A Brief Sabbatical
I apologize, dear reader, but there will be no Tasca’s Take today. I’m heading up to Massachusetts (a grueling 45 minute drive) to see my old college roommate, so I don’t have time to contribute my own material. I’ll be back tomorrow with some thoughts on Don Cherry and the All-Star game.
In the meantime, Eric Mcerlain provides the
latest update on the Coach’s situation, while Rogers Sportsnet
analyzes the first half of the regular season.
Lastly, I think
this commentary from Tom Benjamin offers some insight as a follow-up to my latest column on fighting in pro hockey.
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Wayward wind continues to blow in Chi-town; Thrashers fall from grace
Just when you thought the franchise had hit rock bottom, things have gotten much worse for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Instead of focusing on how to improve his club on the ice, owner Bill Wirtz has landed the team in court over a legal battle
with former Hawks GM Mike Smith. To summarize, Smith is claiming the Blackhawks, who fired Smith in October, owe him the remaining $2 million on his contract with the team. Chicago argues they are not obligated to pay Smith the aforementioned amount because he did not live up to the terms of his contract.
The Hawks’ claim revolves around two incidents: #1) Disparaging remarks made to the media by Smith about head coach Brian Sutter, and #2) Smith allegedly did not receive permission from Bill Wirtz to trade defenseman Lyle Odelein at the March trade deadline last year. Apparently, Odelein had a broken foot when the trade was made, unbeknownst to the Stars at the time. When Dallas found out about the injury, Smith compensated the club $200,000 without notifying Wirtz.
As Terry Koshan notes in his article, this case will set a precedent in regards to how General Managers are expected to deal with the media (if at all), and from a financial standpoint, it will determine whether GM’s are allowed to authorize payments to other clubs without the documented blessing of his owner. These are matters of extreme importance in our game and are not to be trivialized. However, this situation should have been dealt with internally, and the fact it has carried on this long is an insult to Blackhawk fans and the hockey community.
Despite being one of the richest men in the world, Bill Wirtz has long been considered the king skinflint of Chicago for years. The man’s desire to save (and steal) every red penny possible
has been widely publicized, and the Mike Smith matter confirms his pettiness. Even if Wirtz didn’t want to pony up the $2 million to Smith, he could’ve instead opted to buy out the former GM’s contract for half the cost - $970,000. But no. Wirtz’ long-time battle with Smith has turned personal, and Millionaire Bill’s refusal to let Smith get the better of him provides further evidence that the Chicago Blackhawks desperately need a change at the top.
• In case you haven’t noticed, the Atlanta Thrashers have seemingly fallen off the face of the earth.
The team’s impressive play without superstar Dany Heatley was indisputably professional hockey’s feel-good story during the first half of the season. But Atlanta’s cataclysmic plummet in the standings since Christmas is indicative of a team that has descended from the peak of its emotional rollercoaster, and is now approaching the end of the line. The club is mired in an eight-game winless streak, punctuated by Thursday night’s embarrassing 5-1 setback at home against Philadelphia.
The Thrashers are showing all the signs of a team that has bottomed out. In fact, head coach Bob Hartley was so disgusted with a second-period giveaway by All-Star winger Ilya Kovalchuk last night, that he
benched the young Russian for the remainder of the game. What is most intriguing is that General Manager Don Waddell seems to be taking his team’s struggles in stride,
citing a variety of uncontrollable factors that have led to the Thrashers’ demise, including injuries to key defenseman Andy Sutton and Garnet Exelby and forward Marc Savard. Waddell is publicly dismissing the idea of bettering his roster via trade, saying the fortunes of the club will turn around once its health improves.
My question is, when is that going to happen Donny?
At press time, the Thrashers are nine points out of a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and the news on the injury front is getting worse. Exelby was scheduled to return to the Atlanta lineup last night after missing six games with a hip contusion, but he suffered a bone bruise during the morning skate after being struck with a puck. Chris Tamer strained his back last week and is out indefinitely. Andy Sutton hasn’t played since breaking a foot on New Year’s Eve, and Yannick Tremblay strained his hip on Friday. The plethora of recent injuries to the blueline corps has forced Waddell to summon inexperienced defensemen from the AHL, which has subsequently exposed the Thrashers’ biggest weakness: between the pipes.
Even the organization’s netminders are getting a taste of the injury bug. Highly-touted minor-league prospect Kari Lehtonen is on the shelf with a hamstring injury, which comes on the heels of the Finnish backstopper’s bout with post-concussion syndrome.
Contrary to a guy like Bobby Clarke, Don Waddell has yet to give hockey pundits any reason to doubt his sincerity regarding the endorsement of his current roster. However, while the Detroit native has yet to be active in the trade market this season, Atlanta’s injury-riddled roster, inconsistent play, and fading playoff hopes may force Waddell to strike up a conversation or two with a fellow GM at this weekend’s All-Star festivities.
• Lastly, today’s column wouldn’t be complete without a mention of Thursday’s rematch between Toronto and Ottawa. However, instead of providing my assessment of the grudge match, I offer the emotional commentary of Ottawa-based
Black, Red, Gold and
All Things Canadian. Also, if you’re looking for some feedback on the film
Miracle before heading to the theater this weekend,
Eric Mcerlain does the honors.
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Hockey Gladiators Disgrace the Game; Simpson traded
Reports out of Toronto indicate participants in the so-called Battle of Hockey Gladiators will have a six-figure incentive when the
tournament takes place later this year. Even though a definitive date, time, and venue for the event has yet to be revealed, organizers are not hesitating to pump up the pugilistic tourney, having recently announced that ex-NHLers Lyndon Byers and Link Gaetz – yes,
THE Missing Link – have thrown their elbow pads into the proverbial ice ring. Tony Twist and former Leaf Kurt Walker had previously committed to the event.
When I first heard about this proposed punch-up contest, I just shook my head in disgust. Now, by no means am I some kind of moral prude. My immediate concern was not a by-product of the already-fragile image of hockey in America. Rather, my concern is that we, as hockey fans, seem to be losing sight of the purpose of hockey fighting, and why it exists in our game today.
Sure, hockey lags well behind NASCAR in regards to television viewership in this country. However, that is not the purpose of this commentary. In my opinion, professional hockey will NEVER garner a large audience in America for a variety of reasons, the biggest of which are 1) hockey is not TV friendly, and 2) most Americans don’t like hockey. To me, these are realities that will never change (whether fighting exists in NHL or not), and only when American networks come to this realization will they cease to be shocked at the ever-decreasing Nielsen numbers.
Should this ice-boxing event be held and televised on Pay Per View, I think it is safe to say that most of the folks who choose to subscribe to the spectacle will be hockey fight fans (Note to organizers: If you’re in need of more judges, look no further than
here). And to be sure, there is a distinct difference between the hockey FIGHT fan and the hockey GAME fan. Let it be known that I, myself, am a major proponent of fisticuffs in hockey. I believe it is a vital part of our game that can be used not only as a way of protecting star players, but to prevent stick-fouls. Nevertheless, there are those of us professed hockey fans (in the minority, of course) that watch the game for one reason:
to see pre-meditated fights.
I’m not attacking fight fans. If your idea of hockey bliss is watching Matt Johnson pound on Jody Shelley twice in one night, that is certainly your prerogative. However, anyone who truly appreciates the intricacies of the game acknowledges the fact that pre-meditated fighting is nothing more than a display of sideshow goonery. Is it entertaining? To some, yes. But the inherent reason why fighting has not been banned from pro hockey is because it holds individuals accountable for their actions. Indeed, the instigator rule has served as deterrent to many players who would otherwise utilize fisticuffs for its intended purpose. Nevertheless, the 17-minute rule does not excuse the fact that designated goons take advantage of what is supposed to be a spontaneous, emotional part of hockey just for mere kicks.
Pre-meditated fights do little to alter the momentum of a hockey game. In many games, the teams’ respective enforcers will agree to meet at center ice in the first five minutes of the contest in an effort to ‘set the tone.’ My argument is, how can a player set the tone of a game if there is no tone to begin with? Usually when the two tough guys square off early, it’s because the game is lacking spark, and so the fight is supposedly intended to pump up the competing teams. Unfortunately, pre-meditated fights between two giant punching machines do not, and will never, add spark to a hockey game, especially between two clubs that aren’t particularly physical. Take games where there are multiple fights, for example. These matches, for the most part, contain a good amount of physicality in the form of big hits, cheap shots, etc. During the course of the game, these events LEAD UP to the subsequent fights that occur. This past Saturday’s Ottawa/Toronto game is a perfect example – every fight in the contest was a direct result of events that occurred earlier in the match (Hnidy/Domi, Chara/McCabe, Van Allen/Domi, and so on).
Despite my skepticism, odds are I will continue to follow the status of this so-called Battle of Hockey Gladiators. If it does comes to fruition, I will most certainly peruse the complete list of competitors in order to observe how many ex-NHLers agreed to relinquish every ounce of respect they once had for the enforcer role - for in order to participate in this senseless exhibition, a player must completely disregard the true meaning behind the pugilistic profession they once represented.
• Well, it was only a matter of time. Following
Don Brennan’s plea to John Muckler, the Senators have chosen to add some toughness to their lineup prior to this evening’s highly-anticipated rematch with Toronto. Brennan had petitioned for anyone from Andrei Nazarov to Chris Simon, but instead will have to settle for physical defenseman Todd Simpson. Ottawa fans should recall Simpson as the man who once attacked Alexei Yashin a few years ago, supposedly because of the Russian’s extended contract holdout the season before.
To Brennan’s credit, he was able to anticipate the Senators’ trade bait – left-winger Petr Schastlivy. The 24-year-old Russian has yet to live up to expectations at the NHL level, but his scoring prowess in the minor leagues indicates he is more than capable of putting up consistent numbers. Anaheim General Manager Bryan Murray says
he has always coveted Schastlivy, who was undoubtedly acquired to add jump to an improving Duck power play.
• You have to wonder if Muckler’s search for muscle has ended with the acquisition of Simpson. Bruce Garrioch reports the Sens GM has contacted semi-retired pugilist Rob Ray to inquire about
his interest in returning to the club. Ray says he has been keeping himself in game shape while serving as a color commentator for Sabres broadcasts this season, and would certainly satisfy Ottawa’s supposed need for added toughness.
This morning, Don Brennan decided to change his “trade for an enforcer” tune from yesterday, instead claiming the Senators should
summon 22-year-old forward Brian McGrattan from the minors. The Hamilton native has amassed 202 penalty minutes this season in Binghamton with the baby Sens, and his 14 points this year (8-6) shows he has the ability to contribute the odd-goal.
Interestingly enough, McGrattan’s attitude about his job describes my opinion on the subject to a tee:
"You go get 'em, for sure. Doesn't have to be a tough guy, either. Somebody has to. You have to see what point of the game it is, and if they're going after your stars, you go get 'em. I don't take cheap shots, and I don't like it when other guys do. Especially against your best guys."
Amen.
• Before I sign off, I’d once again like to acknowledge some of my hockey talk brethren who have been kind enough to post links to my site on their respective web pages. In particular, I want to extend my thanks to Eric Mcerlain of
Off Wing Opinion, who promoted my Bryan McCabe column on Wednesday. North of the border, the Ontario-based
Red, Black, and Gold and
Ottawa Sports Blog have each added links to my site, as well. Needless to say, it will be intriguing to see how these respective columnists dissect tonight’s Leafs/Sens clash at the Corel Centre.
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Tasca takes on Bryan McCabe; Plus, the Return of the Chief
The columnists at
On the Wings have been engaging in an interesting piece of dialogue over the past few days with Maple Leaf defenseman Bryan McCabe, who also serves as Toronto’s representative in the NHL Players Association. To summarize, OTW has questioned McCabe regarding the players’ vehement resistance to a salary cap. The defenseman has responded (in kind, to his credit) by claiming the players have a right to protest any significant salary reduction, just like any other laborer. OTW, along with most hockey fans, find this mentality extremely difficult to swallow considering the outlandish salaries hockey players receive.
Intrigued by the exchange on OTW, I took the opportunity to drop McCabe an e-mail yesterday afternoon. The St. Catharines, Ontario native was very prompt in his response, which didn’t particularly surprise me. However, I was caught off guard by the thoughtful nature of his reply. Unlike the responses he delivered to OTW, McCabe obviously went into considerable depth in order to address my concerns.
Here’s my initial e-mail, followed by McCabe’s counter:
JT: Bry, I know what you're saying - Yes, I would be livid if my employer reduced my salary. But when you talk about fans relating, you need to understand this: MOST fans aren't part of a union where they work, and 2) MOST of us blue-collar types can't afford to contest our bosses (owners), or else we'll be fired. As players, you guys hold all the cards, as the owners need you to make money. My company can dismiss me and they'll still keep chugging along. Hockey owners, however, can't fire the players.
BM: Well, you do bring up some valid points. However, there are pros and cons in being a player. Yes - owners make money off of my skills, but if I want to continue my career with another team, they hold the cards until I turn 31. Also, I'm one of the few lucky ones that made the NHL. How many players in just the OHL don't make the NHL and have to re-adjust to the real world?
Look, I'm not going to say I completely understand your life, nor do I expect for you to understand mine. However, when it comes down to it, as you would be livid if your boss cut your wages, we feel the same way.
Also, the most important aspect of it all is the fans - for every jersey you buy, it goes to the owners, not the players. Every card and puck with a players face goes to them. The owners generate hundreds of millions. We just want our fair share.
I find it funny most teams cry broke, but there are a ton of people lined up to buy that team. Winnipeg wants the NHL back, Ottawa had a few people to choose from, and so did Buffalo. The Pittsburghs of the world are in that boat due to poor management.
You did mention that we have a union. Well my friend, look at the nature of player/owner relations back in the 40's before the union came about. It wasn't pretty.
I have to say, out of the hundred e-mails sent about the issues, yours was the one I enjoyed responding to. Never forget, I became a player for the love of the game - before I knew I could make a living from it. When you are in my shoes, you are always reminded it's a business as well as a sport. Thanks for the e-mail.
I’ll take McCabe’s flattery with a grain of salt. Nevertheless, the effort he put forth in this e-mail helped convince me, for the first time, to seriously consider the rationale of the players in the ongoing labor war.
Needless to say, the average fan can’t empathize with the players. The players are millionaires, earning a healthy living by participating in what most of us regard as a recreational activity. However, McCabe’s final notion indicates why this mentality is short-sighted. To quote again, “When you are in my shoes, you are always reminded it’s a business as well as a sport.” And that’s exactly what pro hockey is – a business.
Fans, as much as we try to, simply cannot comprehend that sad reality. After all, we don’t look at hockey from the perspective of a player. And why should we?
The answer is simple: Because they’re human beings.
Perhaps the reason McCabe “enjoyed” my e-mail so much is because I tried to approach my concerns from a business perspective. I’m willing to bet most of the e-mails he receives infer that the players are greedy, spoiled brats, who are looking to milk every last dime from hockey ownership. Unfortunately, there’s more to it than that, folks. Hockey players aren’t just part of a union – they are a fraternity, of sorts. There is a feeling of camaraderie among the players that most employees will never realize (or the owners, for that matter). That feeling of unity played a huge role in helping the players create an advantageous collective bargaining agreement in 1994. Today’s generation of hockey players would not be making extraordinary amounts of money without the persistent efforts of their predecessors ten years ago, and that is the primary reason why today’s players will not succumb to the demands of ownership this time around. In essence, surrendering to the owners would compromise every sacrifice made by the player reps of the past. That would not only be a slap in the face to the players who stuck their neck out for the athletes of today, but it could also jeopardize the ability for future players to enjoy the same lifestyle relished by today’s NHLers.
I’m not completely siding with the players here, but I do think McCabe’s argument holds some merit. As blue and white-collar workers, we fans find it almost impossible to empathize with the players. Many of them, including McCabe, make more money in one game than most Americans do annually. However, McCabe is not an office worker or a freelance writer – he’s a hockey player. Hockey players are in the entertainment business, and when you consider other so-called entertainers (movie stars, singers, other pro athletes), hockey players are extremely low on the greenbacks totem pole. Even if you find no credence in that argument, then try to entertain McCabe’s point of view. The fact that the players make millions of dollars is irrelevant. Whether we’d like to believe it or not, McCabe is exactly right in this assessment: If we (the fans) were making $3 million dollars a year, and our bosses wanted to trim that salary by a third, I’d bet the house that every single one of us would contest that notion (assuming we were unionized). Taking into account the fact that the only reason we were making $3 million in the first place is because of our predecessors, it would be our duty to protect our rights as workers – rights that were given to us by our bosses.
The harsh reality of the situation is that the average hockey fan will resent the players more so than the owners should a lockout occur. As fans, it seems we are becoming so nervous about the possibility of having no hockey next season, and as a result, we’re looking for someone to blame. Unfortunately, this emotional tizzy is leading us to a distorted viewpoint that is pinning the blame on the wrong party. It takes two to tango, folks. And while the players will need to do their part in making a compromise before September 15th, it should be known that the owners created the current salary structure in the NHL, and the players are doing what they have to do to protect their rights as workers, comrades,
and human beings.
• Assistant Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren has announced that longtime NHL enforcer Craig Berube will be
assuming a full-time assistant coaching position with the Philadelphia Phantoms next season. The Calahoo, Alberta native came out of retirement earlier this season and has been serving as a player/assistant coach for Philadelphia’s AHL club. Claiming Berube has a ‘pretty sharp hockey mind,’ Holmgren has been extremely impressed by the
Chief’s work with the Phantoms this year.
Just because Berube has assumed a mentoring role for Flyer prospects this year does not mean he has elected to be more jovial on the ice. In 23 games with the Phantoms, the 39-year-old has accumulated 86 penalty minutes, 37 of which were attained when he attacked an opponent in a December 28th affair against the Binghamton Senators.
With Berube as a player/assistant, is it any wonder the Phantoms lead the American League in penalty minutes this season? In fact, the team’s 1,424 minutes in the sin bin is almost 300 minutes more than any other AHL club.
Hail to the Chief.
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Philly's Goalie Blues, Dom Dom, and the Visor Debate
There are a lot of items on the pallet today. It appears as if the bullet-style approach is going to become a staple here at Tasca’s Take. With this in mind, let us proceed.
• If you were starting to become queasy because of the painfully rampant trade speculations surrounding Philadelphia's goaltending situation, you’d be well-advised to avoid any hockey-related media outlet for the next five weeks. Robert Esche was forced to
leave last night’s game against Tampa Bay after suffering a knee injury early in the 2nd period. Even though the extent of the Esche’s injury is unknown at the present time, rest assured Bobby Clarke will be preparing himself for the worst.
In other words, he’ll be working the phones tomorrow.
It has been widely speculated by a number of hockey gurus that Clarke has been actively shopping for a starting goalkeeper for several months now, and even more so since Jeff Hackett’s mysterious bout with vertigo. However, considering Esche’s strong performance this season (particularly in the last month), I am inclined to believe that Clarke was not seriously considering a goaltending upgrade. Sure, I’ll concede the probability that the Flyer GM was making passive inquiries during the course of the campaign in case the 26-year old faltered at some point. Nonetheless, you will have a difficult time convincing me Clarke was getting ready to pull the trigger on a deal. Even though Esche is inexperienced, I do think he was winning Clarke over with his strong play, much like David Aebischer is making a believer out of Pierre Lacroix – a difficult man to convince.
Depending upon the severity of Esche’s injury, we may never know.
• Tell me if you believe this one. Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland claims that
all inquiries about the availability of Curtis Joseph have ceased because of Holland’s recent endorsement of the netminder.
Nice try, Kenny. Unfortunately, you’re dealing with educated reporters, not naive school children. Suffice it to say the rumor-mongers of the puck world will only salivate more at the prospect of CuJo’s departure from Motown, especially since Robert Esche’s recent injury. Regardless, I think Holland’s vote of confidence in Joseph holds much validity.
Think about it. Hasek has played a mere 14 NHL games the last two seasons. Granted, his numbers are solid, but considering the severity of his torn groin muscle injury and its possible recurrence, you can bet Holland is in no particular hurry to deal away his best healthy goalkeeper. On the contrary, is it possible that the wily GM could use Hasek as trade bait to bring in a centerman?
I’ll leave that one for the rumor-mongers.
• To the delight of Don Cherry, the Tie Domi visor experiment has
officially reached a conclusion.
After watching teammates Owen Nolan and Darcy Tucker suffer serious eye injuries in recent weeks, the Windsor native decided to don a visor for the first time in his career this past Saturday as a precautionary measure against an increasing number of high-sticks. Not surprisingly, Domi’s first game with the face shield was his last – or so he says:
"If something happens, I can explain to my wife and kids that I did not feel comfortable doing my job with that thing on. It was a tough adjustment. I made an effort and can't see it happening."
I wonder if Domi would feel the same way if he was in the shoes of Tucker or Nolan.
I’m not saying the league should require players to wear visors. To me, wearing a visor should be a matter of preference. However, statistics indicate high-sticking penalties far outnumber any other minor stick infraction. Why this is happening is debatable (lack of respect, no fear of retaliation, bigger players, etc), but the point is it is happening. With this in mind, I would strongly encourage players to consider using the shields in the future.
Personally, I would never step foot on an NHL playing surface without some kind of facial protection because of the frequency of dangerous high-sticking incidents. Call it a lack of courage, say it impairs your vision – that is irrelevant. What is relevant is maintaining your eyesight. Can you image the horror experienced by Bryan Berard when he was struck by an errant Marian Hossa stick? Is it possible to even fathom going through the latter stages of life without normal vision, a task Berard faces?
If only for one game, I think Tie Domi did.
• Lastly, I’d like to take some time to acknowledge the fine columnists that have permitted me to promote Tasca’s Take on their respective websites. In particular,
Canuck Corner’s Tom Benjamin and
Matt from On the Wings have been especially kind enough to offer their viewers a little introduction to my column. I certainly appreciate the publicity, fellas. I only hope that I’ll be able to live up to the hype, just like that
football game the other night.
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Windy City Woes
This morning, I’d like to take some time to recognize the Chicago Blackhawks.
Most long-time fans of the team have a difficult time recognizing the current version of Hawks, and considering the club’s pitiful record, it’s understandable. The untimely death of Keith Magnuson in mid-December only added to the misery of Chicago hockey fans. Not only did the Hawk family lose a personable, well-respected member, but in an eerie way, the ex-defensemen’s death seemed to serve as a reminder of how Magnuson’s bruising style – which was once typified by the Blackhawk franchise – has all but disappeared from the team’s repertoire.
Ask any old-time Hawk fan and he’ll tell you Keith Magnuson wore his heart on his sleeve every night. If Chicago fans have any consolation whatsoever in their team’s play these days, it is in the fact that most of the Hawks emulate that very aspect of Magnuson’s game.
A telling example of Chicago’s team perseverance was exhibited during
a 6-4 loss to Montreal Sunday afternoon. After falling behind 5-1 after two periods, the Hawks laid it all on the line in the final 20 minutes. They dominated a laid-back Canadiens squad in the final frame, scoring three consecutive goals before succumbing to the home team. In coach Brian Sutter’s 1,000th game as a bench-boss, it was only fitting that his club put forth a resilient effort, exhibiting a never-say-die attitude that is epitomized by their headmaster.
The Blackhawks managed to complete a valiant comeback from a two-goal deficit in a 5-3 victory over Calgary just a few nights earlier, providing further evidence that this team refuses to lay down and die, no matter what the score is or where the club sits in the standards. What was most impressive to me following the impressive victory in Cow Town was the reaction of the players once the final buzzer sounded. The Hawks hopped off the bench and raced over to congratulate goaltender Steve Passmore in a euphoric celebration that resembled a 1st round playoff clincher (as most of you already know, the victory ended the Blackhawks’ franchise-worst 19-game road losing streak). The combination of jubilation and relief was obvious, and it almost brought a tear to my eye for the first time since the Whalers last game in Hartford.
The point is, these guys care. Too often in pro sports, particularly hockey, we see examples of athletes simply going through the motions without showing any regard for the paying customer or the jersey they don every night. However, judging by their recent efforts, it appears as if the current members of the Blackhawks have at the least a minute level of respect for the fabled sweater they wear and the blue-collar fan they represent.
I love a guy like Steve Sullivan, who somehow manages to maintain a positive attitude despite a sluggish offensive year by his standards. I admire a guy like Ryan Vandenbussche, who personifies Chicago Blackhawk hockey with his trademark physicality. I admire a guy like Mark Bell, who never makes excuses for his team, even though there is an evident lack of pure talent on the roster. Guys like Scott Nichol, Shawn Thornton, Travis Moen, and Johnathan Aitken are gritty, hard-nosed hombres that make up for their lack of skill with a trait characteristic of old-school Hawks like Keith Magnuson – they wear their hearts on their sleeves.
Make no mistake. Heart alone will not deliver many victories in the NHL. Nevertheless, the fact the Hawks possess this vital organ is the first step towards gaining league-wide respectability and winning back the Chicago fan base.
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Fleury, Guerin, and Leafs/Sens comments
TSN commentator Bob McKenzie did a fantastic job of explaining why the Pittsburgh Penguins’
decision to send Marc-Andre Fleury back to his junior team last week was the right one. To summarize, McKenzie casts aside the notion that the demotion was financially influenced, as Fleury would’ve had a difficult time attaining the necessary contract incentives to receive a $3 million dollar bonus. Rather, Big Bob claims the Pens sent Fleury back to Cape Breton (QMJHL) in order to restore his confidence and provide him with a chance to win a Memorial Cup Championship.
We can’t be completely sure that McKenzie is correct in assessing the Penguins’ true intentions. However, I don’t think Craig Patrick saw any reason to keep the 19-year-old phenom in Steel Town. Sure, he was performing admirably under the circumstances, but there are two other factors to consider: 1) The team wasn’t winning games, and 2) The fans aren’t coming out in droves to see Fleury play. Now granted, #2 has a direct correlation with #1, but that is through no fault of Fleury. This year’s version of the once-proud Pittsburgh Penguins is comparable to an American League team, and it is painfully clear to any sensible observer that allowing Fleury to continue getting peppered with 40 shots every night would only impede his progression as a goaltender.
This is not an argument against allowing 18-year-olds from competing in the NHL. Anyone who truly believes Fleury’s age is a factor in itself is misguided. After all, elite players like Ilya Kovalchuk and Rick Nash have had little trouble adjusting to the NHL game during their tender years. It is widely known that forwards usually develop the quickest, while young defensemen take a bit longer to mature (see Jay Bouwmeester, Steve Eminger, etc). However, goaltenders are a different animal altogether. Most netminders usually spend 3-5 years in the minors in an effort to solidify themselves as quality cuts of NHL beef (see Olaf Kolzig, John Grahame, David Aebischer).
Returning to Cape Breton will not only foster Marc-Andre Fleury’s development as a hockey player, but it will also enable him to atone for his World Junior performance by leading his QMJHL club to a Memorial Cup Championship. Taking into account his early-season struggles in Pittsburgh, it is safe to say the youngster will more than relish the opportunity to win again.
• I have to pass along this little tid-bit from yesterday’s Ottawa Sun. Columnist Don Brennan provides the humor:
So Bill Guerin says the NHLPA -- of which he is a vice-president -- is prepared for a long work stoppage, and that the NFL collective bargaining agreement that his game's owners would like to borrow from is a "joke." Hmmm. Hey, speaking of jokes, did you hear the one about the overrated Dallas Stars winger who will make $8,866,445.31 this season, which is just $8,266,445.31 more than (Ottawa forward) Peter Schaefer's salary?
In defense of Guerin, his 22 goals this season leads his club by a country mile. If it weren’t for this ‘overrated’ winger’s scoring exploits, the Stars would quite possibly fail to be in playoff contention. Still, I admire Brennan’s intention to portray Guerin as a bad guy in the upcoming labor war. The fact of the matter remains, though – if there is no hockey next season, it will be because the owners lock out the players, not because the players go on strike.
• I almost sat down to a dish of crow this morning. Contrary to what I stated last night, we almost saw blood last night during the much-anticipated Ottawa/Toronto affair. Sens center Shaun Van Allen actually accused Tie Domi of gouging his eyes during an altercation late in the 3rd period of the
Leafs’ convincing 5-1 triumph. During that fight, Nathan Perrott delivered a brutal sucker-punch to the back of Shane Hnidy’s head (it was called charging by the officials), provoking Hnidy to deliver a few choice words in the Leaf dressing room corridor after the game.
It certainly makes Thursday’s rematch appear all the more enticing, doesn’t it? Since it worked like a charm last time, I will once again reiterate: If you’re looking for blood Thursday night, you’d best take in an old Friday the 13th flick.
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