The state of NHL officiating thus far in 2006-2007 can be described as non-descript, non-chalant, stagnant at best. I can't adequately describe what it is at its worst without resorting to vulgarities and profanity, so I'll just settle by saying it is beyond sorely lacking on several fronts.
Saturday night, in addition to watching the Flyers get their posteriors handed to them on the scoreboard by a 6-1 count, I saw (and heard on the way home from work) at least four instances where the referees failed to make either the right call, or any call at all. Sharks defenseman Rob Davison and forward Mark Bell were the main culprits, counting Flyers forward Alexandre Picard among their confirmed injuries when he was slammed from behind into the glass. R.J. Umberger was also upended from a precarious position with the Flyers bench door open, and Mike Knuble was served most barbarously right in front of the bench.
The only penalty called was one to Bell on the Picard hit, and even then, only a two-minute minor for boarding which looked suspiciously like a five-minute-major for charging. What's more, Boyd Kane was hit with the rare 2-5-and-10 for defending Picard by fighting Bell, while Bell only picked up a fighting major.
Whether it's a scrum after the whistle, or an infraction that draws blood, it's easy to figure out the directive from the league regarding calls and game flow: keep it as even as possible.
At the time of the Picard hit, the Sharks had built a 3-1 lead and carried all the momentum from that 3-goal first into the second. Would it have killed the referees to award the Flyers a five-minute power-play, or was it deemed to risky a venture in what was at the time a close game? The correct call might have given the Flyers something to hook on to, with the whole five minutes to score as much as they could. Instead, there was no call, Kane was sent to the sin bin for 17 minutes, and soon after, the Sharks pumped in a fourth goal. I can't remember the last time I saw a game officiated without an "even up" philosophy implemented - maybe sometime last December, and before last season, maybe 10 years ago or more.
One reason why games were so much more compelling in the early-to-mid 90's, was the fact that officials were not afraid to call one team for successive 5-on-3's without feeling compelled to give the other team equal opportunity. That's what begat blowouts, when better teams took advantage of those chances and ripped into their opponent. It must be an unintended consequence of keeping all 30 teams afloat now, not to tip momentum too much in one direction by actually officiating.
It's a shame every fan, broadcaster, writer and pundit complained bitterly over the incredible amount of penalty calls in the first half of last season. The league directive then, was to let the officials dictate flow of the game by making as many calls as necessary, to wean all players off the clutch, hook, and grab tactics which marked the previous 10 seasons. The resulting glut of power plays and power-play goals did much to boost the goals-per-game average, while also teaching players how strictly the rules would be enforced. However, after the New Year, the tide of rancor must have become too great for even Bettman and VanHellemond to bear, and the number of calls (and subsequently goals) dropped noticeably. The calls decreased, but it was not an indicator of how well players adapted to the new philosophy of more skating room on the ice.
This season, goals are down because coaches have found more ways to exploit the supposedly open ice for defensive purposes. There's more obvious hooking, holding, and tomfoolery after the whistle that is much-too-conspicuously going by the wayside without punishment. So now, we have four extra skaters in zebra gear on the ice with very little power, except when they confer to make calls that one or more of them did not happen to catch with the naked eye. That's what was so jarring about a game this week where the Blackhawks were whistled for nine consecutive penalties.
Without proper calls from the officials, games are already turning into the 2-1, 3-2 snoozefests where teams wait until overtime or the shootout to make their move. Please, go back to whistling six, seven, eight penalties per period. I won't be whining about messing up the flow of the game if the correct calls are made - I can afford to sit through an extra 15 minutes of game time to see the right things done. Don't be afraid to make calls that put one team in a deep hole - you're only punishing these teams who decide to cut corners. Don't make your lives easier by being a neutral arbiter just because the fans might complain, the league may call, or head coaches may want your head on a platter after their team lost a game - it's your job, and it's isolating and tough, but those are the breaks you accept when you take the job.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Friday, November 17, 2006
Revenge...Sweet, Sweet Revenge
Break out the champagne and the Fedoruk high-fives!! The Flyers have won two in a row.
Their three-goal rally in the third is poetic justice for this game, where Ron Hextall let Jozef Stumpel's 60-foot center-ice in go through his legs for the game-winning goal:
Flyers-Kings
Good on R.J. Umberger for being in the right spot twice in one period. For once, blind luck has produced results.
Bad on the officials, for waving off the Kings' "first" third goal midway through the third period, since Alexandre Picard's deflection of a centering feed into his own net on a delayed penalty call clearly does not constitute possession or control.
A new and difficult task awaits, in San Jose, which features an offense every bit as explosive as the Ducks. Jonathan Cheechoo, injured on Wednesday night, only has a b00-boo on his knee and will be back in action for Saturday night's game.
Their three-goal rally in the third is poetic justice for this game, where Ron Hextall let Jozef Stumpel's 60-foot center-ice in go through his legs for the game-winning goal:
Flyers-Kings
Good on R.J. Umberger for being in the right spot twice in one period. For once, blind luck has produced results.
Bad on the officials, for waving off the Kings' "first" third goal midway through the third period, since Alexandre Picard's deflection of a centering feed into his own net on a delayed penalty call clearly does not constitute possession or control.
A new and difficult task awaits, in San Jose, which features an offense every bit as explosive as the Ducks. Jonathan Cheechoo, injured on Wednesday night, only has a b00-boo on his knee and will be back in action for Saturday night's game.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Gobsmacked!
It was beautiful and shocking, done with lightning quick precision.
A five-goal first period by a team firing blanks against a team with plenty of firepower.
Watching last night's Flyers win over the second-best team in the NHL clouded my brain a little bit - was this 2006 or 1986?
Whatever - it shut me up, Mr. Negative himself.
It reminded me of the arse-kickings Mike Keenan's clubs laid on the hapless Kings and Canucks, when I was so young I had to keep both ears and one eye on the hallway, in case one of my parents figured out I was awake at 12:30 am, when they'd inevitably come in and shut the TV off.
12 Flyers posted at least one point. The reunited top line combined for six points. Kapanen recorded his first 2-goal game since November of 2003, coincidentally, in a game in Toronto where the Flyers also scored 7 goals.
But, with every ray of sunshine, there is some shadow in that amazing 7-4 triumph over the Ducks in Anaheim. After that five-goal explosion in the opening 20 minutes, the Flyers reeled off an equally dumbfounding four shots in the last two periods. The Ducks rebounded from a 5-1 deficit to cut it to 5-3 at the end of two, and, with some late-game power plays, even leads of 6-3 and 7-4 did not really feel safe.
The suddenness and timing of the goal spurt is troubling - from not scoring more than four games the whole season, scoring two against an offensive-minded Penguins team, then hitting seven. It's also troubling that the Flyers did this on the road, but it's not so surprising since that seems to be the M.O. of plenty of teams in pro sports - get away from home and with the "pressure" off, perform to or beyond all expectations.
The cynic in me also wonders "what next?" Tonight's game is against a bottom-feeding, but young Los Angeles Kings. This has 4-1 letdown loss written all over it. And what of the Sharks on Saturday? Even minus Johnathan Cheechoo, San Jose has plenty of weapons at their disposal. And what happens when they do well on the road, come home, and play inconsistently?
Until that all happens, I'm going to be content with this win, for once. There is still 6 1/2 hours left in that 21 1/2 hour glow between the end of the game early this morning, and the drop of the puck tonight at the Staples Center. We might as well enjoy it for all its worth.
A five-goal first period by a team firing blanks against a team with plenty of firepower.
Watching last night's Flyers win over the second-best team in the NHL clouded my brain a little bit - was this 2006 or 1986?
Whatever - it shut me up, Mr. Negative himself.
It reminded me of the arse-kickings Mike Keenan's clubs laid on the hapless Kings and Canucks, when I was so young I had to keep both ears and one eye on the hallway, in case one of my parents figured out I was awake at 12:30 am, when they'd inevitably come in and shut the TV off.
12 Flyers posted at least one point. The reunited top line combined for six points. Kapanen recorded his first 2-goal game since November of 2003, coincidentally, in a game in Toronto where the Flyers also scored 7 goals.
But, with every ray of sunshine, there is some shadow in that amazing 7-4 triumph over the Ducks in Anaheim. After that five-goal explosion in the opening 20 minutes, the Flyers reeled off an equally dumbfounding four shots in the last two periods. The Ducks rebounded from a 5-1 deficit to cut it to 5-3 at the end of two, and, with some late-game power plays, even leads of 6-3 and 7-4 did not really feel safe.
The suddenness and timing of the goal spurt is troubling - from not scoring more than four games the whole season, scoring two against an offensive-minded Penguins team, then hitting seven. It's also troubling that the Flyers did this on the road, but it's not so surprising since that seems to be the M.O. of plenty of teams in pro sports - get away from home and with the "pressure" off, perform to or beyond all expectations.
The cynic in me also wonders "what next?" Tonight's game is against a bottom-feeding, but young Los Angeles Kings. This has 4-1 letdown loss written all over it. And what of the Sharks on Saturday? Even minus Johnathan Cheechoo, San Jose has plenty of weapons at their disposal. And what happens when they do well on the road, come home, and play inconsistently?
Until that all happens, I'm going to be content with this win, for once. There is still 6 1/2 hours left in that 21 1/2 hour glow between the end of the game early this morning, and the drop of the puck tonight at the Staples Center. We might as well enjoy it for all its worth.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
The Case For Tim Kerr
Reading John Buccigross' columns, watching NHL2Night (RIP 1993-2004), and having lived in and now visited Boston many times, I'd say I'm pretty well versed in Cam Neely's career, statistics, and impact both on and off the ice.
When Neely was enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005, in some quarters the relief over that fact was, in hockey terms, as if Mother Teresa finally gained entrance into Heaven after Saints Peter and Paul put up a nasty fight to keep her out.
No doubt, he turned a decrepit and oft-injured late 80's Bruins franchise around, being one of the two main pieces of the puzzle which led the B's to the 1988 and 1990 Cup Finals. He was fun as all hell to watch, because he'd beat you to the puck, beat you with a timely goal, and beat you with his fists if you dared to challenge. His amazing 50 goals in 44 games, playing on one good leg, after missing the balance of the last three seasons with leg and hip problems, stands as a momentous achievement. His retirement in 1996, coming after a solid 27-goal season in 1995, and a 26-goal campaign in 95-96, was a major shock to the team and to the hockey world, coming before his 31st birthday. I'll even give major props for his philanthropy, as his Cam Neely foundation does a tremendous amount to house and comfort young cancer patients across North America.
But I never felt that even his many accomplishments on the ice were of hall-worthy mention, even as he defined the forward posiiton and battled an injury-ravaged body. And I never did, don't now, and will never feel bad about pointing that out and believing that Neely should not be a Hall of Fame member. Instead of merely poking holes and engaging in some major schadenfreude, I offer an alternative, an answer to the debate of "if he gets in, then let in blank." Former Philadelphia Flyer (1980-91) Tim Kerr.
For comparison's sake, I will break down both men's careers in a couple vital categories: Early Career, Prime, Record-Worthy Accomplishments, Impact to Team, Impact on Opposition.
Early Career: Both Neely and Kerr had unspectacular first three seasons in the NHL. Neely was a third-liner for some bad Canucks teams, scoring 51 goals. Kerr started off on a good run, as a second-line bruiser with burgeoning offensive talent. He scored 54 goals (22,21, 11) in his first three years with the Flyers, but had his 1982-83 season wrecked by knee troubles.
Prime: Neely's trade to Boston for Barry Pederson in 1986 revitalized an aging Bruins roster. Neely quickly established himself in the rough-and-tumble Adams division with 36 goals, 72 points, and 143 PIMs in 1986-87. The following year he punched and scored his way through the league with 42 goals, 69 points, and 175 PIMs for the Bruins team who lost to Gretzky and the Oilers. His next three years, he racked up 37, 55 and 51 goals as the Bruins won the Adams (89-90 and 90-91) and made one more trip to the Finals and one to the Wales Conference Finals. The prime of his career was wrecked by an Ulf Samuelsson hit in 1991, and the resulting hip problems limited him to 22 games in the next two seasons. In 1993-94, playing at about 75 percent, he hit for 50 goals in his first 44 games, before succumbing once again to knee, leg and hip problems.
Kerr on the other hand, exploded for a team-high 54 in 83-84, and followed that up with 54 in 84-85, 58 (along with 34 on the power play) in 85-86, and another 58 in 1986-87 - second only to Gretzky in a down offensive year in the NHL. His 1987-88 season was ruined due to nasty shoulder problems resulting from a hit in the 1987 playoffs which limited him to eight regular season and seven playoff games, but he rebounded spectacularly with another team-high 48 goals in 1988-89. Unlike Neely, Kerr did not seek out altercations. Like Neely, when someone disrespected Kerr's space enough to challenge him, Kerr won battles with his fists. His area was a 30 foot semicircle around the net, and he did his fighting for the puck, often with two or more players gunning for him. He enjoyed deadly precision on the power play in the latter stages of his prime.
Record-Worthy Accomplishments: For Neely, it's only the 50 goals in 44 games, and even then, its an unofficial mark because the NHL counts the 50 in terms of team games, not personal games unless that number is under the team's 50th - and Neely did it in his 44th, but Boston's 66th game in 1993-94.
Kerr holds the NHL mark for power-play goals in a season, with 34 in 1985-86 - shattering Phil Esposito's (another HOFer) record. He set, and is now tied for, the NHL postseason record for goals in one period (4), in 1985. In the unofficial arena, Kerr's 14 goals and 25 points through three rounds in thr 1989 playoffs led the NHL in both categories until the Finals. He is one of only eleven players in NHL history to score 275 goals in a six-year span. Eight of them (Gretzky, Lemieux, Kurri, Lafleur, Esposito, Dionne, Bossy, and Hawerchuk) are already Hall members. Hull and Yzerman will be in 2008 or 2009. Neely never came close. Neither did Messier, Gartner, Gordie Howe or Bobby Hull. And, well, Kerr did it in five seasons, having sacrificed the one year in his prime to injury.
Impact to Team: Quite simply, Neely was indispensable from 1986-91. Other than Ray Bourque, Neely is most often quoted as the second biggest driving force to the Bruins' late 80's surge. He was the heart and scoring threat while Bourque was the soul and defensive rock. He fought, he scored, he checked and he talked it up on the bench and in the locker room. His surprise retirement was one of many major reasons the Bruins slipped from a playoff berth in 1996 to the bottom of the league in 1997.
Kerr, meanwhile, was an indispensable part of the Flyers' mid-80's run, but, by no means irreplaceable. The 1987-88 season demonstrated such, as the team, when healthy in the middle part of that year, lost only nine in a 40-game span. In that run, Brian Propp, Dave Poulin, Ilkka Sinisalo, Rick Tocchet, and Peter Zezel posted 30-goal seasons as they all benefitted from defenseman swarming in pairs over #12. However, the playoffs truly demonstrated Kerr's worth to Keenan and Holmgren's teams. Kerr missed the most important games in 1985 (knee) and 1987 (shoulder), in the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals, and it showed, as everyone else who had to pick up the offensive slack did not enjoy the freedom to roam which his presence provided. His injury-free 1989 postseason was a major factor in the .500 regular-season team making it to the third round.
Impact on Opposition: You'd never know how Neely would beat you until either the fist was in your face, or the red light went on for the game-winning score. Sometimes it was one or the other, sometimes both in the same game. Line matching became a bigger part of the league because of Neely's versatility. Because of his early take-no-prisoners approach, he became one of the most respected players in league history, and it was rare if anyone dared to take him to task as his career wound down.
While Neely was a force of nature, Kerr took the time to kill 'em softly on more than one occasion. While Neely was a pure goal-scorer, Kerr could fire off touch passes through small seams, and surprise the defense with one-armed passes to teammates. By standing still and attracting multiple defenders, Kerr opened up passing and shooting lanes for his teammates, which helped the Flyers win plenty of games on the rare times he himself was held scoreless.
If Neely is recognized as having defined the "power forward" position, Kerr at the least should be recognized for laying the groundwork from which Neely continued the task.
Sympathy Vote: I'm dead certain the two main reasons Neely got the Hall Vote: his relentless dedication to keep his career alive through debilitating injury, and his humanitarian work. Other than having a few chronic aches and pains which significantly shortened his playing days, I'm none too moved by Cam's plight.
Kerr sacrificed one year (82-83) with a broken leg. One year (87-88) with a shoulder that resisted almost a dozen operations. A half-season (89-90) with the opposite shoulder. Oh yeah, and the real clincher - missing significant time the next season (90-91) after his wife died following childbirth. I'm convinced Kerr stuck around for two forgettable seasons (with the Rangers and Whalers) because he became the sole provider for his three kids. His wife's death pretty much destroyed his spirit on what had begun as another healthy breakout season, and the ravages of chronic shoulder and knee problems limited his worth and playing time in both places. Unlike Neely, Kerr played in an era where players were well compensated, but not set for life. Kerr still plugs away in real estate down in Avalon, while Cam basks in the glow of the public eye. Like Neely, give Tim Kerr those years back, and he's a lock to score 500 goals.
So, there you have it - instant ammunition against any starry-eyed hockey fan blinded by someone's star turn as Sea Bass, or relentless media fawning. Get it out there - spread the word. Maybe the rising tide of sentiment will eventually be enough for the right people to notice.
When Neely was enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2005, in some quarters the relief over that fact was, in hockey terms, as if Mother Teresa finally gained entrance into Heaven after Saints Peter and Paul put up a nasty fight to keep her out.
No doubt, he turned a decrepit and oft-injured late 80's Bruins franchise around, being one of the two main pieces of the puzzle which led the B's to the 1988 and 1990 Cup Finals. He was fun as all hell to watch, because he'd beat you to the puck, beat you with a timely goal, and beat you with his fists if you dared to challenge. His amazing 50 goals in 44 games, playing on one good leg, after missing the balance of the last three seasons with leg and hip problems, stands as a momentous achievement. His retirement in 1996, coming after a solid 27-goal season in 1995, and a 26-goal campaign in 95-96, was a major shock to the team and to the hockey world, coming before his 31st birthday. I'll even give major props for his philanthropy, as his Cam Neely foundation does a tremendous amount to house and comfort young cancer patients across North America.
But I never felt that even his many accomplishments on the ice were of hall-worthy mention, even as he defined the forward posiiton and battled an injury-ravaged body. And I never did, don't now, and will never feel bad about pointing that out and believing that Neely should not be a Hall of Fame member. Instead of merely poking holes and engaging in some major schadenfreude, I offer an alternative, an answer to the debate of "if he gets in, then let in blank." Former Philadelphia Flyer (1980-91) Tim Kerr.
For comparison's sake, I will break down both men's careers in a couple vital categories: Early Career, Prime, Record-Worthy Accomplishments, Impact to Team, Impact on Opposition.
Early Career: Both Neely and Kerr had unspectacular first three seasons in the NHL. Neely was a third-liner for some bad Canucks teams, scoring 51 goals. Kerr started off on a good run, as a second-line bruiser with burgeoning offensive talent. He scored 54 goals (22,21, 11) in his first three years with the Flyers, but had his 1982-83 season wrecked by knee troubles.
Prime: Neely's trade to Boston for Barry Pederson in 1986 revitalized an aging Bruins roster. Neely quickly established himself in the rough-and-tumble Adams division with 36 goals, 72 points, and 143 PIMs in 1986-87. The following year he punched and scored his way through the league with 42 goals, 69 points, and 175 PIMs for the Bruins team who lost to Gretzky and the Oilers. His next three years, he racked up 37, 55 and 51 goals as the Bruins won the Adams (89-90 and 90-91) and made one more trip to the Finals and one to the Wales Conference Finals. The prime of his career was wrecked by an Ulf Samuelsson hit in 1991, and the resulting hip problems limited him to 22 games in the next two seasons. In 1993-94, playing at about 75 percent, he hit for 50 goals in his first 44 games, before succumbing once again to knee, leg and hip problems.
Kerr on the other hand, exploded for a team-high 54 in 83-84, and followed that up with 54 in 84-85, 58 (along with 34 on the power play) in 85-86, and another 58 in 1986-87 - second only to Gretzky in a down offensive year in the NHL. His 1987-88 season was ruined due to nasty shoulder problems resulting from a hit in the 1987 playoffs which limited him to eight regular season and seven playoff games, but he rebounded spectacularly with another team-high 48 goals in 1988-89. Unlike Neely, Kerr did not seek out altercations. Like Neely, when someone disrespected Kerr's space enough to challenge him, Kerr won battles with his fists. His area was a 30 foot semicircle around the net, and he did his fighting for the puck, often with two or more players gunning for him. He enjoyed deadly precision on the power play in the latter stages of his prime.
Record-Worthy Accomplishments: For Neely, it's only the 50 goals in 44 games, and even then, its an unofficial mark because the NHL counts the 50 in terms of team games, not personal games unless that number is under the team's 50th - and Neely did it in his 44th, but Boston's 66th game in 1993-94.
Kerr holds the NHL mark for power-play goals in a season, with 34 in 1985-86 - shattering Phil Esposito's (another HOFer) record. He set, and is now tied for, the NHL postseason record for goals in one period (4), in 1985. In the unofficial arena, Kerr's 14 goals and 25 points through three rounds in thr 1989 playoffs led the NHL in both categories until the Finals. He is one of only eleven players in NHL history to score 275 goals in a six-year span. Eight of them (Gretzky, Lemieux, Kurri, Lafleur, Esposito, Dionne, Bossy, and Hawerchuk) are already Hall members. Hull and Yzerman will be in 2008 or 2009. Neely never came close. Neither did Messier, Gartner, Gordie Howe or Bobby Hull. And, well, Kerr did it in five seasons, having sacrificed the one year in his prime to injury.
Impact to Team: Quite simply, Neely was indispensable from 1986-91. Other than Ray Bourque, Neely is most often quoted as the second biggest driving force to the Bruins' late 80's surge. He was the heart and scoring threat while Bourque was the soul and defensive rock. He fought, he scored, he checked and he talked it up on the bench and in the locker room. His surprise retirement was one of many major reasons the Bruins slipped from a playoff berth in 1996 to the bottom of the league in 1997.
Kerr, meanwhile, was an indispensable part of the Flyers' mid-80's run, but, by no means irreplaceable. The 1987-88 season demonstrated such, as the team, when healthy in the middle part of that year, lost only nine in a 40-game span. In that run, Brian Propp, Dave Poulin, Ilkka Sinisalo, Rick Tocchet, and Peter Zezel posted 30-goal seasons as they all benefitted from defenseman swarming in pairs over #12. However, the playoffs truly demonstrated Kerr's worth to Keenan and Holmgren's teams. Kerr missed the most important games in 1985 (knee) and 1987 (shoulder), in the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Finals, and it showed, as everyone else who had to pick up the offensive slack did not enjoy the freedom to roam which his presence provided. His injury-free 1989 postseason was a major factor in the .500 regular-season team making it to the third round.
Impact on Opposition: You'd never know how Neely would beat you until either the fist was in your face, or the red light went on for the game-winning score. Sometimes it was one or the other, sometimes both in the same game. Line matching became a bigger part of the league because of Neely's versatility. Because of his early take-no-prisoners approach, he became one of the most respected players in league history, and it was rare if anyone dared to take him to task as his career wound down.
While Neely was a force of nature, Kerr took the time to kill 'em softly on more than one occasion. While Neely was a pure goal-scorer, Kerr could fire off touch passes through small seams, and surprise the defense with one-armed passes to teammates. By standing still and attracting multiple defenders, Kerr opened up passing and shooting lanes for his teammates, which helped the Flyers win plenty of games on the rare times he himself was held scoreless.
If Neely is recognized as having defined the "power forward" position, Kerr at the least should be recognized for laying the groundwork from which Neely continued the task.
Sympathy Vote: I'm dead certain the two main reasons Neely got the Hall Vote: his relentless dedication to keep his career alive through debilitating injury, and his humanitarian work. Other than having a few chronic aches and pains which significantly shortened his playing days, I'm none too moved by Cam's plight.
Kerr sacrificed one year (82-83) with a broken leg. One year (87-88) with a shoulder that resisted almost a dozen operations. A half-season (89-90) with the opposite shoulder. Oh yeah, and the real clincher - missing significant time the next season (90-91) after his wife died following childbirth. I'm convinced Kerr stuck around for two forgettable seasons (with the Rangers and Whalers) because he became the sole provider for his three kids. His wife's death pretty much destroyed his spirit on what had begun as another healthy breakout season, and the ravages of chronic shoulder and knee problems limited his worth and playing time in both places. Unlike Neely, Kerr played in an era where players were well compensated, but not set for life. Kerr still plugs away in real estate down in Avalon, while Cam basks in the glow of the public eye. Like Neely, give Tim Kerr those years back, and he's a lock to score 500 goals.
So, there you have it - instant ammunition against any starry-eyed hockey fan blinded by someone's star turn as Sea Bass, or relentless media fawning. Get it out there - spread the word. Maybe the rising tide of sentiment will eventually be enough for the right people to notice.
Here it is, Your Moment of Zen...
Todd Fedoruk has returned from Anaheim, for a fourth round draft pick.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
"A" for Effort Still Doesn't Translate to a "W"
I'll start off with a touch of sour grapes: the longer a team like Buffalo goes on a season-opening streak, the more likely they are to toss in a clunker due to fatigue or carelessness.
That said, the Flyers turned in their second best performance of the season last night, and clearly their best at home. They seized momentum early. They rallied from a two-goal deficit to tie, then lead. Three Phantoms call-ups (Nedved notwithstanding) provided much-needed spark in both ends of the rink. They had three fights, each of which elevated the level of emotion and finally created a sense that the players have each others' backs. There was even a touch of the old "we wuz robbed by da crooked refs" floating around afterwards, since Buffalo's tying score happened as a result of a "questionable" bench minor.
But it still wasn't enough, even though coach Stevens expressed elation, and Tim Panaccio wrote his column in today's Inquirer as if the moral victory of an overtime loss point was both akin to a true win, and also an indicator that Old Time Hockey may be the key to shaking the Flyers out of their deep funk.
I never thought I'd see the day that a one-goal, come-from-ahead loss would be heralded as such a positive, but there we have it, folks. I guess all of us fans and critics, who've never played a shift in the NHL, and never saw a minute in "the room" have it all wrong, daring to spread our doom and gloom, calling for a full-on rebuild. Nobody can ignore the intensity of the positivity springing from this overtime loss, as if it were a cover for just how badly things are going internally. It would do a world of good, I think, for the players and the coaches to downplay games like this as the first step in a thousand needed in the right direction, not act as if the peak of the turnaround is in sight.
The Flyers still lost. They are still at the bottom of the league with a 3-11-2 record. Key young players are still not translating good, hard work into points. The defense is porous, the coaching too distressingly close to a minor league mindset, and the injuries the wrong kind to the wrong people. Even if the work ethic becomes smarter as well as harder and produces more results, there is still a long way to go between "competitive" and "winning."
Give me a solid five-game winning (NOT point) streak, and maybe I'll begin to change my opinion.
That said, the Flyers turned in their second best performance of the season last night, and clearly their best at home. They seized momentum early. They rallied from a two-goal deficit to tie, then lead. Three Phantoms call-ups (Nedved notwithstanding) provided much-needed spark in both ends of the rink. They had three fights, each of which elevated the level of emotion and finally created a sense that the players have each others' backs. There was even a touch of the old "we wuz robbed by da crooked refs" floating around afterwards, since Buffalo's tying score happened as a result of a "questionable" bench minor.
But it still wasn't enough, even though coach Stevens expressed elation, and Tim Panaccio wrote his column in today's Inquirer as if the moral victory of an overtime loss point was both akin to a true win, and also an indicator that Old Time Hockey may be the key to shaking the Flyers out of their deep funk.
I never thought I'd see the day that a one-goal, come-from-ahead loss would be heralded as such a positive, but there we have it, folks. I guess all of us fans and critics, who've never played a shift in the NHL, and never saw a minute in "the room" have it all wrong, daring to spread our doom and gloom, calling for a full-on rebuild. Nobody can ignore the intensity of the positivity springing from this overtime loss, as if it were a cover for just how badly things are going internally. It would do a world of good, I think, for the players and the coaches to downplay games like this as the first step in a thousand needed in the right direction, not act as if the peak of the turnaround is in sight.
The Flyers still lost. They are still at the bottom of the league with a 3-11-2 record. Key young players are still not translating good, hard work into points. The defense is porous, the coaching too distressingly close to a minor league mindset, and the injuries the wrong kind to the wrong people. Even if the work ethic becomes smarter as well as harder and produces more results, there is still a long way to go between "competitive" and "winning."
Give me a solid five-game winning (NOT point) streak, and maybe I'll begin to change my opinion.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Frauds? Or, How I Learned to Start Hating What's in the Third Column
Anaheim sits atop the Pacific Division, and the Western Conference, and the entire NHL with 28 points this morning, following a 6-0 thrashing of a crippled Vancouver Canucks in Vancouver.
They have the league's best record, 12 wins, zero losses, and four in the "other loss" column. Their win last night caused a minor ripple by breaking a 22-year-old record for consecutive games from the start of a season without a loss in regulation. And therein lies a problem.
When the Edmonton Oilers opened the 1984-85 season on a 12-0-3 tear, it was under the old (and if I may say so, the correct, and non-confusing) system. A win equals 2 points, a tie is one point, and a loss gets you nothing. Not only did Gretzky and the boys not lose in regulation, they crushed teams on their way to the standing NHL record. As luck would have it, the Flyers, in Game 16 at the Spectrum, November 11th, 1984, stopped the streak with a come-from-behind 7-5 win.
Under the old system, the one that was unspoiled before the 1999-2000 season offered a fourth column for overtime loss points, Anaheim would have had their current streak stopped in their fourth game, a 5-4 overtime defeat at home to the New York Islanders. In modern times, the next best season-commencing streak would be the 1996-97 Florida Panthers, who opened up 8-0-4 before those streak-busting Flyers ended that run in Game 13. Since then, only the 2000-2001 Colorado Avalanche, who started 9-0-2, put together anything comparable.
Disregarding the vagaries of the standings column, the Ducks are "only" 11-4-1, with all four losses occurring in overtime, and one shootout win (over St. Louis) which should have been a 5-5 tie. Anaheim is still a formidable force, but far from record breakers, and light years from the Edmonton squad which holds the true record in any respect.
The idea that a loss is not a loss is truly ridiculous. Back in '99, the league tried to solve the problem of the avalanche of ties in recent years by awarding a point for teams that went all out in the OT, only to lose. And it bit them that next April, when Buffalo made the playoffs as an eight-seed with a winning percentage below .500, when Carolina missed out despite a record two games over .500. The reason? Buffalo had four overtime losses and the Hurricanes none.
Coming off the lockout last year, with ties eliminated, overtime and shootout losses were morphed into one spot, where ties used to be. As if anyone would, consciously or unconsciously regard non-overtime losses as non-losses simply because a point is awarded and a team's win-loss record looks suspiciously like the old win-loss-tie breakdown. A loss is a loss is a loss, and the Flyers finished last year 45-37, not the more comfortable appearing 45-26-11.
There is enough excitement back in the NHL now, even with the sudden explosion of shutouts in the early going this year, that you'll be hard pressed to find anyone to admit that they didn't get their money's worth in a 4-4, 5-5, or 6-6 tie after overtime. Gimme back my ties. Gimme back my reality, without the spike of rationalizations.
Most importantly, give the Oilers back their record.
They have the league's best record, 12 wins, zero losses, and four in the "other loss" column. Their win last night caused a minor ripple by breaking a 22-year-old record for consecutive games from the start of a season without a loss in regulation. And therein lies a problem.
When the Edmonton Oilers opened the 1984-85 season on a 12-0-3 tear, it was under the old (and if I may say so, the correct, and non-confusing) system. A win equals 2 points, a tie is one point, and a loss gets you nothing. Not only did Gretzky and the boys not lose in regulation, they crushed teams on their way to the standing NHL record. As luck would have it, the Flyers, in Game 16 at the Spectrum, November 11th, 1984, stopped the streak with a come-from-behind 7-5 win.
Under the old system, the one that was unspoiled before the 1999-2000 season offered a fourth column for overtime loss points, Anaheim would have had their current streak stopped in their fourth game, a 5-4 overtime defeat at home to the New York Islanders. In modern times, the next best season-commencing streak would be the 1996-97 Florida Panthers, who opened up 8-0-4 before those streak-busting Flyers ended that run in Game 13. Since then, only the 2000-2001 Colorado Avalanche, who started 9-0-2, put together anything comparable.
Disregarding the vagaries of the standings column, the Ducks are "only" 11-4-1, with all four losses occurring in overtime, and one shootout win (over St. Louis) which should have been a 5-5 tie. Anaheim is still a formidable force, but far from record breakers, and light years from the Edmonton squad which holds the true record in any respect.
The idea that a loss is not a loss is truly ridiculous. Back in '99, the league tried to solve the problem of the avalanche of ties in recent years by awarding a point for teams that went all out in the OT, only to lose. And it bit them that next April, when Buffalo made the playoffs as an eight-seed with a winning percentage below .500, when Carolina missed out despite a record two games over .500. The reason? Buffalo had four overtime losses and the Hurricanes none.
Coming off the lockout last year, with ties eliminated, overtime and shootout losses were morphed into one spot, where ties used to be. As if anyone would, consciously or unconsciously regard non-overtime losses as non-losses simply because a point is awarded and a team's win-loss record looks suspiciously like the old win-loss-tie breakdown. A loss is a loss is a loss, and the Flyers finished last year 45-37, not the more comfortable appearing 45-26-11.
There is enough excitement back in the NHL now, even with the sudden explosion of shutouts in the early going this year, that you'll be hard pressed to find anyone to admit that they didn't get their money's worth in a 4-4, 5-5, or 6-6 tie after overtime. Gimme back my ties. Gimme back my reality, without the spike of rationalizations.
Most importantly, give the Oilers back their record.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Bright Future Coming for Avalanche
After nine solid years of Stanley Cup contention, the vagaries of a new CBA and salary cap laid waste to the Colorado Avalanche roster. In the summer of 2005, Peter Forsberg left, signed by the Flyers. Adam Foote departed, due to financial and youth-oriented reasons, to Columbus. They were only the first steps toward tearing down the old and raising up the new in the Mile High City.
This past summer, long-time GM Pierre Lacroix stepped down, and the team struck an unbalanced deal with Calgary, giving up 2nd line winger Alex Tanguay for the yet-to-play-because-of-injury Jordan Leopold. Rob Blake departed for Los Angeles, leaving a huge gap in experience and leadership on defense. Most shockingly, Steve Konowalchuk, fresh from wrist surgery and ready to be the jack-of-all-trades, was forced to retire in training camp due to a congenital heart defect related to an irregular heartbeat.
All these changes have had a minimal effect on the Avs' youth movement thus far. After 15 games, Colorado is 7-6-2, third place. No worse than last season at this point. Marek Svatos, Wojtek Wolski, and Brett McLean, three of the new kids, scored and Paul Stastny and Brett Clark picked up assists in last night's 6-5 loss at home to the Kings.
Sure, in the old days if the Kings came into McNichols or the Can and put up a 4-goal second period, the Avs might have comeback to win, and if they didn't, they'd routinely take it out later on a Vancouver or San Jose. Last night, the significantly weaker Los Angeles club blew through the Avs in that second period, leading 5-2 after 40 minutes. But this year's model didn't fold. If it weren't for a blown defensive assignment allowing Sean Avery to score, Colorado would have ended regulation with a 5-5 tie and chance to win in overtime. Down 5-2 and 6-3, the Avs closed the gap to 6-5 before time simply ran out.
With Paul (son of Peter) Stastny, Clark, McLean, Wolski, Svatos, Liles, Brunette, McCormick and Richardson, a young core with tons of potential is in place. An extra advantage that will do them well down the stretch is that the defense, in spite of losing Blake, still has veteran presence. Having Theodore as the starter ain't bad either.
What may not bode well for the next couple years is the eventual retirement of Joe Sakic. He is the Avalanche.
Simply put, no combination of players who are tapped to step up could equal the presence Sakic brings, even in his 18th season. Maybe he'll go for a point of pride and pack it in after his 20th year in 2009. Right now, it's year to year and even Joe admitted he won't know how he'll feel until the 82nd game. It's evident from the Forsberg saga unfolding in Philadelphia, nobody will get to become the leader simply by spending years basking in Joe's reflected glow. He's going to have to roll up his sleeves and take a hands-on approach to passing the torch. But that's a ways away. In the present, his steady influence may be keeping the Avalanche near the top of the mountain.
One thing is for certain, Colorado is fun to watch. They've always been, even in the days when Claude Lemieux and Mike Ricci prowled the ice waiting for their next victims while Sakic, Forsberg, Kamensky and company lulled the opposition to sleep with their quick transition game. Those teams were marked by a cool veteran savvy. This team is marked by youthful exuberance, and the smiles that come from learning how to lose, and turning those lessons into exciting wins.
This past summer, long-time GM Pierre Lacroix stepped down, and the team struck an unbalanced deal with Calgary, giving up 2nd line winger Alex Tanguay for the yet-to-play-because-of-injury Jordan Leopold. Rob Blake departed for Los Angeles, leaving a huge gap in experience and leadership on defense. Most shockingly, Steve Konowalchuk, fresh from wrist surgery and ready to be the jack-of-all-trades, was forced to retire in training camp due to a congenital heart defect related to an irregular heartbeat.
All these changes have had a minimal effect on the Avs' youth movement thus far. After 15 games, Colorado is 7-6-2, third place. No worse than last season at this point. Marek Svatos, Wojtek Wolski, and Brett McLean, three of the new kids, scored and Paul Stastny and Brett Clark picked up assists in last night's 6-5 loss at home to the Kings.
Sure, in the old days if the Kings came into McNichols or the Can and put up a 4-goal second period, the Avs might have comeback to win, and if they didn't, they'd routinely take it out later on a Vancouver or San Jose. Last night, the significantly weaker Los Angeles club blew through the Avs in that second period, leading 5-2 after 40 minutes. But this year's model didn't fold. If it weren't for a blown defensive assignment allowing Sean Avery to score, Colorado would have ended regulation with a 5-5 tie and chance to win in overtime. Down 5-2 and 6-3, the Avs closed the gap to 6-5 before time simply ran out.
With Paul (son of Peter) Stastny, Clark, McLean, Wolski, Svatos, Liles, Brunette, McCormick and Richardson, a young core with tons of potential is in place. An extra advantage that will do them well down the stretch is that the defense, in spite of losing Blake, still has veteran presence. Having Theodore as the starter ain't bad either.
What may not bode well for the next couple years is the eventual retirement of Joe Sakic. He is the Avalanche.
Simply put, no combination of players who are tapped to step up could equal the presence Sakic brings, even in his 18th season. Maybe he'll go for a point of pride and pack it in after his 20th year in 2009. Right now, it's year to year and even Joe admitted he won't know how he'll feel until the 82nd game. It's evident from the Forsberg saga unfolding in Philadelphia, nobody will get to become the leader simply by spending years basking in Joe's reflected glow. He's going to have to roll up his sleeves and take a hands-on approach to passing the torch. But that's a ways away. In the present, his steady influence may be keeping the Avalanche near the top of the mountain.
One thing is for certain, Colorado is fun to watch. They've always been, even in the days when Claude Lemieux and Mike Ricci prowled the ice waiting for their next victims while Sakic, Forsberg, Kamensky and company lulled the opposition to sleep with their quick transition game. Those teams were marked by a cool veteran savvy. This team is marked by youthful exuberance, and the smiles that come from learning how to lose, and turning those lessons into exciting wins.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Catalogue of Sins
Things are so bad with the Flyers, I can't really pick on them game to game anymore. Besides, when you've still only won three games, and its November, more problems become evident when the games and losses start to blend together.
The first and most pressing problem, even before the obvious defensive deficiencies, is the level of play throughout any given game. Forget the cliche'd "full 60 minutes." Forget 40, or even 20. The Flyers go in spurts from one shift to the next in intensity, for periods no longer than a few minutes, then lapse back into their general state of catatonia. I give them credit for hanging in last night in Toronto - even then, it was Niittymaki's effort that kept the game tied 1-1 rather than the rest of the team taking it to the Leafs. Like any game in the late 90's, having a 40-shot game doesn't necessarily mean any kind of dominant play. They seemed to pack it in until the third in the Capitals game, only played in small spots in the first and third periods against Tampa, and were outplayed save for two world-class Forsberg goals in the Chicago game. If John Stevens is powerless to provide the necessary jolt, trades are required to alter team chemistry.
The second problem is one that has dogged the team for centuries - the game plan to generate offense. Judging from the parts of the game I was able to see when I wasn't covering Ottawa-Washington, the 40 shots didn't exactly come from 2-on-1's, slick passing, and open men within 10 feet of the net. Since the Lindros Era, the plan has been to either dump and chase, relying on speed and muscle for puck possession, or generate a rush, but head for the goal line and cycle endlessly until some space somewhere opens up. With Knuble on the shelf for another two weeks, that's one less free-thinking forward with sniper ability, and his absence throws a severe monkey wrench in the first line's ability to catch the opposition off-guard. Even with the benefit of the new rules last year, the Flyers refused to use the two-line pass to generate chances. They refused to use the skill from the top two lines in the bigger offensive zone to create space within the zone from which to shoot, instead relying on a hard-fought possession game to try and generate chances. Well, it took until Christmas for the other 29 teams to figure out Philly was up to their old tricks, and teams began to outskate, outpossess and outchance the Flyers, culminating in the Buffalo series where it seemed the Flyers couldn't hold onto the puck for more than 10 seconds.
Now, we get to the defense. I was never a fan of Freddy Meyer, and forget all the nonsense about me being a BC graduate and Meyer playing for Boston University. I can't get over Clarke's (or Holmgren's or whomever's) cold feet back in March, when he passed on dealing Umberger to Pittsburgh for Mark Recchi, and Meyer in any number of possible deals after both kids were instrumental in a home win over Carolina right before the trading deadline. Randy Jones is pretty much a non-factor, but it's only a matter of time before he becomes a full-on liability. Rathje, Baumgartner, and the enigmatic Lars Jonsson are failures. Derian Hatcher gets a boost from an F to a D because he looks like he's really trying, and Joni Pitkanen has largely been a disappointment as he has not grown as expected after a promising 05-06. If you listen close enough, you can hear Kim Johnsson laughing through the snow and ice fog all the way from Minnesota.
Next, the captaincy. Peter Forsberg is not the guy. Period. The end. I had severe reservations about his abilities as the team leader on and off the ice, and it's not working. It has nothing to do with the Tampa game "meltdown" where he left the arena without answering questions. It has to do with his laconic Scandinavian nature. Unlike Mats Sundin, who has been captain in Toronto for nearly a decade, Forsberg does not wear his emotions on his face, and he really doesn't do it with his body, either. Sure, he relishes physical contact, but when was the last time you saw him fired up after scoring a big goal? I don't remember him in a fiery mood after either goal against the Blackhawks. Sundin? You can tell by looking at him, that he burns with desire to win, to succeed, to correct problems. Even when Forsberg does stick around after practice, or after games, there is no hint of deeper emotion with microphones in his face. Even Canadians, who usually spout nothing but time-tested cliches to the media, you can tell with the eyes and with the brow, that there's fire lurking just beneath the surface. I peer into Forsberg's icy blue Swedish eyes, and see no hidden spark. He didn't learn enough all those years with Joe Sakic, who, although gentlemanly on the ice, has come up with some fiery sermons in the locker room with that crazy Croat temper.
Finally, the kids. Anybody with about six ounces of critical thought and insight while attending any Phantoms game in this millennium can tell, the Flyers farm system is unprepared at best, a joke at worst. It doesn't help that the Flyer organ-eye-zation has misused most of whom they've "brought up" from across the parking lot. As mentioned before, Meyer and Jones are not-ready-for-prime-time on the backline. Stefan Ruzicka has predominantly looked lost without the structure of having a specific job on every shift. Ben Eager, while a good temporary addition because of his energy and slight scoring touch, may be too big for the speedier NHL. Umberger, Carter, and Richards, the current crop of forwards who made the big club off the Phantoms' 2005 Calder Cup victory, are lagging far behind the curve. Last year's goal and point inflations haven't helped their cause this year, where, although goals have been harder to come by league-wide, consistent hard work won't cure their scoring slumps. Wherefore art thou, Sharp and Sim? We surely could use you now. Hell, we could have used both of them in the second half of the season last year. Since the inception of the Phantoms, each and every Phantom called up to the Flyers, with the exception of some long-time veterans (Mark Freer, Peter White among others) has been shipped out for veteran talent or draft picks after a brief audition. Many, like Vaclav Prospal and Ruslan Fedotenko, have gone on to fame and fortune and recognition with other teams.
The rest have been rushed up, shoved into the lineup and shipped off, leaving the Phantoms scrambling for fresh young talent, and the Flyers deprived of any chance to let any of those players grow.
So why keep Umberger, Eager, Carter and Richards, even if they have a Calder Cup to their credit? Part of it is the front office's hyper-literal take on the NHL being a young league, so I guess they feel obligated now to constantly work in new talent. It's still about the right young players, not just about a total roster overhaul that dropped the mean age on the roster from 29 in 2004 to 25 in 2006. As a scout, or GM, or president, you still need to be discerning on which AHL players can hack it in the Big Time. Sharp (in Chicago) and Sim (in Florida and now in Atlanta) are putting up great numbers, and are on their way to staying in the NHL. All the kids seeing time on the Flyers now? Well, they might have some big time in them somewhere, but it's not there yet, especially since during John Stevens' tenure as Phantoms coach (04-05 excepted), the team was nothing more than a factory for learning Ken Hitchcock's rigid offensive and defensive systems.
All in all, we'll have to wait a few more weeks before other teams besides Phoenix are itching to make deals and remake horrible starts into playoff contention. Trades are not the cure-all for this disaster, but it is the biggest step in the right direction the Flyers can make between now and the merciful end to the season, now only 5 months away.
The first and most pressing problem, even before the obvious defensive deficiencies, is the level of play throughout any given game. Forget the cliche'd "full 60 minutes." Forget 40, or even 20. The Flyers go in spurts from one shift to the next in intensity, for periods no longer than a few minutes, then lapse back into their general state of catatonia. I give them credit for hanging in last night in Toronto - even then, it was Niittymaki's effort that kept the game tied 1-1 rather than the rest of the team taking it to the Leafs. Like any game in the late 90's, having a 40-shot game doesn't necessarily mean any kind of dominant play. They seemed to pack it in until the third in the Capitals game, only played in small spots in the first and third periods against Tampa, and were outplayed save for two world-class Forsberg goals in the Chicago game. If John Stevens is powerless to provide the necessary jolt, trades are required to alter team chemistry.
The second problem is one that has dogged the team for centuries - the game plan to generate offense. Judging from the parts of the game I was able to see when I wasn't covering Ottawa-Washington, the 40 shots didn't exactly come from 2-on-1's, slick passing, and open men within 10 feet of the net. Since the Lindros Era, the plan has been to either dump and chase, relying on speed and muscle for puck possession, or generate a rush, but head for the goal line and cycle endlessly until some space somewhere opens up. With Knuble on the shelf for another two weeks, that's one less free-thinking forward with sniper ability, and his absence throws a severe monkey wrench in the first line's ability to catch the opposition off-guard. Even with the benefit of the new rules last year, the Flyers refused to use the two-line pass to generate chances. They refused to use the skill from the top two lines in the bigger offensive zone to create space within the zone from which to shoot, instead relying on a hard-fought possession game to try and generate chances. Well, it took until Christmas for the other 29 teams to figure out Philly was up to their old tricks, and teams began to outskate, outpossess and outchance the Flyers, culminating in the Buffalo series where it seemed the Flyers couldn't hold onto the puck for more than 10 seconds.
Now, we get to the defense. I was never a fan of Freddy Meyer, and forget all the nonsense about me being a BC graduate and Meyer playing for Boston University. I can't get over Clarke's (or Holmgren's or whomever's) cold feet back in March, when he passed on dealing Umberger to Pittsburgh for Mark Recchi, and Meyer in any number of possible deals after both kids were instrumental in a home win over Carolina right before the trading deadline. Randy Jones is pretty much a non-factor, but it's only a matter of time before he becomes a full-on liability. Rathje, Baumgartner, and the enigmatic Lars Jonsson are failures. Derian Hatcher gets a boost from an F to a D because he looks like he's really trying, and Joni Pitkanen has largely been a disappointment as he has not grown as expected after a promising 05-06. If you listen close enough, you can hear Kim Johnsson laughing through the snow and ice fog all the way from Minnesota.
Next, the captaincy. Peter Forsberg is not the guy. Period. The end. I had severe reservations about his abilities as the team leader on and off the ice, and it's not working. It has nothing to do with the Tampa game "meltdown" where he left the arena without answering questions. It has to do with his laconic Scandinavian nature. Unlike Mats Sundin, who has been captain in Toronto for nearly a decade, Forsberg does not wear his emotions on his face, and he really doesn't do it with his body, either. Sure, he relishes physical contact, but when was the last time you saw him fired up after scoring a big goal? I don't remember him in a fiery mood after either goal against the Blackhawks. Sundin? You can tell by looking at him, that he burns with desire to win, to succeed, to correct problems. Even when Forsberg does stick around after practice, or after games, there is no hint of deeper emotion with microphones in his face. Even Canadians, who usually spout nothing but time-tested cliches to the media, you can tell with the eyes and with the brow, that there's fire lurking just beneath the surface. I peer into Forsberg's icy blue Swedish eyes, and see no hidden spark. He didn't learn enough all those years with Joe Sakic, who, although gentlemanly on the ice, has come up with some fiery sermons in the locker room with that crazy Croat temper.
Finally, the kids. Anybody with about six ounces of critical thought and insight while attending any Phantoms game in this millennium can tell, the Flyers farm system is unprepared at best, a joke at worst. It doesn't help that the Flyer organ-eye-zation has misused most of whom they've "brought up" from across the parking lot. As mentioned before, Meyer and Jones are not-ready-for-prime-time on the backline. Stefan Ruzicka has predominantly looked lost without the structure of having a specific job on every shift. Ben Eager, while a good temporary addition because of his energy and slight scoring touch, may be too big for the speedier NHL. Umberger, Carter, and Richards, the current crop of forwards who made the big club off the Phantoms' 2005 Calder Cup victory, are lagging far behind the curve. Last year's goal and point inflations haven't helped their cause this year, where, although goals have been harder to come by league-wide, consistent hard work won't cure their scoring slumps. Wherefore art thou, Sharp and Sim? We surely could use you now. Hell, we could have used both of them in the second half of the season last year. Since the inception of the Phantoms, each and every Phantom called up to the Flyers, with the exception of some long-time veterans (Mark Freer, Peter White among others) has been shipped out for veteran talent or draft picks after a brief audition. Many, like Vaclav Prospal and Ruslan Fedotenko, have gone on to fame and fortune and recognition with other teams.
The rest have been rushed up, shoved into the lineup and shipped off, leaving the Phantoms scrambling for fresh young talent, and the Flyers deprived of any chance to let any of those players grow.
So why keep Umberger, Eager, Carter and Richards, even if they have a Calder Cup to their credit? Part of it is the front office's hyper-literal take on the NHL being a young league, so I guess they feel obligated now to constantly work in new talent. It's still about the right young players, not just about a total roster overhaul that dropped the mean age on the roster from 29 in 2004 to 25 in 2006. As a scout, or GM, or president, you still need to be discerning on which AHL players can hack it in the Big Time. Sharp (in Chicago) and Sim (in Florida and now in Atlanta) are putting up great numbers, and are on their way to staying in the NHL. All the kids seeing time on the Flyers now? Well, they might have some big time in them somewhere, but it's not there yet, especially since during John Stevens' tenure as Phantoms coach (04-05 excepted), the team was nothing more than a factory for learning Ken Hitchcock's rigid offensive and defensive systems.
All in all, we'll have to wait a few more weeks before other teams besides Phoenix are itching to make deals and remake horrible starts into playoff contention. Trades are not the cure-all for this disaster, but it is the biggest step in the right direction the Flyers can make between now and the merciful end to the season, now only 5 months away.
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
This Date in NHL History
November 1st, 1995. at Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh 10, Tampa Bay 0
Mario Lemieux's goal and six assists power the Penguins past the totally defenseless Lightning.
It's gotta be the last time anyone's scored seven points in a game, but it was only the first time all season that #66 would post at least 7 points in a single contest. Ron Francis played second fiddle from the center position, racking up a mere two goals and three assists.
The game got so out of hand, Tampa head coach Terry Crisp pulled starter J.C. Bergeron out of the net, only to put him back in when the Pens didn't ease up on Daren Puppa.
The Penguins were a fun team in 1995-96, featuring a roster stacked with offensive talent. Lemieux. Jagr. Francis. Nedved. Sandstrom. Smolinski. Zubov. 362 goals in 82 games - a total nobody has even come close to since.
Mario Lemieux's goal and six assists power the Penguins past the totally defenseless Lightning.
It's gotta be the last time anyone's scored seven points in a game, but it was only the first time all season that #66 would post at least 7 points in a single contest. Ron Francis played second fiddle from the center position, racking up a mere two goals and three assists.
The game got so out of hand, Tampa head coach Terry Crisp pulled starter J.C. Bergeron out of the net, only to put him back in when the Pens didn't ease up on Daren Puppa.
The Penguins were a fun team in 1995-96, featuring a roster stacked with offensive talent. Lemieux. Jagr. Francis. Nedved. Sandstrom. Smolinski. Zubov. 362 goals in 82 games - a total nobody has even come close to since.
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