Monday, January 26, 2009

Merci Beaucoup, Montréal

For all those who criticize the All-Star Game as nothing more than a meaningless game where players try not to get hurt, you really need to be at an All-Star weekend to appreciate the spectacle it is and the way it takes over a city.

I was lucky enough to attend the 2009 All-Star weekend this year in Montreal, and I have to say it is instantly in the top three greatest hockey-related experiences of my life.

First of all, there was the temperature. It was downright Antarctic in Montreal. I’m sure Iceburgh felt right at home.

It was the kind of cold that made your skin feel like it was on fire after just a few minutes outside. As cold as it was, however, it really gave the whole weekend a nice atmosphere to it. People were friendlier as the cold started conversations. It brought together fans from rival teams as well as teams on the opposite end of the continent, all united in both their hatred for freezing cold weather and their love for the greatest game on the planet.

I’ve never been to any sort of sci-fi convention before in my life, though I imagine the scene is a similar one to walking along the closed down streets of Montreal on All-Star weekend. Countless fans walking, talking, enjoying the sights, each wearing the different colors of the team they support, yet united as an entire whole by their love of hockey.

The cold also allowed for some fantastic decoration along the streets surrounding the Bell Centre, including every NHL jersey encased in a block of ice, as well as ice sculptures of the NHL and All-Star logos. Trust me when I tell you, these blocks of ice were in no danger of melting.

For anyone who has not been to Montreal, it is highly recommended, as long as you either love the feeling of being frozen, or plan to go in the warmer weather months. Though Montreal is bilingual like the rest of Canada, unlike the rest of the country, French is the primary language. The signs all read in French, and all the people speak French. Although many speak English as well, a few do not, and I did not come across any who only speak English. This created the sensation at times that you were in a European city, and it seems that Montreal prides itself as such. Everyone was friendly, and as knowledgeable about hockey as they are passionate. Unlike some other cities, unless you are a Leafs or Bruins fan, they are extremely polite regardless of who you root for. (That could also be because I had on a Martin Brodeur jersey, but I saw it happen with everyone.)

But onto the events themselves. The skills competition was enjoyable, although as much as love the PA announcer in Montreal, I think he needed to let the events unfold rather than giving us a play-by-play of what was happening. For example, during the accuracy shooting competition, he would attempt to tell us the shooter’s record after each shot. This resulted in a confusing jumble that made it hard to keep track. A small complaint, but one that I think could make the events better in the coming years.

The game was spectacular in its presentation, and I love how the announcer mixes French and English together when he speaks. I also liked how he said every player’s name in that accent, and almost made every player’s name sound French, especially Alex Kovalev. (As a sidenote, the only exception was Roberto Luongo, whose name he said in an impressive Italian impersonation.)

The game itself was what you would expect, lots of offense, lots of showmanship. The crowd made it known that they loved all the French-Canadian players the best, especially Lecavalier. They also showed a lot of love to former Canadiens Mark Streit and Sheldon Souray, as if to say, “If only we knew what our powerplay would be like without you!”

I was also very proud of our own Zach Parise, who had a goal, and also a lot of great scoring chances on his line with Lecavalier and St. Louis.

The intermission entertainment was pretty good as well. In the first, they had some French pop star who I’ve never heard of, and in the second they had Simple Plan, who I like.

In an interesting twist of fate, the game goes to a shootout, and how fitting that this man…



…winds up with the game on his stick. The East ends up winning 12-11 in a shootout, a terrific ending to a fun game.

It was also a nice capper on the trip when at the airport coming home this morning, I was on line for customs, and looking around I saw Mark Messier, Jeff Carter from the Flyers, and Rich Matthews, the Devils equipment manager. Later on, I also saw Bill Clement leaving one of the newspaper stands.

This weekend was the only All-Star Game I’ve been to in person, but many hockey media people who have seen their share are calling it the greatest one yet, and based on those that I’ve watched (from 1997 on), it certainly ranks up there. But more than the game, this was a celebration of the oldest and most storied team in hockey, and their 100 year anniversary. So while I enjoyed the festivities, I know my dad was really enjoying seeing the old-time Canadiens he grew up watching, many of which were in attendance for the game.

As I said before, people who try to make the All-Star Game relevant need to be at one to truly understand why this game is fine the way it is. It’s FUN! It’s not supposed to count for anything, and it doesn’t want to either. It’s a showcase for the best players in the world to show what they can do, and it gives fans from all over the opportunity to gather and enjoy the show.

Montreal, you really put on a great show, and I’m sure anyone who was there this weekend had as great a time as I did. With so many serious issues in the world of hockey today, there’s nothing wrong with leaving the All-Star game as-is, a fun and welcome break from the ordinary.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Midseason Predictions

Well, it’s that time again. Now that it’s officially the All-Star break, it’s time to revise my season predictions. I don’t remember how they went, but I’m sure they’re mostly wrong by now. So many things can change from preseason to All-Star break that the predictions you make in January hold far more value than those in September. So with that in mind, here are my division/conference breakdowns with a tiny explanation for each team.

Atlantic Division
1. New Jersey – (Bias aside, they’ve surprised even me so far.)
2. Philadelphia – (Truly dangerous this year, especially if they get healthy.)
3. NY Rangers – (If they get some offense at the deadline, perhaps they finish better.)
4. Pittsburgh – (Disappointing so far, but all is not lost just yet.)
5. NY Islanders – (Come on, do I really need to explain this one?)

Northeast Division
1. Boston – (I think it’s a safe bet no one is catching them.)
2. Montreal – (Fans have to be pleased with 100th season so far.)
3. Buffalo – (Management has left poor Ryan Miller with no help anymore.)
4. Toronto – (Good things seem to lie ahead for once.)
5. Ottawa – (The only GM who doesn’t realize that one line cannot do it all.)

Southeast Division
1. Washington – (Can’t wait to see Ovechkin in the playoffs again.)
2. Florida – (Even being in the playoff picture is a pleasant surprise.)
3. Carolina – (I honestly don’t know what to make of them.)
4. Tampa Bay – (A little patience goes a long way. Melrose was too good for you.)
5. Atlanta – (Please let Kovalchuk out of his sentence. He looks so disenchanted.)

Central Division
1. Detroit – (It’s been a while since a defending champion looked so good.)
2. Chicago – (What can I say except, “Here Come the Hawks!”)
3. Columbus – (For their own sake, I hope they finally make the playoffs.)
4. Nashville – (Hey it could be worse…Balsillie could be the owner.)
5. St. Louis – (At least there finally seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel.)

Northwest Division
1. Calgary – (If Kiprusoff could be a little less streaky, this team could go far.)
2. Minnesota – (They are better than they’ve been playing recently.)
3. Edmonton – (In any other division, they could end up better.)
4.Vancouver – (There’s still hope, but Sundin and Luongo need to get their game together.)
5. Colorado – (Finishing last won’t be the worst of their worries. What about Joe?)

Pacific Division
1. San Jose – (This team is so good, it’s not even fair. It’s like a video game.)
2. Phoenix – (I’m really happy for Gretz and his team. They could surprise someone in the playoffs.)
3. Anaheim – (Getzlaf aside, I’m not impressed.)
4. Los Angeles – (Another positive looking rebuild.)
5. Dallas – (I feel bad for Mike Modano.)

Eastern Conference
1. Boston
2. Washington
3. New Jersey
4. Montreal
5. Philadelphia
6. NY Rangers
7. Florida
8. Pittsburgh
9. Buffalo
10. Carolina
11. Toronto
12. Tampa Bay
13. Ottawa
14. Atlanta
15. NY Islanders

Western Conference
1. San Jose
2. Detroit
3. Calgary
4. Chicago
5. Phoenix
6. Minnesota
7. Columbus
8. Edmonton
9. Anaheim
10. Vancouver
11. Los Angeles
12. Nashville
13. Colorado
14. Dallas
15. St. Louis

I realize that some of the standings are exactly how teams stand now, and that’s purely by chance. I think the standings will do quite a bit of shuffling between now and April, but in the end that’s how I expect it to end up.

Monday, January 19, 2009

Midseason Awards

As is custom every season, it’s time to hand out the NHL awards as they stand around the All-Star break. Sometimes things will change by the time the awards are actually handed out, but more often than not the mid-season winner is at least a finalist come awards night.

The objective awards (most goals, most points) were not voted on because they are strictly based on stats.

Calder Trophy (Top Rookie)
Steve Mason (Columbus)

Doughty has had a great year, as has Versteeg and Wheeler, but no rookie has come on to the scene and lit it up the way Mason has. His rookie year reminds me of Brodeur’s breakout year in 1993-94, when oh by the way he won the Calder.

Vezina Trophy (Top Goaltender)
Tim Thomas (Boston)

Mason will get serious consideration for this award as well, however with his nearly identical numbers, Thomas has been shafted out of accolades long enough that he deserves to win. After all, it seems like there will be many Vezinas in Mason’s future.

Jack Adams Award (Top Coach)
Todd McLellan (San Jose)

Just like every yaer, there are about 15 deserving coaches for this award. McLellan gets the nod because he’s a rookie coach who has guided his team to an absolutely unreal record. The award is only based on the regular season, but should San Jose finally get over the playoff hump, we’ll look back and say he was definitely the right choice.

Hart Trophy (League MVP)
Alexander Ovechkin (Washington)

I love Crosby, Malkin, etc. as much as the next hockey fan, but Ovechkin is the best player in hockey. Period. And although his numbers may not reach last year’s totals, he still brings the complete package to his game.

Norris Trophy (Top Defenseman)
Zdeno Chara (Boston)

I’m sick of Lidstrom winning this award. He always deserves it, but it seems for once that someone else deserves it too. And for that, I’m going with the other guy. Whoever has to engrave Lidstrom’s name on that trophy every single year will thank me as well.

Selke Trophy (Top Defensive Forward)
Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit)

This is always a hard award to give out. My own bias wants me to give it to John Madden, but Datsyuk still has that perfect mixture of offensive prowess and defensive ability that gives him the nod. This is quickly becoming the new Norris because the same Red Wing deservedly wins it every year.

There you have it. I’d love to hear your feedback on it, as long as you keep it bias-free the way I tried my hardest to do. Coming soon, my mid-season predictions for how the final standings will shake out. Happy MLK day!

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Shanny's Home

The addition of Brendan Shanahan is going to cause one of the Devils’ forwards to have to sit. Thankfully the fans do not have a say in the matter, because if they did, players like John Madden, Jay Pandolfo, Mike Rupp and David Clarkson would be benched.

I can see where the arguments come from for those players, but the truth is, there’s only player who deserves to learn where the press box is, and that’s Dainius Zubrus. It seems that everyone on the Devils, with the exception of Zubrus, plays an important role on the team, or at least HAS a role.

Madden and Pandolfo are two of the best defensive forwards in the game. They may not score very often, but they’re not relied on to. They’re exceptional penalty killers, and sometimes are matched up against an opponent’s top line. Removing either of these two from your lineup is hockey suicide.

David Clarkson and Mike Rupp make up another integral part of a hockey team, the enforcers. Every team needs at least two enforcers for the simple reason that if they only had one, and he went off for fighting, a team could then take liberties without having to pay the consequence. Clarkson and Rupp also do not score, but they protect their teammates by any means necessary, and for that, they cannot be benched.

Bobby Holik may seem like a favorable choice, but he is also valuable. Holik is a veteran presence in the locker room who has seen it all. He gets under the opponent’s skin, while his shockingly honest personality allows him to help his teammates make improvements to their game. He’s not afraid to tell you what you’re doing wrong, and is probably easier to listen to than a screaming coach.

You certainly cannot remove any of your top scorers, so who is left? Zubrus.

Not only is Zubrus nursing a hand injury which has already cost him several scoring opportunities, he also seems rather lost on the ice recently. I’m not sure what his job is, but I can say from watching him that he isn’t doing it. I believe he was supposed to park himself in front of the net and use his size to screen the goalie, but I have rarely seen him in such a position. He can often be found mishandling the puck in the corners, or making errant passes that result in turnovers.

With that in mind, here are my propsed forward lines, which I will also explain:

1. Parise-Zajac-Langenbrunner
2. Elias-Rolston-Gionta
3. Pandolfo-Madden-Shanahan
4. Rupp-Holik-Clarkson

The reason I have Shanahan on the 3rd line is because I’ve seen first hand what fourth line minutes have done for Holik’s play. Shanahan would recieve significant time on the powerplay as one of the two point shots, so he would recieve plenty of ice time. But Rolston deserves a spot on a scoring line, and Madden’s line—who skates very well—would keep Shanahan in top form, and his offensive punch would nicely compliment their ability to generate turnovers.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

What To Do...

When Martin Brodeur returns to action in early March, the Devils will be presented with a situation they have yet to face in their history. The tandem of Kevin Weekes and Scott Clemmensen have more than held down the fort while the greatest goaltender in NHL history has been on the shelf, but realistically, someone is going to have to go either upon Brodeur’s return or not long after. Clearly, it isn’t going to be Brodeur, so let’s examine the other two options.

Both Weekes and Clemmensen are unrestricted free agents at the end of the 2008-09 season, and both are currently playing with the knowledge that as early as March 4, they could be wearing a different uniform.

Weekes, brought in to backup Brodeur two summers ago, is currently making $700,000. Clemmensen, brought back into the Devils fold this past offseason to tutor Jeff Frazee in Lowell, suddenly found himself vying for the playing time he never had throughout his career. This season, he will collect $500,000.

Clemmensen’s numbers to date this season have been nothing short of impressive. Through 25 games, Clemmensen has posted a 2.31 Goals Against Average, and a .920 Save Percentage. His record of 15-8-1 is no mistake; much like the man who has been New Jersey’s backbone since 1994, Clemmensen has both held leads and kept his team in games. Clemmensen has no doubt turned heads with his play, and with the trade deadline looming on March 4, teams who need help in goal will be calling the office of one Lou Lamoriello, hoping to acquire the Des Moines, Iowa native.

Weekes, by comparison, has only appeared in 9 games this year, but has put together a respectable 2.79 GAA and .908 SV%; nothing flashy, but perfectly average. What Weekes has lacked in stats, he makes up for in experience and rapport. He has no doubt been the most supportive player and encouraging presence in the locker room since coming aboard in 2007. A career starter, Weekes has seen it all, and would perhaps provide a better option for teams looking to upgrade in goal. He doesn’t appear to be the hot hand at the moment, but he brings consistent play, and could probably be moved for less return.

Of course, the third option is to attempt to keep both, however Weekes is too far along in his career to either sit in the press box or report to the minors, and Clemmensen would most likely refuse both options given his recent on-ice success. So what is one to do? It would appear someone has to go, whether it be on deadline day, free agent day on July 1, or some point in between.

For now, Lou Lamoriello has time to sort it all out, but a decision is going to have to be made in the near future.

If it were up to me, I would probably lean toward trading Clemmensen. Based on his recent performance, he would no doubt command a significant raise in salary for next year, something the Devils traditionally will only budge on to a point. Plus, it would be a shame to have to part with such a positive teammate in Weekes. But even I’m torn on the matter. I guess that’s why they pay GMs what they do.