- Everybody in the blogosphere has apocalyptic thoughts about what the cap will look like next year and the year after (guesstimate of 10% decline or thereabouts) - and what a hardship that will be for teams who are up against it to trim payroll. However, consider for a moment how much worse it would have been if there were no cap in place.
- Consider the following names; MA Fleury, Erik Staal, Nathan Horton, Nik Zherdev, Thomas Vanek, Milan Mihalek, Ryan Suter, Braydon Coburn, Dion Phaneuf, Andrei Kostitsyn, Jeff Carter, Dustin Brown, Brent Seabrook, Robert Nilsson, Steve Bernier, Zach Parise, Erik Fehr, Ryan Getzlaf, Brent Burns, Mark Stuart, Ryan Kesler, Mike Richards, Corey Perry. What do they have in common? They were ALL 1st rnd picks in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. Wow - that was some draft - arguably the best 1st rnd ever.
But that is not the whole story. The above is also the order they were drafted in, which raises some interesting points; Suter and Coburn over Phaneuf? Hmmm, probably seemed like a good idea at the time. Robert Nilsson over Getzlaf, Parise or Perry? Ewwwwww. Kesler over Mike Richards? Well, both are Selke candidates, but Richards is also a ppg whereas Kesler is half that.
If only hindsight were 20/20.
Which raises another interesting point; Hugh Jessiman, MA Pouliot, Anthony Stewart, Brian Boyle, Jeff Tambellini, Patrick Eaves, and Shawn Belle - none of who are regular NHL players a full 6 years after the draft. How would you like to be the GM who selected Jessiman 12th overall, ahead of guys like Seabrook, Parise, Getzlaf and Burns? Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.
- My predictions for the 2nd rnd;
Pittsburgh over Washington. Offensive weapons everywhere, but the Pens have the edge in goaltending and on D - and that is where playoff matchups like this are won. Pittsburgh in 5.
Carolina upsets the Bruins. I just don't believe in Tim Thomas, and Cam Ward has already got a Conn Smythe trophy. Canes in 7
Ducks shock the Redwings. The Ducks have a deep defense corps (as deep or better than Detroit), a robust physical style of play - especially in their intimidating first line Getzlaf-Perry-Ryan, and a goaltender who doesn't know he isn't supposed to be elite. The Wings have experience, depth and....Chris Osgood. This is the kind of series where Osgood needs to steal a game or more, and I bet he doesn't. Ducks in 6
Bobby-Lou over the ChiHawks. The Hawks have an impressive cast of young speedsters, a mobile deep defense corps, an all-world goalie, and excellent coaching. The Canucks have two excellent scoring lines that dominate the puck, an elite checking line, a six deep defense unit that is in good health, and the best goaltender on the planet. Bobby-Lou wins in 5.
- Says here the Red Wings will regret the Franzen contract extension. It's too much, for too long for too little in return.
- Lowetide dreams of Gaborik landing in Edmonton (over Havlat or Jagr) but I'm betting that Vancouver gets him with the money saved from Sundin's departure. I also think the Sedin's re-sign with the 'Nucks.
- Hart nominees are Ovechkin, Malkin, Datsyuk - and somewhere Don Cherry is spinning in his technicolour suit.
- As I type this Anaheim has a 1-0 lead and Mike Brown caught Hudler admiring his pass and absolutely buried him with what looks to be (to me) a more or less clean blind-side hit. (Oops - 5 for interference and a game misconduct is called on Brown - somewhat arbitrarily IMO).
- And Franzen ties it 1-1 to make me eat my words all-round. C'est la vie.
- Colour me very impressed with Patrick Kane. He look for all the world like Denis Savard has returned to Chicago. He has wicked speed, scores pretty goals, and can take a beating. Me like.
- Also, Toews is some kind of player. He does everything well. Everything. I think he could even play goaltender as well as Huet if needed.
- At a commercial break I switched to Space Channel and caught Ben Mulroney reviewing the new Star Trek movie - enthusiastically. It was followed by none other than William Shatner discussing the virtues of 'free comic book day' - and whatever his hair replacement cost was worth it - he now has it cut short in a military crew - and it looks awesome. I think I just blew several blood vessels in my brain.
- It still pisses me off that the rules are different for Chris Pronger in the playoffs. However with Anaheim playing Detroit I'm willing to overlook any ultraviolence he dishes out. Here's hoping he cuts out the ankle stomps.
- One reason for me picking the Canes over Bruins - the Canes have Tuomo Ruutu - the Bruins don't. I will miss Lucic once they are elimenated though. He rules.
Addendum;
Turns out both teams I picked to win their series tonight blew it, Anaheim lost 3-2 to Detroit, and Boston whipped the Canes 4-1. Mea Culpa.
- Simeon Varlamov will NOT be a prospect - he's played 12 career NHL games over 2 seasons, so he's fair game in our entry draft. I know I have him ranked.
- I'll believe the Lucic=Neely formula when Lucic scores more than 40 goals in a season. Till then, he's still more on the Brad May track than the Cam Neely track. He's a beauty though.
- I hate baseball. Please. Make. It. Stop. Its wrecking my nightly highlight packages.
- One interesting tactic the Canadiens brass will no doubt consider is offers to one or both of the restricted free agents Phil Kessel and David Krecji - the Bruins will not be able to match both, and hurting your opponent while helping yourself is always a good tactic. Kessel a Hab? It could happen.
- The rumour mill on Lecavalier being dealt at the Entry Draft won't go away. If there is a prize to trade for this off-season it might be him - that said, he has control over his destiny and may be able to name his destination. Personally, I think the Buds may be the best place for him to land.
- Keep an eye on the J-Bo sweepstakes too. Once the playoffs end he's the biggest prize in the unrestricted free-agent market, but Florida may still trade his rights for exclusive negotiation before they expire. At least they would get something for him.
- Stamkos is tearing it up at the World Championship for Team Canada - he's going to be a good one - and his development into a first rate offensive threat could be the final push out the door for Lecavalier.
- One of the players taken from 2003 I didn't mention is Shea Weber - he went in the 2nd round!
- Lots of good mock drafts coming out. Here - Here - Here and here;
3 comments:
What Bruin would sign for more money with the Habs and then have to Play in Boston 4 or more times a year. Talk about being a target.
You can offer but I would not sign.
If an agent offers you two deals, the first is for say $7M over 5 years, and the second is with your home team for $4.5M over three years - which would you take?
Nor are the Habs likely to be the only team interested in peeling off some of the talent the Bruins have acquired. My guess is one or both of Krecji and Kessel is playing elsewhere.
I'd take the home team deal for 3 years at 1.5 mill/yr... not the 5 yr deal for 1.2 mill/yr.
Would be funny to see player sign with the enemy, but likely won't happen. Wierdest for that in Flames history was Steve Smith's brief career with Calgary. What, his agent and Flames management were thinking at the team beats me.
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