Here are my predictions for the first round of the NHL playoffs. There will be a tough battle for the Stanley Cup this year with 5 or 6 possible contenders.
WASHINGTON AND MONTREAL
-Capitals' offense is too strong for the offensively challenged Habs and their questionable goaltending
WASHINGTON IN 5 GAMES
NEW JERSEY AND PHILADELPHIA
-New Jersey's stiffling defense will ultimately stymie the struggling Flyers' offense
NEW JERSEY IN 6 GAMES
PITTSBURGH AND OTTAWA
-As a Sens' fan, I hope I'm wrong, but Pittsburgh will pressure the inconsistent Senators' defense, and will win the offensive battles. But the Sens won't go down without a fight.
PITTSBURGH IN 7 GAMES
BUFFALO AND BOSTON
-Buffalo's defense and goaltending will prove to be too strong for the weak Bruins offense
BUFFALO IN 6 GAMES
SAN JOSE AND COLORADO
-the veteran Sharks will pressure the young, inexperienced Avalanche. But the Avalanche will give them a battle.
SAN JOSE IN 6 GAMES
VANCOUVER AND LOS ANGELES
-Vancouver has offensive balance and strong goaltending, and a young, talented Kings' team will have its hands full
VANCOUVER IN 6 GAMES
PHOENIX AND DETROIT
-The Coyotes have a balanced, disciplined team which plays a playoff-style game. However, the Red Wings experience will prevail in a hard fought series.
DETROIT IN 7 GAMES
CHICAGO AND NASHVILLE
-The Blackhawks are a formidable opponent for the offensively challenged Predators
CHICAGO IN 5 GAMES
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
DANIEL ALFREDSSON- HEART AND SOUL OF THE OTTAWA SENATORS
Here's a little test for all you amateur general managers. You have just selected a right winger with the 133rd pick in the sixth round of the NHL entry draft. What are the chances that he will make the team? Slim and none? And what's the likelihood of him becoming a star? About the same as pigs flying, right?
Wrong. Daniel Alfredsson of the Ottawa Senators was one such late round pick. He came from Sweden in 1995 in relative obscurity to not only make the team, but to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL rookie of the year. But was he just a flash in the pan, destined to be one of those "one year wonders"? Wrong again. He made the NHL all star team in each of his first three years, and in 1999-2000 he was named captain of the Senators. Alfredsson has been with the Senators every year that the team has made the playoffs. A coincidence? I think not. During his 15 year tenure with the Sens, he has become the team's all-time leader in regular season games played (972), goals (368), assists (590) and points scored (958); he holds the Senators record for highest +/- rating in a season, set in 2006–07 with +42 and he holds the Senators playoff records for most games played and the most goals, assists and points scored.
But statistics tell only part of the story. Any Senators fan or knowledgeable hockey enthusiast will tell you that as goes Alfredsson, so go the Senators. Time after time he has carried the team on his shoulders. During his occasional absences due to injury, the team has often struggled; upon his return, the team has experienced an almost immediate revival- the current four game winning streak is indicative of this phenomenon. He was the Sens best player during their run to the finals in 2007, leaving everything on the ice after every shift. He is a leader both on and off the ice. When the team is going well, he quietly sits back and lets his teammates take front and centre. When the team is struggling, he calmly talks to the media and willingly takes more than his share of the heat. He neither shies away from controversy, nor does he create it. The fact that he is vociferously booed by arch-rival Toronto Maple Leaf fans every time he touches the puck (for reasons only they seem to know), is his "Red Badge of Courage" and is a reflection of his tremendous skill and importance to the team. He, his wife Birgitta and their three sons have been embraced by the people of Ottawa and they are active in the community and support many local charities.
Without "Alfie", as he is affectionately known in Ottawa, the Senators would not have been the quality team they were during the past 15 years. At 37 years of age, he is still playing well and has not lost his trademark speed and skating skills, his amazing puck handling ability and accurate slapshot and his anticipation and ability to "read" the play. Alfredsson has been and still is the finest player that has ever played for the Senators. In fact, the latest edition of The Hockey News names Alfredsson as the NHL's second best right winger of the past decade (behind only Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames).
Sens fans hope that he can continue to play for several more years, but when that inevitable day arrives when he decides to hang up his skates, it will almost certainly be as an Ottawa Senator (he is now under contract until 2012). And his sweater and number should be raised high in the rafters of Scotiabank Place, in the place of honour he so richly deserves. And the Hockey Hall of Fame will surely consider the noteworthy career of this wonderful player.
Wrong. Daniel Alfredsson of the Ottawa Senators was one such late round pick. He came from Sweden in 1995 in relative obscurity to not only make the team, but to win the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL rookie of the year. But was he just a flash in the pan, destined to be one of those "one year wonders"? Wrong again. He made the NHL all star team in each of his first three years, and in 1999-2000 he was named captain of the Senators. Alfredsson has been with the Senators every year that the team has made the playoffs. A coincidence? I think not. During his 15 year tenure with the Sens, he has become the team's all-time leader in regular season games played (972), goals (368), assists (590) and points scored (958); he holds the Senators record for highest +/- rating in a season, set in 2006–07 with +42 and he holds the Senators playoff records for most games played and the most goals, assists and points scored.
But statistics tell only part of the story. Any Senators fan or knowledgeable hockey enthusiast will tell you that as goes Alfredsson, so go the Senators. Time after time he has carried the team on his shoulders. During his occasional absences due to injury, the team has often struggled; upon his return, the team has experienced an almost immediate revival- the current four game winning streak is indicative of this phenomenon. He was the Sens best player during their run to the finals in 2007, leaving everything on the ice after every shift. He is a leader both on and off the ice. When the team is going well, he quietly sits back and lets his teammates take front and centre. When the team is struggling, he calmly talks to the media and willingly takes more than his share of the heat. He neither shies away from controversy, nor does he create it. The fact that he is vociferously booed by arch-rival Toronto Maple Leaf fans every time he touches the puck (for reasons only they seem to know), is his "Red Badge of Courage" and is a reflection of his tremendous skill and importance to the team. He, his wife Birgitta and their three sons have been embraced by the people of Ottawa and they are active in the community and support many local charities.
Without "Alfie", as he is affectionately known in Ottawa, the Senators would not have been the quality team they were during the past 15 years. At 37 years of age, he is still playing well and has not lost his trademark speed and skating skills, his amazing puck handling ability and accurate slapshot and his anticipation and ability to "read" the play. Alfredsson has been and still is the finest player that has ever played for the Senators. In fact, the latest edition of The Hockey News names Alfredsson as the NHL's second best right winger of the past decade (behind only Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames).
Sens fans hope that he can continue to play for several more years, but when that inevitable day arrives when he decides to hang up his skates, it will almost certainly be as an Ottawa Senator (he is now under contract until 2012). And his sweater and number should be raised high in the rafters of Scotiabank Place, in the place of honour he so richly deserves. And the Hockey Hall of Fame will surely consider the noteworthy career of this wonderful player.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
OTTAWA SENATORS: A PROGRESS REPORT
Sixteen games into the NHL season, the Ottawa Senators have been on a roller coaster ride. Win one, lose one, good efforts, not so good efforts. Here's a brief overview of my insights into the season to date.
FORWARDS: The Senators have ample scoring punch in the lineup. Daniel Alfredsson, Mike Fisher and Milan Michalek have had solid starts to the season. Jason Spezza has played a much more well-rounded game than in the past. Nick Foligno and Chris Neil are working hard and making things happen. On the downside, high priced Alexei Kovalev has been his usual mercurial self, invisible in too many games. He needs to stop making fancy, ineffective plays on the perimeter and use his skating ability to get to the net; he also needs to use his hard, accurate wrist shot more often. Jonathan Cheechoo has struggled mightily, not for lack of effort, but because he has stopped doing what made him so effective in San Jose- going to the net and using his quick release. Peter Regin looks like a player; he checks well and makes smart plays, both offensively and defensively. Ryan Shannon seems to be over his head in the NHL- his speed is of little use when it's not used intelligently.
DEFENSE: The defense has been erratic at best and has made too many critical errors at key points during games. Although Chris Phillips and Anton Volchenkov (when he's healthy) have been steady, Alexandre Picard, Chris Campoli and Brian Lee have looked lost at times and get caught out of position too often. There have been far too many odd man breaks allowed by pinching defensemen. Erik Karlsson is a work in progress, but the potential is certainly there. Matt Carkner plays hard and uses his size effectively- however, it remains to be seen if he can be a starter over the long haul. Filip Kuba has played too few games to be fairly evaluated.
GOALTENDING: Pascal Leclaire has played well for the most part (other than the occasional weak goal). He has bailed out the defense many times with sparkling saves. Most of the goals he has allowed were either unstoppable shots, deflections or goals resulting from poor play by his defense. Brian Elliot has been an acceptable backup in his few starts.
COACHING: Cory Clouston seems to have communicated his system to the players fairly effectively. He now needs to ensure that they keep with the game plan for a full 60 minutes. There have been too many letdowns once they take the lead (two goal leads spell doom for the Sens), and too much panicking particularly late in the game when the opposition pressures the defense. The panicking has resulted in too many bad penalties, lost leads and lost games. Fortunately for the Senators, the penalty killing has been excellent. However, the power play has been ineffective and Clouston will have to mix things up a bit to find a successful combination.
MANAGEMENT: Bryan Murray has done a reasonable job building the offense, and managed to obtain adequate compensation in the Dany Heatley deal under very difficult circumstances. The jury is still out on the Kovalev signing. He needs to look at the defense now, the Sens have too many soft, rushing defensemen and could use another big, reliable stay-at-home defenseman to clear the front of the net, augmenting the physical play of Phillps and Volchenkov.
TEAM RATING
Forwards- B
Defense- C-
Goaltending- B+
Coaching- B
Management- B-
As it stands, the team is going to be in a dogfight to make the playoffs unless they clean up their act defensively.
FORWARDS: The Senators have ample scoring punch in the lineup. Daniel Alfredsson, Mike Fisher and Milan Michalek have had solid starts to the season. Jason Spezza has played a much more well-rounded game than in the past. Nick Foligno and Chris Neil are working hard and making things happen. On the downside, high priced Alexei Kovalev has been his usual mercurial self, invisible in too many games. He needs to stop making fancy, ineffective plays on the perimeter and use his skating ability to get to the net; he also needs to use his hard, accurate wrist shot more often. Jonathan Cheechoo has struggled mightily, not for lack of effort, but because he has stopped doing what made him so effective in San Jose- going to the net and using his quick release. Peter Regin looks like a player; he checks well and makes smart plays, both offensively and defensively. Ryan Shannon seems to be over his head in the NHL- his speed is of little use when it's not used intelligently.
DEFENSE: The defense has been erratic at best and has made too many critical errors at key points during games. Although Chris Phillips and Anton Volchenkov (when he's healthy) have been steady, Alexandre Picard, Chris Campoli and Brian Lee have looked lost at times and get caught out of position too often. There have been far too many odd man breaks allowed by pinching defensemen. Erik Karlsson is a work in progress, but the potential is certainly there. Matt Carkner plays hard and uses his size effectively- however, it remains to be seen if he can be a starter over the long haul. Filip Kuba has played too few games to be fairly evaluated.
GOALTENDING: Pascal Leclaire has played well for the most part (other than the occasional weak goal). He has bailed out the defense many times with sparkling saves. Most of the goals he has allowed were either unstoppable shots, deflections or goals resulting from poor play by his defense. Brian Elliot has been an acceptable backup in his few starts.
COACHING: Cory Clouston seems to have communicated his system to the players fairly effectively. He now needs to ensure that they keep with the game plan for a full 60 minutes. There have been too many letdowns once they take the lead (two goal leads spell doom for the Sens), and too much panicking particularly late in the game when the opposition pressures the defense. The panicking has resulted in too many bad penalties, lost leads and lost games. Fortunately for the Senators, the penalty killing has been excellent. However, the power play has been ineffective and Clouston will have to mix things up a bit to find a successful combination.
MANAGEMENT: Bryan Murray has done a reasonable job building the offense, and managed to obtain adequate compensation in the Dany Heatley deal under very difficult circumstances. The jury is still out on the Kovalev signing. He needs to look at the defense now, the Sens have too many soft, rushing defensemen and could use another big, reliable stay-at-home defenseman to clear the front of the net, augmenting the physical play of Phillps and Volchenkov.
TEAM RATING
Forwards- B
Defense- C-
Goaltending- B+
Coaching- B
Management- B-
As it stands, the team is going to be in a dogfight to make the playoffs unless they clean up their act defensively.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
THE HISTORY OF THE NHL'S FRANCHISES
With the current discussions surrounding the future of the Phoenix Coyotes, I thought an article about the formation of the NHL would be appropriate. Contrary to popular belief, expansion, relocation and contraction in the NHL is not a new trend. It has occurred many times during the league’s history, particularly in the early years. The evolution of the NHL’s teams is an interesting story; the following is a list of each expansion, relocation and contraction which ultimately resulted in the NHL as it is today.
THE ROOTS OF PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY
In 1910, a professional hockey league known as the National Hockey Association (NHA) was formed in Eastern Canada and the United States. Shortly after that came the Pacific Coast League (PCL), a comparable hockey league in the west. In 1914, a transcontinental championship series was arranged between the two, with the winner getting the coveted Stanley Cup. World War I threw the entire hockey establishment into disarray, and the men running the NHA decided to suspend operations. But after the war, the hockey power brokers decided to start a whole new organization that would be known as the National Hockey League (NHL). At its inception, the NHL boasted five franchises- the Montreal Canadiens, the Montreal Wanderers, the Ottawa Senators, the Quebec Bulldogs, and the Toronto Arenas. When the PCL folded in 1926, the NHL, which at that point had ten teams, divided into two divisions and took control of the Stanley Cup.
1917- “Founding Five”- Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, Quebec Bulldogs, and Toronto Arenas
1919- Montreal Wanderers withdrew from league; Toronto Arenas changed name to Toronto St. Patricks (decrease to 4 teams)
1920- Quebec Bulldogs transferred to Hamilton as Hamilton Tigers
1923- Boston Bruins (first American based-team) and Montreal Maroons granted franchises (increase to 6 teams)
1925- Hamilton Tigers withdrew from league; players signed by the new New York American franchise
1926- Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Rangers, Chicago Black Hawks and Detroit Cougars granted franchises (increase to 10 teams)
1927- Toronto St. Patrick's changed name to the Toronto Maple Leafs
1930- Detroit Cougars changed name to the Detroit Falcons, Pittsburgh Pirates transferred to Philadelphia as the Philadelphia Quakers
1931- Philadelphia Quakers withdrew from league (decrease to 9 teams)
1932- Detroit Falcons franchise changed name to the Detroit Red Wings
1934- Ottawa Senators transferred to St. Louis as St. Louis Eagles
1935- St.Louis Eagles withdrew from league (decrease to 8 teams)
1938- Montreal Maroons withdrew from league (decrease to 7 teams)
1941- New York Americans changed name to Brooklyn Americans
1942- Brooklyn Americans withdrew from league (decrease to 6 teams)
1943- “Original Six“- Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks remain
1967- Minnesota North Stars, California/Oakland Seals, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues granted franchises (increase to 12 teams)
1970- Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks granted franchises (increase to 14 teams)
1972- Atlanta Flames and the New York Islanders granted franchises (increase to 16 teams)
1974- Kansas City Scouts and the Washington Capitals granted franchises (increase to18 teams)
1976- California Golden Seals transferred to Cleveland as Cleveland Barons; Kansas City Scouts transferred to Colorado as Colorado Rockies
1978- Cleveland franchise merges with the Minnesota North Stars (decrease to 17 teams)
1979- Edmonton Oilers, Quebec Nordiques, Hartford Whalers and Winnipeg Jets joined the league from defunct World Hockey Association (increase to 21 teams)
1980- Atlanta Flames moved to Calgary as Calgary Flames
1982- Colorado Rockies moved to New Jersey as New Jersey Devils
1991- San Jose Sharks granted franchise (increase to 22 teams)
1992- Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators granted franchises (increase to 24 teams)
1993- Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Florida Panthers granted franchises; Minnesota North Stars transferred to Dallas as Dallas Stars (increase to 26 teams)
1995- Quebec Nordiques transferred to Colorado as Colorado Avalanche
1996- Winnipeg Jets transferred to Phoenix as Phoenix Coyotes
1997- Hartford Whalers transferred to Raleigh as Carolina Hurricanes
1998- Nashville Predators granted franchise (increase to 27 teams)
1999- Atlanta Thrashers granted franchise (increase to 28 teams)
2001- Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets granted franchises (increase to 30 teams)
2006- Mighty Ducks of Anaheim changed name to Anaheim Ducks
The debate on possible franchise relocation and even expansion to 32 teams continues. With several teams struggling both financially and attendance-wise, and with the league always searching for new sources of revenue, one or the other is inevitable. Which struggling teams will be moved: Florida, Nashville, Atlanta, Carolina or Phoenix? What new cities will be the beneficiary: Portland, Seattle, Houston, Quebec City, Winnipeg, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Las Vegas or Hamilton? Stay tuned…….
THE ROOTS OF PROFESSIONAL HOCKEY
In 1910, a professional hockey league known as the National Hockey Association (NHA) was formed in Eastern Canada and the United States. Shortly after that came the Pacific Coast League (PCL), a comparable hockey league in the west. In 1914, a transcontinental championship series was arranged between the two, with the winner getting the coveted Stanley Cup. World War I threw the entire hockey establishment into disarray, and the men running the NHA decided to suspend operations. But after the war, the hockey power brokers decided to start a whole new organization that would be known as the National Hockey League (NHL). At its inception, the NHL boasted five franchises- the Montreal Canadiens, the Montreal Wanderers, the Ottawa Senators, the Quebec Bulldogs, and the Toronto Arenas. When the PCL folded in 1926, the NHL, which at that point had ten teams, divided into two divisions and took control of the Stanley Cup.
1917- “Founding Five”- Montreal Canadiens, Montreal Wanderers, Ottawa Senators, Quebec Bulldogs, and Toronto Arenas
1919- Montreal Wanderers withdrew from league; Toronto Arenas changed name to Toronto St. Patricks (decrease to 4 teams)
1920- Quebec Bulldogs transferred to Hamilton as Hamilton Tigers
1923- Boston Bruins (first American based-team) and Montreal Maroons granted franchises (increase to 6 teams)
1925- Hamilton Tigers withdrew from league; players signed by the new New York American franchise
1926- Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Rangers, Chicago Black Hawks and Detroit Cougars granted franchises (increase to 10 teams)
1927- Toronto St. Patrick's changed name to the Toronto Maple Leafs
1930- Detroit Cougars changed name to the Detroit Falcons, Pittsburgh Pirates transferred to Philadelphia as the Philadelphia Quakers
1931- Philadelphia Quakers withdrew from league (decrease to 9 teams)
1932- Detroit Falcons franchise changed name to the Detroit Red Wings
1934- Ottawa Senators transferred to St. Louis as St. Louis Eagles
1935- St.Louis Eagles withdrew from league (decrease to 8 teams)
1938- Montreal Maroons withdrew from league (decrease to 7 teams)
1941- New York Americans changed name to Brooklyn Americans
1942- Brooklyn Americans withdrew from league (decrease to 6 teams)
1943- “Original Six“- Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Blackhawks remain
1967- Minnesota North Stars, California/Oakland Seals, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and St. Louis Blues granted franchises (increase to 12 teams)
1970- Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks granted franchises (increase to 14 teams)
1972- Atlanta Flames and the New York Islanders granted franchises (increase to 16 teams)
1974- Kansas City Scouts and the Washington Capitals granted franchises (increase to18 teams)
1976- California Golden Seals transferred to Cleveland as Cleveland Barons; Kansas City Scouts transferred to Colorado as Colorado Rockies
1978- Cleveland franchise merges with the Minnesota North Stars (decrease to 17 teams)
1979- Edmonton Oilers, Quebec Nordiques, Hartford Whalers and Winnipeg Jets joined the league from defunct World Hockey Association (increase to 21 teams)
1980- Atlanta Flames moved to Calgary as Calgary Flames
1982- Colorado Rockies moved to New Jersey as New Jersey Devils
1991- San Jose Sharks granted franchise (increase to 22 teams)
1992- Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators granted franchises (increase to 24 teams)
1993- Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and Florida Panthers granted franchises; Minnesota North Stars transferred to Dallas as Dallas Stars (increase to 26 teams)
1995- Quebec Nordiques transferred to Colorado as Colorado Avalanche
1996- Winnipeg Jets transferred to Phoenix as Phoenix Coyotes
1997- Hartford Whalers transferred to Raleigh as Carolina Hurricanes
1998- Nashville Predators granted franchise (increase to 27 teams)
1999- Atlanta Thrashers granted franchise (increase to 28 teams)
2001- Minnesota Wild and Columbus Blue Jackets granted franchises (increase to 30 teams)
2006- Mighty Ducks of Anaheim changed name to Anaheim Ducks
The debate on possible franchise relocation and even expansion to 32 teams continues. With several teams struggling both financially and attendance-wise, and with the league always searching for new sources of revenue, one or the other is inevitable. Which struggling teams will be moved: Florida, Nashville, Atlanta, Carolina or Phoenix? What new cities will be the beneficiary: Portland, Seattle, Houston, Quebec City, Winnipeg, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, Las Vegas or Hamilton? Stay tuned…….
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
IS IT TIME FOR A NEW COMMISSIONER?
In 1993, Gary Bettman became the first Commissioner of the NHL (previous to 1993, the title of the head of the NHL was President). Bettman was selected for the position because of his previous success as a senior vice-president and general counsel to the National Basketball Association (NBA). At the time, the push for expansion to the Southern U.S. had become a majority priority, so his experience working with major American cities was seen as a major benefit. The league wanted to enhance its profile in the South to take advantage of the large untapped market and the potential national television revenue and exposure.
As 16 years have gone by since his appointment, he has had ample opportunity to make his mark on the league. Let's take a look at his accomplishments.....and shortfalls.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1. THE SOUTH WILL RISE AGAIN! Bettman has fulfilled the NHL's objective of Southern expansion. The league has moved into seven southern markets during his term: expansion teams in Miami, Anaheim, Nashville and Atlanta and team relocations to Dallas, Phoenix and Raleigh.
2. MONEY, MONEY, MONEY! League revenues have skyrocketed during this period, from 400 million to more than 2.2 billion dollars.
3. TV OR NOT TV......Back in the 1990's, Bettman negotiated deals with major U.S. television networks to broadcast weekly games.
4. THROW US A BONE GARY! Bettman championed the Canadian Assistance Plan, a revenue-sharing agreement that saw American teams give money to help support the four small-market Canadian teams (Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa and Vancouver) throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s.
SHORTFALLS
1. SOUTHERN MAN DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN! The Southern teams have, for the most part, been a financial disaster. Most teams have extensive debt and struggle to fill their arenas.
2. STRIKE TWO.....During his tenure, there have been two labour stoppages, a 104 day strike in 1994-95 and the entire 2004 season. The stoppages were both intended primarily to bring player salaries more in line with team revenue. One could argue that the salary caps have not adequately addressed the problem as the average salary is as high as ever and many players exceed the $5 million mark. The cap forces teams to dispose of high paid players, resulting in a negative form of parity by weakening the strong teams.
3. DOWN THE TUBE! After some initial broadcast deals with FOX, ABC and ESPN, major U.S. television networks have turned their backs on the NHL. With the exception of a smattering of games after the conclusion of the NFL season, American viewers must rely on the much smaller VERSUS TV package which has a very limited availability in many parts of the country. As well, the money dried up and the current game of the week deal with NBC is a revenue sharing arrangement with NO money up front.
4. "NO CANADA!" Two Canadian based teams were relocated to the U.S.- Quebec to Denver and Winnipeg to Phoenix. Although the Nashville Predators and the Phoenix Coyotes have received league "bailouts" to keep them in their cities, no such assistance was offered to either Canadian team. Although the Canadian Assistance Plan did stave off further franchise relocation to the U.S., some would argue that this was done to appease the Canadian fans angered by the loss of the Quebec and Winnipeg teams. As well, attempts to move teams from the U.S. to Canada have been rebuffed by Bettman.
THE JUDGEMENT
It would appear that although Bettman has achieved some respectable results, most of his accomplishments eventually turned into shortfalls. Bettman served his purpose in the early years when the league was looking to expand. However, the NHL now needs to reshuffle some unsuccessful franchises to new locations, and most of the viable locations are in Canada; the six Canadian-based teams currently produce almost 1/3 of the league's revenue, and are among the top 10 in attendance. Bettman's perspective is clouded by the fact that he wants to protect his legacy. The league no longer needs a marketing manager but a genuine hockey person who can ensure that the teams end up in true hockey markets and not in American cities with large populations and few hockey fans. The league also needs someone who grew up with the game and understands the passionate fans in Canada and the Northern U.S.. The tradition of the game has been damaged and can only be repaired by a leader with credibility, who can guide the Board of Governors away from the quick fix and almighty dollar to long term stability.
Thanks for your efforts Gary, but it's time for you to move on.
(coming soon...A Short History of NHL Expansion and Contraction Since League Inception in 1917)
As 16 years have gone by since his appointment, he has had ample opportunity to make his mark on the league. Let's take a look at his accomplishments.....and shortfalls.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1. THE SOUTH WILL RISE AGAIN! Bettman has fulfilled the NHL's objective of Southern expansion. The league has moved into seven southern markets during his term: expansion teams in Miami, Anaheim, Nashville and Atlanta and team relocations to Dallas, Phoenix and Raleigh.
2. MONEY, MONEY, MONEY! League revenues have skyrocketed during this period, from 400 million to more than 2.2 billion dollars.
3. TV OR NOT TV......Back in the 1990's, Bettman negotiated deals with major U.S. television networks to broadcast weekly games.
4. THROW US A BONE GARY! Bettman championed the Canadian Assistance Plan, a revenue-sharing agreement that saw American teams give money to help support the four small-market Canadian teams (Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa and Vancouver) throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s.
SHORTFALLS
1. SOUTHERN MAN DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN! The Southern teams have, for the most part, been a financial disaster. Most teams have extensive debt and struggle to fill their arenas.
2. STRIKE TWO.....During his tenure, there have been two labour stoppages, a 104 day strike in 1994-95 and the entire 2004 season. The stoppages were both intended primarily to bring player salaries more in line with team revenue. One could argue that the salary caps have not adequately addressed the problem as the average salary is as high as ever and many players exceed the $5 million mark. The cap forces teams to dispose of high paid players, resulting in a negative form of parity by weakening the strong teams.
3. DOWN THE TUBE! After some initial broadcast deals with FOX, ABC and ESPN, major U.S. television networks have turned their backs on the NHL. With the exception of a smattering of games after the conclusion of the NFL season, American viewers must rely on the much smaller VERSUS TV package which has a very limited availability in many parts of the country. As well, the money dried up and the current game of the week deal with NBC is a revenue sharing arrangement with NO money up front.
4. "NO CANADA!" Two Canadian based teams were relocated to the U.S.- Quebec to Denver and Winnipeg to Phoenix. Although the Nashville Predators and the Phoenix Coyotes have received league "bailouts" to keep them in their cities, no such assistance was offered to either Canadian team. Although the Canadian Assistance Plan did stave off further franchise relocation to the U.S., some would argue that this was done to appease the Canadian fans angered by the loss of the Quebec and Winnipeg teams. As well, attempts to move teams from the U.S. to Canada have been rebuffed by Bettman.
THE JUDGEMENT
It would appear that although Bettman has achieved some respectable results, most of his accomplishments eventually turned into shortfalls. Bettman served his purpose in the early years when the league was looking to expand. However, the NHL now needs to reshuffle some unsuccessful franchises to new locations, and most of the viable locations are in Canada; the six Canadian-based teams currently produce almost 1/3 of the league's revenue, and are among the top 10 in attendance. Bettman's perspective is clouded by the fact that he wants to protect his legacy. The league no longer needs a marketing manager but a genuine hockey person who can ensure that the teams end up in true hockey markets and not in American cities with large populations and few hockey fans. The league also needs someone who grew up with the game and understands the passionate fans in Canada and the Northern U.S.. The tradition of the game has been damaged and can only be repaired by a leader with credibility, who can guide the Board of Governors away from the quick fix and almighty dollar to long term stability.
Thanks for your efforts Gary, but it's time for you to move on.
(coming soon...A Short History of NHL Expansion and Contraction Since League Inception in 1917)
Sunday, October 4, 2009
THE PHOENIX COYOTES' DEBACLE- THE NHL`S EMBARRASSMENT
The Phoenix Coyotes' debacle has gone from the sublime to the ridiculous. Jim Balsillie negotiates directly with the owner of the Coyotes to purchase and move the bankrupt team to Hamilton. Gary Bettman gets his nose out of joint because he feels that Balsillie is attempting to usurp his authority. They proceed through the legal system for a resolution and when things start to go bad for the NHL, they put forward their own proposal to purchase the team (a clear conflict of interest in my opinion). To make matters worse, the judge's decision is essentially a non-decision......although he decided that Balsillie has to follow proper procedure to acquire and move the franchise, he rejects both proposals. Now, the Coyotes continue to hang by a thread financially, coach Wayne Gretzky is unceremoniously forced out of his job, fan support has dwindled to nothing and the creditors still have no compensation.
This has become a battle of egos between Bettman and Balsillie. Meanwhile, the franchise sits on the edge of the abyss with no sign of a legitimate resolution. It is clear that Phoenix cannot and will not support the Coyotes, and yet the NHL continues to throw good money after bad by propping up this crippled organization. Who in their right mind will be willing to buy the team and keep it in Phoenix, with the prospect of losing millions of dollars every year? And since Bettman seems to have an aversion to moving teams to Canada, he looks to Las Vegas and Kansas City as possible locations. Moving the team to another non-hockey city is not the answer, it will merely relocate the problem, not eliminate it. Bettman argues that if Hamilton wants a team, they should apply for an expansion franchise and that his responsibility is to preserve the existing teams. If that is true, where was he when Quebec and Winnipeg were allowed to move to U.S. cities? I don't recall him offering to purchase the franchises and keep them in Canada. He made little attempt to help these teams remain in their cities and to negotiate with the local governments to build new, viable arenas. It appears that there is a double standard here, and his real objective seems to be to protect his Southern U.S. expansion scheme at all costs. Southern expansion has been a disaster, yet he refuses to face reality and accept the blame for a failed strategy.
Jim Balsillie has made some mistakes in his approach. Yes, Gary Bettman made it clear that he was never going to give his approval to the move. However, Balsillie fed the fire of conflict with the league by refusing to negotiate with the NHL, and he ignored the league's legal corporate authority to control the ownership and location of its franchises. That being said, the NHL needs passionate hockey fans with deep pockets like Balsillie to operate the franchises. And Hamilton is a perfect place for a team, located in "hockey-mad" Southern Ontario- there are more hockey fans there than in the entire Southern U.S.! (and NHL, give your head a shake, a team in Hamilton will not hurt the Toronto Maple Leafs- it will create an exciting and profitable rivalry!) Gary Bettman has to either swallow his pride and accept responsibility for his mistakes and open the door to Canadian cities and to owners like Balsillie, or the Board of Governors need to take a close look at his leadership. The greed for expansion dollars is driving the Governors, but they need to start doing what is best for the long-term survival of the league.
It's time for a change of philosophy and a change of leadership. Or the NHL will continue to struggle in many U.S. cities, causing further embarrassment to the league. Canadian fans have long felt alienated by the league; a very dangerous situation as it is the Canadian fan who will ensure the long term financial survival of the league and of hockey as a legitimate professional sport.
This has become a battle of egos between Bettman and Balsillie. Meanwhile, the franchise sits on the edge of the abyss with no sign of a legitimate resolution. It is clear that Phoenix cannot and will not support the Coyotes, and yet the NHL continues to throw good money after bad by propping up this crippled organization. Who in their right mind will be willing to buy the team and keep it in Phoenix, with the prospect of losing millions of dollars every year? And since Bettman seems to have an aversion to moving teams to Canada, he looks to Las Vegas and Kansas City as possible locations. Moving the team to another non-hockey city is not the answer, it will merely relocate the problem, not eliminate it. Bettman argues that if Hamilton wants a team, they should apply for an expansion franchise and that his responsibility is to preserve the existing teams. If that is true, where was he when Quebec and Winnipeg were allowed to move to U.S. cities? I don't recall him offering to purchase the franchises and keep them in Canada. He made little attempt to help these teams remain in their cities and to negotiate with the local governments to build new, viable arenas. It appears that there is a double standard here, and his real objective seems to be to protect his Southern U.S. expansion scheme at all costs. Southern expansion has been a disaster, yet he refuses to face reality and accept the blame for a failed strategy.
Jim Balsillie has made some mistakes in his approach. Yes, Gary Bettman made it clear that he was never going to give his approval to the move. However, Balsillie fed the fire of conflict with the league by refusing to negotiate with the NHL, and he ignored the league's legal corporate authority to control the ownership and location of its franchises. That being said, the NHL needs passionate hockey fans with deep pockets like Balsillie to operate the franchises. And Hamilton is a perfect place for a team, located in "hockey-mad" Southern Ontario- there are more hockey fans there than in the entire Southern U.S.! (and NHL, give your head a shake, a team in Hamilton will not hurt the Toronto Maple Leafs- it will create an exciting and profitable rivalry!) Gary Bettman has to either swallow his pride and accept responsibility for his mistakes and open the door to Canadian cities and to owners like Balsillie, or the Board of Governors need to take a close look at his leadership. The greed for expansion dollars is driving the Governors, but they need to start doing what is best for the long-term survival of the league.
It's time for a change of philosophy and a change of leadership. Or the NHL will continue to struggle in many U.S. cities, causing further embarrassment to the league. Canadian fans have long felt alienated by the league; a very dangerous situation as it is the Canadian fan who will ensure the long term financial survival of the league and of hockey as a legitimate professional sport.
Friday, October 2, 2009
"SUPER JOE" RETIRES
In any generation, there is an elite group of players that can be classified as "stars". Similarly, there are few that can legitimately carry the title of "leader". Joe Sakic is one of the highly select group of players that can be considered as both. During his 20 year NHL career, he played 1378 games and with his brilliant wrist shot scored 625 goals and 1641 points, including at least 40 goals five times and 100 points six times. He captained the Colorado Avalanche to two Stanley Cups and won numerous awards. He played with and won the most valuable player award for gold medal-winning Team Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics.
He overcame many obstacles in reaching this pinnacle of hockey stardom. He accomplished it as a small player in a big man's game. Born to Croatian immigrant parents, he did not learn to speak English until he enrolled in school. Playing as a rookie on the Western Hockey League's Swift Current Broncos, he faced tragedy on the night of December 30, 1986, when the Broncos team bus, driving in bad weather conditions, crashed after the driver lost control on a patch of black ice outside of Swift Current. While Sakic was unharmed, four of his teammates were killed.
He officially ended his playing career after last season and was honoured yesterday by the Avalanche as they retired his #19 sweater. He is also one of a select few individuals to play his entire career with one franchise (Quebec Nordiques- Colorado Avalanche). Both his teammates and opponents have long respected Joe for his hard work, leadership ability, selfless play and amazing skill as well as his charity work off the ice, and he has been acknowledged as the classiest player of his time. There is no doubt that he will be elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame as soon as he is eligible. We have been fortunate to be able to enjoy and appreciate this marvelous player for 20 years. Thanks Joe, it's been a pleasure.
He overcame many obstacles in reaching this pinnacle of hockey stardom. He accomplished it as a small player in a big man's game. Born to Croatian immigrant parents, he did not learn to speak English until he enrolled in school. Playing as a rookie on the Western Hockey League's Swift Current Broncos, he faced tragedy on the night of December 30, 1986, when the Broncos team bus, driving in bad weather conditions, crashed after the driver lost control on a patch of black ice outside of Swift Current. While Sakic was unharmed, four of his teammates were killed.
He officially ended his playing career after last season and was honoured yesterday by the Avalanche as they retired his #19 sweater. He is also one of a select few individuals to play his entire career with one franchise (Quebec Nordiques- Colorado Avalanche). Both his teammates and opponents have long respected Joe for his hard work, leadership ability, selfless play and amazing skill as well as his charity work off the ice, and he has been acknowledged as the classiest player of his time. There is no doubt that he will be elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame as soon as he is eligible. We have been fortunate to be able to enjoy and appreciate this marvelous player for 20 years. Thanks Joe, it's been a pleasure.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
THE ODYSSEY OF THEO FLEURY
Theoren Fleury has been from the top of the mountain to the depths of despair. From a Stanley Cup championship in 1989 followed by 1088 points in 1084 NHL games, things went awry. Fleury was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and battled drug and alcohol addictions. The addictions eventually resulted in a suspension that ended his NHL career. He subsequently played in senior hockey leagues while he struggled to overcome his demons.
He is now remarried with a young daughter, and credits his second wife Jennifer with his four years of sobriety. However, he was unhappy with how his NHL career ended and Fleury hired a personal trainer in February 2009 and began an attempt to return to the NHL. His previous suspension was lifted in August and the 41 year old Fleury accepted a try-out offer from the Calgary Flames. He scored four points in four exhibition games.
He has worked very hard against tremendous odds to get where he is now in his hockey career. Calgary fans have given him a warm welcome back to the team. I think he deserves our admiration for his efforts, whether or not he makes the team. I for one hope that he makes the cut and gets one more chance to end his career in a manner befitting the star player he once was.
UPDATE. Fleury did not make the cut and he announced his retirement from professional hockey. Theo, you did your best. But there is lots of life after hockey. Good luck.
He is now remarried with a young daughter, and credits his second wife Jennifer with his four years of sobriety. However, he was unhappy with how his NHL career ended and Fleury hired a personal trainer in February 2009 and began an attempt to return to the NHL. His previous suspension was lifted in August and the 41 year old Fleury accepted a try-out offer from the Calgary Flames. He scored four points in four exhibition games.
He has worked very hard against tremendous odds to get where he is now in his hockey career. Calgary fans have given him a warm welcome back to the team. I think he deserves our admiration for his efforts, whether or not he makes the team. I for one hope that he makes the cut and gets one more chance to end his career in a manner befitting the star player he once was.
UPDATE. Fleury did not make the cut and he announced his retirement from professional hockey. Theo, you did your best. But there is lots of life after hockey. Good luck.
Friday, September 18, 2009
THE NHL CONTENDERS
Now for the teams that made the playoffs last year; who will make a run for the cup? Which teams have acquired that special player that will take them to the finals? Which teams are perennial contenders and which teams are rebuilding or past their prime? Here's my opinion on the matter:
Chicago- Havlat out, Hossa in- Will Hossa be able to put the past two final losses behind him? The Hawks are a fast, young team, with talent on defense and offense. Provided their goaltending holds up, look out!
Pittsburgh- Crosby and Malkin....can they do it again? They should advance to the semi-finals at a minimum.
Washington- Alexander Ovechkin has a good supporting cast with Nichlas Backstrom and Alexander Semin, and Mike Green at `rover`. Goaltending with Simeon Varlamov and defense is a question mark. Semi-finals are a possibility if defensive game holds up.
Detroit- Another year older, some good young players- but are they good enough to get to the final again? Maybe...but will certainly make the playoffs.
San Jose- How many times can they go to the well and come back empty before it's time to rethink things. Heatley can score goals, if his head is in the game. Thornton and Marleau must produce in the playoffs. This may be their year, but who knows.
Boston- Strong defense, strong goaltending, but offense could use a boost especially after the trade of Phil Kessel. But this is a strong team, capable of winning it all.
New Jersey- A traditional Devils team, solid goaltending and defense. Will that be enough? To get to the playoffs, probably....but not much further.
Vancouver- too much reliance on Luongo and the Sedins. Playoff bound, but needs more depth to advance more than a round or two unless Luongo stands on his head!
Philadelphia- solid team from top to bottom. Tough, fast and deep. Chris Pronger is a major addition. They will give Pittsburgh all they can handle. Could go all the way.
Calgary- probably the best defense in the league with Phaneuf, Bouwmeester and Regehr, and strong goaltending. But can they score? Iginla and Jokinen can`t do it alone. Playoffs, yes. But how far can they go.......
Carolina- solid team will make the playoffs, but don`t expect a repeat of last year`s playoff run
Chicago- Havlat out, Hossa in- Will Hossa be able to put the past two final losses behind him? The Hawks are a fast, young team, with talent on defense and offense. Provided their goaltending holds up, look out!
Pittsburgh- Crosby and Malkin....can they do it again? They should advance to the semi-finals at a minimum.
Washington- Alexander Ovechkin has a good supporting cast with Nichlas Backstrom and Alexander Semin, and Mike Green at `rover`. Goaltending with Simeon Varlamov and defense is a question mark. Semi-finals are a possibility if defensive game holds up.
Detroit- Another year older, some good young players- but are they good enough to get to the final again? Maybe...but will certainly make the playoffs.
San Jose- How many times can they go to the well and come back empty before it's time to rethink things. Heatley can score goals, if his head is in the game. Thornton and Marleau must produce in the playoffs. This may be their year, but who knows.
Boston- Strong defense, strong goaltending, but offense could use a boost especially after the trade of Phil Kessel. But this is a strong team, capable of winning it all.
New Jersey- A traditional Devils team, solid goaltending and defense. Will that be enough? To get to the playoffs, probably....but not much further.
Vancouver- too much reliance on Luongo and the Sedins. Playoff bound, but needs more depth to advance more than a round or two unless Luongo stands on his head!
Philadelphia- solid team from top to bottom. Tough, fast and deep. Chris Pronger is a major addition. They will give Pittsburgh all they can handle. Could go all the way.
Calgary- probably the best defense in the league with Phaneuf, Bouwmeester and Regehr, and strong goaltending. But can they score? Iginla and Jokinen can`t do it alone. Playoffs, yes. But how far can they go.......
Carolina- solid team will make the playoffs, but don`t expect a repeat of last year`s playoff run
Montreal- Habs have been completely rebuilt since last year. Small, quick forwards may be physically worn out by playoff time. They`ll be in the running for a playoff spot with several other teams, but do they have enough to get there
St.Louis- a young, developing team. Not enough depth or scoring to qualify for the playoffs again.
Columbus- Rick Nash will have to carry them to the playoffs again. Good goaltending with Steve Mason (barring a sophomore jinx), improved team defense. It`s all about scoring. They`ll make a run at a playoff spot again.
Anaheim- big, strong and good defensively. Decent scoring depth with Getzlaf, Perry, Koivu, Ryan and old reliable Selanne. Could make some noise in the playoffs.
New York Rangers- not much improvement from last year. Marian Gaborik could be a factor if he remains healthy. Otherwise, the Rangers will be in the middle of the pack fighting for a playoff spot.
New York Rangers- not much improvement from last year. Marian Gaborik could be a factor if he remains healthy. Otherwise, the Rangers will be in the middle of the pack fighting for a playoff spot.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
DANY HEATLEY- THE STORY ENDS
Finally the Heatley fiasco comes to an end. There`s no doubt that San Jose got the best player, but the Senators managed to salvage a situation which could have been disastrous because of Heatley`s damaging public trade request. Milan Michalek, at 24 years old, is big, young and has great potential. Jonathan Cheechoo has a chance to rekindle a flickering career...maybe a change of scenery will do him good. At any rate, removing the Heatley controversy from the Senator`s camp is a gain in itself.
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