For the past two years

this blog has been somewhere where Kyle and I have been able to talk hockey and give people absurd nicknames, which if you know either of us personally, is what we're prone to do regardless of a website. So for the 2-4 people who read/have read this blog, thanks, rather than drag it out longer than the Maple Leafs Stanley Cup drought, we're going to lay this one to rest.
Though I can't speak for Kyle, I'm sure he'd echo my sentiment that hockey, like music, writing, or any form of art, has been an outlet. One that allows us to put the every day hassles and stress of life on hold, if only long enough to see the play develop in the corner, the stretch pass make it to the streaking forward at the blue line, and a clean wrist shot buried top shelf in the waning moments of a game.

"I swear my mom"

-Michael

Yes. It's true. I know, I know, this is my first post this year which will coincidentally be my last, but my quiet has something to do with a bigger picture. I almost feel like I should explain myself, like a celebrity caught in a huge sex scandal, or a country who we find out later was really hiding nukes the whole time, but, what can I say that Mike didn't. I guess maybe if we were writing to even 25 people I would probably take it more seriously, but after a while I guess the things Mikey and I were writing were the things we were texting each other anyway so the blog turned into a relic for me.
I will and still always love this game. Even when I am pounding blackberry brandy, wrapped in layers of longjohns, in subzero temperatures at the AHL Outdoor game in February. Or even when I get too excited at a goal and douse the lady sitting in front of me with beer in the first period, and have to sit awkwardly with the rest of her family during the entire remainder of the game waiting to get punched.
Hockey offers something that no other game can, but you already know that if you're reading this. So go enjoy it, Sans Doc.

and of course he tried that you dunce

Kyle

Quick Notes

The Thrashers, though not a bonified threat yet, do seem to be headed in a positive direction for the first time in years, largely in part to Kovy, Rich "Panini" Peverly, and the career-rejuvenated Maxim Afinogenov. Despite dismal attendance, the Thrash are giving Hotlanta a reason to come to the rink.

Early goal of the year candidates:

***Stamkos on Hiller***

All aboard the SS Nevergivingupontheplay. What amazes me more than the fact it went in was just that Stamkos had the presence of mind to follow the rebound and give it another shot. It's clear that Stamkos is really making Yzerman give him a long look for the Canadian Olympic roster.

***Perron on Roloson***

Few things are more rewarding as a hockey fan than seeing an end-to-end rush executed as well as this is. Perron begins behind his own net, we see the puck cycled around, people are taking hits to make the play, Perron provides an outlet for his man, splits 2 defensemen (albeit Islanders), makes Mark Streit look like a child, and takes the long road home around Roloson. Plays finished like this will always remind me of Pominville's SHG against Emery to knock the Sens out of the playoffs, the good old days. To echo the sentiments of Darren Pang, with one of my favorite announcer catch phrases, "HOLY JUMPIN'!".

Whoa, whoa, whoa...

What is happening? I leave for a month and come back to:
My Buffalo Sabres tearing it up thanks to everyone playing the same system (except Derek Roy), solid defensive performances (welcome back Hank Tallinder), and perhaps the most effective bottom 6 set of forwards in the league (The DO WORK line of Hecht-Grier-Kennedy, and the ASK QUESTIONS LATER line of Gaustad-Kaleta-Ellis). Standout play by Paul Gaustad, who has the best faceoff % in the league, and the monolithic messiah, Tyler Myers. Holy shit, what a breakout for the rookie totem pole. A couple rough games, but he adds a completely new dimension to the team with the mobility of Brian Campbell and the size of Zdeno Chara... I love this kid.
Not only that, but the Maple Leafs are EVEN WORSE than anyone imagined and the Habs are less of a threat.
The NY Rags are actually good?
Detroit and Boston aren't atop the standings?
Phoenix and Colorado are actually competitive and doing quite well this season?

WHAT IS HAPPENING? There are a few things that will likely always be true, like Ovechkin being the most dynamic hockey player in the world, but man the NHL is providing some great curveballs this season.






















There will be more cohesive posts in the future, but until then...
Did I or did I not taut Alex Goligoski as a rager of an offensive D-man? Look at him now, he's a point machine, and a lock on the power play.
Oh, and Mike Babcock, please take Todd Bertuzzi off of Datsyuk's line, seriously, it's a buzzkill.

-Michael

Unless...

Unless Kyle makes a more delayed comeback than Theo Fleury, this may be the last post for about a month. The winds of change are sweeping me to the Middle East and I'll be missing the first 10 games of the season. If I have internet access, I'll be keeping up to date with scores and seeing how this preseason to regular transition is working for teams.
Some observations thus far:
-Is there any possible reason why Nazem Kadri won't make the Toronto roster opening night? I'm not a huge fan of him, though he's still very young and will no doubt mature, but he has been a consistent point producer so far. With the addition of Kessel, the Leafs may have some offense to speak of. Expect Gustavsson in net often. UPDATE: So I called this one wrong, Kadri was sent back to London today. As a Sabres fan, this is good news because it's one less threat.
-Max Afinogenov playing for the Thrashers aka Atlanta Dynamo. Despite rumors of ending up in the large Russian contingency of Washington, Max joins Kovy, Kozlov, and kompany in the dirty south. He's actually putting up points. Good for Max.
-Edmonton, (pulls collar) eesh.
-John Tavares, stop trying to play like you need to prove you're a #1 draft pick. We know you're talented, but try being smart too.
-Gretzky out, Tippett in. I think more people follow the plight of the Coyotes than the play of the Coyotes.
-Even though he's had an incredible career to date, I'm making the prediction that this will be a career year for Pavel Datsyuk. Despite being notoriously inaccurate with predictions, book it.

So long, 'Merica. See you when I see you,
Michael

The Equivalent of...

last year's Mats Sundin saga has come to rest. Dany Heatley has been traded to San Jose where Joe Thornton will likely get him baked out of his mind, teach him how to give a shirtless interview, and also set him up for 50 more goals this year. Cheechoo, Michalek and draft picks were the other pieces, and depending on if Cheech can have a bounce back year, this could be a decent trade for both sides. That's a big 'if' though. Despite the Sharks becoming a better team over the past few years, Cheechoo's goal totals have dropped from 56 to 12 in recent years.
The season is so close!

Pre-season games are starting up this week, and I'll be reporting back after two Sabres games against the Caps, one in Buffalo, one in D.C. My hopes: Tyler Myers bumps his head on the jumbotron while Mike Weber crushes skulls. Gerbe goes into beastmode and makes the team. Same goes for Kennedy and Ennis, though I know we'll get one of those three on the roster if we're lucky. The dead weight needs to be cleaned up and new blood injected.

I am ready for this season to begin. This summer has been like listening to an interview with Jay Bouwmeester. Especially after seeing the Buffalo Bills snatch defeat from the jaws of victory last night against the New England Tom Brady's, I could use a team I can believe in.
Until next time, here's Wojtek Wolski being Wojtek Wolski.
-Michael

The Latest Monster Contract

goes to Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo.

Luongo has been locked up for 12 years 64 million dollars. Like most of these recent major contracts, it is frontloaded beginning at 10 million and tapering down to 1 million in the final year (with Luongo at age 43). I expect the NHL to look into this, much like they have suggested with contracts like Hossa and Pronger, who likely won't be playing through the full contract term, yet help the team by lowering the yearly cap hit. For the team and player it is a win-win, but the league is wary of this process, as it in a way undermines or circumvents the CBA.
Bottom line, Canuck fans should be thrilled that they have one of the leagues best goalies locked up for the rest of his career. Since there has been a lot of movement to and from the Vancouver roster, I imagine the next few years will be more of the same. Any time a sizable contract is added to a team, there are compromises that need to happen elsewhere (see: 2010 Chicago Blackhawks). It will be interesting to see if Luongo can reverse the trend of his career-- being an elite goaltender on a mediocre team. Vancouver has certainly been more of a competitor since he joined the ranks, but this is a team that is still searching for a true identity, as we've seen with the mass exodus of veteran players in recent years, and a younger crop filling in.
On another note, similar to the way things work in Detroit, I respect that the Captains (Luongo and Lidstrom) are the peak of the pay scale. In these cases, this delineation is justified, seeing as both of these guys are incredible players, but I like teams who take this stand and stick to it. It has kept negotiations in Detroit Rock City civil, and kept their team a contender year after year. Luongo seems like a great guy, and is one of my favorite backstops in the league. Good for him. Though... Mike Gillis... any regret in signing the Sedins for 6+ million/year? That might hurt in a few years.

And really, who wouldn't want to make this place their home?
-Michael

Is this thing on?

The offseason seems longer and longer each year, certainly not for a lack of happenings. Pat Kane, Roenick retirement, Olympic camps, some random trades and signings here and there, continued Phoenix ownership uncertainty. On a smaller scale,
after the recent comment by Todd McClellan stating that the San Jose Sharks had no captain, I wanted to address the idea of captaincy regarded in the NHL. Each year, fans of teams who don't have a player of the ilk of Yzerman will debate over who will fulfill the role of captain for their team, and who will be the alternates. Sometimes it's simply given to the best player (see: Luongo), other times it's given to an experienced, lead-by-example player (see: Lidstrom), and sometimes, if your team has commitment issues (Buffalo) and just got out of a joint custody battle (Drury/Briere), it will be given to the new boyfriend who is stronger and willing to beat up your ex-husband if he comes back unannounced (Rivet).
Every NHL interview regarding the captaincy will provide sound bytes mentioning intangibles, veteran leadership, and countless catchphrases and cliches, when really, the process seems simpler. With instances like Crosby and Toews, it's clear that those organizations are investing in their youth, and see something special in the maturity of these individuals, or at least the learning curve necessary for this responsibility. When Buffalo rotated the captaincy, it was simply because that team was without direction after losing co-captains at the same time. No one in that dressing room deserved the C, in my opinion.
It isn't often that a significant piece of an organization is stripped of the captaincy. Patrick Marleau being the most recent of these, after a few seasons of reduced production, could be for a number of reasons: lack of performance/ leadership qualities, or even to open the market for a trade (Heatley?). Mike Modano, despite being the Dallas Star for years, was also relieved of duties as captain with Brendan Morrow taking his place. Morrow would be captain material on any team he played on, so it wasn't a bad choice, but what is the desired outcome from taking the C from Mikey Mo? A shakeup/ wake up?

Love this JC Penney photo op. Meanwhile, wifey is letting loose.













Do NHL players think of letters the same way fans do? Each team boasts players who don't have letters that easily could, so is it a mental spark for those few individuals?
The captaincy is a tradition that I whole-heartedly support, though I'd be curious to hear a candid response from current players about if and if so, what having a letter means. And no matter what you think of the C, you've got to have enough common sense and self respect not to give it to Alexei Yashin. Isles... always worth a laugh.

If you read this, all 3 of you, name your favorite NHL captain in the comments, and why. I've always been a big fan of Zdeno Chara and Jarome Iginla. Why? Elite players who lead by example, play respectfully, but will destroy your life if you cross any lines.

-Michael