-So NHL officiating seems worse than usual this year. I understand that's like a prisoner at Guantanamo Bay saying, "Gee, the waterboarding seems less pleasant than usual just lately" but I feel it's true. Whatever discipline process the NHL has for its refs isn't working. It might be time to look at a coaches challenge on calls. The refs and linesmen are missing too much and it's affecting the game. Enough is enough. Every year we're left talking about bad reffing, and every year I wonder why nothing is done about it. The NHL watches the same games I do, don't they? Time to start taking power away from the refs.
-It's like the Avs know when I'm about to blog. "Uh, oh," they must be saying, "that weirdo in Winnipeg is blogging about us again, better pull out a win tonight." They walloped the Dallas Stars last night, and even outshot them (I know right?) by a wide margin. Seriously though, last night didn't have the ring of an anomaly the way the other big wins of the year have, mainly because the Avs have been winning more lately. It's not much, but it's a step forward. The big guns are all firing, though perhaps less so than they should be. Duchene and MacKinnon finally seem to be kicking into high gear. So can the Avs dig themselves out of the hole they sunk into during October and most of November? Only time will tell.
-Whatever else happens to the Avs, however the season ends, it's been a banner year for Tyson Barrie. He has eighteen points through just 24 games, unreal numbers for a defenseman, leaving him tied for fifth among scoring by defensemen. I knew watching him as a junior player for Canada at the WJC that he was going to be something special, but this surpasses even those expectations. Barrie is the ultimate power play defenseman. He can rush it himself, he can play set up man or trigger man, he can distribute the puck with intelligence, and he can get his shot through traffic. He's on the small side, but the physical side of the game doesn't seem to bother him any. You don't see him get out muscled often either. He's a more complete version of former Av John-Michael Liles, with possibly an even higher offensive upside.
-Speaking of defensive scorers, guess who sits number one and two in that category. If you guessed Mark Giordano and TJ Brodie, in that order, congratulations, way to keep an eye on things. If you guessed that at the start of the year... no you didn't. Even fans of the Flames have been shocked by the surprise team of the Western Conference, battling it out with the New York Islanders for surprise team of the NHL.
-On the other end of the Alberta surprise spectrum, the Oilers have surprised me in all the wrong ways. Call me naive but I really think they have to turn a corner one of these days, don't they? At this rate, all the promising young players the Oilers fans are so excited about will be on the verge of retirement before they turn that corner. Goaltending is an issue, but so is... everything else. I really hope they don't finish last. I don't wish that sinkhole of an organization on a prospect like Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel. Buffalo, if it's not too much to ask, could you maybe start losing games again?
-Buffalo has been on a tear recently. They were on a short win streak, halted by the Winnipeg Jets, and then swept top-ranked Montreal on back to back games over the weekend. Hands up who saw that coming. Put your hand down, Gerald, you're so full of crap!
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Sunday, November 23, 2014
What is a Fourth Line?
My friend Kyle and I went to watch a game today between the Winnipeg Jets and the St. Louis Blues. He's one of the rare people I can have a really good conversation about hockey with, and since we haven't seen each other as much since school started it was great to just sit down next to the guy and enjoy what was overall a pretty good game. One thing in the game that both of us talked about was the presence and play of one Chris Thorburn. Thorburn has been ineffective in the extreme since he was re-signed to a three year deal this past offseason (which still baffles me). He can't win a fight, he can't make plays, he's an ineffective hitter... well, I could go on. His bad play, and my conversation with Kyle about it, was the catalyst for a thought on what a fourth line should do in the NHL.
In today's NHL, with the salary cap, the number of teams, the need for team toughness, and the need for penalty killers and heart and soul players, it's not practical or even possible to run four scoring lines. Teams are considered deep and talented if they can run three. A fourth line is there to not be a liability, first and foremost. A coach should be comfortable putting his fourth line out and not worrying about them constantly. A fourth line should feature players who can hit, work the puck down low, and generally play a rough and tumble game, finishing their checks at every opportunity and, in so doing, wearing down the other team's defensemen. If they score every now and then, that's a bonus. Their centreman is often the team's best face-off man and a top penalty killer. All of them are skilled in the art of agitating.
The Jets opponent tonight, the St. Louis Blues, provide an excellent example. Winnipegger Ryan Reaves is the muscle, tough as nails, willing to both hit and fight and adept at either, but no liability with the puck either. Steve Ott is all an agitator should be. He too finishes all his checks, he has decent skill, a surprising amount of leadership (he's been a captain before) and more offensive touch than most fourth liners. The same can be said of Max Lapierre, though I hate to admit it. Between the three of them they embody all a fourth line should be, and shame the Jets trio of Chris Thorburn, Matt Halischuk and Jim Slater.
The prototypical example, one of my favourite fourth lines of all time, came from the Boston Bruins. Enforcer Shawn Thornton, tough yet effective Gregory Campbell who once broke his leg to block a shot in the playoffs, and face-off man and top penalty killer Dan Paille. All three were tough hitters, each was skilled with the puck, and each of them possessed a motor that wouldn't quit. The Bruins won a cup with that fourth line and might've won another but for a prodigiously talented Chicago Blackhawks team.
Which brings me to the Jets fourth line. Where's the toughness? Thorburn? He loses most of his fights, and has barely fought this season. Where's the speed? Nowhere, though Slater at least plays up tempo. Puck skill? None to be found, again except for Slater, and Slater comes with the problem of being oft injured. Indeed if I was designing a fourth line Slater is the only member of the current line I would keep, not least because he kills penalties with the best of them.
What really annoys me about the fourth line is that better players for it exist within the Jets own locker room. Anthony Peluso is twice the enforcer Thorburn is, and frankly twice the player. TJ Galiardi agitates as well as anyone, and has good foot speed and a willingness to launch himself into other players fearlessly. He's also a solid penalty killer. His presence in the lineup would help give some of the Jets skilled players a rest on the PK.
So why does Paul Maurice keep the fourth line as it is? Your guess is as good as mine. It could be an order from the top. It could be he values what Thorburn brings to the locker room. Then too, Thorburn is close friends with much-maligned forward Evander Kane. Could that have something to do with his overlong stint in the lineup?
I've met Chris Thorburn. I like the man personally. He's extremely friendly and humble, and willing to make time for fans. It warms the heart the way he interacts with the rabid fan base here in Winnipeg. When Thorburn scored this goal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8W01mXbYFQ
I've never cheered so loud in my life. I want the guy to do well, I really do. I'm cheering for him. But it's just not working, and the sad part is he's not the only fourth liner I can say that of. In the NHL, and especially in the tough western conference, you need four lines to compete.
The Jets have done a good job getting rid of some of the dead weight from the Atlanta days. To take the next step, they need a fourth line that isn't going to be a liability every time out.
In today's NHL, with the salary cap, the number of teams, the need for team toughness, and the need for penalty killers and heart and soul players, it's not practical or even possible to run four scoring lines. Teams are considered deep and talented if they can run three. A fourth line is there to not be a liability, first and foremost. A coach should be comfortable putting his fourth line out and not worrying about them constantly. A fourth line should feature players who can hit, work the puck down low, and generally play a rough and tumble game, finishing their checks at every opportunity and, in so doing, wearing down the other team's defensemen. If they score every now and then, that's a bonus. Their centreman is often the team's best face-off man and a top penalty killer. All of them are skilled in the art of agitating.
The Jets opponent tonight, the St. Louis Blues, provide an excellent example. Winnipegger Ryan Reaves is the muscle, tough as nails, willing to both hit and fight and adept at either, but no liability with the puck either. Steve Ott is all an agitator should be. He too finishes all his checks, he has decent skill, a surprising amount of leadership (he's been a captain before) and more offensive touch than most fourth liners. The same can be said of Max Lapierre, though I hate to admit it. Between the three of them they embody all a fourth line should be, and shame the Jets trio of Chris Thorburn, Matt Halischuk and Jim Slater.
The prototypical example, one of my favourite fourth lines of all time, came from the Boston Bruins. Enforcer Shawn Thornton, tough yet effective Gregory Campbell who once broke his leg to block a shot in the playoffs, and face-off man and top penalty killer Dan Paille. All three were tough hitters, each was skilled with the puck, and each of them possessed a motor that wouldn't quit. The Bruins won a cup with that fourth line and might've won another but for a prodigiously talented Chicago Blackhawks team.
Which brings me to the Jets fourth line. Where's the toughness? Thorburn? He loses most of his fights, and has barely fought this season. Where's the speed? Nowhere, though Slater at least plays up tempo. Puck skill? None to be found, again except for Slater, and Slater comes with the problem of being oft injured. Indeed if I was designing a fourth line Slater is the only member of the current line I would keep, not least because he kills penalties with the best of them.
What really annoys me about the fourth line is that better players for it exist within the Jets own locker room. Anthony Peluso is twice the enforcer Thorburn is, and frankly twice the player. TJ Galiardi agitates as well as anyone, and has good foot speed and a willingness to launch himself into other players fearlessly. He's also a solid penalty killer. His presence in the lineup would help give some of the Jets skilled players a rest on the PK.
So why does Paul Maurice keep the fourth line as it is? Your guess is as good as mine. It could be an order from the top. It could be he values what Thorburn brings to the locker room. Then too, Thorburn is close friends with much-maligned forward Evander Kane. Could that have something to do with his overlong stint in the lineup?
I've met Chris Thorburn. I like the man personally. He's extremely friendly and humble, and willing to make time for fans. It warms the heart the way he interacts with the rabid fan base here in Winnipeg. When Thorburn scored this goal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8W01mXbYFQ
I've never cheered so loud in my life. I want the guy to do well, I really do. I'm cheering for him. But it's just not working, and the sad part is he's not the only fourth liner I can say that of. In the NHL, and especially in the tough western conference, you need four lines to compete.
The Jets have done a good job getting rid of some of the dead weight from the Atlanta days. To take the next step, they need a fourth line that isn't going to be a liability every time out.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Now For Something Completely Different!
The last time I went to a play was a couple of years ago at the behest (insistence) of my grandparents. It was a musical at Celebrations Dinner Theatre, called My Big Fat Winnipeg Wedding. For those of you not exactly in tune with pop culture, that's a blatant rip off, er, reference, to My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I do not like musicals. I did not care for My Big Fat Greek Wedding all that much either. So the two in combination were not good to me. On the other hand they served steak, so that was a plus. Last night I attended a play which, while decidedly lacking in steak, was also decidedly lacking in music, so that ought to have evened out.
WAIT A MINUTE, WHERE'S THE HOCKEY?
Pipe down, voices in my head, we'll come back to that next week. This week, plays.
I attended a play last night put on by Theatre Projects Manitoba. They performed Michael Healey's Proud, which was ostensibly a satire based on an alternate universe in which Stephen Harper's Conservative Party achieved not only a majority but a truly spectacular majority in which the NDP lost all the seats in Quebec. As much as I would have enjoyed that in real life, it was interesting to see Healey's take on things.
Of course this play turned out to be less a satire than a romantic comedy. Stop me if this sounds familiar: guy meets girl, guy is extremely busy and career driven where girl is far more relaxed and also overtly sexual, the two hate each other at first but grow to like, maybe even love each other and the busy career guy learns that, in the immortal words of Family Guy, casual sex can solve all of his problems. If that sounds familiar it's because it's the plot of every romantic comedy ever written. Including this one. So it loses some points for predictability and originality.
Where I thought it gained those points back was the thin veil of satire in which this rom-com was clad. The lambasting of Stephen Harper is surprisingly, bordering on frighteningly, accurate (and this is a right-winger saying this) and the actor playing him, Ross McMillan, did a stellar job. He has Harper's mannerisms, from his speech patterns to his method of standing, to his seeming social awkwardness (how much of that is a spectacle on Harper's part is up for debate) down to a science. He could convincingly masquerade as Harper himself fairly well. The female lead, played by Daria Puttaert, is named Jisbella, and once I got over how hilarious that was I noticed that she was just about the most overtly sexual character I had ever seen. Then I un-got over how funny her name was upon thinking that. Her name was about as subtle as her character which was about as subtle as a nuclear weapon. And you know what? It works! The portrayal of Harper is so blatantly, delightfully bland that this polar opposite Jisbella (I now suspect the author gave her this name on the condition of a lost bet) contrasts him nicely.
Whatever the faults with the writing (I could not escape the feeling that one of Matthew McConaughey or Ben Stiller was going to walk on stage to win the girls heart at any minute) there were none with the acting. Both the leads and the support characters, ably played by Kevin Gable and Eric Blais, play their roles to perfection, not one line is bobbled or delivered flatly, and even the bland character of Harper (who is so obviously satirical that naming him Hephen Starper would have been more subtle, but I didn't go there for subtle) comes off as deep and motivated. There are some cheap laughs to be had here, and one terrific monologue by McMillan in which he runs down all the things about which he does not care.
Compared to other plays... well it's been a while so, as I said earlier, no steak but no singing either. A solid draw.
Seriously though, it was performed with more feel than most other plays I've seen and I found myself enjoying it in parts. I wasn't spending the whole time poking holes in the plot, which was all too easy to do at some other plays I attended.
The inevitable question period at the end was as I expected: not a ton of new information. One interesting thing that arose from it was the McMillan's fascination with Harper. He even said that since Harper himself is an act when he addresses the media, Harper is playing a role; if Harper can act as his persona, there's no reason McMillan can't do the same, or such was his thinking. What disappointed me somewhat was that the writer of the play didn't attend, but the he couldn't possibly attend every talkback so I hardly begrudge him that. The most interesting part of this play was the underlying satire, and it would've been interesting to hear the writer's take on things, since it was from his mind that this satire arose. I would also wonder whether he intended to have the relationship between Harper and Jisbella (still can't write that with a straight face) overpower the satire, because, if there was one failing in the play, it was this.
WAIT A MINUTE, WHERE'S THE HOCKEY?
Pipe down, voices in my head, we'll come back to that next week. This week, plays.
I attended a play last night put on by Theatre Projects Manitoba. They performed Michael Healey's Proud, which was ostensibly a satire based on an alternate universe in which Stephen Harper's Conservative Party achieved not only a majority but a truly spectacular majority in which the NDP lost all the seats in Quebec. As much as I would have enjoyed that in real life, it was interesting to see Healey's take on things.
Of course this play turned out to be less a satire than a romantic comedy. Stop me if this sounds familiar: guy meets girl, guy is extremely busy and career driven where girl is far more relaxed and also overtly sexual, the two hate each other at first but grow to like, maybe even love each other and the busy career guy learns that, in the immortal words of Family Guy, casual sex can solve all of his problems. If that sounds familiar it's because it's the plot of every romantic comedy ever written. Including this one. So it loses some points for predictability and originality.
Where I thought it gained those points back was the thin veil of satire in which this rom-com was clad. The lambasting of Stephen Harper is surprisingly, bordering on frighteningly, accurate (and this is a right-winger saying this) and the actor playing him, Ross McMillan, did a stellar job. He has Harper's mannerisms, from his speech patterns to his method of standing, to his seeming social awkwardness (how much of that is a spectacle on Harper's part is up for debate) down to a science. He could convincingly masquerade as Harper himself fairly well. The female lead, played by Daria Puttaert, is named Jisbella, and once I got over how hilarious that was I noticed that she was just about the most overtly sexual character I had ever seen. Then I un-got over how funny her name was upon thinking that. Her name was about as subtle as her character which was about as subtle as a nuclear weapon. And you know what? It works! The portrayal of Harper is so blatantly, delightfully bland that this polar opposite Jisbella (I now suspect the author gave her this name on the condition of a lost bet) contrasts him nicely.
Whatever the faults with the writing (I could not escape the feeling that one of Matthew McConaughey or Ben Stiller was going to walk on stage to win the girls heart at any minute) there were none with the acting. Both the leads and the support characters, ably played by Kevin Gable and Eric Blais, play their roles to perfection, not one line is bobbled or delivered flatly, and even the bland character of Harper (who is so obviously satirical that naming him Hephen Starper would have been more subtle, but I didn't go there for subtle) comes off as deep and motivated. There are some cheap laughs to be had here, and one terrific monologue by McMillan in which he runs down all the things about which he does not care.
Compared to other plays... well it's been a while so, as I said earlier, no steak but no singing either. A solid draw.
Seriously though, it was performed with more feel than most other plays I've seen and I found myself enjoying it in parts. I wasn't spending the whole time poking holes in the plot, which was all too easy to do at some other plays I attended.
The inevitable question period at the end was as I expected: not a ton of new information. One interesting thing that arose from it was the McMillan's fascination with Harper. He even said that since Harper himself is an act when he addresses the media, Harper is playing a role; if Harper can act as his persona, there's no reason McMillan can't do the same, or such was his thinking. What disappointed me somewhat was that the writer of the play didn't attend, but the he couldn't possibly attend every talkback so I hardly begrudge him that. The most interesting part of this play was the underlying satire, and it would've been interesting to hear the writer's take on things, since it was from his mind that this satire arose. I would also wonder whether he intended to have the relationship between Harper and Jisbella (still can't write that with a straight face) overpower the satire, because, if there was one failing in the play, it was this.
Friday, November 07, 2014
The Two Best Games of the Year So Far?
Last night's NHL games brought two of the hardest fought, nastiest, fastest paced games I have seen all season. The season is still young yet, and it feels good to think that the best may be yet to come, but the best so far that I've seen came last night in a pair of tilts that went to a shootout. The game between the Avalanche and Maple Leafs was fast paced, nasty, and featured great skill from both the skaters and the goaltenders. It featured goals and great plays from all the big names involved, some nasty play, and big saves. We even got to see, thanks to some of the aforementioned nastiness, several minutes of 3 on 3 hockey, which really does make me think the NHL could use more of this (and I'm not saying this just because the Avs dominated it for nearly the entire time). Matt Duchene and Nathan MacKinnon were flying for the Avs, and Phil Kessel had his legs going for the Leafs, and the speedsters went chance for chance in the high-paced, end to end style of hockey that left the coaches with a few extra grey hairs, and the fans with grins on their faces. Every NHL game should be as quick and breathtakingly intense as this game. There was a surprising amount of hate for two teams that see each other only semi-regularly.
Speaking of surprising amounts of hate, that Jets and Penguins game was one of the nastiest in my recent memory for the Jets. For the Penguins, part of some truly epic pieces of nastiness in recent years against the Flyers and Islanders, this was nothing new. This was a different kind of nasty from the old Penguins-Flyers, however. This was a kind of nasty that didn't feature silly, suspendable plays, or injury-inducing incidents. The hits were hard, but clean, and if there was a score that needed settling the players settled it like men, with their fists instead of with their sticks and elbows. The game had four fights (the official game sheet has only three, but that exchange between Jacob Trouba and Zach Sill was a fight, regardless of what the clueless officials thought) and none of them featured a "goon". Everyone who fought was a regular shit-taker for both teams. Anyone would have thought these two teams had a long bitter rivalry. The Jets to a man said they needed to play that harder, nastier game to be successful. Maybe they were right.
The one sour note from the Jets game, aside from the fact that they ultimately lost (a game in which frankly both teams deserved a win), was that we were left to question just what Chris Thorburn's usefulness to the team is. Four fights, and he's not involved in a single one of them? It's not like the Penguins didn't give him reasons enough. If he's not here to scrap (something at which Anthony Peluso is better anyway) what is he hear to do?
Negativity aside, the games last night were a pleasure to watch. Especially fun to watch was Nate MacKinnon flying out there, dominating the play every time he was on the ice. Best of all, his feet were moving at that eye-blink speed we Avs fans got used to last year. Now he just needs to keep it up.
-Some CHL notes for you: Connor McDavid and the Erie Otters finally lost a game to the Niagara Ice Dogs last night. McDavid was held off the board, incredibly. However, worth noting is the fact that McDavid still has more points than Sidney Crosby had at the same point in his draft year. He's shaping up to be a special player the likes of which we haven't seen since, well Crosby. Some team (I should think Buffalo is the most likely candidate) is going to save their franchise drafting this kid.
-The Brandon Wheat Kings, who now sit 2nd in the WHL with 29 points and only 3 losses all season, continue to roll on. They were missing youngsters Nolan Patrick and Kale Clague during the recent World U17 challenge, but managed to steamroll their competition anyway. Jace Hawryluk and European import Rihards Bukarts are leading the way offensively. The Wheat Kings also have two players, Jesse Gabrielle and Ivan Provorov, who are potential first rounders for this year's entry draft. The Wheat Kings are probably the most feared team in the league right now, excepting the seemingly invincible Kelowna Rockets.
-One final WHL note to leave you off on. The Prince Albert Raiders fired their head coach, Cory Clouston, recently. Rumours abound that he has not been a popular man in any locker room he has stepped foot in (Yahoo sports indicated they had heard the Wheat Kings threw a party when they heard Clouston had been fired two years ago) and he lasted just 15 games into the season in Prince Albert. Yahoo also mentioned a rift between he and certain players, who asked for trades because of issues with him. It will be hard for him to get another job with that reputation hanging over his head. Yahoo also felt, however, that changes weren't done in Prince Albert. The team barely squeaked into the playoffs last year, and that was with German tower of power Leon Draisaitl in the lineup. The thinking is the raiders may trade Jets prospect Josh Morrissey as well. As junior teams often do, they may trade him to a contender if they playoffs don't appear to be a likely possibility. Ditto for the Kootenay Ice and their captain, recently returned Sam Reinhart. Could either of Reinhart or Morrissey find themselves in a Wheat Kings sweater after the trade deadline? It's possible. The Wheat Kings will want to load up for a deep playoff run, and Morrissey or Reinhart could be just the piece they need.
Speaking of surprising amounts of hate, that Jets and Penguins game was one of the nastiest in my recent memory for the Jets. For the Penguins, part of some truly epic pieces of nastiness in recent years against the Flyers and Islanders, this was nothing new. This was a different kind of nasty from the old Penguins-Flyers, however. This was a kind of nasty that didn't feature silly, suspendable plays, or injury-inducing incidents. The hits were hard, but clean, and if there was a score that needed settling the players settled it like men, with their fists instead of with their sticks and elbows. The game had four fights (the official game sheet has only three, but that exchange between Jacob Trouba and Zach Sill was a fight, regardless of what the clueless officials thought) and none of them featured a "goon". Everyone who fought was a regular shit-taker for both teams. Anyone would have thought these two teams had a long bitter rivalry. The Jets to a man said they needed to play that harder, nastier game to be successful. Maybe they were right.
The one sour note from the Jets game, aside from the fact that they ultimately lost (a game in which frankly both teams deserved a win), was that we were left to question just what Chris Thorburn's usefulness to the team is. Four fights, and he's not involved in a single one of them? It's not like the Penguins didn't give him reasons enough. If he's not here to scrap (something at which Anthony Peluso is better anyway) what is he hear to do?
Negativity aside, the games last night were a pleasure to watch. Especially fun to watch was Nate MacKinnon flying out there, dominating the play every time he was on the ice. Best of all, his feet were moving at that eye-blink speed we Avs fans got used to last year. Now he just needs to keep it up.
-Some CHL notes for you: Connor McDavid and the Erie Otters finally lost a game to the Niagara Ice Dogs last night. McDavid was held off the board, incredibly. However, worth noting is the fact that McDavid still has more points than Sidney Crosby had at the same point in his draft year. He's shaping up to be a special player the likes of which we haven't seen since, well Crosby. Some team (I should think Buffalo is the most likely candidate) is going to save their franchise drafting this kid.
-The Brandon Wheat Kings, who now sit 2nd in the WHL with 29 points and only 3 losses all season, continue to roll on. They were missing youngsters Nolan Patrick and Kale Clague during the recent World U17 challenge, but managed to steamroll their competition anyway. Jace Hawryluk and European import Rihards Bukarts are leading the way offensively. The Wheat Kings also have two players, Jesse Gabrielle and Ivan Provorov, who are potential first rounders for this year's entry draft. The Wheat Kings are probably the most feared team in the league right now, excepting the seemingly invincible Kelowna Rockets.
-One final WHL note to leave you off on. The Prince Albert Raiders fired their head coach, Cory Clouston, recently. Rumours abound that he has not been a popular man in any locker room he has stepped foot in (Yahoo sports indicated they had heard the Wheat Kings threw a party when they heard Clouston had been fired two years ago) and he lasted just 15 games into the season in Prince Albert. Yahoo also mentioned a rift between he and certain players, who asked for trades because of issues with him. It will be hard for him to get another job with that reputation hanging over his head. Yahoo also felt, however, that changes weren't done in Prince Albert. The team barely squeaked into the playoffs last year, and that was with German tower of power Leon Draisaitl in the lineup. The thinking is the raiders may trade Jets prospect Josh Morrissey as well. As junior teams often do, they may trade him to a contender if they playoffs don't appear to be a likely possibility. Ditto for the Kootenay Ice and their captain, recently returned Sam Reinhart. Could either of Reinhart or Morrissey find themselves in a Wheat Kings sweater after the trade deadline? It's possible. The Wheat Kings will want to load up for a deep playoff run, and Morrissey or Reinhart could be just the piece they need.
Saturday, November 01, 2014
Afterburners On... Maybe
Watching the Jets pull one out over the New York Rangers tonight brought a smile to my face for all of a second. Not long after, it brought up the question that's as old as the Jets tenure in Winnipeg, asked every time they show any signs of life. Have the Winnipeg Jets, winners of three of their last four and gainers of points in all four, finally turned a corner, or are they just doing what they do every year? Are they finally maturing under head coach Paul Maurice or are they toying with the emotions of their fans with their usual streaky play before sliding comfortably into their usual spot just outside spitting distance of the playoffs?
Answer: insufficient data.
The Jets, after all, do this every year, making their fans wonder if the maturation process and patience that the Jets brass are always talking about have finally worked the magic Kevin Cheveldayoff insisted they eventually would. During these stretches, these hopeful, glorious stretches where it seems there's no team the Jets can't skate with or even out skate, where every player seems to be doing exactly what we know they're capable of doing, a sense of invincibility envelops the team. The fans come into every game cheering louder than ever, knowing there team can pull one out against any odds, against any team. They know that our best can match up against there best. Wheeler is faster than anybody, Kane is stronger, Scheifele is slicker, Ladd works harder, Byfuglien is bigger, Trouba is meaner, and Pavelec is sharper than anyone the other teams can throw against them. The wins should start to roll in.
It's usually right about then that the team blows a game against a team they really ought to beat, and then it all falls limply apart like a Jenga tower which has just had a rug pulled out from under it. The sense of invincibility vanishes as if it was never there, leaving behind a feeling that the mind can remember but not duplicate. Wheeler seems slower and less coordinated, Byfuglien and Trouba lose their mean streaks, Scheifele gets pushed around, Kane shoots wide as often as he hits the net (or more) and Pavelec is woefully out of position. It gets a little crueller every time, because it always seems like the Jets are within inches of greatness for a few short games before it turns sour and bitter once again.
So which will it be this time, Jets? Do we turn on the afterburners or crash into a mountain? It's too early to tell of course, but if they could keep this momentum going it would sure be a breath of fresh air in this city's lungs, especially given the debacle that the bombers have been the latter half of this season. Every year in their preseason predictions the experts at TSN and Sportsnet and The Hockey News dump on the Jets mercilessly and relentlessly, and just once it would be nice to see the flight crew make those pundits eat their words.
Answer: insufficient data.
The Jets, after all, do this every year, making their fans wonder if the maturation process and patience that the Jets brass are always talking about have finally worked the magic Kevin Cheveldayoff insisted they eventually would. During these stretches, these hopeful, glorious stretches where it seems there's no team the Jets can't skate with or even out skate, where every player seems to be doing exactly what we know they're capable of doing, a sense of invincibility envelops the team. The fans come into every game cheering louder than ever, knowing there team can pull one out against any odds, against any team. They know that our best can match up against there best. Wheeler is faster than anybody, Kane is stronger, Scheifele is slicker, Ladd works harder, Byfuglien is bigger, Trouba is meaner, and Pavelec is sharper than anyone the other teams can throw against them. The wins should start to roll in.
It's usually right about then that the team blows a game against a team they really ought to beat, and then it all falls limply apart like a Jenga tower which has just had a rug pulled out from under it. The sense of invincibility vanishes as if it was never there, leaving behind a feeling that the mind can remember but not duplicate. Wheeler seems slower and less coordinated, Byfuglien and Trouba lose their mean streaks, Scheifele gets pushed around, Kane shoots wide as often as he hits the net (or more) and Pavelec is woefully out of position. It gets a little crueller every time, because it always seems like the Jets are within inches of greatness for a few short games before it turns sour and bitter once again.
So which will it be this time, Jets? Do we turn on the afterburners or crash into a mountain? It's too early to tell of course, but if they could keep this momentum going it would sure be a breath of fresh air in this city's lungs, especially given the debacle that the bombers have been the latter half of this season. Every year in their preseason predictions the experts at TSN and Sportsnet and The Hockey News dump on the Jets mercilessly and relentlessly, and just once it would be nice to see the flight crew make those pundits eat their words.
Friday, October 31, 2014
What's Wrong in Colorado?
It's hard to write this blog right now, especially after the Avs soundly thrashed the New York Islanders, the surprise team of the new season (who would have predicted a start above .500?) by a convincing 5-0 score. Nathan MacKinnon got off the schneid as the saying goes with a 2-goal game and a generally solid performance, the fourth line got some goals of their own, including one from fan whipping boy Marc-Andre Cliche Semyon Varlamov had another game for the ages and the potent Islanders offense was blanked, in a defensive performance including another perfect outing for the Avs successful penalty killers. So how can I write a blog about what's wrong in Colorado? That's the nature of sports: when you're winning, nothing is wrong anywhere! What's to complain about after a game like that? Well, a few things, namely the team's overall struggles, come to mind, and I have a few thoughts on that.
-The Avs miss Paul Stastny. There, I said it. I know the Avs have plenty of depth, and lots of firepower up front, but no team loses a 60 point second line centreman and brushes it off like it's nothing. How much extra breathing room did good ol' Pauly Walnuts give Nathan MacKinnon? How much extra scoring did he provide when Matt Duchene had an off game? Look at the highlights from last season. He brought out the best in Gabe Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon. It's depressing how many of Landeskog's goals came as a result of Stastny's great vision. The Avs have lost more than they know in Stastny.
-The Avs miss P.A. Parenteau. Another depth scoring guy who could have provided the Avs with another weapon up front, he was traded for reasons I'm still not clear on. Rumours of a rift between him and the coaching staff were shot down by both parties, and yet he was shipped out in the offseason for, let's be honest here, a sub-par return. It's pretty clear so far, as it has been from day one, who won the Parenteau-Briere trade. I couldn't believe my eyes when this trade was made. It still stinks. We miss you P.A.
-The Avs miss Steve Downie. I know, this is old news, dating back to about this time last year, but Downie is a spark plug, and how many times have the Avs needed a spark this year that they never got? How useful would he have been in the playoffs against Minnesota last year, especially with all the injuries the Avs had up front? How many times did he throw crushing hits, or chip in with timely offense? Was he a loose cannon? At times yes, but for a team as lifeless as the Avs have seemed at times this year, he would not have been a bad thing; an injection of energy into an at times dead team would have been perfect. Another trade on which the return (Max Talbot) has not matched up to what was lost. We miss you, Steve.
-The Avs miss (or at least I do) the days when they were winning trades. Look at the trades that Joe Sakic has made in his tenure as Avs GM. They're far from inspiring. I'm a die-hard Avs fan, and as such I refuse to believe anything but the best of Super Joe, who is to Avs fans what Mario Lemieux and Steve Yzerman are to Penguins and Wings fans respectively, but his record in trades so far is losing, with the exception of the trade that brought Alex Tanguay back to Colorado (Tanguay, to Sakic's credit, has been a bright spot this year). But that Brad Stuart trade? Hell, what they gave up to land Stewart was more than the Sabres gave up to land the younger and more useful Josh Gorges, who many Avs fans would've and still would love to see in Avs uniform. The Avs dropped the ball on this one as far as I can see.
-The Avs miss MacKinnon moving his feet. It was a little unnerving seeing the kid glide or stand still, but he did both far too often leading up to the game against the Islanders. A player like MacKinnon, with an extra gear of speed to make a speed skater jealous, needs needs needs NEEDS to keep his feet moving to be effective. It makes me wonder if he wasn't playing hurt. He's also not carrying the puck the way we know he can. Hopefully the game against the Islanders, in which he scored twice and looked generally good, is a sign of a return to form. MacKinnon was moving his feet and playing the way we know he can that game. Maybe he's turned a corner. I hope so, because his size, speed, and skill give him a package befitting the games truly elite forwards.
-I miss the feeling of optimism that came with watching games last year. When the Avs played last year, especially after the first ten games or so, there was this feeling of invincibility. If they got up a couple goals, the game was over. If they got down a couple goals, they could (and often did) come back. They were the best team in any game they went into. With Duchene and MacKinnon they were faster than anyone. With Bordeleau and McLeod and Landeskog, they were tougher too. With Varlamov in net, they had the best goaltender. They could win any game, defeat any team at any style of play. It was a wonderful feeling for a fan, and I can only imagine how it must have been for the players. This feeling, this pride and certainty, this faith in the team, this I miss most of all. Here's hoping they bring it back soon.
-The Avs miss Paul Stastny. There, I said it. I know the Avs have plenty of depth, and lots of firepower up front, but no team loses a 60 point second line centreman and brushes it off like it's nothing. How much extra breathing room did good ol' Pauly Walnuts give Nathan MacKinnon? How much extra scoring did he provide when Matt Duchene had an off game? Look at the highlights from last season. He brought out the best in Gabe Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon. It's depressing how many of Landeskog's goals came as a result of Stastny's great vision. The Avs have lost more than they know in Stastny.
-The Avs miss P.A. Parenteau. Another depth scoring guy who could have provided the Avs with another weapon up front, he was traded for reasons I'm still not clear on. Rumours of a rift between him and the coaching staff were shot down by both parties, and yet he was shipped out in the offseason for, let's be honest here, a sub-par return. It's pretty clear so far, as it has been from day one, who won the Parenteau-Briere trade. I couldn't believe my eyes when this trade was made. It still stinks. We miss you P.A.
-The Avs miss Steve Downie. I know, this is old news, dating back to about this time last year, but Downie is a spark plug, and how many times have the Avs needed a spark this year that they never got? How useful would he have been in the playoffs against Minnesota last year, especially with all the injuries the Avs had up front? How many times did he throw crushing hits, or chip in with timely offense? Was he a loose cannon? At times yes, but for a team as lifeless as the Avs have seemed at times this year, he would not have been a bad thing; an injection of energy into an at times dead team would have been perfect. Another trade on which the return (Max Talbot) has not matched up to what was lost. We miss you, Steve.
-The Avs miss (or at least I do) the days when they were winning trades. Look at the trades that Joe Sakic has made in his tenure as Avs GM. They're far from inspiring. I'm a die-hard Avs fan, and as such I refuse to believe anything but the best of Super Joe, who is to Avs fans what Mario Lemieux and Steve Yzerman are to Penguins and Wings fans respectively, but his record in trades so far is losing, with the exception of the trade that brought Alex Tanguay back to Colorado (Tanguay, to Sakic's credit, has been a bright spot this year). But that Brad Stuart trade? Hell, what they gave up to land Stewart was more than the Sabres gave up to land the younger and more useful Josh Gorges, who many Avs fans would've and still would love to see in Avs uniform. The Avs dropped the ball on this one as far as I can see.
-The Avs miss MacKinnon moving his feet. It was a little unnerving seeing the kid glide or stand still, but he did both far too often leading up to the game against the Islanders. A player like MacKinnon, with an extra gear of speed to make a speed skater jealous, needs needs needs NEEDS to keep his feet moving to be effective. It makes me wonder if he wasn't playing hurt. He's also not carrying the puck the way we know he can. Hopefully the game against the Islanders, in which he scored twice and looked generally good, is a sign of a return to form. MacKinnon was moving his feet and playing the way we know he can that game. Maybe he's turned a corner. I hope so, because his size, speed, and skill give him a package befitting the games truly elite forwards.
-I miss the feeling of optimism that came with watching games last year. When the Avs played last year, especially after the first ten games or so, there was this feeling of invincibility. If they got up a couple goals, the game was over. If they got down a couple goals, they could (and often did) come back. They were the best team in any game they went into. With Duchene and MacKinnon they were faster than anyone. With Bordeleau and McLeod and Landeskog, they were tougher too. With Varlamov in net, they had the best goaltender. They could win any game, defeat any team at any style of play. It was a wonderful feeling for a fan, and I can only imagine how it must have been for the players. This feeling, this pride and certainty, this faith in the team, this I miss most of all. Here's hoping they bring it back soon.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
A TALE OF TWO CITIES: Tampa Bay and Winnipeg
This blog is going to start off with some Avs/CHL thoughts but that's just me getting the easy stuff out of the way before delving into last night's matchup between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Winnipeg Jets. There's a lot to talk about. I know it's early yet in the season, but the Lightning look good and the Jets really do not. The Lightning have matured into a solid team, perhaps one of the better teams in the NHL's Eastern Conference (certainly now, with Boston falling off a bit in the early going), while the Jets, whether they've been in the west or the east, have failed to make the playoffs every year since 2007 and appear, most unfortunately, poised to do so again. So what happened to these two teams who were so bad at the same time for so many years? Why do the Lightning look like Stanley Cup contenders and the Jets, at best, like an upper-tier AHL team at times? I'm going to spend a good chunk of this blog answering that painful question, but before I dive into that nest of snakes:
-There was a heavyweight tilt of sorts tonight in the OHL between two of the best teams in junior hockey. The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, or the Soo Greyhounds as they are often known, went toe-to-toe with Connor McDavid's Erie Otters. While the Greyhounds held McDavid to just one goal (and few enough teams can say that) they lost the battle of the titans 6-4, with Dylan Strome picking up 2 goals. Say, now there's a player who would look pretty good in a Jets uniform! The Jets likely won't be bad enough to finish last in the league this year (Have you seen Buffalo this season? Yikes!) but they could finish in the range to draft Strome at this rate.
No! Bad Rob! Other stuff now, dump on Jets later!
-Colorado won another game tonight (holy, another one?) bringing their win total on the season up to two. While the total number of wins for the Avs so far is hardly inspiring, the fashion in which they won this game is cause for a sigh of relief. The Avs walloped the Vancouver Canucks by a score of 7-3, and got contributions from all the big guns. Jarome Iginla got his first two goals as an Av, Tyson Barrie put up three points, Matt Duchene looked deadly every time he was on the ice, and Gabriel Landeskog showed off that blistering slap shot of his. The only fly in the ointment (or flies): Nathan MacKinnon played well, but had no goals to show for it. Ryan O'Reilly hasn't played especially well either. Once those two guys get going, the wins will pile up in Denver.
-Former Jet Zach Redmond made his Avalanche debut, and to the surprise of not a single Jets fan he played extremely well. He moved the puck with confidence, had surprisingly little in the way of jitters in spite of it being his first game of the year, and rushed the puck up ice a couple of times. What I really liked was that he rushed the puck well but never once got caught out of position. When he rushed the puck he never overstayed his welcome in the offensive zone, but got right back to his position after leaving the puck for one of his teammates. Remind me again why the Avs had Nate Guenin playing instead of this guy. Or, if you're a Jets fan, remind me again why the Jets could afford to keep Adam Pardy and Paul Postma, but were reluctant to keep Redmond It wasn't like he signed for big money in Colorado, and a player with the kind of calm, slick puck moving ability Redmond displayed for the Avs would have been welcome in the Jets lineup.
Which brings me to tonight.
-Remember the 2011-2012 season? The year before the lockout? Well, I sure do. It was the first year the Jets were back in town, and in spite of how bad the Thrashers had been there was a sense of optimism in the air. Anything was possible, even the playoffs. In fact it took the Jets until game 79 to be officially eliminated, so while there would be no playoffs that year, the hard drive for them at the end had left everyone in Winnipeg feeling pretty good. The last game of the year, which I attended, was between the Jets and Lightning, and it was the game Lightning sniper extraordinaire Steven Stamkos potted his 60th goal of the season. The Jets lost the game in overtime, a hard-fought affair in which current Edmonton Oiler Teddy Purcell scored the winner, his second of the night.
Which, again, brings me to tonight.
I remember this game because it would be easily forgotten, in light of tonight's loss, just how close in terms of development these two teams were at the time. Separated by just one point, the Jets ended up with the 9th overall pick in that year's entry draft and Tampa Bay with the tenth. The two teams looked like they were neck and neck. Now, in the 2014-15 season, Tampa Bay has shot out so far ahead of the Jets we can scarcely see their taillights. What happened?
In Winnipeg's case it might be more appropriate to ask what didn't happen.
First and foremost, I know that Tampa Bay has had several very high draft picks which have turned into the league's best sniper, one of the league's best defensemen and the league's most promising rookie respectively. This is not an excuse to my mind. Even factoring in the fact that Stamkos missed most of last year, even noting that Victor Hedman only broke out last season and looked merely average before that, even pointing out that Jonathan Drouin didn't even play last year, you still haven't hit on the big difference between the two teams. You still haven't given Tampa Bay their due credit or exposed just how badly Winnipeg has missed an opportunity.
Tonight's game was a sterling example of the difference goaltending makes. Ben Bishop stopped 40 shots, while Ondrej Pavelec couldn't even stop half that many, yet still allowed twice as many goals. Ben Bishop was available at one point for trade. Two points, in fact. He was traded to Ottawa for a pittance, and again to Tampa Bay in what turned out to be one of the most lopsided trades of the modern era. Switch the goaltenders tonight, and you switch the result, as has too often been in the case in Winnipeg.
But it doesn't end there, and to put this game solely on Ondrej Pavelec would be doing Tampa Bay's budding offensive stars a disservice.
Look at the Lightning lineup for a moment. It's formidable, no doubt about it. Even leaving Stamkos out of the equation, which for much of last year they did, Tampa boasts a solid team. Look at where those players came from. They weren't all top three draft picks. Look at Namestnikov and Kucherov, who were added 27th and 54th overall. Look at Brendan Morrow, a free agent signing added on the cheap. Look at Radko Gudas, that constant thorn in the side of everyone he plays against, selected 66th overall. Look at almost the entire defensive corps, a mix of trade acquisitions and free agent signees. Look at that lineup.
The Lightning have found gems in the later rounds of the draft better than most teams in the league. They have made shrewd trades and made appropriate free agent signings to supplement those draft picks. They have taken a collection of good players and surrounded them with a decent supporting cast.
Kevin Cheveldayoff has done none of those things.
That's what separates the Lightning from the Jets. No matter how many Stamkoses or Drouins you draft, you need players around them, and a goaltender to back them up. Even if the Jets do get Connor McDavid this year, he won't solve all their problems by himself.
-There was a heavyweight tilt of sorts tonight in the OHL between two of the best teams in junior hockey. The Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, or the Soo Greyhounds as they are often known, went toe-to-toe with Connor McDavid's Erie Otters. While the Greyhounds held McDavid to just one goal (and few enough teams can say that) they lost the battle of the titans 6-4, with Dylan Strome picking up 2 goals. Say, now there's a player who would look pretty good in a Jets uniform! The Jets likely won't be bad enough to finish last in the league this year (Have you seen Buffalo this season? Yikes!) but they could finish in the range to draft Strome at this rate.
No! Bad Rob! Other stuff now, dump on Jets later!
-Colorado won another game tonight (holy, another one?) bringing their win total on the season up to two. While the total number of wins for the Avs so far is hardly inspiring, the fashion in which they won this game is cause for a sigh of relief. The Avs walloped the Vancouver Canucks by a score of 7-3, and got contributions from all the big guns. Jarome Iginla got his first two goals as an Av, Tyson Barrie put up three points, Matt Duchene looked deadly every time he was on the ice, and Gabriel Landeskog showed off that blistering slap shot of his. The only fly in the ointment (or flies): Nathan MacKinnon played well, but had no goals to show for it. Ryan O'Reilly hasn't played especially well either. Once those two guys get going, the wins will pile up in Denver.
-Former Jet Zach Redmond made his Avalanche debut, and to the surprise of not a single Jets fan he played extremely well. He moved the puck with confidence, had surprisingly little in the way of jitters in spite of it being his first game of the year, and rushed the puck up ice a couple of times. What I really liked was that he rushed the puck well but never once got caught out of position. When he rushed the puck he never overstayed his welcome in the offensive zone, but got right back to his position after leaving the puck for one of his teammates. Remind me again why the Avs had Nate Guenin playing instead of this guy. Or, if you're a Jets fan, remind me again why the Jets could afford to keep Adam Pardy and Paul Postma, but were reluctant to keep Redmond It wasn't like he signed for big money in Colorado, and a player with the kind of calm, slick puck moving ability Redmond displayed for the Avs would have been welcome in the Jets lineup.
Which brings me to tonight.
-Remember the 2011-2012 season? The year before the lockout? Well, I sure do. It was the first year the Jets were back in town, and in spite of how bad the Thrashers had been there was a sense of optimism in the air. Anything was possible, even the playoffs. In fact it took the Jets until game 79 to be officially eliminated, so while there would be no playoffs that year, the hard drive for them at the end had left everyone in Winnipeg feeling pretty good. The last game of the year, which I attended, was between the Jets and Lightning, and it was the game Lightning sniper extraordinaire Steven Stamkos potted his 60th goal of the season. The Jets lost the game in overtime, a hard-fought affair in which current Edmonton Oiler Teddy Purcell scored the winner, his second of the night.
Which, again, brings me to tonight.
I remember this game because it would be easily forgotten, in light of tonight's loss, just how close in terms of development these two teams were at the time. Separated by just one point, the Jets ended up with the 9th overall pick in that year's entry draft and Tampa Bay with the tenth. The two teams looked like they were neck and neck. Now, in the 2014-15 season, Tampa Bay has shot out so far ahead of the Jets we can scarcely see their taillights. What happened?
In Winnipeg's case it might be more appropriate to ask what didn't happen.
First and foremost, I know that Tampa Bay has had several very high draft picks which have turned into the league's best sniper, one of the league's best defensemen and the league's most promising rookie respectively. This is not an excuse to my mind. Even factoring in the fact that Stamkos missed most of last year, even noting that Victor Hedman only broke out last season and looked merely average before that, even pointing out that Jonathan Drouin didn't even play last year, you still haven't hit on the big difference between the two teams. You still haven't given Tampa Bay their due credit or exposed just how badly Winnipeg has missed an opportunity.
Tonight's game was a sterling example of the difference goaltending makes. Ben Bishop stopped 40 shots, while Ondrej Pavelec couldn't even stop half that many, yet still allowed twice as many goals. Ben Bishop was available at one point for trade. Two points, in fact. He was traded to Ottawa for a pittance, and again to Tampa Bay in what turned out to be one of the most lopsided trades of the modern era. Switch the goaltenders tonight, and you switch the result, as has too often been in the case in Winnipeg.
But it doesn't end there, and to put this game solely on Ondrej Pavelec would be doing Tampa Bay's budding offensive stars a disservice.
Look at the Lightning lineup for a moment. It's formidable, no doubt about it. Even leaving Stamkos out of the equation, which for much of last year they did, Tampa boasts a solid team. Look at where those players came from. They weren't all top three draft picks. Look at Namestnikov and Kucherov, who were added 27th and 54th overall. Look at Brendan Morrow, a free agent signing added on the cheap. Look at Radko Gudas, that constant thorn in the side of everyone he plays against, selected 66th overall. Look at almost the entire defensive corps, a mix of trade acquisitions and free agent signees. Look at that lineup.
The Lightning have found gems in the later rounds of the draft better than most teams in the league. They have made shrewd trades and made appropriate free agent signings to supplement those draft picks. They have taken a collection of good players and surrounded them with a decent supporting cast.
Kevin Cheveldayoff has done none of those things.
That's what separates the Lightning from the Jets. No matter how many Stamkoses or Drouins you draft, you need players around them, and a goaltender to back them up. Even if the Jets do get Connor McDavid this year, he won't solve all their problems by himself.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)