The draft has come and gone and it was an exciting three days for all NFL teams.
Some teams had very solid drafts that will pay huge dividends in the new season next year, while others just did not seem to know what they were doing.
These teams will hopefully have a great free agency plan.
Here are four teams that blew an opportunity at a great draft:
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In which your friends from Puck Daddy and Puck Daddy Radio on The Score Sirius 98 select the winners for Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. You can see their picks for Round 1 and the Stanley Cup Finals here.
Greg Wyshynski, Editor, Puck Daddy
Washington Capitals in 6
Philadelphia Flyers in 7
Vancouver Canucks in 6
San Jose Sharks in 7
The Capitals pick is made on the assumption that they learned a bit about protecting the puck in their Round 1 win, because the Lightning have slightly more dangerous offensive weapons than Brain Boyle and Brandon Prust. Dwayne Roloson's going to have a couple of games behind the force field, but the Capitals are made of sterner stuff than in previous postseasons. They'll endure it.
The Flyers vs. Boston Bruins rematch should provide us with drama, intense physical play and remedial power play time (unless Pronger can kick-start the Flyers). Bottom line: I think the Flyers have gamers up front (Danny Briere, Conn Smythe favorite) and on the blue line, and I saw too much of the Bruins undermining their own success with stupidity in Round 1. They were my pick out of the East; I don't think they survive Philly. This series will go as long as Claude Giroux wants it to.
The Canucks are going to find an offensively liberated Ryan Kesler, a rejuvenated Roberto Luongo and a Nashville Predators team ready to win ugly in Round 2. The balance in the Predators' scoring is impressive, and Pekka Rinne will be better (one assumes). But Vancouver showed in Game 7 against Chicago what happens when it commits to playing well in its own zone and cranks up the forecheck, which it will at least four times in this series.
Finally, the Red Wings are going to have Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen back, and are rested following their first-round sweep. The Sharks, meanwhile, had a chaotic and tiring series vs. the Kings. Recipe for defeat? Nah. The Sharks have better scoring depth than Detroit and, in this series, I predict better goaltending. It'll go long, but the Sharks will go to the conference finals. Better chance of happening: Thornton scoring another OT goal or us getting through this series without at least one War Room controversy?
Sean Leahy, Associate Editor, Puck Daddy
Washington in 6
Boston in 6
Vancouver in 6
San Jose in 7
While they might not be the flashy Capitals we were used to watching, Bruce Boudreau's new system is effective and their dispatching of the New York Rangers in five games was proof that it can work in the postseason when games get tighter. The Lightning will come into the series with some momentum after their seven game series with Pittsburgh, but the Caps are on a mission this spring. Tampa's scoring depth will give them a fighting chance and watch out if Steven Stamkos hops on Martin St. Louis' scoring train in the series.
The Bruins have been my pick in the East since September and might as well keep riding them. Does Claude Julien need to inspire any further motivation in his club as they prepare for the Philadelphia Flyers? Like the Vancouver Canucks eventually exercised their Chicago Blackhawks demon, the ghosts of last season's second round and the historic 0-3 comeback by the Flyers should motivate the Bruins enough to get by Philly. Zdeno Chara and Milan Lucic have been quiet and how long can that last? And while the Bruins' power play is dead last at 0-for-21 (someone worse than Pittsburgh Penguins? really?), even if it continues to struggle against the Flyers, even just scoring one or two goals with the extra man, it could pay huge dividends.
Like the Bruins, Vancouver was my pick in the West to not just win the conference, but win the Stanley Cup. Now that they've finally gotten over that Blackhawks hump, can Roberto Luongo and friends finally move on? They should be able to. We know the talent in their lineup, but Nashville will put up a fight. They've finally tasted the second round and Pekke Rinne still hasn't played up to his Vezina Trophy-caliber season, which should scare the bejesus out of the Canucks. But in the end, the relief of getting past Chicago should help awaken that lineup and get their minds right enough to make a deep run at the Cup.
San Jose and Detroit met at this time last year and it was the Sharks who advanced after winning the series 4-1. Another roll over? Likely not. Just when you want to count the Wings out, they regenerate and get stronger. Speaking of getting stronger, Henrik Zetterberg should be back and Johan Franzen will be rested after Detroit got plenty of time off after sweeping the Phoenix Coyotes. Both teams are getting balanced scoring and if Antti Niemi will be the key for the Sharks. He can't afford bad goals against Detroit. Same goes for Jimmy Howard who breezed through Phoenix. San Jose can bring the firepower and dramatics. Plus, Joe Thornton scored an overtime winner, that's gotta be a sign of the apocalypse, right?
Ryan Lambert, Puck Daddy Columnist
Washington in 6
Boston in 7
Vancouver in 5
San Jose in 7
Washington had little trouble dispatching the Rangers, and Tampa had a lot of trouble downing the injury-hobbled Pens, so that's easy. Boston certainly had better goaltending and defense than Philly, and it seems as though the offense would have done better against Montreal had a Bobrovsky/Leighton/Boucher-quality goaltender been in net.
Vancouver is still Vancouver, having exorcised whatever demons yet remained, and it's hard to see the Preds all of a sudden becoming a Chicago-level boogeyman, especially because their leading scorer in the playoffs was Mike Fisher. And concerns about the goaltending aside, it just seems like the Sharks are a better team than Detroit, as they were last year.
Dmitry Chesnokov, Puck Daddy Senior Writer
Washington in 6
Philadelphia in 7
Vancouver in 7
Detroit in 6
These Washington Capitals now have the playoff experience, playing alongside each other for some years now. What Steve Yzerman was able to achieve with the Bolts this year was, in my opinion, predictable, because of who Steve Yzerman is.� But that playoff experience and chemistry is on the Caps' side in this series.
I think the Flyers are getting used to playing without paying too much attention to who is in goal for them. They used three starters in the previous series, and this trend will likely continue.� The Bruins will surely want to take the revenge for last season's epic meltdown in the playoffs against these Flyers.� But I think the Flyers will come out on top again, especially if Pronger is as little as 50 percent effective.
I picked the Red Wings to go all the way this year before the playoffs started. With the returns of Franzen and especially Zetterberg for the second round, the Red Wings will be even better.� Sure, they're showing their age, especially in the third period of virtually every game, but they usually do enough in the first two to win the game.
Just as with the Bolts, the Predators don't have enough playoff winning experience having won just their first playoff series. The Canucks are drained after their series against Chicago, and the Predators will surely give them the run for their money. But in the end, the Canucks will likely come out on top.� Although this series could definitely go either way.
Justin Bourne, Puck Daddy Columnist
Washington in 5
Boston in 7
Vancouver in 6
Detroit in 7
Aside from the team I picked to win the Cup (Vancouver), two teams look considerably scarier than I gave them credit for heading into playoffs, mostly because I think I keep waiting for them to stop being so damn good at some point: Detroit and Washington.
They're still herrrreeeeee.
The call on the Washington series being short isn't a knock on Tampa, I just really think Washington isn't messing around this year.� From day one their focus has been on playoffs -- they'll have the war machine dialed to KILL.
The good news for the Canucks is that San Jose looks pretty darn terrific too (I'm really, really torn on my pick), so it looks likely that the Wings and Sharks can beat each other up and get softened up by the time the conference finals roll around.
Really, I could write some glowing review for all the remaining teams ? I'm a big fan of "chalk," and the fact that we have the top six teams from the regular season (with two five seeds!) is going to make for some spectacular battles.
The David's of the NHL have all perished, and we're about to see some Goliath vs. Goliath heavyweight tilts.� "ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!??"
Rob Pizzo, Co-Host, Puck Daddy Radio
Washington in 5
Boston in 6
Vancouver in 6
Detroit in 7
So the main question is, did one of the craziest series in playoff history help or hurt the best team in the NHL? While I believe the Preds will win Game 1 in a classic "letdown" game, I'm not changing my pick for the Cup. Use whatever clich� you want (monkey off back, exercised demons, etc), the Canucks finally beat Chicago, and I think they will use that momentum the rest of the way.
In the East, the Caps used their new defensive style to keep games low scoring, and they may be able to shut down the Lightning's offense. Also, Tampa just played three straight elimination games, and that takes more out of you than arguing with Wysh on Puck Daddy Radio.
As far as the Smythe goes, the twins hardly were the reason Vancouver won their 1st round series. Daniel does have five goals and a big series will put him right back in contention.
I'm sticking to my guns!
Stanley Cup Finals: Canucks vs. Capitals
Stanley Cup Champions: Canucks
Conn Smythe: One of the two guys who shared a womb.
Erin Nicks, Puck Daddy Columnist
Boston in 7
Washington in 7
Vancouver in 6
Detroit in 6
I'm still trying to believe in the Bruins -- it would be a lot easier to keep the faith if they could get their PP out of the starting gate. Boston�went 0-for-21 in their round with Montreal,�and are the second team in NHL history to win a seven-game series without scoring on the man-advantage. (The first, strangely enough, was also the Bruins, who lost a seven-game tilt in the 1952 semi-finals.) I fully expect the Flyers to push them to the limit. Meanwhile,
Washington takes a cue from the Canucks by�exorcising�their own demon, and will benefit from the rest achieved by quickly finishing off the Rangers. This may possibly allow Mike Knuble to return in this series sooner than expected. Of course, if the Capitals can't find an answer for Martin St. Louis, I'll live to regret this pick.
Vancouver appears ready to take the next step -- they will continue to roll. San Jose, however, showed a fair amount of difficulty in dispatching what was supposed to be an easy out against the Kings. Bad things happen when Antti Niemi is unable to keep his composure. As for up front, only one Sharks name appears in the top-30 playoff point-scorers thus far: Ryane Clowe. They will not beat the Red Wings if they aren't firing on all cylinders.
Dobber, Puck Daddy Fantasy Hockey Columnist
Washington in 5
Boston in 7
Vancouver in 7
San Jose in 6
I like how the pieces are falling into place for Washington, and I while I believe that Tampa Bay has a great foundation and have built a winning culture, this year is too soon. I also get the feeling that Boston is going to have one of those postseason runs. You know, where every round is with their backs against the wall, going to seven games, eking out the win in overtime.
If I were to pick an upset this round, it would be Nashville. But I don't have the balls so I'll just take the weaselly way out by saying things like, "If I were to pick an upset this round, it would be Nashville." That way, if they win I could say "Hey, I said that!" And if they lose I could say "I picked Vancouver anyway." Awesome.
Detroit is too banged up and San Jose is getting so much from their second and third lines that the Sharks will win.
Matt Barr, Stat Nerd
That was quite a first round.� To help inform my second round picks, I put on my horn-rimmed glasses and inserted my pocket protector and took a look at how each of the eight remaining playoff teams had done against the better teams this last regular season: Against other playoff qualifiers, and then against the other seven first-round victors.
Then I picked team names out of a propeller beanie.
Tampa Bay over Washington in 7
These are a couple of pretty evenly-matched teams, no matter how you look at them.� Here's how you look at their records against playoff teams:
Tampa has given up 3.13 goals per game against other playoff qualifiers, and get this, that includes five shutouts.� So in 35 non-shutouts, you're looking at 3.57 goals per game. Dwayne Roloson had best be paying attention during this series.
But anyway, other than the goals against, the Bolts and Caps look pretty similar against good teams, as well as against one another.� So why the edge to the Lightning? I'm still going with the theory that the Caps will get the yips when adversity strikes. They may eventually make me stop going with that theory, maybe starting this round.
Boston over Philadelphia in 5
Philly's record against playoff qualifiers is funky, 21-15-7 despite being outscored overall.� There's more separation between the two in favor of the Bruins when you look at just the other second-rounders:
Both teams squeaked by inferior opposition in the first round, one with an all-world goalie and one with no actual goalie that we are aware of.� That, and the aftertaste from last year's epic collapse, ought to make the B's the class of this series. I am also confident that Coach Julien, unlike, maddeningly, Lindy Ruff, will be aware of where Danny Briere sets up relative to the net on every single sustained Flyers possession in the offensive zone, and cause his defensemen to make him not be there anymore.
Nashville over Vancouver in 6
See? The Canucks didn't just pad their regular season record against cupcakes. However, Nashville was just as productive in the face of good opposition:
I don't think the proposition that the Predators were more impressive in their first-round series than the Canucks were is very contentious, and I also don't think I'm out of line suggesting Nashville's goalie is a notch or two better than Vancouver's. I foresee a hard-fought split in Vancouver, a couple Nashville squeakers, and then two wins by the home teams. Smashville advances. Shea Weber's RFA offer sheet grows.
Detroit over San Jose in 5
Here we finally have an obvious advantage on the part of one team over its opponent in its regular season record against the better teams:
The Sharks worked harder to earn their impressive first-round win, and as talented as they've been for so many years, you have to figure that one of these years they're not going to trip up on their way to the Final.� And you have to keep figuring that. Detroit is in championship mode.� I do not believe them stoppable.
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The first snoozer is out of the way; no worries, every card has 'em.
But after a competitive first two rounds, Ninja Roberts ran out of energy and Claude Patrick fell back on a more reserved approach with two rounds in the bank. He still utterly controlled the proceedings, but he didn't press an obviously vulnerable antagonist to the breaking point.
Can't really fault the Prince, though, considering he had the win in his back pocket.
Patrick was the main story here, but the Canadian crowd was almost more of an eye-opener. As Joe Rogan pointed out, I don't think there's ever been a case where an entire arena tried to coach its fighter?yet on several occasions, the Rogers Centre was calling for knees from the Prince and it was probably the right advice.
Those crazy Canucks must really love their MMA; it goes without saying they love their fighters.
Claude Patrick defeats Daniel Roberts by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28).
Jesus, all three judges gave the second round to Ninja Roberts, what a joke.
By my count, that's four fights to one in favor of Team Canada; time for Team USA to nudge it into gear now that the bright lights are warming up.
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Round 3 of the NFL 2011 draft has now passed, and although I think the Denver Broncos have drafted some very good players and done an excellent job of trading down, I'm left to wonder what happened at the greatest position of need—the DT position!
In Round 2, the Broncos passed on Marvin Austin, Stephen Paea and Jarvis Jenkins.
In Round 3, the Broncos passed on Jurell Casey, Allen Bailey, Drake Nevis, Kendrick Ellis and Sione Fua.
Now I realize that not all of those players would have been perfect fits for the Denver 4-3 scheme, but looking into Round 4, the Broncos still haven't addressed their biggest position of need.
I cannot see the Broncos solving their issues at DT with picks from the fourth round and onwards.
With the picks the Broncos have made so far, it can only mean that they are going to be very active in the free agent market at the DT position.
From Round 4 and on, I just don't see a lot of talent.
And the free agent market isn't exactly overflowing with DT talent. Just to name a few: Barry Cofield, DT, Giants, age 27; Brandon Mebane, DT, Seahawks, age 26; Alan Branch, DT, Cardinals, age 26; Derek Landri, DT, Panthers, age 27.
I think that with the way the Broncos have drafted, you could almost argue that they would be better off sticking with the 3-4 scheme and re-signing a couple of the D-linemen that wasn't re-signed before the lockout.
What do the Broncos have up their sleeves to solve the gaping hole at the DT position?!
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In what seems like the blink of an eye, four more Eastern Conference teams had their seasons’ end this week. Although most of the games in each series were competitive, none of the teams that were eliminated looked like championship teams. However the teams that did advance all looked poised for a potential run, as no team lost more than two games in their opening series. Before we move on to the conference semifinals let’s look back at how the Bulls, Heat, Celtics and Hawks all got there.
After running through the regular season, the #1 seed Bulls did not come out firing on all cylinders against the Pacers. Indiana seemed ready for a Game 1 upset in Chicago before Derrick Rose put the team on his back to overcome a double-digit fourth quarter deficit. The Pacers could never fully recover from Game 1’s crushing loss. Despite holding leads late in several games and even winning Game 3 in Indiana, the Pacers just didn’t look like a team that was ready to win a playoff series. The difference in the series was the Bulls tough defense, which has been one of the league’s best all season. Chicago won’t win the championship if they continue to rely on Rose’s late game heroics. They need players like Carlos Boozer to step up and help shoulder the offensive load if they want this dream season to end with a parade in the windy city.
Going into the playoffs, the most anticipated match up was between Boston and New York, but this was not the back and forth series that fans had hoped for. The Knicks never could put a full game together, playing well in spurts but not well enough to secure a win. In the trade for Carmelo Anthony the Knicks gave up a lot of their depth as well as team chemistry, and this showed as they were swept by the Celtics. With that said the Knicks did not lose the series, the Celtics won it. Boston looked as good, if not better, than their championship team from 2008. Rajon Rondo has matured into a leader for this squad, and his teammates are reaping the benefits. The “Old Big Three” were productive with business like attitudes in this series, showing that they are not content with just one championship. Baring any catastrophic injuries, the Celtics have the talent and experience around Rondo to return to this year’s title game.
The “New Big Three” had their first playoff series together against the 76ers and they showed the world why they wanted to play together. Miami’s Lebron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh each averaged more than 19 points in the series, dominating on both ends of the court. The Heat would’ve swept their first series together if not for a buzzer-beating three point winner by Lou Williams in Game 4. There is no doubt that Philadelphia has a talented team, but this matchup reminded us that when Miami plays up to their potential they are almost unbeatable. A good sign for Heat fans was that Chris Bosh was their most consistent player. Bosh has not played great since taking his talents to South Beach, but recently he has been on a tear now that he realizes his role with the team. The next round will be a completely different story for the Heat as they try to take down the seasoned Celtics.
In the most evenly matched series, the Atlanta Hawks avenged last season’s embarrassing conference semifinals loss to the O rlando Magic. The Hawks won the series 4-2 with an interesting defensive strategy, letting Dwight Howard score and forcing his teammates to beat them. Despite dropping two games in the series, the strategy worked. Statistically, Dwight Howard had an outstanding series, averaging 27 points and 15.5 rebounds per game, but unfortunately none of his teammates could come close to his production. Most teams double-team Howard when he gets the ball in the paint but the Hawks chose not to, making it near impossible for the Magic to find the open shots they’re accustomed to. The Hawks did have some scoring on their side with Jamal Crawford, Joe Johnson and Josh Smith putting up solid numbers in their own right. Unfortunately for Atlanta, they will need to employ a new defensive strategy in order to slow down MVP candidate Derrick Rose and his Bulls.
Despite the fact that this year’s first round wasn’t overly competitive in the Eastern Conference, the same won’t be said about the next round. The match ups in the conference semifinals are intriguing and should offer plenty of exciting basketball for NBA fans. It will be interesting to see if the Bulls can return to the conference finals for the first time without MJ, and whether the Heat can take down last year’s finals runner-up in Boston. After one round of the NBA playoffs one thing is for certain, any of the remaining teams are capable of winning the championship.
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The San Jose Sharks dispatched the Detroit Red Wings in five games last postseason, taking it on the chin in Game 4 in Detroit but closing out the series on home ice. It was the playoff underachiever topping the perennial Cup contender; and in the case of Todd McLellan and Mike Babcock, the student defeating the teacher.
How does McLellan see the rematch?
"When you start as a coach or a player, playing with that kind of motivation, I think it can be dangerous. It's not about Mike and Todd. Mike and Todd are going to stand there and change lines. The players are going to go out and play and at the end of the day, we know one of the teams is going to move on.
"Whoever plays best in a seven-game series is going to win. Eventually the better team evolves and takes off. We'd like to be that team and there's a pretty good team over there and we understand that."
Pretty good? The Wings looked damn impressive in Round 1, while the Sharks had their problems with a pesky Kings team (and some terrific goaltending).
Who wins this Western Conference semifinal? And, more importantly, will we see another friggin' Shark with a friggin' octopus in its friggin' mouth thrown on the ice?
| Friday, April 29 | at San Jose, 10:00 p.m. | VERSUS, TSN | ||
| Sunday, May 1 | at San Jose, 3:00 p.m. | NBC, TSN | ||
| Wednesday, May 4 | at Detroit, 8:00 p.m. | VERSUS (JIP), TSN | ||
| Friday, May 6 | at Detroit, 7:00 p.m. | VERSUS, TSN | ||
| *Sunday, May 8 | at San Jose, 8:00 p.m. | VERSUS, TSN | ||
| *Tuesday, May 10 | at Detroit, TBD | VERSUS, TSN | ||
| *Thursday, May 12 | at San Jose, TBD | VERSUS, TSN | ||
Look at the Detroit Red Wings' top nine forwards in the postseason. Look at the San Jose Sharks' top nine forwards in the postseason. Which one impresses you more?
The Red Wings group reads like … well, like the side of the Stanley Cup. Pavel Datsyuk was in Conn Smythe form, dominating the first round in stretches with six points. Tomas Holmstrom is the immovable object, Johan Franzen the irresistible force in the postseason. Missing from that list: Henrik Zetterberg, who'll be ready to roll in Game 1 and brings one of the best two-way games in hockey to the series.
But the performances the Sharks have received from their group can't be ignored. Ryane Clowe (7 points) and Logan Couture (5 points) were the team's most important and effective duo in the first round. Joe Pavelski had more postseason heroics. Players like Kyle Wellwood and Torrey Mitchell (4 points each) contributed down the lineup.
So they've got depth beyond the Big Three … but the Big Three aren't to be overlooked despite their postseason reputation, especially when Dany Heatley and Joe Thornton scored in Game 6 to oust the Kings. (Thornton with the series-clinching goal, forcing hockey fans to run outside to make sure up wasn't down and that dogs and cats weren't living together.)
Which group is better? We'd offer that one-through-nine, it's the Sharks. But it's hard to argue with the names on the Red Wings roster.
The first round afforded Nicklas Lidstrom rest both in games played and in ice time, as he averaged under 20 minutes (19:34) per game. Expect that total to spike in this series, as he and Brad Staurt will see copious amounts of Joe Thornton, one would imagine.
Niklas Kronwall led the Wings in ice time with 22:24 on average, scoring three points and being a physical presence with Ruslan Salei. Brian Rafalski averaged 21:19 and tallied two goals.
Dan Boyle does the heavy lifting for the San Jose Sharks, averaging 27:10 in the opening round with three points. His partner, Douglas Murray, brings a level of physical agitation along with effective defensive play. Jason Demers tallied two goals in the series, while Ian White had five assists. Marc-Edouard Vlasic had an up and down series, dealing with some off the ice issues.
Antti Niemi has a Stanley Cup ring … and a 3.99 GAA and a .863 save percentage in the first round. The Sharks were outscored 8-1 in the first period against the Kings, which is something they can't get away with against the Wings. A return to competence for Niemi is essential here.
Against the Sharks last postseason, Jimmy Howard gave up four goals in three of their four losses. Is he looking for revenge? From the Freep: "I'm just going to try and play the same that I did against Phoenix. I'm not trying to be spectacular, but make the saves when called upon. And try to come up with the one or two that you shouldn't."
The key here: Which goalie will a bigger liability for his team?
For what it's worth, Niemi had the best of Howard in a big way in the regular season.
The Todd Bertuzzi Song.
"He's skating all around and everybody's woozy." Yeah, there was this one guy …
Teacher vs. student again.
There are few coaches you'd want on your bench instead of Mike Babcock for a critical playoff game. He's deft at juggling lines, juggling his roster, motivating his troops and managing a series. If the Jack Adams could actually go to a coach who wins with a great team instead of barely making the playoffs with an average one, he'd have a shelf of them by now.
Todd McLellan, his former assistant, is 14-13 in the playoffs, and did some impressive work in what was a chaotic opening-round series vs. Los Angeles -- including standing by Niemi.
And, of course, he beat Babcock last season.
The Red Wings are 4 for 15 on the power play, but struggled on the kill, having given up six power-play goals in 18 times shorthanded.
The Sharks are 2 for 23 on the power play, an anemic 8.7 percent conversion rate. On the kill, they gave up five goals in 24 chances.
Sharks power play vs. Wings' kill … something's gotta give.
SHARK NINJA!
The sequel to "Jaws" that never was.
Sharks in seven. This San Jose team already has the confidence from defeating the Wings last season on top of the confidence that this team, because the emergence of a solid young core of players, has better balance in scoring and in leadership.
This is going to be a war. But the Sharks showed impressive perseverance in Round 1.
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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.
? Germany shocks Russia at the IIHF World Championships, 2-0, having gone 32 games at Worlds without a win against them. Among the Russians on that squad: Ilya Kovalchuk. Boy, when it rains ... [Y! Sports]
? Sidney Crosby tells reporters that he suffered a concussion symptom-related setback in his comeback, but that he's optimistic about playing next season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Frustrating news, to be sure. [Post Gazette]
? NHL.com selling Stamkos as a surrogate for Sidney in battle with Alex Ovechkin. [NHL.com]
? Tampa Bay Lightning Coach Guy Boucher on the Washington Capitals: "I know that if they lose this, for them it's a huge failure." [Capitals Insider]
? In praise of the Detroit Red Wings grinders, including the soon-to-be-40 Kris Draper. [NY Times]
? Mark Purdy makes his pick: "In the first round against L.A., the Sharks could also give up a four-goal lead and still come from behind to win. Against the Red Wings in a series of No-Houdini Hockey, that will not work. It'll be the Sharks in seven. But with a very nervous rabbit inside the hat." [Mercury News]
? Jesse Spector on Sean Avery's season with the New York Rangers: "If Avery is back with the Rangers next season — Tortorella said on breakup day, 'I don't know where it sits with Sean' — he has to be himself, because this season, he wasn't, and while he still trod a regular path to the penalty box, he did not validate those sin bin sessions with contributions on the ice." [NYDN]
? Recapping the Buffalo Sabres press conference today, including Lindy Ruff's contract extension for multiple years. [Die By The Blade]
? Tom Gaglardi is in talks to buy the Dallas Stars. GM Joe Nieuwendyk is in a holding pattern. Brad Richards goes UFA on July 1. The waiting is the hardest part. [Dallas Morning News]
? Your next Dallas Stars head coach: Kirk Muller, according to Pat Hickey. "Gauthier ducked a question about assistant coach Kirk Muller, but he'll be moving to the Dallas Stars. His appointment as head coach is on hold while the team awaits a new group of owners" [Gazette, via Defending Big D]
? Extortion? Check. Hookers? Check. An unnamed employee of an American hockey team at the heart of the scandal? Check. [Calgary Herald]
? Spector on the Montreal Canadiens and what could be wholesale changes for their blue line. [THN]
? Scott Gomez: "I feel I have let my teammates down." Not-so-much his accountant. [QMI]
? Wondering what happened to Patrick Kane this season? He said he returned from an ankle injury too soon in December. [Chicago Tribune]
? Steven Ovadia on the Philadelphia Flyers: "Last year, the Flyers often felt like a playoff team that couldn't be stopped, Chicago Blackhawks excluded.� One round into the playoffs, and once again winning in spite of serious goaltending issues, the Flyers have that unstoppable vibe once again. And this time, there are no Blackhawks around to stop them." [Puck Update]
? Peter Laviolette on Chris Pronger for Round 2: "It was pretty darn good and having him back out there was just…he calms things down. He makes little plays. He agitates a little bit and irritates a little bit. He helps on the power play and does so many good things for us to get him back in there. He's only going to get stronger now as time moves on." [Sports Radio Interviews]
? We're in awe of this, and secretly wish it was Jyrki Lumme.
? How Barry Trotz's Round 1 victory with the Nashville Predators changed his reputation for the better. [Kennedy]
? "Police in Saskatoon confirm that a man accused of an on-ice assault in an adult hockey game is a 15-year veteran of the force." Ouch. [CTV]
? A nearly line-for-line rebuttal of Blades of Teal's Los Angeles Kings Eulogy. [Jewels From The Crown]
? How a stockbroker can better enjoy the Stanley Cup Playoffs. [Benzinga]
? NHL stars attend the Royal Wedding in Photoshop form. [Houses Of The Hockey]
? Finally, this was the scene after Game 7 against the Blackhawks in Vancouver. Not the Olympics post-gold medal, but same sort of vibe:
Canucks 2011 Cup Run from Kenan Hafi on Vimeo.
New Hampshire Phantoms Baton Rouge Capitals Los Angeles Legends Carolina RailHawks Central Conference
A few thoughts on D.C. United?s 3-2 loss to the New England Revolution in a U.S. Open Cup qualifier Tuesday.....
Branko Boskovic had another terrific match in central midfield and has made a strong case to start. With Clyde Simms and Dax McCarty in the middle, the work rate is high but the attacking personality is lacking. McCarty is a quality two-way player and, with Simms supporting him, has the flexibility to go forward. If Boskovic and McCarty are paired, McCarty is going to have to do more work in the trenches.
NY Red Bulls Toronto Maple Leafs Western Conference Houston Dynamo Virginia Legacy
(Ed. Note: As the Stanley Cup Playoffs continue, we're bound to lose some friends along the journey. We've asked for these losers, gone but not forgotten, to be eulogized by the people who knew the teams best: The fans who hated them the most. Here is San Jose Sharks blogger S.M. Williams of Blades of Teal recalling the 2010-11 Los Angeles Kings. Again, this was not written by us. But you're probably not reading the intro anyway.)
By S.M. Williams, Blades of Teal
Ladies and Gentleman,
Just as an update, the funeral procession is currently stuck in traffic on the 10 East but on its way. Apparently, there were some delays in getting on the road as the morticians were told to match up each Los Angeles Kings player with his linemates for the procession…and they got confused.
So, we're going to get started.
Today we remember the fallen Los Angeles Kings. Sometimes ladies and gentlemen, the passing of seemingly vibrant and healthy youth, cut down in the prime of life, can be too hard for the living and victorious to bear, but we must muster on.
You did certainly lead by example Coach Murray, and that example was bitching about the officiating like a petulant child and causing your team to moan along with you in unison.
Seriously, about the only thing missing from your post game cry-fests was if you had been dressed in a sailor suit and sucking on a giant lollipop.
You gave us sage utterances as, "Heck, look, when you give up five goals in one period, everybody's got to be better" and announced the return of the hump Scott Parse as the tactical second coming of Rocket Richard.
Scott Parse?
I mean Scott Parse, rest his soul, was a mediocre grinder, coming off a hip injury who hasn't seen the ice since mid-November?I have that exact same guy on my beer league team. His name is Sully, and he broke his hip while hammered, after falling on the rock climbing wall, during a Carnival Cruise to Baja. Like Sully, Scott Parse also scored once last year, excepting in Sully's case, it was on said cruise with a chick, who I'm pretty sure belonged to the Hells Angels.
How about the late Drew Doughty? Drew, we will miss your grit and creepy playoff beard that never seemed to make it past the former-headlining-boy-band-who-now-plays-state-fairs stage. We did appreciate the penalty trade off you gave us for Scott Nichol in Game 4; I haven't seen a trade that bad since my buddy left a pre-IPO Google to get his law degree.
Drew, we will also miss your multiple uncalled slashes on guys like Devin Setoguchi. Watching you get away with all those ineffective hacks was like watching Kobe Bryant using his mind bullets against NBA referees to not have six-step traveling violations whistled.
Speaking of ineffective hacks, we remember you Jonathan Quick. Notso Quick, you did turn in a couple of beauties against the Sharks at the Tank, notably a shutout victory in Game 2 and a one goal against effort in Game 5?stopping a total of 86 shots over in those two games. But what about Games 3 and 4 and the 12 goals against?
Seriously, Notso, at what point did modeling your game after Dan Cloutier seem like a good idea?� I mean, did Cloutier have something on you?� Did that fir-trapping sieve blackmail you into letting him wear your gear and impersonate you on the ice? Did he lock you in Lamar Odom's locker?
Notso, you were the FUTURE OF AMERICAN GOALTENDING!…oh wait, that's still Ryan Miller. Nevermind.
We remember you Ryan Smyth and celebrate your 32nd and last year in the NHL. I know with the economic times were tough, but the Los Angeles Kings did pay you enough to buy an actual pair of hockey skates instead of those white "Play It Again Sports" blades you were rocking. Honestly, your skates were about the only ones that Mike Modano could talk smack about and were an abomination to the senses. They looked like you took your favorite pair of found dumpster tennis shoes and slapped a runner on them with a staple gun.
The sad thing is, you never would have even had to pay for them…just hit up the CCM rep next time he's around. With a little imagination, you could have even had a plastic surgeon sponsor your skates, and maybe take that Paleolithic mug of yours into at least the mid-Mesolithic period. Though, I suppose that matters not now as your carcass sits in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
We remember you Michal Handzus, mostly because every time we saw you on the ice we were trying to figure out when Scott Hartnell had been traded to the Kings, how we missed that story and when he started to suck.
In all fairness, when life gives you lemons…or clown-like Chaka Khan hair, you make hair lemonade. You made hair lemonade Michal, you truly did.
To Anze Kopitar, thank you for sitting in the Pierre Maguire seats at Staples and playing Angry Birds on your phone all game…and, for breaking your ankle earlier too…that one was clutch. It must have been really nice for some of your Kings teammates, covered in their own blood and sweat, to glance over at you grinning and giggling like a pre-teen who discovered that Joe Jonas just retweeted her.
To Brad Richardson, thank you for ducking and getting checked into the boards by Jamie McGinn, winding up with a head wound right out of "Braveheart." And for the lost teeth too, as there was nothing better than seeing you on your knees that time picking up your chiclets. But that big flop you sold as if somebody in the rafters shot you when Ginner ran you…the one that led to the 5 minute major penalty that your team couldn't capitalize on?� Thank you for providing the official nail-in-the-coffin moment, which immediately preceded the end of your team's hopes and dreams.
As much as joy of their demise fills my senses, I must pause. For even when it's the grief of fans of a hated rival team, it's still important that we reach out. In these times though, endeavors of ours to sincerely console wallowing Los Angeles Kings fans on their team's annihilation can get muddled as we battle our own frightening images of playoff mortality. When is our time?
Of course, we are not exactly battling the whole frightening images of mortality thing right this second or anything like that after winning and beating the Kings…it's kind of the opposite actually.
Sometimes, you're just happy to see the dead guy go and that's OK to admit.
Maybe it was taking glee in the sight of the Staples Center emptying out, seeing downcast Kings fans hanging their heads and shrugging the shoulders of those brand new Jarret Stoll jerseys. Maybe it was remembering that tool in the lower bowl, wearing in the MC Ren era Kings hat, who kept mispronouncing the names of� his team's own players ( HAND-Zeus) or made the "Jack Johnson has same name as singer Jack Johnson!" joke eight times in the span of about 15 minutes.
Not speaking ill of the Los Angeles hockey dead will come out in niceties such as, "They played us tough" or "they wanted it as bad as us" or "we got lucky" and will float about in the media ether for a day, maybe two. And just like the tearful faux tributes at the miserable guy's funeral, it will be all made up by a team trying to take the proverbial high road.
The beauty of those statements is that if your team is the one uttering them, you are the one still alive.
For the Los Angeles Kings, may their souls find peace, may their fans show up for them next year when they are reborn anew…and go not just because David Beckham goes.
Finally, may the hockey gods continue to shine their favor brightly upon the San Jose Sharks.
Condolences,
S.M. Williams
Lead Writer
Leicester City San Jose Sharks Eastern Conference Tampa Bay Lightning Arsenal
The first round of the 2011 NFL Draft is in the books. Trades were made, Jake Locker and James Carpenter shocked us all, and now it's time to do it all over again, times two.
Before the second and third rounds kick off tonight, we are taking one final look at who should be on the board, what needs teams still have to fill and how the trades have affected the draft board.
Keep it close to B/R for all your draft needs today and throughout the next week.
Vancouver Canucks Stanley Cup Bermuda Hogges Midwest Division Vermont Voltage
NFL Trade Rumors Ponder Whether Donovan McNabb Will Still Head to Minnesota
We've heard myriad NFL trade rumors surrounding Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb in recent weeks, as the Vikings were in desperate need of a quarterback, and the Redskins were desperately trying to get rid of the former Pro Bowler.
But, after the Minnesota Vikings managed to one-up the Tennessee Titans in the stupid draft picks department by taking Christian Ponder 12th overall, suddenly, McNabb doesn't seem quite as necessary in the Metrodome. After all, they've got their franchise quarterback of the future (be afraid, Vikings fans, be afraid), so what do they need a 34-year-old veteran coming off the worst season of his career for?
According to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writer Tom Silverstein, the answer could well be "quite a bit".
Silverstein writes that grabbing McNabb is actually a smarter play now than it was before the Vikes took Ponder.
Per his article:
"One would think this would signal that the Vikings are going to chase Donovan McNabb in free agency. The ideal situation would be for Ponder to play behind McNabb for a season or two and then move into the starting position."
Frankly, I couldn't agree more. Everyone knows Ponder is a serious project, one that will need at least a year of seasoning before he's ready to be thrown into the fire (assuming he's ever actually ready), and McNabb would represent an upgrade over the Florida State Seminole, particularly for the first two years Ponder's in the league.
Must Read: 2011 NFL Draft Results: Grades and Results for All 32 First Round Picks.
As someone who thought picking Ponder was a terrible idea for the Vikings (why not wait for Ryan Mallet?) getting McNabb seems like a wise insurance policy. Ponder represents a high-risk prospect, and by grabbing Donovan from Washington, the Vikes can make sure that if he busts out (which is a real possibility), they've got someone capable of throwing the ball under center until they find a new quarterback.
McNabb will have great receivers, something he lacked with the Redskins, and would be a capable fill-in until a new franchise signal caller can be located.
In the end, it's clear Minnesota is pinning their hopes over the long term on Ponder, but if they're smart, they'll still try to grab Donovan McNabb to ensure they find some success in the short term, as well.
Detroit Ignition Bradenton Academics Sporting Kansas City Los Angeles Galaxy Los Angels Kings
Thursday's first round of the 2011 NFL Draft proved that speculation means nothing when chaos and utter insanity take over.
The opening round was a bonanza for college football's big boys, as all 32 picks came from BCS schools.
While today's second and third rounds will continue the theme, savvy general managers will dip into the pool of small colleges, which is filled with potential steals.
Following is a list of 10 FCS players who should keep their phones handy this evening.
Tottenham Hotspur New England Revolution Fresno Fuego Springfield Demize Fort Wayne Fever
Bolton Wanderers New Jersey Ironmen Western Mass Pioneers USFL Harrisburg City Islanders
Phoenix Coyotes Newark Ironbound Express New Jersey Devils FC New York MLS
At 6'3" and 351 pounds, former Baylor defensive tackle Phil Taylor is one of the 2011 NFL Draft’s best nose tackle prospects.
Taylor, who transferred to Baylor from Penn State, was a dominant force against the run in 2010. He totaled 62 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, two sacks and one forced fumble in 2010—remarkable numbers for a defensive tackle. As a result of his efforts, Taylor was named second team All-Big 12 and invited to start in the 2011 Senior Bowl.
Beyond his size, which is ideal for an NFL nose tackle, Taylor is actually surprisingly athletic for his frame. He still plays best in confined spaces, but moves quicker than most offensive linemen calculate, as was evidenced by his impact in the backfield in 2010. Taylor also plays with an impressive amount of power, dominating the trenches and providing push at the point of attack. This, coupled with his massive size, ensured that he was double-teamed for almost every snap of his 2010 season, freeing up the rest of the front seven to cause havoc.
The only concerns surrounding Taylor are the same concerns that surround nearly every nose tackle prospect. Some scouts worry that a man of his size won’t hold up long in the NFL, that his body will eventually succumb to the stress of playing such violent football at 350 pounds. Others note his limitations as a pass rusher and his inability to get off the ball quickly—traits you would probably expect from a 350-pound nose tackle anyway.
Taylor is an ideal fit for nose tackle in a 3-4 defense, but will anchor the middle of the Cleveland Browns defensive line in a 4-3 scheme (unless they have 3-4 packages available.) He's a defensive cornerstone if he stays healthy and opens up opportunities for Cleveland linebackers.
Pick Grade: B
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From the Czech Hockey Games, a tune-up for the IIHF World Championships, here is Sweden's goalie not exactly being helpful to his defense. Although we're pretty sure former Boston Bruins and Anaheim Ducks forward Petteri Nokelainen didn't mind after turning this gaffe into a shorthanded goal:
You know, we've always found that goaltending bloopers are really enhanced by the presence of jaunty electropop.
The keeper who bungled this play is Viktor Fasth, a 28-year-old who plays for AIK and has gotten a look from the Edmonton Oilers, seeking to follow in the grand tradition of Tommy Salo (after, you know, following in the grand tradition of Tommy Salo).
From Sports Expressen (translated), Fasth on the goal: "It's [poop] that happens and unfortunately it happens today." That's going on our fridge.
Atlanta Silverbacks U23 Atlanta Silverbacks Pittsburgh Penguins Panama City Pirates Florida Panthers
(This is the continuation of a series that refuses to abide by the Mel Kiper/Todd McShay exclusivity approach to the draft and is examining possible talent that won’t be taken in round one of the 2011 NFL Draft starting tonight at 8pm EST on ESPN. So far, I’ve covered rounds two, three and four and will continue until Saturday looking at rounds six and seven.)
As the fifth round begins and the draft sinks deeper and deeper into respective team's “big boards,” the various patterns become clearer. Many of the basic needs for a team stocked with a normal amount of draft picks are filled already.
At this point, the general goal for remaining draft picks is to be able to contribute to a team in some way, shape or form. That could mean a special teams player, or possibly someone with a specialized skill set (like kick returner).
Conversely, there is also the appeal of someone who can fulfill many different roles (a linebacker who can play inside or outside, or a lineman who can play at tackle or guard for example).
Yet the continued theme of later rounds has always been this: solid fifth round picks who become starters emerge from situations where their talent was obscured to most scouts. (And sometimes even the scouts who like them still don’t realize the extent of their find).
Look at players like Michael Turner (drafted in the fifth by San Diego), or Dwight Freeney’s partner in crime, Robert Mathis, in Indianapolis.
Both of those players (who any NFL team would covet), were left till the fifth round for a reason. Turner was considered too slow and Mathis too small.
Trust me when I say there are guys like that in this year’s draft.
San Jose Frogs Hampton Roads Piranhas Cascade Surge Nashville Predators Columbus Blue Jackets
Ventura County Fusion Thunder Bay Chill C.D. Chivas USA Ogden Outlaws Tacoma Tide
The Colts usually keep the pundits guessing with their drafts, and this year is probably no exception. All the best guesses out there this year have the Colts drafting help for the offensive line, citing Bill Polian's admission that Roger Staffold could have helped the team last season.
Here's the thing: Polian didn't say that passing on Staffold was the most catastrophic decision that he has ever made and that the team is completely doomed to total failure and possible relegation to Arena Football.
He actually said that his worst decision was the failure to meet Jake Scott's demands when he was a free agent (the Colts actually offered Jake Scott more money than the Tennessee Titans, but since they didn't meet Scott's initial contractual desires, Scott's agent refused to re-sign with the Colts after testing the free-agent market).
So let's not assume that Jerry Hughes was a bad pick and let's not assume that the Colts are going to chase an offensive linemen in the first round unless one grades better than anybody at other positions.
Bill Polian always drafts the best player available.
Anthony Castonzo isn't going to be available, and The Colts certainly aren't going to trade up. Derek Sherrod probably grades pretty well on the Colts' draft board, but I think they would probably trade back a few picks if possible if that is who they are targeting.
Another prediction I've seen on various mock drafts is defensive tackle Corey Liuget, whom I am definitely rooting for just based on the unpronouncability of his name. Unfortunately, I don't think he will be available at pick No. 22, either.
My best guess: If Colts stay at No. 22, I think the best player on their board will be cornerback Brandon Harris from the University of Miami.
Best case scenario: Bob Sanders gets bionic arms and legs and decides that he would rather play for less money than join the San Diego Chargers and the Colts have Derek Sherrod graded as the best offensive lineman in the draft and they are able to get him at pick No. 25 or 26.
Click here to read my full mock draft
Tacoma Tide New Hampshire Phantoms Baton Rouge Capitals Los Angeles Legends Carolina RailHawks
Bermuda Hogges Midwest Division Vermont Voltage Westchester Flames Atlanta Thrashers
Carolina Hurricanes Montreal Impact Charleston Battery World Cup Great Lakes Division
Just recently, it was announced that Chauncey Billups would be returning to the Knicks with his team option for next year being picked up by the Knicks.
At first I wondered why they would pay so much for an aging, injury-prone player when they could have either renegotiated his contract or bought him out. However, I now see what they are doing here.
It seems that Donnie Walsh has bought into the idea of super-teams. By extending Chauncey's contract, the Knicks have basically conceded from participating in this free agent class. This will most likely mean that they aren't going after a center for next year, which will come to the dismay of many. Although this is a controversial move, what it does is assure that we have a huge quantity of money coming off the books in the summer of 2012.
This allows us to pursue Chris Paul and Deron Williams, or even Dwight Howard. For the short term, the Knicks will most likely not get any better, at least not by adding any new players, but after next season, it puts them in the position to establish their own Big Three to rival the one down in Miami.
What do you think of this and who do you think the Knicks should get?
Abbotsford Mariners Boston Bruins Chicago Fire Premier Richmond Kickers Future Pittsburgh Riverhounds
Good afternoon.
Real Madrid and Barcelona will meet at 2:45 p.m. today (FX, Fox Deportes, foxsoccer.tv; encore at 5 p.m. on Fox Soccer Channel) in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal.
It?s the third of four meetings between the two rivals in the past two weeks, and they?ll meet again in the second leg next week at Barcelona.
Yakima Reds Philadelphia Kixx Seattle Sounders FC New Orleans Shell Shockers Calgary Flames
Hello, this is a feature that will run through the entire season and aims to recap the weekend's events and boils those events down to one admittedly superficial fact or stupid opinion about each team. Feel free to complain about it.
�
Gotta give Alain Vigneault this: It was a bold move.
Not necessarily the right one or the prudent one, but a bold one.
The hockey world can pretty much agree at this point that Roberto Luongo's brain has been fundamentally broken several times over by the Chicago Blackhawks, and that in every passing game he finds new and interesting ways in which to blow up on the launch pad.
So Vigneault says "screw it." Canucks can't lose the series in Game 6. Trot out Cory Schneider in goal, see where that gets you. Worst he can do is the same as Luongo's been doing, right?
And for a while it looked like it was working. Schneider was unspectacular, and had frequent miscues getting the puck to his defensemen when he came out to play it ?�this directly led to Chicago's first two goals, obviously ? but he wasn't having a Luongo-level meltdown and the Canucks were pumping enough past Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford, who was having troubles of his own, that they were actually ahead through 42 minutes.
But then the Canucks surrendered a penalty shot and Michael Frolik does twice the damage: Not only scoring the equalizer but also getting Schneider to move in such a way that he injures himself. Somewhere in the depths of the United Center, Luongo's�eyes probably got as big as beach balls. But he came out and acquitted himself well enough, doing the minimum amount that was asked of him ? which is to say hardly anything�? to force OT.
But that he misplayed a relatively simple point shot spectacularly, and in doing so wound up flat on his face while Ben Smith of all people once again flung the game-winner past him … well, I guess that's more than most mentally battered goaltenders can handle. It was the most foregone of conclusions yet in these playoffs, and the only logical ending to the game once Luongo came in.
But the practical upshot of all this is that Vigneault has royally screwed himself for Game 7 on Tuesday.
(Coming Up: In praise of Dave Bolland; Mike Richards should be suspended; Michael Ryder, Mr. Ball Hockey; Evgeni Nabokov goes back to the Island; Sean Avery's bite claim; Ryan Nugent-Hopkins Watch is on in Edmonton; Sad Selanne; Desharnais' knee; Predators make history; Glavine's Brave move for Thrashers; James Reimer's stellar season; and did someone break Drew Doughty's teeth?)
By not starting Luongo on Sunday, he basically acquiesced to pressure from the world at large, admitting that no, the league's current definition of a Franchise Goalie was simply not capable of keeping his team in an important game against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Now he's in a no-win situation that he created all by himself because this move, at best, was never going to do anything but invite criticism.
It should be noted that the Canucks at least seemed to have some level of comfort and at times even an against-all-odds confidence with Luongo behind them, which was somewhat absent with Schneider between the pipes. Of course, that may have been sheer, blind panic that forced them to get the puck, carry it up ice as quickly as possible and for God's sake keep it in the attacking zone because the farther the puck is from Bobby Lou, the less of a chance he listlessly jabs it like a punch-drunk prizefighter straight onto the tape of an oncoming Blackhawk.
Suppose Schneider's good to go on Tuesday (and the coach seems to suggest this will be the case). Who does Vigneault start?
Does he give the go to the rookie with the wonky lower-body-injury who miscommunicates with his D, and thereby essentially says the team is done with Luongo for these playoffs ?�and further, kick off a summer full of uncomfortable questions?
Or does he give the nod to the guy who currently has the mental makeup of a nervous 2-year-old being taken to sit on Santa's lap, having given up 11 goals on his last 53 shots against, almost all of them his fault?
Because of this puzzling decision, there's no easy answer. Hell, now there's probably not even a good one. Vigneault made sure of that himself.
What We Learned
�
Anaheim Ducks: A thing I never want to see -- Teemu Selanne being sad.
Atlanta Thrashers: Tom Glavine really wants the Thrashers to stay in town. Not enough to buy them, of course. What do John Smoltz and Steve Avery think, though?
Boston Bruins: Michael Ryder for Vezina.
Peep that form, though. Unreal. Makes sense, though: He plays goal in summer ball hockey leagues.
Buffalo Sabres: Bad news about Timmy Connolly after that puke Mike Richards drilled him into the boards from behind. "He's not doing very good." Well, I'd expect not.
Calgary Flames: More people hate the Flames than just their fans. The former owners of the Chilliwack Bruins say the team's AHL franchise in Abbotsford essentially forced them to sell the WHL team. Or something. I don't know.
Carolina Hurricanes: Like most AHL teams whose parent clubs didn't make the postseason, the Charlotte Checkers now have several players on the roster that didn't play for them in the regular season.
Chicago Blackhawks: What a play by Dave Bolland to set up this Bryan Bickell goal. If he had been in the lineup this whole time, the series would look completely different.
Colorado Avalanche: Oof, the Avs got the absolute crap kicked outta them by Terry Frei in the Denver Post over the weekend. "[A]ll signs are that the organization is continuing to be carried away with: a) overrating its ability to spot and nurture young talent, and then, b) overrating that young talent itself, with notable exceptions I'll get to in a second." The exceptions were Matt Duchene and Chris Stewart. One of those guys doesn't play for the team any more.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Somehow, Scott Arniell is just now figuring out that you can't play a go-go-go style on the second night of back-to-backs.
Dallas Stars: Joe Nieuwendyk has liked what he's seen out of 2009 first-round pick Scott Glennie in the AHL playoffs, even if he's getting limited minutes on the fourth line.
Detroit Red Wings: Here's a fairly interesting look into the psychology of how and why Red Wings players tape their sticks the way they do.
Edmonton Oilers: Yup, they're already banging the drum for Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. No surprise. The most interesting part of all this is which name he will drop for the back of his jersey. He can get advice from Magnus Paajarvi n�e-Svensson.
Florida Panthers: Some silver lining -- the Panthers' penalty kill wasn't terrible this year. A product of the new system perhaps? It's interesting to note that Tomas Vokoun's shorthanded save percentage actually dropped this year to .922, down from .925.
Los Angeles Kings: A great save on a great night from Jon Quick, a not-great goalie.
Minnesota Wild: Matt Cullen seems to be misremembering the season. "It was the tightest playoff race I've ever been in, and we were right in the thick of it." They were officially eliminated about a week before the season ended, and unofficially out of it around mid-March. But hey, they bounced the Stars on the last day of the season, so that sorta counts.
Montreal Canadiens: David Desharnais has a knee injury that kept him out of most of the second overtime. No word on the severity going forward.
Nashville Predators: What you're about to see right here is the most important goal in the history of a franchise. History's pretty cool sometimes.
New Jersey Devils: The Devs might take Zach Parise to arbitration. I imagine y'know, catastrophic injury and all that, they wanna try to shortchange him for a year to see if he can play at the same level. Makes sense.
New York Islanders: Nothing made me happier than the Evgeni Nabokov news on Friday afternoon. He's stuck with the Islanders for a year. Wonderful trolling by Garth Snow.
New York Rangers: Sean Avery says Brooks Laich bit him. Now, if it was the other way around, that'd be a lot more believable.
Ottawa Senators: Here's a bunch of guys who just might be stupid enough to accept the Senators' head coaching position.
Philadelphia Flyers: Mike Richards should've gotten the gate for this hit. The league needs to suspend him for Game 7. If he was truly "respectful" of the game, he would sit it out voluntarily. Wouldn't want to "get away with murder out there."
Phoenix Coyotes: The Coyotes are "confident" they'll stay in Phoenix, which is fair enough. After all, they at least have a buyer lined up if the Goldwater Institute ever relents. Ain't nobody lookin' to buy the Thrashers, y'know?
Pittsburgh Penguins: Second-worst loss in Pens playoff history. Worst on home ice ever. All in all, not a good day.
San Jose Sharks: Teethgate continues unabated. Drew Doughty says Scott Nichol broke two of his lower teeth on a roughing penalty. Nichol says he didn't. Will this war of words never end?!
St. Louis Blues: Gary Bettman believes someone will buy the Blues and they'll stay in St. Louis. BUT HE SAID THAT ABOUT PHOENIX!!!!
Tampa Bay Lightning: Real strong sticktoitiveness around the net by Steven Stamkos. So I found him. He was here all along.
Toronto Maple Leafs: James Reimer had one of the better seasons among NHL goalies, in terms of the percentage of "quality starts" to games started.
Vancouver Canucks: The Canucks lost Games 4 and 5 because they were overconfident. That's the ticket.
Washington Capitals: Memo to Mike Green: When there's an unscreened shot from the point, let your goalie get it. Don't try to block it with your face.
Gold Star Award
Big ups to the NHL for hiring a former WNBA exec so that it can better grow women's hockey. It's not going to get much play, but this is a great move.
Minus of the Weekend
Here's a preemptive jeer for the NHL, as well, because there's no way in hell it suspends Richards for Game 7.
Play of the Weekend
Seven passes and a shot that hits the back of the net in the space of about five seconds. I want to marry this goal.
Perfect HFBoards trade proposal of the week
User "SiCKNESS" is sick (get it?) of Roberto Luongo, yessir.
TO ATL:
Roberto LuongoTO VAN:
Dustin Byfuglien
Blake Wheeler
3rd Round Pick
Signoff
You still owe me 10 more Iroquois twists.
Ryan Lambert publishes hockey awesomeness rather infrequently over at The Two-Line Pass. Check it out, why don't you? Or you can email him here and follow him on Twitter if you so desire.
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