Lately I have been seeing even more rumblings, gripes, opinions or whatever adjectives you feel like using when describing people's feelings on the infamous Eklund. So I figured, why the puck not put in my two cents. When in Rome right?
***Disclaimer: I am NOT Eklund in disguise (as has been suggested that he does this from time to time to defend himself or whatever)***
I will preface this blog by saying this will not necessarily be a pro/con Eklund rant, so much as it is will about common sense, because people seem to be losing it. Hockeybuzz seems to be the myspace of hockey sites, with all the hate it seems to receive (it would be the facebook if people liked it more). Why do I say that? It's a place where hockey bloggers league wide come to talk about their teams. Without it I wouldn't be familiar with a lot of the Western Conference teams writers, since in the East, those teams receive little to no coverage during the season. It's actually been nice to read guys like Matthew Barry or Shaune Vetter, LA Kings and Calgary Flames bloggers respectively. I actually give one iota of a puck now about the daily mess that is Calgary after reading some of the blogs. Essentially I view hockeybuzz as a place to go to read other people's opinions about the sport we all love. I know I won't always agree with what someone else is saying, but I'm also given a new way to look at certain teams from time to time throughout the season.
Now onto the man, the myth, the legend. There is at least one twitter account that I know of, @StopEklund, to go with numerous atricles on websites and even videos attempting to thwart his reign of tyranny over the hockey community! You can't see it, but I started shaking my fist menacingly at my computer. CAPS LOCKS FOR RAGE! This is where my common sense comment comes in. In today's day and age you can get your information from almost anywhere, so why do you get so worked up about one guy? Maybe it's because I view the site differently the most. At least I assume I do since i don't get worked up about every little thing I read on there. I take the rumors with a grain of salt, and have even referred to Ek as Eklolund (which i also used in an email to him) due to the nature of some of his rumors. At the end of the day though they're just that, rumors.
Yes some of them are far out there, but that's the nature of rumors. They might not always make sense or even be plausible to you or me, but it's still out there. Do I see the validity in the argument that he reports rumors simply to get hits on the site? Sure. But I also see all those hits as a choice. If you don't like it, don't read it. There are puckloads of sites out there that you can choose to give your bandwidth too. If reading hockeybuzz is so offensive to you, or fills you with such a deep seeded rage...stop. The best thing you can do is ignore it. Constantly griping about draws more attention to what you're trying to stop. If asked about it, offer your opinion and explain why you don't like it. Running around damning both the site and the dude as a person just makes you look ridiculous. There are a great many websites (among other things out there) that I do not like. So guess what I do. C'mon guess. I AVOID THEM! I won't go to their pages, I won't read their articles, I won't watch their channels. It's simple.
Honestly, I can understand your frustration people. Especially in today's day and age where information is readily available. Use twitter and follow guys like Dreger, McKenzie or LeBrun and see what they're privy to. Eklund is truly a unique animal. While not recognized by the PHWA, he still has access to most things that we can only hope to have. So maybe that's what it all boils down to. He's just an average joe who can go places we can't, get access to sources we don't even know and manage to tell us what he hears. Are we all that jealous of one guy? Are his rumors really that inflammatory to where we must take up our digital arms and strike out against the hockeybuzz dragon? I have read some rumors and shared them with friends, and while we ended up scoffing at them, we'd also continue to talk about the game we love. Is that such a bad thing?
So I say, don't do this.
just pucking relax.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
What if...
...The Toronto Maple Leafs moved Dion Phaneuf to forward?
So clearly today's blog is pure speculation. I'm not throwing out any lineup changes or anything regarding the Maple Leafs, I just think it could be a fun little scenario, so we're going with it. Basically I'm asking any Leaf fans out there not to threaten me with waffles. I just had breakfast.
We all know the kid has a booming shot from the point and can lay the heavy hit, but part of me thinks his desire to lay the big hit can end up costing Toronto if he goes for an open ice hit and misses. Now imagine if you will, Dion Phaneuf playing a wing and coming in on a forecheck. he could certainly wreak havoc on any defensive duo or backchecking winger.
He's also large enough where he could go into the high traffic areas and pick up garbage goals. A simple shot from the top of the face off circle can turn into a mad scramble as he comes in to bang away rebounds. The question would be where he would play on the power play. He's had success his whole career playing the point, and with a shot like that you can't argue. However, what would the power play look like with him screening down low? I'm sure he could make those two minutes a living hell for any goalie as a screen.
The reason I wrote this was in part due to the highlights from last night's game against the Carolina Hurricanes, where he absolutely leveled Tuomo Juutu. I also took a look at his numbers for this year, both to date and projected season totals. He is on pace for his lowest points total ever, as well as his worst season in terms of plus-minus since 08-09, which was the lowest of his career. I have no problem with Dion Phaneuf as a defensemen, so don't think I'm trying to run him out of town. I don't think he's ever going to be a #1 shutdown defenseman, but I don't think he has to be with the style he plays. Currently he is the second worst defenseman on the Maple Leafs roster in plus-minus behind Brent Lebda who is an abysmal -19. Phill Kessel is also a -19. That trade looks better everyday.
Anyway, that's my little What If. Honestly I would like to see this happen as an expiriment, maybe a pre-season game or something next year. It would definitely bring something new to the table.
So clearly today's blog is pure speculation. I'm not throwing out any lineup changes or anything regarding the Maple Leafs, I just think it could be a fun little scenario, so we're going with it. Basically I'm asking any Leaf fans out there not to threaten me with waffles. I just had breakfast.
We all know the kid has a booming shot from the point and can lay the heavy hit, but part of me thinks his desire to lay the big hit can end up costing Toronto if he goes for an open ice hit and misses. Now imagine if you will, Dion Phaneuf playing a wing and coming in on a forecheck. he could certainly wreak havoc on any defensive duo or backchecking winger.
He's also large enough where he could go into the high traffic areas and pick up garbage goals. A simple shot from the top of the face off circle can turn into a mad scramble as he comes in to bang away rebounds. The question would be where he would play on the power play. He's had success his whole career playing the point, and with a shot like that you can't argue. However, what would the power play look like with him screening down low? I'm sure he could make those two minutes a living hell for any goalie as a screen.
The reason I wrote this was in part due to the highlights from last night's game against the Carolina Hurricanes, where he absolutely leveled Tuomo Juutu. I also took a look at his numbers for this year, both to date and projected season totals. He is on pace for his lowest points total ever, as well as his worst season in terms of plus-minus since 08-09, which was the lowest of his career. I have no problem with Dion Phaneuf as a defensemen, so don't think I'm trying to run him out of town. I don't think he's ever going to be a #1 shutdown defenseman, but I don't think he has to be with the style he plays. Currently he is the second worst defenseman on the Maple Leafs roster in plus-minus behind Brent Lebda who is an abysmal -19. Phill Kessel is also a -19. That trade looks better everyday.
Anyway, that's my little What If. Honestly I would like to see this happen as an expiriment, maybe a pre-season game or something next year. It would definitely bring something new to the table.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Observe and refuse to Report
I just want to address this whole Evgeni Nabokov situation. Nabokov has been one of the best goaltenders in the league for the past few years, putting up rather solid numbers during his stint with the Sharks. His playoff performances are worthy of mention because along with many of the Sharks star players, fell well short of expectations. So at the end of the season last year Nabokov was informed by GM Doug Wilson of his decision to go with new goaltenders and not re-sign Nabokov. To be fair, Nabokov had a respectable run in last year's playoffs, but was visibly rattled during the Chicago series. C'est la vie as the french say (did i spell that right?) and Nabokov was allowed to test the waters.
At the entry draft in June teams were interested in the rights to Evgeni Nabokov, but no one attained them, and at the start of free agency he was adamant in receiving a large playday, as his right, but he essentially priced himself right out of the NHL. He ended up signing a multi year deal with SKA St. Petersburg in the Russian KHL. In an article written by Dimitry Chesnokov on Yahoo's Puck Daddy blog, Nabokov was quoted saying the following "Let me ask you, would you want to play for the Edmonton Oilers, for example?" [laughter] "Let me tell you that when you have a choice and you have something to choose from, you always want to play for a good team, compete for medals and such. I will speak for myself, but the situation was such that I had no choice of a good team to play for and to play at the high level. To me it was very important to play for a good team, to try to win" (editors note: the NHL leading Philadelphia Flyers were interested in Nabokov, but apparently they aren't good enough for Evgeni)
Fast forward to a month or so ago (or would be rewinding technically?) when Nabokov is released from his KHL contract. He then returned to America and has been looking for a team to play with. Enter the Detroit Red Wings. With injuries to both Jimmy Howard and Chris Osgood the Red Wings need a starting goalie to cover the injuries. All due respect to Joey MacDonald, but he is not a starter in this league. He isn't playing poorly, but with the tight Western Conference, the Red Wings cannot afford to play sub .500 hockey and they are currently 1-2-1 with MacDonald in net. Detroit and Nabokov negotiated and came to terms on a one year deal worth approximately $570,000, but it has been prorated to less than $300,000. Given these attractive numbers, and the fact that since Nabokov played overseas he is subject to the waiver rules of the NHL. Before he can officially become a player on the Red Wings roster, he must clear waivers, and ultimately he did not, as the the Islanders claimed him. Now things get interesting if they weren't already. Reports are coming in that Nabokov will not report the Islanders, and due to him coming from overseas after December 15th, he cannot play in the AHL this season. So now the ball is in the Islanders court as to what to do with him. I can't even begin to accurately explain their options so I will instead let you go read it from TSN's Bob McKenzie as to what the Islanders can choose to do, or not do. Go ahead read it. I'll wait. Back? Does your head hurt now? Good.
Based on his comments and actions in the off season, as well as his behavior now, I think the Islanders should do whatever they can to stick it Nabokov. This is a case of someone who wants their cake and eat it too. He wanted a large paycheck and when he didn't get it in the NHL he ran to the KHL only to wind up missing his family over here. Now there is nothing wrong with that, no one can begrudge a man for missing his wife and kids. However, his decision to only play for a contending club is ridiculous. Looking at his KHL numbers (8-8-5 3.02 GAA and .888 SV%) it would almost appear that he was let go for poor performance more than than anything else. One would think that he would want a chance to play and prove himself for a decent contract next year. The idea of earning his place seems lost on Nabokov, who apparently has a grand sense of entitlement. At the end of the day, he is an athlete who gets paid to play for a living. That's something almost anyone would jump at, and yet he seems to think it is his given right to be where he wants getting paid what he wants. What. The. Puck?!
At the entry draft in June teams were interested in the rights to Evgeni Nabokov, but no one attained them, and at the start of free agency he was adamant in receiving a large playday, as his right, but he essentially priced himself right out of the NHL. He ended up signing a multi year deal with SKA St. Petersburg in the Russian KHL. In an article written by Dimitry Chesnokov on Yahoo's Puck Daddy blog, Nabokov was quoted saying the following "Let me ask you, would you want to play for the Edmonton Oilers, for example?" [laughter] "Let me tell you that when you have a choice and you have something to choose from, you always want to play for a good team, compete for medals and such. I will speak for myself, but the situation was such that I had no choice of a good team to play for and to play at the high level. To me it was very important to play for a good team, to try to win" (editors note: the NHL leading Philadelphia Flyers were interested in Nabokov, but apparently they aren't good enough for Evgeni)
Fast forward to a month or so ago (or would be rewinding technically?) when Nabokov is released from his KHL contract. He then returned to America and has been looking for a team to play with. Enter the Detroit Red Wings. With injuries to both Jimmy Howard and Chris Osgood the Red Wings need a starting goalie to cover the injuries. All due respect to Joey MacDonald, but he is not a starter in this league. He isn't playing poorly, but with the tight Western Conference, the Red Wings cannot afford to play sub .500 hockey and they are currently 1-2-1 with MacDonald in net. Detroit and Nabokov negotiated and came to terms on a one year deal worth approximately $570,000, but it has been prorated to less than $300,000. Given these attractive numbers, and the fact that since Nabokov played overseas he is subject to the waiver rules of the NHL. Before he can officially become a player on the Red Wings roster, he must clear waivers, and ultimately he did not, as the the Islanders claimed him. Now things get interesting if they weren't already. Reports are coming in that Nabokov will not report the Islanders, and due to him coming from overseas after December 15th, he cannot play in the AHL this season. So now the ball is in the Islanders court as to what to do with him. I can't even begin to accurately explain their options so I will instead let you go read it from TSN's Bob McKenzie as to what the Islanders can choose to do, or not do. Go ahead read it. I'll wait. Back? Does your head hurt now? Good.
Based on his comments and actions in the off season, as well as his behavior now, I think the Islanders should do whatever they can to stick it Nabokov. This is a case of someone who wants their cake and eat it too. He wanted a large paycheck and when he didn't get it in the NHL he ran to the KHL only to wind up missing his family over here. Now there is nothing wrong with that, no one can begrudge a man for missing his wife and kids. However, his decision to only play for a contending club is ridiculous. Looking at his KHL numbers (8-8-5 3.02 GAA and .888 SV%) it would almost appear that he was let go for poor performance more than than anything else. One would think that he would want a chance to play and prove himself for a decent contract next year. The idea of earning his place seems lost on Nabokov, who apparently has a grand sense of entitlement. At the end of the day, he is an athlete who gets paid to play for a living. That's something almost anyone would jump at, and yet he seems to think it is his given right to be where he wants getting paid what he wants. What. The. Puck?!
I already linked Dimitry Chesnokov's twitter above, but follow Bob McKenzie on twitter too if you're not already.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Send in the Klowns
I mean the Kings.
As it stands right now, the Los Angeles Kings are currently 12th the Western Conference and last in their division, while in the midst of winning only 2 of their last 12 games. There are far more questions than answers when it comes to this slump and why the Kings have fallen so far, so fast. No sense in writing a nicer introduction. Let's get to it.
As I wrote in the off season I would also expect the kings to make more of a push to finish with a division title, but still are lacking in a few key spots to make it over the hump and be a true cup contender. So far this is ringing true, but the pieces seem to be larger than most of us expected this season. This team is missing a top line winger to play with Kopitar, and it seems that everyone on the roster has had a chance, but failed. Lombardi also failed to land anyone he attempted or was at least reported to be pursuing this off season, most notably Ilya Kovalchuk, and then Simon Gagne. Alexi Ponikarovsky wasn't a bad signing, but he's more of a depth signing if he plays like he's able and doesn't phone it in, like he seems to be doing this season.
As it stands right now, the Los Angeles Kings are currently 12th the Western Conference and last in their division, while in the midst of winning only 2 of their last 12 games. There are far more questions than answers when it comes to this slump and why the Kings have fallen so far, so fast. No sense in writing a nicer introduction. Let's get to it.
As I wrote in the off season I would also expect the kings to make more of a push to finish with a division title, but still are lacking in a few key spots to make it over the hump and be a true cup contender. So far this is ringing true, but the pieces seem to be larger than most of us expected this season. This team is missing a top line winger to play with Kopitar, and it seems that everyone on the roster has had a chance, but failed. Lombardi also failed to land anyone he attempted or was at least reported to be pursuing this off season, most notably Ilya Kovalchuk, and then Simon Gagne. Alexi Ponikarovsky wasn't a bad signing, but he's more of a depth signing if he plays like he's able and doesn't phone it in, like he seems to be doing this season.
The Kings are currently 15th in the league with 2.77 goals per game, and 8th in goals against per game at 2.53. So what's your pucking point you may be asking? Well I'll tell you, it means they're not scoring enough to win games, as is evident by their recent results. 41 goals against in their recent skid, while only scoring 28 goals for a -13 goal differential. Given the decrease in play from Jonathan Quick and Jonathan Bernier's lack of consistency so far this season, this team is in trouble. One has to wonder what's going on with Quick who was one of the best goalies in the league at the start of the season, perhaps second only to Tim Thomas (who has been nothing short of spectacular this season). While he is still on pace for his best professional season, he will fall far short of those numbers if he continues to slide.
We can also take a look at the coaching. Terry Murray is a career winning coach, taking every team he has coached to the playoffs. Two of those teams made it to the conference finals (Capitals in 89-90 and the Flyers of 96-97), one of which advanced to the Stanley Cup finals (Flyers, who lost to Detroit). One has to ask though, have the players stopped buying into his scheme? With post game reports of the players saying their not showing up for 60 minutes, and looking a bit lost on the ice, is it time for a coaching change? The usual approach for this is to fire the existing head coach and promote the assistant to "interim head coach," but honestly I don't see John Stevens being a better choice at this point. While he is definitely a player's coach, Stevens has a documented history of both winning in both the AHL and NHL, but losing his players as he did in Philadelphia during their skid in 09-10 season. He was replaced by Peter Laviolette, a far more emotional coach than Stevens and the results showed as the Flyers turned their season around. Could the Kings benefit from a coach willing to bring their players to task? Looking at the coaching options out there right now, would Ken Hitchcock, Mike Keenan or Bob Hartley be a better choice than Murray or Stevens? Hell, what about Pat Quinn after being run out of Edmonton? That's a question for Dean Lombari, who also has to answer some questions of his own.
What else can Dean do to improve his roster? The Kings have the cap room (4.1m under with a max hit of 9.8 according to capgeek)to take on a larger contract in exchange for prospects/draft picks, but is he willing to do that? The leading candidate in terms of prospects to trade is Brayden Schenn, but he appears unwilling to do that, which makes sense given the talent and potential he has. With a team that is too good to strip apart to do a complete rebuild, but currently too far out to not make some roster shake ups, Lombardi has to assess his roster and decide who is expendable. That's something I won't even begin to dissect the roster like that because that can take all day, and frankly I don't watch the Kings enough to attempt something like that. Another prospect that he could conceivably move is Jonathan Bernier. It seems that Quick is coming into his own, despite this recent slide, so why not move Bernier? It is definitely risky, but with them being only 2 years apart it doesn't seem logical that they will both be the franchise goalie. I understand the fear of having either one of them coming back to beat the Kings down the road, but depending on the return for them it might be worth it. Obviously I think Bernier is the more expendable one, but that is a rather bold roster move, that up until this point Lombardi has been unwilling to make.
The Kings were one of the darling picks of the preseason and came out well enough to warrant those selections, but right now they are definitely causing a lot of people to rethink their predictions. Is their still enough time left to make a move? They are only 5 points out of a playoff spot, but in the very tight Western Conference, every point is critical. If the losing ways continue, they will soon find themselves with a gap too big to overcome. Los Angeles still has the pieces to be successful, but they definitely need help right now. The million dollar question is, where is the help going to come from?
As always, we're on twitter and facebook....but most of you know that already.
We can also take a look at the coaching. Terry Murray is a career winning coach, taking every team he has coached to the playoffs. Two of those teams made it to the conference finals (Capitals in 89-90 and the Flyers of 96-97), one of which advanced to the Stanley Cup finals (Flyers, who lost to Detroit). One has to ask though, have the players stopped buying into his scheme? With post game reports of the players saying their not showing up for 60 minutes, and looking a bit lost on the ice, is it time for a coaching change? The usual approach for this is to fire the existing head coach and promote the assistant to "interim head coach," but honestly I don't see John Stevens being a better choice at this point. While he is definitely a player's coach, Stevens has a documented history of both winning in both the AHL and NHL, but losing his players as he did in Philadelphia during their skid in 09-10 season. He was replaced by Peter Laviolette, a far more emotional coach than Stevens and the results showed as the Flyers turned their season around. Could the Kings benefit from a coach willing to bring their players to task? Looking at the coaching options out there right now, would Ken Hitchcock, Mike Keenan or Bob Hartley be a better choice than Murray or Stevens? Hell, what about Pat Quinn after being run out of Edmonton? That's a question for Dean Lombari, who also has to answer some questions of his own.
What else can Dean do to improve his roster? The Kings have the cap room (4.1m under with a max hit of 9.8 according to capgeek)to take on a larger contract in exchange for prospects/draft picks, but is he willing to do that? The leading candidate in terms of prospects to trade is Brayden Schenn, but he appears unwilling to do that, which makes sense given the talent and potential he has. With a team that is too good to strip apart to do a complete rebuild, but currently too far out to not make some roster shake ups, Lombardi has to assess his roster and decide who is expendable. That's something I won't even begin to dissect the roster like that because that can take all day, and frankly I don't watch the Kings enough to attempt something like that. Another prospect that he could conceivably move is Jonathan Bernier. It seems that Quick is coming into his own, despite this recent slide, so why not move Bernier? It is definitely risky, but with them being only 2 years apart it doesn't seem logical that they will both be the franchise goalie. I understand the fear of having either one of them coming back to beat the Kings down the road, but depending on the return for them it might be worth it. Obviously I think Bernier is the more expendable one, but that is a rather bold roster move, that up until this point Lombardi has been unwilling to make.
The Kings were one of the darling picks of the preseason and came out well enough to warrant those selections, but right now they are definitely causing a lot of people to rethink their predictions. Is their still enough time left to make a move? They are only 5 points out of a playoff spot, but in the very tight Western Conference, every point is critical. If the losing ways continue, they will soon find themselves with a gap too big to overcome. Los Angeles still has the pieces to be successful, but they definitely need help right now. The million dollar question is, where is the help going to come from?
As always, we're on twitter and facebook....but most of you know that already.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Washington...Crapitals?
Ok so the title is a little harsh, but compared to the dominance of the 09-10 Washington Capitals there is definitely something wrong in our nation's capital. So let us look at what we've got and what we're missing for the defending southeast division champions.
The Capitals of 09-10 went 54-15-13 last year for 121 points, which led the league. They were also the only team to score more than 300 goals, and had a remarkable +82 goal differential. By no means are these paltry numbers, however when the playoffs arrived the Caps inability to play shutdown defense was exposed and they were beaten by a much more defensively minded Montreal Canadiens squad, led by the other worldly play of Jaroslav Halak. With nothing but Stanley Cup champions as their goal, they were left with a long off season and a lot of questions. Cut to the 2010-2011 season where the caps are now currently seeded 5th in the conference with a surging Atlanta Thrashers (yes, you read that correctly) moving up looking to put the Capitals on the outside looking in. So what the puck is wrong with the Caps? Well there's only one way to find out, so let's begin.
As previously stated, Washington scored 318 goals last season and were hands down the most dynamic team offensively. Ovechkin lead the way with another 50 goal campaign and 109 total points. This season he is on pace for his worst professional season ever, which by the way is still a point per game pace. Nicklas Backstrom is also on pace for a 29 point reduction in points from last season. Alexander Semin as well is having a sub par performance with a projected 16 point drop in production over last season. Even offensive defenseman Mike Green is on pace for a 34 point drop in production from last season. These are the star offensive weapons bringing to the team a drop in points totally 106 points. Washington needs these players producing at higher levels in order for them to compete for the division and conference lead.
The lack of depth at center is also a cause for concern. Nicklas Backstrom is a definitive top center in the league, but after that "elite" talent is essentially non existent. The only other center with a positive rating in +/- is Mathieu Perreault who is a plus 5. Everyone else is negative or even, and the even players have played in a dozen or fewer games. While plus-minus isn't the best indication of a player's abilities it is a telling sign overall defensive woes, which is something the Capitals definitely have.
Speaking of the defense, I'm still not impressed with Washington's defense. As I wrote in my preseason analysis of the Caps (do your homework, read the older blogs), I still think that the Caps aren't really addressing their back end issues, although remarkably their goals per game are down slightly (.20) compared to last season. Add a similar defensive prowess compared to a drop in goals-per-game (my highly official math puts them on pace for approximately 240-250) for and you're looking at a team with some issues all over. We cannot talk about defense without talking about the most important defender on the team, the goaltender.
Semyon Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth have been solid, but they're both young and could deal with a helpful veteran presence to help with the growing pains. Watching both of these young kids play, you can see the promising future for both of them. My biggest concern is that they have any issues, they don't have anyone to turn to to talk about the growing pains. I also understand the not wanting to re-sign Theodore, as it was painfully obvious that the coaching staff had no confidence in him come playoff time. However, it wouldn't hurt to have another verteran presence to aid Varlamov and give Neuvirth a bit more seasoning in the AHL. It would seem that Neuvirth would disagree with that statement, given his numbers, but having two young goaltenders can be a double edged sword.
George McPhee will have some tough choices to make in the coming weeks. With the deadline approaching, will he keep all his eggs in one goaltending basket, or will he make a deal? These are two promising young goalies who could each fetch a decent return on the market. Or will he deal Alexander Semin and his 6 million cap hit? A Semin for top D-man could be a shrewd move. McPhee has shown great patience with his club, and that's a good thing, but something is going to have to change in order to get this team out of the rut it currently finds itself. If not a roster shake up, will Bruce Boudreau find himself out of a job? I won't even begin to speculate on that, but it does seem like a fair question.
At the end of the day, the Capitals are far too talented a club to think that this is something that will derail their season, but given their performance this year it is cause for concern. Everyone will expect Ovechkin to break out and go on a tear, but that's not the only problem they have. With the southeast division being far more competitive, maybe it's not even a question of are the Capitals on the down turn as it is more of a statement to the improvement of the other teams in the division. Last season Washington was the only division team to make the playoffs, and at the time of this writing three of the five teams in the division are in the playoffs, with another sitting three points out of the final spot. Whatever the case may be the final half of the season in the southeast will be an exciting one to watch.
The Capitals of 09-10 went 54-15-13 last year for 121 points, which led the league. They were also the only team to score more than 300 goals, and had a remarkable +82 goal differential. By no means are these paltry numbers, however when the playoffs arrived the Caps inability to play shutdown defense was exposed and they were beaten by a much more defensively minded Montreal Canadiens squad, led by the other worldly play of Jaroslav Halak. With nothing but Stanley Cup champions as their goal, they were left with a long off season and a lot of questions. Cut to the 2010-2011 season where the caps are now currently seeded 5th in the conference with a surging Atlanta Thrashers (yes, you read that correctly) moving up looking to put the Capitals on the outside looking in. So what the puck is wrong with the Caps? Well there's only one way to find out, so let's begin.
As previously stated, Washington scored 318 goals last season and were hands down the most dynamic team offensively. Ovechkin lead the way with another 50 goal campaign and 109 total points. This season he is on pace for his worst professional season ever, which by the way is still a point per game pace. Nicklas Backstrom is also on pace for a 29 point reduction in points from last season. Alexander Semin as well is having a sub par performance with a projected 16 point drop in production over last season. Even offensive defenseman Mike Green is on pace for a 34 point drop in production from last season. These are the star offensive weapons bringing to the team a drop in points totally 106 points. Washington needs these players producing at higher levels in order for them to compete for the division and conference lead.
The lack of depth at center is also a cause for concern. Nicklas Backstrom is a definitive top center in the league, but after that "elite" talent is essentially non existent. The only other center with a positive rating in +/- is Mathieu Perreault who is a plus 5. Everyone else is negative or even, and the even players have played in a dozen or fewer games. While plus-minus isn't the best indication of a player's abilities it is a telling sign overall defensive woes, which is something the Capitals definitely have.
Speaking of the defense, I'm still not impressed with Washington's defense. As I wrote in my preseason analysis of the Caps (do your homework, read the older blogs), I still think that the Caps aren't really addressing their back end issues, although remarkably their goals per game are down slightly (.20) compared to last season. Add a similar defensive prowess compared to a drop in goals-per-game (my highly official math puts them on pace for approximately 240-250) for and you're looking at a team with some issues all over. We cannot talk about defense without talking about the most important defender on the team, the goaltender.
Semyon Varlamov and Michal Neuvirth have been solid, but they're both young and could deal with a helpful veteran presence to help with the growing pains. Watching both of these young kids play, you can see the promising future for both of them. My biggest concern is that they have any issues, they don't have anyone to turn to to talk about the growing pains. I also understand the not wanting to re-sign Theodore, as it was painfully obvious that the coaching staff had no confidence in him come playoff time. However, it wouldn't hurt to have another verteran presence to aid Varlamov and give Neuvirth a bit more seasoning in the AHL. It would seem that Neuvirth would disagree with that statement, given his numbers, but having two young goaltenders can be a double edged sword.
George McPhee will have some tough choices to make in the coming weeks. With the deadline approaching, will he keep all his eggs in one goaltending basket, or will he make a deal? These are two promising young goalies who could each fetch a decent return on the market. Or will he deal Alexander Semin and his 6 million cap hit? A Semin for top D-man could be a shrewd move. McPhee has shown great patience with his club, and that's a good thing, but something is going to have to change in order to get this team out of the rut it currently finds itself. If not a roster shake up, will Bruce Boudreau find himself out of a job? I won't even begin to speculate on that, but it does seem like a fair question.
At the end of the day, the Capitals are far too talented a club to think that this is something that will derail their season, but given their performance this year it is cause for concern. Everyone will expect Ovechkin to break out and go on a tear, but that's not the only problem they have. With the southeast division being far more competitive, maybe it's not even a question of are the Capitals on the down turn as it is more of a statement to the improvement of the other teams in the division. Last season Washington was the only division team to make the playoffs, and at the time of this writing three of the five teams in the division are in the playoffs, with another sitting three points out of the final spot. Whatever the case may be the final half of the season in the southeast will be an exciting one to watch.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
quick thoughts about the potential BS up in Toronto
For those of you who might not have heard, apparently there are some suspicions that Ron Wilson violated the CBA by having an "undisclosed amount of cash" for the Leafs as incentive to beat the Sharks. He was going for his 600th career win, and to get it against his former team I'm sure would've been something special.
As luck would have it, word of this got out and now he may or may not have violated the cap. Here's the thing, I can understand where the league can say he is part of team management structure and to give out, or "pay," his players off the books is a violation of the cap. No one is certain whether it is a violation or not, but GM Brian Burke has already went into damage control mode saying they'll do whatever the league asks of the team. It's one thing to publicly discipline the Leafs, but I don't think this was done with any type of intent to circumvent the CBA at all. From where I sit, I see this simply as a coach wanting to beat his former team and doing whatever he can to motivate his players to a win.
The real question will be, was this Ron Wilson's own money, or did this come from the team? If it is team money, then yes we do have an issue, but I would like to think this was not an organized attempt to line the players pockets with tax free salary by any means. We'll just have to wait and see what the league determines, if anything. My only hope is that the league doesn't get over zealous, as it can do, and really try to hammer the leafs. As if sitting 12th in the conference wasn't bad enough
As luck would have it, word of this got out and now he may or may not have violated the cap. Here's the thing, I can understand where the league can say he is part of team management structure and to give out, or "pay," his players off the books is a violation of the cap. No one is certain whether it is a violation or not, but GM Brian Burke has already went into damage control mode saying they'll do whatever the league asks of the team. It's one thing to publicly discipline the Leafs, but I don't think this was done with any type of intent to circumvent the CBA at all. From where I sit, I see this simply as a coach wanting to beat his former team and doing whatever he can to motivate his players to a win.
The real question will be, was this Ron Wilson's own money, or did this come from the team? If it is team money, then yes we do have an issue, but I would like to think this was not an organized attempt to line the players pockets with tax free salary by any means. We'll just have to wait and see what the league determines, if anything. My only hope is that the league doesn't get over zealous, as it can do, and really try to hammer the leafs. As if sitting 12th in the conference wasn't bad enough
Monday, January 10, 2011
Halfway home, so let's review.
At this point in the season, everyone is at the halfway point of their respective schedules. So I'm going to look back at my preseason predictions to see how right or wrong I was.
Atlantic Division
Prediction: NJ-Philadelphia-Pittsburgh-Islanders-Rangers. 4 and 5 could change if the islanders get the injury bug or have more goaltending issues. Still look for 3-4 teams from the atlantic division to make the playoffs.
Well, it looks like 3 out of 5 teams can still make it. While Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are playing leap frog for the division, conference and overall NHL lead, the Devils have fallen hard and fast. The Islanders have been decimated by injuries and the owner's wallet closing hard and fast. The Rangers remain in the hunt, but will need to step it up to really be a force come playoff time.
Revised predictions: Philadelphia-Pittsburgh-Rangers-New Jersey-Islanders. While neither NJ or the Islanders will make the playoffs, the Devils have started to play better but still aren't getting breaks. Look for some moves to come before and up until the deadline to overhaul the roster. They have the chance to pass the islanders, but the Devils will still have a top 5 draft pick.
Northwest Division
Predictions: Boston-Buffalo-Ottawa-Montreal-Toronto. Toronto has the most potential to move up this list. we'll see how it goes.
Man, my picks are off again here, but that's why I do this for free. Boston is leading the division thanks to a dominating performance by Tim Thomas in goal. Ottawa and Buffalo are feeling injuries to key players, and despite Carey Price playing well up in Montreal, they are currently barely hanging on to the last spot in the east. Toronto is still...well, Toronto. I am not so surprised by Ottawa as they are still a bit of a one trick pony, but I have to admit to being surprised by Buffalo. Last year's division champs are currently on the outside looking in. Thankfully their division has Ottawa and Toronto, so there is time to pick up much needed points. However, they are 8 points back of Montreal at this point for the 8th and final spot. The scary thing about this entire division is that the division leaders (sitting 3rd due to their division lead) are tied with the 8th place team in terms of points. Someone is going to have to go on some kind of a run to make the playoffs.
Revised Precitions: Boston-Montreal-Buffalo-Ottawa-Toronto. It is possible that Toronto could pass Ottawa, but given the woes both teams have it really won't matter.
Southwest Division
Predictions: Washington (duh) - Tampa - Atlanta - Carolina - Florida
Ok so at the halfway point, I'm pretty on point here. One point seperates the Capitals from the Lightning, but the Lightning have a negative goal differential. That does not bode well for the division leaders. It also speaks volumes to their goaltending situation. They trade for Dwayne Roloson and after an impressive debut, he gets pulled twice (yes twice) in the blowout by Pittsburgh. While they have the offensive weapons, the back end is clearly suspect for Tampa Bay. The same goes for Washington who has seen both Neuvirth and Varlamov struggle at times. Atlanta has been playing well, but will have to overcome some injuries to stay in the playoff race. They are currently 7th, but if they keep playing well, they can hold on to make it. the Cardiac Canes continue to toe the line between success and failure. Jeff Skinner has been a treat to watch though, so that's a plus.
Revised Predictions: I'll be sticking with my preseason predictions. So far so good. The Caps December slump hurt them in the standings, but they're still the best team in the division.
Central Division
Prediction: Detroit (a shock i know) - Chicago - Nashville - St. Louis - Columbus
Once again, pretty close with Nashville and Chicago flip flopping. Both Chicago and St. Louis have had some injuries to contest with, and while St. Louis has been more adversely affective, Chicago has had their fare share of struggles. Detroit stays the same almost in spite of injuries to Datsyuk and Cleary. Columbus continues to stagnate in this tough division. They still have a few roster concerns to address before they can really turn this around. I think the biggest story of the division is the tandem of Pekka Rinne and Anders Lindback. With Renne's early season injury there was a lot of pressure placed on Lindback to keep this team in the hunt. And he performed admirably, carrying the predators on his back. I think more than a few people were willing to write this team off without Rinne in goal, but now it seems like a good problem to have in Nashville...which goalie do you start?
Revised Predictions: Detroit, Nashville, Chicago, St. Louis, Columbus.
Northwest Division
Predictions: Vancouver-Colorado-Calgary-Edmonton-Minnesota
Ok, picking Vancouver in this division is like rooting for death at an old folks home, it's a sure thing. Morbid for sure, but Vancouver in the best team in the league right now, and the rest of their competition is mediocre at best. Minnesota has jumped ahead of the Alberta teams, while the Flames seem to be going down in their namesake. Darryl Sutter has "resigned" which is a good thing for the organization as Jay Feaster will now make the tough decisions that need to be made. I would seriously look for this team to move Iginla for the right price. While the guy is the face of the franchise, they need to rebuild and Iginla will get a good return. Also depending on their position I can see Kiprusoff moving too...if the Flames really do go into fire sale mode.
Revised predictions: Vancouver-Colorado-Minnesota-Calgary-Edmonton. Minnesota is a point behind Colorado so they can easily switch, but no one will catch Vancouver. Edmonton is in the hunt for the 1st overall pick again this year, but Calgary possibly being a lottery pick is amazing.
Pacific Division
Predictions: Los Angeles - San Jose - Phoenix - Dallas - Anaheim
Ok, I was way off on this one. Dallas is leading the division and 3rd in the conference with a 5 point lead on the second team in the division. The surprise is that the second place team is Anaheim. This division has been fun to watch, but way off of predictions (well mine anyway). Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Jose (8th, 9th and 11th respectively) are all tied with 47 points so a few wins in a row can get any one of these teams up in the stands and depending on where they are now, into the playoff picture. With the Langenbrunner trade I think Dallas did themselves a favor adding a competent veteran presence to help them come playoff time.
Revised predictions: Dallas-Los Angeles-Anaheim-Phoenix-San Jose. My money is still on Los Angeles to make a move up in the standings. They have a decent crop of players and a trade or two could really help them out, but that depends on whether or not Lombardi is willing to part with some prospects for the short term. San Jose, aside from rookie Logan Couture, haven't been much to watch this season. Goaltending issues certainly haven't helped. That's not to say that Niemi and Niittymaki have been bad, but I don't think they have been good enough to get the Sharks to the promised land. Good news is, Nabokov is available.
Overall performance: If I had to give myself a letter grade, I'd have to give myself a C-. In all fairness (aka me justifing my shitty picks) you can't predict some of the things like injuries and players going down, but at the end of the day, I missed some stuff. what the puck ever. I blame the Pacific division for being topsy turvy, and the Devils killing me in the Atlantic. Oh well, here we'll see how if I improved come playoff time.
Atlantic Division
Prediction: NJ-Philadelphia-Pittsburgh-Islanders-Rangers. 4 and 5 could change if the islanders get the injury bug or have more goaltending issues. Still look for 3-4 teams from the atlantic division to make the playoffs.
Well, it looks like 3 out of 5 teams can still make it. While Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are playing leap frog for the division, conference and overall NHL lead, the Devils have fallen hard and fast. The Islanders have been decimated by injuries and the owner's wallet closing hard and fast. The Rangers remain in the hunt, but will need to step it up to really be a force come playoff time.
Revised predictions: Philadelphia-Pittsburgh-Rangers-New Jersey-Islanders. While neither NJ or the Islanders will make the playoffs, the Devils have started to play better but still aren't getting breaks. Look for some moves to come before and up until the deadline to overhaul the roster. They have the chance to pass the islanders, but the Devils will still have a top 5 draft pick.
Northwest Division
Predictions: Boston-Buffalo-Ottawa-Montreal-Toronto. Toronto has the most potential to move up this list. we'll see how it goes.
Man, my picks are off again here, but that's why I do this for free. Boston is leading the division thanks to a dominating performance by Tim Thomas in goal. Ottawa and Buffalo are feeling injuries to key players, and despite Carey Price playing well up in Montreal, they are currently barely hanging on to the last spot in the east. Toronto is still...well, Toronto. I am not so surprised by Ottawa as they are still a bit of a one trick pony, but I have to admit to being surprised by Buffalo. Last year's division champs are currently on the outside looking in. Thankfully their division has Ottawa and Toronto, so there is time to pick up much needed points. However, they are 8 points back of Montreal at this point for the 8th and final spot. The scary thing about this entire division is that the division leaders (sitting 3rd due to their division lead) are tied with the 8th place team in terms of points. Someone is going to have to go on some kind of a run to make the playoffs.
Revised Precitions: Boston-Montreal-Buffalo-Ottawa-Toronto. It is possible that Toronto could pass Ottawa, but given the woes both teams have it really won't matter.
Southwest Division
Predictions: Washington (duh) - Tampa - Atlanta - Carolina - Florida
Ok so at the halfway point, I'm pretty on point here. One point seperates the Capitals from the Lightning, but the Lightning have a negative goal differential. That does not bode well for the division leaders. It also speaks volumes to their goaltending situation. They trade for Dwayne Roloson and after an impressive debut, he gets pulled twice (yes twice) in the blowout by Pittsburgh. While they have the offensive weapons, the back end is clearly suspect for Tampa Bay. The same goes for Washington who has seen both Neuvirth and Varlamov struggle at times. Atlanta has been playing well, but will have to overcome some injuries to stay in the playoff race. They are currently 7th, but if they keep playing well, they can hold on to make it. the Cardiac Canes continue to toe the line between success and failure. Jeff Skinner has been a treat to watch though, so that's a plus.
Revised Predictions: I'll be sticking with my preseason predictions. So far so good. The Caps December slump hurt them in the standings, but they're still the best team in the division.
Central Division
Prediction: Detroit (a shock i know) - Chicago - Nashville - St. Louis - Columbus
Once again, pretty close with Nashville and Chicago flip flopping. Both Chicago and St. Louis have had some injuries to contest with, and while St. Louis has been more adversely affective, Chicago has had their fare share of struggles. Detroit stays the same almost in spite of injuries to Datsyuk and Cleary. Columbus continues to stagnate in this tough division. They still have a few roster concerns to address before they can really turn this around. I think the biggest story of the division is the tandem of Pekka Rinne and Anders Lindback. With Renne's early season injury there was a lot of pressure placed on Lindback to keep this team in the hunt. And he performed admirably, carrying the predators on his back. I think more than a few people were willing to write this team off without Rinne in goal, but now it seems like a good problem to have in Nashville...which goalie do you start?
Revised Predictions: Detroit, Nashville, Chicago, St. Louis, Columbus.
Northwest Division
Predictions: Vancouver-Colorado-Calgary-Edmonton-Minnesota
Ok, picking Vancouver in this division is like rooting for death at an old folks home, it's a sure thing. Morbid for sure, but Vancouver in the best team in the league right now, and the rest of their competition is mediocre at best. Minnesota has jumped ahead of the Alberta teams, while the Flames seem to be going down in their namesake. Darryl Sutter has "resigned" which is a good thing for the organization as Jay Feaster will now make the tough decisions that need to be made. I would seriously look for this team to move Iginla for the right price. While the guy is the face of the franchise, they need to rebuild and Iginla will get a good return. Also depending on their position I can see Kiprusoff moving too...if the Flames really do go into fire sale mode.
Revised predictions: Vancouver-Colorado-Minnesota-Calgary-Edmonton. Minnesota is a point behind Colorado so they can easily switch, but no one will catch Vancouver. Edmonton is in the hunt for the 1st overall pick again this year, but Calgary possibly being a lottery pick is amazing.
Pacific Division
Predictions: Los Angeles - San Jose - Phoenix - Dallas - Anaheim
Ok, I was way off on this one. Dallas is leading the division and 3rd in the conference with a 5 point lead on the second team in the division. The surprise is that the second place team is Anaheim. This division has been fun to watch, but way off of predictions (well mine anyway). Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Jose (8th, 9th and 11th respectively) are all tied with 47 points so a few wins in a row can get any one of these teams up in the stands and depending on where they are now, into the playoff picture. With the Langenbrunner trade I think Dallas did themselves a favor adding a competent veteran presence to help them come playoff time.
Revised predictions: Dallas-Los Angeles-Anaheim-Phoenix-San Jose. My money is still on Los Angeles to make a move up in the standings. They have a decent crop of players and a trade or two could really help them out, but that depends on whether or not Lombardi is willing to part with some prospects for the short term. San Jose, aside from rookie Logan Couture, haven't been much to watch this season. Goaltending issues certainly haven't helped. That's not to say that Niemi and Niittymaki have been bad, but I don't think they have been good enough to get the Sharks to the promised land. Good news is, Nabokov is available.
Overall performance: If I had to give myself a letter grade, I'd have to give myself a C-. In all fairness (aka me justifing my shitty picks) you can't predict some of the things like injuries and players going down, but at the end of the day, I missed some stuff. what the puck ever. I blame the Pacific division for being topsy turvy, and the Devils killing me in the Atlantic. Oh well, here we'll see how if I improved come playoff time.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Flyin' not so high
...that's gotta be how Michael Leighton feels.
Before I get down to business, here's hoping everyone had a good holiday...whatever it might have been for you. Ok, now as promised my thoughts on Michael Leighton on waivers.
While I have heard other people refer to Leighton as a 3rd string AHL goalie (or any other AHL level insults), I have to disagree. Before you think I'm crazy, I have to add that I don't think he was ever going to be the answer to the goaltending dilemma in Philadelphia that seems to have plagued this team since the end of Hextall's first run with the team, or hell you can even go back to Pelle Lindbergh if you wanted to. Anyway, I'm already getting off track.
Everyone has to give Leighton at least some credit for the flyers turn around last season. His play was nothing short of excellent for the club from late December up until his ankle sprain. Add to that, his solid play against Boston (aside from the first 10-15 minutes of the 3rd period in game 7) and an even better performance against Montreal in the Eastern Conference finals, and I think you can agree that he at the very least, deserved a shot at being the starter for this season. Honestly, I think the Flyers were prepared to do that as a stop gap for the goalie prospects coming through the system (Sergei Bobrovsky, Nicola Riopel and Joacim Eriksson) while Boucher and Backlund would essentially be competing for the back up job. (Bleacher report said so too.)
Apparently no one told Sergei Bobrovsky he wasn't supposed to come over and play out of his mind, nor did they tell Boucher that he shouldn't be putting up some of the best numbers of his career. His current numbers, if they do not fluctuate, will be his best since 07-08 with San Jose, which were also his best over all, playing 20 or more games. Now there were a few things that lead to Leighton being waived, in my opinion, so it's time to lay it out there.
Sergei Bobrovsky: "Bob" came over for rookie camp and looked impressive. A bit raw, but showed a lot of promise. He put up respectable numbers in the KHL playing on would be the equivalent of the Islanders or Oilers. Undrafted the Flyers offered him a contract. An A+ for every part of the scouting staff for finding this kid. He comes to America, plays solid against young kids and shines in his preseason debut. The buzz is out for Bob, and he did not disappoint. Up to this point in the season, he has played very well, with only a few games where his inexperience on north american ice coming through. The future is bright for this kid.
Brian Boucher: While all eyes were on Bob, Boucher quietly went about his business, posting numbers almost as good as the young Russian phenom (is it too early for that? puck it, whatever). At this point in the season, Boucher has actually passed Bob in goals-against, and save percentage. (2.33-.917 to 2.57-.915). Bob has played 11 more games than Boucher to this point, but don't bust my balls about it, alright? He has posted numbers, playing sporadically up until recently where he has been given the bulk of the starts, all while remaining a consummate professional (watch some interviews if you don't believe me).
Given a coach who has a tendency to ride the hot goalie, it's not hard to see why Leighton couldn't crack the line up when he was finally "healthy," but I think his injuries are what ultimately got him riding the bus in Adirondack.
Apparently, Leighton hurt his back during the playoffs, but played through it...which isn't uncommon. Playoff hockey is all about bodily sacrifice in order to grab a hold of that ultimate prize. However, he never told anyone in the organization until AFTER signing his two-year contract extension. While playing in the preseason it looked like he injured himself during a game, but it turns out to be his preexisting injury which was never disclosed. Not during the playoffs, exit or entrance physicals. That is not the best way to endear yourself to your team. So the Flyers dealt with it, and thanks to Sergei Bobrovsky, the absence of Leighton is all but forgotten, except in cap space. Moreso than the initial lie, although I'm sure that is not sitting well with Paul Holmgren, the persistent numbness in Leighton's leg is the bigger concern at this point. It will effect all aspects of his play, and it showed in his few games with Adirondack during his conditioning assignment as well as his only performance with the big club this season. It's not fair to him to judge his worth to the club after only one game, one in which your club was playing sub par defense, but that's life.
While the waiving cannot be something he wanted to have happen, this isn't necessarily a bad thing for Leighton. Carrying three goalies is never a practical thing to do, as it makes for uneasiness amongst all the goaltenders, and interrupts their work schedule. Someone had to be the odd man out, and given the play of Boosh and Bob, it seems only logical that Leighton is that man. Now he will be given a chance to play and practice regularly. Plus, it won't matter how quickly he racks up the wins since the Phantoms are so far out of it, they have to climb a ladder just to remember what last place looks like. His biggest problem (aside from the obvious health issues) will be re-entry waiver wires. At approximately 700K (pro rated this year to pennies on the dollar), he will be an attractive pick up for a team looking to sure up their goaltending come playoff time. That all depends on whether or not he's even called back up. If he does get the call this season to come back, I would expect a team to take a chance on him. It worked pretty well last year, so who's to say he can't do it again?
BONUS CONTENT!!!
Now I would also like to take a chance to throw this out there
What the puck are the Islanders doing? I understand that they are 14th in the Conference and 29th in the league, but they are playing well as of late, winning 3 straight at the time of this being written, and have put some impressive wins this season. Now I understand the rebuilding process can be arduous, but the young pieces are there, and yet it seems anything that isn't bolted down in Nassau Coliseum is priced to move. Roloson, who has been arguably their best player this year, was traded for a former first round pick in Ty Wishart who has yet to play in the NHL at any form of consistent level. Yes I can understand the potential in this deal right now, but looking at his career numbers in minors/juniors, he is a minus player (-12) in the AHL, which is not a good sign, especially for a defenseman. It shouldn't be long before they're trading their empty seats to other teams for draft picks it seems. While I certainly had high hopes for this team, it seems that the wheels are quickly coming off the wagon. I liked what Garth Snow was doing, and for awhile Charles Wang seemed committed to this team, but now I'm not sure what the puck's going on over there. Well I guess we'll see at the draft when they have half the picks.
Don't forget we're on facebook and twitter. And totally pucking awesome
Before I get down to business, here's hoping everyone had a good holiday...whatever it might have been for you. Ok, now as promised my thoughts on Michael Leighton on waivers.
While I have heard other people refer to Leighton as a 3rd string AHL goalie (or any other AHL level insults), I have to disagree. Before you think I'm crazy, I have to add that I don't think he was ever going to be the answer to the goaltending dilemma in Philadelphia that seems to have plagued this team since the end of Hextall's first run with the team, or hell you can even go back to Pelle Lindbergh if you wanted to. Anyway, I'm already getting off track.
Everyone has to give Leighton at least some credit for the flyers turn around last season. His play was nothing short of excellent for the club from late December up until his ankle sprain. Add to that, his solid play against Boston (aside from the first 10-15 minutes of the 3rd period in game 7) and an even better performance against Montreal in the Eastern Conference finals, and I think you can agree that he at the very least, deserved a shot at being the starter for this season. Honestly, I think the Flyers were prepared to do that as a stop gap for the goalie prospects coming through the system (Sergei Bobrovsky, Nicola Riopel and Joacim Eriksson) while Boucher and Backlund would essentially be competing for the back up job. (Bleacher report said so too.)
Apparently no one told Sergei Bobrovsky he wasn't supposed to come over and play out of his mind, nor did they tell Boucher that he shouldn't be putting up some of the best numbers of his career. His current numbers, if they do not fluctuate, will be his best since 07-08 with San Jose, which were also his best over all, playing 20 or more games. Now there were a few things that lead to Leighton being waived, in my opinion, so it's time to lay it out there.
Sergei Bobrovsky: "Bob" came over for rookie camp and looked impressive. A bit raw, but showed a lot of promise. He put up respectable numbers in the KHL playing on would be the equivalent of the Islanders or Oilers. Undrafted the Flyers offered him a contract. An A+ for every part of the scouting staff for finding this kid. He comes to America, plays solid against young kids and shines in his preseason debut. The buzz is out for Bob, and he did not disappoint. Up to this point in the season, he has played very well, with only a few games where his inexperience on north american ice coming through. The future is bright for this kid.
Brian Boucher: While all eyes were on Bob, Boucher quietly went about his business, posting numbers almost as good as the young Russian phenom (is it too early for that? puck it, whatever). At this point in the season, Boucher has actually passed Bob in goals-against, and save percentage. (2.33-.917 to 2.57-.915). Bob has played 11 more games than Boucher to this point, but don't bust my balls about it, alright? He has posted numbers, playing sporadically up until recently where he has been given the bulk of the starts, all while remaining a consummate professional (watch some interviews if you don't believe me).
Given a coach who has a tendency to ride the hot goalie, it's not hard to see why Leighton couldn't crack the line up when he was finally "healthy," but I think his injuries are what ultimately got him riding the bus in Adirondack.
Apparently, Leighton hurt his back during the playoffs, but played through it...which isn't uncommon. Playoff hockey is all about bodily sacrifice in order to grab a hold of that ultimate prize. However, he never told anyone in the organization until AFTER signing his two-year contract extension. While playing in the preseason it looked like he injured himself during a game, but it turns out to be his preexisting injury which was never disclosed. Not during the playoffs, exit or entrance physicals. That is not the best way to endear yourself to your team. So the Flyers dealt with it, and thanks to Sergei Bobrovsky, the absence of Leighton is all but forgotten, except in cap space. Moreso than the initial lie, although I'm sure that is not sitting well with Paul Holmgren, the persistent numbness in Leighton's leg is the bigger concern at this point. It will effect all aspects of his play, and it showed in his few games with Adirondack during his conditioning assignment as well as his only performance with the big club this season. It's not fair to him to judge his worth to the club after only one game, one in which your club was playing sub par defense, but that's life.
While the waiving cannot be something he wanted to have happen, this isn't necessarily a bad thing for Leighton. Carrying three goalies is never a practical thing to do, as it makes for uneasiness amongst all the goaltenders, and interrupts their work schedule. Someone had to be the odd man out, and given the play of Boosh and Bob, it seems only logical that Leighton is that man. Now he will be given a chance to play and practice regularly. Plus, it won't matter how quickly he racks up the wins since the Phantoms are so far out of it, they have to climb a ladder just to remember what last place looks like. His biggest problem (aside from the obvious health issues) will be re-entry waiver wires. At approximately 700K (pro rated this year to pennies on the dollar), he will be an attractive pick up for a team looking to sure up their goaltending come playoff time. That all depends on whether or not he's even called back up. If he does get the call this season to come back, I would expect a team to take a chance on him. It worked pretty well last year, so who's to say he can't do it again?
BONUS CONTENT!!!
Now I would also like to take a chance to throw this out there
What the puck are the Islanders doing? I understand that they are 14th in the Conference and 29th in the league, but they are playing well as of late, winning 3 straight at the time of this being written, and have put some impressive wins this season. Now I understand the rebuilding process can be arduous, but the young pieces are there, and yet it seems anything that isn't bolted down in Nassau Coliseum is priced to move. Roloson, who has been arguably their best player this year, was traded for a former first round pick in Ty Wishart who has yet to play in the NHL at any form of consistent level. Yes I can understand the potential in this deal right now, but looking at his career numbers in minors/juniors, he is a minus player (-12) in the AHL, which is not a good sign, especially for a defenseman. It shouldn't be long before they're trading their empty seats to other teams for draft picks it seems. While I certainly had high hopes for this team, it seems that the wheels are quickly coming off the wagon. I liked what Garth Snow was doing, and for awhile Charles Wang seemed committed to this team, but now I'm not sure what the puck's going on over there. Well I guess we'll see at the draft when they have half the picks.
Don't forget we're on facebook and twitter. And totally pucking awesome
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)