Avalanche Hockey

Marcus Robbins asked:


The Detroit Red Wings ran away from the pack last season to again win the President’s trophy and followed up with a Cup win. The power is clearly in the West in the NHL. Here is how the West shapes up heading into the 2008-09 campaign

The Division Winners:

1. Detroit Red Wings - The defending cup champions win the Central, the West, and the Presidents Trophy again. As hard as it is to believe, the Wings actually got better this summer acquiring prize free agent Marian Hossa. Ty Conklin was also added to back up starting goalie Chris Osgood. The only notable loss from the Cup winning team is future hall of famer Dominik Hasek, who was relegated to back up duty last season. The Wings will be led by Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk with Nicklas Lidstrom providing support from the blue line. The supporting cast is as good as any team in history. The Stanley Cup hangover, the Pacific powerhouses and aging stars are what stand between the Wings and a second straight Cup.

2. Dallas Stars – The Stars made two key acquisitions this summer, most notably Sean Avery. Avery is a super pest that drives opponents and team mates crazy with his tactics. He can be an effective player, but sometimes goes overboard. He was acquired with a rematch with the Red Wings in mind. The other player signed this summer is a bit of a wild card: Fabian Brunnstrom was a highly sought after free agent out of Sweden. The Stars are banking on Brunnstrom being able to live up to the hype that surrounded the auction for his services last spring. Long time Star Stu Barnes retired and Free agent Niklas Hagman left for Toronto and were the only two losses of note from last year’s roster that pushed the Wings in the Conference final. The Stars are led by Brenden Morrow who battles courageously each shift and are backed by Marty Turco who has shed his playoff flop reputation the past two springs. Time is running out on the Stars if they want to make a charge at the Cup as Sergei Zubov and Mike Modano are closing in on 40.

3. Edmonton Oilers – The Oilers were extremely active in the summer on the trade market. They acquired sniper Erik Cole from the Carolina Hurricanes for under achiever Joni Pitkanen. Jarret Stoll failed to live up to his potential last season and was sent to Los Angeles for power play Quarter back Lubomir Visnovsky. Finally Raffi Torres was sent to Columbus for young Gilbert Brule, who has struggled to stick in the league since being a first round selection by the Blue Jackets. The Oilers have plenty of young talented players to build around, led by Ales Hemsky, 2007 first rounder Sam Gagner and sophomore player Andrew Cogliano. The core veterans like Shawn Horcoff Dustin Penner, and Steve Staios are mostly a young core but with plenty of experience. Behind Visnovsky and Staios on the blue line is a mostly unknown group who played above expectations last season. Mathieu Garon was cut loose by Los Angeles and arrived in Edmonton with little fanfare. By November he had taken the #1 goalie job from incumbent Dwayne Roloson and put in an all star performance. The Oilers are clearly a team on the rise.

Playoff teams:

4. San Jose Sharks – The Sharks are looking to dispel the theory that they are a regular season team only and enjoy playoff success. They fired head coach Ron Wilson after another failed cup run and replaced him with former Red Wings assistant coach Todd McLellan who is getting his first opportunity as bench boss. The Sharks saw trade deadline acquisition Brian Campbell bolt via free agency, but acquired defensemen Dan Boyle (an upgrade over Campbell) in a trade for inconsistent youngster Matt Carle. Free agent blue liner Rob Blake will bring winning experience to the Sharks replacing Craig Rivet who was dispatched for a draft pick. No significant changes were made to the forward core and improvement must come from within. Patrick Marleau needs to rebound from a season that saw his production drop by 13 goals and 30 points.

5. Anaheim Ducks – The Ducks got off to a rough start last season coming off a Stanley Cup win, short summer, and a trip to Europe to start the season. Scott Niedermayer returned to the line up after contemplating retirement in December and the Ducks went on a tear, only to fall to Dallas in the first round when a lack of discipline sunk them. Niedermayer and Selanne who also didn’t play until part way through the season are both on board for the beginning of this season. Brendan Morrison was added via free agency and will fill the 2nd line center hole left by the trade of Andy McDonald. Todd Bertuzzi was disappointing last year after being signed as a free agent and was bought out this summer. Last year’s other acquisition Mathieu Schneider was traded away to make cap. The Ducks are counting on having all their ducks in a row to start the season getting them into better playoff positioning.

6. Chicago Black Hawks – As morbid as this sounds life was breathed into this franchise when long time owner Bill Wirtz passed away and son Rocky took over. The Hawks had fallen on hard times, but solid drafting by GM Dale Tallon is now being complemented by key free agent signings in an attempt to propel the once proud franchise back towards cup contending. Dynamic rookies Jon Toews and Pat Kane stepped into the Windy City spotlight and became stars. Patrick Sharp acquired for a bag of pucks from the Flyers emerged as a 36 goal scorer. Duncan Keith became one of the league’s most under rated blue liners. Only injuries to Martin Havlat and Nikolai Khabibulin kept Chicago from making the playoffs. Brian Campbell and Christobal Huet were signed to lucrative contracts. Jason Williams is the only player of consequence leaving Chicago. Look for continued development from Cam Barker and Brent Seabrook as they join Campbell and Keith to form one of the most formidable top 4 blue lines in the league – all under 30 years old. There are plenty of talented youngsters coming up through the system, like David Bolland, Jack Skille, Kyle Beach, Corey Crawford, and Akim Aliu who will fill out the roster over the next couple seasons as the Hawks look to end the longest Stanley Cup drought in the league (48 years).
7. Calgary Flames – This team was extremely disappointing last season. The team had the talent to win the Northwest but barely squeaked into the playoffs, clearly not responding to the coaching of Mike Keenan. Look for Keenan to be fired and replaced by the only coach this team seems to respond to, GM Darryl Sutter. Soft players Alex Tanguay (traded to Montreal) and Kristian Huselius (exited as free agent) are gone and replaced by Mike Cammalleri (trade) and Todd Bertuzzi (highly unpopular free agent signing in Calgary) 2007 1st rounder Mikael Backlund is expected to jump into the top 6 forwards. The biggest concern for Calgary last season was the erratic play of goalie Miikka Kiprusoff who seemed to falter after another 70+ game season. Finding a dependable back up to spot the Finn and keep him fresh for the playoffs is imperative to success.

8. Phoenix Coyotes – Another young team that has accumulated young talent and will make a playoff push in 2009. The Yotes made a splash at the draft when they acquired gifted Center Olli Jokinen from the Florida Panthers for defensemen Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton. The Coyotes also signed unheralded but steady rear guard Kurt Sauer, formerly of the Colorado Avalanche. Kyle Turris, 1st round pick in 2007 made his debut after the college season and appears ready for prime time. Look for coach Gretzky to promote him to the 2nd line by Christmas and for the youngster to thrive. The Coyotes had 2 first round picks in 2008, Mikkel Boedker and Viktor Tikhonov and they both have a chance to make an impact this season. The Coyotes will again count on Shane Doan for leadership and goals, while Peter Mueller will look to improve on his outstanding 22 goal, 54 point rookie season. The Coyotes season turned around last year with the acquisition on waivers of goalie Ilya Bryzgalov and the former Ducks back up will be key in their push for post season participation.

On the outside looking in:

9. Minnesota Wild – The wild got hot at the right time last year and were able to win the Northwest division. They were promptly thrashed in the 1st playoff round by the Avalanche. The Wild signed re-treads Andrew Brunette and Owen Nolan (the World’s oldest 36 year old) to replace Brian Rolston and Pavol Demitra who bolted via free agency.Marek Zidlicky (trade) and Marc-Andre Bergeron (free agency) were added to provide offense from the blue line. The time is now for Benoit Pouliot to step up and contribute and if he isn’t ready James Sheppard will get a shot. The defence first Wild risk losing Marian Gaborik as a free agent next season because he is tired of playing in a offensive stifling environment and may be forced to trade him if the season is going south at the deadline.

10. Vancouver Canucks - Injuries took the Canucks out of the playoff picture last season and failing to make a splash in free agency will keep them there. The Canucks stunned the league offering Toronto Captain Mats Sundin $20 million over two seasons and Sundin upped the ante by not taking it. Captain Markus Naslund and his center Brendan Morrison left as free agents leaving a gap in the team’s top 6 forwards. The Canucks were an offensively challenged team already and will look to free agent signee Pavol Demitra, Toronto Maple Leafs cast off Kyle Wellwood (who has superb talent but no work ethic), and former Sharks 1st rounder Steve Bernier to take some of the offensive burden off of the Sedin twins. The Canucks have a solid 6 blue line led by Kevin Bieksa and Mattias Ohlund, but it is not a deep unit and when injuries struck the Nucks were strapped to fill out the line up card. The strength of the Canucks is between the pipes where Roberto Luongo keeps the Canucks in games most nights.

11. Columbus Blue jackets - The Hummers are the only team to never make the playoffs and don’t expect that to change in 2009 despite a shake up that should see the team improving on last season’s performance. The team rid itself of disappointing Nikolia Zherdev, traded along with frequently hurt Dan Fritsche to the Rangers for solid defensemen Fedor Tyutin and journeyman Christian Backman. They also traded first round flop Gilbert Brule to Edmonton for character winger Raffi Torres. Free agent Kristian Huselius will add goals for the BJs and Mike Commodore was overpaid to add depth to the blue line, but overall the blue line is thin. Youngsters Derick Brassard, Jakub Voracek and Nikita Filatov, all recent 1st rounder picks will be given every chance to make the team and contribute. Pascal Leclaire had an outstanding campaign in 2007-08 but again was slowed by injuries. Any chance the Jackets have of making a playoff run rests on Leclaire’s healthy shoulders.

12. Nashville Predators – Despite getting gutted in the summer of 2007 the Predators were able to surprise and make the playoffs last season, giving eventual cup winner Detroit a run for their money (and driving Dom Hasek into retirement). Again not much is expected of the Predators. No key acquisitions were made, and Chris Mason and Marek Zidlicky were dealt away. The Predators have drafted well and have started to re-stock the cupboard after trading for Peter Forsberg two seasons ago. They will fill holes from within. Ville Koistinen is expected to fill the void created by the Zidlicky trade and Pekka Rinne will be promoted to back up Dan Ellis, and possibly challenge for the starter spot. The Preds are well coached by Barry Trotz who doesn’t get the accolades he deserves for the job he has done making the Predators competitive despite the turmoil around the franchise (ownership issues and cutting payroll)

13. Colorado Avalanche – How the mighty have fallen. The Avs last hurrah ended with a whimper last spring as they were beaten like rented mules by hated rival the Detroit Red Wings in the Conference Semi Final. That might be the last meaningful games of Joe Sakic’s hall of fame career. The Avs lost supporting role players Jeff Finger, Andrew Brunette, and Kurt Sauer to free agency, but the key loss was starting goalie Jose Theodore. The team responded by signing Toronto cast offs Andrew Raycroft and Darcy Tucker. This is akin to bringing a butter knife to a gun fight. The starting goalie spot now falls on the wobbly shoulders of Petr Budaj who struggled before losing the job back to Theodore. This will be the bleakest winter since the Avalanche arrived from Quebec City in 1995.

The Tavares Sweepstakes:



14. Los Angeles Kings – The Los Angeles Kings are on the verge of starting their climb out of hockey abyss. GM Dean Lombardi has done a magnificent job of stockpiling draft picks and young talent. Unfortunately for Kings’ fans this season won’t be the year they return to the playoffs, but will demonstrate reason for hope. Up front Jarrett Stoll was acquired and replaces Mike Cammalleri (traded) in the team’s top 6. Rob Blake (free agency) and Lubomir Visnovsky (trade) to mainstays on the blue line exited the team and will be replaced by high draft choices Drew Doughty and Thomas Hickey. Youngsters Jack Johnson, Teddy Purcell, Colten Teubert will be called upon to play more significant roles with the team. Anze Kopitar is becoming a superstar and he is supported by dynamic Alex Frolov and future captain Dustin Brown. In goal Jonathan Bernier will be given every opportunity to win the number 1 spot, with Erik Ersberg being called upon if the top prospect isn’t ready. Jason LaBarbera will back up whoever wins the job. There won’t be hockey at the Staples Center in April, but the possibility of future cup runs will give fans hope.

15. St. Louis Blues – The Blues showed a lot of promise last season before falling back in the pack. Any chance they had to build momentum in 2008-09 went out the window when stud blue liner Erik Johnson had an accident with a golf cart. This may force 2008 first round pick Alex Pietrangelo into the line up sooner than he is ready. Chris Mason was acquired via trade, Ryan Johnson left as a free agent and Jamal Mayers was traded but these were hardly impact moves. The Blues are counting on continued development of promising youngsters David Backes, TJ Oshie, David Perron, and Patrik Berglund. The Blues are a blue liner short of a competent top 6 though without Johnson and will struggleto protect Mason and Manny Legace. Brad Boyes stepped up last season and another super human effort will be required to keep the Blues in the race.



ELDON

Marcus Robbins asked:


Power Rankings for this week.  A special thanks to, BlueJacketsHockey

1. San Jose Sharks (26-4-3) 55 points

Yes, I know they lost twice this week and once to the Blue Jackets, but as of now I still think, by a slight edge they are the best in the NHL right now.

2. Detroit Red Wings (22-6-4) 48 points

Yea, they were one of the teams that beat the sharks last week and I know I’ll have some angry Bruins fans, but they beat the best team in the NHL, they gotta be here.

3. Boston Bruins (24-5-4) 52 points
Don’t get me wrong Bruins, I think you are a great team and that you will someday be 1 or 2, but the Wings beat the Sharks last week and I don’t think it’s fair to make the Sharks move from 1 to 3 when right now, they are still the best team in the leauge, but I think that the Bruins may be number 1 in a few weeks to come.

4. Chicago Blackhawks (18-6-7) 43 points

Can you say on fire? I’m not sure the Blackhawks can’t beat anyone right now there on a 7 game win streak right now, and I don’t care who you beat 7 games in the NHL is impressive, and Toews and Kane are two guys that can make things like that happen for you, also great goaltending by Nikolai Kabibulin, and Cristobal Huet.  That’s the game to watch this week friday night, Flyers and Hawks.

5. New York Rangers (22-12-2) 46 points

They look solid as always, and yes I am taking into account that they have played alot more games than every one, but even if you let people catch up they are still doing just about as good as the Flyers or Caps. Even without Jaramir Jagr they have been able to consistantly put up points and that is the key to success.

6. Philadelphia Flyers (18-8-7) 43 points

With an impressive 7-1 win against the Caps this saturday I think they Flyers have hit a hot streak and they are still without Breiere.  I think when he comes back, you will see an extremly effective offense and an underrated goaltender blosum in Antero Nittymaki.

7. New Jersey Devils (19-9-3) 41 points

Speaking of hot, is there anyone who can beat the Devils? (BlackHawks) This team is 7-1-1 this month and they can prove there selfs this week if they can beat the Bruins, Pens, and Rangers.  I think if they can take 2 of those 3 then more people will start to notice the Devils are for real, even without Brodeur.

8. Washington Capitals (20-11-3) 43 points

They are playing good hockey right now, problem is alot of teams are playing better hockey, they need to start getting a little more effective in the defensive end, especially in the slot area, and I still think it’s a misstery why they sent down Simeon Varlamov, he was 2-0 with a GAA of 1.50 and a save % of .953. Also known as alot better than Jose Theodore, but hey, maybe that’s why I’m here doing this and I’m not in the front office.

9. Montreal Canadians (18-9-6) 42 points

After being cold for a while, a win against a solid Sabres team has put them back on track, If there injuries heal up any time soon they could make a run and get in good playoff position by the break.

10. Pittsburgh Penguins (17-11-4) 38 points

They have been playing sub-par latley, and just got thromped by a not so impressive Maple Leafs team.  Malkin keeps puttin up points, but what does it matter if your falling out of the playoff picture.

11. Calgary Flames

12. Vancouver Canucks

13. Anaheim Ducks

14. Buffalo Sabres

15. Carolina Hurricanes

16. Phoenix Coyotes

17. Minnesota Wild

18. Nashville Predators

19. Florida Panthers

20. Toronto Maple Leafs

21. Colorado Avalanche

22. Columbus Blue Jackets (14-15-4)  32 points

The Columbus Blue Jackets had a overtime win over the previously only 5 time beaten, San Jose Sharks 2-1 in OT. On the very next night they played the Dallas Stars and put in their goalie that just came off the injury list, Pascal LeClarie. He gave up 5 goals in the 3 periods though the Blue Jackets also answered with 5 goals. In the shootout stars won 2-0. CBJ this week, 1-2

23. Edmonton Oilers

24. Ottawa Senators

25. Los Angeles Kings

26. Dallas Stars

27. Atlanta Thrashers

28. St. Louis Blues

29. Tampa Bay Lightining

30. New York Islanders

My Top 3 Contendors for MVP

1.Evgeni Malkin- He has been so efficent on the powre play this year at the point and it seems that when ever I see the Pens on a power play on TV they score and if it’s an assist or a goal he is always in on it, and he is similar to last years MVP (Alex Ovechkin) In that he bring alot of energy to the team, and who wouldn’t love to play with that

2. Alex Ovechkin- He had an average week, but week in and week out Malkin always has great weeks, Ovechkin has been a goal scoring machine latley, but not so much this week, I think he should get right back into the swing of things against the Rangers.

3. Jeff Carter- He has been great this year, and I’m not sure anyone could have called this season, he is first in the NHL in goals (25) and 6th in points (39) he also plays great Defense and forces alot of turnovers, and most importantly his team is successful right now.  If the Flyers keep winning, and he keeps putting pucks in the back of the net, I think he might stay on this list, and even climb up it.

My Top 3 Contendors for Defensiveman of the year

1. Dion Phaneuf- The guy just continues to play physical hockey and never let’s so much as a pop corn vendor go by him, he is also contributing on the offensive end with 20 assists.  i think it will be a while before someone knockes him of this list.

2. Zdeno Chara- He plays the boards so well and now in the NHL it is hard to cut threw teams so when you have a big body like him who understands his size, and what his limitations are, you have an unstoppable force on defense, which creates a good offense.  And that’s why the Bruins are playing so well right now.

3. Mike Green- Skates like a center, toe drags like a winger and hits like a Defensman.  If he had the smart of the two guys above him, and didn’t have the injury problems, he might be first on this list, he throws tuns of open ice checks, which you don’t get from D guys as much these days.  I think if he can stay health he might go up this list.

My Top 3 Contendors for goaile of the year

1. Henrick Lundqvist- He is playing great hockey right now with a record of 18-10-2 with a stagering save % of .913 just a little bit better defense and that record might look a lot better and there power ranking might go up a little bit too.

2. Evgeni Nabokov- He hasn’t played as many games as he’s liked this year because of injury, but he’s 18-3-2.  it’s hard to argue that, if he gets healthy he might be number one and the Sharks might beat everyone they play.

3. Roberto Luongo- He’s still hurt and I think this might be his last week on this list for a while.  He has 5 shut outs and his defense is not all that great he’s 11-5-2, and it would be better if he was a bruin, or a shark.  I hope he can get healthy so he can keep making great saves, and giving offenses fits.



ALFRED

matt boudwin asked:


Inflation in the NHL?

This year there has been an increase in the need for defenseman.  This differs from every other year because the focus is now on an offensive defenseman, or a puck moving defenseman.  Because of increased need for offense, the salaries are beginning to increase more and more for these defensemen and forwards.

            To examine what the basis for these salaries are, I ran a regression and included the number of games played, goals, assists, points, and the player’s plus/minus rating.  Since the game is being played in an offense concentrated way, these statistics were the best for understanding why the salaries are raising and the players are demanding more.

            After running the regression, all the r-squares were fairly low, but points and assists were the highest of all the categories.  This would make sense because this is what many of the general managers are looking for in the players.  What strikes me as odd is the r-squared of the plus/minus.  This is the lowest of all the categories.  Since the plus/minus is the best way to understand how a player is on both sides of the puck (when only looking at statistics), one would think that this r-squared would be the highest.  There are quite a few players who are making a large amount of money and have a very low plus/minus rating.

When just looking at the numbers, it is clear which players are producing the most offense.  Brain Campbell (defensemen) and Marian Hossa (right wing) were the top two free agents on the market.  Because of their offensive abilities, they were both able to command over seven million dollars in salary.  They both are among the leaders in all categories except plus/minus.  Campbell has a decent plus/minus at eight, but Hossa is at negative fourteen.  This number presents the question, are you really willing to gain a player for offense if he is going to be a defensive reliability?

Where basing salaries on offensive abilities becomes a problem is when a team signs an unproven defensemen to a large salary.  The Toronto Maple Leafs signed Jeff Fingers to a contract worth 3.5 million dollars a year.  Last year Fingers played for the Colorado Avalanche.  During the regular season, he had a good plus/minus, but his offensive production was nowhere near 3.5 million dollars worth.  This increase in salary is driving up numbers, and it is making it hard for other teams to sign there restricted and unrestricted free agents. 

The deal Toronto gave Fingers looks ridiculous when comparing it to other defensemen near his production levels.  Randy Jones at 2.75 million and Brookes Laich at 2 million are both making considerably less money.  Both of these defensemen were able to put up over thirty points and were signed for less money.

The NHL needs to be concerned able these rising salaries.  Player’s salaries are inflating fast and if they are not careful, they are going to start to lose players to the KHL (an international hockey league).  Many times, it is a result of one player being sign for more then he his is worth, such as Jeff Fingers.  Once one player receives this bump in salary, everyone else believes they are worth the same.  If the player’s salaries keep inflating, the NHL is not going to be able to sign star players and they may lose them to international leagues.  This will not help a league which is already lacking the support it needs.  With increased salaries and the decline in the value of the dollar, many players many start to look overseas to play hockey. 

 

To stop the salaries from increasing, it is on the General Managers.  Many managers, such as Paul Holmgren (Philadelphia) and Ken Holland (Detroit), have done a great job in spreading the salary and signing the necessary players.  Others are thinking too brash and are signing players to large contracts, which the player has not earned nor has he shown the potential for.  This needs to change.

This issue is going to make it harder for the NHL to survive.  General Managers need to be more careful with how they are spending their money and where they are spending it.  In my opinion, it would be smarter to look are plus/minus to get a better idea of the player’s offensive and defensive abilities.  Then, after this is examined, look at the players other statistics to see how they can produce for the team.  This will help teams spend wisely and create more space for up and coming prospects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2008 NHL Free Agents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GP

G

A

P

 +/-

Avery

LW

3,875,000

57
15

18

33

6

Bertuzzi

LW

1,950,000

68

14

26

40

8

Blake

D

5,000,000

71

9

22

31

-19

Campbell

D

7,142,000

83

8

54

62

8

Carter

C

5,000,000

82

29

24

53

6

Commodore

D

3,750,000

67

3

11

14

-7

Cooke

LW

1,200,000

78

10

13

23

1

Demitra

LW

4,000,000

68

15

39

54

9

Ehrhoff

D

3,100,000

77

1

21

22

9

Fedorov

C

4,000,000

68

11

30

41

-5

Fedotenko

RW

2,250,000

67

16

17

33

-9

Finger

D

3,500,000

72

8

11

19

12

Foote

D

3,000,000

75

1

15

16

2

Gaustad

C

2,300,000

82

10

26

36

-4

Gorges

D

1,500,000

62

0

9

9

0

Green

D

5,250,000

82

18

38

56

6

Hagman

LW

3,000,000

82

27

14

41

4

Hainsey

D

4,500,000

78

8

24

32

-7

Holik

C

2,500,000

82

15

19

34

-14

Hossa

RW

7,450,000

72

29

37

66

-14

Huselius

LW

4,750,000

81

25

41

66

10

Jones, M.

D

550,000

45

0

2

2

-13

Jones, R.

D

2,750,000

71

5

26

31

8

Kalinin

D

2,100,000

46

1

7

8

-7

Kostitsyn

LW

3,750,000

78

26

27

53

15

Laich

C

2,033,333

82

21

16

37

-3

Laraque

RW

1,500,000

71

4

9

13

0

Liles

D

4,200,000

81

6

26

32

2

Malone

RW

4,500,000

77

27

24

51

14

Mara

D

1,950,000

61

1

16

17

1

Miettinen

RW

2,333,333

69

15

19

34

4

Morrison

C

2,750,000

39

9

16

25

-3

Naslund

LW

4,000,000

82

25

30

55

-7

Nolan

RW

2,750,000

77

16

16

32

6

Orpik

D

3,750,000

78

1

10

11

11

Perry

RW

5,320,000

70

29

25

54

12

Recchi

RW

1,250,000

72

14

34

48

-18

Redden

D

6,500,000

80

6

32

38

11

Rolston

LW

5,062,500

81

31

28

59

-1

Ryder

RW

4,000,000

70

14

17

31

-4

Salvador

D

2,900,000

64

1

10

11

12

Satan

RW

3,500,000

80

16

25

41

-11

Smith

D

2,600,000

77

1

9

10

-4

Stajan

C

1,750,000

82

16

17

33

-11

Streit

D

4,100,000

81

13

49

62

-6

Stuart

D

3,750,000

82

4

4

8

2

Tucker

RW

2,250,000

74

18

16

34

-8

Vrbata

RW

3,000,000

76

27

29

56

6

Walker

D

600,000

43

1

1

2

-3

Weight

C

4,300,000

67

10

15

25

4

Witt

D

3,000,000

59

2

5

7

-8

Wolski

LW

2,800,000

77

18

30

48

10

*Number gained from www.hockeybuzz.com

 

 

 

 

*This list does not include all free agents for various reasons

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Slope

 

 

56272.12

61283.99

80900.58

49416.22

40876.22

Intercept

 

 

-695754.07

2591953.28

1648200.63

1695907.73

3347784.14

R-Squared

 

 

0.16

0.15

0.38

0.35

0.06



CYRUS

Matt Gerwitz asked:


The Red Wings Steamroller Rolls On

6/2/2009

Author:  Matt Gerwitz

U. S. Sports Media, Inc

On the eve of game three of the Stanley Cup Finals, it seems inevitable that the Detroit Red Wings will soon hoist hockey’s most beloved trophy for the fifth time in twelve years. This team, like their championship predecessors, seems like a steamroller on ice, a “beat-down” machine that cannot be stopped. Oh, I had high hopes when the playoffs started, but those hopes began to fade as the opponents fell one by one. First it was Columbus who went down, and without much of a fight mind you; Anaheim followed, almost pulling off the victory by taking the Wings to seven games; then came the Chicago Blackhawks who didn’t play as well as the statistics indicate.

So here we are, Detroit leading the Penguins 2 games to none as the series heads to Pittsburgh. Sigh.

Look, I’m not a Detroit hater by any means. God bless ‘em - they consistently play great hockey year in and year out and contend for the Stanley Cup. Winning the Cup is what it’s all about, so the Red Wings are doing their job. I guess I just wish that other organizations would learn from the Red Wings’ example and put a better product on the ice. Although I have my own favorite team to root for there is one thing I greatly admire about the Detroit organization, and that is their ability to adapt.

The team of today does not play the same style of hockey as the 1997 team that ended a 55 year championship drought in the Motor City. Back then it was built on speed and deadly accurate shooting. The Russian Five skated circles around opponents while finding the net with apparent ease. Detroit dispatched St. Louis, Anaheim, Colorado and Philadelphia to win it all, with the most impressive feat being the two sweeps against the Ducks and Flyers. The speed and finesse game continued for a few years while the team had the players to do it, but as those players left and were replaced, the team adapted to their new crew.

The 2009 Red Wings aren’t necessarily the fastest skaters in the league, but they are among the most disciplined. They choke off center ice like nobody’s business, not allowing the opposition to mount a sustainable offense. Henrik Zetterberg is doing a masterful job blanketing Sidney Crosby, and the whole Detroit defense is protecting the net as though they were all goalies. In the offensive zone the wings have a punishing fore check that dares the Penguins to stop them. They shoot early and often knowing that getting the puck to the net will eventually produce goals.

So what about Pittsburgh? I am as disappointed with them as I have been with the rest of Detroit’s opponents. They live or die on the backs of Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, which is not such a bad thing in the less-than-tough Eastern Conference. But going against the Red Wings they’ve discovered what it means to be battered and slammed for sixty minutes of hockey. And like Columbus, Anaheim and Chicago before them, they have played timid in both of the first two games.

If the Penguins hope to mount a comeback series win, they need to understand that skate and shoot isn’t going to cut it. They need to be just as aggressive, just as stifling at center ice, and just as willing to play hard hitting hockey. They need to play the entire game the same way they played the final four minutes of Sunday’s loss. They need to adapt, or the steamroller will finish its job quickly.

Source: http://www.HockeyWeeklyNews.com, U. S. Sports Media, Inc



JEFFRY

Macie asked:


ersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Devils have the honor of winning the Stanley Cup three times, in 1995, 2000, and 2003. The club was founded in Kansas City, Missouri in 1974. After only two seasons, it moved to Denver, Colorado and then settled in New Jersey in 1982. The Devils have earned a playoff spot in each of the last nine seasons, and in 17 of the last 19 seasons under current general manager Lou Lamoriello. The Devils have played their home games at the Continental Airlines Arena since their move to New Jersey. The team is expected to move to the Prudential Center in 2007. Pruddential center is under construction in the city of Newark. The New York Rangers and the Philadelphia Flyers are their main rivals. The Atlantic Division title is won either by the Devils or Flyers every season since 1995. The teams in Kansas City, Missouri, and Washington, D.C. were added in the NHL in 1974. Since the Kansas City metropolitan area includes portions of Missouri and Kansas, the Kansas City franchise was to be called the Mohawks. However, there were objections from the Chicago Black Hawks. The team was renamed the Scouts after a statue in the city. The Scouts took the ice for the first time in Toronto on October 9, 1974. They lost 6-2 to the Maple Leafs. The Scouts had to wait nine games before making their home debut because a rodeo was being held in Kansas City’s brand-new Kemper Arena. The Scouts won only 27 of 160 games. They failed to make the playoffs in either season in Kansas City. The team began to suffer from the economic downturn in the Midwest. The Scouts sold just 2,000 of 8,000 season tickets for their second season.They were almost $1 million in debt. These on- and off-ice disappointments led the franchise moved to Denver and was renamed the Colorado Rockies. In Colorado, the team made a fresh start by winning its first game 4-2 over Toronto. They picked up momentum and appeared to be a possible playoff contender. But things collapsed in February, and the Rockies finished the 1976-77 season with a record of 20-46-14. On May 27, 1982, the team was purchased by John McMullen, New Jersey shipping tycoon. The team would now be playing right in the middle of the New York New Jersey Connecticut tri-state area. It has been home to the three-time defending Stanley Cup champion New York Islanders, as well as the New York Rangers. On June 30, 1982, the team was renamed the New Jersey Devils. The Devils’ first game ended in a 3-3 tie to the Pittsburgh Penguins. The team tasted their first win, a 3-2 victory, in New Jersey when they defeated their new trans-Hudson rivals, the New York Rangers. The team finished with a 17-49-14 record. This record put them three points above last place in the Patrick Division. The 1987-88 Devils garnered the first winning record in the franchise’s 13-year history. On the final day of the regular season, they were tied with their nemesis, the Rangers, for the final playoff spot in the Patrick Division. Although the Rangers and Devils both finished with 82 points, the Devils had one more win, sending them to the playoffs for the second time in franchise history. The team made it all the way to the conference finals, but lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games. The following season, the Devils once again slipped below .500 and missed the playoffs. Despite the setback, the team returned to the Eastern Conference Finals during the lockout-shortened 1994-95 season. They were able to defeat the Philadelphia Flyers four games to two. They swept the heavily favored Detroit Red Wings and were successful in winning New Jersey’s first-ever Stanley Cup, and the first professional sports championship in the state’s history. Claude Lemieux was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoffs MVP. The Devils established an NHL record by posting 11 road victories in one playoff season. The Devils reached the top again in 1999-00 and were successful in winning the Stanley Cup for the second time. They defeated the defending champion Dallas Stars in six games. A highlight of the Devils’ second championship run was their come-from-behind victory in the conference finals. They trailed the Philadelphia Flyers three games to one, but rebounded to win the series. This was both the first time in Devils playoff history and in NHL Conference Finals history that a 3-1 deficit was surmounted. Team captain Scott Stevens was named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy. The Devils won their first round Stanley Cup playoff series against the New York Rangers four games to none on April 29, 2006. They were successful in extending their winning streak to fifteen games and marking the first time the Devils defeated their cross-river rival in a playoff series. For more information about New Jersey Devils Tickets visit: http://www.ticketluck.com/sports-tickets/New-Jersey-Devils/index.php

DUANE

Timothy Symonds asked:


Folks, here is the biggest game of ice hockey that will make your day and you are still thinking if the hockey tickets will be obtainable. Or else, it may have happened many times that you wanted to grab hockey tickets for the matches of your favourite teams and couldn’t quite manage to do that, be it for the National Hockey League, the country’s biggest game or for the club level games. All curses to long lines, crazy fans, bulky orders, poor management, etc.

And here is the good news! Well, getting Hockey tickets is no more a dilemma now. You don’t need to stand in long snake lines to get them and neither do you need to wait out in the blistering heat. This is the good news coming in for everybody who desires hockey tickets especially when their favourite teams are out on the sports ground. Wow! Hockey tickets are after all gettable!

Well Ice hockey is the hot favourite sport in Canada and the nearby regions. Ice hockey tournaments are not just a sporting time but a time when every player and fan strives hard to make their team win. There is an immense unity amongst people and the visitors are always on the edge of their seats supporting their team and promoting the game. But for all this to happen, you need some hockey tickets right? Well, where are you getting them from?

Let’s break out the good news. Hockey tickets are being offered by several official and registered legal websites for fans. You don’t need to go to the search engines if you have heard this; you still need to know how to get these hockey tickets. For those wondering if this is legal, yes it is! But the most consolidating factor here can be the commitment of the website to the customers. These websites have a good consumer support and service cell.

This is done in a simple manner. The customer needs to look into these websites for advance notifications of the arriving tickets. You can keep an eye on the various offers from time to time. Apart from hockey tickets you may find tickets for various other games. You can book them in advance based on your interests and make an advance payment to the website on the basis of their rules, regulations and methodology. It is necessary to find the authenticity of the website. After this is done the website will offer you the tickets based on your order. You may order a number of tickets in case a group is going together. If the website offers a limit to the number of tickets an individual can purchase the person accompanying you may be required to place a separate order for the tickets.

In case you are a resident of another country you can still order the tickets. The stamp charge and the shipping charge will be added to the whole package but your hockey tickets will reach you safely. That’s what really matters, isn’t it. Wish you a happy game ahead. Good luck for your team!



CECIL

Robert Riles asked:


The NHL hockey jersey, apart from being witness to the colorful unfolding of our favorite hockey league’s history, is also one of the most popular pieces of sports merchandise being sold today. Almost every sporting and sport memorabilia and collectibles store worth its salt carries a variety of NHL memorabilia, especially NHL hockey jerseys. However, at times it happens that in spite of the huge glut of NHL hockey jerseys in the market, you might not be able to find the exact jersey that you are looking for.

This might be because you are in search for an antique jersey that is no longer very popular amongst NHL fans today. Another reason could be that you do not like the detailing on the jerseys being sold, because one or more small, yet crucial details are missing from the jerseys. One more reason why buying NHL hockey jerseys might become a problem could be because of the prohibitively high prices that some jerseys come with, especially if they carry brand names and logos of any major sporting brand in the world.

One great idea that comes to everyone’s rescue when it comes to situations like those presented above is that of getting custom made NHL hockey jerseys. All the problems mentioned above can easily solve themselves when you start getting your jerseys custom made. There are a large number of professional jersey makers, who can create the perfect NHL jersey for you, complete with all the large and small details and that too for a lesser price than what you would have to pay for a model with a brand icon and lesser details.

Going to a custom jersey maker is also a good idea if you have given up on finding the jersey you are looking for because of its unavailability in all kinds of stores. A good custom jersey maker will be able to create a jersey for you even if it is what your favorite team was wearing thirty years before or if it belongs to a team that is not playing league hockey anymore. On top of this, most jersey makers should be able to put in all the little details that you want on your favorite jersey.

Another good thing that a custom jersey maker might be able to do is put your name on your NHL jersey, so that you actually feel like you are a part of your favorite hockey team when you wear it. So if you are really serious about your NHL hockey jerseys, then locating a good jersey maker who can create all kinds of NHL hockey jerseys is a good idea. In case you can’t find one in your town or city, then do not despair, because there are a number of good online jersey making companies that let you customize and design your jersey on their web pages and later on make and ship that jersey to you. Wearing a jersey that you have designed yourself will increase the pleasure that you get from sporting your favorite team’s colors, so why not go and locate a good jersey maker asap?



QUINCY

Glemy Arthur asked:




 

If you are a beginner planning to buy yourself a new pair of skates then here are some basic tips to get you started:

1.) Sizing Factor

Hockey skates should be a size or two smaller than your regular shoes. Buying hockey skates that are the same size as your running or athletic shoes may result to injury such as blisters and sprains. Too much space for your foot to move about in a loose hockey skate means that there are more possibilities of a blister forming or inaccurate movements during games or practice sessions. This possibility of inaccurate movement can affect the game and the way that you play.

It is better to have snug fitting ice hockey sticks than loose ones. Bear in mind when fitting hockey skates that your toes need to be able to feel the front end of the skate while you are positive that your heel is backed up into the back part of the skate as well. It is important that you lace up the hockey skates before even trying to move about with them to see how they fit you. You should also try to stand with the hockey skates laced up and then try to bend your knees to a point where you are almost squatting. In this position, you can feel the toe area loosen up a bit. This may be the right skate size for you. The reason for this exercise is due to the fact that when one skates, the knees are usually bent hence the need to concentrate of this particular position to be comfortable.

A few tips to keep in mind:

a.) Never make the mistake of buying skates to grow into. This will put you in a risk of injury.

b.) To test the skates make sure your toes feel the front end of the skate while your heel is backed up into the back part of the skate

c.) Different brands have different sizing guidelines. So make sure to check them out before you go for the buy.

2.) Length and Width

Both the length and width of the hockey skate can affect its fit. Do not try to compensate the length for the width or vice versa. You should have the right length and the right width to have the right hockey skate size. Some people think that they can compensate a wider skate for feet that actually need a longer length. This will give you an inaccurate skate size and may cause serious injury.

3.) Radius of the Blade

Radius of the blade is the amount of blade that is in direct contact with the ice. If you are a beginner skater it is recommended that you go for a larger blade radius. A radius of 5 inches should be a good choice. A larger radius increases stability and aids easy maneuverability along the ice surface.

4.) Break-in period

Break-in period of a skate is the amount of time it takes for the padded lining of the skate to get molded and adjusted to the shape of your feet. How soon the break-in happens depends on a lot of factors like the quality of lining and body-weight of the player among others. A heavier person will generally have a faster break-in period than a light person. So if you have lighter body mass, try to go for skates with a softer lining.

5.) New or Used Skates?

Hockey skates are supposed to be stiff. This is something that you should be aware of before buying hockey skates. Some people might opt to buy the less expensive used hockey skates instead of the more expensive brand new ones. Bear in mind that used skates may have lost their stiffness factor which is essential for more powerful skating action and support for the legs, feet and ankles.

Some cheap hockey skates may be less stiff than the more expensive ones. Buying cheaper hockey skates is only beneficial for those who have not made up their minds regarding playing hockey or not or for children who outgrow a skate easily within a year.

6.) Your Budget

A good pair of skates would cost you anything around $100 to $650. It is recommended not to buy expensive skates for your first pair. Until you play in a league you won’t know what position you are playing or what kind of skate with best accommodate it. Consider the first pair of skates as skates used for practice and introduction to the sport.

Good luck and play hard!

 



LINDSEY

Marcus Peter asked:


Skates don’t come cheap and they are perhaps one of the most important pieces of hockey equipment to a player. Therefore it becomes quite important to understand how to purchase skates that will aid your play and help you enjoy the game better. If you are a beginner and are planning to buy yourself a new pair of skates then here are some basic tips to get you started:

1.) Difference between sizing of hockey skates and regular shoes

Hockey skates are generally sized an inch or two smaller than your regular shoes. The reason they are sized smaller is for ankle support and stability. If you get them bigger you will have no support whatsoever and will have a better chance of falling. In addition too much space for your foot to move about in a loose hockey skate may result in injury such as blisters and sprains.

Here are a few points to keep in mind:

a.) Hockey skates need to have a tight fitting. Your toes should be able to feel the front end of the skate while your heel is backed up into the back part of the skate

b.) Different brands have different sizing guidelines. So make sure to check them out before you go for the buy.

c.) Lace up the hockey skates and try to move about by bending your knees to a point where you are almost squatting. In this position, you should feel the toe area loosen up a bit. Considering the fact that your knees will usually be bent as you skate, a feel of comfort in this position is important.

d.) Never buy skates to grow into. This will put you in a risk of injury.

e.) Try to go for boots that come with a multi layered boot construction and reinforced heel. Both these factors aid ankle stability

2.) Blade radius

Blade radius is the actual amount of blade that is in contact with the ice at any point of time. For beginner skaters a larger blade radius of around five inches is recommended. A larger radius increases stability and aids easy maneuverability along the ice surface.

To measure blade radius place the ends of the blades together (bottom to bottom). The length where the edges of the blades make contact is the blade radius.

3.) Break-in period

Break-in period of a skate is the amount of time it takes for the padded lining of the skate to get molded and adjusted to the shape of your feet. How soon the break-in happens depends on a lot of factors like the quality of lining and body-weight of the player among others. A heavier person will generally have a faster break-in period than a light person. So if you have lighter body mass, try to go for skates with a softer lining. You can also try the following tips to for a faster break-in:

a.) Blow hot air into your skate with a blow dryer keeping the dryer at a safe distance. Put the skate on immediately after around 3 minutes of blow drying. This will cause the foam to mold to your foot faster.

b.) Try coating the inside of your skates with thin layer of petroleum jelly, it softens them up. This will aid in a faster break-in as well

4.) Used or New Skates?

Hockey skates are supposed to be stiff. This is something that you should be aware of before buying them. Some people might opt to buy the less expensive used hockey skates instead of the more expensive brand new ones. Bear in mind that used skates may have lost their stiffness factor which is essential for more powerful skating action and support for the legs, feet and ankles.

5.) How much to invest?

You can buy a good pair of skates for anything around $100 to $700. It is recommended not to buy expensive skates for your first pair. Until you play in a league you won’t know what position you are playing or what kind of skate with best accommodate it. The first pair is more for practice and introduction to the sport.

Good luck and play hard!



ERICH

Peri Witny asked:


Both teams, India and Holland scored eight points in four matches. The Holland received four penalty corners. Hence, Holland was able to exchange one, while India could not come up with any. Holland could not grasp on to the lead for long because India equalized within two minutes of recommencement.

Holland hockey team was able to get their first penalty corner in the 16th minute of the second half but failed to switch it because Shivender Singh gathered an extended ball from Dilip Tirkey and went past competitor goalkeeper Stockmamm before sending the ball into the net. Holland hockey team got another chance in the very next minute and Geert Jan Derikx sent the bounce back to goalkeeper whose name is Baljit Singh. In this way, Holland got a lead once again with 2-1 lead.

The Indians regrouped and managed them. They equalized the score in the 20th minute of the second half when Prabhjot Singh sounded the position after receiving a long pass from skipper Sandeep Singh.

Indian goalkeeper Baljit showed positive performance against Germany in previous hockey match between India and Germany. He continued to maintain his impressive performance and actions in this hockey match between India and Holland as he warding off 4 penalty corners as well as he was able to stop crucial hits from Hockey players of Holland. On the other hand, the Dutch received their third and fourth penalty corners by the end of the match but Goalkeeper Bijit was fully alert and he successfully frustrated Holland team.

Holland had most of the ball strokes in their control in the first fifteen minutes of the first half. In this way, Holland dominated the game only for a short period of time. After that, Indian players depended on counter attacks and Holland team was under strong pressure that was created by the Indian team. Indian promotes Rajpal, Prabhjot, Shivender and Gurbaj who tried to dominate the game by led the attacks but they were failed to get a great deal of achievements.

Indian team could have accomplishments but Shivender missed a golden chance in the 30th minute of the game when he failed to catch a pass from Tushar Khandekar who was very close to the striking spot. Indian Hockey team was keen on winning. On the other hand, Holland played an attacking game. In addition, the Dutch have looked solid in their game. However, Indian team holds Holland with 2-2.

If I had to guess the hockey results of second leg of its tournament, this is possibly what I would see as my securest calculations.

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BOBBIE