Toronto Turmoil: Leaf Fans Have Every Right to be Frustrated!

As a fan of the Colorado Avalanche ultimately since their relocation to Denver from Quebec City, I’ve had it pretty good as a hockey fan. From 1996-2004, the Avalanche won two Stanley Cups and went to the Western Conference Finals on 4 other occasions. I admit, during those years myself and other fans of the Avalanche were spoiled. However, since the lockout of 2005, things have been rocky in the mile high city (pun intended). In those seasons the Avalanche made the playoffs four times and won just two playoff series. Those hard times have given me a much greater appreciation for what I witnessed in the late 90’s/early 00’s, while also giving me the sense to truly take in the current growth of today’s team into what I hope will be another powerhouse. This past near 20 years of experience has also given me quite an opinion on the current situation in Toronto between the Maple Leafs and their fans.

Thus far this season there have been a couple occasions where a fan of the Maple Leafs has tossed a jersey on the ice during a game as a way of voicing his or her displeasure for the team’s performance on the ice. This has led to much debate around the hockey world with many high profile hockey people giving their thoughts on the matter. Many in the Maple Leafs dressing room seem to believe that it is not only disrespectful to the players on the current team but to the legends who have worn the Maple Leaf on their chest in the past. I’m not going to condone the throwing of anything on to the ice during a game other than a hat following a hat-trick but if that’s what a fan thinks is necessary to make a point of their frustration of both on and off ice performance, I greatly respect it!

I am not the kind of fan that will defend my team’s performance no matter how bad it is. If my team doesn’t give 100%, I call them on it. If any player seems to be mailing it in, I say sit them on the bench until they show they want to win. Patrick Roy is one of my idols but I OFTEN disagree with his decisions behind the bench and won’t give him a free pass just because he is Patrick Roy. I am one fan of this team who has and will continue to spend a great deal of time and money supporting the team and players, thus it is my belief that I can boo or question the team when the effort isn’t there. I’ll never turn my back on the team and all I ask is that the players on the ice show 100% effort night in and night out and those in the front office do their best to put the best possible line-up on the ice. I belief this is the thought process of most sports fans, Toronto Maple Leaf fans included.

The number of Leaf fans living who witnessed their last Stanley Cup win are few and far between and then there are many fans who have been born post 1967 who have never witnessed their favorite team hoist the Cup. In that time, the 70’s and 80’s weren’t good, the 90’s and early 2000’s weren’t too bad with a few Conference Finals appearances and since 2004 things have been terrible. I have many friends who are Maple Leafs fans and they have stuck with the team in the good times and bad but they have grown understandably frustrated with performance on the ice and in the front office. The Toronto Maple Leafs are worth over 1 billion dollars, despite some of the highest ticket prices in the NHL, the Air Canada Centre in always sold out and even at the smallest gathering anywhere in Canada you would be hard pressed not to see someone wearing something with a blue maple leaf logo. Still, even with all that money and support, this team hasn’t won a championship since 1967. Only the Chicago Cubs come to mind as a big time sports club with such a long championship drought.

So if the shoe were on the other foot, would Dave Nonis, Randy Carlyle, Dion Phaneuf and the ‘suits’ of MLSE boo the team with 2 minutes to go in a game where they trail the worst team in the NHL by 5 goals? I’d like to ask one of them! It’s not about winning and losing, it’s about a consistent effort and that hasn’t been there. I think back to 2013 when the Leafs lost to Boston in that heartbreaking game 7. Sure, the fans were disappointed and questioned some decisions during that collapse but at the end of the day they took a great deal of pride in the fact their team gave the eventual Eastern Conference Champions everything they could handle in that series. Just another example of how fans just want to know their team gave it their all, no matter the end result.

As for the jersey tossing being ‘disrespectful’ to the past greats who have worn the Maple Leafs jersey, I would say whoever it was that threw the jersey has a greater knowledge and appreciation for the history of the team than 90 percent of its current roster. A similarity between players and fans is their desire for their team to hoist the Stanley Cup but the difference is the fan’s Cup desire will always involve one team, the players often does not. No doubt each Maple Leaf player wants to win a Cup in Toronto this season, but next year? They could be on any one of the other 29 teams and could care less if the Leafs win a Cup. It’s the fan who is there year after year; witnessing every high and low yet never changes their colors. It’s the fan who remembers Mats Sundin’s 500th goal in OT, Dougie GILMOUR’s OT wraparound against St.Louis, and so many of the little moments that have happened in the team’s history. The one’s disrespecting the legends of the past are the guys giving less than 100% on the ice or in the front office. Perhaps they should be given a history lesson on the Shayne Corson’s, Darcy Tucker’s, Gary Roberts’, Dave Williams’, etc of the past who played as though anything less than 110 percent was unacceptable.

To those who argue that Toronto is a tough place to play hockey; it’s only as tough as you make it! It’s all a part of the job, as soon as a player signs that multi-million dollar contract he has agreed to deal with all the ups and downs that come with the job. No job is perfect; it seems professional athlete included but if part of your job is fielding questions after a game for 15 minutes, you signed up for it, do it. When a player gets saucy with a reporter during a pre or postgame interview, sure it might be funny but everyone easily forgets that the reporter is just doing his or her job. I’m sure they don’t like getting embarrassed on live TV, but it’s part of their job and they have to do it. I should work the same for the players. Also, the way I see it, I’d rather play hockey in a city where people actually care about the team than in a place where they don’t even know a team exists. Take the good with the bad, do your job and be grateful for having a chance to play the game so many dream of playing but so few ever get the chance to.

As for the player’s ‘dig’ at the fans following the game on Thursday by not doing the traditional salute before exiting the ice, that was far more disrespectful than a jersey toss. What an example of biting the hand that feeds you! Such a distasteful move, that in my opinion sums up the problem in Toronto; lack of leadership. If you’re upset with how your fans have been treating you, use that as motivation to play better and I’m sure you’ll be treated better, don’t win your first game in a week and give your supporters the equivalent of the middle finger. Tim Leiweke publically stated the Maple Leafs have major character issues in the offseason and he was clearly stating the truth.

To summarize; after going through the past 45 plus years, the fans of the Maple Leafs have every right to show their frustration with the organization and if it takes throwing a jersey on the ice, wearing a paper bag over their head or booing the team to get everyone’s attention then so be it. If I were a fan after all these years, I’d have been tempted to toss my seat on the ice late in Tuesday’s game! The fans have built this organization and made it one of the top teams financially in all of sports. It’s time those who have been cashing the cheques look after the many people whose money makes up a good portion of the account they come from. Leaf fans deserve better and should starting making noise to ensure they get it!

@poleary19

2014-2015 NHL Predictions: Christmas is Finally Here!

With the NHL season just a COUPLE HOURS AWAY, it’s time to lay down some predictions for the 2014-2015 NHL season. As usual there have been many changes since Alec Martinez put the puck past Hank Lundqvist to crown the Kings, but have there been enough changes to see them dethroned? Here are my 2014-2015 predictions for conference standings, legit Cup contenders, my Cup winner and season end award winners.

Western Conference Standings:
1. St. Louis (Central Division Winner)
2. Anaheim (Pacific Division Winner)
3. Chicago
4. Los Angeles
5. Colorado
6. Dallas
7. Minnesota
8. San Jose
9. Vancouver
10. Arizona
11. Nashville
12. Winnipeg
13. Calgary
14. Edmonton

Eastern Conference Standings:
1. Boston (Atlantic Division Winner)
2. Pittsburgh (Metropolitan Division Winner)
3. New York Rangers
4. Montreal
5. Tampa Bay
6. Columbus
7. Philadelphia
8. New York Islanders
9. Toronto
10. Ottawa
11. Detroit
12. New Jersey
13. Washington
14. Florida
15. Carolina
16. Buffalo

Only three teams who really have a chance in the West: Chicago, Los Angeles, and St.Louis

The East is WIDE OPEN and any of: Pittsburgh, Boston, Montreal, New York Rangers and Tampa Bay have a shot at making the CUP Finals.

The finals: Chicago vs. Pittsburgh

The Cup Champion: Chicago Blackhawks

Art Ross winner: Crosby
Rocket Richard winner: Stamkos
Hart Trophy winner: Tavares
Norris Trophy winner: Pietrangelo
Vezina Trophy winner: Carey Price
Jack Adams winner: Jack Capuano
Calder Trophy winner: John Gibson

First Coached fired: Dallas Eakins
First Coach hired: Dan Bylsma

Those are my thoughts! What are yours? Lets get er goin!!!!!

@poleary19

Eastern Conference Finals Breakdown: New York Rangers at Montreal Canadiens

 

In the words of broadcasting legend Robert Cole, ‘Ohh Babyyyy,’ what a playoffs these have been so far! We’ve pretty much seen it all through the first two rounds and we still have one game left before we move on to the Conference Finals. The quick turnaround from round one to round two prevented me from blogging my second round picks but here is an update on how I’ve done so far.
Round 1: 5 correct (Bruins, Habs, Rangers, Blackhawks, Ducks)
Round 2: 2 correct (Rangers, Blackhawks) *Have the Kings over the Ducks

Total: 7 right, 3 wrong, one to be determined and one no pick (AVS/WILD)

In a postseason this unpredictable, I’ll take that! Especially if the Kings can get the win at the pond tonight! That one should be a dandy! However, I’m going to jump ahead with a little breakdown of les Canadiens/Rangers series set to start Saturday at the Bell Centre! Lots of opinions out there on this one and here is mine:

First things first, aside from the fact the Canadiens have home ice, forget the regular season! It’s the Eastern Conference Finals and everything is on the table here. Make no mistake about it though, that home ice advantage is huge. The old saying goes ‘you’re not in trouble until you lose a game on home ice.’ If Montreal doesn’t lose on home ice in this series, they’ll be playing for the Stanley Cup. Home ice advantage means a little more to Montreal in the playoffs; maybe it’s the crowd, maybe it’s the amazing pregame festivities or maybe it’s the magical history of one of North America’s most storied franchises, there’s just something about playoff hockey in Montreal. No doubt Madison Square Garden is in a league of its own in terms of sporting venues but for hockey the Bell Centre reigns supreme. The Rangers will need to maintain their ability to win on the road and find a way to do it in a very hostile environment to have a chance here.

When you look at the two teams up front the biggest similarity thus far in these playoffs is a balanced attack. The Rangers have 11 forwards with at least one goal this postseason and the Canadiens have 10. On paper the Blue Shirts have more star power with St.Louis, Nash and Richards but each player has struggled with offensive consistency at times. In 7 games against oft criticized Penguins keeper Marc Andre Fleury the Rangers scored just 15 goals while the Canadiens scored 20 against Vezina candidate Tuuka Rask. Both teams are similarly gritty on the third and fourth lines and it will be interesting to see how each adjust coming out of series where they were the underdog. I suspect from top to bottom the compete level will be there for both teams but for either to win, certain players will need to shine through. For the Rangers, Marty St. Louis has become the inspirational leader and will need to continue to lead and contribute if the Rangers want to win. Also, the Rangers will not win this series if Rick Nash doesn’t find the net. He hasn’t showed up in the playoffs since entering the league and it is beginning to cast a shadow on his career. One good series here could leave the past in the past for Nash. For Montreal, Max Pacioretty will need to find a way to come up big as he did in games 6 and 7 of the Bruins series. The man who scored 39 goals in the regular season will need to find similar consistency in the playoffs for Montreal to take the next step. Likewise, the Habs will need Thomas Vanek to be more consistent in this series. He was brought in at the deadline to produce and while he has scored some big goals, the Habs would like to see it happen over a larger stretch. This series will be tight and if a player as offensively gifted as Vanek can produce consistently it may be the difference.

On the backend the Habs have the biggest game breaker in this series. PK Subban has been a force in these playoffs and is easily the most offensively gifted blue liner in the series. The Rangers will need to get in his head and minimize his time and space or he will make them pay. In their own end the Canadiens defense showed both toughness and durability against the Bruins and really didn’t wear down as the Bruins had hoped by the time it was all said and done. Guys like Josh Georges and Mike Weaver have been warriors and will lay it all on the line to come out on top. The Rangers have a great young top 3 in Staal, Mcdonagh, and Girardi. Though there have been some struggles for the latter two in these playoffs, they have eaten minutes against top tier players. Staal did a great job against Pittsburgh while Anton Stralman and Kevin Klein were both also logging near 20 minutes of quality hockey per game.

On the special teams the Habs seem to be at a distinct advantage! With Subban quarterbacking the PP the Habs are clicking at just over 26%. Beyond Subban, their power play has a good mixture of skill and grit which has been leading to power play goals at critical times. On the other side, the Rangers power play has not been good and one would have to assume Coach Vigneault will have spent time on that this week. Neither penalty kill has been great in these playoffs but based on Power play threat, the Habs should have the easier time here as well.

Between the pipes we have two world class goalies that will be very difficult to beat. Both will give their team the chance to win and will come up with big save after big save. It will be a series of garbage goals, whichever team works hardest to create traffic and get pucks through to the net will come out on top here. I give Price a slight, slight edge because he seems to be mentally zoned in right now and has that ‘championship swagger’.

When it comes to intangibles, there are a few they may impact the final result. You have to think about the St.Louis factor. His team has rallied around him since the sudden passing of his mother and sometimes that’s the sort of thing that can will a team to new heights. The emotion that this tragedy has captured in the New York dressing room may translate to more on ice success. You also have to wonder how Montreal will look coming off an emotional series with the Bruins. When the Habs and Bruins play it’s just different. Can the Habs channel that same emotion? That same hatred? That same demand for respect? It can be difficult to maintain that high following a win over a rival and the tempo hard to match. After taking down their biggest rivals they will need to focus on the task at hand, they must look at the Rangers the same way they looked at Boston and have that same chip on their shoulder. Another factor will of course be coaching. Which coach will be quickest to act and react? Both men have lost in game 7 of the Cup finals, both have since been fired and both have gained much experience. It’ll be interesting to see who makes the more appropriate adjustments. It is important to also factor in the Habs round one sweep of the Lightening because it gave them some extra time off. The Rangers have played in two series that went the distance so far and other than the couple of extra days before game one Saturday, they’ve had no down time since the regular season. Will that take a toll as this series drags on?

In the end, it’s a really tough series to call and I could see it going either way but I have to lean towards Montreal. Home ice is a huge factor here, as is the Hab’s far superior power play. There’s no room for offensive struggles in a series against Carey Price and I’m not convinced the Rangers will score enough goals to win. If the Canadiens can keep their compete level up against New York as they did against Boston, they’ll be heading to the Cup Finals.

Canadiens in 6!

 

@poleary19

2014 Stanley Cup Playoff Round One Picks:

 

 

It’s been a while since my last post but what better way to get back into it than with my first round picks? Under the new bracket style playoff format it will be perhaps even more difficult to win the Stanley Cup! However, the new format will surely provide some great entertainment for fans as evidenced by round one matchups involving Blackhawks/Blues, Sharks/Kings, Rangers/Flyers, etc. So without drawing this out any further, here are my expert (lol) predictions for round one:

 

Eastern Conference:

Detroit at Boston: Honestly, coming into this season I thought the Bruins were on the decline. I felt the trading of Seguin was a mistake (may still prove to be as time goes on) and the losses of Peverley, Horton and Ference would also hurt. They’ve really proved me wrong this season and I won’t bet against them in round one. Jarome Iginla is motivated, Patrice Bergeron is almost as good as it gets in the postseason, Tuuka Rask is a Vezina candidate (shouldn’t win though) and Big Z is still a monster. The Red Wings have gotten healthier but still not healthy enough in my book. Coach Babcock is good and if he can get strong goaltending he’ll push the Bruins to the limit, but similar to last year against Chicago, it won’t be enough. BRUINS IN 6  

Player to watch: Reilly Smith

 

Montreal at Tampa Bay: Very difficult series to call so I really had to break it down into components. I think the Habs get the edge in goaltending (esp. with Bishop out), special teams, total offense, and defense. I give the Lightening the edge in grit and having the bigger game breaker in Stamkos. Add in that playoff “magic” that Montreal teams tend to find each spring and I think they win this series. With that said, the Lightening have the tools to win especially if Bishop can return early on. It’ll be interesting to see which deadline acquisition plays the bigger part in this series, Callahan or Vanek? That may go a long way in determining who moves on. Also, it’s important to mention that Carey Price has one playoff series win in his career and it was in his rookie season. If he‘s going to be considered an elite goaltender in this league, he needs to win in the spring. I think he does here! HABS IN 6
Player to watch: Max Pacioretty

 

Columbus at Pittsburgh: The new playoff set up seems to shield teams from the old 2 vs. 7 upset special! How many times over the years has a number 7 seed taken out a number 2 seed? It has happened more often than you’d expect and though the setup is a little different in 2014, the Penguins are technically the number 2 seed in the east and I think they will fall! The Jackets play a team game and have a lot of players built for postseason hockey. If Bobrovsky is on top of his game, the Penguins could be in trouble. You can never be sure on the health of certain players or which Marc-Andre Fleury will be between the pipes! Don’t be surprised if this is Bylsma’s last time behind a Pittsburgh bench. JACKETS IN 7
Player to watch: Brandon Dubinsky

 

Philadelphia at New York: Another very difficult series to call which needs to be broken down into components. Rangers get the edge in goaltending and defense, Flyers get the edge in offense and having the bigger game breaker in Claude Giroux, while special teams and grit looks to be pretty even. That just shows this series should be a dandy! My money has to go on the team with the better defense and a King in net. I also believe that Marty St.Louis will make a statement in these playoffs and help the Rangers turn some heads as they make a deep run. RANGERS IN 6
Player to watch: Martin St. Louis

 

Western Conference:

Chicago at St.Louis: The Blues have fallen from a top Cup contender to a huge question mark in just two weeks. With a 6 game losing streaking, too many injuries to list and Kenny Hitchcock seemingly melting down; are the wheels off the Blues bus? The Blackhawks have to be feeling pretty good with their two top guns likely back in the lineup for game one and well rested for the stretch run at that. The couple days between the regular season and game one are crucial for the Blues to put it all behind them and reenergize. They’ll need to get great goaltending from Miller, play the ‘wear em down’ game and get some consistent offence in order to win this series. I don’t think they’ll be able to do it though. HAWKS IN 6
Player to watch: Patrick Sharp

 

Dallas at Anaheim: In 2001 the Colorado Avalanche eliminated the LA Kings in 7 games to advance to the Conference finals. Near the 2001 trade deadline the Kings shipped Rob Blake to those Avalanche and following the series that spring, many Kings players said they wished they played that series with Blake on their side. Fast forward to 2014, the Dallas Stars will play against Anaheim in round one, the team they traded defenseman Stephane Robidas to in March. When this series is over; like the Kings in ‘01, the Stars will wish they had Robidas on their side. I’m not sold on the Ducks as a team that will go all the way but I do believe they handle Dallas despite a solid effort from Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. Secondary scoring will be crucial for the Ducks as they move forward.  DUCKS IN 6
Player to watch: Andrew Cogliano

 

Los Angeles at San Jose: Over the years I’ve always expected the San Jose Sharks to choke! Like a coach named Torts, I’ve always felt Joe Thornton has never won anything in this league and I could say the same for Patty Marleau. In saying that, those guys are not the main focal points in San Jose anymore. Yes, those guys still produce but they also have some great young talent in Couture, Pavelski, Vlasic, Burns, Hertl, etc. On the other side, over the last few years I’ve had high expectations of the LA Kings. They are a team built for the playoffs with grit, timely scoring and world class goaltending. Based on the above, you’d think my pick here is obvious but actually I think the Sharks are going to make a splash (pun not intended). The Sharks’ energy and hunger (pun not intended) will be difficult for the Kings to match this time around and I think the Kings will need a refresh after having 6 guys play in Sochi and two long playoff runs in 2012 and 2013. SHARKS IN 6
Player to watch: Joe Pavelski

 

Minnesota at Colorado: As the Avs came from behind and stole the Central Division from the St. Louis Blues, I couldn’t help but think back to 2003 when they snuck up on the Vancouver Canucks and took the North West Division in the final week of the season. Winning the division back then resulted in a first round series with the Wild and a ‘mile high upset.’ Will history repeat itself in 2014? You never know! While the Avalanche did finish the season with the second best record in the West, they are still a very young team with little playoff experience and a couple of injuries. Despite an incredible season, I don’t think the Avs have earned much respect yet and most teams feel they can beat them in a 7 game series. The Wild have guys like Parise and Pominville who have taken long runs in the playoffs and stud blueliner Ryan Suter who will log some serious minutes. The big question mark will be Ilya Bryzgalov and whether he will be focused on the game or the universe. With a 7-0-3 record in his last 10 games he helped the Wild finish strong and if he can continue that play, the Wild will have a chance at the upset. Similarly, the Avalanche will need Varlamov to continue to be his Vezina self and get a balanced contribution from their forwards, especially with Duchene out. Fearing the risk of a jinx, no prediction on this one. GO AVS!

Player to watch: Ryan O’Reilly

 

@poleary19

Touch Pass: A few hot topics in the NHL

Been a little while between blogs, here are my thoughts on some of the hot topics of the NHL:

The NHL and Rogers join forces

  Last week the NHL and Rogers came to terms on a new 12 year television deal which will begin next season. I’ve heard many fans with questions and concerns regarding the deal over the past few days. To keep it short and sweet; if anything, it sounds like hockey fans will have more games to watch and more choice! How often over the years have Montreal fans complained about the Leafs game being the main game on HNIC? Well, according to an example given at the announcement last week, A Saturday night under this deal will involve a Leafs game on CBC, Canadiens game on Sportsnet and Senators game on CITY! Make sure you have batteries in that clicker!! There will also be NO MORE blackouts under this deal! What does this mean? If you have any of the Sportsnet regional channels, you’ll actually be able to watch the game even if you are from outside that particular region!

  We all love our Hockey Night in Canada and it will continue for at least 4 years under this deal. During this time, the Stanley Cup playoffs and Stanley Cup finals will be shown on CBC just as they have been for years. What does this mean for Grapes? I think Don Cherry will continue to entertain until he chooses to be done with it. He made it clear on Saturday night that if Rogers doesn’t mess with him, he’ll keep doing what he’s doing. This deal will probably result in Don getting even more TV time on some of Rogers’ other channels. I also think Ron Mclean sticks with Don until he’s ready to retire and then Ron should get some enticing offers, one of which will come from Rogers. It is highly likely that there would be even more change to HNIC if a different network won the deal. Rumor has it that CTV would have pushed to have Saturday game start times moved to 6 eastern so the late game could be shown on TSN in primetime. In other words, the damage could have been worse.

  All the concern that has poured in for the hockey personalities on TSN makes me proud to be Canadian. Only Canadians would develop such a connection with these TV personalities that would leave us worrying about their job security. I imagine McKenzie, Duthie and Miller will stick with TSN for the time being unless they get an offer they can’t refuse. All three have been with the network for years and a place should be there for them if they want to stay; however, everyone has a price. What about Darren Dreger? Some may remember that he was originally Sportsnet’s number 1 insider before he jumped ship to join TSN. Would he like to go back? Will Rogers be interested in taking him back? That should be an interesting development. Perhaps next summer we’ll see a Free Agent frenzy “analyst” edition. The people that we should really feel for here are those who we don’t see on our TV screen. It takes a large production crew to put off a live event and sadly it will be many of these folks who are without work.

  Many people are also disappointed about the fact the TSN panel won’t be delivering the games anymore. I too, greatly enjoy the guys on TSN but to be fair, the Hockey Central guys are also very good! Daren Millard, Nick Kypreos and Doug Maclean have incredible chemistry as a trio and provide a very entertaining program. I imagine they will only step up their game with an increased national spotlight, giving fans something to enjoy. If you’re looking for a preview of what’s to come from the Sportsnet panel, check out Hockey Central at noon (130 NL time) on Sportsnet, Monday to Friday.

A four team race

  One of four teams will win the Cup this year. It’ll be one of San Jose, St.Louis, Los Angeles or Chicago. St. Louis and San Jose are the front runners because by May, both the Kings and Blackhawks will have played a lot of hockey over the last year and a half which will have them worn down. You can also expect to see a lot of Kings and Blackhawks playing in Sochi which again, will add to the wear and tear on the body. I won’t guarantee it’ll be the Sharks or Blues but will Mark Messier Guarantee it’ll be one of those 4 taking home Lord Stanley.

I’m OK with PK

  PK Subban has to be on Team Canada in Sochi! This country is very deep at every position but not to the point that we are able to leave the reigning Norris trophy winner home. The guy is far too dynamic and explosive not to take, especially on the big ice of the Olympics. He faces a great deal of criticism because of where he plays and the microscope he plays under. Yes, his game has flaws, as do the games of any other guys being considered for the spot. If Subban was playing in Columbus, he’d be a no brainer for the team. Anyone who might be concerned about his play in his own end should have faith that Mike Babcock and the coaching staff will know how and when to use him. You must take the best players and Subban is one of the best at his position.

What’s wrong with the Leafs?

  I’ve only had the chance to catch bits and pieces of Toronto’s recent games but there seems to be a common trend. Either the players are not sticking to the game plan or Carlyle needs to change the game plan. A 6-0 loss to Columbus, the collapse in Pittsburgh, a loss to the lowly Sabres and then falling behind 4-0 in a rivalry game to the habs are all cause for concern. Hockey is a game of action and reaction; right now the Leafs are slow on the action and even slower on the reaction. Getting badly outshot game after game has finally caught up to them and they need to change something. Makes me wonder if Carlyle’s message is getting lost in translation? Or is Dave Bolland that valuable?

Follow me! @poleary19

Fighting: Drop em or keep em on?

  On Tuesday night the puck finally dropped to kick start the first 82 game NHL season in two years! After so much anticipation and excitement, fans could finally get to see the latest version of their team take to the ice! Once the final buzzer of the evening was sound, all the talk was to be about the Leafs big win over the Habs, Grabovski’s four point debut with the Caps, or Jacob Trouba’s outstanding NHL debut. However, these all became secondary topics; as the primary talk was regarding fighting in hockey. In the third period in Montreal; as Colton Orr was falling to the ice during his second fight of the game against George Parros, he grabbed Parros’ sweater, pulling him forward and face first into the ice. The arena went quiet as Parros lay motionless on the ice while a concerned Orr waved his hands to get the medical staff on the scene quickly. In that instant, everything that had or was to take place that evening in the NHL, became overshadowed by the debate over fighting in the NHL. The debate of whether fighting should or shouldn’t be in the NHL often pops up, especially after events like this. Below you can read my somewhat long winded thoughts on this debate.

  When I thought about this, the first question I asked myself was “Would I still watch if there was no fighting?” The answer to this question is yes! I love this game and the fighting is not what drew me to it nor is it what has me tuning in game in and game out. Does this mean I don’t enjoy fighting? Certainly not! When a fight breaks out, I want to see it! This tends to be human nature; not a butt remains in a seat at an arena during a fight. I guess for the same reason that millions tune into the UFC on a Saturday night. The human nature is to enjoy violence in some way shape or form, I can’t explain it, I’m sure there are studies that prove it, and that’s that. It may very well be one of the biggest problems in society today, but I believe it to be true. Does this mean we enjoyed seeing what happened to George Parros on Tuesday night? Not at all, I doubt there is a person out there who wasn’t sick to their stomach after they witnessed Parros hit the ice and not move a muscle. Though, just seconds prior to that most people didn’t blink an eye as the two men squared off toe to toe. Therefore, in terms of entertainment value, fighting is not a necessity but it adds to the excitement.

  After that question was answered, my next question was what I thought about the injuries associated with fighting? Truth is, hockey is a physical sport, it’s a dangerous sport and injuries will happen. No matter how good the equipment is or improves over time; with the speed and size of the players on the ice, injury is unavoidable. This is the case in all sports; every athlete is aware of the risks associated with their chosen sport. Every race car driver is aware of the risk he or she is taking once they get behind the wheel; obviously it’s a risk they accept. These risks are present in most of the major sports leagues in one facet or another. Whether you have a 90 mile/hr fast ball coming at you or a 275 lb linebacker; the risks are clear and injury will happen, regardless of the measures taken. Professional sports leagues can and have done their best to create the safest possible environment for its players but injuries will still happen. As mentioned previously, these athletes are aware of the risks involved and hockey players are no exception. There are enforcers who regularly drop the gloves, gritty guys who occasionally drop the gloves and players who rarely if ever drop the gloves. Regardless of which of the three categories a player may fall into, fighting is 95% of the time, a choice. An enforcer maybe more prepared and willing to fight but at any given time in a game, a situation could arise leading any player into a scrap. It’s relatively simple; if a player is willing to fight, he’ll probably fight, if a player isn’t willing, he probably won’t. The choice is theirs.

   While obviously under the category of injury, concussions are so heavily discussed in hockey that they deserve to be brought up separately. Over the past 10 or so years, the topic of concussions has perhaps been the number 2 topic in sport after performance enhancing drugs. Concussions have been caused by everything from body checks to slides in baseball and everything in between. With the speed and physicality of hockey, the seriousness of concussions has been a very hot topic and always tends to pop up in the arguments against fighting as well. While, I do certainly acknowledge the seriousness of concussions in sport, I believe that there is a greater likelihood of a concussion occurring during play than during fights. There are multiple ways a player can suffer such a head injury over the course of the game including: an intentional collision, an unintentional collision, a puck or stick to the head, etc..  Also, i’m not certain I buy into the fact that concussions have only really come about over the past 10 or so years. I think it would be more correct to say that the past 10 years have been the coming out party for concussions. Sure, the game is much faster than it was 50 years ago but the protective equipment is miles and miles ahead of where it was back then (for what protective equipment even existed). Likewise, the rules of the game have changed to protect the players and player safety in 2013 is far beyond player safety in 1963. In my opinion, concussions happened 50 years just as they do today! The differences between the two could easily be contributed to the amazing growth in science and technology. In 1963, a headache and nausea after a game, was well, a headache and nausea. In 2013, a headache and nausea after a game is a concussion that may even be labeled more specifically based on other symptoms. Similarly, in 1963, a player injured in a fight may have had his picture on the sports page of the local newspaper the next morning. In 2013, a player injured in a fight is within seconds “trending” on twitter, brought up in facebook posts, and seen nationally on sports newscasts. Add to this the fact that 50 years ago there were probably 120 players in the league, yet today that number is closer to 600 and perhaps the player to concussion ratios would be similar. There may not be more concussions today, just more focus on them.

  Finally, I asked myself what affect a fighting ban would have on the game itself. I found myself agreeing with the argument used by hockey purists and old time hockey fans, the belief that fighting in the game keeps players honest. A game without fighting is also a game without having to answer the bell for breaking one of hockey’s many codes. Fighting in hockey is a way of players policing the game themselves; a policing that often cannot be fully accomplished by officials or league executives. As odd as it may sound, in the real world, sometimes authorities are not able to handle a situation and people must take it into their own hands. Often times in school, the teacher’s means of handling a situation does not deal with the problem and the students must take it into their own hands. Likewise, perhaps the method of police in a neighborhood doesn’t take care of an issue and the members of the community must find their own way to deal with it. Hockey is no different; whether it’s a missed call or a two minute penalty just not being enough, fighting helps prevent players from taking liberties. Every team has a player that may be considered dirty and cross the line from time to time. A two minute penalty is more than worth it if an opposing superstar is shaken up or even knocked out of a game by a questionable play. A questionable play that may not happen if the player committing the act knew he would have to answer the call of a tough guy for the act. Without fighting, you will see a noticeable increase in stick work and questionable hits simply because players are not afraid of two minutes in the sin bin, as opposed to actually having to fight to hone up for their actions. Perhaps, a great recent example of this would be from the 2013 World Hockey Championships. With Sweden playing Canada, Alex Edler recklessly stuck his knee out for a hit on Eric Staal. Edler, a player not known to be a fighter showed no respect for his opponent and made the dirty hit knowing there would be no on-ice consequences as there is no fighting in international hockey. It is highly unlikely that Edler would have pulled the same stunt during an NHL game because not only would he be penalized but he would also be challenged by some of Staal’s Hurricane teammates! In fact, Edler still may very well have to answer the bell for that hit when the two teams faceoff this season. Imagine this leaving the “faces” of the game such as Crosby and Ovechkin vulnerable to predatory plays that could put their careers in danger. Looking back, perhaps the longevity and healthy career of the greatest player of all time could be contributed to the fact he had Dave Semenko and Marty McSorely watching his back during a good portion of his career. In the NHL, millions of dollars are paid to players who are expected to win at all costs, winning is everything and players will do anything to win, fighting helps put a limit on that anything.

  In conclusion, it’s not hard to see where I stand in this debate. I can understand where the arguments against fighting come from, but one can also make a fairly strong case as to why fighting should stay in the game. At the end of the day, the only opinions that matter are those of the players themselves. It shouldn’t be the fans, Colin Campbell, Gary Bettman, or the general managers who decide, it should be the guys that actually play the game and face the risks. I believe, for all the reasons stated above and more besides; a high percentage of the players themselves would vote to keep fighting in hockey. I myself, would still watch hockey if fighting was no more, but I have an understanding and appreciation for the need of fighting in the game. One former NHLer may have best put it into words by saying “it’s not the fight that’s important, it’s the threat of the fight that keeps guys honest.”

Follow me on Twitter @poleary19

PS love feedback or discussion!

FREE? Agency: My 2013 NHL Offseason Winners and Losers

 

Just over two weeks since the end of the Stanley Cup playoffs and teams have already done a great deal to prepare themselves for the 2013-2014 season. One positive that came from this shortened season; at least from a fans perspective, is the fact that the buy-out period, draft and start of free agency all happened within a very short period of time. This meant a flurry of activity and a TSN special that actually lived up to the hype! With the exception of some trades and a couple of marquee free agents, most of the excitement is over. This leaves us with the questions that no one can answer; who are the winners and losers so far this offseason? Though no one can truly answer such a question today, most people try and I figure I may as well take a shot too!

   And the Winners are ……(drum roll please)…..

  The Dallas Stars: It’s been so long since it happened that many people tend to forget the Stars acquired Sergei Gonchar from Ottawa and signed him for a respectable 5 million per season. That transaction is likely forgotten because of the HUGE splash made last week when the Stars acquired Tyler Seguin and Rich Peverley from the Bruins for Loui Eriksson and a couple of prospects. Eriksson has proved to be a very consistent, underrated player but he’s 27 and you pick up a 21 year old potential superstar! Boston dropped the ball here BIG TIME (textbook foreshadowing right there)! There has been a lot of talk about maturity issues in Boston for Seguin. Peter Chiarelli were you ever 21? Were you ever under thirty!? Anyone smell a scapegoat? I bet Jim Nill will gladly tweet for Tyler Seguin once he has a few 30 goal, 80 point seasons! AND, he’s locked up long term for under 6 million per! Meanwhile, Peverley adds depth to the bottom 6, is capable of doing all the little things and was a big time role player for Boston over the past few years. The Stars also went out and brought in former Oilers Captain Shawn Horcoff. He’ll be bringing in leadership, grit and the desire to prove he has a few years left in him. Dallas looks like a playoff team in 2014 to me!

  The Toronto Maple Leafs: I know! I can’t believe I think this either! First they brought in Jonathon Bernier and losing Frattin and Scrivens in return. Most leaf fans believe Reimer is the man; I do not! Yes, he looked good in the series against the Bruins but he doesn’t appear to be technically sound and I believe Bernier is. These two guys will push each other and that usually folds well for the team. My money is on Bernier but we’ll see what Reimer has to say. I hear there is some disappointment in Toronto regarding the loss of Frattin but often times Leaf fans get attached to players that are hardly known outside of Toronto (Google Jonas Hoglund). Next up, on draft day the Leafs traded a few draft picks for Dave Bolland. One word describes every aspect of that deal; smart! It’s a smart trade, smart hockey player, smart gm, etc. Not only will he be a fan favorite in Toronto, but he’ll actually be good! Then On Friday they managed to hold on to Tyler Bozak for 4.2 million per season. While I don’t think he’s a number one centre in this league; that’s a reasonable price and they say the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t. Then they went out and locked up the coveted David Clarkson. Again, they may have taken a risk and most fans (myself included) are not convinced he’ll be worth over 5 million bucks for 7 years, but many other teams were interested and offering even more money! Expectations will be hard to live up to but he’ll be effective for the Leafs. Another interesting year in Toronto!

  The Detroit Red Wings: While the Red Wings struggled to make the playoffs, once they arrived they took the eventual Cup Champions to game 7 overtime! With aging stars and a blue line uncharacteristically filled with names you likely don’t know, the Wings proved that good coaching, strong work ethic, and great goaltending can get it done. There is no denying the fact the window is closing in Motown but the free agent signings of Daniel Alfredsson and Stephen Weiss certainly makes them Cup contenders in 2014. Alfredsson brings so much to the team both on and off the ice. He’ll also be the guy this team uses as additional motivation for hoisting the Cup next June (See Raymond Bourque).  Weiss will be a much needed number 2 centre in Detroit and will catch the eye of hockey followers similar to Nathan Horton when he left Florida for Boston. I also expect the Wings will re-up Dan Cleary somewhere down the road, adding more depth to a lineup already potent.

  Honorable mention: Ottawa Senators, Edmonton Oilers and Columbus Blue Jackets

  And the Losers are…..(Booooooo)…….

  The Boston Bruins: Trading Seguin and Peverley, watching Horton, Jagr and Ference walk and signing Jarome Iginla. I feel like this time period will be one that is pointed to when Chiarelli loses his job in the next year or two. With Zdeno Chara getting older and the above moves, the Stanley Cup window in Boston has closed. Of course it’s all a 21 year old’s fault! Sorry Bruin fans but this team is on the way downhill. Sorry Iggy, no cup in 2014 (unless he’s dealt at the deadline AGAIN!).

  The Tampa Bay Lightening: This may seem like a strange choice but if you look at the Lightening roster, you’ll see that they didn’t really meet any of their needs. They bought out the long time face of the franchise (which made sense) but then went out and paid Valtteri Filppula 5 million dollars per season, for 5 years! Filppula is a good hockey player and I know he has connections with Yzerman but this contract will not fold well for the Bolts. This situation is almost identical to the Ville Leino signing in Buffalo! I know, who is Ville Leino?

  The St. Louis Blues: Another potentially strange choice but when you look at the Blues over the past couple of seasons, they have had good teams unable to take a good run at the cup. With teams like Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles shedding salary, it was a great chance for the Blues to add some talent and solidify themselves as Cup contenders. What did they do? Pick up Derek Roy, who made little impact during his stint in Vancouver. Then today, they traded David Perron for Magnus Paajarvi of the Oilers. A new start maybe just what Paajarvi needs but it seems like maybe he’s just not cut out for a top 6 role in the NHL and will have to learn how to be a checker or stay in the minors. Perron; at just 25 years old, has proven he can be a top 6 forward in this league and will bring some jam to the Oilers lineup. All in all, it just seems like this offseason was a missed opportunity for the Blues.

   Honorable Mention:  Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers

Remember though, free agent signings rarely have the impact anyone expects!

Follow me on Twitter @poleary19