Although NHL training camps officially begin less than a month from now, from where we stand it feels like an eternity. ESPN's E.J. Hradek has found a clever way to pass the time, by going through all 30 teams and listing the franchise's all-time greatest player at forward, defenseman, and goaltender. To date, he has only completed the Pacific Division, so I'd like to do him a favor and list the all-time greatest Devils forward, defenseman, and goaltender. Of all the teams in the league, the Devils list may perhaps be one of those least up for debate, but it should be interesting to see how a fan's opinion stacks up against that of an objective analyst.
Greatest Forward: John MacLean
Of the three categories, this is likely the only one to garner any sort of disagreement. Patrik Elias was really the only other strong contender, and maybe one day down the line, Elias will in fact hold the title. However until Elias catches up with the team's all-time leading scorer, Johnny Mac will reign supreme.
Greatest Defenseman: Scott Stevens
Stevens is also the team's greatest captain, leader, etc., and is only one of two choices for greatest Devil of all time, at any position (guess who the other one is...). His open ice hits are infamous around the league, and will leave you with nightmares for years (just ask Slava Kozlov, Eric Lindros, or Paul Kariya.) It's amazing to think of what could have been had the arbitration court not ruled in favor of the Devils when the Blues signed away Brendan Shanahan in 1991.
Greatest Goaltender: Martin Brodeur
Do I really need to explain this one? No one even comes close! Brodeur, the only active player of these three, already holds every Devils goaltending record ever except for one (best career GAA as a Devil belongs to John Vanbiesbrouck at 1.75), and should he finish out his current contract, there is little doubt he will hold the NHL's all-time marks for wins and shutouts.
While we're at it, I think we should throw in greatest offensive line, which in the case of the Devils would go to the 'A' line: Patrik Elias, Jason Arnott, and Petr Sykora.
For the record, Devils training camp starts September 15th, and I personally cannot wait for hockey season!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
2008-09 Predictions
That’s right folks, it’s my favorite part of the summer…the part where you still have some time left before normal life resumes, yet hockey season is so close you can almost taste it. (In case you were wondering, it tastes like Cracker Jack.) And so, it is time for my 2008-09 predictions. I assure you that I purposely wrote and published this blog before so much as glancing at anyone else’s predictions, including the Hockey News 2009 Yearbook currently sitting next to me. What follows are my predictions for final division standings and playoff seedings, as well as a shot in the dark at the Cup Finals matchup and winner. (I will probably revise these around the All-Star break, since there are things which will happen between now and then that surely will make me change my mind.) Enjoy.
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
1. Pittsburgh
2. New Jersey
3. Philadelphia
4. NY Rangers
5. NY Islanders
Northeast Division
1. Montreal
2. Boston
3. Ottawa
4. Buffalo
5. Toronto
Southeast Division
1. Washington
2. Tampa Bay
3. Carolina
4. Florida
5. Atlanta
Playoff Seedings
1. Pittsburgh
2. Washington
3. Montreal
4. New Jersey
5. Tampa Bay
6. Philadelphia
7. Boston
8. NY Rangers
Western Conference
Central Division
1. Detroit
2. Chicago
3. Nashville
4. Columbus
5. St. Louis
Northwest Division
1. Edmonton
2. Calgary
3. Colorado
4. Minnesota
5. Vancouver
Pacific Division
1. Dallas
2. San Jose
3. Anaheim
4. Phoenix
5. Los Angeles
Playoff Seedings
1. Detroit
2. Dallas
3. Edmonton
4. San Jose
5. Chicago
6. Anaheim
7. Calgary
8. Colorado
2009 Stanley Cup Finals
Detroit vs. Montreal
WINNER: Montreal
Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
1. Pittsburgh
2. New Jersey
3. Philadelphia
4. NY Rangers
5. NY Islanders
Northeast Division
1. Montreal
2. Boston
3. Ottawa
4. Buffalo
5. Toronto
Southeast Division
1. Washington
2. Tampa Bay
3. Carolina
4. Florida
5. Atlanta
Playoff Seedings
1. Pittsburgh
2. Washington
3. Montreal
4. New Jersey
5. Tampa Bay
6. Philadelphia
7. Boston
8. NY Rangers
Western Conference
Central Division
1. Detroit
2. Chicago
3. Nashville
4. Columbus
5. St. Louis
Northwest Division
1. Edmonton
2. Calgary
3. Colorado
4. Minnesota
5. Vancouver
Pacific Division
1. Dallas
2. San Jose
3. Anaheim
4. Phoenix
5. Los Angeles
Playoff Seedings
1. Detroit
2. Dallas
3. Edmonton
4. San Jose
5. Chicago
6. Anaheim
7. Calgary
8. Colorado
2009 Stanley Cup Finals
Detroit vs. Montreal
WINNER: Montreal
Monday, August 4, 2008
Why Hockey Is The Best Sport
As a hockey fan in America, I sometimes find myself in a situation which I'm sure some of you have faced before as well. When talking sports with someone, you may happen to mention that your favorite sport is hockey, and in response you receive nothing but a blank stare. It's almost as if the other person is silently answering, "No, seriously, what sport?" It is indeed frustrating on many levels, but mostly because as a sport, hockey has everything that America loves about its other three sports all rolled into one, and yet in this country it is taken about as seriously as roller derby (probably looks the same to them too). And it is with this thought in mind that I write this blog, not to convince the hockey fan of anything that they don't already know, but rather to serve as a reference to explain to the uninformed that everything they love about football, baseball, and basketball is present in the great sport of hockey. Should you ever find yourself in this situation, feel free to pull from this whatever you deem necessary to defend your love of hockey.
Football
Let's start with what is clearly America's favorite sport, football. Typically what attracts people to football is first and foremost the physical play. Each sport is rife with contact, and there is nothing to say that a big tackle or sack in football is any more exciting than a bone-crunching check into the boards or a Stevens-esque open ice hit. Toughness is certainly equaled in both sports, with the only difference being that hockey players are allowed to release their aggression by fighting.
In addition, football preaches the concept of teamwork. Every player on the field, both on offense and defense, has their specific job to do, and the whole does not succeed without all of the individual parts performing their jobs to the best of their ability. So too does this concept exist in hockey. Each team is made up of snipers, playmakers, penalty killers, face-off specialists, defensive forwards, grinders, puck-moving and stay-at-home defensemen, and goaltenders...and it is only when all of these players do their specific part that the team as a whole enjoys success on the ice.
Baseball
Ah yes, the great American pasttime...a sport which values above all else, its rich tradition and history. The history and tradition of hockey go back around the same time as baseball, and despite the advance of time, the simplicity and integrity of the game in both instances is carefully maintained.
Along with being a game of tradition, baseball carries an heir of grace and elegance about it. There are times when the flow of the game is one of discipline and finesse, not unlike watching a player like Sidney Crosby alone on a breakaway. Just as with the perfect execution of a double play, there are times in hockey, such as watching a talented goal scorer execute a deke to perfection and gently slip the puck past the goaltender that the game of hockey is one of pure beauty, so much so that you are at a loss for words.
Basketball
Basketball is a sport which requires a great deal of athleticism and hand-eye coordination. It is certainly no easy task to execute an alley-oop or a wide array of spinning dunks and no-look passes, let alone with the continuity and accuracy displayed by professional players. Hockey is no different in this sense, either. Everything from tape-to-tape passes and shot accuracy to performing drop passes and dekes, to the goalies being able to stop pucks traveling at 90-100 mph coming from all angles all requires and incredible amount of skill and hand-eye coordination.
It is a shame that more people can't look at hockey for what it is, rather than regarding it with the same impression they get from watching cricket. If they would look a little closer, they'd be able to see that hockey contains everything they already love about sports. Hockey is contact, teamwork, strategy, tradition, grace, skill, and athleticism all rolled into one beautiful game.
Football
Let's start with what is clearly America's favorite sport, football. Typically what attracts people to football is first and foremost the physical play. Each sport is rife with contact, and there is nothing to say that a big tackle or sack in football is any more exciting than a bone-crunching check into the boards or a Stevens-esque open ice hit. Toughness is certainly equaled in both sports, with the only difference being that hockey players are allowed to release their aggression by fighting.
In addition, football preaches the concept of teamwork. Every player on the field, both on offense and defense, has their specific job to do, and the whole does not succeed without all of the individual parts performing their jobs to the best of their ability. So too does this concept exist in hockey. Each team is made up of snipers, playmakers, penalty killers, face-off specialists, defensive forwards, grinders, puck-moving and stay-at-home defensemen, and goaltenders...and it is only when all of these players do their specific part that the team as a whole enjoys success on the ice.
Baseball
Ah yes, the great American pasttime...a sport which values above all else, its rich tradition and history. The history and tradition of hockey go back around the same time as baseball, and despite the advance of time, the simplicity and integrity of the game in both instances is carefully maintained.
Along with being a game of tradition, baseball carries an heir of grace and elegance about it. There are times when the flow of the game is one of discipline and finesse, not unlike watching a player like Sidney Crosby alone on a breakaway. Just as with the perfect execution of a double play, there are times in hockey, such as watching a talented goal scorer execute a deke to perfection and gently slip the puck past the goaltender that the game of hockey is one of pure beauty, so much so that you are at a loss for words.
Basketball
Basketball is a sport which requires a great deal of athleticism and hand-eye coordination. It is certainly no easy task to execute an alley-oop or a wide array of spinning dunks and no-look passes, let alone with the continuity and accuracy displayed by professional players. Hockey is no different in this sense, either. Everything from tape-to-tape passes and shot accuracy to performing drop passes and dekes, to the goalies being able to stop pucks traveling at 90-100 mph coming from all angles all requires and incredible amount of skill and hand-eye coordination.
It is a shame that more people can't look at hockey for what it is, rather than regarding it with the same impression they get from watching cricket. If they would look a little closer, they'd be able to see that hockey contains everything they already love about sports. Hockey is contact, teamwork, strategy, tradition, grace, skill, and athleticism all rolled into one beautiful game.
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