Patriots Linebacker Heading To Browns

When the New England Patriots feel like they don't need a player anymore, they get rid of them. Well, for one Patriots linebacker, it's bye bye to the Patriots and hello to the terrible Cleveland Browns.

Todays, the Patriots traded away linebacker Jamie Collins to the Cleveland Browns for a draft pick. The pick is a compensatory third-round pick if the Browns are awarded one in the upcoming draft in 2017. While this may come as a surprise to the other 31 teams in the league, the fact of the matter is when the Patriots decided they have had enough of a single player that isn't Gronkowski or Brady, they will get rid of you. And it seems Jamie Collins learned that lesson.

Collins' four-year rookie contract is expected to expire after this season and he was asking for "Von Miller money," according to a source that told ESPN's Adam Scheffer, and it seems that when you ask for money that somebody else is making, the Patriots will be quick to get rid of you.

Let me tell Jamie Collins and the rest of the Patriots player that aren't Brady or Gronkowski: The Patriots WILL get rid of you if you ask for too much. Jamie Collins is not Von Miller. He's just not. He's not as fast, as tough, or as physical as Von Miller is. Collins is a great player and an even better one for the Patriots, but he's not Von Miller-like. The Patriots don't win on defense, anyway. They win when the Golden Boy and Spike Man Gronk are out there, marching down the field and getting it into the end zone.

Jamie Collins can get Von Miller money somewhere else. Maybe it's with the Browns,
maybe not. But there's a hard lesson to be learned when it comes to the New England Patriots: They don't listen to any of their players for any reason. I don't know if this trade was about that, but when there was something up in the front office involving them and the player, you can bet that it was about money.

Jamie Collins is going to a team that's 0-8. He might not help them that much, but the Browns do need some defensive help and Jamie Collins can provide that. He's going to have to prove he's worth Von Miller money and whether or not it's with the Browns, who knows. But what you see is what you get, and Jamie Collins seemed to get too greedy with the Patriots and now he's packing his bags for Cleveland. Hey, at least he can go to the World Series or Cavaliers games now.

Chargers Falter Again In Loss To Broncos

The San Diego Chargers seem to look really good one week after being down by 17 points. But this week against a divisional rival, they seemed to return to their old offense-faltering ways.

The Chargers made many errors, specifically on offense and special teams, in a 27-19 loss to the Denver Broncos in Denver. There was a missed Josh Lambo field goal and a blocked extra point. Then there's issues on offense in terms of their offensive line and their quarterback Philip Rivers.

You know, back in 2007, after a terrific 14-2 campaign the season before, the Chargers had a whole bunch of talent and it was easy for Philip Rivers to find the players that could help him and the Chargers succeed. Now, there's not a whole bunch of it and Sunday's game explained why the Chargers need to find some better talent or get better on their special teams and their offense. I mean, this is also a team that scored a 98-yard touchdown against the number one defense in the league, and then after that, nothing. It was the Bolts' longest touchdown since the 2011 season, and that feels like a decade away at this point.

Rivers said after the game, "Our defense kept us in the game and our defense deserves a heck of a lot of credit...Our offense just couldn't ever get over the hump. We had two really good drives, the first drive of the game and the 98-yard drive. Other than that, we couldn't sustain anything."

Yeah, unfortunately, the rest of the game belonged to the Denver Broncos, despite the Chargers playing terrific defense for most of the game. Look, I know running back is a harder position now than ever, especially for a team that tends to utilize a running back a lot, in San Diego. Melvin Gordon needs to get the ball a little more. It's understandable if he gets stopped a lot, but he still pushes for every inch and makes a big play every once in a while. So get the ball to him, and also, try to get Antonio Gates open. He's by far their best receiver and is a terrific threat when he is open. So get the ball to him too.

The Chargers went into Denver but I didn't expect them to walk out with a win, because not only is Denver a tough place to play, but I knew that the Chargers are still trying to figure out how to move on offense. They had two really good drives and I thought that would help them play better for the rest of the game, but it didn't, and Denver's defense showed why it still has the power in this league.

The Chargers have the Titans up next week in San Diego. Although the Titans are not the Broncos, they are still a deep threat, especially in the AFC South, and Marcus Mariota is really becoming a nice quarterback in the NFL. If the Chargers have any chance of winning that game, two things need to happen: Get better on special teams, and try to give the ball to either Melvin Gordon or Antonio Gates.

A lot of positives can be taken out of this game, but the Chargers still have a lot of work to do and hopefully they can regroup and recover from this loss, and take advantage of the Tennessee Titans next Sunday.

Kings Face The Hawks On Halloween Night

The Sacramento Kings got a big win at home on Saturday against a tough and young Timberwolves team and are now 2-1. Tonight, they head out on a five-game East Coast trip starting on Halloween night with the Atlanta Hawks.

The come-from-behind victory on Saturday is one of many reasons to be interested in the next game. The Kings have not won in Atlanta since the 2005-06 season, just about 10 years ago. The Atlanta Hawks are right now at 2-0, after beating the terrible Wizards and the slightly more terrible 76ers. Saturday's 32-point victory for the Hawks shows you how good the Hawks are against bad teams, and although the Kings are now considered bad yet, they still have yet to show they can beat a really good team. They couldn't do it against San Antonio, despite how well they played and how well Cousins played.

DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay are leading the way for this team, and they'll probably do the same tonight, but reserves Ben McLemore and Matt Barnes have also stepped up as key contributors. The Saturday night game showed you that example. McLemore had 13 points in that game, while Barnes added 12 points, nine assists, and five rebounds.

What's going to be interesting tonight is how the Kings will go up against the great front court that is Atlanta. Dwight Howard is the center and he has already put up effort-worthy numbers for the Hawks, and Millsap is also doing wonders so far at the power forward position for the Hawks. Tonight, if the Kings are going to play tough, they must limit the contributions of both of them by applying pressure and limiting the interior space for Howard and Millsap to do their work. Although the Hawks won big in their game against the Sixers, they only scored 5-of-20 from the arc in that game. So keep limiting the interior game and don't let them get inside. Get them to shoot threes in bunches and perhaps the Kings can be in this game.

It's very tough to pick who wins this game, because the Kings have played so well so far but the Hawks are just blowing people away, like in that Sixers game. I don't know if the Kings can limit the Hawks' interior play forever in this game, and I don't know how well Rudy Gay, Ben McLemore, and Matt Barnes are going to do in Atlanta. Atlanta is a very tough place to play and like I said, the Kings haven't won there in 10 years. Therefore, I think the Hawks will end up getting the victory tonight.

Seahawks Struggle On Offense Again

Last week against the Arizona Cardinals, the Seahawks struggled on offense and ultimately ended up tying the Cardinals at 9. Well, the offense struggled again in New Orleans and this time it resulted in a loss, a 25-20 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Russell Wilson and the rest of the offense was again a problem for this team. They couldn't keep pressure off of Wilson, so Wilson had to show off his leg in order to find an open receiver and that complicated matters because he got hit a lot in that game.

Right now, Wilson is not the fantasy quarterback everybody was hoping him to be. Instead, he's having trouble even getting open receivers. He threw for 253 yards and one interception in the loss, but only three carries on 11 yards, showing that he doesn't have enough protection or enough room to run.

Although Seattle has a 4-2-1 record, everybody is growing concerned about how well this team is playing right now. Everybody is saying they should have an offense that's equal to their defense and the fact of the matter is that's not the case right now. The Saints are not a great team and have been struggling at home as of late and the Seahawks just gave them another reason to stay alive in the NFL these days.

The Seahawks have got to find a way to overcome their struggling offensive line, whether it's through a trade or a line shuffle, or something else, because right now, it's not looking good. The Bills come into Seattle for a Week 9 Monday Night matchup next week and Buffalo has proven to play tough at times, although for this week, New England ran all over them for a big win. So Seattle's got to find their offensive groove. They almost lost it against Atlanta and Arizona and finally lost it at New Orleans.

The Seahawks are still a good team and a great team at home, but an offensive line must get better, no matter where it is, because the longer Wilson is getting hit and having to run a whole lot, the more likely he could be out because of injury or something else, and we already saw him leave the game injured a couple of times.

Kings Win In A Comeback Against Wolves

This post was originally meant for SPORTalk, but due to the issues surrounding the SPORTalk blogging icons, this post will be made here.

Looks like the Kings find a way to win their first game at the Golden 1 Center in the most dramatic way possible.

On Saturday night, the Kings showed their resilience and their determination to win when they came back from being behind by 18 points to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 106-103 in the second game at the Golden 1 Center.

Kings head Dave Joerger said of this win, "We just keep battling and battling. The crowd got into it as we came back and made some big plays and got some big loose balls at the end."

This was the first contest this season that the Kings had been trailing after the opening quarter, as Minnesota scored on 67 percent from the field, while Andrew Wiggins had 13 points in that first quarter alone, showing the promise and the youthfulness that he has on this team.

But the Kings wanted to show the Golden 1 Center crowd they're not to be messed with. They hit 11-of-21 from the field in the next frame, but the Timberwolves managed to hang on to an 11-point lead by halftime.

The Kings' defense ultimately came through, too, as the Kings defense held Minnesota to just 3-of-12 in the third, while DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay had 20 of the 31 points for the Kings in that quarter, while holding the Wolves to just 12.

Minnesota and the Kings battled neck-and-neck in the final minutes of the contest, which seemed like forever, watching all the flopping and the fouls that were taken by both sides, but it was clutch shots by both Rudy Gay and Ty Lawson that helped the Kings win their second game of the season and their second game at the Golden 1 Center.

Cousins finished with 29 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while Rudy Gay helped out with 28 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Ben McLemore scored a game-high nine points and was one of the main driving forces behind the win, and hometown hero Matt Barnes chipped in with 12 points, nine assists, and five rebounds.

This was a big win for the Kings for two reasons, one is that they came back from 18 down to win and it marks the first time in 112 games for this team that they secured a comeback wen trailing by that many points. Second, it shows the power and determination when players work together. It wasn't all about Cousins on this night, it was about a team effort. Rudy Gay, Ben McLemore, and Matt Barnes were all key contributors in this victory, and that's what Sacramento needs to rely on: teamwork, effort, and contributing to the success of this team. And I'm glad to see that all of them made huge contributions that allowed the Kings to come back from this deficit and win.

Well, it's been a great two home games for the Kings. Now they head out on the road trip for a five-game trip that begins on Halloween night in Atlanta. Now that the Kings have had their success at home so far, can they take what they learned in Saturday's game and keep building on it? We'll find out on this road trip.

Luke Schenn Heads to Phoenix

Looks like Luke Schenn is heading from one Pacific Division team to another Pacific Division team.

Schenn has agreed to a two-year contract with the Arizona Coyotes today. He's only 26 years old and had 4 goals and 12 assists in 72 games with Philadelphia and Los Angeles last season.

You may remember Luke Schenn as the fifth overall pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs back in 2008. Well, he didn't last there, as he jumped from the Maple Leafs to the Flyers and then to Kings.

The new Coyotes GM John Chayka called Schenn "a good, young defenseman and will be a solid addition."

I think at this point, the Arizona Coyotes are just begging to get things turned around. The good news is they're trying to go young with their players, which means they're trying hard as ever to get good additions they know will pay off. The only thing about Luke Schenn is that he really hasn't been anywhere long enough to make a dent in the league. Plus, a two-year contract with the Coyotes is not really that promising either. I understand that the Coyotes are trying to get as many players as they can with the salary cap, but having Luke Schenn is somewhat of a short-term rental, rather than a long one. Maybe they're looking to see if he can really make a full impact with the Coyotes. If not, he walks in free agency in two years. If he can, he'll have a long-term deal.

Right now, the Arizona Coyotes are still up in the air. They could go either way. The Luke Schenn signing, to me, doesn't signal any movement forward yet. Maybe it will, but until it happens, all I can see is another signing by the Coyotes that can go both ways.

Jamie Benn And Muscle Surgery

It feels like I haven't heard of muscle surgery. Surgery on the muscles, I guess. I mean, I am not the greatest doctor ever or have a degree in medicine, but muscle surgery is a first for me, and it looks like an NHL player seems to be recovering from it. Guess the star?

If you picked Jamie Benn of the Dallas Stars, you would be correct. Then again, the title seemed to put two and two together.

That's right. Jamie Benn is recovering from muscle surgery to repair an abdominal muscle injury. According to GM Jim Nill, the full recovery time from this surgery is six weeks and the surgery went as planned. And based on the timeline, Benn will not be back on the ice til around September or so. The source of the injury wasn't made clear.

Possibly, the source of the injury came from the playoffs or it could've happened earlier, possibly in late March to early April. Either way, Benn looks to be ready for the 2016-17 NHL season, assuming the timeline goes as planned. The Dallas Stars shouldn't be worried now because of his point total last season (89 points with 41 goals and 48 assists) but when it comes to muscle surgery, there could be a little bit of concern, but that's all it should be. A little concerned, but a timeline that should expect him back on the ice before the season gets underway.

Anyway, the Western Conference champion Stars look to be a dominant team again and Jamie Benn is a key piece in them becoming champions again. So look for this team next season to be a force to be reckoned with.

An Editorial On Planes, Trains, and Sports

Today, on this blog post, I thought I'd take a small break from covering the NHL to bring you something that I have been doing since last November and have been spending a lot of money doing ever since: traveling for sports.

Now, as you may know, sports have become my life and I take advantage of it by writing about it every chance that I can get. Travel does get in the way, however, and sometimes I have dozed off before I even put the pen to paper. But as I've been traveling and have had to find new ways to travel and watch sports, I discovered the reliability and the importance of two major transportation systems: planes, particularly Southwest Airlines, and trains, particularly Amtrak's Capitol Corridor, San Joaquin (or San Joaquins, as it's now called, though I tend to use the former), and the Pacific Surfline. No doubt that traveling by plane and train has become easy and an affordable way for me to keep up on all the sports that I go to all the time.

Since I have been a member of Southwest Airlines since 2009 (recently got A-List status), I have been able to take advantage of low fares all over the West Coast, from going to Seattle to see my favorite team, the Seattle Seahawks, to visiting LA and San Diego to see baseball teams like the Dodgers, Padres, and Angels, to going out into the Central Valley to places like Stockton, Bakersfield, and Sacramento to watch AHL games or minor league baseball games, or even to Las Vegas just to relax and take a break from it all, or to watch the Las Vegas 51s.

No doubt that sports has become something of more than just a lobby, it's become a lifestyle and a living that I've tried to niche out for myself, and that wouldn't be possible without the affordability of these public transportation services. Now, they can start to get expensive if you constantly do it on a daily basis, no doubt about it, and while I work in a housekeeping job that doesn't pay as much as I would like it too, I have found a way to be able to do what I love doing and be able to keep some money coming in.

Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner and Southwest Airlines have been the two most used modes of transportation that I have used, primarily because I spend some time traveling between the two regions of California for sports. Southwest Airlines has reasonable prices between LA and the Bay Area so I can travel back and forth with some ease. Plus, who wouldn't love free peanuts and/or pretzels? Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner takes over the next portion of the next trip. I usually fly into Burbank Airport because of the Surfliner. There is a train station just south of the station where I can immediately hop onto the train and continue the journey from there. Mostly, I go into downtown LA from there to either check in to my Airbnb or to hop on Metro and go into Hollywood and check into an Airbnb that I have there.

The Pacific Surfliner has also been relatively easy in getting down to San Diego to go watch Padres games, usually Wednesday day games. I just hope aboard a train, usually Train 566 and it gets into San Diego around 11:30 AM. I spend most of the day in SD watching the Padres play whoever the opponent is, then hop back aboard Train 591 and head back up to LA. As you can see, the Pacific Surfliner has been relatively simple in getting me from Point A to Point B in no time at all. And it's also been helpful in when I don't go to sports games, I usually go to Disneyland and I can easily go to Anaheim Station then hop aboard ART or a Lyft and go straight to Disneyland. I spend all day there, then hop back aboard Train 591 and then back up to LA. As you can see, Pacific Surfliner has been my primary mode of train travel down around Southern California and has been great in providing service along my journey (in the form of too many cookies).

The Pacific Surfliner doesn't get all the credit, however. Whenever I can't go to LA, I'll just go see the Giants' affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats, and that's where Capitol Corridor comes in. Now, to be fair, I have not used it much because of my travel to Southern California, but when I do, it is also helpful and a great mode of transportation to bypass sometimes-congested Interstate 80. Capitol Corridor combines the ease of commuter rail and a great way to travel between two great cities. I just hop aboard a Capitol Corridor train at Richmond Station (because I take BART over from the Peninsula) and I just get off right at the Sacramento Station, right near Old Town and Raley Field. From there, I just check-in to my hotel room, then spend time in Old Town Sacramento before it's time to go to the River Cats game. Then, the next day, same great service just in the opposite direction back to Richmond, and ultimately BART and Caltrain back to my home in San Carlos.

There's one more mode of transportation that I use to attend sports games, and that credit goes to Amtrak's San Joaquin service. I have only used it three times before, twice to go to Bakersfield for Condors games, and then once to Stockton for a Stockton Ports game. Today, I used it again to go to a Stockton Ports game. San Joaquin, like Capitol Corridor and Pacific Surfliner, offer the same great service and an ability to get to Southern California without the use of a plane (through use of a bus in Bakersfield). I was glad to be able to enjoy the service to get me to Stockton with no problems at all (although I wish there were more Lyft drivers out here.)

So, as you can see, sports is my life and I always try to find a way to get there in a cheapest and more efficient and convenient way possible. So I say thanks to these great providers for letting me enjoy sports and for getting me there. I'll probably be working at one of these providers one day (hey, I take them a lot) so I gotta take advantage of great public transportation when I can. Sports is something I care deeply about and I want to make a living out of it (if that's even possible) So congrats to Southwest Airlines, Pacific Surfliner, Capitol Corridor, and San Joaquins (I actually prefer it without the S, but I don't handle their marketing strategy). Keep up the good work and looking forward to being back aboard for another adventure (whether sports or just a day off from it to the beach or such). Keep me in mind!

Note: I do not own any of these pictures. They are credited to the respective photographers or people who own that. I would name them but one of them I don't know, so if it's your photo, credit to you. You took a great picture.

Taking a Look at Cam Fowler

Is Cam Fowler really asking to be traded out of Anaheim? This is a subject I wish I didn't have to discuss, but because I'm a Ducks fan, a huge Ducks fan, I have to take point on this. So let me explain the story behind this:

Back on June 29, around the time after the NHL Draft happened, he opened up to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun about being surprised he was not traded before the draft. He has said he loves being in Anaheim and loves being a Duck, but feels that GM Bob Murray's hands are tied and that he might be looking to deal me (Fowler)

I think Bob Murray actually values Fowler more than Fowler realizes. First off, Fowler is an important part on the Ducks defense and played pretty well last season before walking into the Nashville situation that ended on a heartbreaking Game 7. That being said, I don't think Fowler is going to be traded, at least not anytime soon or possibly before the season starts. I think Murray wants Fowler to take point when it comes to leading defense, and I think Fowler needs to understand that yes it may be a business but some GMs find you a part of the team and realize that you need to step up and take command of the situation.

To me, Fowler is growing up a little slower than what I saw on the ice. He had said he was surprised he wasn't traded, which either tells me he would rather go play somewhere else or he wanted to follow the money. Bob Murray can pay him enough money to stay in Anaheim, so I don't see why Fowler would think there's more money for him somewhere else. Either way, he has said he likes being a Duck, so I think he should stop with all the NHL Draft surprise talk and just focus on getting his game in check and getting ready for the new season. Trust me, the Ducks are going to need a lot of momentum and a lot of their own talent in order to make an improvement on what was "a great season that ended in heartbreak."

However, if he does want to be traded, and something tells me there's a sniff of trade in the air, it is possible that Detroit will be asking for a defenseman. They need one and it makes sense for Fowler, since he calls Michigan home. If possible, if he can't stay in Anaheim, the best choice for him would be to try to get traded to the Red Wings. Right now, the Ducks can hold steady and they have plenty of time to do something about Fowler before he hits free agency.

P.A. Parenteau is Heading Back to Brooklyn

Looks like the New York Islanders got a lucky break from all the players that have left their team so far this free agency.

On Saturday, the Islanders agreed to a one-year deal with P.A. Parenteau to bring the veteran back to their team for a second stint. He played for the Maple Leafs last season, scoring 20 goals and 21 assists. That ties his career high he set in 2010-11, during his first season with the Islanders. He played well for them in the following seasons, having 49 assists and 67 points.

So far, P.A. Parenteau has eight seasons under his belt and 101 goals and 167 assists in 424 games to add to that. Unfortunately, bringing back Parenteau doesn't quite make up for the losses of Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen, and Matt Martin. Unfortunately, adding Andrew Ladd and Jason Chimera can't equal that either. Chimera is 37 and hasn't had quite a factor on the Capitals last season than he used to while Andrew Ladd comes over from Winnipeg, who didn't exactly make fireworks last season. (Hehe, Fourth of July reference)

I'm questioning the Islanders so far this offseason. Are they actually trying to make themselves worse or better? They could've brought back Kyle Okposo, an impactful player on that team, but they let him go. And losing Frans Nielsen as well doesn't help much for them either. Right now, I'm seeing them miss the playoffs because I don't know how they can be able to make up the production they brought last season. We'll see. They could surprise us right out of the gate, but right now, I see this as a ship that's going to sink if the season goes the way people think it's going right now.

But I root the best for P.A. Parenteau. He's on my Big Win NHL team, so hopefully he can have an impact this season in Brooklyn.

Kristers Returns to the Lightning

The Tampa Bay Lightning are keeping around their goaltenders for the foreseeable future.

On Saturday, they announced that they have re-signed goaltender Kristers Gudlevskis to a one-year, two-way contract, meaning he will split time next season with the Lightning and their AHL affiliate the Syracuse Crunch.

Last season, he played in 41 games for the Crunch and posted a 16-12-8 record with a 2.83 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage. He has only played in two career NHL regular season games, gaining a 1-0-1 record.

I'm not sure where the Lightning are going with this. I guess they're waiting to see if he can pick up the starting goaltending or backup goaltending job one day or if they are trying to give him more playing time in the AHL before possibly trading him away to gain something of value they could use. Either way, good for him. He gets some more playing time up in Syracuse and he could possibly join the Lightning should Ben Bishop leave next season or get traded sooner. Right now, the Lightning are trying to find the right pieces to get back to the Stanley Cup Final and making this move makes sense.

Who Is Anders Nilsson?

Some of you are probably thinking that right now. Well, let me tell you the story about what we are talking about Anders Nilsson.

He has been playing with the St. Louis Blues, mostly in their minor league system because Brian Elliott and Jake Allen had been on the Blues' roster. Then, Elliott was traded to the Flames and Allen signed a long-term deal. So this opens up the door for Anders Nilsson to acquire that backup spot, right? Wrong.

On Saturday, the Blues traded away his rights to the Buffalo Sabres and then was signed to a one-year, $1 million contract. Seems like a good deal considering that Nilsson hasn't had enough playing time to the NHL to worth having more. The Blues, however, do get a 2017 fifth-round draft pick, which means he was valuable enough for the Sabres to give up a draft pick.

The Sabres were hoping to find some experience in backup goaltending behind Robin Lehner and then losing free agent Chad Johnson to the Calgary Flames. So the Sabres found their backup goaltender. Question is will they start winning enough games next season for them to say they are trying to become elite? Who knows.

Jason Demers is Heading to South Florida

The Florida Panthers seem to be loading up on a lot of good players. And today, they just got themselves another defenseman.

Today, the Panthers announced that they have signed Jason Demers to a five-year contract. The deal is reported to be worth $4.5 million per season. That's actually a good value, considering that Demers is somewhat of an average player that can really help a team have success.

Demers had seven goals and 16 assists in 62 goals for the Dallas Stars last season. He can move the puck very well and he could possibly help in the Panthers transition game as well as on the power play and penalty kill squads.

Demers joins many new faces on defense for the Panthers, along with Keith Yandle and Mark Pysyk, as well as returning defenseman Aaron Ekblad.

The Panthers are certainly doing their homework and figuring out what they need to do to improve their team and I believe that getting Demers helps them. In an earlier blog post, I questioned the Stars' recent free agent moves, like trading away Alex Goligoski and signing Dam Hamhuis, but now I'm questioning why they didn't take any serious interest in resigning Jason Demers? Either way, the Panthers won out on a good deal with Jason Demers and that is why the Panthers are still one of my winners in NHL free agency so far: They know how to find good talent to improve themselves. Look for that to help them next season.

The Losers in NHL Free Agency

On my last blog post, I talked about the winners of NHL Free Agency so far. Well, I haven't talked about the losers yet and while I said I was questioning both the Stars and Blues, they don't fall onto my list of losers. They actually fall onto my list of "Wait-and-See." But right now, we're going to talk about the real losers so far in this free agency. Brace yourselves, puck heads!

New York Islanders
They were in the playoffs last year, am I correct? But now, they have just lost Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen, and Matt Martin, three players who helped them get to the playoffs. Replacing them? Andrew Ladd and Jason Chimera. Ladd comes from a Winnipeg team that failed to make the playoffs last season and has a seven-year deal that he probably won't last through. He's also be 37 when it ends and his production is starting to slip. Chimera is already 37 and already sliding as well. Granted, he was on a good Capitals team, but this two-year deal suggests that someone from the farm will be taking his place very soon. I don't see the Islanders as winners, I see them missing out on the playoffs next season.

Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks lost Dam Hamhuis and got Loui Eriksson. Exactly how is Loui Eriksson a upgrade and how exactly does he get a six-year deal? This team's in rebuilding mode and Loui Eriksson might not have that much more time in the league. He could possibly fit alongside the Sedins and possibly see some playing minutes, but helping a team in rebuilding mode for a long period of time? Probably not going to happen. He played well in Boston, but can't exactly be the difference-maker when it comes to rebuilding. That's usually the job of prospects to realize. The Canucks are missing the playoffs again this year because they still a lot of work and development to do.

Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs were surprisingly quiet on Friday and that's saying something for a team that was the worst team in the league last year. The Matt Martin signing is also puzzling. A four-year deal worth $10 million? What does that say to Leafs fans? They couldn't throw out money to find someone better. Look for the Leafs to miss the playoffs yet again.

Boston Bruins
David Backes joins the Bruins and gives them one of the best groups of centers in the league. The contract is something questionable, though. Five years and $30 million dollars on a 32-year-old? I understand he still has a lot of production left in this league, but he has a history of concussions and if this continues, he won't be in the league much longer. Boston's biggest need was help on the blue line and they didn't get it. They need to find a top-pair blue liner or possibly trade David Krejci away for one. Once again, the Bruins miss the playoffs.

So there you have it. The Islanders, Canucks, and Bruins are all losers so far in this free agency, and while it is not over, they have not made a splash to acquire some good talent they could use to improve their team. So until one of these teams finds a way to really improve their outlook and sign some good guys that can help improve, I don't see any of these teams making the playoffs next season.

Who Won in Free Agency So Far?

NHL free agency has just opened and already there are a bunch of winners and losers. There's a lot of fun that goes into signing new players, joining new teams, and other teams that were disappointed they didn't think about their deals. But in all fairness, NHL free agency is a free-for-all: Take what you can and give nothing back, as Jack Sparrow and Joshamee Gibbs have said many times. So who ultimately has won the day so far? Let's take a look at some teams that have done well for themselves and others that might have not.

Tampa Bay Lightning

I feel like they have won free agency so far. Steve Yzerman didn't even have to look for outside. Instead, he resigned his two favorite players, Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman. Hedman got himself an eight-year deal and has proven that by being a solid defenseman. Meanwhile, Andrei Vasilevskiy is certainly moving into gaining that No. 1 role, which means Ben Bishop's tenure with the Lightning could soon be coming to an end.

Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers are trying to load up before moving into their new arena in the Downtown area. They just signed Milan Lucic to a seven-year contract and that reunites him with GM Peter Chiarelli, who was a part of the Bruins at one point. I thought the trade of Taylor Hall was a disaster but Chiarelli has averted that by signing a guy who is good on the boards. Plus, Lucic wants to play with McDavid. Edmonton looks to be a team with winning in mind, and they are certainly a threat now thanks to this deal with Lucic.

Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks always seem to find a way to land good players. Brian Campbell is coming back to Chicago after agreeing to a bargain rate of $2.25 million for one year. They've been trying to fill a hole in their defense while trying to stay under the cap. Campbell can do that, even at 37 years old.

Florida Panthers

Aaron Ekblad may be back with the team, but have the Panthers turned the corner yet? Ekblad will indeed be the franchise player for years to come, but I'm not sure yet. James Reimer was also signed away from the Sharks to possibly be the backup to Roberto Luongo or possibly even succeed them. Reimer proves to be the insurance the Panthers need when it comes to a backup goalie. The Panthers look like a team ready to win, or a team that could fall apart mid-season if things don't go their way.

Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars may be the only team I am unsure of coming out of free agency so far. They just signed away Dam Hamhuis from Vancouver, but can he really do more than Alex Goligoski did? I felt trading away Alex Goligoski did might not have been a wise move, but let's hope Jim Nill is doing the right thing in bringing aboard Hamhuis. I'm still going to question this move until we get to the regular season.

St. Louis Blues

The St. Louis Blues are the one team I feel are not as good today as they were against the Sharks in the Western Conference Finals. They just lost David Backes and Troy Brouwer, two great pieces that were part of their Stanley Cup playoff run. Unfortunately, St. Louis has yet to sign a noteworthy free agent. The good news for St. Louis is that David Perron is back, but losing Backes and Brouwer could possibly hurt them.

And that is a look at some teams that have upgraded themselves this season. The Lightning and the Oilers are the big winners so far this free agency, while other teams, like the Stars and Blues, still have some question marks surrounding them. Can these teams look to improve next season and possibly win the Stanley Cup? We will find out next season.

On one of my future blog posts, I will be talking about the losers in free agency so far and why the Canucks, Islanders, and Bruins fall onto that list. Stay tuned.

Dam Hamhuis Seeing Stars

Dam Hamhuis is on the move. And he's seeing the stars in his line of sight.

The Dallas Stars announced today that they have signed defenseman Dam Hamhuis to a two-year, $7.5 million contract just hours after the NHL free agency period opened for business. Dam Hamhuis is yet another veteran adding to the strong young group of blue liners.

The 33-year old veteran comes over from the Vancouver Canucks, after spending six years there and six years in Nashville before that. Hamhuis comes to replace two veteran blue-liners. They traded away Alex Goligoski to the Arizona Coyotes and it looks like they will not be re-signing Kris Russell.

GM Jim Nill wanted to find a way to take care of the inconsistencies they had last season in front of their goalie net minders of Kari Lehtonen and Antti Niemi. Nill intends to bring back both net minders, but remains the question of who will ultimately get the No. 1 job.

I don't believe that Hamhuis is that much of the upgrade. Although he does play sort of the same style as Johnny Oduya, who they signed from Chicago last year, replacing two veterans in always tough. Goligoski was a solid player for the Stars and it was amazing to see that he got traded to a team that is on the up-and-up, but not exactly there yet.

The Dallas Stars still have a lot to do this free agency period, but at least they took care of their needs in signing Dam Hamhuis. Now we wait to see if he can be a difference-maker in helping the Stars take care of their inconsistencies.

Jim Rutherford Ain't Going Anywhere

The Pittsburgh Penguins just won their fourth Stanley Cup title in its history. Isn't it appropriate to reward the guy that helped put this team together in order to make that happen? It surely is.

Today, the Penguins announced that they have signed their GM Jim Rutherford to a three-year deal, just two weeks after winning the Stanley Cup.

Penguins CEO David Morehouse said, "Everything he was going to do from the first interview, he's accomplished."

Rutherford has certainly done that. He's made a series of move that seemed to focus on depth and speed, like bringing in Phil Kessel, Nick Bonino, Carl Hagelin, Eric Fehr and Matt Cullen, players that have proven to be agile and able to have speed and quickness to get to the puck. During its Stanley Cup run, over half of its goals were scored by players Rutherford acquired.

As a result of this Stanley Cup win, Rutherford is now the first GM to lead multiple franchises to championships. He won it in 2006 in Carolina and now here with the Penguins.

Good for him and good for the Penguins. You have to reward the guy that won it, and I think the Penguins did that. Unfortunately, he hasn't done much to the start of this free agency, but the Penguins gave him a contract based on what he has done for them so far and what he is capable of doing. Jim Rutherford, to me, is an excellent GM and somebody you would want on your team and putting it together. So good for Jim to get his deal and look for the Penguins to possibly win another Stanley Cup next season. No spoilers on my prediction yet. Free agency is not yet over.

Aaron Ekblad Agrees to Deal With Panthers

Looks like the Florida Panthers are keeping around one of their most prized draft picks for another eight years.

Today, the Panthers inked young Mr. Aaron Ekblad to a eight-year, $60 million extension. The deal became official when the free agency period began earlier today. The Miami Herald was the first to report this story.

This deal marks the most lucrative contract in Panthers history and would make Ekblad the NHL's fifth highest-paid defenseman behind P.K. Subban, Shea Weber, Dustin Byfuglien, and Ryan Suter. Ekblad is only 20 years old but did capture the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year after the 2014-15 season. This season, he had another strong one, being one of the Panthers' top defensemen of 2015-16. And in two seasons with them, Ekblad has 75 points on 27 goals and 48 assists. Can you say star-in-the-making?

Look, here's the thing about the Florida Panthers. They play in an area that doesn't really endorse hockey all that much. They either watch football, go to nightclubs, or basketball. But having Ekblad secures his future in Florida, as well as possibly bring Florida at chance at glory.

This is a good deal for the Panthers. Not only does it lock up Ekblad for another good almost-decade, but it can allow them to build a team in a way that makes Ekblad a crucial piece of becoming a part of a potential Stanley Cup-winning team. I'm looking forward to seeing Ekblad back out on the ice for the Florida Panthers and helping them to get there.

And by the way, since we are on the subject of the Florida Panthers, who likes the new logo? Just curious. It looks great, but at the same time, I miss the old one. What do you think?

Troy Brouwer Feels Like Calgary Heat

Summer is certainly delivering this summer, and up to Calgary the heat is already starting to rise thanks to the addition of Troy Brouwer to the Calgary Flames.

A four-year contract with $18 million? Pretty good deal for a guy who won the Stanley Cup as a member of the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks.

Brouwer is a eight-year veteran and he joins his third team in three seasons after helping the St. Louis Blues to the Western Conference finals, where they eventually lost to the Sharks. He is a three-time 20-goal-scorer and had 18 goals and 39 points in all 82 games with the Blues last season, and then add on eight goals and 15 points while in the playoffs.

Brouwer, I believe, is an impact player who can help a team in transition or a team that looks to be on the rise in a major way, and I believe that's what the Calgary Flames are. The Flames are a team that are destined to be great, maybe not Blackhawks great, but destined to be great. They already have a great number of stars in Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan, but I believe having that veteran presence there, which Brouwer brings, can help propel this team forward. His Stanley Cup winning experience can also help out as well.

I see the Flames as winners in this NHL free agency because of what Brouwer brings: size, mobility, and an elite ability to score, assist, and be a power skater. I guess Flames fans can't wait for this season to start now, huh?

The New Hurricanes

Hey puck heads!

I know it's been a while. The Penguins won the Stanley Cup, the Sharks did not, other teams got screwed by them. Yes, there's been a lot of news and notes and now we have entered the perfect time to get back into a hockey mix: NHL free agency, or as I like to call it, where players screw their original teams for more money. So how about we take a look at two players who left their respective teams to join the Carolina Hurricanes?

And do the names Lee Stempniak and Viktor Stalberg come to mind when you think hockey? Probably not in a star-studded way, but here they are. The Hurricanes have agreed to terms with Lee Stempniak on a two-year contract while Viktor Stalberg just got a one-year.

Lee Stempniak is set to make $2.5 million this season, as well as in 2017-18 and has 19 goals and 32 assists in 82 games with New Jersey and Boston this past season. So now Stempniak will head down the coast to Carolina in hopes to continue making an impact on a new season. I remember Lee Stempniak when he was with the Calgary Flames back in 2008 and now he's been jumping around a bunch of different teams, like St. Louis, Toronto, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, and the New York Rangers. He has had a stellar career, no doubt about it, but he has been jumping around a lot like a frog that just had too many cups of coffee.

In the meantime, Viktor Stalberg turns 30 years old and is set to make $1.5 million this season. Not as much as Stempniak, but Stalberg has proven to be a tough player who can score when necessary. Last season, he had nine goals and 11 assists in 75 games with the Rangers. He has been quoted by GM Ron Francis. as being "another big strong player who can skate" and "adding size to our forward corps was a priority this offseason." Yeah, well, nine goals and 11 assists is not something I'm probably going to look forward to if I'm a Carolina Hurricane fan, but he has won the cup with the Blackhawks in 2013 so if he can make an impact somehow that can help carry this team up, then why not try it.

The Hurricanes have a long ways to go to get back to where they want to be. I guess trying out Stempniak and Stalberg are a good way to go, but is it a long-term solution. Stalberg is on a one-year contract and if he doesn't perform to what the Hurricanes want, then he's gone. Meanwhile, Stempniak seems to be closing in on the end of his career. He is not exactly the goal and assist career he was early in his career, so you would have to see how much he brings. I want Stempniak to do well wherever he goes, but at the same time, how much is left in the tank for him. 19 goals and 32 assists last season isn't bad, but those numbers look them they are starting to decline. I want to see how they play and if they can be impactful players on a rebuilding team, then they have a chance to get into the playoffs and potentially be a threat in the Eastern Conference.

Offseason Time for the New York Rangers

The New York Rangers are now in summer. They were eliminated in a five series first round by the Pittsburgh Penguins and now GM Jeff Gorton, who's been on the job since July 1, is gonna have a busy offseason to keep the New York dream of chasing the Stanley Cup alive.

The first-round series loss to the Penguins signals the end of Glen Sather and the beginning of Jeff Gorton. Although it doesn't sound as famous or as eye-catching as Sather, Gorton has proven a little bit that he can find the right moves to get this team into the playoffs. But now he's got his work cut out for him. So what does this summer bring for a GM trying to keep this New York team in contention?

Well, Dan Girardi is one of them and he has not played well this season and into the playoffs and this could signal his end in New York. New York is a town where if play drops off, you could be hearing it from the fans and the front office. Problem is, he is difficult to trade. The Rangers need cap space and could potentially buy out the rest of his contract. Most importantly, are the Rangers loyal to him? We'll see down the road.

The defense will definitely be changed come next fall. Ryan McDonagh is the center of it, but both Dan Boyle and Keith Yandle will become unrestricted free agents. The Rangers are not planning on bringing Boyle back but they'll have to free up cap space if they want to keep Yandle. If they decide to buy out Girardi, they could have the money to sign Yandle long-term.

Chris Kreider, J.T. Miller, and Kevin Hayes become restricted free agents. Miller had a breakthrough season with 22 goals and my guess is he'll be a lock to stay on the Rangers. Kreider might also be part of the Rangers' long-term seasons, after having posted back-to-back 21-goal seasons. He is already a star in the making. Goalie Antti Raanta and forwards Viktor Stalberg and Dominic Moore become unrestricted free agents, but I could only see Stalberg or Raanta staying. Dominic Moore might be the odd man out if Gorton wants more cap space.

I talk about Kreider being star in the making, while Rick Nash is a star that has dropped off in production. Rick Nash only had 15 goals and 36 points in 60 games which is not good enough for a Rangers player of that caliber. Moving Rick Nash might also be part of Gorton's plans for the summer. Question is: What can they get for him?

The Rangers have a lot of issues to fix and a lot of stuff they need to find. The Penguins showed them that they're not good enough to win the Stanley Cup right now. If Gorton can find the pieces and change the way this team plays, maybe it will be. Right now, he's looking at possibly changing the structure of the team in a way that will help them be successful down the road. Looks like a long summer, Rangers fans.

Blackhawks or Blues in Game 7?

Well, puck heads, the NHL playoffs has been off to a tearing start. Several teams have showed up that they definitely deserve to move on to the second round, while other teams have choked and ended up eliminated from the postseason. But tonight's Game 7 between the Blues and the Blackhawks should show us who the best team might be going into the semifinal round.

As you may recall, the Blackhawks won two crucial games in Games 5 & 6 to make it to this point, while the Blues have shown us that they can't yet close out games when they matter most. While you may credit the Blackhawks for what they've done to get to this point, you also have to look at why the Blues can't seem to close them out, even in 2OT in Game 5.

The Blues no doubt what to end their streak of being out in the first round, while the Blackhawks would love nothing more than to keep that streak going.

Kevin Allen and Kristen Shilton of USA Today have picked the St. Louis Blues to finally get over the hump in this game and make it to the semifinal. Me, on the other hand, I'm not sure. The thing is I want to see the Blues make it to the second round and finally end their streak of being kicked out in the first round, but at the same time, you should never bet against the Blackhawks in the playoffs. Why? Well, does having three Stanley Cup championship in three years mean anything? The Blackhawks didn't just do this but being good in every single game. When they were down, they didn't count themselves out. They came back and won series and eventually won Stanley Cups. I'm having that feeling that the Blackhawks will do it again here in this series.

So while I believe Allen and Shilton are going with the Blues because of how well they have played going into the postseason, I'm not going to pick against the Blackhawks. When I pick against the Blackhawks, they have ended up winning. I'm not going to make that mistake this time. Blues, unfortunately, will have to wait another year to get off this streak. It would be fascinating if they could do it here, but I just don't see it happening, not with the way the Blackhawks have played of late.

Keith Gets Suspended 6 Games

Looks like the Chicago Blackhawks will be without one of their big defensive stars going into the playoffs.

Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith has been suspended a total of six games for his high-stick hit on Minnesota Wild player Charlie Coyle in Tuesday night's game. In the game, Keith swung his stick in a way that hit Coyle right in the nose and resulted in a match penalty.

Although Keith was offered an in-person hearing, he declined it and instead had an over-the-phone hearing. Keith probably should've chosen the in-person hearing.

Keith had been suspended twice already in his career, five for an elbow against Canucks forward Daniel Sedin in 2012 and one for high-sticking Kings forward Jeff Carter in 2013.

Keith will miss the last four remaining games of the regular season for the Blackhawks and Game 1 of the playoffs, which begin on April 13.

The Blackhawks have been a bit dreadful of late and it seems like Keith was trying to get his team hyped up and back in the game, but it didn't go the way he wanted it to.

According to what PTI's Tony Kornheiser and ESPN the Magazine's Pablo Torre reported, Keith used his stick in an ax-like way, which totally makes me believe that 6 games is the right punishment. Using the stick like an ax is definitely not the right thing to do and I'm glad he was tossed right then and there. I like the Blackhawks because of their recent success in the playoffs and winning the Stanley Cup but I don't like them in the fact that sometimes in order to get up for games, they have to attack other players in a way that makes it vicious. The punishment definitely fits the crime. I could've gone even seven or eight games as a result of this, but six games is absolutely fair as well. You have to punish a hit like that. I understand Keith wants to do whatever he can to get his team going, but taking it out on Coyle in the way that he did will be something that could cost his team come playoff time.

Unfortunately, the last four games don't really matter, and Game 1 can easily be forgotten if the Blackhawks win it. But Keith has to learn his actions from this hit. It will cost you big, and ultimately it did. Now the Blackhawks will have to figure out what to do now and if they can finish out the season strong and win Game 1 without him. It will be a tough pill to swallow, but being the Blackhawks, they'll probably find a way to overcome his absence.

Reid Urban Pays a Visit to the Bakersfield Condors

So, as you may have noticed, I haven't been posting as of lately. Of course, I had put up my opinions on the teams that won and failed at the trade deadline, but other than that, nothing.

Well, I've been traveling and not just for work. I've been traveling for sports. Why, you may ask? Well, sports is my life. It's like a religion for me. It's a chance to escape the real world and those who oppress you. Well, watching it anyway. Maybe playing it could be a different issue, but either way, sports is something I enjoy. So I decided to do something I have never done for: Take Amtrak.

That's right. I took the Amtrak's San Joaquin line from the Richmond station in Oakland down towards Bakersfield to pay a visit to the Bakersfield Condors and watch them play the San Diego Gulls on a Tuesday night. The train ride wasn't bad. I managed to keep myself busy by listening to some ESPN podcasts, like PTI and Around the Horn, and checking on the day's news and opinions from around the league, from Peyton Manning retiring to how the Warriors are still rolling. But in about 5 hours or so, I managed to get to Bakersfield, no problem.

I checked into my hotel at the Best Western Plus just across from the Amtrak station. Nice place. It was good enough for what I paid and relaxed for a bit before I had to head over.

Since the Marriott was close by, I decided to get something to eat. Granted, that night they were giving out $1.50 hot dogs but I was already hungry and couldn't wait around any longer. So I had fish and chips, as well as a Stella, at the Marriott. I was there for about half an hour, chatted with a group of people (some of whom were going to a meeting that was being held there), and then afterwards headed next door to Rabobank Arena.

Surprisingly, these Condors fans come out in full-fledge to watch their Condors play, even though they only play in the AHL and frankly they are not paid attention to much by the rest of the world. Either way, they came out and they were screaming their hearts out to get the Condors a win.

I don't watch as a fan, I watch as someone interested in the AHL and how teams play there. The Condors have interested me for some time because at times, they play like geniuses and at other times, they don't do anything. I saw them play Sunday in San Jose against the Barracuda and it feels like they just came out with nothing. Now it could be that some of their players were called up by the Oilers. But these group of people, I saw on Sunday in San Jose, so there definitely was something there. Well, for the first part of this game, they did come out strong with a goal to start the game, before the San Diego Gulls got 3 goals. The Condors didn't give up, though, managing to tie up the game and send it to overtime. Unfortunately, for the Condors, they left a Gulls player wide open and he scored to give the Gulls a 4-3 overtime win over the Condors. And that still leaves the Condors three teams to last in that Pacific Division of the AHL. Only Stockton and San Antonio are worse right now.

But you know something. This was the most entertaining and energizing game I've seen in the AHL so far. Condors fans know how to come to the game, something I wish other AHL cities and teams, especially out here, would do. I understand that the AHL is part of a developmental league for the NHL, but they are also playing in a season too. They are playing to try to win the Calder Cup and to be competitive in a league that no one else seems to pay attention to. Well, either way, no one will probably give the Condors a chance, not unless they do something drastic, like win the rest of their games, but it's hard to see that happening.

Anyhow, after the game, I spent the night in Bakersfield, drinking water and watching the news. I went to sleep soon afterwards and woke up around 8 the next morning, had a little bit of a morning workout where I ran around 1.25 miles before my legs couldn't take it anymore, and packed up my car and headed back to my 10:05 train back up to Northern California.

Overall, a good experience and being a fan and a spectator of hockey, it was definitely fun to see the Bakersfield Condors. I don't know if I'll do it again, since I blew a little bit of money trying to get down here and my hotel room and such, but I'll say this about the Condors: They know how to make things sound like they play in the NHL. See you next time, Condors. And keep an eye out for new posts coming soon, puck heads!

Posted above is a picture of Rabobank Arena after the San Diego Gulls won 4-3 in overtime against the Bakersfield Condors.

The NHL After the Deadline

Well, the NHL's trade deadline has come and gone. Many teams got better while others are giving up players in order to move on to next season and free up money for players they could potentially sign next season. With that being said, there are many teams and many GMs that helped themselves and then there are those who didn't help themselves. So let's take a look at a couple of players and GMs that might or might not have helped themselves at the trade deadline.

First, let's look at one player who is going to do the most to help his new team. To me, I believe that is Andrew Ladd of the Blackhawks. He can help Chicago's forward lines and have the right balance, but he is also a good mix on the Toews-Hossa line.

Another big player that might help is Jamie McGinn of the Ducks. The Ducks are definitely going to be making some noise this March, and his style of play is a perfect addition to the way they play the game. He can play outside the crease and if you saw the way he scored against the Canadiens in his first game with the Ducks, I think he'll be able to help the Ducks when the playoffs come.

SI.com's Michael Blinn believes the Panthers getting Jiri Hudler from the Flames will be a good fit and I'm a little skeptical about this. Hurler hasn't had the puck much this season like he did last season when he scored 31 goals. However, if he can create some offense behind Jagr and Barkov, he could actually be a good fit with what the Panthers are playing. Not only that, but with the addition of Teddy Purcell could also be a big factor into how the Panthers play for the rest of the season and the playoffs.

So now that we've looked at biggest additions this season, I'm not going to look at some trades that might be the biggest fails. The Vancouver Canucks definitely fall into that list. Acquiring Markus Granlund for Hunter Shinkaruk might not be the smartest play, especially for the team we believe is a rebuilding team. Not only that, but not being able to trade away Radim Vrbata, Alexander Burrows, and Dan Hamhuis among others might not have been the smartest thing. Granted, they have no-trade causes, but Hamhuis was willing to save his. He could've gone to a better team.

How about the Boston Bruins? They didn't do anything! Last year, GM Don Sweeney didn't move picks to get any help at the deadline. Now this year, he's giving away picks to get rental players. There's nothing that bad about getting John-Michael Liles and Lee Stempniak, but this team is going nowhere, and they are wasting away their futures on rental players that might not come back. They shouldn't have held on to Loui Eriksson, who'll be overpaid on an extension or walk away. The Bruins are a disaster right now when it comes to trading and trading away their future is not something this team should be doing.

And if you had to look at the team that was in the mix, you had to look at the Dallas Stars. GM Jim Nill whiffed on the opportunity to grab Hamhuis from the Canucks. He did get Kris Russell, but Hamhuis could've provided solid borderline defense. Kris Russell has hurt his partner on defense a lot this season, and having him alone could prove disastrous down the road for the Stars.

Well, some teams got better, others could've gotten worse. We'll see if the final stretch run of this season can prove this teams are contenders or playoff-missers. It's bound to be an exciting final part of this season, puck heads!

Too Little, Too Late for the Senators?

Since acquiring Dion Phaneuf in a trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Ottawa Senators have sparked a four-game winning streak. With that in mind, is this team really ready for the post-season charge, with many better teams ahead?

This would depend on how well they do in the final part of this season. Their last decision was a 4-1 decision over the Edmonton Oilers. Not exactly a powerhouse team at that moment, despite getting Connor McDavid back. You might remember last year when the Senators erased a 14-point deficit in the standings to make the playoffs, one of the biggest runs in standings in NHL history. Good thing they don't have to be that good this time around. They are still four points out of a playoff spot, so panic time should not be on their minds.

Here's the bigger problem for the Senators going down the road: Playing really good teams. The team in front of them, the Pittsburgh Penguins, should be getting Evgeni Malkin back in the lineup sometime next week, so I don't see them falling out anytime soon. The Boston Bruins are six points ahead and have a game in hand. The Bruins, though, tend to go two ways. They are really good for a while, then they are really poor. I'm not even going to go to the Lightning, because I believe they'll get into the playoffs, winning their last four. The Detroit Red Wings will probably also get into the playoffs. There are also two teams ahead of the Senators but on the outside looking in: the New Jersey Devils and the Montreal Canadiens. They could get by the Canadiens, with the way the Canadiens's season has been going, but New Jersey will probably be a tough test as well. If I had to pick one or two teams they are likely to sneak by to get in, it is both the Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins. Like I said, the Canadiens haven't played well at all this season and the Bruins tend to go up and down so they could go down before the playoffs.

The Ottawa Senators don't have an easy final part of the season ahead, so they're going to have to do some major work on ice in order to get into the playoffs. They're going to have to play well against these quality teams if they even have a shot. In the end, it does seem like it's too late for the Senators, but we're not even in March, so things can still go the Senators' way. They just got to keep playing well.

Anze Kopitar's Injury

The Los Angeles Kings are starting to downslide a little, and it looks like they will be without their biggest star for quite some time.

Anze Kopitar suffered a lower body injury during Thursday night's game against the St. Louis Blues. Today, we were told the injury was day-to-day. Kopitar is already a solid bounce-back season after not doing well during the 2014-15 season.

With Kopitar out of the lineup, Jeff Carter should see more of the first line to fill the void left by Kopitar. Carter and Kopitar both share the same scoring with 14 goals in five or fewer games. The chemistry of the second line, though, could be an issue. The second line is considered the Kings' best line, with Tyler Toffoli leading the team in goals and points and Dwight King brings a physical presence to the ice that helps bring down the opposition.

The Kings are now in fourth-place in the Western Conference,  and they're not in a safe place right now. There are six points that separate them from being the eighth spot. If they don't get Kopitar back and soon, that cushion could dwindle and they could possibly see the eighth spot or be out of the playoff picture for good. And hopefully Kopitar will be back by the time I see the Kings in person on Feb. 25 against the Edmonton Oilers.

Should the Canadiens Trade P.K. Subban?

You know when the Montreal Canadiens were really good at the beginning of the year? Well, unfortunately, I don't anymore. Their season has gone off the rails and this looks like it has no way to turn around. Should with that being said, are the Canadiens ready to ship P.K. Subban somewhere else?

The P.K. Subban rumors are according to TVA reporter Louis Jean. A twitter post from him suggests that the Canadiens are going into the market and seeing what they can get.

The Canadiens have lost three straight and 23 of its last 31. Most would believe that head coach Michel Therrien would be gone either sometime in the next coming weeks or by the end of the season. Even he blamed Subban for causing the team's latest loss.

Since Therrien returned to Montreal, the relationship between these two has been rocky. The coach once said he wanted to make P.K. a better person as well as better player. Not sure if Subban really went along with that, but it is possible that because of Therrien, the relationship may have reached a breaking point and both want away from the other.

GM Marc Bergevin would possibly side with Subban over the coach, meaning the coach could be booted from this team. Subban is the team's leading scorer and its most consistent performer so it would be unthinkable if Bergevin decided to trade him. He's also a favorite of owner Geoff Molson and has been an influence in the community.

So would it be fair for the Canadiens to trade P.K. Subban? Well, I always say never say never, because looked what happened to Wayne Gretzky when he was traded. So it is possible. The Canadiens are going nowhere fast and it looks like they will miss the playoffs this time around. I feel bad for this team because they started out so well and look at them now. I wouldn't say the Canadiens are looking to rebuild but if this season keeps falling south, it could be time to look in that direction. Trading P.K. Subban would not only be a bad move for the team but it would also tell Canadiens fans that the team has given up trying to make it to the playoffs this season. Not saying that they're going to, but not having Subban is a definite missing-the-playoffs. The Canadiens are going to be asking high if they want to trade P.K. Subban, but if he does go somewhere else, especially to a playoff team, he can actually help them produce goals and be a factor in the playoffs. Let's just see if Montreal decides to let him go or keep them on their team.

The Senators Get More Serious With Phaneuf

The Ottawa Senators are six points out of a possible playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. It makes sense that they would go after someone who could help them on defense and to keep pucks away from the Ottawa net. Tuesday morning, they finally got their wish from a division rival.

That's right. The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators just completed a massive nine-player trade centered around veteran defenseman Dion Phaneuf, who goes to the Senators. This deal comes less than 24 hours after the Winnipeg Jets re-signed Dustin Byfuglien to a long-term deal. This trade also removes the No. 1 available defenseman from the trade market. Since the Maple Leafs are trying to rebuild, it would make sense that they would benefit from removing Phaneuf's contract from their pile, which had a $7 million cap hit.

Also involved in this deal going to Ottawa are forwards Matt Fraction, Casey Bailey and Ryan Rupert, as well as defenseman Cody Donaghey. Going the other way are defenseman Jared Cowen and forwards Colin Greening, Milan Michael, and Tobias Lindberg. The Leafs also receive a second-round pick in 2017.

I'll be honest. I did not expect the Maple Leafs to be trading with their biggest rival in the Ottawa Senators. The Flames and Oilers don't even seem to trade with each other too often either, so this comes as a big surprise. Not only do the Senators get more defensive help, but they also get rid of contracts they felt were ugly to them. Unfortunately for them, these deals do not involve a long-term commitment, so Phaneuf could easily walk away from the Senators if he wanted to. I don't think that's gonna happen, though. He understands that Ottawa is trying to snag a final playoff spot and having a bit of defensive help does that. On the other side, Toronto is rebuilding itself and having a player that might take a cap hit is not something they want.

The only value Toronto may get out of this trade is young Jared Cowen. He can be improved, but he has been bad so long for the Senators he might actually be bought out if he doesn't improve with the Maple Leafs. Milan Michalek is the same way, although he has not played up to what he used to be.

I think the Leafs went in the right direction here. They knew they were rebuilding and they wanted to get rid of some of the players that they felt shouldn't be part of that rebuilding process, and Phaneuf was not part of the plans. Plus, Phaneuf is already getting past his prime and not worth the $7 million cap hit. Now they give that contract to Ottawa and did a good job of helping to penalize Ottawa in terms of money and salary for the near future.

Byfuglien-Jets Contract Extension

Looks like the Winnipeg Jets are locking down one of their defensemen for another five years.

The Jets announced on Monday that they have signed defenseman Dustin Byfuglien to a five-year contract. He is set to earn an average of $7.6 million per season. If he had not been signed, he would become an unrestricted free agent and could've enticed a lot of teams to go after him.

So far this season, Byfuglien has appeared in 52 games, recording 15 goals and 32 points.

Byfuglien has been with the Jets for six seasons after being acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010

Byfuglien is by far one of their best players and, to be honest, he is probably the only player I know very well on the Winnipeg Jets. But the Jets did get to the playoffs, mostly because of him and if they want to get back there, they're going to need him in the long run. I think this contract works for both sides and it proves that the Jets are willing to give money to players in order to keep them along for the ride. So far the Jets haven't played well this season and sit outside the playoff picture, but hopefully Byfuglien is able to help them salvage points and get back into it.

Congrats on the new deal, Byfuglien! Good luck in Winnipeg!

A Look at the Coyotes

Going into this season, the Arizona Coyotes looked like a team going up. When the season started, it certainly looked promising, thanks to some offensive performances by forwards Max Domi and Anthony Duclair. They were outscoring the opposition in the first two months and were looking like a lock to get a wild card spot in the playoffs. You would think they wouldn't be going backwards after this.

Well, fast forward to February, and the 82-game schedule is starting to take its toll on this team. After a 5-2 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday, the Coyotes have not won in their last four games and have realized how hard it is to be dominant in an already tough Western Conference. They have a -23 goal differential, which is now third worst in the NHL. What went wrong?

When you look at the Arizona Coyotes, you can think about their location problems, such as trying to stay in Arizona, or you can look at the organization, which may be focused on short-term success instead of the larger picture. Right now, Arizona is four points behind the Colorado Avalanche but has three games in hand, so they can still make it. They just can't be losing like this.

Now with the trade deadline coming up, is it time for the Coyotes to let loose of some of their young stars and focus on the future and not on this season? GM Don Maloney has said he will not do anything that will compromise the minutes of younger players. So he might look to trade some of the older veterans. They also have nine impending unrestricted free agents right now.

You may look at Mikkel Boedker and Nicklas Grossmann as guys who might get traded. Their stocks continue to rise on a team that hasn't played well recently. Then you have 39-year-old Shane Doan, whose contract expires after this season. You could say it's impossible for him to go anywhere else, since he has a No-Movement clause. Doan is an important part of the Coyotes' locker room and enjoys being part of the Arizona Coyotes. He's also turning 40 years old so if he comes back next season, his ice time could continue to decline so that emerging young players could get more opportunities and minutes on the ice.

For Arizona, the future looks like Domi and Duclair. Right now, if they want to play better, they have to find the offense. They're close to catching that wild card spot so with the right tools and tricks, the Coyotes could look to get into the playoffs. Again, the short-term deal with this team will not work. Not only do they need to give opportunities for young players, but they also need to look at the long-term to ensure that they can thrive in Arizona for years to come.

Does Alain Vigneault Have A Beef With the NHL?

New York Rangers coach Alain Vigneault is going after the NHL after one of his players got knocked out of the game. The attacker: Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds.

On Saturday, Wayne Simmonds hit Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh on Saturday's game and McDonagh will be out for the game against the New Jersey Devils on Monday and Alain Vigneault is not in a pleasant mood about it.

McDonagh suffered a concussion from that hit. Simmonds received a match penalty and was ejected from the game. But he didn't go quietly, tossing his stick in the direction of the officials. They later rescinded the match penalty, which shouldn't have happened. Simmonds was allowed to play in Sunday's loss to the Capitals and therefore escaped further punishment from the NHL.

Alain Vigneault later responded to what happened, saying, "What I didn't expect was the reaction from the league. An All-Star player gets sucker-punched, goes down. In the rulebook, that's automatic. It's three games. Nothing happens. It's not even on the sheet after the game."

McDonagh has no timetable for his return and New York has four games over the next seven days, and they would like to have McDonagh as soon as possible. But this is more about the NHL's ineffectiveness at getting any call right. I talked about the Dennis Wideman punishment and the statement that came after it last week. He had been hit by an Oilers player, then tries to skate back, and runs into an official and gets 20 games for it, without even listening to an explanation, and now we have this, where the league doesn't punish Wayne Simmonds for doing something that should be punished.

Simmonds knew he was doing this and probably was grateful to escape and should not have. You can't have this guy going after the best players and then getting away for it. McDonagh didn't even retaliate, so Simmonds should've been out for Sunday's game. Alain Vigneault does have a beef, but it looks like the NHL is not going to listen to him either. The NHL tends to listen to himself and the video evidence. Although the officials tried to get this right, they were overruled by the powers above them, which I don't think is right.

You have to suspend him. Three games. Maybe four. But you have to get this guy sitting down for a couple. Alain Vigneault lost a guy because Simmonds wanted to fight somebody and didn't get it, and he kept going to try to convince him to fight. So right now, the NHL has gotten two things wrong in the past two weeks. They didn't listen to Wideman and they didn't listen to Vigneault. So the next time there's a big hit or something that results in fine or no fine: Will they listen to players or to the coach or just to themselves? It's becoming ridiculous.

NHL Games To Watch This Week

Well, Super Bowl 50 may be over and the Denver Broncos have their third Lombardi Trophy in their franchise, but now it's back to the hockey world. And we've got a great couple of matchups coming up this week. So how about we take a look at a few that catches our eye, shall we?

Monday, Feb. 8: Ducks at Penguins
As a Ducks fans, this is the game worth watching. As a hockey fan, if you paid for the season pass package, you're definitely getting your money's worth. Two of the league's hottest teams playing each other are starting off this week. The Ducks have eight wins in their past 10 games. They have the best penalty kill in the NHL right now and the defense is getting it together. They're still 30th in total offense, but that hasn't looked like a bad offense recently. Meanwhile, Penguins captain Sidney Crosby comes into this contest with 10 goals and eight assists and is currently on a 10-game scoring streak. Also, he has a seven-game scoring streak against Anaheim. Maybe the Ducks would like to see their fortunes go their way, but Crosby will make it tough for them.

Tuesday, Feb. 9: Capitals at Predators
As you may recall, Ovechkin missed the All-Star Game because of a lower body injury. He also might've wanted to sit out because he wanted to rest. It's a long season, I know. But now he returns to Nashville on Tuesday to put on a show for the locals. He has four goals in his past six games, and will look to put that streak on the line against Pekka Rinne, the Predators goaltender who seems to have turned around his fortunes and is making a difference now in net for the Predators. He was also the difference-maker in the 6-2 win over the Sharks on Saturday.

Wednesday, Feb. 10: Canucks at Coyotes
If you're looking for a game with two teams who are desperate to get in, you might be looking for this game. Both of these teams enter the week trailing the playoff packs and are starting to run out of time to gain ground. The Coyotes have two wins in the past 10 games. Shane Doan is the lone bright spot on this team. He enters the week one point behind Dale Hawerchuk for the franchise's all-time scoring lead (929 points.) Vancouver hasn't been a great team either. The good news for them is that Henrik Sedin and Dam Hamhuis are back, which means the Canucks might be getting healthy enough to make a push. Right now, the Coyotes are starting to look like their neighbor, the Suns. Good news: They don't play basketball, so plenty of chances to win.

Thursday, Feb. 11: Stars at Blackhawks
I've always wanted to go to a Stars-Blackhawks matchup in either Dallas or Chicago. Unfortunately, it won't be this time. The Stars were embarrassed in their Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Blackhawks. Jamie Benn credited the Stars with coming to play and ready to tackle anything the Stars threw at him. The Stars also blew the chance to close the Central Division gap. They'll be looking for closing the gap and getting revenge when they play the Blackhawks again on Thursday night. Good news for the Stars: They hold three games in hand and can whittle away at Chicago's lead. Bad news for the Stars: Chicago doesn't lose at home often. So it's a very tough battle for the Stars if they want to grab the Central Division lead.

Friday, Feb. 12: Avalanche at Red Wings
You could call this the preview game because they battle again at Coors Field on Feb. 27. This rivalry has been quiet since the Red Wings switched conferences and headed East, but there is plenty on the line on this one. The Avalanche are on a skid with an 0-2-1 record, however they have been one of the most efficient teams in the league. They won both meetings against the Wings last season, but both of those required overtime to win. The Wings, however, are in a middle of an important five-game homestand. They haven't done well at the Joe this season, going 12-10-5, so they need to find some way to get the offense going in order to get to their 25th consecutive playoff berth.

Saturday, Feb. 13: Capitals at Stars
This will be the 2nd big game for the Stars this week. Whether or not the Stars win or lose in Chicago, they'll have to face another big test in the Washington Capitals. These teams are both high-powered on offense and have a dangerous power play. The question will be: Will the Stars be continuing to build or will they be recovering from the Chicago game?

Sunday, Feb. 14: Blues at Lightning
You're looking at two very dangerous teams in the league. The Bolts are the league's hottest team right now, with 10 wins in the past 11. They also have eight straight victories at Amalie Arena. The Blues are starting to get their game on, going 6-3-1 in the past 10. Their defense is getting most of the credit on that one. What they need is some offense, which they haven't had a lot of this season. They whipped up on the Wild on Saturday and the Blues are inquiring about Lightning holdout Jonathan Drouin. Question is: Will the deal happen when these two teams are playing?

It's an interesting week ahead for the NHL. Plenty of matchups, plenty of points on the line. We'll see who walks away from these games as the hottest team in the league.