9/16/2006
9/14/2006
Omni-variations
Hey all,
I don't have the stats, draft lists, and time to do this exercise, but I'm hoping one of you out there does!
Using the proposed revision to the Omnivore, go back to last year's draft, and find the baseline scores for each team using the best lineup from the ED plus PrD.
Then compare to the final standings - Curious to see how many teams have (+)ve scores...
Dan
I don't have the stats, draft lists, and time to do this exercise, but I'm hoping one of you out there does!
Using the proposed revision to the Omnivore, go back to last year's draft, and find the baseline scores for each team using the best lineup from the ED plus PrD.
Then compare to the final standings - Curious to see how many teams have (+)ve scores...
Dan
Jack Johnson may be on the move
This article at TSN suggests that Johnson's refusal to come out of college to play for the Canes is going to get the blue-chipper dealt elsewhere.
Two obvious options are discussed;
To Pit for Jordan Staal
To the NYR for Marc Staal
Personally, I'd bet on the latter. The Rangers would be insane not to be interested if the additional value they give up along with M.Staal isn't too high. Given that Carolina is desperate to get healthy blue-liners and are relatively stacked at fwd, the J.Staal trade seems less likely.
Two obvious options are discussed;
To Pit for Jordan Staal
To the NYR for Marc Staal
Personally, I'd bet on the latter. The Rangers would be insane not to be interested if the additional value they give up along with M.Staal isn't too high. Given that Carolina is desperate to get healthy blue-liners and are relatively stacked at fwd, the J.Staal trade seems less likely.
9/13/2006
Anson Carter Signs
Hey all,
Anyone interested in acquiring the Blue Jackets latest acquisition, ideally in return for a P4 prospect - let me know!
Dan
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Anson Carter signed a one-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday, two days before the team opens training camp.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but sources told TSN of Canada that the deal is worth $2.5 million.
Carter, who has played nine years in the NHL, is coming off a career-best 33-goal season with Vancouver.
The Blue Jackets hope he will serve as the big, physical player they have been missing on their top lines. He could also spark the offense for Columbus, which still hasn't signed young Russian star Nikolai Zherdev. The forward's agent and the Blue Jackets' front office have traded threats and contentious talk throughout the summer.
With Carter joining forwards Sergei Fedorov, Rick Nash, David Vyborny and recent acquisition Fredrik Modin, the Blue Jackets have upgraded their depth up front.
Carter also had 22 assists for 55 points in 81 games last season. He led the Canucks in goals, power-play goals (15), game-winning goals (seven) and shooting percentage (22.6 percent).
He has played in 610 career NHL games with 191 goals and 202 assists. Since 1998, the right winger has averaged 23 goals a season and has scored 10 or more power-play goals in three of four campaigns.
"Anson Carter is a big, strong power forward who is a proven 25- to 30-goal scorer," Columbus general manager Doug MacLean said.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Carter has also played for Washington, Boston, Edmonton and the New York Rangers. The Toronto native helped Canada win gold medals at the 1997 and 2003 world championships and the 1994 world junior championships.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
9/12/2006
Prospect Heroes
I have had a tremendous amount of trouble leaving my prospect list alone. I'm constantly revising, reworking, and re-thinking what players I want, and from conversations I've had with other GMs, I'm not alone.
It's not a problem anymore of knowing who will be available (thank the hockey gods), but more a problem of there being a surfeit of talent to have ones selection from. And while there are a plethora of choices, they are all flawed in some way or other, and I think it may be the flaws that is ultimately radomizing the possibilites so much. It's not so much as what do you want? As 'what's the downside?'.
Here are my rather limited deductions so far;
The Prospect Super Heroes (in no particular order):
'The Cloak' - Niklas Backstrom-C Wsh
Superpower: expected to have superhuman point totals as gifted setup man for Alex 'The Dagger' Ovechkin. Mesmerizing stickhandling, escapability, defensive awareness, and 360 degree vision are just the surface of Cloak's abilities.
Kryptonite: Has at least one more year of Superhero High before he can graduate to become the Dagger's full-time side-kick. There is also a concern that he may concentrate too much on developing his cloaking defense powers at the expense of his other attacks.
'The Thrill' - Phil Kessel-C Bos
Superpowers: He only has two, but they are awesome; The Thrill can fly at jetspeed and he has an unlimited arsenal of explosive rockets.
Kryptonite: The Guy Gardner of the prospect class. It's rumoured that he may have an almost fatal weakness to 'Stanford-Binet', and that this is why he was passed over by several Superteams before getting the call from the B's. The only official word is he doesn't 'test well'.
'Plague', Jordan Staal-C Pit
Fellow horseman of the Apocalypse, Eric 'Warmonger' has already arrived with no small amount of shock and awe, and Marc 'Goal Famine' is soon to follow (note that Jared 'Sudden Death' is still to come. I tremble.).
Superpowers: Passing is already contagious and deadly. Unnatural size , speed, and strength make him immune to physical abuse. Will eventually join up with heroes Wunderkid and Wingspan to form a terrific trio.
Kryptonite: Like The Cloak, Plague also has to spend at least one more year at Superhero High before he is ready to fight supervillains, and there is a concern that Wunderkid and Wingspan will leave Plague behind to run the second line by the time he arrives.
'Battleship', Eric Johnson - D StL
Superpowers: Impossibly strong, and seemingly invulnerable to attack. Developing what appear to be potentially lethal offensive powers, including a bazzooka shot, and guided missle passing. Battleship is reportedly both fearless and fearsome.
Kryptonite: May not have any, but he will need at least two years of Superhero High before he graduates. His superteam isn't much help either as they are going to be retiring most of their Heroes just as he arrives.
'The Rush'n Mystic', Igor Radulov - R Nsh
Superpowers: The Mystic developed his powers of puck wizardry and scoring alchemy during his tenure at SHH, and after an extra year of classes (goal-a-game, 150+pts), the test results are in and he is set to graduate.
Kryptonite: Ready to prove he's no illusion, the only question is how strong his sorcery will actually be.
'Berserker', - Bobby Ryan-R Ana
Superpowers: A potentially viable Cam Neely Clone, he has the blend of raw bone-crushing power, fast twitch muscle, and animal reflexes that make the breed so dangerous. A natural predator.
Kryptonite: Neely Clones typically take a year or two longer to manifest their alpha-male status, and many develop progressively fatal 'BradMay Syndrome' along the way, whereby the clones phenotype shows for most of the animal attributes but never develops the fundamental killpower (see: Scott Hartnell).
'Jack of Diamonds', Jack Johnson-D Car
Superpowers: Harder than tungsten, and capable of piercing just about any defense with precision strikes. Undoubtably has Pantheon quality superpowers.
Kryptonite: The team invited him to combat villainy in the Showdown With Ultimate Darkness last year, but he decided on his own to take another year of classes instead. Is he really ready to fight evil every day?
So there you have it, the cream of the latest hero class. At some point I've had each and everyone of these soon to be heroes in my top three, though I will admit some names have found themselves there more often than others, but as yet, I still can't make a call as to how they should be ordered.
It's not a problem anymore of knowing who will be available (thank the hockey gods), but more a problem of there being a surfeit of talent to have ones selection from. And while there are a plethora of choices, they are all flawed in some way or other, and I think it may be the flaws that is ultimately radomizing the possibilites so much. It's not so much as what do you want? As 'what's the downside?'.
Here are my rather limited deductions so far;
The Prospect Super Heroes (in no particular order):
'The Cloak' - Niklas Backstrom-C Wsh
Superpower: expected to have superhuman point totals as gifted setup man for Alex 'The Dagger' Ovechkin. Mesmerizing stickhandling, escapability, defensive awareness, and 360 degree vision are just the surface of Cloak's abilities.
Kryptonite: Has at least one more year of Superhero High before he can graduate to become the Dagger's full-time side-kick. There is also a concern that he may concentrate too much on developing his cloaking defense powers at the expense of his other attacks.
'The Thrill' - Phil Kessel-C Bos
Superpowers: He only has two, but they are awesome; The Thrill can fly at jetspeed and he has an unlimited arsenal of explosive rockets.
Kryptonite: The Guy Gardner of the prospect class. It's rumoured that he may have an almost fatal weakness to 'Stanford-Binet', and that this is why he was passed over by several Superteams before getting the call from the B's. The only official word is he doesn't 'test well'.
'Plague', Jordan Staal-C Pit
Fellow horseman of the Apocalypse, Eric 'Warmonger' has already arrived with no small amount of shock and awe, and Marc 'Goal Famine' is soon to follow (note that Jared 'Sudden Death' is still to come. I tremble.).
Superpowers: Passing is already contagious and deadly. Unnatural size , speed, and strength make him immune to physical abuse. Will eventually join up with heroes Wunderkid and Wingspan to form a terrific trio.
Kryptonite: Like The Cloak, Plague also has to spend at least one more year at Superhero High before he is ready to fight supervillains, and there is a concern that Wunderkid and Wingspan will leave Plague behind to run the second line by the time he arrives.
'Battleship', Eric Johnson - D StL
Superpowers: Impossibly strong, and seemingly invulnerable to attack. Developing what appear to be potentially lethal offensive powers, including a bazzooka shot, and guided missle passing. Battleship is reportedly both fearless and fearsome.
Kryptonite: May not have any, but he will need at least two years of Superhero High before he graduates. His superteam isn't much help either as they are going to be retiring most of their Heroes just as he arrives.
'The Rush'n Mystic', Igor Radulov - R Nsh
Superpowers: The Mystic developed his powers of puck wizardry and scoring alchemy during his tenure at SHH, and after an extra year of classes (goal-a-game, 150+pts), the test results are in and he is set to graduate.
Kryptonite: Ready to prove he's no illusion, the only question is how strong his sorcery will actually be.
'Berserker', - Bobby Ryan-R Ana
Superpowers: A potentially viable Cam Neely Clone, he has the blend of raw bone-crushing power, fast twitch muscle, and animal reflexes that make the breed so dangerous. A natural predator.
Kryptonite: Neely Clones typically take a year or two longer to manifest their alpha-male status, and many develop progressively fatal 'BradMay Syndrome' along the way, whereby the clones phenotype shows for most of the animal attributes but never develops the fundamental killpower (see: Scott Hartnell).
'Jack of Diamonds', Jack Johnson-D Car
Superpowers: Harder than tungsten, and capable of piercing just about any defense with precision strikes. Undoubtably has Pantheon quality superpowers.
Kryptonite: The team invited him to combat villainy in the Showdown With Ultimate Darkness last year, but he decided on his own to take another year of classes instead. Is he really ready to fight evil every day?
So there you have it, the cream of the latest hero class. At some point I've had each and everyone of these soon to be heroes in my top three, though I will admit some names have found themselves there more often than others, but as yet, I still can't make a call as to how they should be ordered.
9/07/2006
Come visit!
After some tinkering, my blog is up and running, with only a few remaining little tweaks left to make... Come check it out at Great Whites
9/06/2006
Burnside on Keenan's 'Resignation'
There are a number of things I think Burnside gets right, some things I think he gets seriously wrong, and a few questions I would answer differently from how he does.
Starting with what I think Burnside gets right:
"You see, there's always a next time for Keenan because there's always an owner willing to read the 12-year-old press clippings from Keenan's one, true moment of glory and buzz his assistant excitedly and yell, "Get Keenan on the phone. He's our man."
- Essentially, correct. Keenan has one of the longest resume's in the league, and one that has 'winner' appearing on it a mulitude of occasions. He's won a Stanley Cup, Canada Cup, etc., etc. a CV like that gets you consideration - deservedly so. Now compare Keenan's body of work to say, Pat Quinn. Who would you rather have? Both have experience, both have international success, lots of career wins, but wait...only one of them has a ring. Who would you hire first?
"Had Keenan been fired (sorry, he "resigned") at the end of last season, could Martin have locked Luongo into a long-term deal?
- I think he's right on three counts, first that it is worth asking the question of whether or not it was Keenan who derailed the Luongo negotiations (he's not - but more on that in a moment), second for recognizing that no amount of analysis of the situation will tease out an answer as to what Martin would have/could have/should have done in his place, and third for correctly seeing that the team has gambled its future on the trade.
Keenan was an impossible situation with Luongo. The team hadn't enjoyed any success with him in the pipes despite a heavy workload as a #1, while Keenan rebuilt the farm system. The result is that just as Keenan's team starts to bear fruit (Jokinen now fully developed as a #1 power pivot after washing out twice elsewhere, J-Bo blooming on the blue-line, Olesz, Weiss, Horton, etc, etc), Luongo insists on a one year deal that would make him a UFA thereafter, or a long term deal at fantastic $s. So, as far as Luongo goes he now has two options if Keenan wants to keep him; blow his brains out (let Luongo go to the free market for nothing after one year), or bust his cap (5 years $35M).
Or, he takes door #3 and decides to make the best trade he can. The situation isn't one of Keenan's making, but rather one of Luongo's. Is it different if Martin is running the show? I don't see how, but its impossible to say.
Here are some of the things I think he Burnside simply gets wrong;
"You'd think it was only yesterday given the opportunities extended to Keenan to both coach and manage NHL franchises into the ground. Since 1994, Keenan managed Vancouver to a 25-43-14 record as interim GM and set the Blues back years with his turn as GM from 1994-1996. As a coach, Keenan's teams have won just one playoff round after that glorious run to the Cup in 1994."
Keenan's time as GM in Vancouver was definitely not a popular one, but the concrete foundations were laid by him for the excellent team that emerged from his departure. Consider;
- Naslund blossomed under Keenan. He was untill Keenan's arrival noteworthy for being the but of a joke scouting report 'might be better than line-mate Forsberg because of his shot', and for being traded straight up for a minor league AHL goon.
- Engineered the trade of Trevor Linden to the Islanders for Todd Bertuzzi, Bryan McCabe and the pick that became Jarko Ruutu. Now I know that trading Linden was seen as gutting the franchise, but c'mon, seriously - if that isn't one of the most lopsided deals ever arranged I don't know what is.
- The trade for Jovo-cop.
So I think it is simply unfair to say he ran Vcr into the ground. He patently did not. He did make serious Keenan type errors; Messier, Mogilny, and catering to Bure's ego - not to mention failing to draft, trade for or otherwise attract an elite goaltender, but on the whole, you bring Keenan in to blow up the team and rebuild it from the ground up as a stronger entity. Mission accomplished.
The situation in St Louis is difficult to judge for a couple of reasons, first, his tenure was short - just two years, and secondly, because he was called in less to blow up and rebuild the Blues, so much as get them over the top. To that end, we have Gretzky landing as a trade for Roman Vopat, and one of the sorriest excuses for Blues jersey sales to go up, ever. Should the implosion of the Blues be his responsibility? Somewhat. They were utterly devoid of prospects prior to his arrival, and while he didn't help the pipeline much, he didn't leave it worse than he found it.
So I think you can blame him for being a less than fantastic coach at this stage of his career (he's good for one or two years max, before he gets tuned out), but you have to acknowledge that Keenan has had a role in building the obvious talent on team, before you chide him for how they have performed.
Now some of the questions that Burnisde asks throughout;
"Gee, has it really been a dozen years since Keenan coached the New York Rangers to the 1994 Stanley Cup?"
Yes it has. Since then the following coaches have won Stanley Cups;
Laviolette
Tortorella
Burns
Bowman (3)
Hartley
Robinson
Hitchock
Crawford
Lemaire
Burns, Robinson and Lemaire all won taking turns worshipping with the holy trinity of Martin Brodeur-Scott Stevens-Scott Niedermayer, so the best you can say is that they did a good job not messing up the three wise-men role. Crawford and Hartley both won steering the good ship Joe Sakic in Colorado. Funny that. Any of those guys jump out at you as being obviously superior to Keenan other than Bowman? (who is obviously superior compared to everyone). No? Me neither. Maybe Hitchcock (a Keenan protege).
"How else to explain an owner who allows himself to be bamboozled into hiring Keenan as a coach, and then, after approving his dismissal, brings him back to manage the team a few months later?"
Easy, Keenan took the coaching gig as a way to keep a high profile while searching for a GM job. His employer knew that, and knew that he was getting Keenan outside of the role he wanted, but it was to their mutual benefit that they connect when they did and to later part when they did (Keenan simply isn't a great coach anymore), and finally to reconnect over the GM role when it came about.
"Why was Keenan allowed to trade franchise netminder Roberto Luongo for Todd Bertuzzi, a player who has yet to regain his form following his infamous attack on Steve Moore in March 2004, and mostly unproven young netminder Alex Auld?"
- Money and risk. If money were no object, Keenan would have signed Luongo - but in the new capped NHL, Money is an object whether you like it or not. Paying Luongo what he wanted would have strapped the team for the better part of a decade, and restricted the kind of building blocks available to pad out a cup winner. Risk. Luongo could have been signed to a one year deal and then allowed to walk. An arbitrator would certainly have awarded a 'one-and-out' type deal, and ultimately, the Panthers would have nothing to show for their asset. Faced with this, getting Bertuzzi for him is a coup. Bertuzzi has had two difficult years, but lots of miles left on the odometer, and he already plays a Keenan friendly game. Was their a better trade for Luongo available? I don't know, but the one he got wasn't exactly chicken feed.
"Who's next?" (as in what team will take him on now)
- Toronto. They are just about ripe to be blow apart and rebuilt. And Keenan is exactly the kind of dynamite the team needs. The fans will love hating him, and hate loving him, and everyone else not in Leaf Nation will think it a marriage made in heaven.
Or someplace warmer.
Starting with what I think Burnside gets right:
"You see, there's always a next time for Keenan because there's always an owner willing to read the 12-year-old press clippings from Keenan's one, true moment of glory and buzz his assistant excitedly and yell, "Get Keenan on the phone. He's our man."
- Essentially, correct. Keenan has one of the longest resume's in the league, and one that has 'winner' appearing on it a mulitude of occasions. He's won a Stanley Cup, Canada Cup, etc., etc. a CV like that gets you consideration - deservedly so. Now compare Keenan's body of work to say, Pat Quinn. Who would you rather have? Both have experience, both have international success, lots of career wins, but wait...only one of them has a ring. Who would you hire first?
"Had Keenan been fired (sorry, he "resigned") at the end of last season, could Martin have locked Luongo into a long-term deal?
Impossible to say now, but the reality is the team has gambled its future on this trade."
- I think he's right on three counts, first that it is worth asking the question of whether or not it was Keenan who derailed the Luongo negotiations (he's not - but more on that in a moment), second for recognizing that no amount of analysis of the situation will tease out an answer as to what Martin would have/could have/should have done in his place, and third for correctly seeing that the team has gambled its future on the trade.
Keenan was an impossible situation with Luongo. The team hadn't enjoyed any success with him in the pipes despite a heavy workload as a #1, while Keenan rebuilt the farm system. The result is that just as Keenan's team starts to bear fruit (Jokinen now fully developed as a #1 power pivot after washing out twice elsewhere, J-Bo blooming on the blue-line, Olesz, Weiss, Horton, etc, etc), Luongo insists on a one year deal that would make him a UFA thereafter, or a long term deal at fantastic $s. So, as far as Luongo goes he now has two options if Keenan wants to keep him; blow his brains out (let Luongo go to the free market for nothing after one year), or bust his cap (5 years $35M).
Or, he takes door #3 and decides to make the best trade he can. The situation isn't one of Keenan's making, but rather one of Luongo's. Is it different if Martin is running the show? I don't see how, but its impossible to say.
Here are some of the things I think he Burnside simply gets wrong;
"You'd think it was only yesterday given the opportunities extended to Keenan to both coach and manage NHL franchises into the ground. Since 1994, Keenan managed Vancouver to a 25-43-14 record as interim GM and set the Blues back years with his turn as GM from 1994-1996. As a coach, Keenan's teams have won just one playoff round after that glorious run to the Cup in 1994."
Keenan's time as GM in Vancouver was definitely not a popular one, but the concrete foundations were laid by him for the excellent team that emerged from his departure. Consider;
- Naslund blossomed under Keenan. He was untill Keenan's arrival noteworthy for being the but of a joke scouting report 'might be better than line-mate Forsberg because of his shot', and for being traded straight up for a minor league AHL goon.
- Engineered the trade of Trevor Linden to the Islanders for Todd Bertuzzi, Bryan McCabe and the pick that became Jarko Ruutu. Now I know that trading Linden was seen as gutting the franchise, but c'mon, seriously - if that isn't one of the most lopsided deals ever arranged I don't know what is.
- The trade for Jovo-cop.
So I think it is simply unfair to say he ran Vcr into the ground. He patently did not. He did make serious Keenan type errors; Messier, Mogilny, and catering to Bure's ego - not to mention failing to draft, trade for or otherwise attract an elite goaltender, but on the whole, you bring Keenan in to blow up the team and rebuild it from the ground up as a stronger entity. Mission accomplished.
The situation in St Louis is difficult to judge for a couple of reasons, first, his tenure was short - just two years, and secondly, because he was called in less to blow up and rebuild the Blues, so much as get them over the top. To that end, we have Gretzky landing as a trade for Roman Vopat, and one of the sorriest excuses for Blues jersey sales to go up, ever. Should the implosion of the Blues be his responsibility? Somewhat. They were utterly devoid of prospects prior to his arrival, and while he didn't help the pipeline much, he didn't leave it worse than he found it.
"Most recently Keenan was twice allowed to muck up the future of the Florida Panthers, once as coach and then, when he couldn't get that right, as general manager."
Again, I think this is just wrong. Florida was left floundering after its miracle run to the finals and the departure of Bob Clarke to Philly. Jovo-cop kept getting injured and the team simply couldn't build around the Beezer, no matter how nice a guy he was. Now look at them. They are dripping with young prospects, talent at every position (except goaltender) and the potential to do some damage.So I think you can blame him for being a less than fantastic coach at this stage of his career (he's good for one or two years max, before he gets tuned out), but you have to acknowledge that Keenan has had a role in building the obvious talent on team, before you chide him for how they have performed.
Now some of the questions that Burnisde asks throughout;
"Gee, has it really been a dozen years since Keenan coached the New York Rangers to the 1994 Stanley Cup?"
Yes it has. Since then the following coaches have won Stanley Cups;
Laviolette
Tortorella
Burns
Bowman (3)
Hartley
Robinson
Hitchock
Crawford
Lemaire
Burns, Robinson and Lemaire all won taking turns worshipping with the holy trinity of Martin Brodeur-Scott Stevens-Scott Niedermayer, so the best you can say is that they did a good job not messing up the three wise-men role. Crawford and Hartley both won steering the good ship Joe Sakic in Colorado. Funny that. Any of those guys jump out at you as being obviously superior to Keenan other than Bowman? (who is obviously superior compared to everyone). No? Me neither. Maybe Hitchcock (a Keenan protege).
"How else to explain an owner who allows himself to be bamboozled into hiring Keenan as a coach, and then, after approving his dismissal, brings him back to manage the team a few months later?"
Easy, Keenan took the coaching gig as a way to keep a high profile while searching for a GM job. His employer knew that, and knew that he was getting Keenan outside of the role he wanted, but it was to their mutual benefit that they connect when they did and to later part when they did (Keenan simply isn't a great coach anymore), and finally to reconnect over the GM role when it came about.
"Fair enough. The NHL is rife with Byzantine office politics involving coaches, GMs, scouts and equipment managers, you name it.
But if there was this kind of unease between Keenan and Martin, why was the relationship allowed to continue through the crucial free agency period?"
Who's to say it wasn't manageable to this point? Sometimes things will seem to go fine right up to the point you go over the cliff. Sure, the brakes are making a funny noise every now and then, and it's been a while since you and your mechanic spoke, but the car is running and heading in the right direction, why pull over and call a tow-truck?"Why was Keenan allowed to trade franchise netminder Roberto Luongo for Todd Bertuzzi, a player who has yet to regain his form following his infamous attack on Steve Moore in March 2004, and mostly unproven young netminder Alex Auld?"
- Money and risk. If money were no object, Keenan would have signed Luongo - but in the new capped NHL, Money is an object whether you like it or not. Paying Luongo what he wanted would have strapped the team for the better part of a decade, and restricted the kind of building blocks available to pad out a cup winner. Risk. Luongo could have been signed to a one year deal and then allowed to walk. An arbitrator would certainly have awarded a 'one-and-out' type deal, and ultimately, the Panthers would have nothing to show for their asset. Faced with this, getting Bertuzzi for him is a coup. Bertuzzi has had two difficult years, but lots of miles left on the odometer, and he already plays a Keenan friendly game. Was their a better trade for Luongo available? I don't know, but the one he got wasn't exactly chicken feed.
"Who's next?" (as in what team will take him on now)
- Toronto. They are just about ripe to be blow apart and rebuilt. And Keenan is exactly the kind of dynamite the team needs. The fans will love hating him, and hate loving him, and everyone else not in Leaf Nation will think it a marriage made in heaven.
Or someplace warmer.
9/04/2006
Omnivore
Hey all,
As Doug and I are finishing up the edits to the Covenant to reflect the recent votes, I noticed that our definition of the Omnivore "baseline" is really not clearly defined in the Rules.
Can we agree without too much effort on a suitable definition to include in the final document?
I believe there was general consensus that the highest pointing players at all 3 forward positions, 6 defense, and one goalie were to count.
There was the suggestion that neither TG/PIM or plus-minus be considered for the baseline, as this reflects coaching decisions through the year (much like line-ups). Thus doing a good job throught the year with judicious use of TG and plus-minus improves your Omnivore score.
Does this sound acceptable? Other thoughts?
Thanks!
Dan
As Doug and I are finishing up the edits to the Covenant to reflect the recent votes, I noticed that our definition of the Omnivore "baseline" is really not clearly defined in the Rules.
Can we agree without too much effort on a suitable definition to include in the final document?
I believe there was general consensus that the highest pointing players at all 3 forward positions, 6 defense, and one goalie were to count.
There was the suggestion that neither TG/PIM or plus-minus be considered for the baseline, as this reflects coaching decisions through the year (much like line-ups). Thus doing a good job throught the year with judicious use of TG and plus-minus improves your Omnivore score.
Does this sound acceptable? Other thoughts?
Thanks!
Dan
9/03/2006
Leafs in.....Ummm.....2015?
A cute one garnered from Cam's friend Raven's site, and gratuitously reposted here for your amusement ;-)
9/01/2006
RIP
Sure, he may have been only a 4th rnd pick for NYI, but when 21 y.o. Stefan Blaho of Slovakia died in a car crash after scoring a goal in an exhibition game that night, it gives me pause. As Blaho enters the Darkness, he is yet another of hundreds of players who didn't make The Big Leagues. Rest in Peace.
8/30/2006
ANOTHER CALLED SHOT
Not sure how you want to format these Cam - so delete this blog and add elsewhere if you wish...
To create some inter-league rivalry, here's a proposal:
"The Calgary Conference will beat the Out of Town Conference in combined Head to Head victories"
YES
Brian
To create some inter-league rivalry, here's a proposal:
"The Calgary Conference will beat the Out of Town Conference in combined Head to Head victories"
YES
Brian
8/29/2006
Antiphon Rising
Hey everyone,
Thanks to Dan (who didn't even know he was helping me) I have been able to make some changes to my own blog by importing some of the items Dan added to the FUNHL site.
I'm still working on getting my picture added (I could just dump Doug as a contributor and my profile pic would appear again - but that is my last resort), but otherwise was successfully able to add a whole slew of links that I previously couldn't.
In any case, it's the new-improved antiphon rising - let me know what you think!
Thanks to Dan (who didn't even know he was helping me) I have been able to make some changes to my own blog by importing some of the items Dan added to the FUNHL site.
I'm still working on getting my picture added (I could just dump Doug as a contributor and my profile pic would appear again - but that is my last resort), but otherwise was successfully able to add a whole slew of links that I previously couldn't.
In any case, it's the new-improved antiphon rising - let me know what you think!
8/28/2006
Rule 15.x - Resolved
Thanks again to Dan for organizing the vote, and for co-ordinating the whole thing to be completed well in advance of our ED.
I'll be pulling down the links to the rule proposals (just in the side-bar, they will still be present on the blog, and you can search for them if necessary), and replacing them with 'Called Shots' so we can easily track how they are progressing.
Any other suggestions, just let me (or Dan, he has administrator access now) know and I'll see if I can't make the changes.
One other FYI - with the release of the Bible's information, and with the new clarity of our rules as to who will be available, I'll be doing an updated Top 12 Prospect List very soon. I also have my lists done (in what may well be a record time).
This off-season can't end soon enough.
I'll be pulling down the links to the rule proposals (just in the side-bar, they will still be present on the blog, and you can search for them if necessary), and replacing them with 'Called Shots' so we can easily track how they are progressing.
Any other suggestions, just let me (or Dan, he has administrator access now) know and I'll see if I can't make the changes.
One other FYI - with the release of the Bible's information, and with the new clarity of our rules as to who will be available, I'll be doing an updated Top 12 Prospect List very soon. I also have my lists done (in what may well be a record time).
This off-season can't end soon enough.
NHL Rumours
Patrice Bergeron's deal averages $4.75 million per year, bringing the Bruins within some $500,000 of the $44 million cap. However, GM Peter Chiarelli reiterated last week that Alexei Zhamnov's $4.1 million will be deleted as soon as he is formally discharged via long-term injury exception.
-- Boston Globe
In other words, don't expect to see Alexei Zhamnov in an NHL uniform ever again. I know I won't miss him.
Unless a deal comes together this weekend, it looks as if Nikolai Zherdev will spend the season in Russia rather than Columbus. Blue Jackets GM Doug MacLean has offered a two-year deal worth $1.8 million a year, but Zherdev is believed to want around $1.5 million on a one-year deal.
-- Boston Globe
8/26/2006
War, and rumours of War
Vancouver's Markus Naslund put to rest Wednesday the ongoing rumors that he could be swapped for unsigned Philadelphia winger Simon Gagne and join long-time friend and countryman Peter Forsberg on the Flyers.
-- Vancouver Province
As rumours go, this one was both persistent and plausible. The Canucks are in the midst of blowing up the team's core (Cloutier, Bertuzzi, Ruutu, Jovanovski, Auld, Allen, etc. all gone), and dealing Naz for a younger LW with similar tools and contract made some sense. Likewise, it made some sense for Philadelphia to consider moving Gagne for Naslund if Gagne's $ demands go as high as they could.
That all said, Naslund is more than just a core player for the Canucks, he's their team captain, best player, and in ways that only Trevor Linden would understand, deeply connected to the team and its fan base. Even getting full value from Naslund in a trade for a player like Gagne, probably isn't enough to make up for what the team would be losing in his absence.
The fact he is sticking around means that Naslund will have a very serious chance of sending his jersey to join Linden's in the rafters.
As it should be.
-- Vancouver Province
As rumours go, this one was both persistent and plausible. The Canucks are in the midst of blowing up the team's core (Cloutier, Bertuzzi, Ruutu, Jovanovski, Auld, Allen, etc. all gone), and dealing Naz for a younger LW with similar tools and contract made some sense. Likewise, it made some sense for Philadelphia to consider moving Gagne for Naslund if Gagne's $ demands go as high as they could.
That all said, Naslund is more than just a core player for the Canucks, he's their team captain, best player, and in ways that only Trevor Linden would understand, deeply connected to the team and its fan base. Even getting full value from Naslund in a trade for a player like Gagne, probably isn't enough to make up for what the team would be losing in his absence.
The fact he is sticking around means that Naslund will have a very serious chance of sending his jersey to join Linden's in the rafters.
As it should be.
8/25/2006
Called Shots - Side bets of the FUNHL 2006-07
1. The Lost Boys will beat the Bladerunners in their franchise opener.
Yes:
Cameron
Bob
No:
Doug
Brian
Yes:
Cameron
Bob
No:
Doug
Brian
8/24/2006
Severed Heads Press Release
Release #1: The inability of the Devils Lou Lamouriello to sign gunner Brian Gionta to a deal, figures to be a positive situation for the Severed Heads prospect Zach Parise, giving him a more prominent offensive role to fill with Gionta's ice-time up for grabs.
Release #2: The likelihood of the Devils Lou Lamouriello signing Brian Gionta to a deal bodes well for Severed Heads prospect ZachParise, as with Gionta's return Parise's offensive output should increase.
Just getting the ole PR muscles back in shape
Release #2: The likelihood of the Devils Lou Lamouriello signing Brian Gionta to a deal bodes well for Severed Heads prospect ZachParise, as with Gionta's return Parise's offensive output should increase.
Just getting the ole PR muscles back in shape
Magazine Outrage Update:
Well, I found Matt Auffrey, the heretofor unknown top prospect of the Ducks organization according to 'Hockey, the Magazine'.
Hockey's Future has him rated as Grade 6.0: 'C', and he falls outside of their top 20 into the 'notables' category.
Hockey's Future has him rated as Grade 6.0: 'C', and he falls outside of their top 20 into the 'notables' category.
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