Team Canada Roster Announced

Not too shabby. 19 of the 23 players I selected were named to the team, and I was able to nail down the four captains.

The most notable omission here is Martin St. Louis. I am simply dumbstruck that they didn't include the dynamic winger on the team. He has grit, can develop chemistry with anybody, and always makes everyone around him better.

Overall, I don't have too many qualms. However, I do firmly believe that leaving the aforementioned St. Louis along with the Stars' Brad Richards off of the team is a big mistake.

The team Steve Yzerman constructed is big, strong, and talented, and should compete very well on an NHL sized ice rink.

Here's how I would project the potential lines and pairings:

Nash - Crosby - Iginla
Perry - Getzlaf - Staal
Heatley - Thornton - Marleau
Bergeron - Richards - Morrow
Toews

Boyle - Pronger
Doughty -Niedermayer
Seabrook - Keith
Weber

Luongo
Brodeur
Fleury

Final Remarks: Canadian Olympic Team

For part one of my Canadian Olympic Thoughts click here.

With Steve Yzerman set to announce Team Canada's roster tomorrow, here's how my roster would look if I was in Steve Y's shoes.

Forwards:

Line 1: Rick Nash - Sidney Crosby - Ryan Smyth
-No change here from my first edition of Team Canada. While I'm sure my inclusion of Ryan Smyth - not only on the team, but on the first line - may raise some eyebrows, I still maintain his smarts, net presence, and ability to cycle down low would compliment Crosby well.

Line 2A: Corey Perry - Ryan Getzlaf - Martin St. Louis
- Once again, I'm sticking with my original second line. There is no reason to break up the dynamic duo of Perry and Getzlaf, who continue to perform in Anaheim even without any aid in the form of secondary scoring. A smart player who can win puck battles, play the high man in the offensive zone, and create plays all over the ice like St. Louis will compliment the Ducks' duo perfectly.

Line 2B: Dany Heatley - Joe Thornton - Jarome Iginla
- Here's my first big change. I originally left Heatley off of the roster because of his lack of well-roundedness. Well, phooey to that. He's having an excellent season playing with Jumbo Joe, and is even killing penalties out in San Jose. There's no way to leave Heatley off of the roster, right now.

Checking Line: Brad Richards - Mike Richards - Patrice Bergeron
- There's a few reasons why I like this trio on my checking line. Brad Richards has an excellent resume (Cup, Conn Smythe, leading scoring for Canada during '06 Olympics), is having a tremendous season, and I want him running one of the power play units from the point. He has played wing before, and can play up and down the line-up. So, too, can Patrice Bergeron. Bergeron has played tremendously in a checking role for the Bruins, and is their leading scorer to boot. He had success playing on Crosby's wing during the WJC, and can be plugged into any spot in the line-up. Mike Richards' play hasn't been too great this season, but I want him going up against the other teams' top players (cough, cough Alex Ovechkin). All three of these guys are team first guys who bring loads of intangibles to the table.

Extra: Eric Staal
- Instead of Steven Stamkos, I'm going with Eric Staal. While Stamkos' play has plateaued, Staal's has begun to flourish. Staal has more experience, a Stanley Cup, and knows how to play in high pressure situations.

Defensemen:

Chris Pronger - Scott Niedermayer
Brent Seabrook - Duncan Keith
Dan Boyle - Jay Bouwmeester
Drew Doughty

- I have a couple changes here. I decided to not only add Keith into the top six instead of as a spare (a no-brainer), but also to add his defensive partner in Seabrook. There's no reason to mess with a good thing, and I happen to think Seabrook is a safe pick. Niedermayer, Pronger, and Boyle are no brainers in my estimation, and I believe Bouwmeester is too dominant on the defensive side of the puck to be left off of the roster. As for Doughty being the extra - I don't care what his age is, I think he's a better all-around defenseman than the other candidates.

Goaltenders:

1. Roberto Luongo
2. Martin Brodeur
3. Marc-Andre Fleury

- No change in the names, but a change in the order. All three are playing well, but Luongo is the top guy in my opinion. Brodeur, as great as he is, lets in too many weak goals from bad angles - and you can bet Canada's opponents will be firing shots from all over the place.

Special Teams:
- As far as special teams, you have a lot of possible combinations with prior chemistry here - Getzlaf, Perry, Pronger, Niedermayer + Heatley, Thornton, Boyle + B. Richards, St. Louis, Boyle, etc. Obviously a guy like Crosby along with others will factor in here, but it's nice to have some prior chemistry on the power play. On the penalty kill, you have plenty of candidates which should pose no problem for the Canada Coaching Staff.

Captains:
I'd make Niedermayer Captain - his resume is second to none and he's in his home town. My three alternates would be Crosby, Iginla, and Pronger. Crosby is the best player on the team and just captained his squad to a Cup victory, and Iginla and Pronger have the experience.

Snubs:

Patrick Marleau - I simply don't buy that since he is successful with Thornton and Heatley that he should make the team. How do you think a guy like Iginla or Staal would fair playing with those two? Finding chemistry with Thornton and Heatley, even in a short tournament, should be no problem for somebody else.

Jordan Staal - He's a great defensive player, but there's no reason to put such a one dimensional player on the team when guys like Mike and Brad Richards and Patrice Bergeron bring more offense to the table.

Brendan Morrow - I just think other people are playing better.

Shane Doan - Much like Morrow, others are simply outplaying him. I like his experience internationally, but there are other players more deserving based on their play.

Jonathon Toews - He's a very well-rounded player who can be used in many situations, and I like his international experience, but he's not yet at a level to knock off any of the players that I selected for a scoring role, and Mike and Brad Richards and Patrice Bergeron have more experience in a checking role.

Jeff Carter - Not playing well enough.

Vincent Lecavalier - Ditto.

Steven Stamkos - I like the kid a lot, and think he could really bring a spark to the team, but I happen to think Staal is a better fit based on recent play. There's no denying Stamkos' play has cooled off a bit.

Mike Green - He's just not good enough defensively. I'd actually argue he's below (NHL) average defensively. The power-play will be A-Okay without him, especially with a guy like Brad Richards taking a position at the point.

Shea Weber - His play has been "okay," and I see no reason that he should make the team at the expense of a breaking up a successful pairing like Seabrook and Keith.

Dion Phaneuf - The team doesn't need his offensive presence, and his play is too inconsistent. I don't trust him against top-end talent.

WJC: USA Player Roundup

Team U.S.A. sits at 2-0-0 after taking down Slovakia 7-3 on opening night, followed by a 3-0 win over the Swiss yesterday. Here's what I've seen from the individuals who have donned the red, white, and blue.

Derek Stepan (University of Wisconsin) - The 2008 second round pick of the New York Rangers has been the U.S.'s best forward over their first two games, while also serving as Team Captain. He sits first in points with one goal and three helpers, is a plus four, and is second on the team in shots on goal. Stepan possesses a high hockey IQ, knows how to play off of his line mates, and has shown an ability to play in all situations. His line with Danny Kristo and Jerry D'Amigo has been the U.S.'s best here in the early going.

Danny Kristo (University of North Dakota) - Kristo, a 2008 second round pick of the Canadiens, has been flying up and down the ice every time he hops over the boards. Unlike many young players with excellent speed, Kristo has already learned how to consistently utilize his significantly above average wheels. Kristo is a tenacious forechecker and an excellent penalty killer.

John Carlson (Hershey Bears) - In the U.S.'s first game Carlson looked like a man amongst boys. While his second game wasn't quite as strong, his skill level was still highly evident. Carlson jumps into the play, throws his body, and knows how to run a power play. His firm, crisp, tape-to-tape passes are proof that this guy already knows how to play at the pro level. Expect Carlson to sit at around a point per game at the end of the tournament.

Jordan Schroeder (University of Minnesota) - Schroeder has been mightily dissapointing through two games in Saskatoon. I still think Schroeder can produce at the NHL level, but it is fairly evident that his play has really leveled off. I see little improvement between the Schroeder of this tournament and the Schroeder that has played in this tournament the previous two years. He is at his best when his legs are constantly churning and he's forechecking like crazy. Schroeder looks too complacent, and he might be thinking too much.

Kyle Palmieri (University of Notre Dame) - Before this year's draft, Palmieri was compared to Chris Drury because of his intangibles and high defensive acumen. These traits have been on display in the early going of the World Juniors, and are proof of why the Ducks took Palmieri in last year's first round. He has played a sound two-way game, competing hard in his own end, as well as on the forecheck.

Cam Fowler (Windsor Spitfires) - Through two games Fowler has been steady but unspectacular. I haven't seen anything that could hurt his draft status, but I also haven't seen any of the flashes of brilliance I came into the tournament expecting from the highly regarded defenseman. Either way, playing a steady game in this tournament as a draft-eligible player is still fairly impressive.

Chris Kreider (Boston College) - Another Rangers' draft pick, Kreider has played very well through the first two games of the tournament, being named the U.S.'s player of the game in yesterday's contest versus the Swiss. Kreider possesses otherworldly speed, and competes hard at both ends of the ice. This may not endear Kreider to Rangers fans, but he reminds me stylistically of Christopher Higgins.

Jeremy Morin (Kitchener Rangers) - Morin, a second round pick in last year's draft courtesy of the Atlanta Thrashers, has looked "okay" thus far. His hands were on display when he notched a "goal scorer's goal" during the first game versus Slovakia, but he has been relatively unnoticeable other than that, and at times, a little lethargic. The knock on Morin is he is one dimensional, but hey, that one dimension - goal scoring - is pretty important.

Jack Campbell (U.S. NTDP) - Campbell, Team U.S.A.'s youngest player, played a very sound game in goal to earn a shutout versus the Swiss yesterday. Campbell looked technically sound from start to finish, and didn't lose focus at any point of the contest. It will be interesting to see how much the youngster plays as the tournament progresses.

Boxing Day: WJC, NHL Thoughts

The yearly wait is over. The World Junior Championships are upon us again.

While Canada embarks on a potential sixth straight title, here are some players I'll be watching as the tournament kicks off...

Taylor Hall (Canada) - Hall is projected to be either the number one or number two pick in the draft, and has played excellently throughout Canada's pre-tournament games. Hall plays a hard, physical game, but also possesses a superior offensive skill set. He is in a great position to have a special tournament, as he'll be lining up alongside his two teammates from Windsor, Greg Nemisz and Adam Henrique. Just like everyone else, I'm expecting big things from Canada's crowned jewel throughout the tournament.

Nikita Filatov (Russia) - Probably the most offensively gifted player in the tournament, expect Filatov's name to be splattered all over WJC score sheets. While Filatov won't have the luxury of his left wing of last year, Evgeny Grachev, who the Rangers decided to keep in Hartford of the AHL, he should still light the lamp countlessly throughout the tournament. Do you think he'll want to show Columbus Blue Jackets' Head Coach Ken Hitchcock what he can do on the world stage? I do.

Patrice Cormier (Canada) - If you want physical (and dirty) play, Patrice Cormier is your guy. Canada's Captain will try to toe the line while setting the tone for Canada physically. When this guy's on the ice, expect fireworks.

Magnus Paajarvi Svensson (Sweden) - Paajarvi Svensson has size and boy does he have speed. But, I'm still not sold on his goal scoring prowess. He can make a statement while leading the Swedish attack up front.

Jordan Schroeder (United States) - Schroeder has not had an enjoyable start to this year's college season. As the Minnesota Gophers' go-to-guy on offense, he has failed to supply the goals and assists expected of the shifty, smart forward. This will be Schroeder's third WJC, so big things are expected. If you're going to judge his play, see how he performs versus Canada, Sweden, and the other top teams. He failed to show up in the U.S.A.'s big games last year.

John Carlson (United States) - Carlson is one of the top defensemen in the tournament. He has size, skill, smarts, and already boasts a cup of coffee in the NHL. He has followed an excellent rookie campaign in the OHL with another excellent season in the AHL with Hershey. If he was playing outside of the Washington franchise, he may be in the NHL right now.

Nazem Kadri (Canada) - Which Kadri is going to show up? The guy who was wheeling and dealing during the Toronto Maple Leafs' exhibition season or the guy who performed so poorly in the early going of the OHL season that he almost wasn't invited to Canada's Orientation Camp? Kadri could prove to be Canada's number one forward. He could also prove to be their thirteenth.

Cam Fowler (United States) - Fowler has it all. He sees the ice well, skates well, and puts up big numbers on the score sheet. With a good tournament, Fowler could cement himself as a top-three pick in the '10 NHL Draft.

While I'll be watching all of these players, as well as many of the other big name players in the tournament, it'll be just as much fun to see what unheralded player(s) step to the forefront. Last year it was Slovakia's Tomas Tatar. Who will it be this year?

..............

With 13 games on the NHL circuit tonight there is no shortage of storylines.

Out in Desert, Ryan Smyth will make his return for the Kings. Who would've thought a 'Yotes/Kings matchup at the end of December would boast the fourth and fifth ranked teams in the West?

The Isles will pay another visit to MSG tonight and take on the suddenly hot Rangers. The Blueshirts will be looking for their fifth straight win, while the Isles will be seeking to up their game. They are only 3-7-0 in their last ten.

The Caps/Devils game should be a dandy. Michal Neuvirth is going to start his third straight game for Bruce Boudreau's club, and supposedly Jose Theodore wasn't very happy about that.

The Habs will visit the Leafs tonight, as well. Need I say more?

Sit down, bring out the Christmas leftovers, and enjoy a great day of hockey, starting with the Canada/Latvia tilt at 4:00 p.m.

'09-'10 World Juniors

The day after Christmas. Boxing Day. The 26th. It gives me goose bumps.

Ten teams compiled with various teenagers looking to gain some glory for their home countries, while also attempting to use the tournament as a launch pad for their hockey careers...it makes for some of the most entertaining hockey these eyes have ever seen.

The excitement of Pierre McGuire. The soothing tones of Gord Miller. Coming out parties. Upsets. Marc-Andre Fleury's own goal. The Punch-up in Piestany. Matt Halischuk. Jack Johnson's elbow. Jordan Eberle.

This year's tournament should be no different. With a multitude of World Junior eligible players playing in the NHL unavailable for Canada, this year's tournament seems to be a bit more wide open than in years past. While Canada is still arguably the favorite, Russia, Sweden, and the U.S. all present substantial road blocks for the Red and White.

As the tournament unfolds, I'll be writing about various prospects, teams, and individual games.

Happy Holidays, and don't forget to check in starting on the 26th!

Some Team Canada Thoughts, When Predators Attack, Score One for the Little Guy

As we march closer to decision time for Steve Yzerman and Hockey Canada, here are a few thoughts that are on my mind.

- Is Mike Richards playing himself off of the squad? I never thought in my wildest dreams that I'd be asking this question, but it's one that needs to be asked. Richards is pressing as the Flyers continue to struggle, and his play should be worrisome for Hockey Canada. He's forcing passes, is being scrutinized by the Philadelphia media, and there are rumors abroad about a possible schism in the Flyers' locker room. As the team captain, that doesn't project well for Richards. Guys like Brad Richards and Patrice Bergeron are playing excellently, and would fit into the role Richards would assume nicely. I still think going head-to-head against Alexander Ovechkin will help Richards get going, but it's always hard to tell...

- Speaking of Patrice Bergeron - this guy finally looks healthy again, and its really showing in his play. He leads the Bruins in scoring while also playing against the other team's top line, night in and night out. I don't think he has a very good shot at Team Canada, but it's great to see a healthy Bergeron thriving in Beantown.

- I originally had Duncan Keith as Team Canada's seventh defenseman on my original roster. Scratch that. Keith continues to get better, and has made great strides in the offensive zone this year, as well. His gap control is other worldly, and the overall fashion in which he is able to utilize his speed and quickness is something special. Smarts and speed, when combined...good for Chicago, bad for everyone else...

How 'bout them Predators?

Nashville is 11-3-1 in their last fifteen games, and have climbed to within three points of the Blackhawks in the Central Division.

Barry Trotz's uncanny ability to keep this team in the thick of things in the Western Conference is truly mind blowing when you compare the talent of the Predators to the other teams out West.

Martin Erat, a player I have always felt is underrated due in large part to playing for the Predators, as well as often playing with, for lack of a better phrase, a bunch of stiffs, has been on an absolute tear of late. Nine points in his last five games, including six goals, with at least one goal in each of his past four contests. The one year the Preds actually had some talent up front, Erat connected for 57 points in 68 games. Usually left with the daunting task of providing secondary support with linemates that could hardly be considered top-sixers in the NHL, Erat has played with Jason Arnott and Steve Sullivan over the past three games. I'd liken his game to that of his fellow countryman, Ales Hemsky...

Nathan Gerbe, the last forward cut out of Sabres' Camp, finally got his first call-up of the season on Wednesday.

He didn't disappoint.

Playing on a line with Derek Roy and Drew Stafford, Gerbe stepped right into the lineup and gave the Sabres the emotional spark Sabres' management had hoped for.

Gerbe helped set up the first Buffalo tally, knocking the puck into the corner, and then going to the front of the net and setting a screen, allowing Steve Montador's shot from the point to beat an unsuspecting Jose Theodore.

But Gerbe's night got a whole lot better in the second period, when the little guy was able to bank a shot off of Theodore's skate and into the back of the net for his first career NHL goal. His ability to find ways to score (he was standing on the goal-line when he scored) has been what has propelled him into the NHL. Gerbe is generously listed at 5'6'', but he he is really closer to 5'4.5''

His passion and desire is visible to everyone - including his teammates. When Gerbe got his first call-up last season, the entire Sabres' team stopped skating and began to tap their sticks on the ice.

How can you not root for a guy that makes a 5'9'' Derek Roy look like Yao Ming?

Stevens out, Laviolette in; Rangers Floundering

Who would've guessed that on the first Saturday of December the New York Islanders would be in front of both the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers in the Atlantic division standings?

When a team as talented as the Flyers looses six of their last seven outings, getting shutout in their two most recent games, heads will, and should, roll.

Paul Holmgren's decision to axe John Stevens was a necessary move. Although Steven's did, what was in my estimation, a solid job of helping the organization begin to turn things around in his first full season with the Flyers in '07-'08, it was clear that the team needed a change. Stevens is a very young coach - the Flyers seem to be in need of somebody with experience; somebody who can set a firm tone for the team and in the locker room.

Rumors abroad have it that there is a schism amongst the players in the Flyers' locker room. Captain Mike Richards' relationship with the Philly media has progressively deteriorated. The team, as a whole, has looked flat for far too long a stretch of games. All of these problems necessitated a change. New Coach Peter Laviolette has experience, a Stanley Cup ring, and an up-tempo offensive system that could be greatly beneficial for a very talented Flyers lineup.

Coaching change or not, the Flyers will fail to reach their potential as a Stanley Cup contender if Mike Richards and Jeff Carter continue to play below their capabilities. Richards has been committing far too many turnovers and hasn't looked quite like himself since the latter part of last season, while Carter has been snakebitten in the goals department for the last few weeks, now.

If Peter Laviolette can get his newly acquired locker room in order and find a way to get his top two forwards to play top-notch hockey, the Flyers will be just fine...

Marian Gaborik is second in the league in points and first in the league in goals. So why have the Rangers amassed just 13 points over their last 19 games?

No secondary scoring. So-so to downright bad defensive play. Injuries to their top two centers. It's not exactly rocket science.

However, for Coach John Tortorella, finding answers to these problems may be close to it. Ales Kotalik is goal-less in his last nine contests (playing him five minutes a game and not on the power-play has a lot to do with it, doesn't it Mr. Tortorella?). Chris Drury, Ryan Callahan, and Christopher Higgins have combined for just eight (eight!) goals. Wade Redden's absence has resulted in the Rangers throwing out three rookies on defense, which means that five of their six defensemen in those games have been 25 years or younger. Going against Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin with a rookie defenseman on each of your three defensive pairs...yikes!

Not exactly the recipe for success.

While fixing all of these problems at once may seem to be a monumental task, there is one thing the Rangers forwards need to do that will alleviate many of the teams' problems - get to the net.

Going to net is a means for guys like Drury, Callahan, and Higgins to pick up some dirty goals. Going to net results in power-play opportunities for a team that needs to garner substantial time with the man advantage to generate offense. Going to the net will make this team harder to play against.

Ovechkin Banned, The Instigator Rule

Well, everyone knew this day would come eventually.

The NHL suspended Alex Ovechkin for two games for his vicious knee-on-knee hit on Tim Gleason. And about time, too.

Many around the hockey world, including me, had a major problem with the NHL not disciplining Ovechkin after his slewfoot of Atlanta's Rich Peverley, despite the fact that Anaheim's Evgeny Artyukhin was suspended for three games after committing an eerily similar slewfoot to that of Ovechkin's. Artyukhin was suspended on the same day that Ovechkin slewfooted Peverley.

Star treatment? Uh, duh.

Colin Campbell, the Senior VP and Director of Hockey Operations for the NHL, maintained that Artyukhin is a repeat offender while Ovechkin had a clean slate, which factored into his decisions.

Let's be real, here, Ovechkin did have a history. How about his knee-on-knee hit with Sergei Gonchar in last season's playoffs? His hit from behind on Jamie Heward? His hit to the back of an unsuspecting Danny Briere?

But today serves as a start. Props to Colin Campbell for (finally) making the right call. I have nothing against Ovechkin. He's one of my favorite players to watch, he's entertaining, and the fashion and rate at which he scores goals is other worldly. But the guy is wreck less. I'm a huge proponent of physical place, but you can't run around the ice continually throwing your body into other players without regard for the position they are in.

On the Gleason hit Ovechkin clearly leads with his knee - huge "no, no." Players who repeatedly break the "code" lose a tremendous amount of respect from their peers, and also make themselves targets in the process. Ovechkin may think he is, as he puts it, a "Big Russian Machine" who will never slow down or be injured - but he will, and he has so far this season - twice now (although this knee injury appears to be nothing serious).

Ovechkin would be wise to learn from this. Players around the league don't like these hits one iota. Nor does the league. Playing with a physical edge is part of what makes Ovechkin great. Playing with complete and utter wreck less abandon is what makes him a target - a target for suspension, a target for injury, and a target in the eyes of his opponent...

Speaking of the code, yet again I am reminded of why the instigator rule is, hands down, the stupidest rule in the game today.

In this past Saturday's contest featuring the Rangers versus the Penguins, Matt Cooke tattooed an unsuspecting Artem Anisimov in the head. Moving aside from whether the hit was clean or not, Donald Brashear, soon after, attempted to engage Matt Cooke in a fight, or at the very least, let Cooke know he was there.

Of course, the refs stepped in right away, and everyone in the building knew that Cooke would never actually fight Brashear, and that, because of the instigator rule, Cooke was completely protected. Cooke did answer the bell when challenged by Ryan Callahan - but that's not exactly a huge burden for Cooke to endure; Callahan is hardly what anyone would consider a fighter.

Do you think Cooke might think twice before ticking off the Rangers again after fighting Callahan? I don't. Do you think he might think twice before ticking off the Rangers if he had to tussle with Donald Brashear? He certainly would.

Rangers Coach John Tortorella had this to say after the game:

"Some of these guys that go about doing that and have no fear at all, as far as maybe a little retribution, it will continue. That's why our game is more violent right now. I think guys hide behind that rulebook...The linesman jumps in when someone is trying to take care of business. That should have been left alone. This is where our game is screwed up, as far as I'm concerned. There's just no respect in these types of situations. I think the rulebook has a little bit to do with that."

"Torts" is exactly right. All the instigator rule does is protect cheap shot agitators like Patrick Kaleta, Maxim Lapierre, and Jarkko Ruutu. They knew they can go out on the ice and act like complete idiots because they don't have to fight. That may seem barbaric to some, but it's one of the fundamental purposes of fighting in hockey (or at least it was).

"Alright, you want to take a run at our team's star player? That's fine, but be prepared to hear from our team's heavyweight."

That's how it should be. These agitators are completely protected.

As for the people who have a problem with fighting after clean hits - that's part of being a team! If you see one of your teammates, someone who puts it all on the line for you every night, get clobbered by a Dion Phaneuf open ice hit - clean or not - you're going to want retribution.

Of course, I doubt the league ever takes the instigator rule out of the game. They'll think no instigator rule equates with more fighting, and we all know the league doesn't want that. But it needs to be done. Put the game back in the players' hands; let them police themselves.

Unless more responsibility is given to the players, expect each and every agitator to continue serving their role as village idiot.

Which Division is Tops?

One point of contention I always enjoy debating concerns which division is the best in the NHL. The debate changes every season as each team, and by extension, division, endures some degree of changes and moves further along, or backward, in their maturation process.

Starting from the bottom, here's how I'd rank the six NHL divisions.

6. Southeast Division

- Commonly referred to as the "South-Least Division," this division has remained in the NHL cellar for a while now. Here's a quick breakdown of this division's recent playoff appearances:

2008-2009: 2
2007-2008: 1*
2006-2007: 2
2005-2006: 2

*Keep in mind the one team that actually made the playoffs from this division, the Washington Capitals, garnered only 94 points - the same amount as the eighth place Boston Bruins.

However, it is true that the Southeast Division could lay claim to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2004 (Tampa Bay Lightning) and the year after the lockout in 2006 (Carolina Hurricanes).

Although this division is certainly improved this season, they are still far removed from being what one could term a strong division. Of their three current playoff hopefuls - the Caps, Lightning, and the Atlanta Thrashers - expect no more than two of these teams to find themselves engaged in spring hockey.

5. Northeast Division

- The Northeast Division has found itself in the midst of a downward spiral. The Battle of Ontario has lost much of its luster, the Ottawa Senators window of opportunity to win a cup has closed, and the division's top returning team, the Boston Bruins, has started a bit slow out of the gate (though injuries have had much to do with it).

In fact, they are nearly neck-and-neck with the Southeast for the title of worst division in hockey.

Once considered one of the tougher divisions in hockey, the Northeast Division has struggled mightily here in the first quarter of the '09-'10 season.

4. Northwest Division

- Looking at the teams in the Northwest Division, it's hard to find a team that you can get really excited about.

The Calgary Flames possess an excellent defense and a top-end tender, but looking at their offense - does anyone really think these guys will be able to manufacture enough offense come playoff time? Same story for the Vancouver Canucks, although the playoffs are certainly not a given for this B.C. team. The Colorado Avalanche have been a nice story with their hot start, but they are very young and get out shot nearly every game. The Edmonton Oilers are very "eh," while the Minnesota Wild have less talent than nearly every team in the league.

Although this division is far from weak, their top teams have too many holes in their games. A Cup champ from this division in '09-'10 is very unlikely.

3. Pacific Division

- The Pacific Division possesses the top regular season team in the league (San Jose Sharks), three greatly improved teams compared to a season ago (Los Angeles Kings, Phoenix Coyotes, Dallas Stars), and one floundering team that still boasts some of the top players in the league (Anaheim Ducks).

Simply put, no coach, player, or fan likes when their squad is playing against the teams in this division. The Sharks are simply better than you, the Kings and Coyotes employ super-tight defensive game plans than will stymie you, the Stars are far from a bunch of "nice guys," and nearly every game they play is a one or two goal game which will have you pulling out your hair, and the Ducks, well, no one enjoys playing against the Ducks' old school physical style of play (until they are on the power-play for half of the game) which will leave you black and blue.

2. Central Division

- The Central Division has a great blend of quality teams. You have the perennial Cup contending Detroit Red Wings, a soon-to-be perennial Cup contender in the Chicago Blackhawks, the up-and-coming Columbus Blue Jackets and St. Louis Blues, and the always tough to be play Nashville Predators.

In '08-'09 the Central Division featured four playoff teams, five of the top ten teams in the Western Conference, and a Conference Final that featured two Central Division teams (the Wings and Hawks).

The Central Division had a great season in '08-'09. The future could be even brighter.

1. Atlantic Division

- Coming into this season, I would've probably given the slight edge to the Central over the Atlantic Division as the top division in hockey. But with the very impressive play of the Jacques Lemaire coached New Jersey Devils and the surpisingly solid start of the New York Islanders, it's clear that there is no better division than that of the Atlantic.

In each of the past three seasons the Atlantic Division has featured four teams in the playoffs. The division features elite goaltending (Martin Brodeur, Henrik Lundqvist, Marc-Andre Fleury, a resurgent Ray Emery, and a vastly underrated Dwayne Roloson) and a plethora of star power upfront, as well (Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Zach Parise, Marian Gaborik, Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, and John Tavares).

Not to mention, they possess last year's Stanley Cup Champions (Pittsburgh Penguins), and for my money, this year's Cup favorite (Philadelphia Flyers).

The Atlantic Division is an all-around force.

Somebody Might Want to Show This to Ovechkin...

Check out this great goal celebration gone wrong.

When Swedish goal celebrations go wrong

Beauty of a goal, as well...

A Few Friday Thoughts

Here are a few things that I'm pondering as we head into the weekend...

1. Peter Forsberg...coming back?
- Is he going to come back? While the "will he?" or "won't he?" talk usually drives me crazy (cough, cough, Brett Farve, cough, cough), I'll definitely be monitoring how the Forsberg situation plays out. I'm not a doctor, so I won't bother attempting to dissect how his funky foot is holding up. All I know is that when this guy steps out onto the ice, he's a difference maker. The last we saw of Forsberg he was putting up 14 points in just nine games with the Colorado Avalanche in '07-'08, despite not playing for nearly the entire season. If he goes to a team where he doesn't have to be relied on as a go-to-guy (ex: Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals), that team will be greatly benefited. So far the Flyers, Caps, Vancouver Canucks, Colorado Avalanche, and New York Rangers have all publicly claimed interest in signing the Swedish playmaker. For now, Forsberg wants to put his foot through the paces a little while longer before committing to a contract, whether it be in the NHL, KHL, or Swedish Elite League. Could you imagine a top six featuring Alex Ovechkin, Alexander Semin, Nicklas Backstrom, and Peter Forsberg? Yikes...

2. The boys in Philly are scary good.
- How many other fans of teams in the Atlantic Division broke whatever they were holding when the Philadelphia Flyers traded for and then signed Chris Pronger? The Flyers were already a force to be reckoned with, but adding Pronger has made them the class of the Eastern Conference...easily. Literally the only question the Flyers faced coming into this season was 'how will Ray Emery hold up?' Well, it's clear he's going to hold up just fine and dandy for the orange and black. As a Ranger fan - at least they are up tight against the cap. Could you imagine if the Flyers added their old captain back into the fold? Mike Richards, Jeff Carter, Danny Briere, Simon Gagne, Scott Hartnell, Claude Giroux, James van Riemsdyk, and Peter Forsberg? I'd rather not even think about it...

3. Those freakin' Devils...
- There's a reason Lou Lamoriello was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Monday. It's because the guy's an absolute genius. By now, most hockey fans should've come to the realization that there will always be three constants in New Jersey:

1. They will make the playoffs.
2. They will have good goaltending (Martin Brodeur will own nearly every goalie record in the book by the time he hangs up the skates).
3. They will have "smart" hockey players.

Lamoriello's genius is simple in theory. Find smart hockey players with good work ethics and a coach who can get the most out of them. Every single player on Lamoriello's teams works their butt off and utilizes their smarts to fit into whatever system their coach employs. It's very fitting that their current and future star player, Zach Parise, is probably the single hardest worker in the NHL. The names and faces may change, but the song always remains the same for Lou Lamoriello's New Jersey Devils.

Some Early Tuesday Night Ramblings

When Ryan Smyth was moved to the Los Angeles Kings, I assumed one of the central beneficiaries would be the Kings' number one center, Anze Kopitar.

However, never in my wildest dreams would I have guessed that Kopitar would be leading the NHL in goals and points nearly midway through November. In Los Angeles' first 18 games, the Kopitar / Smyth connection has tallied 22 goals, 48 points, and a +15 rating in the plus minus column, while helping lead the Kings to a solid 10-6-2 start.

The acquisition of Smyth has allowed King's Coach Terry Murray to balance his scoring amongst his top three lines. The Kings currently have seven players with 13 points or more, including franchise cornerstone defenseman Drew Doughty, who garners 15 points here in the early season.

When the Kings signed Kopitar to a seven-year, $47.6 million contract extension last October, they expected to have a star on their hands in the near future. They were right. The future is now for the slick skating Slovenian center, and a playoff berth is a definite possibility in Los Angeles....

The Nashville Predators have just 31 goals in 15 games. Atlanta's Rich Peverley, who the Predators put on waivers last season, has seven goals and 17 points in 14 games.

Despite back-to-back seasons in the AHL with over a point per-game, the Predators never gave Peverley a fair shot to consistently be placed in an offensive role at the NHL level. Barry Trotz does an excellent job of producing average results with less than average talent, but his lack of willingness to put young offensive players in roles in which they can succeed is questionable...

The Anaheim Ducks clearly don't miss Chris Pronger at all...neither did the Edmonton Oilers before them...or the St. Louis Blues before them...HA!

The Edmonton Oilers have yet to make the playoffs since Pronger's departure in the summer of '06, while the Blues found themselves in last year's playoffs, which was their first since Pronger left St. Louis after the '03-'04 season.

Despite the many accolades thrown his way, is it possible that Chris Pronger is underrated? There are not many players in the NHL that are able to impose their will on all facets of the game like Pronger. Since moving to the Blues as a 20-year old in 1995, no team he has played for has missed the playoffs. That's not a coincidence, folks....

Kudos to Wayne Gretzky for showing up at the Hockey Hall of Fame Inductions Ceremony last night. Due to the Phoenix Coyotes situation, the former 'Yotes bench boss has found himself in an awkward and unjust position.

It would've been completely understandable if he chose to stay away from the inductions, but Gretzky decided to cast aside his personal issues for a night to pay homage to some of the best that the NHL has ever seen. Having skated alongside Brian Leetch with the Rangers, Brett Hull with the Blues, Luc Robitaille with the Kings, and Steve Yzerman with Team Canada, it just wouldn't have been the same if "The Great One" wasn't in attendance...

Around The Rink: Jovo Cop, Shooting Stars, Ovie Out

Here's a few thoughts heading into an action-packed Thursday which will see 20 NHL squads take to the ice...

My early dark horse candidate for the Norris Trophy? Ed Jovanovski. "Jovo Cop" has done it all for 'Yotes' coach David Tippet. He's playing on a vastly underrated shutdown pairing with arguably the best shot-blocker in the game in Zybnek Michalek, is running the first unit power-play, and has been utilizing his size and reach to play a vital role for Phoenix on the penalty kill.

Jovanovski leads the 'Yotes in goals and points, to boot. If he can continue to pile up the shots and stay out of the penalty box, the 33-year old defender could be in for a career year...

When you're talking about the best forward groups in the game, the Dallas Stars don't usually come to mind.

They should.

Led by up-and-coming power forward James Neal and a revitalized Brad Richards, the Dallas Stars possess a talented, well-rounded forward core. Now at full health, the Stars lined up like this last night versus Calgary:

Loui Eriksson - Brad Richards - James Neal
Brendan Morrow - Mike Ribeiro - Jere Lehtinen
Steve Ott - Mike Modano - Jamie Benn
Fabian Brunnstrom - Tom Wandell - Brian Sutherby

Marc Crawford's Stars currently sit sixth in the league in goals-per-game. They should finish around that spot, and possibly higher. Richards has finally found the linemates he has been looking for, and has been running the Stars' power-play from the point as well as he used to for John Tortorella back in Tampa Bay. Despite battling a sore groin, Richards is starting to look like the Conn Smythe Trophy winner of 2004, once again...

Come on, you didn't eventually see this coming?

The Caps' Alex Ovechkin is currently out with a "shoulder strain" (separated shoulder, maybe?) - that has him listed as "day-to-day" in some spots and "week-to-week" in others - it depends who you ask.

It was only a matter of time before Ovechkin found himself nursing an injury. The self-titled "Big Russian Machine" plays one of the most physical games in the league, so an eventual injury(s), big or small, was inevitable.

Here's hoping the Great8 gets better quickly - so long as he's not playing your team, what hockey fan doesn't like watching Ovechkin?

Early Thoughts: Canadian Olympic Team

Talk about a daunting task.

Steve Yzerman, the head honcho in charge of assembling Canada's Olympic team, recently annouced that Hockey Canada will declare their selections for the 2010 Canadian Olympic Team sometime between Christmas and the New Year.

With a host of hopefuls to choose from, 'Stevie Y' will have to weigh several possibilities. It goes without saying that Canada expects Gold - anything short would be classified as catastrophic. After a seventh place finish in 2006, and this year's games being held on home turf in Vancouver, the pressure on Team Canada's players, coaches, and management will be intense, to say the least.

With the selections about two months away, I decided to play the role of Yzerman for a day. If the Olympics started next week (I will do this again sometime before Christmas), and under the assumption of 100% health, here's what my Team Canada would look like...

Forwards

Scoring Line 1: Rick Nash - Sidney Crosby - Ryan Smyth

Analysis: It appears evident from Canada's orientation camp that Nash will be riding shot-gun with Crosby on the top line. This is a great move - Nash's game compliments Sid's well, and his international resume is top notch. At this point your probably asking yourself, "Ryan Smyth...top line?" Many people probably won't even have Smyth on their rosters. I like him in this situation because he compliments the games of Nash and Crosby - especially Crosby - perfectly. Smyth can cycle the puck with the best of them, gets to the front of the net, and is by and far one of the saviest players around. His hot start playing alongside Anze Kopitar in Los Angeles shows just how much he can benefit top-end players. He can kill penalties, play the front of the net on the power-play - really any situation and he fits the role well.

Scoring Line 2A: Corey Perry - Ryan Getzlaf - Martin St. Louis

Analysis: While Ryan Getzlaf's play early in the season has left many wondering how it will affect his Olympic chances, I just don't buy it. Getzlaf is, and should be, a cert barring little to no improvement in his play - something he has already begun to rectify. Getzlaf is big, skilled, and imposing. The guy has a ring, as does this whole line, and was arguably the best player in the last year's playoffs up until the Ducks were eliminated. Corey Perry is an absolute vulture around the net, and has also performed well on the big stage, both during his World Junior experience and the playoffs. Think these guys are good with Anaheim? St. Louis will make them ten times better. St. Louis is savy with and without the puck, and can nicely compliment the cycling ability of the two big Ducks. These guys will score some beautiful goals - but, more importantly, they will get some greasy ones, as well.

Scoring Line 2B: Shane Doan - Joe Thornton - Jarome Iginla

Analysis: This would be my Team Canada's most experienced line. Although I still question Thornton's overall toughness, he is just too skilled not to make the team. Guys like Iginla and Doan could definitely bring out the best in Thornton. This line brings plenty of size, plenty of scoring, and plenty of smarts. Also, no coach of this trio is going to bat an eye if they happen to be out against the other team's top line. In a tournament with enormous pressure, you cannot discount the leadership of Iginla and Doan.

Checking Line: Jeff Carter - Mike Richards - Brendan Morrow

Analysis: Alex Ovechkin, do you know Mike Richards? This threesome is the ideal checking line for Team Canada. Richards and Morrow are in your face players who will batttle with a vengeance every single second of every single shift. Carter is a vastly underrated defensive forward who would have no problem shifting to the wing, a spot he occupied playing alongside Richards during the orientation camp. Also note you have a center who can take faceoffs on the left side (Richards), and one who can take faceoffs on the right side (Carter). This trio of 200 feet players are no slouches offensively, either.

Extra: Steven Stamkos

Analysis: Plenty of candidates here, but I'd go with Stamkos. If things start off slowly, the team will need a spark - someone who has the talent to come in and be a game-breaker. Stamkos, even at his tender age, possesses this game-breaking ability. He is off to a torrid start, and has shown he can fit in well with elite players (St. Louis).

Defense

- First, let me prelude by saying I decided against designating a shutdown pair. Rather, I have paired atleast one defenseman who is more than capable of playing in a shutdown role (Pronger, Bouwmeester, Staal) with a defenseman who is a bit more on the offensive side, but still quality defensively (Doughty, Niedermayer, Boyle).

Pair 1: Chris Pronger - Drew Doughty

Analysis: I'm sure 99% of those out there guessing what Team Canada will look like don't have 19-year old Drew Doughty on their prospective rosters, at least not currently. They should. Doughty has been an absolute monster this year at both ends of the rink. Forget his age - I could care less. I want his puck moving and poise on my Team Canada. If there is any reserve about his experience, well, that should be eased by the fact that I have him paired with Chris Pronger. There is not much that needs to be said in the case of Pronger -he will undoubtedly be Canada's anchor on the back-end.

Pair 2: Scott Niedermayer - Jay Bouwmeester

Analysis: You will not find a faster possible defensive pairing on the planet than that of Niedermayer and Bouwmeester. Bouwmeester is essentially a younger, bigger, better defensively but less offensively advanced version of Scott Niedermayer. Together, these two can help bring the game's tempo to whatever level Team Canada wants it set.

Pair 3: Marc Staal - Dan Boyle

Analysis: John Tortorella's current number one defenseman meets Tortorella's old number one defenseman in this Team Canada defensive pairing. Boyle is best when he is free to roam. Staal is best when he is free to stay at home. It's a match made in heaven. Don't forget Staal's exploits on the World Junior circuit, not to mention a playoff MVP in the OHL. When the stage is grand, so is Staal's play.

Extra: Duncan Keith

Analysis: Keith brings speed, poise, and smarts. The only reason I have him as the seventh defenseman is because I better like the way my top six fits together. Make no mistake about it, Keith is a great option.

Goalies

Starter: Marc-Andre Fleury

Analysis: Give me the (most recent) winner. Fleury's early season play has been excellent. In fact, dating back to the 60, or so, game mark last season, you'd be hard pressed to find a goalie that has been more consistently on his game than Pittsburgh's tender. Although this spot will be most subject to a possible change come Olympic time, right now I want the goalie with the top-end confidence. Fleury has been oozing with it for a while now.

Backup 1: Roberto Luongo

Analysis: Barring injury, Luongo is nearly a cert to make the team. If he is hot come tournament time, he's Team Canada's starter, no questions asked. Right now I just think Fleury is better.

Backup 2: Martin Broduer

Analysis: He may be old in years, but the guy's still a heck of a goalie. The one thing that scares me with Brodeur is his tendency to give up weaks goals from bad angles.

Noteable Omissions

Vincent Lecavalier - Stamkos has been much better in the early season and towards the end of last year. He just hasn't played at an Olympic caliber since his shoulder surgery.

Dany Heatley - It was tough leaving a great goal scorer like Heatley off my team. The fact of the matter is goals are great, but my Team Canada will score plenty of those already. Heatley isn't a 200 foot player and isn't hard to play against.

Brad Richards - Although he's hardly on anbody's radar, I think his early season play warrants consideration. Richards is a quality two-way player who can run a power-play from the point and fit into a lot of situations.

Mike Green - He's just not good enough defensively. I'd actually argue he's below (NHL) average defensively. The power-play will be A-Okay without him.

Dion Phaneuf - I don't like how he matches up against top-end talent (Ovechkin, Datsyuk, Malkin). Much like Green, the power-play will be fine without his help.

Shea Weber - He warrants serious consideration, but I just simply think the players I picked are better fits.

Cam Ward - If Ward starts playing like he did the second half of last season and into the playoffs, he should make the team, even at the expense of a guy like Brodeur.

Crosby's Goal Scoring Binge

Much has been made of late about Sidney Crosby's goal scoring prowess. Dating back to last year's playoffs, Crosby has scored 24 goals in 37 games. Pro-rate that over an 82-game season and you're looking at a 53 goal season.

So much for Sid not being an "elite" goal scorer.

It's also worth mentioning that the Pens' Captain is four-for-four in the shoot-out this year, helping Pittsburgh reach a 4-0 mark in their contests that have gone beyond the extra session.

I never quite understood why so many people thought Sid the Kid would never be one of the top goal scorers in the league. This is a 22-year old who garnered 120 goals in 121 regular season junior games, and notched 39 tallies in his rookie reason.

I remember reading this article by Ken Campbell of The Hockey News last December, which explained that Crosby isn't, nor would he ever be, a top-end goal scorer.

"The concern I have for Crosby is that he may never emerge as a truly elite goal-scorer in the NHL. In fact, instead of taking his goal-scoring up a notch as his career progresses, Crosby appears to be faltering more in that department as each season goes by. Through the early part of this season, the dip in scoring for Crosby has been as precipitous as it has been mysterious. His goal-drought to date has reached a career-high nine games."

Campbell also pointed out Crosby's then less than stellar faceoff abilities.

The guy was 21 at the time!

It is important to remember the age of some of these guys, especially Sidney Crosby. To think Crosby wouldn't improve his faceoff and goal-scoring abilities at that point in his career was downright foolish.

This year, Crosby finally made the switch over to a composite stick, and also gave the once nearly straight blade he used a little more curve. Has that made a difference? Certainly.

But the biggest reason Crosby's goal-scoring prowess has been on the rise is because of his mind-set, which took form during last year's playoffs.

Look at the situation logically. One, he's playing with Bill Guerin and Chris Kunitz. Kunitz went well over thirty games without a goal on Crosby's line. That's mind-boggling. Two, he was using what amounted to be a mini hockey stick. Seriously, short stick, wood blade, straight curve. The fact that he was even able to shoot as well as he could is impressive.

And remember, he led the playoffs in goals last season with that very stick, so explaining his goal scoring for this season using his new stick as the sole reasoning is off base.

If you look at Crosby's maturation process, he went about almost everything the right way.

1. Rookie season - put up points and learn what it takes to play in the NHL. Check.
2. Sophmore season - carry team into the playoffs. Check.
3. Third season - work on defensive play, carry team deep into the playoffs. Check.
4. Fourth season - work on faceoffs, take next step in playoffs: Stanley Cup. Check.
5. Fifth season - work on shooting. Check. Stanley Cup? TBD.

Crosby's learned to do things that took many great players years. Did Steve Yzerman learn how to play a quality defensive game at the age of 21? Not even close. How are Ovechkin's defensive abilities compared to Crosby's? Clear edge to Sid. How about Malkin improving on his faceoffs? Laughable.

Crosby's a pro's pro who works very hard on crafting and improving each aspect of his game.

Sometimes it's important to take a step back and realize what Crosby has accomplished.

The Injury Bug and The Richards Hit

Turns out the Markov, Sedin, and Franzen injuries were just the tip of the iceberg, huh?

Add the likes of Ilya Kovalchuk, Marc Savard, Milan Lucic, Sergei Gonchar, Sheldon Souray, Jonathon Toews, Brent Seabrook, Jason Arnott, John-Michael Liles, Paul Martin, David Booth, Justin Williams, Kim Johnsson, and T.J. Oshie.

And that's only the most noticeable recent casualties.

The depth of many teams is really being put to the test early. Here's a few situations that will be worth monitoring:

Atlanta - Kovalchuk said he wants to see how the team is progressing before he re-ups with the Thrashers. Well, for the next month, or so, we will see how well Don Waddell's team can fare without it's best player.

Boston - If you want to talk about offensive depth, you want to talk about the Boston Bruins. With the Savard and Lucic injuries, a handful of B's players deserving of bigger roles will get the chance to let Claude Julien take a gander at the goods. Players like Vladimir Sobotka and Brad Marchand got the call up from the AHL, and will do their best to stay up with the big team. Much of the added weight will fall onto the shoulders of Patrice Bergeron and Blake Wheeler, who will step into bigger offensive roles in Savard and Lucic's absence.

Pittsburgh - Last year: 27-24-5 without Gonchar. 18-4-4 with Gonchar. Alex Goligoski and Kris Letang will really have to step it up on the blue-line. Without Gonchar Pittsburgh takes a gigantic hit in all three zones. Expect the power-play to take a big dip.

New Jersey - Paul Martin is the best defenseman that nobody talks about. Can the Devils survive without their defensive leader? Expect Cory Murphy to get called up from Lowell, but I don't see him having a quality impact for Jacques Lemaire's club. Murphy is a poor-man's Marc-Andre Bergeron. His offensive exploits aren't on Bergeron's level, and they are both atrocious defensively...

Much has been made about the Mike Richards hit on David Booth, for which Richards received no suspension.

You know why?

Because it was a legal hit.

The onus on the "hitter" should be to use his shoulder, not leave his feet, not charge, and never hit a player from behind. The "hitter" should only hit a player while, or immediately after they move the puck.

Richards complied with all of these requirements.

It is the person being hit's responibility to protect himself from vulnerable positions, especially when crossing into the middle of the ice.

Look, if you want to debate the validity of a hit like this falling under the category of "legal hit," be my guest. There's plenty of people saying hits like this - to the head, from the blindside, a split second after the player releases the puck - should be taken out of the game.

Well, that's a "noble" goal, but it's not applicable. The NHL is a fast-paced, physical game. Nobody likes seeing players taken off on a stretcher after taking a good lick to the head, but it happens. So long as there is hitting in the game, injuries will occur. It's unfortunate, but it's a consummate truth.

During last year's playoffs, then NHLPA executive director Paul Kelly was campaigning for a new rule penalizing hits to the head. The NHL's general managers were vehemently against this. Yahoo's Greg Wyshynski combated Kelly's proposal perfectly, explaining:

"It's easy to get suckered into siding with the NHLPA in this situation, because selling 'we're trying to save lives, here' is easier than selling 'we're trying to keep things violent and protect our market share' for the NHL...Don't buy the players' line. It's a sport whose fundamental system and game-play leads to injury. This is an attempt to make the legal illegal, and it's preposterous to believe it won't affect the fundamentals of the Game at the NHL level."

Couldn't have put it better, myself.

Defense, Defense, Defense...

Those entertaining-hockey-hating-boring-stupid-defensive-minded NHL coaches! Whether you just enjoy watching a quality hockey game with great flow or manage a fantasy hockey team, odds are you hate these guys with a fiery passion.

Although the "New" NHL is suppose to be all about scoring, these coaches are still abroad. The left-wing locks and the neutral zone traps that were employed by many prior to the lockout may not be as prevalent in today's NHL, but these defensive masterminds have still found new ways to trap, stymie, and limit their opponents offensively.

What kind of success have these defensive coaches had? Let's start by looking at the Stanley Cup winning coaches starting with the first season after the lockout:

- Peter Laviolette - His 'Canes were 19th in goals against and 3rd in goals for. Laviolette employed a highly offensive system, and was willing to go chance-for-chance with his opponents.

- Randy Carlyle - His Ducks ranked 7th in goals against and were tied for 8th in goals for. Carlyle's system was fairly defensive, though not to the point where it was constricting. Carlyle relies heavily on match-ups. During the Ducks' dream season he allowed the offensive players to focus on offense and the defensive players to focus on defense.

- Mike Babcock - His Wings were 1st in goals against and were 3rd in goals for. Babcock has always taught strong defense (His Ducks' run to the cup final in '02-'03 featured one of the most boring styles of play - ever. They also didn't have nearly the talent of the Wings, so Babcock smartly coached to his teams' strength.). His Wings played a solid puck-control game, allowing their best defense to be a good offense.

- Dan Bylsma - The Pens of '08-'09 ranked 17th in goals against and 5th in goals for. Bylsma only coached the Pens for a quarter of the season, in which they took on a significant offensive persona.

Looking at these stats, we can come to these numbers and conclusions:

- All of these teams could score goals. The average 'goals for' finish of the four post-lockout champs was 4.75.
- How these teams faired defensively varied - significantly. The average finish for 'goals against' amongst these four teams is 11th, meaning slightly above average. The range is also quite wide, ranging all the way from 1st to 19th.

Now let's look at the average numbers from the previous four Cup champs prior to the lock-out:

'00-'01 Colorado Avalanche - 3rd in goals against, 4th in goals for.
'01-'02 Detroit Red Wings - 3rd in goals against, 2nd in goals for.
'02-'03 New Jersey Devils - 1st in goals against, 14th in goals for.
'03-'04 Tampa Bay Lightning - 10th in goals against, 3rd in goals for.

The average 'goals against' finish for these four Cup champs is 4.25, while the average 'goals for' finish was 5.75.

These numbers don't lie.

The four post-lockout winners have finished, on average, 6.75 spots lower in 'goals against,' but 1.00 spots higher in 'goals for.' While three of the four of the pre-lockout winners finished amongst the top three in 'goals against,' only one of the four post-lockout winners even finished in the top six.

The difference is black and white.

So, this begs the question - can a defensive-minded coach win in the "New" NHL?

I'd say, 'No.'

While a defensive-minded coach can make a poor team average - something Jacques Lemaire was able to do with the Wild, and that Barry Trotz has done forever in Nashville - to win in the new NHL you need to be able to consistently score goals, something these coaches constantly sacrifice for the sake of defense. The top-end teams find ways to play a viable defensive game while not sacrificing much on the offensive side of the puck.

One of the most currently talked about defensive-minded coaches in the NHL is Ken Hitchcock. The Jackets' Bench Boss has won a Stanley Cup in '98-'99 with the Stars, and has since made stops in Philadelphia and now Columbus.

Hitchcock has just two playoff victories since the lockout, and zero playoff series victories.

Like him or not, he should be commended for the way he has been able to transform the likes of Mike Modano, Brett Hull, and Rick Nash from offensive dynamos into excellent 200 feet players.

Hitchcock is the consummate defensive-minded coach. He refuses to play young players big minutes until he feels that they are able to cope 100% with their defense responsibilities. 'Hitch' also has no problem playing guys better suited for third and fourth line roles on his top two lines, believing their defensive capabilities can off-set some of the defensive liability that his offensive players may present.

Last season, Hitchcock's defensive system elevated the Jackets from the doldrums of the Western Conference and into the playoffs, where they were swept in four games by the Red Wings.

I hope the Jackets are content with just making the playoffs. Because under Hitchcock, that is all they can hope to accomplish.

For the Jackets to be successful in the long-run, they will need to allow their young players to mature, learn the finer points of being NHL players, and then prosper.

Jakub Voracek. Derick Brassard. Nikita Filatov. I'm all for these players learning how to play defense, but in Hitchcock's system their growth is being significantly stunted.

When Hitchcock was able to mold guys like Modano, Hull, and Nash into quality defensive players to go along with their offensive prowess, they had all already learned how to score at the NHL level, play in a prominent offensive role, and be go-to players for their teams offensively.

Voracek, Brassard, Filatov - these guys haven't learned that just yet. Brassard to some extent has, due in large part to a year of seasoning in the AHL, but on the whole, these kids have yet to learn what it is to log quality minutes and be go-to guys offensively.

Hitchcock, along with many other defensive coaches, such as Barry Trotz and Jacques Lemaire, need to accept that playing your talented youth is a vital part of the game as it is played today. Lemaire is probably just as bad as Hitchcock, if not worse. James Sheppard, Colton Gillies, Benoit Pouliot - the list goes on. He is largely to blame for the horrid development of these players. Trotz isn't quite as bad with training his youth, but still helped drive a very talented, sure-to-be star in Alexander Radulov away from the Preds and into the hands of the KHL.

NHL management needs to learn that a good defensive-minded coach can successfully keep a mediocre or poor team afloat, and in the playoff picture.

What they cannot do is build an NHL team into a true Stanley Cup contender.

Great Article from TSN's James Duthie

Excellent article from James Duthie of TSN on Matt Duchene and Cody Hodgson.

Check it out:

Boyhood pals Duchene and Hodgson now a world apart

Hockey in the States

Oh, to be a hockey fan in the States.

It seems like the only time ESPN gives hockey any air-time is when somebody either mutilates somebody else with a stick, gets hurt badly in a fight and they decide to talk about the validity of fighting, Sidney Crosby or Alexander Ovechkin have a big game, or something "ridiculous" happens in the hockey world.

I've come to accept this, and don't really expect it to change. There are plenty of other places I can get my hockey fix (mostly from north of the border), and most of the time I could care less that ESPN ignores hockey.

But sometimes something happens that just irritates the heck of out of me. For instance, tonight a hockey story actually made one of the top headlines on ESPN.com's main page.

The article is entitled "Puck naked: Tampa Bay Lightning strip it off for team unity."

Really?

Earlier today on TSN.ca, I saw a clip of Marty St. Louis continually missing penalty shots and having to take off an article of clothing with each miss. It was pretty funny. It was just a little side story, and far from a top-headline for TSN.

ESPN continually ignores hockey and then pushes this article onto the front page of their website?

Nothing about the Pens going to 8-1 and possibly losing Sergei Gonchar to a broken wrist? Nothing about the Habs snapping their five game losing streak? Nothing about Mikko Koivu being named Wild Captain?

Look, I can deal without these stories because I know most people in the States could care less. Nearly all of my friends, outside of those I've played hockey with, know very little about what's going on in the hockey world. If they see a game on TV, they're game to watch. They'll even admit nothing beats an NHL playoff game.

But, they just can't get as into it as they do for basketball, baseball, and football. I've fully accepted that. The bottom line is the game will never have the same roots in this country as a whole as it does in other places, namely Canada. Don't get me wrong, there are many U.S. cities where hockey thrives. But, there are nearly just as many cities undeserving of an NHL franchise.

I want to get across two points here:

For starters, ESPN, either report the game as it should be or don't at all. You made a quality play recently with the addition of Pierre Lebrun, and I thought you were on the right track. I understand that the only way hockey will ever make your front page headlines is if you're network is broadcasting the games. Until that point comes (maybe I should say, if it ever comes), please stop only featuring stupid, solely attention-grabbing headlines. It just makes our game look like a joke.

And lastly, NHL, cut the dead weight. There are plenty of Canadian cities who would love to get their hands on an NHL franchise. Phoenix, Atlanta, and Florida should definitely be moved, and there's plenty more that are candidates. Why try to build up a non-existent fan-base when there are plenty of cities north of the border that will unconditionally love an NHL franchise (ain't that right Toronto fans!). Not every city is going to be blessed with a Crosby, an Ovechkin, a Toews and a Kane, or a John Tavares. Fans in Canada will support their team even if their best active forward right now is Alexei Ponikarovsky (once again, sorry Toronto fans).

So ESPN, have some class. NHL (or should I say Gary Bettman), use some logic.

Quick Hits

- All good things must come to an end, and the Sharks made that mighty clear tonight versus the Rangers at the Garden. It was an ugly 7-3 loss for the Blueshirts that saw San Jose notch six straight goals. It's hard to call out John Tortorella, whose called all the right shots thus far, but starting Steve Valiquette when the Rangers haven't played since Saturday and not again until Thursday is definitely a questionable move. To put Lundqvist in to start the third period in a 5-2 game that you didn't deem important enough to start him in the first place (it being an out of conference game) is an even more questionable move. Valiquette failed to supply the Rangers with the big saves that could've changed the outcome of the game. Hopefully the Rangers just mark this one down as a stinker and keep playing like they have over their first eight games.

- Dany Heatley was playing on the "second" power-play unit. Expect a trade request shortly - his role on the team has clearly been diminished!

- Michael Del Zotto scored again. Four goals, five assists, and nine points in nine games - it goes without saying, very impressive.

- Tonight's game was easily Marian Gaborik's least effective as a Ranger. He was a non-factor, and saw his point streak to start the season snapped at eight games. It happens. Expect a big game against the Devils on Thursday from the Rangers' game-breaker.

- Dustin Penner has started the season strong with five goals and nine points in the Oiler's first seven games. How do you feel about that MacT?

- Ilya Kovalchuk has quietly put up seven goals to lead the Thrashers to a 4-1-0 start. I still don't think the Thrashers make the playoffs, but if you're a Thrasher fan (correction, if there is a Thrasher fan) you need to be encouraged with what you're seeing.

- Can Brian Burke do all us Yankees a favor and fire Ron Wilson...as Team USA's coach?

- Eric Staal - two goals, two points in seven games. Ryan Getzlaf - three assists, three points in seven games. Staal is a bubble player to make Team Canada, and you have to think Getzlaf was down as a "probable." Could both play their way off the team? It's only a handful of games, but with an ultra-competitive field of Canadian players in contention, every game is important.

- The Canadiens have lost five straight. What a shocker...

- While on the subject of the Northeast Division, how about the Sens? Despite a poor start by Jason Spezza, the Sens are sitting pretty at 5-2-0. Daniel Alfredsson has played well, and has seemed to have jump-started Alexei Kovalev. Milan Michalek regrouped from a slow start to register a hat trick on the 15th versus Tampa Bay. Playoffs? It's very possible. I said at the start of the season the Northeast would be very interesting - nearly everyone had the teams slotting in for fairly different finishes. The one team everyone expected to be a certainy was Boston, and they've looked nothing like their squad of last season. Now they'll have to deal with no Milan Lucic for 4-6 weeks - but, hey, he was pretty invisible for the their first seven tilts of the season, anyway.

- Every once in a while don't you just stop and question, "Imagine if Crosby and Malkin actually had legitimate wingers?" In the salary-cap era, it may never happen.