love the puck

Friday, December 23, 2005

Whether you want to admit it or not, Wayne Gretzky saw you coming. He knew that when he announced the members of Team Canada circa 2006, there would be people who would say he's wrong. People who would say the greatest hockey player of all time, the orchestrator of the last gold medal winning team, is wrong this time around.

But Wayne Gretzky knows a thing or two about hockey. He knows how to get the most out of elite players. He has an amazing sense for who he can trust, and who he can't. And here's the defense of Gretzky's decisions.

Todd Bertuzzi is an Olympian because it is an event for the best athletes in the World, and Bertuzzi is simply one of those athletes. He has skill and size in abundance and is capable of dominating any opponent. He is averaging a hair under a point-per-game in the best hockey league in the world after having more than a year and a half away from the game. No teammate has ever questioned his character, and he has handled his adversities in the best possible way.

Bertuzzi has already gleamed with enthusiasm upon hearing he has been entrusted with this honour. Does anyone really think Todd Bertuzzi will be a detriment to Team Canada? I think he'll be ready to play his heart out, for Wayne who trusted him, and for the country he loves. He deserves to be on Team Canada.

Kris Draper hasn't been scoring. Kris Draper plays on a team that doesn't ask him to score. His job on Team Canada will not be to put pucks in the net. Last I checked, there are three lines of elite scorers that will do that. Draper will kill penalties, win faceoffs, and play crucial minutes in close games against the best forwards on opposing teams. Draper is a proven winner, and no can take away his performance in the World Cup of Hockey in 2004.

Some made the argument for John Madden. Some say Eric Staal can play both ways. Both arguments are good ones. However, Wayne has played against Draper, and knows his capabilities. And last time there was a major international tournament, Kris got the job done.

Rick Nash went to the 2005 Men's World Hockey Championships in Innsbruck, Austria and put to rest any qualms about his game. Left off the World Cup team, Nash showed offensive skills so vast there is no way to leave him off any Team Canada in the near future. Has he been injured? Yes. No one is denying that. But already a Rocket Richard trophy winner, and with three goals in his first three games back, Nash is a proven scorer who loves the big ice. You may not like the pick now, but come February, when it counts, you'll love number 61 in red.

Now the taxi squad that was named were the right names. Bryan McCabe, Jason Spezza and Eric Staal would be counted on to log huge minutes for any other team but Canada.

Staal is the most deserving player. He is a dynamic, two way threat, with amazing speed and more importantly, he currently is leading the NHL with 24 goals.

Spezza doesn't make the big club simply because of a lack of versatility. Canada is too deep at center and Spezza doesn't kill penalties, doesn't play the wing, and isn't a premier defensive center. If he was to play, he'd be a scorer, and Canada is too deep at those center positions.

McCabe likely won't see much ice in Turin, because even if one injury was suffered to the Canada defense, they'd likely roll six defense anyway. McCabe is playing well, but Canada has the best defense in the world.

Wayne Gretzky might not be sleeping like a baby at night, but he sure doesn't hear you criticizing him. He knows you can't please everybody, and it's like he said at the start of this process; the only right answer, is a gold medal.

Posted by Jon at 12:44 PM | | e-mail me

Monday, December 12, 2005

ODDS AND ENDS

The Toronto Maple Leafs have hit a slump, and they are having some difficulties on the power play. Other teams have caught on to Bryan McCabe's hot start, and now opposing coaches cover his point on the penalty kill at all costs. Toronto really doesn't move the puck that well down low, and most teams are content to let them cycle, while leaving the big shooting to Tomas Kaberle. Last Saturday against Dallas, this strategy worked well, as McCabe was unable to shoot his big one-timer ever once, in seven power-play chances.

Patrick Lalime has been placed on waivers, marking one of the fastest plummets from grace in recent history. St. Louis was hoping he'd show consistency for them, naming him the saviour to their goaltending problems in recent years. Instead, Lalime has been horrible, playing poorly on a poor team. Lalime was an all-star in 2002-2003.
I can't think of too many teams fighting for his rights, especially since paying him anything more than a million dollars would be ridiculous.

The San Jose Sharks have started a frenzy of trade rumours, as big names are getting tossed around all over the league. The latest has Todd Bertuzzi supposedly sick of playing in Vancouver and demanding a trade, though he vehemently denies it.
Roberto Luongo is another colossal name that is being wafted into the trade winds, as he looks tired of Florida's lack of achievement. If he thinks he's frustrated, he should talk to Martin Gelinas, Gary Roberts and Joe Nieuwendyk-- they all came from playoff calibre teams. Luongo has only known life in the basement of the Southeast division.

The deadline for Wayne Gretzky to name his Olympic roster is fast approaching, and the buzz around this years squad is taking some attention from the World Junior camp that is taking place this week in Vancouver. Canada is not favoured to win the Gold medal, but they will contend, as they do every year. Some notable players not in camp: First round draft picks Wojtek Wolski and Alex Bourret. Some notable players that are: 16-year-old Angelo Esposito, 17-year-old Jonathan Toews and Montreal second round pick Guillame Latendresse. Defenseman Cam Barker is the only returning player from last years Gold medal winning team.

Posted by Jon at 1:59 PM | | e-mail me

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

The writing was on the wall. The Boston media had decided Joe Thornton was more of a scapegoat than a super-hero. After the playoffs two years ago, when Joe played through a torn rib muscle, but registered no points, the Boston media found their man.

Joe was not to blame. But Boston needed something, anything, to explain why they dropped the opening round series to eighth seeded Montreal.

And so it started. Management squabbles, Thornton continuously putting up world-class numbers, despite Boston's refusal to spend money to put great players around him.

This season, now that the Bruins front office had actually spent some dollars to try and put talent around Joe, they needed an excuse for their start. Instead of looking at the truth--injuries, a sub-par start for Andrew Raycroft, and a strong Northeast division-- the Bruins decided to pin it on Joe and ship him out of town.

Boston's loss equals San Jose's gain.

In his first three games with the underacheiving Sharks, Thornton has registered a goal and five assists, leading San Jose to three straight victories.

It's senseless to attempt to determine who's 'right' and 'wrong' in this instance, it seems obvious that the Sharks made the right move. What needs to be discussed is the mismanaging of a superstar.

Can you imagine Jarome Iginla being treated like this? The rookie phenoms Sidney and Alex? So why Joe Thornton? He's a world class player, who inked a deal that is similar to the figures given to Rick Nash and Ilya Kovalchuk, both exciting young players--both not yet as good as Joe Thornton.

Thornton made Glen Murray and Mike Knuble very rich men. Both signed deals that made them extremely wealthy. Neither have negative things to say about Joe. In fact, no one in the Boston locker room was critical of Joe Thornton.

So when does the finger get pointed at Harry Sinden? Have people given up trying to understand him, because he unabashedly does these things? Refusing to build a legitimate team around Cam Neely and Ray Bourque. Calling Joe Thornton's character into question, saying it was a mistake to make Joe the captain when they did.

Thornton has a new start, and is looking rejuvenated. Could a new start be on the way for Roberto Luongo?

Luongo is known as one of the best goalies in the world. He falls in the top three on almost everybody's lists. Yet he looks deflated in Florida. Tired of not being helped out.

So will Mike Keenan pull the trigger? He should, if he wants to get anything of value for Luongo. Face the facts, Luongo will be the most courted player this off-season, as he gets calls from almost everyone regarding his services. He won't be in Florida next season.

If Keenan wants to get something for him, rather than just allowing him to sign elsewhere--we all remember what happened to the Raptors with Tracy McGrady-- then he'd better pull the trigger on a deal soon.

It's important to get full market value for a goalie of Luongo's calibre, and if Keenan strikes now, it'll shake up the roster, and he'll be able to get some great players for him.

If Keenan waits too long, he could end up being the next Mike O'Connel.

Posted by Jon at 8:55 PM | | e-mail me