Who deserves the Pacific Division?

It's getting closer to the end of the season. Teams like the Washington Capitals and the Chicago Blackhawks are set to clinch their division and earn the top seeds throughout the playoffs. But now since we are that close to the end of the season, I will finally bring out my top pick to win the Pacific Division, the division that has seemed to own most of the hockey world this year, besides the other good hockey teams farther east. You've got many favorites in this division that could win it. The Sharks, Coyotes, and Kings are perhaps most likely going to get into the playoffs. But who wins one of the top three seeds from that division? Now I realize that Sharks fan will be none too pleased if they don't win the Stanley Cup, the Coyotes want to keep their franchise in Phoenix, and L.A. wants to be the elite team again. These are all tough teams but my choice is not what many people might expect. It is not the San Jose Sharks, unfortunately. They do not have the team anymore to stay as division champs, nor the good enough players as a result of their bad losing streak, worse than the one in December. Not the Kings because they've suffered some pretty bad losses, plus they are starting to fall behind. Where does that leave us? You hit it right on the head! The team in Phoenix, the Phoenix Coyotes. Why do I choose them? Well, I believe their offense have dramatically improved. I think Dave Tippett came into this team with a mind set that he is going to shape these guys into the old Dallas Stars, where he did so well. They've got a good number of guys at the trade deadline, like Wojtek Wolski and Lee Stempniak as well as getting good goaltending from Ilya Bryzgalov. They might not be set to go on a run in the playoffs, but I guarantee they'll get at least one of the top three seeds, and they'll take the Pacific Division. We'll see how the season ends. Will Phoenix become the division champs? Will San Jose keep them at bay? Or will L.A. sneak up? We'll know when the season winds down, and it should be an intense run to the end.

Note to the NHL: Don't sleep on the Canadiens

There is a common theme happening to the Montreal Canadiens as of late. Comeback victories, shoot out wins, you name it. It is the team that has become the team that everyone in Canada once knew. It is the rebirth of the Montreal Canadiens. They've won 4 of their last 5 coming into the second half of the season and they look as though they're going to make a big run into the playoffs, if this fantastic play keeps up. The Canadiens know they can't disappoint their fans, so they have to keep winning and please them. So for the Kings, Ducks, Lightning, and Oilers, they pretty much put themselves to sleep, giving the Canadiens a chance to win and keep pace in the East. And they have. Don't criticize how fantastic of a job Jaroslav Halak and Carey Price have done in net. They are some of the main reasons the Canadiens have done so well. The question is will it last in the playoffs? They might have something special now, but teams had better be alert. Do not sleep on the Canadiens. If teams do sleep on them, they might have a chance to beat you any day.

What Did We Learn From the NHL Trade Deadline?

The NHL trade deadline has come and gone, and new players are starting off with new teams. Teams have increased themselves and gotten some big-time help to get them into the playoffs, while some teams have fallen back. So what teams did help themselves? Well, for one team, the Phoenix Coyotes definitely did bring in some more offense by adding Wojtek Wolski from Colorado and Derek Morris, one of the former players, to their roster. Possibly, my team the Anaheim Ducks did help themselves by adding Lubomir Visnovsky from Edmonton and Aaron Ward from Carolina. The Los Angeles Kings possibly helped themselves as well, getting Jeff Halpern from Tampa. Those are some teams that did help themselves, but who did not help themselves? Well, one team is the Boston Bruins. They got more defense than offense when it is their offense that is lacking to produce for this team. Getting Dennis Seidenberg from Florida might help, but he's a defenseman, not a forward. The Colorado Avalanche traded away one of their biggest offensive player and they might slip out. The Dallas Stars did nothing to help themselves and the loss on Tuesday night to the Kings could have told them to get somebody but they didn't. The Montreal Canadiens did nothing to address their needs, since Mike Cammalleri is out for another couple of weeks. The Toronto Maple Leafs, in my opinion, also didn't do anything. So with the trade deadline, we will now see if I'm right or if I'm wrong. These players will either help their teams, or drastically worsen their teams.

Does Jordan Leopold Fit for Pittsburgh?

It's March. Actually, it's the beginning of March. And as we approach the trade deadline in the NHL, teams have started to jump players. Even the Pittsburgh Penguins want to test the trading market. What do they do? They go out and make a trade. They acquired winger Jordan Leopold from the Florida Panthers in exchange for a 2nd round pick in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. If you do not recall, Jordan Leopold was part of a deal that sent Jay Bouwmeester to the Calgary Flames last summer. Well, Leopold is making another big jump, this time to the defending Stanley Cup champions. So, you're thinking that this is just some ordinary player. He's not Ovechkin, he's not Crosby, he's not going to produce. But you're wrong about this. He can produce and when he deosn't, he always knows how to bounce back. He's had somewhat of a productive season with Florida, but it wasn't like what people anticipated. He wasn't going to be their Bouwmeester in Florida and Florida is struggling to get into the playoff picture after coming close last year. He has seven goals and eleven assists. That is sort of productive, but with him going to Pittsburgh, look for his numbers to increase a bit. Not a lot, a bit. He will play well, and he will help on the power play. Look for Jordan Leopold to make some sort of impact on Pittsburgh. We don't know yet, but it's waiting.

Is Rene Bourque a Major Impact in Calgary?

Okay, okay, over the last few months, I've been ripping the Calgary Flames. I've said they were not going to get into the playoffs and if they were, they would not get past the first round. But it seems that GM Darryl Sutter is not giving up. In fact, he signed one of his players to a new extension today. Rene Bourque, a forward with Calgary, signed a six-year, $20M deal to stay with Calgary. Now, here's the question. Is he going to be that kind of a player like Jarome Iginla? I would say yes. He can shoot and score like Jarome Iginla and he can get into fights a few times. But Calgary definitely needs some sort of hope and Darryl Sutter believes that Rene Bourque can bring this sort of intensity back into Pengrowth Saddledome where it actually needs it. It might work out and it might not. He could get traded sometime in the middle of the contract if it does not work out, or he could play with the Flames throughout those six years. I don't like Rene Bourque, but if Calgary thinks they can get production out of him, then I don't see a problem with it. Rene Bourque might be an impact player (like he is now), or could fall out in some years to come. Who knows? Maybe a miracle will happen and Rene Bourque will help this Flames team more.