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Sunday, July 31, 2011
Who's Your Coach?
- Jason Davis
It was never easy with Bob Bradley. He tested our patience constantly, made things complicated, failed to ever give us reason to feel comfortable with this stewardship of our beloved national team. He mumbled, hmm'd, hawed, and fussed his way through each and every press conference he ever gave. How a coach performs for the press has nothing to do with his ability to successfully coach a team. But it doesn't get motors running in the fan base, either.
But here's a truth that...
[[ This is a content summary. Please visit Match Fit USA for the full post ]] 
It was never easy with Bob Bradley. He tested our patience constantly, made things complicated, failed to ever give us reason to feel comfortable with this stewardship of our beloved national team. He mumbled, hmm'd, hawed, and fussed his way through each and every press conference he ever gave. How a coach performs for the press has nothing to do with his ability to successfully coach a team. But it doesn't get motors running in the fan base, either.
But here's a truth that...
[[ This is a content summary. Please visit Match Fit USA for the full post ]]
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No decision yet for Marc Savard?s name on Bruins? Stanley Cup
For a player to automatically get his name on the Stanley Cup after his team wins the championship, he needs 41 regular-season appearances or one appearance in the Stanley Cup Final. Upon request to the NHL, there are exceptions to this rule.
Which brings us to Marc Savard.
Savard played 25 games for the Boston Bruins in 2010-11 before another concussion ended his season on Jan. 22, well before the B's began their playoff journey to the Stanley Cup championship.
We've had a few readers ask recently about Savard's name on the Cup, so we passed the query to the Bruins. From Bruins director of communications Matt Chmura:
"No decisions have been made yet.� [GM] Peter Chiarelli has stated publicly that he will petition for Marc to be on the Cup, but I have not heard definitively one way or the other on an answer."
This is probably a formality, given that Savard is scheduled to spend a day with the Stanley Cup in Peterborough on Aug. 1. But according to the Bruins, nothing has been formalized with Savard's name on the chalice. So there you go.
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Puck Headlines: Dubinsky, Rangers? stalemate; Wheeler on B?s
Here are your Puck Headlines: a glorious collection of news and views collected from the greatest blogosphere in sports and the few, the proud, the mainstream hockey media.
? Late entry after the Bruins Photoshop Contest deadline, but worth a glimpse. From Paul Steckel.
? Multiple sources reporting that Pete DeBoer, former Florida Panthers coach, will be the next head coach of the New Jersey Devils. Our analysis forthcoming. It may just focus on the new Devils coach having "bore" in his name.
? Are Brandon Dubinsky and the New York Rangers headed to arbitration? According to Jesse Spector, the issue in their contract impasse is years and not money: "The fact that they continue to talk is a positive sign that both sides still would like to avoid the inherent nastiness of arbitration, where management is forced to downplay a player's importance in the fight to keep the wage bill down." [Blueshirt Blog]
? Roman Hamrlik wants to ride with Mike Green next season with the Washington Capitals. Is there room on the Vespa? [Capitals Insider]
? Lowetide on the signing: "As an aside, if Steve Tambellini had signed this contract, I suspect Oiler Nation would be rushing to the internet to express their displeasure at the signing. Agreed?" [Lowetide]
? TSN's ranking of "fighters as players." Does five fighting majors make one an NHL fighter? OK, to the point: Would anyone consider Paul Gaustad a fighter? [TSN]
? "The Ducks and newly-acquired center Andrew Cogliano will avoid arbitration after agreeing Tuesday on a three-year contract worth $7.17 million." Now, is there money left over for a winger that can win a faceoff for him? [Ducks Blog]
? The top 10 most unrealistic sports scenes in movie history. Nothing from the Mighty Ducks makes the cut, somewhat miraculously. [Midwest Sports Fans]
? Interesting take from Blake Wheeler, who just re-upped with the Winnipeg Jets to avoid arbitration, on the Boston Bruins' Cup run: "I wasn't necessarily cheering for them, but I wasn't cheering against them. I've played with all those guys so I was definitely happy to see them succeed and come through and win -- I knew they were definitely capable of it. But it definitely hurt to not be a part of it." [NHL.com]
? Looking at the Boston Bruins' chances to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. [HOTH]
? The Buffalo Sabres sign Andrej Sekera and forward Matt Ellis, avoiding arbitration with Sekara. [Sabres, Black Blue and Gold]
? The San Jose Sharks ink former Columbus Blue Jackets center Andrew Murray. [Sharks]
? Carolina Hurricanes forward Anthony Stewart calls out a blog for dogging a former minor league teammate. The blog calls him back. [Pass It To Bulis]
? Can the Los Angeles Kings pass the chemistry test? The top two lines look aces ? but after that .. [Pro Sports Blogging]
? The Philadelphia Flyers are going to carry $1.4 million in bonuses on the cap next season. From Travis Hughes: "In other words, just look at it like there's $1.4 million being paid to a player not on the roster this year. Suddenly, just when it seemed like the Flyers were rolling around in some (relatively) roomy cap space, they're now right back under the gun with just $175,239 available." [Broad Street Hockey]
? The Tampa Bay Lightning are playing an exhibition game in Orlando next season. And the Devils are the Mickey Mouse franchise? [@TBLightning]
? On open letter to Stan Bowman from Second City Hockey: "So well done Stan, I think for the most part you've made Hawks fans very excited about the upcoming season. That's all you can do in the summer. Anyway, take a break. You've earned it. We'll talk again in the fall." [SCC]
? The winners and losers of NCAA realignment. [TCHB]
? The Chief looks at how the Detroit media goofed up on the Chris Osgood announcement. [A2Y]
? Great to know Toronto still has Crabbs. [CBC]
? Finally, it's Montreal Canadiens legend Doug Harvey in a priceless 1960 slot hockey commercial.
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Saborio suspended, fined for dive
Photo by ISIphotos.com In the aftermath of Charlie Davies' dive that earned a penalty against Real Salt Lake earlier this season, Major League Soccer's discipline committee promised further punishment for future offenders. Real Salt Lake forward Alvaro Saborio found that out first-hand on Friday, as the league suspended him one game and fined him $1,000 for his dive last weekend against the San Jose Earthquakes that deceived referee David Gantar, who called a penalty and gave a red card to Bobby Burling. As a result, Saborio will miss RSL's match against the Columbus Crew this weekend. "As previously stated, all...
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Saturday, July 30, 2011
Rangers win on Dubinsky arbitration gamble with 4-year deal
There's been so much hardball played between the New York Rangers and Brandon Dubinsky over the last two years, they should hold their contract negotiations in the Yankee Stadium batter's box.
There was that Dubinsky holdout in 2009, which GM Glen Sather called "a little foolish." This summer, the 25-year-old forward watched the Rangers open a bank vault for Brad Richards over the next nine years while refusing to meet Dubinsky's asking price on a long-term deal of his own.
Instead, the two sides went to arbitration on Thursday morning ... and the Rangers ended up getting Dubinsky to sign on for four years at a very reasonable price.
According to Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet, Dubinsky and the Rangers agreed to a four-year deal worth $16.8 million. Tim Wharnsby of CBC Sports has the annual salaries at $3.75 million, $3.75 million, $4.65 million and $4.65 million.
Why was this a victory for the Rangers?
To understand how well the Rangers did here, understand the brief history of the negotiations.
Larry Brooks of the NY Post reported that Dubinsky wanted a long-term deal with an annual cap hit around $5.25 million, and the Rangers were coming in around $500,000 cheaper per season on their offer.
If $5.25 million sounds rather high for Dubinsky, that's because it is: His 54 points and 24 goals were career highs last season; but consider that a player Bobby Ryan makes $5.1 million and a player like Ryan Kesler makes $5 million.
Then came Thursday, and the potential for arbitration.
Sources with knowledge of the briefs submitted on behalf of the 25-year-old winger and on behalf of the club have told The Post that Dubinsky has requested a contract worth $4.6 million while the Rangers have come in at $2.8 million.
While the gulf appears exceptionally wide, Elizabeth Neumeier, the arbitrator presiding over the case, is empowered to select any figure between the parties' requests. As such, the disparity in the submissions should not ring any alarm bells, given that they are strategic rather than necessarily reasonable.
What would have Dubinsky ended up with? Look at the players whose salaries will likely be cited in the arbitration process. Consider that Travis Zajac (26) of the New Jersey Devils and Nathan Horton (26) of the Boston Bruins both carry $4.5 million salaries next season.
The Rangers could have gambled that Dubinsky's arbitration didn't end up with him earning $4.6 million against the cap next season -- the Rangers had $10.6 million under the cap, via Cap Geek.
Instead, they inked him to a four-year deal that has an annual cap hit of $4.2 million. That's Mike Fisher territory, slightly more than Drew Stafford. Dubinsky, it could be argued, is better than both.
The Dubinsky contract also shouldn't dramatically affect the contract value for Ryan Callahan, whose own arbitration hearing is next week and who is also seeking a long-term deal.
The Rangers qualified Callahan at $2.4 million. He had 48 points in 60 games last season, which is a better points-per-game average than Dubinsky. Callahan led the Rangers with 10 power-play goals and averaged more short-handed ice time (2:13) than Dubinsky (2:05).
Most tantalizing, according to Kevin Oklobzija of the Democrat and Chronicle: "If he only signs a one-year contract, will become an unrestricted free agent next summer."
Please recall Callahan's agent saying the following to NorthJersey.com:
Dubinsky's agent, Kurt Overhardt, called filing "part of the process" while Callahan's agent, Steve Bartlett said talks so far had been "amicable" but said Callahan would be attractive as an unrestricted free agent, which he could be next summer.
"The Rangers have been complimentary about Cally and the role he plays, I don't think anybody doubts that," Bartlett said. "I know he's a coveted player around the league. Fast forward a year and see what Ryan Callahan could demand on the market."
Callahan's going to make bank. But how much did Dubinsky's ruling affect that value?
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MLB Trade Deadline: After Landing Hunter Pence, Whom Will Ruben Amaro Target?
Do you have any friends who you absolutely adore, but hate talking to? I know I do. Whenever they call, I can’t seem to get off the phone fast enough.
That’s what it must be like for Ruben Amaro’s fellow general managers around Major League Baseball.
Amaro has been in baseball his entire life and knows everyone. However, when other GMs see his caller ID on their phones, they must cringe.
“Oh no, what does that man want now?” they all must say.
Whatever it is that Amaro does say to them must make them want to get off the phone quickly; they must be willing to give up practically anything to just shut him up.
There’s no other explanation for how he continually gets the players he wants from the teams he wants by giving up the scraps he no longer needs.
For the second time in as many Julys, Amaro has “stolen” a player from the Houston Astros.
Reports were that he’d offered Jonathan Singleton and Jarred Cosart for the 28-year-old Hunter Pence a while back, but was flatly rejected. Then rumors started surfacing that Domonic Brown’s name was being floated around in trade talks for Pence, and many Phillies fans panicked. Why give up the future that is currently learning at the major league level, a player that is projected to be better than the one you’re acquiring?
Instead of parting with the one player he’d refused to in dealing for aces Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, and Roy Oswalt, Amaro re-offered the package, included a couple of “players to be named later” (one of whom is rumored to be Double-A pitcher Josh Zeid), and wouldn’t let Astros GM Ed Wade off the phone until he accepted.
Thus, the Phillies acquired Hunter Pence, who will be starting in Philadelphia's right field beginning Saturday night.
Ruben Amaro has struck again!
Once again he has gotten the player he targeted and only given up what he felt was expendable.
Now that he has done so, two questions have arisen: Do the Phillies have enough? If not, who will Amaro go after next?
As constructed, the Phillies have enough to potentially win the World Series.
But before they dealt for Hunter Pence, the same could have been said. He’s an extra piece for a team that could have won the World Series without him.
But he’s nice to have.
Now that the right-handed hitter they lacked is in the fold, what other piece or pieces do they go after?
With Roy Oswalt seemingly on his way back to the rotation (and if history tells us anything, Oswalt is going to be dominant down the stretch and into the postseason), Vance Worley impersonating Roy Halladay, and the other aces performing well, the rotation is stacked for another deep run into October.
Once Placido Polanco returns from his injury, the Phillies will have nine everyday players for eight spots. (The bet here is that Domonic Brown’s playing time gets cut down, as he has not produced as well expected and has actually cost the Phillies some games this year.)
The only two places at which the Phillies really could use an upgrade are on the bench and in the bullpen.
The bullpen has been strong all year, and with Brad Lidge back and showing his best stuff since 2008, it could get stronger.
But it’s difficult to imagine the Phillies having 100-percent confidence in the abilities of Antonio Bastardo and Michael Stutes to get the biggest outs of the season under the hot lights of October.
A veteran arm would be a tremendous addition, and with the market flooded with them, an acquisition shouldn’t be too hard to imagine.
Heath Bell and the like are probably out of the question, given payroll constraints and a dearth of prospects in the minor leagues.
But the Phillies could add a midlevel piece such as Tyler Clippard or Mike Gonzales. Some rumors put Octavio Dotel on the market as well, but nothing to tie the Phillies to him.
The Phillies definitely need some help on the bench.
The only rumor floating around the internet is that Ruben Amaro has contacted the Minnesota Twins about the possibility of reacquiring Jim Thome. The 40-year-old slugger is closing in on 600 home runs and would fit in with the Phillies much the way Matt Stairs did in 2008. Nothing would be sweeter than watching Thome launch a Brian Wilson fastball into McCovey Cove in the NLCS.
The Phillies are going to win the 2011 World Series.
I’ve believed that from the start of the season, and nothing I’ve seen has change my mind.
Ruben Amaro has his faults as a general manager, but he is aggressive and makes bold moves.
With only hours left before the 2011 trading deadline, it will be interesting to see what other rabbit Amaro can pull out of his hat.
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WWE SmackDown July 29, 2011: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly
While last night's show was a good show (it usually is), there a few segments I want to focus on today.
As the title says, one will be the best part of the show, another will be the worst part of the show, and the other is just one of those "WTF" moments the business is known for.
The Good
Sheamus turning face. That entire 10 minutes in the middle of the show was done to near perfection. Mark Henry comes out looking like he wants to take on the world.
His opponent comes out—a complete jobber from Philly looking like he is scared to death to get in the ring with Mark Henry. He is probably outweighed by nearly 300 pounds, but he gets in there...and, well, gets destroyed. The World's Strongest Man just squashes him like a bug.
He gets the pinfall but is not done yet. He wants more! He wants some REAL competition! He wants somebody to fight NOW! Out comes Sheamus, and they stare each other down, as the crowd is clearly chanting for Sheamus and behind him 100 percent. A brawl ensues, and a battle between the two seems inevitable! Perfectly done—simple, yet effective!
The Bad
Morrison and R-Truth showing up. I can live with Truth because he wants answers from Triple H about the "conspiracy," but to drag Morrison over, fresh off of neck surgery, to have him lose his return match?
Not a good idea.
I know it was against Christian (World Champion), but it was not okay in my eyes. Truth fared better against Orton but was still beaten down by the end of the night. Just no reason for this - let Truth and John feud on Raw, likely leading to a SummerSlam match.
The Ugly
Honestly, I am not one to bash the "divas work". I can live with it. They are not a big problem like some like to complain about, but Friday was just not their night.
A six-person tag is usually good for a couple minutes, but this thing got about two minutes, and I suppose it sets up the battle royal on Raw, it just did not entertain me. Again, the women are not usually something I nitpick over, but this was just bad. B.A.D. Alicia Fox picked up the win with her nasty looking kick (seriously, that move looks brutal to take), and it was over.
Like I said, the show was good—Bryan and Wade had a nice promo segment; Bryan needs all the mic work he can get leading up to his big Mania moment. Zeke lost to Cody and Ted. Fine match there with Cody looking to get the IC strap soon. Zack Ryder, Teddy Long, and Triple H were all fun, while Orton set up his rematch for SummerSlam—NO HOLDS BARRED!
Again all fine by me, but one last question—where was my man Johnny Curtis?
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Soccer Saturday: Your Running Commentary
The UEFA Champions League final won by Barcelona over Manchester United feels like it was just yesterday, but the reality is an off-season has come and almost gone as the two European giants prepare to do battle in today's marquee match-up. The New York Red Bulls are in London for the Emirates Cup, meaning a pair of friendlies on consecutive days, starting with a match against Paris St. Germain this morning. If you're interested in some real MLS action look no further than Utah, where Real Salt Lake takes on the Columbus Crew in a top battle. If you will...
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Emery?s Blackhawks camp invite a win-win situation for both sides
Out with the old and in with the reborn?
That's what could happen in Chicago as Scott Burnside of ESPN.com reported Wednesday night that goaltender Ray Emery would attend Blackhawks training camp in September on a tryout basis.
Gone is Marty Turco who didn't find much luck in Chicago allowing for rookie Corey Crawford to play his way to the No. 1 job.
For Emery, this is his opportunity to continue to make good on a second chance in his goaltending life. Diagnosed with avascular necrosis in 2010 -- where blood stops flowing to the ball of the hip, thereby deteriorating the bone -- doctors told Emery that his hockey career was over. But that didn't stop Emery from working with a trainer to strengthen the surgically-repaired muscles in his core.
The same injury derailed Bo Jackson's NFL career in the early 1990s, but thanks to advancements in medical technology Emery held hope that he could make it all the back to the NHL.
In 10 games with the Anaheim Ducks last season, Emery posted an impressive 7-2-0 record with a 2.28 goals-against average and .926 save-percentage. He wasn't so lucky in the postseason when the Ducks were eliminated by the Nashville Predators, but it was just one small step in his comeback.
Emery's agent, J.P. Barry, told Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune that the Blackhawks could end up with the best second goal in the NHL. He'll have to beat out Alexander Salak for the No. 2 job who Chicago inked to a 2-year, one-way deal in May. If he does, Emery would provide a solid veteran presence should Crawford be hit with the sophomore jinx that's befallen many netminders before him.
Once the Blackhawks open camp, they'll have until Oct. 1 to make a decision whether or not to sign Emery. Barry indicated that Emery is looking for an NHL job and not a two-way deal from any team. Either way, the 29-year old Emery will not just have the Blackhawks looking at him; plenty of other NHL teams will be monitoring his progress in camp and will swoop in if he does end up getting released.
Much has been made about Chicago getting tougher over the off-season and bringing in a guy like Emery would only further that idea, just ask Marty Biron.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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Rangers win on Dubinsky arbitration gamble with 4-year deal
There's been so much hardball played between the New York Rangers and Brandon Dubinsky over the last two years, they should hold their contract negotiations in the Yankee Stadium batter's box.
There was that Dubinsky holdout in 2009, which GM Glen Sather called "a little foolish." This summer, the 25-year-old forward watched the Rangers open a bank vault for Brad Richards over the next nine years while refusing to meet Dubinsky's asking price on a long-term deal of his own.
Instead, the two sides went to arbitration on Thursday morning ... and the Rangers ended up getting Dubinsky to sign on for four years at a very reasonable price.
According to Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet, Dubinsky and the Rangers agreed to a four-year deal worth $16.8 million. Tim Wharnsby of CBC Sports has the annual salaries at $3.75 million, $3.75 million, $4.65 million and $4.65 million.
Why was this a victory for the Rangers?
To understand how well the Rangers did here, understand the brief history of the negotiations.
Larry Brooks of the NY Post reported that Dubinsky wanted a long-term deal with an annual cap hit around $5.25 million, and the Rangers were coming in around $500,000 cheaper per season on their offer.
If $5.25 million sounds rather high for Dubinsky, that's because it is: His 54 points and 24 goals were career highs last season; but consider that a player Bobby Ryan makes $5.1 million and a player like Ryan Kesler makes $5 million.
Then came Thursday, and the potential for arbitration.
Sources with knowledge of the briefs submitted on behalf of the 25-year-old winger and on behalf of the club have told The Post that Dubinsky has requested a contract worth $4.6 million while the Rangers have come in at $2.8 million.
While the gulf appears exceptionally wide, Elizabeth Neumeier, the arbitrator presiding over the case, is empowered to select any figure between the parties' requests. As such, the disparity in the submissions should not ring any alarm bells, given that they are strategic rather than necessarily reasonable.
What would have Dubinsky ended up with? Look at the players whose salaries will likely be cited in the arbitration process. Consider that Travis Zajac (26) of the New Jersey Devils and Nathan Horton (26) of the Boston Bruins both carry $4.5 million salaries next season.
The Rangers could have gambled that Dubinsky's arbitration didn't end up with him earning $4.6 million against the cap next season -- the Rangers had $10.6 million under the cap, via Cap Geek.
Instead, they inked him to a four-year deal that has an annual cap hit of $4.2 million. That's Mike Fisher territory, slightly more than Drew Stafford. Dubinsky, it could be argued, is better than both.
The Dubinsky contract also shouldn't dramatically affect the contract value for Ryan Callahan, whose own arbitration hearing is next week and who is also seeking a long-term deal.
The Rangers qualified Callahan at $2.4 million. He had 48 points in 60 games last season, which is a better points-per-game average than Dubinsky. Callahan led the Rangers with 10 power-play goals and averaged more short-handed ice time (2:13) than Dubinsky (2:05).
Most tantalizing, according to Kevin Oklobzija of the Democrat and Chronicle: "If he only signs a one-year contract, will become an unrestricted free agent next summer."
Please recall Callahan's agent saying the following to NorthJersey.com:
Dubinsky's agent, Kurt Overhardt, called filing "part of the process" while Callahan's agent, Steve Bartlett said talks so far had been "amicable" but said Callahan would be attractive as an unrestricted free agent, which he could be next summer.
"The Rangers have been complimentary about Cally and the role he plays, I don't think anybody doubts that," Bartlett said. "I know he's a coveted player around the league. Fast forward a year and see what Ryan Callahan could demand on the market."
Callahan's going to make bank. But how much did Dubinsky's ruling affect that value?
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Friday, July 29, 2011
MLS All-Star Game Press Conferences and Hub
On Monday, July 25th I went to Downtown Manhattan in New York City to check out "The Hub" on 82 Mercer Street. There were alot of cool things going on like an 18FT Foosball Table, All-Star Game Merchandize and many other promotional things. But of course the main reason was to attend the press conference [...]
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MLS All-Star Game: Electric Atmosphere at Red Bull Arena
Wednesday night at Red Bull Arena for the 2011 MLS All-Star Game, the electricity was floating in the air and you could feel it, sense it and smell it. Before the game, the streets near Red Bull Arena were filled with games. Hardest shot contest, Soccer tennis, playing X-Box with FIFA 2011, writing signs for [...]
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Puck Daddy chats with Ted Leonsis about cap circumvention, Ovechkin?s Olympics, new media and Capitals fans losing patience
When Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis picked up the phone on Thursday afternoon, we assured him that this blog hadn't written anything about the decibel levels of the Verizon Center's new sound system.
"Yeah," he said, laughing, "what was that about?"
That was a reference to a blog post by Get To Our Game, which trumpeted the new speaker system as "Ted Leonsis's War on Hearing." Leonsis used his blog, Ted's Take, to "correct the record" on the system being more about acoustics than volume, with a snippy little retort. Get To Our Game then shot back with a post about Leonsis having thin skin.
Just another day at the virtual office for Leonsis, whose candor on his blog and in the media has set him apart from other NHL owners.
Also setting him apart: The way his team conducts business in the NHL, specifically on long-term contracts.
The Capitals are capped out this summer after an impressive free-agent binge. But a large portion of their cap hit is reserved for two players: Nicklas Backstrom, who has a 10-year deal with an annual hit of $6.7 million; and Alex Ovechkin, who had a 13-year deal with a cap hit of $9,538,462 annually.
The value of both contracts increases as the term continues, making them exceptions to the NHL's current trend of front-loading contracts to bring down the cap hit.
We talked about that fiscal philosophy with Leonsis, along with Alex Ovechkin and the 2014 Olympics; Tomas Vokoun; the Capitals' window to win; and the evolution of new media. Enjoy.
Q. It seems like the NHL's owners and GMs are now in two groups: Those who dabble in the dark arts of front-loaded long-term contracts and those who choose not to. You and the Capitals are in the those that don't category; do you see the same split?
LEONSIS: I think whenever the NHL creates a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, there's a law of unintended consequences that comes out of any big jointly developed agreement. What happens is that as time goes on, people are really looking [for] how to use this agreement as a tool to further their goals. That certainly was a ruling that was open to some interpretation.
We interpreted it as we think it is: a salary cap in place. These are the rules and we decided we weren't going to push it. Some other teams have structured deals in a certain way and pushed the rules; other teams have really pushed the rules and the League stepped in and said, "No."
Our philosophy has been [to be] straight up. It was why I was offended when the guy who wrote the book on Alex Ovechkin [Damien Cox of the Toronto Star] implied that I had done something outside the rules by giving him a long-term deal. No ? it's a straight line.
Still, other teams would argue that they're working within the framework provided by the League on long-term deals despite dramatically frontloading them ? teams like the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers, for example. Do you ever regret not taking advantage of that wiggle room on cap circumvention in signing Ovechkin?
No. I've never had regret. I've never thought about making it longer so we could sign other players or whatever. I don't think that's what the intention of [the CBA] was.
Is there going to be a fight in the next CBA to end this practice?
I don't know how the players look at it, and I don't know how the League looks at it. We'll just try and keep what we do on the middle of the fairway.
I will say that when someone else does a deal, we don't sit around here and say "that's bad or "that's good". For the most part, we're concerned in ownership with our own teams.
When we're talking about rules and cap circumvention, it's not just about signing players but also making those players "disappear" if conditions change. The Capitals did this once with Michael Nylander's cap hit being sent to the minors; would you like to see this loophole maintained in the next CBA?
We did it with Nylander. We paid him for four years. He didn't play for us very long. That was just a bad signing for us.
Do I think that rule need to be tightened up so if you make a bad signing you can't get out of it? I think we'd have to look analytically at the history of this CBA: How often was it used? Who used it? If just one team was doing it and doing it all the time, you'd have all 29 other owners commenting on it. You have to look at the body of work.
The Olympics might be another CBA issue, and my editor wanted me to ask you this: Are you still committed to letting Alex Ovechkin play in Sochi whether or not the NHL goes in 2014, to the point where you'd fly him there yourself?
Yes.
Alex is the cornerstone of our franchise, and he's the spokesperson for hockey and the Olympics in Sochi. I'm only one voice, but I'm supporting him.
The Olympics, when done right with hockey, is an incredible experience for hockey fans. Anything that's good for the fans and good for the game is going to be good for our business.
The trepidation is always [about] if you can't watch the games, or if the games are being played at 3 a.m., how does that help you? That is a very fair and legitimate question.
As I've noted before, it's not like the Olympics are a not-for-profit endeavor. The professional players go and play for the love of their county, and for the game, and for the camaraderie. The players have very noble intentions. As an owner, I admire that and I want to be supportive of my player and our players in their desire to do that.
We know it's good for the game ? but we shut down for a couple of weeks! It is a really odd business equation: We shut down business so we can send players to play in these games and make billions of dollars for other people.
It's a very, very complicated equation. Every market, every owner looks at it through their own prism, and the League looks at it through their own prism.
[Ovechkin in Sochi] is a very special case. Maybe I'll look at it differently at another time.
Moving on to the Caps: Does something like getting Tomas Vokoun in for $1.5 million make Ted Leonsis the Fan or Ted Leonsis the Business Man happier?
I didn't think of it at all in a business sense. I saw it as a world-class goaltender with an unbelievable save percentage and plenty of experience becoming available. When free agency started, we didn't think we had a shot at him.
What I felt best about all of that, and I see more and more signs of it: Who would have thought a player of that caliber would reach out to us and say 'I want to come to Washington. I know how much you can pay me, but I want to come to Washington because I love the fan base and I love the city and I want a chance to win the Stanley Cup?'
As an owner, that's what you strive to create: an environment that's one of the "haves." A place where players want to play.
That it is, but do you get a sense that with the team's playoff struggles that fans are losing patience?
Well, fans deserve to lose patience. But winning a Cup is hard.
When you say "do I get a sense of it?", the answer is no. There were 3,000 fans at the end of July who came to watch us in rookie camp. We're at 98-percent season-ticket renewals. Our waiting list has grown. We just built eight suites, and we sold five of them.
Everyone wants us to do well. There's disappointment when we don't. But that's different than losing patience.
What are the signs of losing patience? There's always an implied threat that if you don't win a Cup, then fans are going to stop coming to the games. If you don't win a Cup, the media won't follow you. I sense disappointment is increasing, but no, I don't see people losing patience with us.
But no one is more disappointed than I am.
Finally, on new media: You created a blogger press corps several years ago that's still thriving today, and the hockey blogosphere has boomed since then. What are your impressions of blogging in 2011?
There are three kinds of blogs today.
There's traditional media adding blogs. The Washington Post has a whole bunch of their writers doing blogs. Comcast has a bunch of blogs. In a weird way, the blogs have become the news leaders and the newspaper follows, due to the real-time nature of the blog. I find that interesting: You'll read something on the blog at noon, and then you'll see it in the newspaper the next day.
Then there's the new media blogosphere, which you're a part of. It's happening everywhere and it's built businesses, like SB Nation. That business is growing and thriving and doing very well.
Then there are citizen bloggers, who aren't part of a network or a media company. For the most part, they're the folks that I wanted to help the most. There's nothing in that for us, but it was the right thing to do.
Do you think standards have slipped?
The two things that bother me, a lot, are the recycling [of news] and the recycling so fast.
(At this point, Leonsis recalled a story from July 1 in which his second assistant inadvertently took down a blog post that some felt was evidence of a conspiracy. That led to this rant a few days later.)
But overall if I had to do it again [credentialing bloggers], I would. I believe in it. Ninety-nine times out of a hundred, the experience is good and positive.
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Blue Jackets? dismal power play gets improved with Prospal signing
It's already been a busy summer for Columbus Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson after bringing in James Wisniewski and Jeff Carter to help reshape the team's offensive identity.
Part of that reshaping involves the Jackets' 29th-ranked power play last season.
When we took a look at the worst power plays in the NHL last month, here's what we said about Columbus:
What's Changed? Plenty. The additions of forward�Jeff Carter�and defenseman�James Wisniewski�were a direct response to the team's lack of goal scoring, particularly on the power play. The Wiz tallied 29 power-play points between the Islanders and the Canadiens last season. Carter has scored 32 power play goals over the last three seasons.
Will that help�Rick Nash,�whose six goals on the power play matched a career-low?
Better or Worse? Better, on paper, with the Jackets still seeking another offensive player to fill in while�Kristian Huselius�heals up. Carter especially helps.
On Saturday, Howson brought in that other offensive player by inking 36-year old winger Vinny Prospal to a 1-year, $1.75 million deal. He'll fill the void left by Huslius' absence on the IR and play an intricate role with the man advantage.
A knee injury limited him to just 29 games last season, but Prospal finished third among Rangers forwards in power play time on ice (3:08/game), and in 2009-10 he scored 20 goals and 58 points in 75 games, including six on the power play.
This wasn't a recent development given Huslieus' recent injury news. Howson was looking to beef up Columbus' power play even after the Wisniewski and Carter acquisitions.
From Tom Reed of the Columbus Dispatch:
Prospal is a nice piece for a team trying to build a winner. He's made nine playoff appearances in 14 years and was a valuable late-season addition to the Flyers in 2008 when they reached the Eastern Conference final. He's also a well-respected player in the room.
The Jackets have had some misses with similar veterans in recent seasons -- think Chris Clark, Ethan Moreau. But this acquisition is more reminscent of Michael Peca in 2007. In fact, Howson had spoken to Prospal's agent Ritch Winter even before the Huselius injury.
"It's a good fit for both sides," Winter said. "I told (Howson) to save me a playoff ticket."
It's a pretty important season for Columbus given the moves they've made this summer.�If the Prospal move pays off for the Jackets, their depth will be vaulted when Huselius returns after the new year. But before we even start using the word "playoffs" in a sentence with the Jackets, Howson's gambles will need to pay off.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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Looking ahead to 2011-12: Ranking the NHL?s top defensemen
(Rankings are based solely on players' projected performances in 2011-12. Players are listed at their official position when the rankings were created.)
A big, talented, top-line center is a beautiful thing. An elite power forward on the wing is a must-have for a championship contender. And a franchise goalie can make or break a team.
But there's nothing quite like a bona fide No. 1 defenseman, a Chris-Pronger-in-his-prime type who can do it all in any zone at any time of game under any circumstances. There probably isn't a blue liner in the NHL today that matches up with Pronger at his best, circa 1999-2000, but Zdeno Chara and Shea Weber certainly come close. Nicklas Lidstrom, of course, could play on the all-time all-world team, but he's never had Pronger's fear factor. And Duncan Keith also rates a mention; he's Pronger-esque in spirit, if not in body.
Meanwhile, the next generation of great defenders has already arrived, in the form of Drew Doughty and Keith Yandle and Tyler Myers. St. Louis youngster Alex Pietrangelo, drafted two spots behind Doughty at fourth overall in 2008, also merits a mention. And then there's Brent Burns in his new San Jose surroundings, and Erik Johnson, still unpacking in Colorado, who might fully realize their vast potential after a change of scenery.
As for Pronger himself, the old guard hasn't gone away. Age, various injuries and a lot of tough playoff miles have taken their toll, but he's still one of the most respected players in the game ? on the blue line and beyond.
Honorable mentions: Niklas Kronwall, Detroit Red Wings; Tobias Enstrom, Winnipeg Jets; Ryan Whitney, Edmonton Oilers; Zbynek Michalek, Pittsburgh Penguins; Lubomir Visnovsky, Anaheim Ducks; Mark Giordano, Calgary Flames; Kevin Bieksa, Vancouver Canucks; Robyn Regehr, Buffalo Sabres; Jay Bouwmeester, Calgary Flames; P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens.
25. Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning: Boston has Chara, Buffalo has Myers?and the Bolts, they hope, have Hedman.
24. Anton Volchenkov, New Jersey Devils: Throwback defenseman might never score a goal, but he has few equals in clearing the crease, banging bodies and blocking shots.
23. Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins: Smooth operator elevated his game last season.
22. Alex Edler, Vancouver Canucks: Strong skater delivers big-time bodychecks and slapshot blasts.
21. Christian Ehrhoff, Buffalo Sabres: Sharks castoff turned Canucks star turned Sabres savior. At least that's the $40-million belief in Buffalo.
20. Marc Staal, NY Rangers: Physical rearguard is blending in some offense to his no-nonsense game.
19. Dustin Byfuglien, Winnipeg Jets: Converted forward was a force in the first half of last season thanks to big body and booming shot.
18. Mike Green, Washington Capitals: Caps hope he can come back from concussion issues and reclaim his place among the league's preeminent offensive defensemen.
17. Dan Boyle, San Jose Sharks: Veteran sparkplug is a leader with mobility and puck smarts.
16. Dan Hamhuis, Vancouver Canucks: It's no coincidence that Vancouver's fortunes took a turn for the worse after they lost Hamhuis in the Cup final.
15. Dion Phaneuf, Toronto Maple Leafs: Boom-or-bust performer hit his stride in the second half last season; his signature strengths are big hits and lethal slapshots.
14. Ryan Suter, Nashville Predators: All-around talent joins Weber on one of the NHL's very best pairings.
13. Brent Seabrook, Chicago Blackhawks: Rough and tumble ? and talented, too ? he's the other half of Chicago's top tandem.
12. Andrei Markov, Montreal Canadiens: A great defenseman who comes with an injury proviso. He can do everything but stay healthy, having missed 112 games over the past two seasons mostly due to knee injuries.
11. Chris Pronger, Philadelphia Flyers: A warhorse, his credentials speak for themselves. The only question is how his soon-to-be 37-year-old back reacts after surgery.
10. Erik Johnson, Colorado Avalanche: No. 1 overall pick in 2006 is highly motivated to show the Blues shouldn't have given up on him.
9. Tyler Myers, Buffalo Sabres: Boston has Chara, Buffalo has Myers.
8. Alex Pietrangelo, St. Louis Blues: After 11 goals and 43 points in his first full NHL campaign, get ready to hear a lot more about this 21-year-old.
7. Brent Burns, San Jose Sharks: Hit a few roadblocks in Minnesota over the years, but 17 goals last season speaks to new Shark's scary upside.
6. Keith Yandle, Phoenix Coyotes: Maybe the best-kept secret in the league, but we're starting to clue in to this mobile defender's all-around game.
5. Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings: If Lidstrom ever slows down, Doughty is poised to take over as the game's next great blue liner.
4. Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings: At 41, he's still the gold standard for defensmen. Needs one more Norris Trophy to tie the immortal Bobby Orr with eight.
3. Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks: Great wheels, great vision, great passer, and loves to play it physical despite usually giving up a few pounds.
2. Shea Weber, Nashville Predators: He's like a mini-Chara. Except he skates better and he's not mini.
1. Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins: Literally looms larger than anyone else in the league, and is the most intimidating presence in the game today ? just ask any opposing forward.
Photo credits: Getty Images
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Thursday Ticker: Hernandez out two weeks, Pastore to join PSG and more
By FRANCO PANIZO MLS wasn't the only team to lose something during All-Star week. Manchester United forward Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez will miss the next two weeks of preseason preparations after suffering a concussion during the club's practice session on Tuesday. Hernandez, who was hospitalized as a result of the concussion, missed the Red Devils' 4-0 victory over the MLS All-Star team on Wednesday night. Hernandez's concussion will also force him to miss Manchester United's preseason friendly versus Barcelona on Saturday, though manager Sir Alex Ferguson said there were no plans to use him against the reigning European champions in an...
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MLS roundup: middle finger, hat trick, goal from midfield, announcing fail, RFK woes, sweet strikes
So let me get this straight:
San Jose Earthquakes goalkeeper Jon Busch flashed his middle finger at a) Alvaro Saborio for his flop ; b) referee David Gantar for awarding a penalty; c) the entire Real Salt Lake team?
After a 3-1 loss to Everton in front of just 12,789, D.C. United is 0-4-4 in all competitions in the past eight matches at RFK Stadium?
Read full article >>
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Thursday, July 28, 2011
2011 NFL Power Rankings: AFC West Preview, Who Will Take the Crown?
The AFC West, weak? In past years, yes. But in 2011, the AFC is prepared to wash away the reputation as the weakest conference.
After going 6-0 in the division, are the Raiders prepared to rise to the next level—division champs and playoff bound?
Or will the Chiefs take it up a notch and defend their title?
Or are the Charges ready for redemption?
And last, and least, are the Broncos ready to shock the AFC West by taking a retooled bunch from 2010 and becoming champs instead of chumps?
In this slide, I have evaluated the state of the four AFC West franchises—their draft selections, free-agency moves, needs and their overall situation.
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Jeff Carter, James Wisniewski and avoiding the misery of losing
Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski were introduced as members of the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday, sitting at a table with their general manager Scott Howson with rows of empty seats behind them. Which, come to think of it, is somehow both the most appropriate and inappropriate backdrop for a Blue Jackets press conference.
Fact is that that Carter and Wisniewski represent two major corrections for lingering problems that have led to a lack of success on the ice and a lack of bodies in the stands for Columbus.
As Howson said, it's been his goal for years to land a No. 1 center, and now he has one. Meanwhile, he said, "we haven't been good on the power play for a long, long time and I think part of the reason is we haven't had a guy to run it. We think we have that guy now" in Wisniewski.
So while these guys answered the usual questions about pressure and coming to a new team, there was that undercurrent of tension throughout the presser: This is it for Howson.
This is it for this incarnation of the Blue Jackets.
One guy is signed through 2022, the other through 2017. If this isn't the No. 1 center the team's needed, or if this isn't a defenseman who can successfully make the power play something more than an embarrassment, well then what?
To their credit, both players seem to understand this, with Wisniewski in particular determined to make this work.
"I want to be the missing piece of the puzzle. I don't want to be the guy who plays a year here, and you can get somebody else. That was the biggest thing coming into unrestricted free agency, was I wanted to come to a team and be the missing piece," he said.
The Blue Jackets have some pieces already. One of the few moments of levity in the press conference was when Carter listed the better players on the Blue Jackets -- Steve Mason, Rick Nash and R.J. Umberger -- and neglected to list the guy two seats away from him among them, which drew some laughter from the players and media.
But The Wiz is a player that's been overlooked for years. Here's James Wisniewski, being honest, on "the excitement of coming to Columbus" after a well-traveled career:
"Being part of the organization with the Chicago, we were bottom of the barrel, so I saw the upside of what we can do with the right draft picks and the right signings. The team obviously won the Stanley Cup a couple of years ago. Obviously playing with Anaheim, the market wasn't that big, but going to Long Island, you're in New York but, obviously, you're in Long Island, and then going to Montreal you're pretty much the New York Yankees of baseball. The spotlight's on you. Obviously the more money you make, the more pressure you have. We're just looking forward to coming in and, like Jeff said, quieting all the critics."
The Wiz doesn't come off polished. He doesn't come off as a guy who just broke the bank in free agency. He comes off as a player that's had a string of 1-year contracts and bounced around the NHL like a super-happy fun ball, now having the chance to set up his family financially and try and replicate what the Chicago Blackhawks did while he was there: Go from "the bottom of the barrel" to championship contention.
One gets the sense that the money isn't going to provide him with solace if the Blue Jackets suck next year, which is what you want to hear from a new addition like Wisniewski.
"Obviously, I want to be on a winning team," he said. "I don't want to lose everyday. That makes life miserable."
And who wants to be miserable, right?
Here are Carter and The Wiz; the audio doesn't sync with the video, giving this thing an awkward charm:
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Jeff Carter, James Wisniewski and avoiding the misery of losing
Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski were introduced as members of the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday, sitting at a table with their general manager Scott Howson with rows of empty seats behind them. Which, come to think of it, is somehow both the most appropriate and inappropriate backdrop for a Blue Jackets press conference.
Fact is that that Carter and Wisniewski represent two major corrections for lingering problems that have led to a lack of success on the ice and a lack of bodies in the stands for Columbus.
As Howson said, it's been his goal for years to land a No. 1 center, and now he has one. Meanwhile, he said, "we haven't been good on the power play for a long, long time and I think part of the reason is we haven't had a guy to run it. We think we have that guy now" in Wisniewski.
So while these guys answered the usual questions about pressure and coming to a new team, there was that undercurrent of tension throughout the presser: This is it for Howson.
This is it for this incarnation of the Blue Jackets.
One guy is signed through 2022, the other through 2017. If this isn't the No. 1 center the team's needed, or if this isn't a defenseman who can successfully make the power play something more than an embarrassment, well then what?
To their credit, both players seem to understand this, with Wisniewski in particular determined to make this work.
"I want to be the missing piece of the puzzle. I don't want to be the guy who plays a year here, and you can get somebody else. That was the biggest thing coming into unrestricted free agency, was I wanted to come to a team and be the missing piece," he said.
The Blue Jackets have some pieces already. One of the few moments of levity in the press conference was when Carter listed the better players on the Blue Jackets -- Steve Mason, Rick Nash and R.J. Umberger -- and neglected to list the guy two seats away from him among them, which drew some laughter from the players and media.
But The Wiz is a player that's been overlooked for years. Here's James Wisniewski, being honest, on "the excitement of coming to Columbus" after a well-traveled career:
"Being part of the organization with the Chicago, we were bottom of the barrel, so I saw the upside of what we can do with the right draft picks and the right signings. The team obviously won the Stanley Cup a couple of years ago. Obviously playing with Anaheim, the market wasn't that big, but going to Long Island, you're in New York but, obviously, you're in Long Island, and then going to Montreal you're pretty much the New York Yankees of baseball. The spotlight's on you. Obviously the more money you make, the more pressure you have. We're just looking forward to coming in and, like Jeff said, quieting all the critics."
The Wiz doesn't come off polished. He doesn't come off as a guy who just broke the bank in free agency. He comes off as a player that's had a string of 1-year contracts and bounced around the NHL like a super-happy fun ball, now having the chance to set up his family financially and try and replicate what the Chicago Blackhawks did while he was there: Go from "the bottom of the barrel" to championship contention.
One gets the sense that the money isn't going to provide him with solace if the Blue Jackets suck next year, which is what you want to hear from a new addition like Wisniewski.
"Obviously, I want to be on a winning team," he said. "I don't want to lose everyday. That makes life miserable."
And who wants to be miserable, right?
Here are Carter and The Wiz; the audio doesn't sync with the video, giving this thing an awkward charm:
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Khabibulin withdraws appeal, accepts 30-day sentence for DUI
It's been almost a year since Edmonton Oilers goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin was sentenced to 30 days in jail for driving under the influence and speeding in February of 2010.
At the time of his arrest, the Oilers' netminder was given a field sobriety test and later a blood test after being pulled over in his Ferrari. His blood-alcohol content of .164 was more than double the legal limit.�After appealing the decision last August, the 38-year old Khabibulin dropped the appeal yesterday and will begin a 30-day sentence later this week according to his attorney.
From Sarah McLellan of the Arizona Republic:
Khabibulin will serve the first 15 days of his sentence in jail and will be under house arrest for the final 15 days, DuBiel said. While at home Khabibulin will wear a monitoring ankle bracelet and be subject to random alcohol testing. He will be allowed to leave the house for 12 hours a day, likely for hockey-related activities.
The 30-day sentence is the minimum for a guilty party and Khabibulin was also fined $1,507.60.
In a statement, Khabibulin acknowledged that if he hadn't dropped his appeal, there was the chance of him missing part of training camp and that taking the 30 days now will ensure his attendance when the Oilers begin practicing in September.
Now that Khabibulin has gotten this black cloud out of his way, he can start focusing on rebounding from one of the worst seasons of his career. His off-the-ice issue was a likely factor in his 10-32-4/.890/3.40 year as Bruce McCurdy of the Edmonton Journal points out, and with two more seasons at $3.75 million (on an over-35 contract), Khabibulin still has yet to prove his worth in the Oilers' crease.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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NFL Rumors: Kyle Orton WIll Make Miami Dolphins Contenders In AFC East
The Miami Dolphins have been searching for a quarterback ever since Dan Marino retired in 1999, but haven't found a lot of success with anyone. Chad Henne was given the reins to the team last year and failed to get the job done. Now, it appears that the team is on the verge of bringing Kyle Orton in to lead this franchise.
According to a report on ESPN.com, a deal is expected to happen Thursday between the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins that will send Orton South Beach and reunite him with former Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall.
The Dolphins are not that far away from contention, and Kyle Orton is a big step up over all the other quarterbacks that they have on the roster. He is not an elite quarterback, by any stretch of the imagination, but he is much more than just a "game manager," which some people have labeled him.
Last year, Orton threw for over 3600 yards in 13 games. That's far better than any manager could or should do.
Miami, meanwhile, finished 7-9 but had a 6-2 mark on the road. If this team finished at just .500 at home, the record goes to 10-6. There is no reason to think that this team can't win at least nine games this season with Orton.
The offense will be much better, and Brandon Marshall, who is still one of the most talented receivers in football, will have a consistent quarterback who is able to get him the ball with more regularity.
New England and New York are still the class of the division, but Miami is doing all that it can to make this a three horse race for 2011. Who knows, if a couple of things bounce the Dolphins way, they could sneak into the postseason for the first time since 2008.
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Derek Boogaard?s brother Aaron arrested on drug charges
Aaron Boogaard, 24, has been arrested on what the Star Tribune reports are charges of "suspicion of prescription fraud/possession of prescription pills."
His brother, former New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild player Derek Boogaard, died on May 13 due to what the Hennepin County Medical Examiner ruled was an accidental mixture of alcohol and Oxycodone.
Aaron Boogaard and his brother Ryan were the ones to discover the body.
Just when you thought a terrible situation couldn't get worse ... from the Star Tribune:
Aaron Boogaard, a Canadian national from Regina, Saskatchewan, is being held at the Hennepin County jail on the drug arrest and on a federal immigration hold, according to the jail's website.
The police record listing Aaron Boogaard's arrest says that the date and time of his alleged crime is May 13, the same day that family members found Derek Boogaard, 28, dead in his Warehouse District apartment. The incident was listed as "dead on arrival."
No comment from Minneapolis police was immediately available. The Hennepin County Attorney's office has until noon Friday to charge him with a crime.
Here are the charge details from the Hennepin Sheriff's Jail Roster.
The date of the alleged crime just makes this heart-wrenching. Here's Aaron Boogaard and family at the Xcel Energy Center memorial:
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