Hockey Musings From Overseas

LONDON--Doesn't matter where you are. At this time of year, it's always hard to separate the real from the fictional in the hockey world.

I'd just be happy if they'd give this Winnipeg team a name. Like, today. This is getting to be like the old Baltimore CFLers, pre-Stallions. Don't think the Winnipeg NHLers is going to fly. Jets sounds right. NHL people say no chance it's going to be Moose. Again, tough to separate the real from the fictional.

Now on to other matters of interest/speculation:

--No surprises at the NHL awards, although it was gratifying that voters saw beyond the numbers and gave Corey Perry the Hart. That Daniel Sedin won the Ted Lindsay suggest players don't watch the games - or their opponents - nearly as closely as the media.

Lots of winners and honored folks from the Western Conference, not much from the east. In fact, while whiners in the west have bellyached forever about hockey writers not staying up to watch west coast games, the fact is while the media voting seemed to favour the west, the GMs voted for Tim Thomas as the Vezina winner and the broadcasters chose Dan Bylsma as coach-of-the-year.

So hopefully that's one silly theory put to rest forever.

--Gotta say that giving Ian Laperriere the Masterton after he failed to play a single game in the 2010-11 season is a joke. That the other finalists, Ray Emery and Daymond Langkow, didn't play much either is no excuse. This is an award that has struggled to stay relevant, and clearly, having Laperriere win it suggests that a minimum numbers of games to be eligible (40?) is necessary and that its probably time to re-define the award for the future.

--Jaromir Jagr with two, maybe three suitors? Really? Did nobody watch the Mike Modano scenario unfold rather badly in Detroit last year? Look, we haven't seen the 38-year-old Jagr in the NHL since the 2007-08 season when he was rather pedestrian at best for the New York Rangers. Since then, he's played three years in the KHL and popped up to generally positive reviews in the 2010 Winter Olympics, at least until he was flattened by Alexander Ovechkin.

Could he help somebody at the bargain basement price of $1 million or so? Well, maybe. But if you're a team serious about winning - which is the reason you'd chase Jagr - is it possible to envision him fighting for ice in the way that would have been necessary in the recent Vancouver-Boston Stanley Cup final? Not a chance.

Every year at this time there's a fanciful notion that some journeyman-type offensive player with flickering abilities is going to be a super-smart signing by somebody. Well, to that I say, Mike Comrie.

--The Ilya Bryzgalov saga is interesting to watch. It would appear the netminder, who has never won anything, has the Flyers right where he wants them and could extract a salary that would make him the league's highest-paid goalkeeper. This makes little or no sense, but it would appear that after missing out on the likes of Mike Richter, Curtis Joseph and Tim Thomas over the years, Ed Snider wants the best guy out there.

But isn't that Tomas Vokoun?

--There was something rather refreshing about the way in which the Leafs made changes to their coaching staff this week. Don't get me wrong - I take no joy in watching two good hockey men, Keith Acton and Tim Hunter, lose their jobs. But something needed to change.

What I liked was that neither Brian Burke nor Ron Wilson tried to spin this into anything it wasn't. Burke demanded change. Wilson resisted, didn't want to. Finally, with only a year left on his contract, Wilson relented. Neither man tried to paint the situation in any different way to make themselves look better. No dissembling. Refreshing.

--It's pretty clear that the last scenario Burke wants is to simply draft with the No. 25 and No. 30 picks tomorrow night in Minny. He either wants to move up or move out, either getting a much higher ranked draft-eligible player or players he can use in this up-coming season with the pressure on the Leafs now clearly on Burke and Wilson to produce a playoff-quality team.

As of now, the Leafs have 11 picks, five in the top 100.

--So what of J.S. Giguere? Other than being one of the new investors in the Montreal junior club along with Laperriere, Daniel Briere and Quebecor, Giguere is recovering from sports hernia surgery and waiting on his future.

Burke says he's going with James Reimer and Jonas Gustavsson as his 1-2 combination next season. That would probably make Jussi Rynnas No. 3, which means a team planning to make the playoffs will attempt to do so with little or no experience in net.

The Leaf GM, however, says he may be interested in Giguere in "some other capacity." Sounds like unless Giguere gets a better offer, Burke wants to basically invite him to stay with the Leafs, maybe even come to training camp, while the club sees whether a veteran backup is required.

--Amazing all the mock drafts and pre-draft predictions out there. But lets agree on one thing. No crowing after the fact for getting two-thirds of the top 30 correct or such nonsense. Connect the exact teenager with the right team and slot - or even just the slot - or its not worth bragging about. Geez, Central Scouting can get two-thirds of the names in the first round right.

Anybody who can get nine of the first 10 picks right - and not on the draft floor when folks love to tips TV/radio/web reporters the moments before they actually select - is doing something very right. This is a very tough draft to call, even the top five selections.

--Edmonton, as has become an annual rite of June, has the first pick. The right play is to shop it to move down a bit and add something to help now. Like a defenceman with at least one full season in the NHL and upside. Zach Bogosian? Some love him, some don't. But that's the kind of deal GM Steve Tambellini could make. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins may have all kinds of upside but he can't really help the Oilers be better next year, and they need to be better next year. 

--Do Sheldon Souray and Wade Redden ever get out of salary cap prison? Doesn't sound like it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[SJ]

Why exactly does Edmonton need to win next year? Is that not the short sighted view that you are constantly criticizing Leaf management of having? Edmonton does not need to trade down so that they can "be better next year", they need to get the best players possible so that they can contend for the Stanley Cup. While you may have gotten caught up in the euphoria of Toronto 'maybe' making the playoffs next year, I think that Oilers fans would prefer suffering for a couple of years and having a chance to be an elite team as opposed to one in which the goal is to be mediocre.

[Geoff]

Did you really just compare Jaromir Jagr, 9th all-time in NHL scoring, with Mike Comrie? Or even Mike Modano for that matter?

[nugget]

The notion that hockey writers pay more attention to games and are in a better position to determine a player's MVP worthiness is, frankly, laughable. You both make your living from the game of hockey, but that's about where the similarities end. If I have to trust an opinion of a player's on-ice performance, I'll take a players' opinion all day, every day.

If the players think Daniel Sedin was the MVP, well, I'd say maybe we ought to consider the possibility that he was more valuable than the current theme that seems to be popular with oh-so-knowledgeable-hockey writers would suggest.

[Musclehead17]

Damien, Great article on the awards, got to agree that as usual some odd choices. Jagr has an inflated sense of worth and in no way is the K up to the NHL standard of play. Also I believe that this was an all time low for Russians since they came into the NHL, in fact how many were in the finals?? Burke once again leaves me scratching my head. This time thinking, although it was time for Hunter to go and Acton should have been gone years ago, again we bring in more Americans. I'm really surprised that we can't find 2 decent ass't coaches in Canada? Are the Leafs turning into the US hockey program? Burke really needs to understand what country he's in and that we are the hockey leaders of the world. Also I'm sick of hearing about what he's going to do before the draft. Heard it with Taveres, heard it last year and once again the media pushes out that Burke is all over a pre draft deal. The more he talks the less he does. All I can say about Giguere, your time has come, it was good career. Edmonton has the 1st overall again. From the finals in 2006 to first overall 2 yrs standing. Thinking of it in relative terms, they could be in the finals twice, while the Leafs, once again through poor drafting and management get to watch. The Leafs are the only original 6 team not to win the cup in the last 20 yrs. Either our turn is next, or we are the laughing stock of the league. Lastly, Toronto rated as the worst professional sports city? Is anyone really surprised other than Brian Burke?? Says they know nothing about hockey, well Brian, you have something in common with them. The pole is an objective rating, simply numbers that you feed in, are totalled and spit out the answer. Face it Brian, you are part of the worst sports franchise in North America. At least your #1 in something!!!

[The Fonze]

In response to Nugget's comments: Please use critical thinking, my friend. The journalists have a far, far, more credible opinion when it comes to critiquing NHL performance. Your thinking is that the players play the game, so they automatically know best. This type of thinking is flawed for several reasons. First of all, with the rigours of training, playing, practicing and trying to have a life outside hockey, it is doubtful that most players watch very much, if any, regular season games not involving them or their team. They watch scouting videos and that is about it. Those are out of context and not necessarily from the current season. A journalist, like Cox, if he is to do his job correctly and efficiantly, must watch upwards of 100 games per year plus highlight packages of every single game. Beyond that, there is the factor of bias. Players are too emotionally involved to make proper desicions, and most likely vote for the Lindsey award with very little thought.
There are other reasons, but I believe this is a sufficient rebuttle. In conclusion, there is no room for debate (as this is a fact and not an opinion): Journalists know more than players, and the Hart is more important than the Linsdsay.

[The Fonze]

MuscleheadL: Your comment is baffling. Why would you possibly care if the Leafs hire Americans or Canadians? Why does it matter, even a little bit? Burke is American, and if the Leafs could have any GM in hockey, I wouldnt make a change, as I believe he is the best and his nationality does not matter. Your opinion is so ignorant, its unbelievable! Scott Gordon is one of best guys they could have got. Hell, if they had fired Wilson ( a move I would be against) hiring Gordon would have been a home run. With so many coaching vacancies, I am surprised Gordon didnt wait to see if he could get a head coaching gig, and I also respect Wilson even more for hiring -with his job on the line - his own potential replacement. Anyways, who cares if Burke hires Americans? Its right wing thinking, that is immoral, antagonistic and prejeduice. In short, its an embaressment.

[Gabriel]

Hey, Fonze. You're part right about nationalism having no place in sports, but let's be fair for a moment. A Toronto cup (or a Vancouver one, an Edmonton one..etc) is for the nation as well as the city, and a Canadian probably cares more about "Canada" winning the Stanley Cup than an American. Probably.

When you want to end a jinx, you don't outside hire. You go the Theo Epstein route and pick a guy who's wanted to win for your team since he was a kid. Pick a Leafs lifer, a fan from childhood. There are plenty of them around, and some talented ones (Joe Niewendyk?) to choose from.

And, btw, Wilson and Burke are more bark than bite, Wilson especially. Look at Wilson's coaching results, tournaments aside...yikes!

[Gabriel]

Did you just make an allusion to Jaromir Jagr being a journeyman? Really?

He's old and a shadow of himself. He was however the best player in the NHL for longer than anyone since Lemieux. I put him down for 50-70 points and another 15 in the dance.

[Chris Southgate]

Really Damien, do you have to qualify your opinion with crap like "Don't get me wrong - I take no joy in watching two good hockey men...lose their jobs."

As if you, or I, or any of the majority of people who watch hockey or read the Star should be concerned about people with 6 to 7 digit salaries losing their jobs.

concern for people losing their jobs should be reserved solely for people who would be put through hardship due to the loss of their job, not for people who shrug it off and go play golf or relax at their ritzy cottage for a few months until another offer come in.

[Musclehead17]

Fonz, You really miss the point. It’s not so much Nationalism and even if it was it makes complete sense. Canada is the birth place of hockey, there are several well qualified Canadians who have NHL experience, actually one was just picked up by Ottawa. Gordon may have done well in NCAA, many times over I have seen successful collegiate coaches not as successful in the Pro’s. As far as why would I care? Maybe because I’m Canadian, that might have a little to do with it, maybe because the current management hasn’t had much success, you know little things like that. Then again you’ve been drinking the Burke Wilson Kool-Aid, so reality really is not really one of your strong points!

[The J]

I understand what you are saying about Jagr, but at the right price isn't it low risk/high reward? Especially if he shows up in the playoffs when it matters, like what an older Recchi did for Boston. Wouldn't it have helped Vancouver to have a veteran scorer not afraid of the moment when everything else was failing in the finals (or against Chicago for that matter).

Plus it would be cool to see him back in Pittsburgh.

[The Fonze]

Gabriel: I agree with you up to the point where you say that hiring local people will benifieit the team. There are situations where its nice - Alex Anthropolous is not only local, but clearly the best man for the job - but we are talking assistant coaches here. As a fan all I want is the best man for the job, be that Canadian, American or Egyptian. I think Burke's performance is irrefutably great so far in his time with the Leafs and I think he is beyond reproach and probably the best gm in hockey. His nationality doesnt enter into it. Same with Scott Gordon, he is by all accounts an amazing pickup. If he is American, is he going to be worse at his job? Ive said this before - American is not a race, so I cant call anti-Americans rasicsts, but it is pretty much the same thing to think someone shouldnt be hired because they are American as to say they shouldnt be hired because they are Black. Same thought process, same grade two approach to life.

[The Fonze]

Burke Kool-Aid? What an original saying!

If you look objectivley at Burkes performance, it is nothing short of miraculous.

He has a nucleus of Schenn, kessel, Kadri, Phaneuf, Reimer, Grabovski, Kulemin and Aullie....not to mention a bunch of great grinders like Armstrong, Brent and maybe the best fifth or sixth defensman in hockey in Mike Komiserik who I guarentee will find his game this year.

And two top notch prospects in Gardiner and Colbourne.

What exactly is the critisism of Burke? I do not get it. He has been patient and in two in a half years taken the team with the worst organizational depth in hockey and set them up to be a contender for years. He stocked up on prospects, got the best defenseman the team has ever had, got the most skilled player the team has ever had and probably the most exciting prospect the team has ever had. He also shed the dead weight and managed the salery cap brilliantly.

[Musclehead17]

Burke's performance is nothing short of embarrassing. He took over a team that finished out of the playoffs, and did a great job holding the status quo for 3 ys. His buddy Wilson was out of work for a reason. Yet he found sanctuary in Toronto where again, he was able to accomplish the status quo. Look at the numbers, the team has not moved 1 inch in the standings. In fact they had to rely on a JFJ draft pick to give them some hope in net. You can bow down to Burke all you want, you sound just like him, say a lot of nothing, then when it comes down to it no accountability, everyone else is wrong. You can cite all the changes you want, either you’re in the post season or you’re not. That is how winners gauge success!!

[Musclehead17]

In addition, Kadri is yet untested and may or may not stick in the show. Armstrong is the worst grinder I have seen, a great guy, but you can only turtle so many times before your own team loses respect for you. Brent is a dime a dozen player. Gardiner may be NHL material, word on Colbourne is big and lazy and only plays when he wants to. Again these are not yet big league players, they are prospects. Your close on Komisarek, he is the highest paid D based on playing minutes. Not bad for a 6 or 7 D. Good luck ever moving him. So that being said, they have hopefully a decent goalie, a so-so D, their first line is made up of 2nd and 3rd line players who can’t score and you sit singing the praises of Burke asking why he is not thought of as the saviour of hockey in Toronto? Even the minor league Marlies have lost ground in the standings since he took over. Is there anything that hasn’t gotten worse since the Burke era began as far as the Leafs go? He’s even starting to make JFJ look good.

[The Fonze]

Jeez who can refute such excellent and well thought out analysis? I think people who have the opinion shared by musclehead lack a thorough understanding of how a team is built in the NHL. If its 2008 and your team sucks and you have no prospects, except for Luke Schenn, what do you do? It takes time, there is a salery cap and the era of long term deals means that top notch players are not really available through free agency. Fact is, if Burke tanked and we had Seguin and the number nine pick this year, youd be bitching about that. In reality, going forward with Schenn, Phaneuf and Aullie, the Leafs look to have an AMAZING blue line for years to come and Kadri and Kessel look to be two of the most highly skilled players ever to wear the uniform. Maybe they all bust out, but maybe they form the core of a perenial championship.

You say making the playoffs is the barometre of success and you are wrong here too. If you think about it, Burke could have moved Luke Schenn at any time in the last three years for usable veterans that would have got him to the playoffs. There are any number of things he obviously could have done if getting to the playoffs the last two years was his only goal. He would rather just miss the playoffs twice (three times if you count the year he got the job) and set himself up to be a perenial contender, which he is doing and admirably/.