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Last Word On Sports

Sports News Since 2011. Honestly.

Last Word On Sports Logo

Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

Year: 2012

Special Guest Interview: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Seth Rorabaugh on Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins

Posted on by Ben Kerr

I recently had the opportuntity to interview Seth Rorabaugh from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.  Seth is a writer at the Gazette who follows the Penguins closely.  I want to thank Seth for being extremely gracious and accomodating with his time, and if you like the interview we highly recommend you check out his blog at http://blogs.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/sports/empty-netters and you follow him on twitter at @emptynetters.

Here is the interview.

B.Kerr: There has been a lot of confusion about the exact nature of Sidney Crosby’s latest injury, maybe you can clarify some things for us.  Is this purely a soft tissue issue in his neck?  Or did he suffer both a neck injury and a concussion?

Seth Rorabaugh: Based on what the team reported Tuesday, he has suffered at least one of each. Regarding the neck, there is no way of knowing when it happened. It could have happened when he was a 10-year-old kid, or Jan. 1, 2011 or Jan. 1, 2012. No one seems to know for sure. 

Regardless of the reason, he is still suffering from some sort of concussion-like symptoms. That said, he seems to be doing better as he’s engaging in on ice work with other injured players. 

BK: Sidney Crosby’s contract is up after next season.  How do you think what has gone on over the last year will effect his negotiations on a new deal.

S.R: The biggest issue is the pending new CBA. It’s going to impact every potential free agent. You could have a completely different financial landscape potentially. Additionally, with regards the Penguins, they have to worry about pending free agencies of other players such as James Neal this summer, Jordan Staal in 2013 as well as Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang in 2014. Even if you disregard all those factors, the Penguins and Crosby are committed to keeping their marriage for the long term. Maybe there will be some specific provisions within any new contract with regards to his health, but this doesn’t lessen the Penguins’ desire to keep Crosby in a Penguins jersey for the long term.

BK: There has been some talk in the Canadian media (http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20120202/nhl-concussions-insurance-120202/20120202/?hub=OttawaHome) about the NHL’s insurance underwriters wanting exclusions for concussions and other head injuries.  Is this an issue with the Penguins, and with Crosby specifically?  How would the inability to insure a contract for Crosby effect the negotiation of a new deal?

SR: No. Again, the team and the player are dedicated to keeping this marriage for the long term. Like I said earlier, perhaps there might be some specific wording regarding this type of injury, but both parties are legitimately interested in remaining partners.

BK: I think most analysts agree that Evgeni Malkin is currently the best hockey player in the world.   If Crosby were to be forced to retire, or left Pittsburgh for any reason, would there be a drop off in sponsorship, ticket sales, and revenues surrounding the team?  Or can he fill the role Sidney Crosby plays in the Pens marketting plans?

SR: As splendid of a talent Malkin is, he’s just not Sidney Crosby from a marketing standpoint. Crosby has been hype in one way or another for nearly 10 years. Until recently, Malkin has been a fairly introverted person. Crosby has been on The Tonight Show. He’s the one in Gatorade and Tim Hortons commercials. I don’t think the team would be in trouble by any means in terms of ticket sales, but you would probably see a few less Penguins games on national television in the United States.

BK: We are less than a month from the NHL trading deadline, what is the Penguins biggest need heading into the deadline?

SR: Until last night’s effort by Brent Johnson, I would say back up goaltender. Johnson has not had a very good season and Marc-Andre  Fleury has had to pick up a lot of work. The Penguins want to limit him to approximately 60 games in the regular season and currently (as of Feb. 2), he’s on pace for 69 games. If they don’t have faith in Johnson, they need to get another back up to share the load, particularly on back-to-back nights.

Away from net, they probably could stand to add a veteran defensive defenseman. Last year’s shutdown pairing of Zbynek Michalek and Paul Martin has not been sharp this season. Additionally, all of their top seven defenseman in the organization have all been out of the lineup for various reasons this season. Adding a No. 3-4-5 defenseman with a physical edge would help out.

Again I’d like to thank Seth Rorabaugh for helping us out with this today, and I highly recommend that you all check him out on his blog and on twitter.

…. And thats the Last Word

A Comprehensive Look at the NHL: Purgatory (Part 4/5)

Posted on by Grant Alexander

Welcome to purgatory, and the fourth part in “A Comprehensive Look at the NHL”!

Purgatory

This is where teams end up when they just miss the playoffs, but finished with too many points to get a decent pick. The Toronto Maple Leafs come to mind when thinking of this category. Here are the teams currently “stuck in purgatory”:

Winnipeg

Just playing hockey this year is considered a win in Winnipeg. But they actually have been winning, and especially at home. Not enough to find themselves in a playoff spot, but maybe a little more than people expected. The only problem now is that if they don’t step their game up and grab one of the spots, they will be losing out on a top draft pick that they so desperately need. Personally I don’t see them sneaking in this year, especially with Kane out of the lineup. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 67 to 1.

Tampa Bay Tampa is hard to figure out. They go from losing a tight 7-game Conference final to the current Stanley Cup champs, to being 10 points out of a playoff spot this year. They have the best scorer in the league, with a pretty good supporting cast on offense. Their D is solid, despite a few injuries. And on their back-end, oh, well maybe they aren’t so hard to figure out. Tampa has given up the most goals in the NHL, and that’s even with the 1-3-1 formation. So lets take a look at the keepers. I think last year was Rolly’s swan song, as I don’t think there is anything left in the tank. Time to send the 42-year-old out to pasture. Career backup, and 34-year-old Garon isn’t the answer either. Tampa needs a complete overhaul in the goaltending department before they can contend again. My advice would be to take a draft pick, and fix it in the offseason. But the way they are playing lately they could sneak up into a spot, especially if they could nab one of the few disgruntled tenders around the league before trade deadline. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 56 to 1.

Montreal

Montreal is another proud team that doesn’t want to hear the words “rebuild”. And why would they after making the playoffs 4 years in a row, and also taking the Bruins to a 7th game last season. But in all honesty the talent isn’t there. Cinderella runs, and riding good goaltending into a playoff spot, won’t yield a cup anytime soon. They do however have a few bright spots on the team in which to lay a foundation, Carey Price being one of them. And now is the perfect time to start accumulating prospects and bring this storied franchise back to greatness. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 67 to 1.

Dallas

Jamie Benn has stepped up nicely this year, but it still doesn’t fill the void of Brad Richards. And that’s really the difference between the Stars being a bubble team, and a playoff team. They are only a few points back of a spot, and have the talent to close the gap, but I don’t think they will make any noise without bolstering their lineup down the stretch. If they don’t, their almost better off getting a decent pick because they do have a good nucleus to build on. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 51 to 1.

Calgary

Calgary is no stranger to purgatory. They have finished in 10th place in the west two years in a row, and are right on pace to make it a third. That would make 3 years of no playoffs, and no top draft picks. Something has to give. I keep hearing Iginla’s name in the trade rumour mill, and quite frankly it’s not a bad idea. I know he’s their franchise player, and a great guy on and off the ice, but they need to admit that they failed with him, and start again. First, move Iginla. Second, buyout or move some of those other big contracts. Third, get more involved in the draft. Well, either that or keep over-paying on trade deadline day and finish 10th again. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 51 to 1.

Phoenix

After years of struggling, the Coyotes finally found some success the last few seasons by qualifying for the playoffs. This year, it looks like their back to their usual losing ways. I don’t want to say that it’s all goaltending (losing Bryzgalov), but it is definitely a major factor. The other big thing in Phoenix seems to be poor scouting, and lack of player development. All those years near the basement should have had them looking like the Blackhawks, or the new Oilers, but instead there headed back down there with nothing to show for it. Of the last five draft years they have given up on and traded two of their top three picks. That’s just unacceptable in a market that can barely sustain a team when they are winning. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 56 to 1.

Okay, ladies and gentlemen, there is the list of those teams who are just not good enough to make the playoffs, and are also not horrible enough to get a top pick in the draft – in other words, hockey purgatory. Check back tomorrow for the final installment, as we look at the teams who are utterly hopeless.

…and that is the last word.

 

Follow me on Twitter – @LastWordGrant

 

Burke Sours On Grapes: The Brian Burke – Don Cherry Feud Heating Up!

Posted on by Carl Mostacci

Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager filed a formal complaint to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation regarding their employee, Don Cherry.  Cherry, who co-hosts the very popular 1st intermission segment Coach’s Corner on Hockey Night In Canada, upset Burke with his comments criticizing the Leafs.   Burke claimed the comments were vicious and needed to stop.

What’s wrong Burke?  Are you like Tom Cruise in A Few Good Men and “Can’t Handle the Truth?”  Now I’m a diehard Leafs fan, but I’m also a realistically loyal Leafs fan.  The Leafs have not made the playoffs since 2004  (And I know one year has to be subtracted due to the 2005 NHL lockout that forced the cancellation of the season).  The team has slightly improved since Burke’s arrival to Toronto a little over three years ago.  But even though the Leafs have completely overhauled their roster during that time, they currently sit eighth in the Eastern Conference at 25-19-6 with 56 points and are still fighting for their playoff lives (They would have a .500 record if it weren’t for the stupid overtime/shootout loss column – but that is a debate for another day).  Plus they keep blowing games, like Tuesday night’s 3-goal lead against the Pittsburgh Penguins with 12 minutes remaining in the third.  The Penguins won in a shootout 5-4.  And Burke thinks I’m supposed to be happy with this so-called “improvement”?  I will tell you, I’m not.  Excellent teams like the Detroit Red Wings don’t worry about making the playoffs.  They just do it!  Mediocre teams like the Leafs are continually fighting for their playoff lives and hope they can survive to make it in.

Burke obviously has a short-term memory and doesn’t know his Leafs history like I do.  But back in 1993, 94 and 1999-2003 when the Leafs not only made the playoffs, but were Stanley Cup contenders, Don Cherry, whose nickname is Grapes (maybe “Gripes” is more fitting?),  publicly supported the team on national television.  Just ask Ottawa Senators fans who criticized Cherry during the 2004 playoffs for showing favouritism to the Leafs on Hockey Night In Canada Broadcasts, which are supposed to be impartial.  The Leafs are the loyal Cherry’s second favourite NHL team, behind the team that drafted him, allowed him to play one game, and gave him the opportunity to coach in the NHL, the Boston Bruins.    This is a guy that praised the excellent playoff performances and efforts of former Leafs, Doug Gilmour, Wendel Clark, Gary Roberts and even Swedish-born Mats Sundin.  Cherry has been known to favour Canadian NHL players, but occasionally makes exceptions for excellent players born outside of Canada.

Want to get Cherry to praise the Leafs Burke?  Here is what you have to do;  Shut your trap and win (the trap on your face, not the ice).  Have the Leafs do their talking on the ice, and quit doing all the talking for the players.  Then you will get Cherry, along with myself and many other Leaf fans, praising your team instead of rightfully criticizing them.

What do you think?

…and that is the last word.

A Comprehensive Look at the NHL: On the Bubble (Part 3/5)

Posted on by Grant Alexander

Welcome back! Yesterday we took a look at which teams are certainly playoff bound, but are missing something from being considered a real Stanley Cup contender.  Let’s continue by taking a look at teams on the bubble, that have a good shot at making the playoffs, but will need a strong “homestretch”.

On the Bubble

These teams are all battling for playoff spots. Only a few points separate these teams, and they will most likely be fighting down to the last game. You will definitely see some, most, or all of these teams making moves down the stretch to augment their lineups. To make the playoffs you can’t pull any punches. And missing the playoffs means your stuck in purgatory, and nobody wants to be there….

Florida

To me the Panthers look like a homemade version of something that everybody else bought at the store. A bunch of spare parts acquired in the offseason and stuck together to resemble a team. I guess they were the right parts though as everything seemed to fit perfectly and they now find themselves in a position to possibly make the playoffs. In my honest opinion though I think they should have waited it out and continued to build through the draft. They did receive some serious talent that way already in Ellerby, Kulikov, Gudbranson, Bjugstad, Howden, and Huberdeau. And imagine if they had a few more top picks. But guys like Versteeg and Campbell do put buts in the seats as they say. And in a market like Florida that’s half of the battle. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 36 to 1.

New Jersey

The Devils are a hard team to figure out. They went from 4 straight 100-point seasons (one was 99), to missing the playoffs last year with 80 points. Now they are on pace to finish somewhere between 90-95. And it’s the same problem with their line-up. They have two over-the-hill goaltenders, Brodeur at 39, and Hedberg at 38, and should be rebuilding with the impending retirement of the future Hall of Famer, but they can’t. They have invested too much into their two superstars (Kovalchuk, and Parise). They are in their prime now and can’t wait for a rebuild. Despite their predicament, they have managed to acquire a few budding superstars in Larsson, and Henrique, but who is going to fill Brodeur’s legendary skates? I think this team has no choice but to be aggressive in the open market, and it will be exciting to see what they do over the next few seasons. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 34-1.

Toronto

For the Maple Leafs (over the past 7 seasons) it seems as though they felt they were too proud to rebuild, and now it is too late even if they wanted to. I’m not sure where the pride comes from, having not made a Stanley Cup final in 45 years, but they made their choice and things are starting to come around. They are reasonably deep on defense, and have a plethora of young talented goaltenders. Up front they do have two stars that have really brought their game to the next level this year (Kessel, Lupul), but they are still a little weak depth wise, and they have no superstar prospects waiting in the wings. The Leafs are going to have to continue to be buyers if they want this team to do more than squeak into the playoffs. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 34-1.

Los Angeles

I really thought this could be L.A’s year. They looked like a really strong team the last few seasons led by guys like Kopitar, Brown, Doughty, and Johnson, as well as their strong, young, goalie tandem of Quick and Bernier. And as these players matured, the team added what I thought might be the missing pieces in Gagne, Penner, and Richards. It turns out that’s not the case. Or maybe they are just taking longer to gel. Well let’s hope so, because they have mortgaged a good portion of their future for this current roster. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 26 to 1.

Minnesota

Can you believe that a few short months ago this was the NHL’s best team? Well it’s true. And now they find themselves clutching to that 8th and final playoff spot. It does have something to do with the injury to captain Koivu, but also I believe they were simply playing over their heads. I like the additions of Heatley and Setoguchi, but I still think this is a mediocre team at best, and the worst part is they have very few prospects waiting to crack the roster. I think they need to rebuild properly if the fans will allow it. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 51 to 1.

Colorado

The Avalanche have had mixed results over the past 4 seasons, barely making the playoffs twice, and finishing well back twice. And neither result is where the franchise wants to be, and they look to be heading down one of those two roads again this season. But don’t despair Avs fans, the future is very bright. This is a young, talented team, and I think the management has done the right thing by building through the draft, and trading well. They might have overpaid for Varlamov with a first and second, but other than that it’s a good-looking team. And for this season, I think when Duchene comes back they will have a really good shot at that last playoff spot. And if they do make it, this season would be considered a success. However, if they don’t, those picks for Varlamov could haunt them. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 51 to 1.

There you have the list of teams “On the Bubble”.  Come back tomorrow where we review the teams who are hockey purgatory.

…and that is the last word.

 

Follow me on Twitter – @LastWordGrant


A Week of Upsets

Posted on by taketheleap
The Iowa State Cyclones beating #5 Kansas were just one of the crazy upsets this past week.

Well now, that was an interesting week. Let’s just get right to it and our Points of Interest from the past week:

  • Connecticut (was #24) lost their third straight to unranked Notre Dame, Sunday afternoon, 50-48. The loss drops UConn to 14-6 and out of the Top 25.
  • Kansas State (was #22) dropped to unranked Oklahoma on Saturday, 63-60. The loss also drops them out of the Top 25.
  • Speaking of the great state of Oklahoma, their other major university, Oklahoma State knocked off the #2 Missouri Tigers, 79-72, Wednesday night.
  • The lead image says it all: #5 Kansas walked into Iowa State, home of the Cyclones and were simply outplayed, 72-64. “Not in Kansas anymore”, indeed.
  • San Diego State (formerly #13) fell to Colorado State, 77-60, Saturday afternoon. The loss drops the Aztecs to #17.
  • Former #9 Georgetown loss to the roller-coaster Pittsburgh Panthers, 72-60, Saturday night.
  • Indiana (was #16) fell to #25 Wisconsin, in one of two ranked team losses this past week. Indiana falls to #20, Wisconsin moves up to #19.
  • The other ranked vs ranked loss came to Mississippi State, by way of the Florida Gators. The Bulldogs slip to #22 while Florida moves to #12.
  • The consensus “worst team in the country”, the Towson Tigers, got their first win this past Saturday over NC Wilmington, 66-61. The win snaps the Tigers 22-game losing streak, improving their record to 1-22.
  • The sole remaining undefeated team, Murray State, remains perfect at 21-0. They move up to #10 in the AP Poll.

 

This week promises some great matchups; here are your Games of Interest:

  • #20 Indiana goes to #23 Michigan; Wednesday, 6:30 EST.
  • #14 Georgetown welcome formerly ranked Connecticut, a game the Huskies will look to snap their three-game losing streak. Tip is Wednesday, 7PM EST.
  • #15 Marquette travels down to the still-hot Notre Dame Fighting Irish; with a win against Marquette, the Irish look to crack the Top 25. Tip is Saturday, 1PM EST.
  • #12 Florida hosts #25 Vanderbilt, Saturday, 1PM EST.
  • #16 Virginia travels to the surprising #21 Florida State; tip is Saturday, 1PM EST.
  • #4 Missouri hosts #8 Kansas, Saturday, 9PM EST.
  • #3 Ohio State at #19 Wisconsin, Saturday, 2PM EST.
  • #9 Michigan State hosts cross-state rivals #23 Michigan, Sunday, 1PM EST; this week could make or break the Big Blue’s season.

 

This is the point of the season where the contenders rise and the pretenders fall. With eight great games this coming week, five of them on Saturday, I am pretty sure my Saturday viewing schedule is planned out.

… and that’s the last word.

Mid-Week in the Serie A

Posted on by Frank Giuliano

 Week 20 Review of the Serie A

This past weekend, there was an incredible upset at the Stadio Via del Mare where US Lecce defeated Internazionale FC 1-0 to put an end to the Nerazurri’s winning streak at 7 games in Serie A.  A very slow AC Milan cruised by Cagliari 3-0 at the San Siro. SS Lazio jumps ahead of Inter in the standings with a 3-0 win at Chievo Verona. Despite having a 3-0 lead, Genoa FC defeated SSC Napoli 3-2 at the Marassi Stadium. Last and absolutely not least, Juventus FC defeated Udinese Calcio at the Juventus Stadium in Turin. This was a heck of a game! Good flow, plenty of chances for both teams and incredible saves from both keepers. This is how soccer should be played!

Mid Week Action – Week 21 Preview

We start off in Parma where league leader and still unbeaten, Juventus FC visit Parma FC at the Stadio Tardini. Last meeting between these 2 sides, the Bianconeri pummelled the Gialloblu 4-1. However, the last time Juventus lost a Serie A match was against none other than Parma. Ex-Juventino player Sebastian Giovinco will be in the line up for Parma. The Ducali will be lucky to get out of this fixture with a tie (my pick – Juventus).

Internazionale FC v US Città di Palermo. The Nerazzurri’s winning streak came to an end against US Lecce and thus, will be looking forward to bounce back in the win column. The first encounter this season was a 7-goal thriller with the Rosanero coming edging Inter to victory, 4-3. This time, it is expected to be very different as the Nerazzurri are currently in fine form. Having fan support at the San Siro as well should prove to be too much for Palermo to handle (my pick – Inter).

Udinese Calcio v US Lecce. Udinese is coming off a hard fought loss to Juventus at the weekend. Lecce, on the other hand, is coming off a huge upset against Inter. Udinese boasts a strong home record as they have only lost 1 game so far this year at the Stadio Friuli where it’s proven to be difficult to score against the bianconeri of Udine. The giallorossi of Lecce will not be pushovers though and will be aiming to get a second upset this week (my pick – Udinese).

SS Lazio v AC Milan. The Biancocelesti will be looking for revenge against the Diavoli after their Coppa Italia elimination at the hands of the Rossoneri. Oddly enough, Lazio has one of the worst home records in Serie A. Milan has to deal with their own issues as well, as there are plenty of injuries in the midfield. The Milan players have looked rather slow and sluggish at times this season and will have to be alert if they plan to stop Hernanes and Klose. However, with the experience the Milanisti have, they should still be able to give Lazio a run for their money. I expect a tough game for both teams. Even though Lazio’s home record is not impressive, they always play hard against the Rossoneri, the motivation is there as well as the fan support at the Stadio Olimpico (my pick – tie).

That’s the last word!

Week 20 29 Jan 2012
Catania 1 – 1 Parma
Cesena 0 – 1 Atalanta
Chievo 0 – 3 Lazio
Fiorentina 2 – 1 Siena
Genoa 3 – 2 Napoli
Juventus 2 – 1 Udinese
Lecce 1 – 0 Inter
Milan 3 – 0 Cagliari
Palermo 2 – 0 Novara
Roma 1 – 1 Bologna
Week 21 01 Feb 2012 (19.45 UK)
Atalanta – Genoa
Bologna – Fiorentina
Cagliari – Roma
Inter – Palermo
Lazio – Milan
Napoli – Cesena
Novara – Chievo(Thu 19.45)
Parma Preview Juventus(Tue 19.45)
Siena – Catania
Udinese – Lecce
FIXTURES
Week 22 05 Feb 2012
Cesena – Catania
Chievo – Parma
Fiorentina – Udinese
Genoa – Lazio
Juventus – Siena
Lecce – Bologna
Milan – Napoli
Novara – Cagliari
Palermo – Atalanta
Roma – Inter

A Comprehensive Look at the NHL: Playoff-Bound (Part 2/5)

Posted on by Grant Alexander

Welcome back! Yesterday we took a look at which teams are true contenders; that is, those teams I believe will not only finish the regular season strong, but will make considerable runs at the Stanley Cup.  Let’s continue by taking a look at teams bound for the playoffs.

Playoff Bound

This category is for teams that shouldn’t have too much trouble making the playoffs, but might not be considered legitimate Stanley Cup threats at this time. Look for possible line tweaks as these teams prepare to take on the heavy hitters listed above.

New York Rangers

The Rangers are atop the Eastern Conference in points, and I’m sure your asking yourself why they were not included in the Contender category. Well to put it simply, I don’t think they’re good enough. I didn’t to start the season, and I don’t think so now despite their impressive record. King Henrik does have the ability to steal games, and has proven that throughout his career, but I don’t see big playoff goals coming from this roster. They have an excellent, young, blue-collar defense. That, combined with Ludqvist, combined with their team defense has them as the only team that’s allowed fewer than 100 goals to this point. It’s pretty impressive, but I think they are going to need a few more guys that can put the puck in the net if they are going to make a run at the cup. Maybe they can make a few additions down the stretch. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 8.5 to 1.

Washington

I don’t know what to make of this team. They are poised to win another divisional title, but are well off the pace with the other top teams in the conference. I know Backstrom is a huge loss, and so is Mike Green (although he should be back soon), but this team is still better than their record shows, and way better than their ‘’goals for” stat shows. Nobody’s putting the puck in the net! I know they have a goalie now, and are embracing team defense, but it’s their high-powered offense that has made them such a threat over the last few years. I know Ovi is not producing the way he should, but he’s not the only one. I don’t see the Caps going deep this year with no Backstrom and low production, but hopefully things come around for them. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 19 to 1.

Ottawa

Ottawa seemed to rebuild while nobody was looking. Many (including myself), thought that it would take a few years and that they wouldn’t be competitive until that time. They are definitely proving us wrong! The additions of young stars like, Karlsson, Greening, Condra, Cowen, Turris, Butler, and Smith, have bolstered their roster in record time. The youth movement has also helped the veterans on the team find their game. Michalek has emerged as a serious threat with the puck, and Spezza has returned to his All-Star form. The biggest surprise though has to be Alfredsson, who at 39 years old is playing like he’s in his 20’s. This team is still a few years away from being anything close to a cup threat, but good on them for staying competitive while they get there. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 34 to 1.

Detroit

Detroit seems to be beating the system right now as they lead the league in points with a team made up of players in their mid to late 30’s. Oh, and a captain in his 40’s! Don’t get me wrong these players are uber talented and they do have a strong tradition of winning. I just don’t think they will be able to go the distance at their collective age. But, I have been proven wrong before, and I’m sure I will be again. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 8 to 1.

St. Louis

Now here is an exciting team, and one that I have been waiting to emerge ever since they showed their young talent back in ’09 with a brief playoff appearance. Well that young team is finally starting to hit their prime with their core now in their mid 20’s. Couple that with the best goaltending tandem in the league and you have a recipe for success. I don’t think they quite have the talent to mount a cup run, but they do definitely have the grit to get there. I think some tweaking in the off-season could turn this team into a serious contender. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 14 to 1.

Nashville

When you think of Nashville, you think of defense. They have one of the best goaltenders in the league in Rinne, and arguable the best defensive pairing in the league in Weber and Suter. And their top two prospects on the team are also a goalie and defenseman (Lindback, and Ellis). So where’s the offense? Well, that’s the question. They did add a proven sniper in Mike Fisher, but it’s not enough. Defense does win championships, but not over teams that have both. Hopefully these guys can pick up the pieces they need down the stretch cause otherwise they may be looking at another early exit. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 15 to 1.

 

Well, there you have it – the list of teams destined for the playoffs, but perhaps not to go very deep therein.  Check back tomorrow where we take a look at teams “On the Bubble”.

…and that is the last word.

 

A Comprehensive Look at the NHL: The Contenders (Part 1 of 5)

Posted on by Grant Alexander

Part One of a Five-Part Series

As we put the current NHL season on hold for the All-Star break (a little over halfway through the season), it seems as good a time as any to take an in-depth look at each team, and see where they’re headed. The GM’s of each club will also be doing the same as they get together to enjoy the All-Star festivities. Which is also why you’ll start to see trades trickle in from now up until trade deadline day. But before we start speculating on possible trades, and who needs what, lets breakdown all 30 teams and see where they stand heading into the second half of the season.

For this breakdown, I’m going to divide the teams into 5 categories; “Contenders”, “Playoff Bound”, “On the Bubble”, “Purgatory”, and “Lottery Ball”.

Part One:  Contenders

This category is devised of great teams playing well. They were legitimate threats to start the season, and are playing like it now.

Boston

The defending champs are looking strong again. They boast the highest plus/minus ratio of any team, which includes the most goals scored. They also seem to be playing consistently well, both at home and on the road. I see a serious chance of a repeat here. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 6.5 to 1.

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh came out of the gate hot, then slumped a little, and now has recently got back on track. Don’t let that slump fool you though, the Pens have been missing half of their starting line-up at different times for the better part of the season! Two big pieces in Letang and Staal were out for extended periods of time. Malkin spent some time on the IR, and of course we all know what happened to Crosby. But now Malkin is tearing up the league, Letang is back and making a big impact, and Staal is set to come back next week. This team is a contender without Crosby, and with him, well lets just say having the best player in the world couldn’t hurt. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 11 to 1.

Philadelphia

Philly has been a bit of a perennial powerhouse lately, but after a big makeover in the off-season, they came in as a bit of a wild card this year. Mission successful though, as the shake up is paying off in a big way. Giroux has emerged as one of the elite forwards in the league, and the Flyers are getting great secondary scoring from their acquisitions and prospects. The gamble on Jagr has also paid off nicely so far. Bryzgalov isn’t quite living up to his price tag but still seems to be getting the job done. The one big downfall is the loss of two of Philly’s key players. Briere has recently gone down with a concussion, with no timetable for return. And of course their captain Chris Pronger, which is a huge loss on the ice and in the dressing room. Despite the losses this team does have a recipe for success. They battle hard, and will be a threat come playoff time. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 12 to 1.

Chicago

This is basically the same team that won the cup two seasons ago. Except now, these young players are just hitting their prime. After a hangover season last year, these guys are re-focused with only one thing on their minds, another cup. All of their big guns are firing, and “Captain Serious” is all business right now and shouldn’t be out of the line-up for more than a few games. Look for this team to go deep into the postseason. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 12 to 1.

Vancouver

After almost tasting the cup last year, Vancouver is at it again. Same group of talented players but this time they have a chip on their shoulders. Led by the seemingly immortal Sedin brothers, anything short of cup would be a loss for these guys and the city of Vancouver. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 7 to 1.

San Jose

Is this the year? It seems like a broken record with the Sharks, but I’m going to say it again, I think it could be. After losing in the Conference final in back to back years, I think they might finally have the right team dynamic to get them over the hurdle. The Sharks this year seem to have the added depth the teams of the past were missing. Which in a large part comes from the growth and maturity of some of their younger talent. Guys like Couture, Vlassic, Braun, McGinn, and Demers. That being said, the window is starting to close as the guys on the other end of the bracket, like Thornton and Boyle start to show their age. Vegas odds of winning the Stanley Cup are 13 to 1.

See you tomorrow for Part Two: Playoff-Bound

…and that is the last word.

UFC on FOX 2: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

Posted on by Mark Modeski

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times – with MMA you can never really plan how things are going to go. Sometimes things play out the way you wanted them to, and then other times you’re left scratching your head. UFC on FOX 2 left me feeling a little unsatisfied when all was said and done; like I sat down for a nice steak dinner, only to find my meat overcooked. There were good points, bad points and then one’s that were just ugly.

The Good:
As far as the outcome of the fights, the people got what they wanted. The main and co-main events were set-up under the pretence of the next fights to happen – it was expected that Rashad Evans would dominate Phil Davis, and that Chael Sonnen would grind out a victory. Each would go on to fight the champions of their respective champions. Fortunately, for the UFC and the viewing public the desired outcomes came to be.

Each of these upcoming championship bouts has great build-up potential. Rashad left Team Jackson so he could fight Jones prior to his injury late last year; there was a lot of trash talking after this took place. Chael Sonnen’s build up to his first bout with Silva was comical, until he stepped into the ring and almost ousted the MW champ; while he lost the match, he gained a ton of respect. A match-up between Sonnen and Silva has been what people have been waiting for since the end of the first bout – get ready for this one, it’s going to be a show!

Another positive in this fight was the addition of the seasoned commentator in Randy Couture with the post/pre fight analysis; having Goldberg and Rogan back ringside was nice too.

The Bad:
This was FOX’s second fight card on conventional TV, and first full event card. With only three fights on the main card, and two of them with higher-level fighters, one would have expected some exciting action to match. Unfortunately, the main card did not deliver.

All three fights on the main card (Weidman v. Maia, Sonnen v. Bisping and Evans v. Davis) could best be described as uninspiring. Yes, each fighter did what he needed to do to win, and didn’t take any chances by playing too much into their opponents game – but, when trying to attract to viewers to a sport first impressions are everything. As a first exposure to MMA, the fights on FOX (not the undercard) may have left them feeling a little underwhelmed.

The Ugly:
To be determined.

Initial viewership numbers for the event were 4.37 million, which in my opinion is not up to expectations for an event of this size through this medium. This was likely due in part to the lack of strong marketing by FOX. Yes, they advertised the event on FOX, but only really did so with during Sunday/Monday Football and not with any great frequency at that.

What the final determining factor will be, as to whether or not this criticism will apply, is the final ratings when they come in (as they could be much higher). UFC on FOX 1 initially came out at 4.64 million viewers, but topped out at a more respectable 5.7 million viewers. So, we will wait and see.

Notable Results:

  • Rashad Evans defeated Phil Davis via decision after five rounds.
  • Chael Sonnen outpointed Michael Bisping in a closely contested fight. Sonnen’s dominance in the third likely won him the fight, as the first two rounds were too close to call.
  • Matt Weidman overcame Damien Maia in three rounds to pick-up the unanimous decision (incorrectly announced as a split).
  • Evan Dunham picked up a TKO via doctor stoppage over Nik Lentz in the second.
  • Cub Swanson also picked up a TKO in the second round against George Roop.
  • Charles Oliveira got back to his roots and a transformed a heel hook into a calf-slicer into a submission win against Eric Wisely.

…and that is the last word.