1/13/2011
1/12/2011
1/10/2011
World Juniors in Calgary!! Respond ASAP!
Hey all!
As you may know, the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship this year (Dec 2011/Jan 2012) are being held in Calgary and Edmonton. Specific dates are December 26, 2011 to January 5, 2012. There was a lottery for the privilege of being able to buy tickets to this event, and I am happy to relate that I was successful!
Here is the challenge:
The Calgary games are sold by seat for a 21 game package, which includes:
The gold medal game, bronze medal game, semifinals, quarter-finals, 10 preliminary round games and relegation games
There are three price levels for the 21-game ticket package in Calgary:
$1,299.00 CDN per seat for 100 level seats (includes first four rows of 200 level)
$999.00 CDN per seat for 200 level seats
$399.00 CDN per seat for 300 level seats
So for 100/prime 200 level seats, assuming either 2 or 4 ticket/seat packages, the total cost will be either $2600 or $5200. For regular 200 level seats it would be $2000 and $4000 respectively.
If we round off to 20 games for simplicity, that means that prime seating for a single game would be $130 for 2, or $260 for 4 ($65/seat)
If we calculate on the middle price tier, for a single game, $100 for 2 seats, $200 for 4 ($50/seat)
If we go with nosebleeds, the total is much easier to swallow at roughly $40 for 2 seats, $80 for 4 ($20/seat) but you are still in the nosebleeds :-(
As I understand it, you have to decide on one price range and one quantity of tickets, which you then get for all 21 games outlined above.
Ironically, I will likely be away for all but the last few days of the tournament, not to mention I can't handle the price of tickets on my own anyway.
SO WHAT I NEED TO KNOW FROM YOU:
- Are you interested in tickets and willing to share in the cost of buying them?
- What quantity (2 or 4) and price range ($20, $50, $65 per seat) are you interested in?
- As the lucky lottery winner I will likely put dibs on the gold medal game tix (esp. as I may not be in town for anything else!) but any others are up for grabs, and I'm quite willing to discuss options - my initial inclination is either a lottery among those of you wanting to buy as to which game you get, or giving first choice to whoever buys the most tickets and so on - depending on interest
Note that I need a firm commitment by noon Wednesday (!) to decide what if anything to purchase! Please email me or comment below ASAP!
Dan
The Future of Goaltending
James Mirtle's latest article for the Globe takes a look at how the size of goaltenders is a factor in the lowering of goalscoring in the NHL.
When I started watching the NFL as a wee lad of 12 or so, there were no (as in 'zero', 'none') 300lb players. It was unheard of.
In 1989 Canadian born offensive lineman Tony Mandarich a 6'5" 310 behemoth was picked 2nd overall by the Packers - ahead of hall of famers Troy Aikman and Barry Sanders. He was considered to be a freak of nature (later revealed to be a steroid user) to be so massive and yet so athletic.
Last year in the NFL roughly a third (10 or so players) in just the first round were over 300lbs, including 6'5" 331lb Mike Iaputi.
What's been clear all along is that there is an evolutionary pressure on the NFL to produce bigger and stronger and heavier linemen, and the results have been a dramatic increase in the size of the players.
Its long been obvious that the size of the players in the NHL was also getting bigger. I recall a lot of coke-machine drafts where certain teams (Islanders) didn't select players under 6'2", and a super-heavyweight of players was emerging lead by poster-child Eric Lindros.
As an aside, one of these swift skating refrigerators (Shawn Antoski) so enticed the Pittsburgh Penguins they traded their slower footed merely average sized Euro winger for him (Marcus Naslund).
But what is interesting to me about Mirtle's math is that while this instinct regarding players is true - they are an inch or so bigger on average and a few pounds heavier, the real difference in growth is in goal where the players are 3 inches taller and 20lbs heavier.
I had long thought that the problem with the drop in scoring in the league was largely the result of three factors:
1. Improvements in Coaching, but more specifically, the 'Trap'. I recall vividly that the 'Canadian' way of playing hockey was characterized by liberal use of a two-man forecheck that was expected to hound the other team in their own zone, and lead to big hits, lots of turnovers, breakaways, and all-round exciting hockey. Think 1987 Canada Cup.
Then I recall the Polish Olympic team playing a 1-2-2 style that was deadly dull, but helped them to build on their only strength (Peter Sidorkiewicz?) goaltending, and to throttle other teams until a powerplay would help them to get some offense going. Not long after, the 'Trap' seemed to be everywhere in the NHL.
In particular, there was one year we all watched in agony as Anaheim and Detroit trapped each other into Kafkaesque multiple overtime scoreless draw - and the fruition of this coaching tactic reached its absurd singularity where like a black hole, nothing, no scoring of any kind could escape.
2. The increase in quality of player at the mid/bottom of the roster. Ponderous thugs, guys who can't skate backwards, even one dimensional offensive players (the current exception being Robbie Schremp) are all but a thing of the past. Nowadays a teams fourth line is much more likely to have a high-energy checker who is safe in his own zone than a cement footed grunt who has trouble with his pivots.
- Goaltending pads. Here is Patrick Roy around the time he entered the league.
In particular note:
- Leather pads that get heavier as the game goes on
- Size of his catching mit
- Size of his stick
- Size of his blocker
- Size of his helmet
- Width of Roy's shoulders
Compare it to this:
This is what Roy looked like at the end of his career. Go figure that the older Roy got, the better his stats got. Were his reflexes better? His positioning? No, he was just 10% bigger everywhere and wearing gear that was 50% lighter than when he began his career.
Now these are to some degree all still factors. But Mirtle's point about the increase in size for goaltenders is still troubling to me.
There appears to me to be no point in complaining that the bottom end roster guys are more capable than they were 20 years ago even if it does stifle offense.
Similarly, I simply don't see anyone ever making the Trap illegal. It will always make periodic sense for coaches to want to play defensively, so even if it is way overused, it isn't going anywhere.
So with those two options all but moot, I have long suggested that goaltending pads be reduced to 1980 levels (and I think they should all use wood sticks too, but I digress), but if goaltenders aren't just getting bigger because of the pads - but because they are actually being selected for their massive frames, reducing the pads isn't going to make all that much more net available.
Nor will making the nets bigger necessarily change things (though scoring would go up in the short term) - afterall, that could just increase the selective pressure for bigger goaltenders even more.
How do we find a way to make more net available before every netminder is the NHL version of Mike Iaputi?
When I started watching the NFL as a wee lad of 12 or so, there were no (as in 'zero', 'none') 300lb players. It was unheard of.
In 1989 Canadian born offensive lineman Tony Mandarich a 6'5" 310 behemoth was picked 2nd overall by the Packers - ahead of hall of famers Troy Aikman and Barry Sanders. He was considered to be a freak of nature (later revealed to be a steroid user) to be so massive and yet so athletic.
Last year in the NFL roughly a third (10 or so players) in just the first round were over 300lbs, including 6'5" 331lb Mike Iaputi.
What's been clear all along is that there is an evolutionary pressure on the NFL to produce bigger and stronger and heavier linemen, and the results have been a dramatic increase in the size of the players.
Its long been obvious that the size of the players in the NHL was also getting bigger. I recall a lot of coke-machine drafts where certain teams (Islanders) didn't select players under 6'2", and a super-heavyweight of players was emerging lead by poster-child Eric Lindros.
As an aside, one of these swift skating refrigerators (Shawn Antoski) so enticed the Pittsburgh Penguins they traded their slower footed merely average sized Euro winger for him (Marcus Naslund).
But what is interesting to me about Mirtle's math is that while this instinct regarding players is true - they are an inch or so bigger on average and a few pounds heavier, the real difference in growth is in goal where the players are 3 inches taller and 20lbs heavier.
I had long thought that the problem with the drop in scoring in the league was largely the result of three factors:
1. Improvements in Coaching, but more specifically, the 'Trap'. I recall vividly that the 'Canadian' way of playing hockey was characterized by liberal use of a two-man forecheck that was expected to hound the other team in their own zone, and lead to big hits, lots of turnovers, breakaways, and all-round exciting hockey. Think 1987 Canada Cup.
Then I recall the Polish Olympic team playing a 1-2-2 style that was deadly dull, but helped them to build on their only strength (Peter Sidorkiewicz?) goaltending, and to throttle other teams until a powerplay would help them to get some offense going. Not long after, the 'Trap' seemed to be everywhere in the NHL.
In particular, there was one year we all watched in agony as Anaheim and Detroit trapped each other into Kafkaesque multiple overtime scoreless draw - and the fruition of this coaching tactic reached its absurd singularity where like a black hole, nothing, no scoring of any kind could escape.
2. The increase in quality of player at the mid/bottom of the roster. Ponderous thugs, guys who can't skate backwards, even one dimensional offensive players (the current exception being Robbie Schremp) are all but a thing of the past. Nowadays a teams fourth line is much more likely to have a high-energy checker who is safe in his own zone than a cement footed grunt who has trouble with his pivots.
- Goaltending pads. Here is Patrick Roy around the time he entered the league.
In particular note:
- Leather pads that get heavier as the game goes on
- Size of his catching mit
- Size of his stick
- Size of his blocker
- Size of his helmet
- Width of Roy's shoulders
Compare it to this:
This is what Roy looked like at the end of his career. Go figure that the older Roy got, the better his stats got. Were his reflexes better? His positioning? No, he was just 10% bigger everywhere and wearing gear that was 50% lighter than when he began his career.
Now these are to some degree all still factors. But Mirtle's point about the increase in size for goaltenders is still troubling to me.
There appears to me to be no point in complaining that the bottom end roster guys are more capable than they were 20 years ago even if it does stifle offense.
Similarly, I simply don't see anyone ever making the Trap illegal. It will always make periodic sense for coaches to want to play defensively, so even if it is way overused, it isn't going anywhere.
So with those two options all but moot, I have long suggested that goaltending pads be reduced to 1980 levels (and I think they should all use wood sticks too, but I digress), but if goaltenders aren't just getting bigger because of the pads - but because they are actually being selected for their massive frames, reducing the pads isn't going to make all that much more net available.
Nor will making the nets bigger necessarily change things (though scoring would go up in the short term) - afterall, that could just increase the selective pressure for bigger goaltenders even more.
How do we find a way to make more net available before every netminder is the NHL version of Mike Iaputi?
Week 14 Stats - Scourge and More Back In The Hunt As 9 Teams Gain On Vendetta During The Week
FYI, Omnivore Totals Have Been Updated.
1/09/2011
1/07/2011
1/06/2011
WD2 Date and NHL/FUNHL Trade Deadlines
Hello All:
Your friendly DC Spokesman...hopefully will be backed by Getta and Hilton!
WD2 Date is traditionally the Weekend AFTER the All-Ster Game. Hence, I believe the dates of Sat Feb 5 at 1230mst OR Sunday Feb 6 at 1100mst have been favoured.
This needs confirmation QUICKLY.
Next...the NHL Trade Deadline falls on a Monday, Feb 28th The final trade count is always late, can be significant and after our line-ups that week! Therefore the FUNHL trade deadline is one week later (next lineup) on March 7th.
Alas...the complex nature of our GLORIOUS pool.
Thoughts...comments?
Your friendly DC Spokesman...hopefully will be backed by Getta and Hilton!
WD2 Date is traditionally the Weekend AFTER the All-Ster Game. Hence, I believe the dates of Sat Feb 5 at 1230mst OR Sunday Feb 6 at 1100mst have been favoured.
This needs confirmation QUICKLY.
Next...the NHL Trade Deadline falls on a Monday, Feb 28th The final trade count is always late, can be significant and after our line-ups that week! Therefore the FUNHL trade deadline is one week later (next lineup) on March 7th.
Alas...the complex nature of our GLORIOUS pool.
Thoughts...comments?
1/05/2011
1/03/2011
Week 12 Stats Are, Finally, Done
Yes, CBS messed me up again so I had to manually take out all of the Monday games from the Week 12 stats (they should return when I get out the Week 13 stats) but the real culprit for the delay is that I seem to have far less free time on my free time than I do at work. Go figure. Merry Belated Christmas everyone and Here's hoping that the New Year goes more smoothly.
12/28/2010
FINALLY!! Now Ken and Brent, please follow suit
Share ThisPrint Email Darryl Sutter resigns as general manager and executive vice-president of Flames
Calgary Flames' general manager Darryl Sutter addresses the media following the team's failure to make the playoffs, in Calgary, Monday, April 12, 2010. Sutter has stepped down as executive vice-president and general manager of the Flames. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
2010-12-28 14:30:00
CALGARY - Darryl Sutter is stepping down as executive vice-president and general manager of the Calgary Flames.
The NHL team says assistant GM Jay Feaster will serve as acting general manager.
Sutter was named general manager in April 2003, a few months after taking over as head coach.
He gave up his head coaching duties in July 2006 to focus on his front-office duties.
The Flames are fourth in the Northwest Division this season with 35 points.
Calgary Flames' general manager Darryl Sutter addresses the media following the team's failure to make the playoffs, in Calgary, Monday, April 12, 2010. Sutter has stepped down as executive vice-president and general manager of the Flames. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
2010-12-28 14:30:00
CALGARY - Darryl Sutter is stepping down as executive vice-president and general manager of the Calgary Flames.
The NHL team says assistant GM Jay Feaster will serve as acting general manager.
Sutter was named general manager in April 2003, a few months after taking over as head coach.
He gave up his head coaching duties in July 2006 to focus on his front-office duties.
The Flames are fourth in the Northwest Division this season with 35 points.
12/27/2010
Week 13 Line-ups - End of 2010 Edition
You know what to do. Please post your own if you can as Bob (my erstwhile assistant) is trapped in an internet-free zone with his parents.
12/24/2010
12/23/2010
12/20/2010
FUNHL News and Notes
- Daily stats are a luxury not a necessity. Not only does Doug have nothing to apologize for, we should all be ritually humbling ourselves at his feet that he provides this service to us. Yes, the stats guy gets a break on his entrance fee, but weekly updates would be all that is necessary to make things work - and our guy is giving us 7 times that expectation. So tip of the hat to Doug.
- A week ago I was commenting to Bob that I thought there were some patterns developing in the standings. Specifically that a group of 4 looked like it was breaking away from the main group; the Bladerunners, Personal Vendetta, Scourge and Severed Heads. Fast forward to the present and the Bladerunners have a sudden crash and burn like Cybill Sheppard's acting career after Moonlighting, to fall from 1st - where they had been for several weeks running, all the way to 4th - and only 8 points out of 5th where a charging Shadowmen team finds itself.
The Personal Vendetta - who had been in 2nd - and 20+pts or so ahead of 3rd, are now in 1st, but the teams in 2nd and 3rd (Scourge and Severed Heads) are now only 13-15pts back.
With that much volatility, and that little spread between teams, its still a free-for-all.
- Last year the +/- bus was filled with Caps and Chi-Hawks, this year its Philly and Pittsburgh.
- Last year the Severed Heads were heavily invested in Philly (Richards, Hartnell, Briere, Timonen, Emery) and Pittsburgh (Malkin, Letang, Guerin), and bombed worse than the latest remake of 'the Wolfman'. Aside from Emery and Guerin, last year the Heads actually had an awesome draft, it was just in the wrong year. It seems my problem isn't at the draft table, its in not having time travel!
- Bob and I were debating this question the other night, who would you prefer as an FP; Toews or Erik Staal? I initially went with Toews, but its hard to make that case when Staal has already had a 100pt season, and Toews has never had a ppg season.
- Calgary is now faced with the raw truth that they are not a playoff team anymore. Eric Francis at the Calgary Sun has openly started cheering for the Flames to do a complete rebuild, and pretty much everybody from Ken King on down appears to have their head on the chopping block.
So here's the facts, Jack;
- Lots of no-movement/trade clauses on this team. Including everybody's favourite scapegoat Olli Jokinen.
- The farm system is getting better (Howse, Nemisz, Wahl, Brodie), but lacks a sure-fire top 6 forward, a heavy minute top pairing D-man, or a possible future starting goaltender.
- Michael Backland, the Flames top offensive prospect, still can't crack a top line, and still hasn't shown more than flashes of high-end skill.
- Two words; Kotalik and Staios. Cap killing contracts both, and virtually zero production.
- The in the first 3 rounds of next years draft the Flames only have their 1st rnd pick.
- The Flames two best players, Iggy and Kipper are both over 33, have no-movement clauses, and high price tags with years left on them.
- If you trade Iginla for anything less than a top prospect/young player/pkg of 1st round picks, the fans will blow their brains out at losing the face of the franchise. They likely will anyway, but why make it worse than necessary?
In other words, an intelligent and planned out full rebuild is the only way to go, and if it were up to me, given the piss-poor return on Phaneuf futures wise, neither Sutter would be involved in the overhaul.
My suggestions;
See if you can get Philly to bite on Kiprusoff and Backland for vanRiemsdyk and Carter.
- Speaking of rebuild time, the Devils could finally consider trading Brodeur. Brodeur is 38, the defense in front of him is fatally ill and won't recover without major surgery, they are out of the playoffs, a mess with cap management, and devoid of above average prospects in the pipeline - especially in goal.
I'm sure Washington can put together a package of players (one or more of; Varlamov, Neuwirth, Carlson, Schultz, or because he is due a very big payday Mike Green) prospects (Johansson, Kuznetsov, Galiev or Perrault) and picks to make it work for everybody.
- That sound you just heard was Malkin going supernova on the Coyotes to the tune of 2g and 3a. With 8 points in his last three games (5 goals), Malkin's return from the DTD IR to offensive superstar status couldn't come at a better time for the Severed Heads.
- What else can you say about Crosby though? Despite the fact Malkin was dinged up and dragging himself around the ice like the Penguins own version of 'the Walking Dead' for 25 games before sitting out completely, or that his wingmen are the ghosts of Kris Kontos and Blaine Stoughton, but the minute Steve Stamkos started getting talked about as the next 50/50 guy Crosby still went full Keyser Soze on everyone. With a healthy Malkin back on the powerplay, how high can Crosby climb?
- I told Bob a few weeks back that I wasn't as scared of the Bladerunners as I was of the PV this year. When Bob asked me why I pointed out that the Bladerunners were relying on a third line of two Bluejackets and Brandon 'Doober' Dubinsky, and that unless the two Bluejackets were both named 'Rick Nash' the Bladerunners simply weren't going to keep outscoring everyone.
In contrast, the PV are running out a 3rd line of Morrow, Plekanec and Downie - a trio that can really put the hurt on you.
- I would still make the trade again today if it presented itself, but it broke my heart to deal Taylor Hall.
- Who is the better candidate to be an FP; John Tavares or Carey Price?
- Our 1st place team, the PV, flushed two goalies at waiver draft-1 and are now banking on Jaroslav 'Bryan Hayward' Halak to get them the rest of the way. I can't decide which of those two things I think was more unlikely at the start of the year.
- If anyone stands in the way of Hall winning ROY, it's his former Windsor Spitfire team mate Cam Fowler. Fowler has been everything as advertised and beyond as an 18 years old, and is playing exceptionally heavy minutes as a rookie for the defense strapped Ducks.
- The other sweet ROY candidate is defenseman Colorado defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk.
- Here's a brain buster trivia question; what former 5th overall pick has represented Canada at an Olympics, World Cup and three World Championships, but has only 201 points in 701 NHL games and has never had a 30 point season?
- The problem I have with Zenon Konopka is that he is a center, and his pure goon act has to compete with players more likely to score than 3rd liners at either wing or depth defensemen. As a pure goon who racks up PIM by getting into fights his production tends to be erratic (only 7pim in his last 10 games) and pretty much non existent outside of fighting (he has 2 pts in his last 10 games to bring him to a grand total of 4 on the season). Sure he can and likely will explode for some big minute games where he fights a couple of times and then misconducts himself out, but in every other week you dress him you are going to get murdered by even a below average 3rd line pivot you could be dressing instead. In short he's almost practically my definition of low reward/high risk.
- Considering the depth they have on defense (Chara, Keith, Campbell, Suter and Del Zotto P2), I think its only a matter of time before the Knuckledrggers move a defender to shore up a RW (Hossa, Selanne, Williams, and Bouchard) that has been all but obliterated by injuries. Part of the problem in doing so may be that the market for a RW doesn't have many sellers at the moment.
- I have to admit to being puzzled by the Omnivore scores. How is it that the Edge - a team that has made few trades, already have a score that is sinking below -50? Are +/- decisions to blame?
- How awesome a season is Dustin Byfuglien having playing defense in Atlanta? He now has 33 points in 34 games. Even out of position at RW in the FUNHL, that represents impressive production from the hulking Thrasher. Is it too early to predict Big Buff is going to be a first round pick as a defenseman next year?
- Milan Lucic is earning some of his Cam Neely Clone moniker by lighting it up at a 40 goal+PIM per game pace so far.
- Last but not least, Happy Festivus everyone!
- A week ago I was commenting to Bob that I thought there were some patterns developing in the standings. Specifically that a group of 4 looked like it was breaking away from the main group; the Bladerunners, Personal Vendetta, Scourge and Severed Heads. Fast forward to the present and the Bladerunners have a sudden crash and burn like Cybill Sheppard's acting career after Moonlighting, to fall from 1st - where they had been for several weeks running, all the way to 4th - and only 8 points out of 5th where a charging Shadowmen team finds itself.
The Personal Vendetta - who had been in 2nd - and 20+pts or so ahead of 3rd, are now in 1st, but the teams in 2nd and 3rd (Scourge and Severed Heads) are now only 13-15pts back.
With that much volatility, and that little spread between teams, its still a free-for-all.
- Last year the +/- bus was filled with Caps and Chi-Hawks, this year its Philly and Pittsburgh.
- Last year the Severed Heads were heavily invested in Philly (Richards, Hartnell, Briere, Timonen, Emery) and Pittsburgh (Malkin, Letang, Guerin), and bombed worse than the latest remake of 'the Wolfman'. Aside from Emery and Guerin, last year the Heads actually had an awesome draft, it was just in the wrong year. It seems my problem isn't at the draft table, its in not having time travel!
- Bob and I were debating this question the other night, who would you prefer as an FP; Toews or Erik Staal? I initially went with Toews, but its hard to make that case when Staal has already had a 100pt season, and Toews has never had a ppg season.
- Calgary is now faced with the raw truth that they are not a playoff team anymore. Eric Francis at the Calgary Sun has openly started cheering for the Flames to do a complete rebuild, and pretty much everybody from Ken King on down appears to have their head on the chopping block.
So here's the facts, Jack;
- Lots of no-movement/trade clauses on this team. Including everybody's favourite scapegoat Olli Jokinen.
- The farm system is getting better (Howse, Nemisz, Wahl, Brodie), but lacks a sure-fire top 6 forward, a heavy minute top pairing D-man, or a possible future starting goaltender.
- Michael Backland, the Flames top offensive prospect, still can't crack a top line, and still hasn't shown more than flashes of high-end skill.
- Two words; Kotalik and Staios. Cap killing contracts both, and virtually zero production.
- The in the first 3 rounds of next years draft the Flames only have their 1st rnd pick.
- The Flames two best players, Iggy and Kipper are both over 33, have no-movement clauses, and high price tags with years left on them.
- If you trade Iginla for anything less than a top prospect/young player/pkg of 1st round picks, the fans will blow their brains out at losing the face of the franchise. They likely will anyway, but why make it worse than necessary?
In other words, an intelligent and planned out full rebuild is the only way to go, and if it were up to me, given the piss-poor return on Phaneuf futures wise, neither Sutter would be involved in the overhaul.
My suggestions;
See if you can get Philly to bite on Kiprusoff and Backland for vanRiemsdyk and Carter.
- Speaking of rebuild time, the Devils could finally consider trading Brodeur. Brodeur is 38, the defense in front of him is fatally ill and won't recover without major surgery, they are out of the playoffs, a mess with cap management, and devoid of above average prospects in the pipeline - especially in goal.
I'm sure Washington can put together a package of players (one or more of; Varlamov, Neuwirth, Carlson, Schultz, or because he is due a very big payday Mike Green) prospects (Johansson, Kuznetsov, Galiev or Perrault) and picks to make it work for everybody.
- That sound you just heard was Malkin going supernova on the Coyotes to the tune of 2g and 3a. With 8 points in his last three games (5 goals), Malkin's return from the DTD IR to offensive superstar status couldn't come at a better time for the Severed Heads.
- What else can you say about Crosby though? Despite the fact Malkin was dinged up and dragging himself around the ice like the Penguins own version of 'the Walking Dead' for 25 games before sitting out completely, or that his wingmen are the ghosts of Kris Kontos and Blaine Stoughton, but the minute Steve Stamkos started getting talked about as the next 50/50 guy Crosby still went full Keyser Soze on everyone. With a healthy Malkin back on the powerplay, how high can Crosby climb?
- I told Bob a few weeks back that I wasn't as scared of the Bladerunners as I was of the PV this year. When Bob asked me why I pointed out that the Bladerunners were relying on a third line of two Bluejackets and Brandon 'Doober' Dubinsky, and that unless the two Bluejackets were both named 'Rick Nash' the Bladerunners simply weren't going to keep outscoring everyone.
In contrast, the PV are running out a 3rd line of Morrow, Plekanec and Downie - a trio that can really put the hurt on you.
- I would still make the trade again today if it presented itself, but it broke my heart to deal Taylor Hall.
- Who is the better candidate to be an FP; John Tavares or Carey Price?
- Our 1st place team, the PV, flushed two goalies at waiver draft-1 and are now banking on Jaroslav 'Bryan Hayward' Halak to get them the rest of the way. I can't decide which of those two things I think was more unlikely at the start of the year.
- If anyone stands in the way of Hall winning ROY, it's his former Windsor Spitfire team mate Cam Fowler. Fowler has been everything as advertised and beyond as an 18 years old, and is playing exceptionally heavy minutes as a rookie for the defense strapped Ducks.
- The other sweet ROY candidate is defenseman Colorado defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk.
- Here's a brain buster trivia question; what former 5th overall pick has represented Canada at an Olympics, World Cup and three World Championships, but has only 201 points in 701 NHL games and has never had a 30 point season?
- The problem I have with Zenon Konopka is that he is a center, and his pure goon act has to compete with players more likely to score than 3rd liners at either wing or depth defensemen. As a pure goon who racks up PIM by getting into fights his production tends to be erratic (only 7pim in his last 10 games) and pretty much non existent outside of fighting (he has 2 pts in his last 10 games to bring him to a grand total of 4 on the season). Sure he can and likely will explode for some big minute games where he fights a couple of times and then misconducts himself out, but in every other week you dress him you are going to get murdered by even a below average 3rd line pivot you could be dressing instead. In short he's almost practically my definition of low reward/high risk.
- Considering the depth they have on defense (Chara, Keith, Campbell, Suter and Del Zotto P2), I think its only a matter of time before the Knuckledrggers move a defender to shore up a RW (Hossa, Selanne, Williams, and Bouchard) that has been all but obliterated by injuries. Part of the problem in doing so may be that the market for a RW doesn't have many sellers at the moment.
- I have to admit to being puzzled by the Omnivore scores. How is it that the Edge - a team that has made few trades, already have a score that is sinking below -50? Are +/- decisions to blame?
- How awesome a season is Dustin Byfuglien having playing defense in Atlanta? He now has 33 points in 34 games. Even out of position at RW in the FUNHL, that represents impressive production from the hulking Thrasher. Is it too early to predict Big Buff is going to be a first round pick as a defenseman next year?
- Milan Lucic is earning some of his Cam Neely Clone moniker by lighting it up at a 40 goal+PIM per game pace so far.
- Last but not least, Happy Festivus everyone!
Week 11 Comes To A Close - Updates and, hopefully, Correct
Hi guys. CBS is still fraked up so I have had to hand bomb Sunday's four games (eight teams) from Yahoo's site. This had to be done manually but the patch seems to be holding - we will find out if when we get Week 12 stats out in a few days. Not many teams were actually effected by the Sunday games in terms of Predator Cup standings but the revised stats did change the outcome of the Challenge Cup game between the Vendetta and Scourge - Darrell was able to fight back to make it a tie instead of the loss I had originally credited against them. This is all adjusted now but again if you see any glaring differences, let me know.
As we are still using my sheet we are still slightly apart on some goalie stats. Not much but enough that it still bugs me. I would like to revamp the spreadsheets to work with Yahoo but that does seem to be a time consuming proposition, still I will keep plugging away. Thanks for your patience everyone.
Doug the Stats Guy
12/19/2010
CBS Fails To Update Stats - Stats Delayed
I hate that every year there are a few days - seemingly random - where the site I cut and paste from (CBS Sportsline) fails to update the stats.
Yes, I know that CBS is NOT the official FunHL sanctioned site.
Yes, I know that CBS does not let me use the goalie stats directly without converting them first.
Yes, I know that Yahoo is superior in almost every way.
It is just that in the one way that I need to be able to cut and paste the stats from the web into my spreadsheets - CBS is the only one that I have been able to get to work. So that is what I use, my pragmatism on full display.
Hopefully they will be up tomorrow and up to date. If not, I'll simply make up numbers and dare you to notice :-)
Yes, I know that CBS is NOT the official FunHL sanctioned site.
Yes, I know that CBS does not let me use the goalie stats directly without converting them first.
Yes, I know that Yahoo is superior in almost every way.
It is just that in the one way that I need to be able to cut and paste the stats from the web into my spreadsheets - CBS is the only one that I have been able to get to work. So that is what I use, my pragmatism on full display.
Hopefully they will be up tomorrow and up to date. If not, I'll simply make up numbers and dare you to notice :-)
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