Fast Start

The Flyers are off to a fast start. They have looked very good 3 games into the season. Washington was their toughest test thus far, and they were able to pull that game out. I think last year’s team might have not pulled that out. They can shut teams down and they can out score a high-flying offense. I do not want to see too many games like the Caps.

Tonight the Pens come to town for their first match up of the season. Coming of a 3-0 loss to the Yotes, they will come out on fire. Last year, they split Sid the Skid and Geno the Russian freak up to keep one of them away from Kimmo...NOW WHAT? Pronger on the back line...Crysby could get wrecked. The Flyers have the best D in the East. I would say top 3 in the league. Add to that the fire-power up front, and you cannot deny this could be a very good year. Tonight should be a good test.

Let's go FLYERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Danny Heatley

Just a quick blurb on my thoughts about Heatley. This is a guy with a ton of talent and NOTHING else. In Atlanta he kills one of his best friends in car accident. Needing to get away from things there he moves to Ottawa (who gave up Hossa let's not forget). After a few seasons for the Sens things get bad. They bring in a new couch that wants the player (you know the guys that are actually on the ice) to shoulder some of the blame for what has happened. Now Heatley wants out. Surely none of the blame should be placed on him afterall. The Sens finally find a team that is willing to take him and Heatley has to think about it. Really? This guys is never going to amount to anything and no team should expect him to lead them to the Cup.

Pronger Trade and the Flyers Draft Results

I think the biggest surprise of the draft was the lack of true trades. A large number of picks changed hands, but not much more. The Flames get an extra week to talk to J-Bow. It may give them an edge, but with his agent already stating they want to hear offers from all interested teams, I doubt the extra week means much. The Flyers were part of the biggest trade of the draft. Chris Pronger is a Flyer. Lupul, Sbisa, and 2 first rounders is a pretty steep price tag, but it makes sense. Lupul was due a big raise this season and the team is not short on goal scoring. He also only had 2 more points than Pronger. There is also a solid core of youth in the system so giving up the 2 picks isn't horrid. To me the biggest piece is Sbisa. He is still an unknown. He didn't look out of place with the Flyers last season. He could be a very good defenceman in the future. By the same token he could be the next Pitkanen. Only time will tell with Sbisa.

Pronger is an absolute monster. Other teams will have to pay a price around the Flyers net, which is something that was missing last season. I'm actually looking forward to the first game against the Penguins next season. I want to see a huge hit on Crosby. My only concern is that elbow. We all know how much the NHL likes the Flyers. How closely will Pronger be watched now with Crosby crying about him?

The Flyers are still right up against the cap so I expect more moves starting Wednesday. Perhaps Briere will be on the move, but finding a team to take that contract could be an issue. I'll be looking forward to Wednesday to see who lands where.

Here is how the Draft went for the Flyers:

Round 1 - 21 overall traded to Anaheim
Round 2 - No pick
Round 3 - G Adam Morrison (81), D Simon Bertilsson (87)
Round 4 - No pick
Round 5 - G Nic Riopel (142)
Round 6 - C Dave Lebrecque (153), LW Eric Wellwood (172)
Round 7 - D Oliver Lauridsen (196)

Jim Balsillie, Gary Bettman, and the Conf Finals

I have determined that I really can't stand Jim Balsillie. I hate the fact that he makes me think Bettman is right about anything. I firmly agree that the Yotes need to move. I also thing Canada is the place they need to go. Bring back the Jets. If anyone doesn't know I live in New Jersey (Flyers fan) so I'm not a homer wanting my team back. My problem is they way Balsillie is going about things. If he would just go through the proper channels and not promise to move a team before he owns one it would be better. At this point the NHL office does not like him. Owners do not like him. Even if the court battle works out for him he could face other issues. If the courts force the NHL and Board of Governors to let him buy and move the team he could face additional challenges. It's hard to build a team if no one want to work deals with you.
Bettman is still not the good guy here. The Yotes are a failing team in a failing market. THEY NEED TO MOVE. I am sorry to their fans. I do not doubt the passion of the fans they have, but they are not generating more fans. I'm hoping new bidders come out and something can be resolved. Then they can work on the other failing markets.
On another note, I'm annoyed that I have to see news about the Yotes as the top headline during the Conf. Finals. This is a team that should not be in the news in late May.

Here is the Problem with Sidney Crosby

"People kept throwing hats. I was just asking if he could make an announcement to ask them to stop. The first wave came, and then I think they were all pretty much picked up, and more started coming," said Crosby after Game 2. "I just wanted to make sure that we kept kind of moving, kept the game going while we tried to get back into it. Wasn't complaining about anything."

This is the "face" of the NHL. This is the leader of the Penguins. Perhaps instead of not complaining he should have been reminding the rest of his team that they are in the Playoffs. This is what makes fans outside of Pittsburgh call in a whiner or say that he cries about everything.

First off, it would have to be a very long delay for them to ask people to stop throwing hats. Anyone that watches knows that it takes time for the hats from the end sections to get around the safety netting and on to the ice. Second, watching a player complain about the hats coming down will only make it worse. 

Crosby has great talent, but he is not a leader. That's not to say he cannot grow into one, but he needs someone to teach him. You have to remove the Pens fans from the equation. They will see him as the greatest (or second behind Malkin) player in the game today. Many other fans see Crosby as a whiner that is always complaining to the refs.

I have to wonder. If Sidney Crosby is on another team with good veteran leadership to start his career, is he a different player? Would he be different with a strong mentor like Stevie Y or Sakic? I really think he was put in a bad spot as the saviour of the Pens. He had too much put on him as a rookie and never had a chance to learn to lead. 

Congrats to the Pens for turning a talented young hockey player into someone who, outside of Pittsburgh, is the biggest cry baby in the NHL. 

Here Comes Round 2

The first round picks could have been a little better, but over all not bad. Now it's time for the second round.

2 DET vs 8 ANH

I would never have picked Hiller to play so well, but the Sharks really helped the Ducks to win in the first round. The Red Wings will not be so helpful. By the same token the Wings dominated a Jackets team that no one thought would even get there this season. I don't think either team will have the easy walk in this round they did in the first. This should be a fun battle to watch. Can Bobby Ryan and Jonas Hiller help the Ducks take down the Wings? Will Osgood be able to maintain a high level of play? I think it will be a tight match, but I think the Wings have a slight edge.

DET in 6

3 VAN vs 4 CHI

Only 2 points separated these teams during the regular season with the Hawks in 4th with more points. The Canucks will need to stay out of the box to have a chance in this series. If they give the Hawks as many PP chances as they gave St. Louis there is no way they canwin. Patrick Kane might just be the most creative scorer in the league right now. There is a lot of youthful exuberance in that Chicago locker room. Luongo will need to be the best player in this series for the Canucks. I think this could be a long series and really go either way, but I will put more faith in the Canucks' goaltending.

VAN in 7

1 BOS vs 6 CAR

Carolina and New Jersey may have been the best series of the first round. Almost all of the games were close. Both goalies stole a game and it came down to the hard work of the Canes and the collapse of the Devils. I don't think "wanting it" more will help this series. Boston may show some signs of rust in Game 1, but that won't last. As strange as this is to say, the Bruins are stronger defensively than the Devils. The Bruins are the better team and played great hockey all season. Look for the rested Bruins to take this series.

BOS in 5

2 WSH vs 4 PIT

Here is the series Gary Bettman has been drooling over for a few years now. This will be Ovechkin vs Crosby. There is only one small problem. Someone forgot to tell Malkin that Crosby is better than him. This Series will come down to Ovechkin vs Malkin. Crosby is not as good as either of those to despite what the NHL would like people to believe. (After all, you can't sell Russians as the face of the NHL). This should be a fun and high scoring series. It would be easy to give the Pens the nod on goaltending, but no one really know much about Varlamov. He does however have the best GAA and 2nd best SV% in the playoffs. You can also thank the Rangers for waking up the Capitals. Overall I think the speed and power of the Caps will wear down the Pens D.

WSH in 7

Flyers Season ends with unsolved problems

The Flyers season is now over and there has been some time to reflect. For most of the season they seemed to lack the same "finish" that was lacking in Game 6. They had the game under control and took their foot off the gas. It was the same story many times this season. They let teams back in games that they should have won going away. I don't know if it's a couching problem and Stevens has them worrying to much about playing D or if it's that he is not getting them to keep their foot on the pedal. Either way it's something that has to be corrected for next season. Look at team like the Red Wings. They do not have more talent or better goaltending than the Flyers, but everyone does their part. They are hard on the puck no matter what the score and they keep pressing.

Now we are left wondering what the off season will bring. Will Knuble be back? Will they look to move salary to sign Jay-Bo? Would anyone be willing to take Randy Jones? Sbisa will be on the blue line full time next year. Grioux will be something special to watch. I know people have been hoping to see the Philly Frenchmen (Grioux, Gagne, and Briere) on a line, but that line is lacking a strong body in front of the net. Might not be a bad PP line. If Knuble doesn't come back perhaps Hartnell moves up.

The biggest question will be between the pipes. You have to think that at least one guy is going to be gone. I don't see a goalie out there that is an upgrade over what we have. There are a few goalies that are ahead of the pack, but none of them are available unless it's a trade. Only time will tell.

2009 NHL Playoffs

The time has come again for the NHL Playoffs to begin. As usually all of the talking heads are making their picks so I figure I will chime in with mine.

Starting with the East:

1 BOS vs 8 MTL

Everything in this match up points to Boston to walk away with the series quickly. Boston also knows that which could provide for a slow start out of the gate. Even a slow start will not be enough for MTL to take out Boston. Thomas will out play Price. Look for Savard to have a strong series and Kovy to come out looking small.

BOS in 5

2 WAS vs 7 NYR

The Rangers can't score. It's as simple as that. Rangers have the edge in net, but it's no where near enough to overcome Alexander the 8 and Mike Green. The Caps have the scoring depth to take it to the Rangers. Lundqvist could steal a game or 2.Watch for Avery to make a fool of himself.

WAS in 6

3 NJD vs 6 CAR

Carolina has had an edge on NJ for a few years now. Eric Cole has been playing great since his return. Parise has had a great season and will have to step it up another notch for the Devils to win. If Carolina comes in and pushes the Devils off the puck and fires 35 shots a game at Brodeur they will win this series.

CAR in 7

4 Pit vs 5 PHL

It seems everyone is picking the Pens in the "Battle of the Keystone State." When you think about Crosby and Malkin this seems like the easy pick. If you take a closer look inside the number you will see that these to teams are very closely matched. If special teams win the series I give the edge to the Flyers. Richards and Carter can wear down Crosby and Malkin as long as the Flyers stay out of the box. I give Stevens a slight edge in coaching. This will be the best series of the first round in either conference.

PHL in 6

On to the West:

1 SJS vs 8ANA

The Sharks will be by far the better team in this series. Look for the Sharks D to get points on the Power Play as the Duck try to play catch up. The Duck look like they could have a problem in goal for the first time in years. They do not have goaltending to fall back on this season. Bobby Ryan will get his first taste of the NHL playoffs and may find it's much more demanding than he is ready for. The Sharks are just too strong for the Ducks.

SJS in 4

2 DET vs 7 CBJ

Osgood will either win or lose this series for the Red Wings. The Jackets have a strong young team and do have a shot at an upset here, but RJ Umberger will need to repeat last season's strong playoffs. Rick Nash will be getting his first taste of Playoff hockey. The Jackets have the edge in goaltending and both teams are very well coached. This could be the best series in the West. I have to give the over all edge to the Wing firepower up front.

DET in 7

3 VAN vs 6 STL

You can't help but be happy for the Blues (unless you're the Preds or the Wild). At the start of the season they were being pick to be in the Tavares lottery. The lost key players for long periods and were able to overcome adversity to make it into the Playoffs. The Canucks waited out Sundin and so far it does not seem worth the wait, but now it's the Playoffs and he has another level he can go to. The Nucks have the better goaltending and that's why I give them the edge.

VAN in 6

4 CHI vs 5 CGY

The Blackhawks are 4-0 against the Flames this season and Khabibulin get the edge in goal. The Hawks have more overall talent up front and Brian Cambell should be able to improve on a shaky season. Ollie Jokinen will be playing in his first playoff series and that should motive him, but the edge up front goes to the Hawks. The Flames have a stonger D corps and can grind you down over the course of a long series. The Fans in Chicago are going to be every bit as loud and insane as Calgary. Forwards + Goaltending = Hawks

CHI in 6