic impact on how the Blackhawks play. The one thing I wasn't certain of was Trevor Daley, who did get traded because he didn't fit into the system. I originally thought he would fit into the system, but after watching a couple of games with him in them this season, it clearly felt he didn't understand what the Blackhawks were trying to achieve. Not he goes to Pittsburgh while Rob Scuderi gets back. We'll see if Scuderi can handle the Blackhawks system that Trevor Daley could not.
Right now, this is an elite team. This is probably the best team in the NHL so far. It may be December, but for the Chicago Blackhawks, what they do early in the season usually helps them later in the season and gets them into the playoffs. So right now, they look like the favorites to win it all. Those Blackhawks are looking awesome!
If there's anything GM Stan Bowman can do, it's that he can rebuild on the fly and still keep this team elite in the NHL. He knows how to disassemble the team, figure out what parts need to go out and what needs to come in, and tie it all back together to make one superstar team. Just remember that he did the same thing after the 2010 and 2013 Stanley Cup titles.
Whether or not Stan Bowman's genius will show itself will be left undecided until the playoffs, but right now, he's putting together the right tools to make another Stanley Cup championship seem possible.
After the championship last season, Bowman had to take care of salary cap issues, and cut ties with Brandon Saad and Patrick Sharp. He also allowed Johnny Oduya to hit the free agent market last summer. Many other depth players also were lost to free agency.
Despite all these lost players, the Blackhawks still come in with the fourth-best record in the NHL. So how did they do it? Well, there are many factors contributing this season to the Blackhawks' stellar fall. There's the rookie Artemi Panarin who plays like Patrick Kane and is racking up the points on offense and replacing the ones that were lost this offseason.
Another major factor is Artem Anisimov. He came over in the Brandon Saad trade. Right now, he is the No. 2 center that the Blackhawks have been trying to find. Right now, he is on pace to score between 20 and 25 goals, maybe even more if he gets the puck a little more often.
I know it's hard for this team to replace Johnny Oduya, who's been a stellar force on that team for many years. But look no further than defense Trevor Van Riemsdyk and he has been averaging 20 points a game helping to become an effective presence on the defensive line for the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks originally had Trevor Daley, but was later traded to Pittsburgh because he didn't quite fit into the Chicago system.
Goalie Corey Crawford is starting to step up. Right now, he already has five shutouts and his GAA of 2.16 and save percentage of .927 are better than last season. Not only his performance, but those of the star players like Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are effective as usual, and Duncan Keith, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Brent Seabrook prove to be among the NHL's most defensive trio.
I like how the Blackhawks have played so far. They certainly are a playoff team, day in and day out. The core players are looking stellar as usual and the up-and-coming players are starting to make a drastic impact on how the Blackhawks play. The one thing I wasn't certain of was Trevor Daley, who did get traded because he didn't fit into the system. I originally thought he would fit into the system, but after watching a couple of games with him in them this season, it clearly felt he didn't understand what the Blackhawks were trying to achieve. Not he goes to Pittsburgh while Rob Scuderi gets back. We'll see if Scuderi can handle the Blackhawks system that Trevor Daley could not.
Right now, this is an elite team. This is probably the best team in the NHL so far. It may be December, but for the Chicago Blackhawks, what they do early in the season usually helps them later in the season and gets them into the playoffs. So right now, they look like the favorites to win it all. Those Blackhawks are looking awesome!
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Are the Oilers a Playoff Team?
The Edmonton Oilers? A playoff team? Some might find it hard to believe. They've already five consecutive wins at home and have been doing pretty well without Connor McDavid, their bright, young star. They may not be reliving the Stanley Cup days of the 1980s, but the drumbeats of the playoffs seem to be coming closer and closer.
They've missed the playoffs for nine consecutive years and I would like to see them get back into the playoffs. During their current winning streak, they've won games against the Dallas Stars and the New York Rangers.
Even though they have played well at home, they still have some work to do on the road. No doubt, however, that they have been the NHL's most improved team over the past three weeks. So why are the Oilers turning the corner?
Well, for starters, there's Leon Draitsaitl from the AHL. He has nine goals and 26 points in 20 games. He is already looking like one of the top performers in this game. He also had four assists in that win over the Rangers. Another big reason is their offense. You might have thought the offense would sputter without Connor McDavid being there, but think again. The high draft picks the Oilers have picked in recent years is starting to pay big time. Taylor Hall is having a great season, with 14 goals and 34 points in 30 games, as well as talented seasons by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle, and Teddy Purcell.
Todd McLellan, I believe, should get a lot of credit for what he has been doing in Edmonton. The expectations was that the former Sharks coach would clean up the team's efficiency and it really is starting to show up. The defensive game will still be something to be taken care of, but I think McLellan is really changing the attitude that this team brings in, day in and day out.
The Oilers look like a team on the rise. They are optimistic about making the playoffs, and I'm happy that they're finally becoming relevant in the league again. Let's be honest, the NHL isn't really doing any justice when their top teams aren't doing well. Although the league was great with having the Chicago Blackhawks and the New York Rangers doing well, they would've been even better if the Oilers were in there. And now they look like they're ready to get in. We're still in December, no doubt about that, but right now, they look like a dangerous team that everyone needs to watch out for.
They've missed the playoffs for nine consecutive years and I would like to see them get back into the playoffs. During their current winning streak, they've won games against the Dallas Stars and the New York Rangers.
Even though they have played well at home, they still have some work to do on the road. No doubt, however, that they have been the NHL's most improved team over the past three weeks. So why are the Oilers turning the corner?
Well, for starters, there's Leon Draitsaitl from the AHL. He has nine goals and 26 points in 20 games. He is already looking like one of the top performers in this game. He also had four assists in that win over the Rangers. Another big reason is their offense. You might have thought the offense would sputter without Connor McDavid being there, but think again. The high draft picks the Oilers have picked in recent years is starting to pay big time. Taylor Hall is having a great season, with 14 goals and 34 points in 30 games, as well as talented seasons by Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle, and Teddy Purcell.
Todd McLellan, I believe, should get a lot of credit for what he has been doing in Edmonton. The expectations was that the former Sharks coach would clean up the team's efficiency and it really is starting to show up. The defensive game will still be something to be taken care of, but I think McLellan is really changing the attitude that this team brings in, day in and day out.
The Oilers look like a team on the rise. They are optimistic about making the playoffs, and I'm happy that they're finally becoming relevant in the league again. Let's be honest, the NHL isn't really doing any justice when their top teams aren't doing well. Although the league was great with having the Chicago Blackhawks and the New York Rangers doing well, they would've been even better if the Oilers were in there. And now they look like they're ready to get in. We're still in December, no doubt about that, but right now, they look like a dangerous team that everyone needs to watch out for.
Penguins Fire A Coach
Looks like the Penguins are heading a new direction when it comes to coaching. This Saturday, they fired coach Mike Johnston. Johnston had been under fire from Penguins fans that he was being too conservative when it came to his players and their play on-the-ice. Others can speculate that he may have been two democratic when it comes to management of his players. Either way, he's gone and the coach for their AHL affiliate Mike Sullivan will take over for those duties. General manager Jim Rutherford hopes that Sullivan will make the players more accountable for their actions. Rutherford also called him an unknown to the Penguins players and he believes that will allow him to be listened to and that the players will play harder and take responsibility for their actions when it comes to the ice.
Sullivan, who was a former head coach with Bruins, takes over a team that is 15-10-3 and is outside of the playoff picture right now. Apparently, that record is not deemed "acceptable" by the Penguins management or by the fans. The Penguins are hoping a little new blood will help the Penguins win the Stanley Cup again, and from their AHL affiliate. Last time they did it, it was with Dan Bylsma who led them to the Stanley Cup championship.
As far as I know when it comes to the Pittsburgh Penguins, they expect to be in the playoff hunt every year and are expected to compete for the title on almost a yearly basis. I don't know Mike Johnston that well or where he played before this, but if the Penguins are saying that he's not holding players accountable for what they did on the ice, then there's a change that needs to be done. The Penguins obviously had to do something, because their expectations are always high and they always expect to compete with the top dogs of the NHL. Right now, that's not looking like the case. I'm hoping this Mike Sullivan guy can change the culture that is the Penguins right now and get them back into the playoff mix. They're a good team but they need a strong coach that can help fill the mold and if Rutherford believes that Sullivan can do that, by all means, let him try.
The Penguins should be able to bounce back and get back into the playoff picture but it requires some strong willpower and accountability and that's two things the Penguins lack right now. So if Mike Sullivan knows what he's doing and he can get the players to listen to him, then I think he's walking into a great situation that allows him to have success. Good luck, Penguins.
As far as I know when it comes to the Pittsburgh Penguins, they expect to be in the playoff hunt every year and are expected to compete for the title on almost a yearly basis. I don't know Mike Johnston that well or where he played before this, but if the Penguins are saying that he's not holding players accountable for what they did on the ice, then there's a change that needs to be done. The Penguins obviously had to do something, because their expectations are always high and they always expect to compete with the top dogs of the NHL. Right now, that's not looking like the case. I'm hoping this Mike Sullivan guy can change the culture that is the Penguins right now and get them back into the playoff mix. They're a good team but they need a strong coach that can help fill the mold and if Rutherford believes that Sullivan can do that, by all means, let him try.
The Penguins should be able to bounce back and get back into the playoff picture but it requires some strong willpower and accountability and that's two things the Penguins lack right now. So if Mike Sullivan knows what he's doing and he can get the players to listen to him, then I think he's walking into a great situation that allows him to have success. Good luck, Penguins.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
The End of the Blue Jackets Season?
The Columbus Blue Jackets started off in an 0-8-0 hole to start the season. Now, thanks to a recent injury by one of their important players, the season now looks like a lost cause.
Their goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has a lower-body injury and is expected to miss three weeks, according to The Columbus Dispatch. The injury occurred during a game against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.
Bobrovsky had been significantly improving this season, posting a 2.52 GAA and a .916 save percentage. His numbers may not be great but they are better than what he had been doing before that.
Losing Bobrovsky, I believe, sinks the ship for the Blue Jackets even further. They're already tied with Carolina for the basement of the Metropolitan Division and now it looks like they might not be able to crawl their way back into this. They've already replaced their coach and now they are replacing their goaltender with their backup. Not exactly the type of news they wanted to hear.
The Blue Jackets really have nowhere to go and it looks like their ship will sink this season. I really thought this team had a chance to make it back into the playoffs, but thanks to this bad start and now the loss of their goaltender, it's hard for me to see them getting there this season.
Their goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has a lower-body injury and is expected to miss three weeks, according to The Columbus Dispatch. The injury occurred during a game against the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday.
Bobrovsky had been significantly improving this season, posting a 2.52 GAA and a .916 save percentage. His numbers may not be great but they are better than what he had been doing before that.
Losing Bobrovsky, I believe, sinks the ship for the Blue Jackets even further. They're already tied with Carolina for the basement of the Metropolitan Division and now it looks like they might not be able to crawl their way back into this. They've already replaced their coach and now they are replacing their goaltender with their backup. Not exactly the type of news they wanted to hear.
The Blue Jackets really have nowhere to go and it looks like their ship will sink this season. I really thought this team had a chance to make it back into the playoffs, but thanks to this bad start and now the loss of their goaltender, it's hard for me to see them getting there this season.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
Pascal Dupuis's NHL Career is Over
As a NHL player, it's always sad and upsetting when you have to retire because of a medical condition. Well, unfortunately, an NHL player is being forced out of the NHL because of that.
The Pittsburgh Penguins winger Pascal Dupuis has been forced into retirement because of a blood clot condition that has hampered his ability to produce for the past two seasons. Dupuis is always a popular player in the dressing room and has skated on the line with Sidney Crosby. He's also been a big factor when it comes to the playoffs.
Penguins manager Jim Rutherford said of Dupuis, "I've never seen a man more determined to play and more determined to help his team. Unfortunately, we've reached the point where it's not in the best interest of his health to allow him to do that anymore."
I feel very bad for Dupuis. Health is always something you have to put forward and not enough players in sports understand that. We've seen guys in the NFL play through injuries because they're in the Super Bowl. Some Seahawks players have done that and have been forced to go straight to surgery because of that "Iron Man" factor. But I'm glad to see Dupuis is leaving before it's too late. A blood clot is not something to mess around with, especially if it's hampering your ability. We've seen what happened a couple of seasons ago with Rich Peverley when he fainted on the bench and then we found out he had a medical condition and was forced to retire because of it.
As a person, you should always put your health above any else. You should be able to go out and live a happy life free of conditions and problems. And I'm glad to see that Dupuis is doing just that. I understand this retirement and I do hope he gets well and is able to be with his family and to enjoy the rest of his life going forward. Although it may not be with hockey, we hope he is able to find something he can do free of medical worries and to be happy and living a long life. Good luck, Pascal Dupuis!
The Pittsburgh Penguins winger Pascal Dupuis has been forced into retirement because of a blood clot condition that has hampered his ability to produce for the past two seasons. Dupuis is always a popular player in the dressing room and has skated on the line with Sidney Crosby. He's also been a big factor when it comes to the playoffs.
Penguins manager Jim Rutherford said of Dupuis, "I've never seen a man more determined to play and more determined to help his team. Unfortunately, we've reached the point where it's not in the best interest of his health to allow him to do that anymore."
I feel very bad for Dupuis. Health is always something you have to put forward and not enough players in sports understand that. We've seen guys in the NFL play through injuries because they're in the Super Bowl. Some Seahawks players have done that and have been forced to go straight to surgery because of that "Iron Man" factor. But I'm glad to see Dupuis is leaving before it's too late. A blood clot is not something to mess around with, especially if it's hampering your ability. We've seen what happened a couple of seasons ago with Rich Peverley when he fainted on the bench and then we found out he had a medical condition and was forced to retire because of it.
As a person, you should always put your health above any else. You should be able to go out and live a happy life free of conditions and problems. And I'm glad to see that Dupuis is doing just that. I understand this retirement and I do hope he gets well and is able to be with his family and to enjoy the rest of his life going forward. Although it may not be with hockey, we hope he is able to find something he can do free of medical worries and to be happy and living a long life. Good luck, Pascal Dupuis!
Talking About the Kings
Remember when the Los Angeles Kings lost their first three games of the season? Well, put those to rest. The Kings are 18-5-1 since then and look like they are ready to take the Stanley Cup crown.
Now obviously, it's still a little early to declare them the champs and we still have the playoffs to go through. But in my mind, they are like the Seahawks (my NFL team). They can do damage in the playoffs and they look ready to do that, but there are still months ahead for that.
There are several reasons why the LA Kings should be hard to beat.
1. Their history. The Kings are not the new kids on the street, but they have won a Stanley Cup 18 months ago, and two of them in the past 42 months. The core group has been responsible for most of those Stanley Cup wins, so look for them to do it again once they get there.
2. The puck control. For those of you who are analytical, the Corsi rating for the Kings is 57.6%. That's the best so far. If you don't know what Corsi is, it is the statistical measure of puck possession. That's pretty good for a very dominant team in the league.
3. Doughty is Norris Trophy candidate. Drew Doughty might just be a lock for the Norris Trophy when the awards come. So far, he's averaging 27:42 minutes a game and his Corsi rating is 59.75%. He's a difference-maker in the league, puck heads. Take notice!
4. Hot defense. The Kings are currently second in the league with a 2.07 goals-against-average per game. And Jonathan Quick in goal has also been responsible for that GAA. It's already tough to score against this team.
5. The Right time. Right now, the Kings look as good as anybody and they have the necessary players to win in the NHL again. There's your veterans, such as Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, and Jake Muzzin, and then there's your coach in Darryl Sutter who's been helping to build this team to look like a contender.
If you figure all of these reasons into the Kings' season so far, they look like a dominant threat to win the Stanley Cup. They could be the San Francisco Giants of the NHL. But, like they said, it's still too early. The season started two months ago, and it could easily slip away from them come February or March. But right now, right now, we got a team looking like they can go all the way.
Now obviously, it's still a little early to declare them the champs and we still have the playoffs to go through. But in my mind, they are like the Seahawks (my NFL team). They can do damage in the playoffs and they look ready to do that, but there are still months ahead for that.
There are several reasons why the LA Kings should be hard to beat.
1. Their history. The Kings are not the new kids on the street, but they have won a Stanley Cup 18 months ago, and two of them in the past 42 months. The core group has been responsible for most of those Stanley Cup wins, so look for them to do it again once they get there.
2. The puck control. For those of you who are analytical, the Corsi rating for the Kings is 57.6%. That's the best so far. If you don't know what Corsi is, it is the statistical measure of puck possession. That's pretty good for a very dominant team in the league.
3. Doughty is Norris Trophy candidate. Drew Doughty might just be a lock for the Norris Trophy when the awards come. So far, he's averaging 27:42 minutes a game and his Corsi rating is 59.75%. He's a difference-maker in the league, puck heads. Take notice!
4. Hot defense. The Kings are currently second in the league with a 2.07 goals-against-average per game. And Jonathan Quick in goal has also been responsible for that GAA. It's already tough to score against this team.
5. The Right time. Right now, the Kings look as good as anybody and they have the necessary players to win in the NHL again. There's your veterans, such as Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, and Jake Muzzin, and then there's your coach in Darryl Sutter who's been helping to build this team to look like a contender.
If you figure all of these reasons into the Kings' season so far, they look like a dominant threat to win the Stanley Cup. They could be the San Francisco Giants of the NHL. But, like they said, it's still too early. The season started two months ago, and it could easily slip away from them come February or March. But right now, right now, we got a team looking like they can go all the way.
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