LWOS INC About Contact Apply Openings Writing FAQ Ad Policy
Last Word On Sports Logo

Last Word On Sports

Sports News Since 2011. Honestly.

Last Word On Sports Logo

Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

Month: September 2011

Battle on the Bayou – Preview

Posted on by Mark Modeski

Tonight’s Ultimate Fight Night 25 takes place New Orleans – not the biggest UFN of the year, but still some interesting match-ups. Here’s the main card as it stands (compliments of Sherdog.com):

Jake Shields (171) vs. Jake Ellenberger (170)
Court McGee (184.5) vs. Dongi Yang (186)
Jonathan Brookins (145.5) vs. Erik Koch (146)
Alan Belcher (186) vs. Jason MacDonald (185)
Cody McKenzie (155.5) vs. Vagner Rocha (155.5)
Evan Dunham (156) vs. Shamar Bailey (156)
Matt Riddle (171) vs. Lance Benoist (170.5)
Ken Stone (136) vs. Donny Walker (135.5)
Clay Harvison (170) vs. Seth Baczynski (171)
T.J. Waldburger (171) vs. Mike Stumpf (171)
Mike Lullo (146) vs. Robert Peralta (145.5)
Justin Edwards (171) vs. Jorge Lopez (171)

I am not going to breakdown every fight on this card, but as mentioned there a couple I want to talk about that I think could have some excitement to them…

Main Event: Shields v. Ellenberger: First off, my gut tells me that this fight will likely be a snooze-fest; but, my gut has been known to be wrong from time to time. I am going to call Shields in this fight, at any rate. He showed extremely improved stand-up against GSP, and his ground game is one of the tops in any division. Decision, Shields 30-27.

Co-Main Event: Court McGee v. Dongi Yang: Court McGee has been a fighter that has started to gain some respect from me. I wasn’t a fan of his on TUF, but his fights since have been exciting to watch; he always comes out with heart, and has proven he can finish fights. I don’t know much about Yang, but he could be a surprise upset in this one, nonetheless. I’m still calling McGee in this one. 2nd round TKO for McGee.

Jonathan Brookins v. Erik Koch: I am going to keep this one simple – Brookins by submission. 3rd round submission, Brookins.

Jason MacDonald v. Alan Belcher: I may be looking the most forward to this fight over any other. I am really glad to see both these guys back in action; both are always guaranteed to put on a good show. I give the striking edge to Belcher, but MacDonald has a fantastic ground game. I am going to give this one to MacDonald – I think he’ll take this one to the ground and end it from there. 3rd round submission, MacDonald.

While most probably don’t have high expectations for this card, sometimes a card such as this one can end up being the best. There are a lot of young guys on this card who are determined to make name – look for finishes, and lots of them. When all is said and done, even if it ends up being horrible, it’s a free card.

…and that is the last word.

NFL Injury Watch

Posted on by Ben Kerr

What we saw on the first weekend of the NFL season was the impact of a shortened training camp: tired players (mostly on the defense) and plenty of injuries.  Let’s take a closer look at the injuries that will make the biggest impact:

5. Dan Koppen – Center – New England – 6-10 weeks – Koppen broke his ankle midway through the Pats game against Miami but he will be eligible to come back late this season if the team does not decide to IR him.  Dan Connolly came in and the team did not miss a beat – something you would expect from the Patriots.  So why is this a big injury?  The Pats are competing for first place in the AFC and this injury will impact them versus the best teams in the league.  When the play the Jets, Steelers and Chargers this injury could show up.  The Pats are unstoppable when they are protecting Brady but can look very average when they are not.  Just look at last years playoff loss.

4. Eric Berry – Safety – Kansas City – Lost for season – I was not prediciting big things for KC already this year, but there one hope was going to come from having a dominating D featuring the strong coverage they showed last year as well as a decent pass rush.  A team short on talent can not afford to lose one of their most talented players.  KC looks like they will be lucky to win 5 games this year.

3. Steven Jackson – RB and Danny Amendola – WR – St. Louis – Jackson (week to week) Amendola (6+ weeks) If you watched the first quarter of the St Louis – Philly game last weekend you saw something mildly surprising – a Rams team that matched up favorably with the Eagles.  They came out with a game plan to attack Vick on defense and to run the ball against the unproven Eagles from 7.  The results were two nice runs early for Jackson and an early lead for the Rams.  Once Jackson went out however the Rams found it hard to stick to the game plan.  They did mix in some run but passed too much and could not protect Bradford.  Another problem the Rams had was drops by their TE’s and WR’s. Amendola being Bradford’s most dependable WR does not help the situation.

2. Luis Castillo – DE – San Diego – Lost for Season – This injury is big for one reason: The Chargers are expected to comepete for the division title and even first place in the AFC.  They showed their D-line has plenty of talent by dominating the Vikings O-line on Sunday, but they have now lost their most dependable D-lineman.  We will see how this injury impacts the team immediately as the Chargers visit the Patriots on Sunday.

1. Jonathan Babineaux – DT – Atlanta – 4-6 Week minimum – Who? Babineaux is the Falcons most indespensible defensive players and defenitely would have been their MVP on defense last year.  Babineaux tore his MCL, the good news is this is the one knee ligament you can tear and still come back in the same season, unless you are Rod Woodson.  The bad news is that the Falcons need their star DT.  They are already 0-1, they play in a division with the Saints and Bucs and any slipping at all could see them out of the playoffs, and finally, they play Philly this weekend.  They need all the D-linemen they have to chase down Vick.  The other concern is that even though Babineaux will be able to return he may not be 100% all season.  For a D-lineman who’s game is based on quickness and penetration this is bad news.

Week 3 of Serie A

Posted on by Frank Giuliano

Week 3 of the Serie A should be eventful and much more exciting than last week’s fixtures. Week 2 already provided two major upsets: the first, AS Roma’s shocking 2-1 defeat against Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome; and Palermo’s 4-3 come-from-behind win at the Renzo Barbera to give Internazionale FC their first defeat of the season.

This week we have three key matches. The first, it will be the battle between 2 of the main Scudetto contenders seeking a first win, AS Roma heads to Milan to battle Internazionale FC. The Giallorossi are up against the Nerazzurri side, who suffered a surprising second consecutive loss of the 2011-2012 season to Trabzonspor (Turkey) in the Champions League.  There is doubt amongst the Inter FC faithful and many are questioning whether Gian Piero Gasperini is the right man for the Nerazzurri.

Italian champions, AC Milan, will travel to the San Paolo to face SSC Napoli. This may prove to be the biggest match of Week 3. The Rossoneri, also searching for their first win of the season, are coming off 2 back-to-back ties against SS Lazio last weekend and against Barcelona FC in the Champions League. The Partenopei disposed of Cesena 3-1 and tied Manchester City 1-1 in midweek action. It will be a difficult matchup for the Milanisti considering the injuries sustained by Zlatan Ibrahimivic, Robinho, Boetang, Massimo Ambrosini, and Phillippe Mexes who are all out of the line up.

The last 2 key games: Udinese v Fiorentina. Both teams are off to a great start in Serie A recording wins in Week 2. Lastly, Siena v Juventus. La Vecchia Signora appointed head coach, Antonio Conte, who will be up against his former team he helped earn their spot in Serie A.

Picks of the week

Outcome

Record

Atalanta v Palermo

Bologna v Lecce

Cagliari v Novara

Catania v Cesena

Inter v Roma

Lazio v Genoa

Napoli v Milan

Parma v Chievo

Siena v Juventus

Udinese v Fiorentina

Tie

Bologna win

Cagliari win

Catania win

Tie

Lazio win

Tie

Tie

Juventus

Tie

Week 2 = 6 predictions out of 10 correct.

That’s the lastword on the serie A

Frank Luciano Giuliano

The Finnish Flash Not Finished Yet

Posted on by ScottyJ

Teemu Selanne will be returning to the NHL this year. It’s unbelievable that this will be his 19th season and he will be playing for the Anaheim Ducks at 41 years old. He signed a one year $4 million contract to rejoin the team. Selanne was unsure whether or not he would return to play again after undergoing knee surgery this year. He is still strengthening and trying to get back to 100%.

Personally I don’t see why he shouldn’t play another year. I used to love it when I watched him score a goal, throw his glove high in the air and starts using his stick like a machine gun blasting it to pieces! The guy is amazing and even the numbers he put up last year were stellar. Why end a career when you still have what it takes? Speaking of careers, let’s recap some of the Finnish Flash’s amazing achievements.

Selanne began his career as the landslide winner of the Calder Trophy, awarded to the rookie of the year. He scored 76 goals (all-time rookie record) and 56 assists for a total of 132 points (all-time rookie record). He’s a three time winner of the Rocket Richard Award as top goal scorer and a 10 time all-star. He also holds the point record for men’s Olympic hockey.

Honestly it would take too long to list the many other records he holds but there’s one more notch to add to his belt before he’s done. The all-time NHL point leader from Finland. He is only 58 points behind Jari Kurri’s total of 1398. Kurri sits 19th in all-time points by a player in the NHL. Selanne is 27th and should easily bridge that gap this year making him the highest scoring fin ever. I hope Teemu can pull it off and make homeland history.

Officiating Just Not Cutting It in the CFL.

Posted on by Carl Mostacci

Good Day Everyone,

Now I’m not usually one to raz on or criticize officials. I realize it’s a very difficult job and they have to very quickly make a decision on a play that often may happen over the course of a split second. However, they are paid to be the best at calling a game in their sport, be fair and make the right call.

Over my almost 20 years of watching the Canadian Football League, I’ve seen the league survive its deathbed and continue to grow and thrive in 2011 off the field. On the field, the product has improved as well, with stronger, faster and overall better athletes than we have ever seen before.

However, after watching pretty much four blowout games this past weekend, one ongoing issue with CFL officiating came to my head. CFL officials seem to often blow calls that I can make by watching the game on television before I see the replay.

I’ll give you one glaring example, that I believe made CFL officials look bad. As the Montreal Alouettes were carving up my Hamilton Tiger Cats in revenge for Labour Day, Tiger Cat Quarterback threw a wideout pass to wide receiver Bakari Grant. Grant bobbled the nicely thrown ball and it went out of bounds. Incomplete Pass!!!!! Instead the official ruled Grant caught the ball and it was a Hamilton first down. That stood, until Alouette Head Coach Marc Trestman challeged the ruling and it was rightfully reversed.

Now maybe I have the advantage of a higher and better angle of the play on television or even in the stadium, but this always leads me to ask, if I can make this call correctly, why can’t they?

Here are some more examples of bad CFL officiating from this season alone. Back in July when the Als and Ticats played in Hamilton in a nailbitter of a game, a Hamilton defender was called for pass interference, when he clearly jumped up and caught the football in the endzone.

Or the Argo Eskimo game in Edmonton. At the end of the 1st half, both teams are walking off the field after Toronto stopped Edmonton at their one yard line, when the officials call both teams back because apparently there were 1.6 seconds left on the clock. Edmonton then scored a touchdown and ended up winning the game by one point. Now I know both hockey and basketball rely on tenths of seconds in those respective sports. But when in football have you ever heard of a play stopping on a tenth of a second? The times are usually clocked by seconds and that’s it.

Controversly, during last week’s Argo and BC Lion game, the officials missed several holding calls, one in particular against the argo offensive line, that I thought were very obvious.

Now I have a colleague that officiates minor football here in the Hamilton area. He tells me CFL officials have to go through very intense and rigorous training program compared to minor football referees. I truly believe him. However it is not enough. The game is obviously faster and training of CFL officials must be improved to keep up with that. How to go about doing that exactly? I don’t know!!!! I don’t have enough expertise on that topic. But when people consider the CFL to be a bush league because of its poor officiating, the league has a responsibility to shed itself of this image and improve this situation. Then more people then who already do, will be able to take both this great Canadian game and league more seriously.

Now I know other sports leagues have officials that make mistakes. Remember last year when the Detroit Tiger pitcher had a perfect game taken away from him because the first base empire blew a call at the bag? At least that umpire admitted he made a mistake and apologized for it. Buffalo Sabres fans will never forget “No Goal!!!” Or how about when the NFL offiicial blew the cointoss between the Lions and Steelers? But mistakes like this seem to happen more often than not in the CFL, that’s why the league has to deal with this issue.

Let’s take this opportunity to open the forum and discuss blown calls by CFL officials in the past. Maybe we can find a solution for the league to deal with the issue and send our suggestion to them.

For the Last Word On Sports, I’m CM!!!!!

Ten NHL Fantasy Breakout Stars for 2011-12

Posted on by Ben Kerr

Following up on the recent list of top 10 rookies to look for.  I thought I’d name 10 players to watch for going into this fantasy season.  I see a big jump in production from these young stars this year as they progress.

10) Kris Russell, D, Columbus Blue Jackets – Last Season 73 GP, 5g 18a 23 pts.
Breakout Prediction: 9g 33a 41 pts
Offensive Defencemen take time to develop, but at 24 years old, I think that this is Russel’s year.  He’ll be aided by Columbus’ improved offence up front with additions in Jeff Carter and Vaclav Prospal.  The addition of fellow offensive D, James Wisniewski will beef up the Columbus PP, and it will be Russell who will see a big jump in his own production as a result.

9) Bobby Butler, RW, Ottawa Senators- Last season 36 GP 10g 11a 21 pts.
Breakout Prediction: 24g 27a 51pts
Butler proved last season that he deserves a spot in the NHL.  The Senators really lack depth up front and they need to find some players to take an offensive role.  Butler will be given every opportunity to take a top 6 role, and I think he’ll be able to thrive there.  A late round sleeper in deeper pools.

8) Max Pacioretty, LW, Montreal Canadiens – Last season 37gp 14g 10a 24pts
Breakout Prediction – 27g 23a 50 pts
By now we’ve all seen the brutal hit that ended Pacioretty’s season last year.  What was forgotten in all of that was the great season he was putting together before that point.  With 17 goals in 27 AHL games, he forced his way into the Habs roster.  He scored a further 14 goals in 37 games after arriving in Montreal.  He seemed to have finally figured out how to use his size and strength to be a physical presence in front of the net.  This was especially true on the Powerplay.  Expected to start the season on the Habs second line, Pacioretty will get plenty of opportunity to prove that he’s back from his injury.  He was also on pace for over 90 PIMs (assuming a full 82 games) last year for those in pools that track such stats.

7) T.J. Oshie, RW, St. Louis Blues – Last Season 49 GP 12G 22A 32 pts
Breakout Prediction: 25g 35a 60pts
I’m predicting a huge season from Oshie here.  Here is a kid with a ton of talent, and who only knows one way to play the game, full out, all the time.  A relentless forechecker and cycler, this is the year Oshie translates that hard work into production on the ice.  There were some questions about him in the locker room last year, but I doubt those resurface.  A definite rising star.

6) James Van Riemsdyk, LW, Philadelphia Flyers – Last Season 75gp 21g 19a 40pts
Breakout Prediction:  30g 26a 56pts
Van Riemsdyk really came on strong in last year’s playoffs and was one of the best Flyers on the ice throughout their 11 playoff games.  With the departures of Richards and Carter, I see the former 2nd overall pick getting a bigger role this season in Philly.  More PP time will translate into a 30 goal year for JVR.

5) James Neal, LW/RW, Pittsburgh Penguins – Last season 22g 23a 45pts
Breakout Prediction 32g 33a 65pts
Neal is a natural LW, however reports out of camp suggest he is being converted to RW so he can play with Chris Kunitz and one of Malkin/Crosby on the Penguins top line.  This 23 year old budding power forward just started to put it together last year, now with a role on the Penguins top line, and playing with that quality of centre, i see nothing but big things in his future.  The fact he adds a decent amount of PIMs is a boost to fantasy leagues that track this stat as well.

4) Jamie McBain, D, Carolina Hurricanes – Last Season 7g 23a 30pts
Breakout Prediction: 10g 35a 45pts
I generally consider the 40 point mark to be a good place to value offensive defencemen in fantasy formats.  Well McBain wasnt far off that in his first full year in the NHL.  A slick skater, with good passing skills, and a rocket for a slapshot, McBain will continue his progression and is a damn good sleeper pick for your pool.

3) Brandon Dubinsky, LW, New York Rangers – Last season 24g 30a 54 pts
Breakout Prediction: 32g 38a 70pts
Dubinsky appears to be first in line to take the LW role with Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik.  If he nails down the role, he’ll really take off.  Dubinsky’s power game, and strong forecheck should complement the two Rangers stars perfectly and this will lead to a big increase in production.  I really think you should grab him if you can, especially in leagues that reward penalty minutes as Dubinsky chipped in 100 PIMS last year.

2) Jamie Benn LW/C, Dallas Stars – Last season 22g 34a 56 pts
Breakout Prediction: 32g 40a 72pts
After James Neal was traded and Brad Richards was injured, Benn really took his game up a notch last year.  This 22 year old has had his career path follow a meteoric rise ever since being drafted in the 5th round of the 2007 draft.  He was an absolute steal for the Stars in that draft, and he can be a steal in your fantasy draft too.  Benn will greatly benefit from his increased role and responsibility for a full season in Dallas this year.

1) John Tavares, C, New York Islanders – Last season 29g 38a 67 pts
Breakout Prediction:  39g 51a 90pts
Tough to call a guy who flirted with 30 goals and 70 pts last year a breakout superstar, but I feel that this is the year that Tavares turns into the player everyone expected when he was drafted.  The elite #1 center that every team needs.  Tavares really turned it on in the 2nd half last year and I expect that to continue into the new season.  Tavares will finally make Garth Snow look like a genius as his new long term contract will turn into a steal for the Islanders.  Now if the Islanders could just get some talent to surround him with.

And thats the last word on your breakout fantasy superstars.

Into the Deep – Undervalued “Yahoo” NHL Fantasy Picks.

Posted on by ScottyJ

When draft day comes and you have only seconds to make your next pick, you need to know which guys are going to deliver. Some of your opponents will head out there without doing their homework. Others won’t even be online for the draft. What usually happens then is the highest guy on the list is chosen. Please don’t do that.

Now I’m not saying that Yahoo’s rankings are not good, in fact they are excellent guidelines. What you need to remember is that depending on the type of pool you’re in, and the stats it incorporates, your rankings should be adjusted to suit. Study and make your own predictions and be sure to “go deep” for the guys that are, for some reason, underappreciated.

I will give you a number of players who you might want to take a bit before, or well above their ranks. Sometimes this is the difference between a winning and a losing team. I am a firm believer that the late picks in a draft are a key to success. Add good work with FA’s and Waivers and you’ll get the upper edge in your pool.

Keep in mind that the players I mention are determined mainly by their talent alone, without looking as far into other stats such PIM, SOG etc. They are mostly wingers because centers and defencemen are easier to come by in most formats. Goaltenders are always ranked high and completely depend on league specifics so I left them out. If you are in a keeper league there are some young prospects that aren’t on the list because they may not accomplish much this year.

Rick Nash CLB LW\RW – O-Rank- 50th – A great player. I love duel eligibility wingers. Take into account that Jeff Carter signed with the Jackets and should play with Nash.

Claude Giroux PHI RW – O-Rank- 53rd – Giroux broke out last season. He will be picking up extra ice time with Carter and Richards out of the picture. Don’t underestimate the Flyers, they are still deep up front.

Marian Hossa CHI RW –O-rank- 113th – Hossa puts up stats across the board, including SHP which can be rare. Being a member of Chicago’s top 6 also has its benefits.

Derek Roy BUF C –O-Rank- 123rd – 35 points in 35 games last season. Roy is very talented and Buffalo has decent wingers for him to play with.

Mikko Koivu MIN C –O-Rank – 124th – He’s not way underestimated but I would still take him before some other centers above him.

Brent Seabrook CHI D –O-Rank- 148th – One of the best all-around defencemen in the NHL. His value will extend far beyond mere points in your pool.

Dennis Wideman WSH D –O-Rank- 155th- Last year he had a -19 but that won’t be happening in Washington this season. The high-powered offense should boost all of his stats.

Jamie Benn DAL LW –O-Rank- 160th – Fantastic all around player who will take advantage of Brad Richards and James Neal’s absence from the Stars line-up.

James van Riemsdyk PHI LW –O-Rank -163rd – This 2007 2nd overall draft pick is about to get some more ice time. He just finished signing a long term deal with Philly.

Michael Grabner NYI RW –O-Rank – 172nd – It’s not hard to believe that he will pick up right where he left off from last year. He has loads of speed and is a natural scorer.

Patrick Elias NJ LW –O-Rank- 184th – Listed as a left winger but Kovalchuk and Parise are LW’s. With Zajac out to begin the year, Elias should be the # 1 center with a C,LW eligibility.

Into the Deep – The picks beyond 200 that could surprise. These guys will be valuable in deeper pools.

Jakub Voracek PHI RW –O-Rank- 203rd – He is only 22 and entering the 4th year of his career. Playing on a stronger team with better line mates should help him step up his game..

Kevin Bieksa VAN D –O-Rank- 224th – Ehrhoff is in Buffalo now. That should translate into extra time on the ice for Bieksa. 40+ points and 100+ PIM are not out of the question.

Teddy Purcell TB RW –O-Rank – 234th – Purcell saw plenty of time on the power-play last year. He is coming into his prime and will be a member of one of the best top 6 groups in the league.

T. J. Oshie STL C –O-Rank – 277th – This young gun has plenty of offensive talent. It’s uncertain if he will play enough minutes to be very effective but 277th is still a low rank.

Ales Hemsky EDM RW –O-Rank- 314th – I know his last few seasons have been plagued by injuries but 314th? He is well worthy of a pre 200 ranking.

Peter Mueller COL C,LW –O-Rank – 321st – Another guy who was hurt last year. Mueller is one of those guys that you can take a shot with and hope for the best, which could be great.

Vinny Prospal CLB – LW –O-Rank – 347th – Prospal always seems to end up on the power-play with great players…and Columbus just signed a few.

Ville Leino BUF LW –O-Rank- 373rd – Huh? I just don’t get it.

I hope this helps you on your draft day. Feel free to reply some of your thoughts on players that are undervalued.

Ten (plus) NHL Rookies to Watch

Posted on by Ben Kerr

With Rookie Camps open now in many NHL cities and regular training camps ready to open soon, I thought it would be interesting to look at Ten Rookies who are looking to make their respective clubs and chase down the Calder Trophy. So lets begin the countdown.

Special Honourable Mention for Goalies: Jonas Enroth/Jonathan Bernier G, Buffalo/Los Angeles – These two goaltenders both got their feet wet in the NHL last season, however they both remain Calder eligible due to a lack of games played.  Despite both being extremely talented, I can’t name them as true Calder Contenders as they again project to be backup goalies, who will get very few games as they play behind workhorses Ryan Miller and Jonathan Quick respectively.  However I list them here, as both are but one injury away from taking over the number 1 job of their respective teams, and if this were to happen, they have the ability to steal games, and the Calder Trophy.

10. Erik Gudbranson, D, Florida Panthers – Gudbranson was the 3rd overall pick in the 2010 draft. He went to Panthers camp last year and made the team as an 18 year old. However he was unable to reach agreement with the Panthers on fair value for a contract. He went back to Kingston in the OHL where he played decent enough, but given the expectations you’d have to call his season a disappointment. Also was part of Canada’s 2011 Silver Medal World Junior team, and again was a bit disappointing at the tourney. Still though this kid has a ton of talent, and it would be stupid not to include him in this list. He’s got NHL size and is capable at both ends of the rink. His big point shot should eventually make him a fixture on the Panthers PP.

9. Jonathan Huberdeau, C/LW, Florida Panthers – Our 2nd Florida Panther, is also a 3rd overall Draft Pick. Huberdeau is an 18 year old taken in last June’s Entry Draft. At 6’3″ he has the height NHL teams look for but needs to bulk up slightly. Huberdeau has been a winner at every level and led his St. John’s Sea Dogs to the QMJHL title and the Memorial Cup. He was absolutely dominant in the playoffs, and was the runaway winner of the QMJHL Playoff MVP. He would go on to add the MVP in the Memorial Cup. He will be trying to make the Panthers as an 18 year old, and it will be interesting to watch him in training camp, as right now he’s probably 50/50 to be in the NHL this season. If he does make the team, this skilled playmaker has the offensive ability to be a Calder Contender.

8. Ryan Ellis, D, Nashville Predators – David Poile and the Predators’ staff seem to consistently churn out defensive prospects, and this year is no different. Ellis is the first of two Preds d-men to be featured in our list. The 2009 First Rounder is a 3 time member of Canada’s National World Junior Team.  He’s also a two time Memorial Cup winner with Windsor.  Ellis is undersized, as he’s very generously listed at 5’10” and this has raised questions about his ability to play in his own zone at the pro level.  However no one questions his offensive abilities.  A slick skater, with great puck handling ability, accurate passing skills and a hard shot, Ellis will eventually make his mark as a PP QB in the NHL.  His stats this season (and his Calder chances) might be hurt by being on such a deep team on defence, as he’ll surely start out behind Shea Weber and Ryan Suter in the PP pecking order, and will have to battle another talented Predators Rookie D-man for 2nd unit duty.

7. Nino Neiderreiter, RW/LW, New York Islanders – The number 5 overall pick in 2010, “El Nino” made the Islanders roster at the end of training camp last year.  He played the first 9 games, however he did not look ready for the NHL and so he was sent back to Portland.  The highest ever drafted Swiss player dominated in the WHL, scoring 70 points in only 55 games.  He was even better in the playoffs with 28 points in 21 games.  Neiderreiter looks like the total package as a power forward prospect, combining size, speed, net presence, a good shot, and soft hands.  I’m betting he sticks in the NHL this year and follows Michael Grabner as an Islander rookie making an impact.

6. Brayden Schenn, C, Philadelphia Flyers – Recently traded to the Philadelphia Flyers as part of the package for Mike Richards, big things are expected from Brayden Schenn.  Schenn started last year with the LA Kings, playing 8 games before being sent back to Junior hockey.  Schenn was quite simply too good for the WHL last year scoring 57 points in just 29 games for Portland.  He was also the star of Canada’s World Junior team challenging and tying or beating various team records held by names like Gretzky, and Lemieux, as well as former Flyers stars Gagne, and Lindros.  Schenn finished his season playing 7 games for Manchester in the AHL and scoring 7 points.  Schenn has ideal size and plays an excellent two way game for a 20 year old.   His defensive awareness will serve him well in trying to make the Flyers out of training camp, as it appears that Claude Giroux and Daniel Briere have the top 2 center spots locked up.  Starting out as a third liner will hurt Schenn’s chances to put up huge numbers, but the Flyers are a deep team, and he should still get some decent offensive wingers.  Of concern is the amount of overall ice time and PP time he will get this season, but of course, one injury could change all of that.

5. David Rundblad, D, Ottawa Senators – This Swedish defenceman has a ton of offensive upside.  Last year he had a record setting season in the Swedish Elite league posting 11 goals and 50 points in 55 games.  This was good for third overall in the league scoring race, and is basically unprecedented for a Swedish teenager on defence.  At 6’2″ Rundblad has the height necessary to play in the NHL, but he needs to add more muscle to a slight frame.  Rundblad is expected to make the Senators, and it will be interesting to see if he can develop chemistry with fellow youthful Swedish blueliner Erik Karlsson.  If he does, the offensive numbers needed to be a Calder Contender could follow.

4. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C, Edmonton Oilers – This year’s first overall pick is a talented play making centre from the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels.  Adding to the Oilers youth movement, it is hoped that Nugent-Hopkins will develop into the #1 centre the Oilers need to compete in the tough Western Conference.   In watching him in the WHL its easy to the high end offensive potential this kid has.  Nugent-Hopkins has excellent hockey sense, and fantastic hands and passing ability in the offensive zone.  There is however a question that he may be too slight as an 18 year old to really handle the rigors of a long NHL season.  I have no doubt that he’ll be an impact player for the Oilers down the road, and he may very well end up having the best career of anyone on this list, however I worry that questions about his physical size, and lack of bulk will mean that his development may take time.  As such I’m not ready to put him among the top 3 contenders for the 2011-12 Calder Trophy.

3. Jonathan Blum, D, Nashville Predators – The oldest player on the list at 22 years old, the Predators have certainly been patient when it comes to developing their 2007 first round pick.  Blum remains Calder eligible, coming in just under the limit with 23 games played last season.  His solid play in the NHL playoffs was a revelation for the Predators after Francis Bouillion went down with injury and he was playing close to 20 minutes a night.  Blum is a 2 way defenceman with great skating and a solid first pass.  It won’t be a surprise to see him slide right in as a top 4 defenceman with the Predators, despite the fact they have a very deep defence.  The only question with Blum is the amount of PP time he will see stuck behind Weber and Suter, and fighting with fellow rookie Ryan Ellis for minutes.

2. Ryan Johanssen, C, Columbus Blue Jackets – The Jackets have been searching for an Number 1 Centre since they joined the league a little over a decade ago.  However with their recent trade for Jeff Carter, and with the development of Johanssen, the 2010 4th overall pick, they may soon have two.  Johanssen was the best player on a strong Portland Winterhawks team in the WHL last year scoring 92 points in 63 games.  He also had an excellent World Junior Tournament for Canada last year.  Johanssen can do it all bringing both goal scoring and play making talents to a quickly improving Blue Jackets team.  He should get plenty of ice time, and these minutes will be key in putting up the numbers necessary for a Calder bid.

1. Gabriel Landeskog, RW, Colorado Avalanche – The 2nd overall pick from this year’s entry draft looks to be physically ready for an NHL job, despite being only 18 years old.  Landeskog may not project to have the long term offensive upside of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, but Landeskog looks like the more NHL ready player.  Landeskog is extremely well rounded for an 18 year old, as he can do it all.  Landeskog can skate, score goals, set them up, drive the net hard, throw a big hit, play defense, block shots, and is even a decent fighter when necessary.  This Swedish born prospect is also a natural born leader becoming both the youngest, and first European captain in Kitchener Rangers history.  Often compared to another former Rangers Captain, Mike Richards; Landeskog is coming into an ideal situation where he will immediately play on a line with either Paul Stastny or Matt Duchene.  For this reason Landeskog is my pick as the early favorite in the Calder Watch.

Honourable Mention skaters: Mikael Granlund, C, Minnesota Wild;  Marc-Andre Gragniani, D, Buffalo Sabres; Blake Geoffrion, RW/C, Nashville Predators; Ryan Strome, C, New York Islanders; Zac Dalpe, C, Carolina Hurricanes; Adam Larsson, D, New Jersey Devils; Alexei Emelin, D, Montreal Canadiens; Tim Erixon, D, New York Rangers; Jeremy Morin, RW/LW, Chicago Blackhawks; Brendan Smith, D, Detroit Red Wings; Scott Glennie RW/C, Dallas Stars; Brett Connolly, LW, Tampa Bay Lightning; Tomas Tatar, C, Detroit Red Wings; Anton Lander, C, Edmonton Oilers; Andrei Loktionov, C/LW, Los Angeles Kings; Sean Couturier, C, Philadelphia Flyers; Eric Tangradi, LW, Pittsburgh Penguins;  Mark Schiefele, C, Winnipeg Jets;

And thats the Last Word on this year’s NHL Rookie Watch.

NHL 2011-2012 Eastern Standings Prediction

Posted on by ScottyJ

Capitals Lead the Way….

The 2011-2012 season is close at hand and the anticipation is killing me. Now is the time that we start to get ready for our fantasy drafts and make our predictions for the coming year. In the following weeks I’ll be posting my thoughts on things like fantasy strategies, sleepers and busts, and of course my yearly standings prediction.

Before you look into my rankings I just want to say one thing. The maximum and minimum salary caps have really changed the game. In the case of league standings, things have been getting tighter and tighter every year. While this has made the playoff race extremely exciting, it has also made picking the standings before the year nearly impossible. I’m sure my ideas and yours will be way different so I encourage you to reply your thoughts and even your own standings predictions along with this blog. Oh and sorry Canada…(you’ll see).

1. Washington – With the addition of Tomas Vokoun and more defensive depth in Wideman (last year at the deadline) and Hamrlik, the Caps should have no problem taking 1st in the eastern conference. The President’s Trophy is not out of the question. Expect the big guns (Ovie, Backstrom, Green, Semin) to bounce back to better numbers.

2. Philadelphia – I believe Ilya Bryzgalov will be good enough on the back end to make up for the absence of Mike Richards and Jeff Carter on forward. Giroux, Briere and James van Riemsdyk will pick up the slack and the man with the mullet (Jaromir Jagr) has returned to the NHL in a Flyers uniform.

3. Buffalo – The Sabres did well this off-season adding Leino and Ehrhoff amongst others. Roy returning to the line-up is key and a few budding youngsters (Ennis, Myers, Stafford) make Buffalo a cup contender for me. Look for another good year from Ryan Miller at the backstop.

4. Boston – Not much has changed in Boston but they will be hard pressed to defend the cup again. They failed to keep Tomas Kaberle and Michael Ryder. Between them and Buffalo really is a toss up but I don’t think Thomas can pull off another year with a 2.00 GAA and a .938 SV%….ridiculous.

5. Tampa Bay – I have Tampa in the same spot as last year. Re-signing Stamkos was obviously huge and getting Roloson on for another year will be beneficial as well. Simon Gagne will be missed but that leaves room for Teddy Purcell, Ryan Malone and Steve Downie to round out an excellent top 6.

6. Pittsburgh – I know that the Pens did alright without Sid the Kid last year but I don’t think they can do it again. Malkin is healthy and should have a better season but the Atlantic division will prove a little tougher this year. I have Pittsburgh dropping a few spots in the standings.

7. NY Rangers – The Rangers re-signed many players (Boyle, Callahan, Dubinsky..etc..) and also picked up Brad Richards in a 9 year 58.5 million dollar deal. Richards and Gaborik could click together translating into a bounce back year for Gaborik. The Rangers are on the cusp again for me and could lose out to some of the following teams.

8. Carolina – 7th to 12th spot is next to impossible to sort out. Unfortunately the Canadian teams aren’t making the cut in my books. Bring on the angry Toronto fans! The Hurricanes are a youthful team on offence and have added Tomas Kaberle on the blue line in front of Ward. Lots of room to improve in Carolina and I think they should.

9. Montreal – Andrei Markov should provide an offensive boost from the back end but I thought the Habs overachieved last year. Cary Price is the make or break factor in whether or not they can make the playoffs. I know MR. B. Kerr will disagree with me but I don’t like their chances of playing in the post-season.

10. Toronto – The new additions of Tim Connolly and John-Michael Liles are helpful. The pressure on James Reimer to perform is great and I’m not convinced he’ll be able to handle it. Sorry fellas, I almost put them in 8th just to avoid the abuse I’ll get for this. (A Few of our bloggers are die hard Leafs fans.)

11. New Jersey – The Devils were able to ink a deal with Parise to their relief. Although he returns to the line-up, C Travis Zajac is out for the start of the year shortening the list of centers. The LW is strong but a lack of depth at both RW and D should cripple the Devils yet again.

12. NY Islanders – Mark Streit is fully recovered and ready to get back on the ice. Kyle Okposo will also be back and the youthful islanders are now 1 year older. I expect big things from John Tavares this year as well as Michael Grabner. This team will continue to climb the standings in years to come.

13. Florida – The Panthers spent plenty of money in the off-season signing Brian Campbell and Ed Jovanovski amongst others. Too bad their MVP Tomas Vokoun is off chasing lord Stanley in Washington this year. I like the defence in Florida but they need a 1st line and a goalie. It is possible that Jacob Markstrom could take the crease this year.

14. Winnipeg – The travel alone will be enough to wear these guys down by the end of the year. Add settling into a new city to the equation and things don’t look promising for the Winnipeg Jets. Evander Kane will be the player I have my eye on. He may not be ready for a first line roll but he is close.

15. Ottawa – Let’s face it the nation’s capital city has been steadily declining in the standings and Alfie is getting old. Zenon Konopka should make losing interesting for the fans though. Between him, Chris Neil and Matt Carkner there should be plenty of scraps to watch. I have the Sens sitting last in the whole league this year.