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Last Word On Sports

Sports News Since 2011. Honestly.

Last Word On Sports Logo

Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

Year: 2012

Q & A with the Gridiron Chef; Vol 1

Posted on by Ben Kerr

 

 

 

 

I would like to welcome you all to the first of a very special weekly column, “Q & A With the Gridiron Chef“. We from LWS are honoured to be joined by one of the most renowned tailgate specialists in America, and host/producer of the new Tailgate Radio Network & Show on LIVE365, Doc “Gridiron Chef” Dockeray. “Doc” will be giving you tips and pointers on how to make the most of your tailgates, as well as unique insight into this 20 billion-dollar industry each weekend throughout this football season. Each episode will have a different theme and downloadable recipes, which will help you to hone your craft. Let the grilling begin!

 

Week 1: The Essentials

 

M: Having been in the industry for as long as you have, what can you tell us about the trend? Is tailgating on the rise?

Doc: With ticket prices having gone through the roof, the onset of seat licenses, 10 buck beers compounded by a never-ending recession, the culture of tailgating has become the primary element and center-point of millions of sport fans’ gameday. For the past 10 years, tailgating in its traditional form has now crossed over to otherwise non-traditional cultures like RV’ing, outdoor recreation, and even the home.

Tailgating has also become so prevalent as a brand building culture for the NFL, NCAA and NASCAR, that its now used as a label/catchphrase for media networks, signifying a Pre-Game/Pre-Race media slot prior to the broadcast.

Also, with the incredible array of new technologies combined with Sunday Ticket, the Red Zone channel and a $9 billion fantasy industry; HomeGating has become its own billion dollar culture. So we have transferred the best parts of an interactive tailgate party to the home consumer.

M: What, if any, misconceptions have you found about tailgating that you wish would be cleared up?

Doc: On the consumer side, the culture is deeply embedded and a core tradition within each sport it supports. But the only time you may see it as a backdrop in the media is when some drunken-ass assaults someone at the stadium, or drives home from the tailgate drunk. That may be .01% of what has become the great American neighborhood, a culture around comradery and breaking bread in the lot. This pastime deserves a lot more love than that.

On the business side, top sports leagues need to understand the fact that the 75k avid gameday partyers grilling at 9am in their stadium lot are the “most” active fans they have. They travel the most, spend the most, are in more pools, and all in all and are far and away more engaged in fandom than the norm. Teams owners, leagues and marketing networks need to respect this far more than they currently do.

 

M: What advice can you give for the first time tailgater to make his or her experience positive?

Doc: 5 words: Plan, Gorge, Libate, Social Intercourse

Plan – Its essential. Checklists and assignments are a must. Leaving the grilling utensils in the garage and the garlic-crusted beef tenderloin in the fridge is a buzz-kill….believe me. Checklists are a plenty. My friend Ray at SimpleTailgating.com has one on his main page.

Gorge/Libate – You can do light beer, hotdogs and store bought potato salad at your mother-in-laws b-day BBQ. Not at a good tailgate. Instead, plan an upper crust feast with 4 courses and scattered over enough hours to produce it on-site. And don’t kill that beautiful feast with a watered down libation. A selection of good beer, premium spirits, and lots of ice make for a great tailgate. My crew is named “Excess in Moderation” for a reason.

Social Intercourse – Tailgating, when done right is the perfect cocktail of friends, food and bev, gaming, conversation, meeting and greeting, and engaging sports and life conversation. I called it “social intercourse.” When interwoven, it’s the best party on earth. When its done right, you’ll casually glance at your watch and say “sh*t, we have to get up to the stadium!” That’s when you’ll know the tailgate is more important than the game.

 

M: What do you feel are the most important elements of a successful tailgate? Is it all about beer and barbecue?

Doc:

1. Get there early and secure a good spot – quintessential elements are shade, access to porta-potty, and distance to stadium.

2. Plan 4 separate areas – 1 for your bar, 1 for the cooking, 1 for serving, and 1 for gaming.

3. Plan for delays… an extra hour for set-up, and an extra hour for teardown. As we do appreciate the “always happy to help” perennials who have been libating for 3 hours, we don’t need them reefing on the bent tent poles, and accidently grabbing a hot grill. They may think they’re helping, but say “thank you, no!” Its always best to have the unpackers…pack! It’s a science.

4. Lastly, for God’s sake, share in the designated driving duties…..but definitely have one. Not the “second guessing slightly buzzed under the legal limit” kind – the completely sober kind.

 

M: What is the most common mistake you see made by inexperienced tailgaters?

Doc:

When too focused on the party, you may forget to stay hydrated. Bring plenty of water/liquids. You may also forget, where there’s fire/charcoal and libating, injuries small or otherwise can occur. Bring a first-aid kit no matter how big your party is or is not. Lastly, if its 1 hour straight drive to the tailgate, plan 2. If you want to be grilling by 10 and serving at 11, plan to be there at 8:30. When it’s too labor intensive, you may miss the reason you’re there in the first place.

 

M: Before we wrap-up, can you share with us a bit about your own tailgate set-up? Maybe a few pics and a brief description?

Don’t really have an average tailgate as I travel all over. NASCAR’s a 3-day trip, NCAA is usually an overnighter like 2 weeks ago in Atlanta. NFL tends to be a 6-hour venture. On average in past years, 30 or so tailgaters on average; 5 courses scattered over 5 hours; upper crust menu…around $15 per head; plenty of Crown Royal; combination of young/old/male/female/big/small/seafood allergic/lactose-intolerant/gastro-intestinally challenged; we have lots of gameday fantasy league talk, gaming; overall, a great dynamic.

“Keep the drinks cold, the grill hot, and we’ll see you in the parking lot.

 

That wraps-up our first installment of Q & A with the Gridiron Chef. Next weekend’s topic: Choosing the Perfect Barbecue. If you have any questions for the Gridiron Chef, please leave them below and we’ll do our best to get answers for you. Happy ‘gating!

Click the logo below for access to Tailgate Radio…

 

A Former Hater Bidding T.O. Farewell

Posted on by Jack Stone

After reporting on his twitter feed that he had been cut from the Seahawks squad, does this mean we have seen the end of the always entertaining and controversial 38-year old WR with 15 NFL seasons to his name?? Unfortunately I think it is the end of the crazy winding road that best explains T.O.’s  NFL career.

I have very conflicting emotions at the announcement.  I have spent a decade and a half hating him, yet somehow when I read the news I felt a bit sad to think he is finally done.  “Hate” is a strong word, so let’s just say I hate his persona and how he has conducted himself.  Can we ever really hate someone, or is it just their facade we can’t stand?  Regardless…

I began to think back to all the mostly negative memories I have of T.O., and the more I reflected and laughed at his antics, the more I appreciated that at the very least this guy was definitely entertaining.  I have decided that I’m going to miss him. There, I said it. No going back now.  But before I end my confusing up and down feelings about T.O., I want to briefly touch on the sad fact that he has earned $66.8m in salary, yet has not a penny to show for it.

Beginning his career with the San Francisco 49ers, he played there from 1996 – 2003, he established himself early as one of the greatest receivers to ever play football, but shadowing his tremendous numbers and physical gifts, many people remember him for ridiculous acts like spiking the football on the Dallas Cowboys’ star at centre field.  Brave, yes, but smart?  Not so much.  Or how about at the end of his days in San Francisco, instead of exiting without burning bridges he referred to his QB, Jeff Garcia, as a homosexual, basically burning every bridge, especially the Golden Gate Bridge!  Whether Jeff is homosexual or not, it was just, again, stupid, and obviously irrelevant.

But when he joined the Eagles he really honed his craft of saying and doing exactly the opposite of what he should have. It was in Phili where Terrell Owens had become completely explosive in every way on and off the field.  He dominated for the Philadelphia Eagles for the 2004 season, collecting 1200 yards and 14 touchdowns in 14 games, before sustaining a severely fractured ankle and fractured fibula, which the doctors told him would end his season.

You remember the story – the Eagles went to the Superbowl and Terrell Owens shocked the football world by playing in that game, despite the doctors who said he needed several more weeks of recovery.  Not only did he play, but he played very well.  He nabbed nine receptions and 122 yards.  Before game time, the media scolded the receiver saying he would hurt the team, and was selfishly playing because he couldn’t handle not being in the spotlight.  Guess they got that wrong.

After Owens showed everyone that he was the Eagles’ best player on that day, he answered his critics by saying, “A player like Brett Favre would have been praised for such bravery.”  You know, he has a point.

After this great season he was at it again with his off-field antics criticizing Eagles management and QB Donovan McNabb, which lead to his release before the season’s end.  Something about him and quarterbacks, eh?  Is it coincidence that he has difficulties with the players responsible for padding his stats?  That was rhetorical. Nevermind.

Perhaps the event that angered many of his peers occurred when he spat in DeAngleo Hall’s face.  The officials didn’t see the incident, but after the game when Owens was asked about it he said, “Yes.  I got frustrated and I apologize for that. It was a situation where he kept hugging me and getting in my face. He had a lot of words, I didn’t. I just wanted to come and prove I’m not a guy to be schemed with”.  I guess stooping that low is enough to get someone off one’s back?

There was one particularly low-point in T.O.’s career that is more personal than professional.  In 2006, Terrell attempted suicide via painkillers.  When questioned, he acknowledged the attempt.   I bring this up not to treat it as some arbitrary occurrence in his life akin to some of the other incidents I already mentioned.  Rather, I mention this because it was the one time I completely set aside any ill feelings I had towards him and felt complete sympathy.  Truth be told, I’d completely forgotten that even occurred until last night.

I could go on forever writing about T.O and what he has done in his time in the NFL, but you know the important stuff – big numbers, bigger mouth.  Am I right?   No one will take away his incredible gifts he has a receiver, nor his fantastic stats, but he will forever be remembered as a guy who couldn’t get along anywhere he went.

It has taken me 15 years to realize that T.O. is certainly T.O. and I’m going to remember him for his hilarious celebrations and constant entertainment.  Whether I agree with the way he conducts himself or not (emphasis on the “not”), I do respect that he faced the music for everything he did, and he kept true to his personal beliefs.  He didn’t hide from the suicide attempt and he didn’t hide from the spitting incident.  He spoke his mind and it’s refreshing to hear what people actually think instead of the same boring interviews where athletes (or their PR representatives) tell us what they believe we want to hear.

I’m gonna miss T.O. – that guy could play football!  If i was a GM I would have wanted him on my team.  Thanks T.O. for all the pain and anger you caused me.  You made me laugh, throw bottles, and after 15 years, I forgive you for that. I’m now a T.O. fan and will always speak good things about him when his name pops up.

NHL Yearbooks: Comparing Last Year’s Predictions to Actual Results (Part Two)

Posted on by Maksim Vasilyev

Welcome to Part Two of this three part series that compares the pre-season predictions of three very well respected hockey publications – The Official NHL Yearbook, The Hockey News Yearbook, and McKeen’s Hockey Pool Yearbook.  Before continuing on to part two, you may want to check out  Part One before resuming with Part Two.

 

 

 

 

Edmonton Oilers

 

 

“The kids are all right, sure, but losing is really getting tiresome.” A quote from NHL Yearbook and it seems to be dead on. In fact, both McKeen’s and the NHL yearbook hit this one dead on, but the THN crew might have given a bit less credit to this young group. With three consecutive numero uno picks, the Oilers are stacked with blue chip forwards, yet what about the back-end?  With Khabibulin in his contract year, he performs the best in those (funny how that happens), we can see a slight jump in the standings compared to last two years. It will be interesting to see what these guys will say about them this year.

NHL Yearbook 2012 – Winner

McKeen’s – Winner

 

Florida Panthers

 

 

All of the experts here thought this would be a bottom-dweller team, finishing way out of the playoffs and continuing to be the “bad team” in Florida. THN said “Dave Tallon’s rebuild of the franchise is in full swing. The influx of veterans will help the Cats, but not enough to secure a playoff spot”,  and McKeen’s was singing a similar tune – “Its going to be a while yet before there is major progress in Florida even with all the money they’re throwing around.” Well how about a Southeast division championship instead?  Whoops! The truth is that this was a pleasant surprise for Florida hockey fans. The race was tight, but give credit to Florida.  They were extremely strong at home (21-9-11), and managed to pry the title away from the Washington Capitals. The title must have tasted extra delicious since they were able to prove the experts wrong. Love it.

McKeeen’s – Winner

 

LOS ANGELES KINGS

 

 

Well the story has been written and the Kings are kings in NHL this year. Most experts pegged them to do just that. The Kings really struggled to score which was a shock to everyone. NHL guys said, “After years of building toward the future, this could be the season when that future arrives for the Los Angeles Kings.”  Imagine the “could be” was replaced with “will be” and that quote could have had been epic. The more bold prediction came from McKeen’s with, “It should translate into a possible crowning season.”  Bravo!  Still the experts expected LA to be very dominant, but in the regular season.  They were good in the regular season, but were dominant in the playoffs, when it really mattered.  So the experts got it right that the Kings were serious contenders, but LA took a little longer than they thought to prove it.

The Hockey News 2012 Yearbook – Winner


MINNESOTA WILD

 

 

The fun part about the experts is that they can spot trends and the trend for the wild is that they could not score goals. Heatley was thought to be the solution.  I must say I really couldn’t see him solving much of anything, and similarly the experts doubted he would be the answer either. The guys at THN agreed; “Two new guns will help, but there are still holes throughout the lineup that will hurt Minnesota in the long run.” There is a bright future for this team and we saw a glimpse of it last season when for a brief moment the Wild were running the town in the West. The team crashed down the standings faster than NASDAQ during the recessions. All of the experts were almost dead-on and it will be interesting to see where they peg them to finish this year.

A good example of how the Wild ‘s season went:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHL4_qdMnoI&w=560&h=315]

NHL Yearbook 2012 – Tie

The Hockey News 2012 Yearbook – Tie

McKeen’s – Tie

 

MONTREAL CANADIENS

 

 

The Canadiens disappointed everyone including the experts, and including our own, Ben Kerr.  Condolences, Ben. The loss to Boston was still fresh in the minds of the writers when they were doing these rankings. “Gomez does not have to be the comeback player of the year, but he must improve on horrible totals.”  Boy, was this an understatement-of-the-year award candidate or what? Poor guy had a website made to track when he would score again, and with a seven million dollar CAP hit, he seems to be the most expansive bag of donuts on the market. Well the problems were everywhere except the 1st line. Let us see if the experts get fooled again next year.

NHL Yearbook 2012 – 11th in the East – Winner

 

 

 

 

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

 

 

Unappreciated and underestimated. This team has had awesome defensive system and it is easier to stay consistent when you have a solid defensive core.  Experts recognize this as well with THN saying “Always ‘D’ Day…Recipe for success remains the same.” NHL Yearbook really hammers the point home with this bit – “The Nashville Predators, with little star power and obscure almost by definition, would come to town, exhibit on ice passion in the utilizing a system that made it clear they were a very well-coached team, and leave the assembled fans and media admiring how the visitors played the game.” The truth is that, while not the most exciting team, the Predators play solid, consistent hockey. Betting on them to be in the mix every year is as sure a bet as any.

NHL Yearbook 2012 – Winner

 

NEW YORK ISLANDERS

 

 

It is a funny thing, predictions and expectations. The fact is that all the experts predicted the exact same thing and they were all wrong. While young talent can pay off and help you win quickly, sometimes the young talent only takes you so far and some seasoning is required. “Things are slowly coming together on Long Island,” said NHL gurus, while The Hockey News squad was a bit harsher – “You see where GM Garth Snow is going with this young group, but do you see them being better than any divisional rival? Us neither.” The truth is that even with those somewhat harsh words, they expected a bit more from the Captain Highliners. The bright side here is that there is really nowhere to go but up.

NHL 2012 Yearbook – Tie

The Hockey News 2012 Yearbook – Tie

McKeen’s – Tie

 

NEW JERSEY DEVILS

 

 

When is the right time to say that a franchise is rebuilding or is going to take a year off? The Devils are a franchise similar to the Red Wings where they make playoffs and keep on winning. The time is ticking on Martin Brodeur and no one can get it exactly right, so long as he keeps on winning. THN said “With a lack of top-notch talent and with Marin Brodeur another year older the Devils don’t have enough to content.”  Oops. I guess they had enough to get to the post-season, and even had enough to go all the way to the Stanley Cup final. McKeen’s seemed to have had more faith in the Devils – “This team is good enough on paper to get back into the playoffs. Whether that translates to the ice, will depend on Deboer,” but still ranked them out of the playoffs. NHL Yearbook asked a question that will be repeated for a while by the media and fans alike – “Brodeur: Is it time to start thinking about a time when he won’t be there?” This year will not be any different.

NHL 2012 Yearbook – 9th in the East – Winner

 

 

NEW YORK RANGERS

 

 

The Broadway show was lots brighter than most people expected. A healthy Gaborik lit it up, the King was being fabulous, and a shut-down duo blossomed at the Garden. While McDdonagh is a household name now, last year everyone was talking about Del Zotto. No one could have predicted such a solid season from the Rangers, no one except loud and proud New York Ranger fans, right (and how annoying are they? Just kidding, but not really)? THN states the obvious “The addition of Brad Richards will improve the Rangers offense, but the Blueshirts defense will remain their calling card.” The defense was good, top five in the NHL good, but lack of goal support for Henrik Lundqvist was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Having said that, the Rangers were a bit undervalued in last year’s rankings, and seeing as this year’s addition has that Rick Nash guy, the magazines will not have them ranked anywhere but 1st place.

NHL 2012 Yearbook – 6th in the East – Winner

 

 

Let’s stop here, take a breather, and re-group tomorrow where we look at the next group of teams and see where these magazines had them finishing in the standings in Part Three of this three-part series.  Are you keeping score between the magazines (part one)?  Don’t worry, I’ll tally it up and give the final verdict on Wednesday at the conclusion of Part three, where we will crown a winner and determine which magazine you should give your hard-earned coin to.

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter – @LastWordOnNHL, as well as my other column, “NHL Happy Hour”, where I compare hockey players to one of my other passions in life – vodka.

Feel free to leave your comments below.

Which magazine do you buy, and how much stock do you put into their prediction?

 

The Riskiest Quarterback Situations *Updated*

Posted on by Ben Kerr

A back-up quarterback matters.  Almost every year some teams’ fortunes are changed by injuries to their first-string quarterbacks.  Some teams like the 2011 Texans and the 2008 Patriots, have developed young players within their team’s system so that the team can still function with the super star injured. Then there are teams like the 2011 Chicago Bears who had no answers beyond Jay Cutler and let a promising 7-3 start go down the drain with Caleb Hanie under center.  Or for another example take the Oakland Raiders when Jason Campbell got injured.  The Raiders were so certain they didn’t have a decent replacement on the roster that they went out and traded multiple draft picks for Carson Palmer.  The problem is there aren’t enough quality backup’s to go around, so every year there are at least a few teams at risk.

Here is a list of five promising teams that could see their season take a major turn for the worse if the back-up has to play any meaningful time:

5) Denver Broncos – We all know the Peyton Manning story.  As a 36-year old coming off of major surgery you have to consider the fact that he might miss a few games during the season.  The Broncos apparently did not.  The same Caleb Hanie that sunk the Chicago Bears 2011 season will now be the backup for the 2012 Denver Broncos.  If Hanie is forced to play in Denver it could be even uglier than last year.  In Chicago at least Hanie had the benefit of a stellar defense.  The talent level is not as high in Denver and Hanie would have to produce himself for the Broncos to keep winning.

4) New York Giants – Many of us may still think of the Giants as a balanced team with a well-formed running game, but the reality is that this is Eli Manning’s team.  The running backs are not the same calibre the Giants used to have, but more concerning is that the line is not close to what it used to be.  The Giants struggle to open up holes in the run game now, and while they still remain committed to running in the redzone, this team moves the ball through the air or not at all.  This is why Manning had nearly 5,000 yards last season, and this is why the Giants require a solid veteran to back-up Manning.  David Carr is not that solid back-up.  He may look good in preseason, but I am not fooled.  Carr can make throws look pretty, but his problem is that he has always held onto the ball too long.  This style puts pressure on the offensive line and this current Giants line just can’t handle any extra pressure.  Carr would be a disaster if pressed into starting duty.

3) Carolina Panthers – Cam Newton is their all-world player that the entire offense is based on.  Their run heavy offense with multiple backs looks great when Newton is back there handing the ball off and keeping the backside of the defense honest for the potential of a quarterback run, but take that element away and the Panthers would be predictable and easy  to stop.  The big play element would be completely taken out of their offense.  Now factor in that their backup is Derek Anderson.  The same Derek Anderson who couldn’t win a starting job in Cleveland or Arizona against QB’s who are already out of the league.  Make no mistake, Derek Anderson is a terrible quarterback.

2) Buffalo Bills – *See update at bottom* Incumbant Ryan Fitzpatrick might not be a superstar like some of the other names on this list but he was very efficient for most of the year in Buffalo last season.  Head Coach Chan Gailey has also selected Fitzpatrick because his style meshes with the spread ’em out quick strike offense he has installed.  The offense doesn’t necessarily require the strongest arm but it requires accurate throws and quick decisions.  The exact same things that Vince Young does not give you.  There will always be hope that Vince can become what he showed flashes of in his first seasons in the NFL but after so many years it is a safer bet to say it will just never happen.  Any time Young steps on the field these days he looks  awful, including last year’s regular season and this year’s preseason.

1) Green Bay Packers – The last few years the Packers were sitting on a hidden gem in Matt Flynn.  Flynn was a late round Packers draft pick back in 2008 and he immediately beat out the 2nd round pick from that same season, Brian Brohm.   Once Flynn was identified as a capable player, the Packers developed him within their system all the way up until last year.  The time invested paid off as Flynn was able to come in last season and dominate a game, even if it was a meaningless one for the Packers (and he played pretty darn good against New England in 2010, too).  The Packers didn’t draft another QB after Matt Flynn until this season because they knew they had a capable player.  Now that Flynn has left for a lucrative contract the only true back-up option is Graham Harrell.  Harrell may very well take the same steps Flynn did as the Packers back-up, but he has only been on the Packers for one season and it is clear he doesn’t have any of the polish that Flynn possesses.  This is the #1 ranked risky QB situation, not because of Harrell, but because of the circumstances. The Packers are the #1 Super Bowl contender in the league.  They are talented enough on offense that with a veteran back-up they could still do some damage. They are also a total passing offense so there is no hope for them getting by with defense and the ground game if they do sustain an injury.  If Graham Harrell is forced to play for any length of time the Packers won’t look like the Packers.

Feel free to add comments below.

* BILLS UPDATE*

Apparently I wasn’t the only one to notice the terrible back-up QB situation the Bills had on their hands.  After completion of this column the Bills traded a late round pick to acquire former starting QB Tarvaris Jackson. The move certainly spells the end of Vince Young’s short tenure in Buffalo.  Tarvaris has performed as a starter in the past, and while he has never been dominant he will be capable of providing a few spot starts as needed.  He is a big enough upgrade for the Bills to remove them from this list.

Euro Football Weekend Rundown

Posted on by Luciano Giuliano

Welcome back to Euro Football Weekend Rundown.  It was certainly an interesting weekend of football, as most usually are, with some fantastic strikes, world-class long-balls, devastating injuries and some breakout performances.  Each week we attempt to sift through dozens of stories from around Europe, and give you what we feel are the most important few noteworthy events.  Here are our five key moments from this past weekend’s Euro football action…

5)         PSG draws 3rd consecutive match

O mon Dieu! Three matches, three straight ties in Ligue 1 for Paris Saint-Germain, and the second consecutive 0-0 result, this time occurring at the hands of Bordeaux.

Despite all of the major signings this summer, Carlo Ancelotti’s side has struggled to show its potential and only has two goals to show for the millions spent in attack dating back to the first game of the season. This is not impressive at all and the home fans made sure their unhappiness of the result was heard. Just because your team is stacked with players, does not necessarily mean you will win the championship or be a powerhouse – immediately anyway. You may become a top team, but on the other hand, you might not.

Looking back, Real Madrid boosted their line-up with the Brazilian Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Luis Figo, Raul, David Beckham and still had difficulty winning La Liga, and especially the Champions League. So PSG, the lesson here is to give the team time to develop chemistry and allow the tactician time to try various tactics and formations in order to find the right balance. PSG currently holds three points and is placed 12th. Bonne chance Monsieur Ancelotti!

4)         Van Persie’s first goal, Man U’s first victory, Rooney out for a month

Robin Van Persie scores, Manchester United wins. RVP opened up the scoring in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Fulham. It is his first goal in a Man United jersey – much to the displeasure of Gooners around the world. The Red Devils notched up three points with the Dutchman, along with fellow new-comer, Japanese striker Shinji Kagawa, who also bagged a goal.

To give playing time, Wayne Rooney was therefore benched for this match, but did make an appearance in the second half. It was not a pleasant game for the Englishman as he sustained a cut to the thigh and is expected to be sidelined for the next four weeks. He will be dearly missed, but Sir Alex Ferguson can feel some relief seeing that the World Cup 2014 qualifiers are set to begin in two weeks time. Will Rooney be missed? Well, of course. He adds fire and aggressiveness to the Red Devils’ attack.  But on the bright side, it will give Van Persie and Kagawa time to develop a good strike partnership.

3)         Fernando Torres dive aids Chelsea to 3rd straight win

I know for a fact that I was not watching the Serie A because at the top left corner of the screen the scoreboard said Chelsea-Newcastle United. The Blues won the match 2-0 thanks to Eden Hazard converting a penalty, as well one from Fernanado Torres. But looking at the replays, and I know for sure that Premier League junkies will not agree, it seems as if Torres could have won a gold medal in the 3m Olympic dive event. It was astonishing: Torres dribbles into the box, leaps with toes pointed, then finally belly-flops in the penalty area. It was really quite intriguing and I know not one Chelsea supporter, nor a Premier League faithful, will admit to it either – although, I must admit that it does not regularly happen in the English League when compared to other leagues.  I suppose there’s a “first” time for everything!

2)         Controversy strikes Serie A…again! Surprised? Really?

Saturday marked the opening round of the Serie A and it did not fail to deliver the goods. Juventus took on Parma at the Juventus Stadium and defeated the Ducali 2-0.

Parma put in a good effort in the first half, pressing forward and neutralizing the Bianconeri attack to a minimum. The Serie A is the first league to deploy goal-line referees and they were quickly influential. The Old Lady was awarded a spot kick in the first half for a trip on Swiss winger Stephan Lichtsteiner. Looking at the replays, it was clearly a foul as Mirante, the Parma ‘keeper, makes contact with the Juve wingman. But hold up! Rewind the play back to the build-up of the foul and you’ll find Lichtsteiner offside by at least a yard. What is the linesman watching?

Justice was served as Arturo Vidal’s terrible kick was saved. In the second half, Juve turned on the jets and poured forward pinning Parma back. On 54 minutes, Kwadwo Asamoah broke forward on the left and put in a low cross for Lichtsteiner to tap in from close range, 1-0. Four minutes later though, Vidal was elbowed in the face and fell at the edge of the box. Andrea Pirlo stepped up to take the freekick which went low, under the wall, forcing Mirante to make a stop on the goal line. Wait a minute – on the line? According to the goal judge, the ball crossed the line and it was declared 2-0 for the reigning champions. Again looking back at the replay, it really does seem that Mirante made a goal-line save – and yes, I am a Juventus supporter and am admitting that it was not a goal. Regardless, Juventus still dominated the encounter and will be a force this year in the Serie A.

Other controversy: Pescara forward Vladimir Weiss was booked for simulation as he fell in the box after contact from Javier Zanetti. Replays show that the defender certainly makes contact with Weiss. Inter dominated, 3-0.

AS Roma took on Catania Calcio at the Stadio Olimpico in a game which ended in a 2-2 tie. The first Catania goal was given in controversial style as replays show a deflection from a Roma player before the ball landed to Giovanni Marchese who was offside. The new rules state that the opponent would have to make a deliberate back pass for this to count.

1)         AC Milan loses first of season

Much to the delight of Juventini, Interisti and now Antonio Cassano, AC Milan fell to their first defeat of the season against newly-promoted Sampdoria 1-0 at the San Siro. The Rossoneri, although well-covered in defence and in midfield, seem to be missing a piece of the puzzle in attack as the side seems to be lacking ideas in the final third. Cassano was their specialist in this area last year, but the man from Bari opted to switch to childhood favourite team, Inter, in a swap deal that saw Gianpaolo Pazzini become a Rossonero. Adriano Galliani is hoping to land the return of Kaka before the transfer window closes. The Brazilian would certainly be helpful to the cause as he would occupy central midfield, pushing up Montolivo to sit in behind the two forwards. We will see what unfolds and if this cures the Rossonero attack.

 

Meet me back here bright and early next Tuesday for our Euro Football Weekend Rundown.

Beat the NFL Odds (Quick pick): St Louis Rams -1 over Baltimore Ravens

Posted on by AaronWrotkowski

This quick pick will be short and sweet so you can be on your way…

Week 4 of the preseason is where you see only backups, really. The starters may play a series or two to stay fresh, but teams will not risk injuries a week before the real football starts. Jeff Fisher doesn’t subscribe to this theory, however.

Fisher uses the final game of the preseason as the “dress rehearsal” game. He will be playing his starters into the 2nd half of the game. The Ravens are a veteran team with their main goal being the Super Bowl. They will not risk injuries to any of their veterans in this game and will be playing out the string here, hoping to get out without any injuries. This is a big advantage for the Rams, and for us. The line should be much higher than a -1 and we will take advantage of this.

 

Top Shelf Prospects: Vancouver Canucks

Posted on by Ben Kerr

Welcome to today’s edition of “Top Shelf Prospects” – a team-by-team look at the top prospects in the NHL. As I continue my alphabetical journey, I bring you a look at the Vancouver Canucks.

As always you can find a complete listing of my previous articles here. Since we had an extensive NHL Draft preview, I will not be reviewing the players who were drafted in the 2012 draft, as there have been no games since then, and my reports on them will not have changed. What I will be doing is linking you to those articles, as well as taking a look at prospects that were acquired before this year’s draft; their progress, and their chances of making the 2012-13 roster of the NHL team in question. I will also bring you one sleeper pick – a player who was either drafted in the 4th-round or later, or was an undrafted free agent signing who I pick as my darkhorse to make the NHL. For those wondering, the cut-off for what is or isn’t a prospect is typically about 45-50 NHL games played or being 25 years old. These are not static rules though, as I may make some exceptions depending on the circumstances.

Rulings
Zack Kassian has 48 career games (44 regular season and 4 playoff games).  He was given role after being acquired in a deal for Cody Hodgson.  He is Graduated.

Chris Tanev has 64 career games.  He played in every Canucks playoff game last season.  He is also graduated.

2012 Draft Picks Reviewed:
Brendan Gaunce

 

Top Prospect, Nicklas Jensen, Right Wing/Left Wing
Born Mar 6 1993 — Herning, Denmark
Height 6.03 — Weight 186 — Shoots Left
Selected by the Vancouver Canucks in round 1, #29 overall at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft

Denmark has never been known as a country that produces a lot of high end hockey talent, but that has started to change in recent years. Mikkel Boedker and Lars Eller are recent first round picks who are becoming solid NHL players. Frans Nielsen and Jannik Hansen have become a solid two way players for the New York Islanders and Vancouver Canucks respectively. And now Nicklas Jensen is yet another promising young Dane, and the third recent first round pick from the country. Clearly the hockey development in Denmark has taken a step forward.  In Jensen we see a young winger has spent the last two seasons with the Oshawa Generals and as such has become accustomed to the North American game. His father Dan Jensen was a former OHL defenceman and played in the Danish pro league for years.

Despite possessing top end speed that is only slightly above average, I would still say that Jensen is a very good skater.  He has quick feet with a good first step and excellent acceleration.  He uses his edges well and has very good agility, and this makes him deceptively elusive in the offensive zone.  His lower body strength and balance are very good and as a result Jensen is very difficult to knock off the puck.

Jensen is extremely talented.  He has soft hands and good stick handling ability, he can dangle defencemen and score from in tight on goalies.  With his size, he is extremely hard to move from in front of the net and can be a force in board battles.  A pure sniper, Jensen has a lethal wrist shot.  It is deadly accurate, extremely hard and heavy, and features an extremely good release.  He also has a very good one-timer and snap shot.  While goal scoring is his major strength, Jensen is also a decent playmaker off the wing.

The knock on Jensen is his consistency.  There are nights he puts all the skills together and he is among the best players in the OHL.  A solid two way winger who snipes goals and is responsible in his own end.  Then there are nights where he could stand to show more intensity on the ice.  He can start to float, stops being involved in the board battles, plays a perimeter game in the offensive zone, and is just generally not involved enough in the game.  He has the skills and the size to assert himself into any OHL game, and it surely must frustrate coaches as to why it doesn’t always happen.  Thankfully, those nights are becoming less and less, and we’ve seen many young players grow past consistency issues.  If Jensen can do that too, the Canucks will have a gem on their hands, a legit top 6 winger with size  and skill.

Jensen is just 19 years old, if he does not make the Canucks this season he will play in Sweden in the Elitserien, and if healthy will certainly be part of Denmark’s World Junior Squad again.  It seems unlikely that he will be ready to crack the big squad this year, but a year playing against men may make him more ready in 2013-14.

 

Top Prospect #2 Jordan Schroeder, Centre/Right Wing
Born Sep 29 1990 — Prior Lake, MN
Height 5.09 — Weight 180 — Shoots Right
Selected by the Vancouver Canucks in round 1 #22 overall at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft

Jordan Schroeder was an absolute star for Team USA at the Under 18 and World Junior levels.   He won a silver and bronze at the U18 level, and was part of the 2010 American Team that won the Gold.  However his most impressive performance was at the 2008 World Junior Tourney were a then 17 year old Schroeder (and still 18 months shy of even being draft eligible) led the entire tournament with 7 assists.  Schroeder would also play two seasons at the University of Minnesota and now has 2 full AHL seasons (plus a part of a third after leaving the NCAA) under his belt.  Schroeder has shown flashes of star potential at the AHL level, and looked to final break out during the second half of this past season.

Schroeder is an extremely talented skater.  He has very good top end speed and quick, fluid cuts due to solid edge work.  His agility helps him to elude defenders and find his way into open areas in the offensive zone.  He could use a little work on his acceleration however.

Schroeder is a talented offensive playmaker, with great hands and puck protection ability and the ability to thread a pass through a tiny opening.  He has a high hockey IQ and is able to make smart plays in traffic.  His wrist shot and snap shots are extremely accurate and both feature a very good release, however Schroeder could work on his velocity.

As an extremely undersized player it is no surprise that Schroeder is often out muscled in front of the net and in the corners.  He certainly works hard in these areas, but his physical limitations hurt him.  This applies to the defensive end of the ice as well.  As a result Schroeder’s future may be on the wing instead of at centre.  There is simply less defensive responsibility for a RW as he will not be asked to contain an opposing forward off the cycle.

The Canucks have been very patient with Schroeder, and for good reason.  While he started to break out in the AHL last season, he could still use a little more time at that level, to further develop his consistency.  I expect to see him back in Chicago to start the season, but he might be a full time Canuck before the year is done, or if not this year, is likely to make the squad in 2013-14.

 

Sleeper Pick and Top Prospect #3, Eddie Lack, Goaltender
Born Jan 5 1988 — Norrtalje, Sweden
Height 6.04 — Weight 185 — Shoots Right, Catches Right
Signed as a free agent in April 2010

Eddie Lack is the true definition of a sleeper pick. He was a virtual unknown, and was even a backup in the Swedish Elitserien in April 2010 when he was signed by the Vancouver Canucks. However he has also shown me that he is the Canucks third best prospect (and was close to overtaking Schroeder for #2) in his two years at the AHL level. He has quite simply been one of the AHL’s best goalies, and has been downright spectacular at times.

Two games in particular stand out to me from the 2011 AHL North Division Final, where Lack nearly single handedly stole the Series for the Manitoba Moose against the Hamilton Bulldogs. In the series the Moose trailed the Bulldogs 3 games to 2 heading back to Hamilton for games 6 and 7. In game 6 Lack put up a shutout as the Moose staved off elimination and forced game 7 with a 1-0 win. In game 7 Lack was outright spectacular. The Bulldogs dominated the game from start to finish and threw everything but the kitchen sink at Lack. Lack was up to the task though, stopping 55 shots and forcing 3 overtime periods before Dustin Boyd scored to give Hamilton a 2-1 win and eliminate his team. During one of the various overtime intermissions I just happened to run into Walter Gretzky on the concourse and I remember him asking me who this goalie was, and how he wasn’t in the NHL.  Lack would follow up that run with an impressive season for Chicago this year.

Lack is a hybrid style goalie.  He is capable of playing the standup game, but is equally adept at going into the butterfly style.  He has a big frame and takes up a lot of net, but he tends to play deep in his crease and doesn’t cut down angles as well as he could.  His quick legs and lightning quick reflexes help him to take away the bottom of the net.  He also has a good glove hand that does the same for the upper part of the net.  Lack has good rebound control for a young goalie, but his best asset is the quickness and agility that allow him to get into position quickly and be square for the next shot.  If there is one area Lack needs to work on, it is his stickhandling, as he likes to roam, but can get in trouble by doing so.

Lack appears to be NHL ready.  He is the likely backup to Corey Schneider assuming the Canucks are able to deal Roberto Luongo.  If the Luongo deal continues to drag on, Lack will be back in the AHL, but he’s reached a point where his skills have surpassed that league. I believe Lack will be an excellent backup goalie, and may even push Schneider in a couple more years (in much the same way Schneider has battled Luongo).  He is currently a restricted free agent, however most expect that he will re-sign with the Canucks before the start of the hockey season.

*Ben Kerr Edit: Shortly after I published the article, the Canucks announced a two year deal with Eddie Lack. Details can be found by clicking here.*  

 

While the Canucks have some decent prospects, and in addition to those named above I liked the pick of Brendan Gaunce this season, as well as the play of Kevin Connauton.  Connauton is a solid Powerplay quarterback type who moves the puck very well, makes smart decisions on the Powerplay and has an excellent one timer.  Overall though, the system lacks elite talent, and really doesn’t have a lot of depth outside of those 5 players.  As I said in talking about a potential landing spot for Shane Doan, the window for the Canucks to win with their current core is closing due to the age of the Sedins and the contracts and cap space that will be needed to keep the team together.  It is imperative that the Canucks add young talent in any trade of Luongo, because the system could really use an infusion youth going forward.

Please feel free to leave your comments below and follow me on twitter @lastwordBKerr.

NCAA Football Preview- Big Ten

Posted on by Lindsay Higgins

Editor’s Note: Previous previews on the Big East, Big XII, ACC and SEC are available by clicking the conference name.

Its been a long offseason for the Big Ten.  First there was the handing down of sanctions on Ohio State, and Urban Meyer coming in to rebuild the program.  That was followed up by the whole Penn State drama, and even some thought the program could face the death penalty.  While that didn’t happen, the Penn State football program has been hit with very serious sanctions and rocked by a scandal whose damage will not go away anytime soon.  With that as a backdrop, it’s finally time to get back to football and there are ten other teams in the Big 10 (yes, there are 12 teams in the Big 10…. College-level math) eligible to win the Conference Championship, so let’s take a quick look at the conference.

ILLINOIS FIGHTING ILLINI

2011-12 Record: 7-6 (2-6 Big 10)

Returning Starters: 6 on offense, 7 on defense

Key Losses: WR A.J. Jenkins, DE Whitney Mercilus (NFL)

Player To Watch: Junior QB Nathan Scheelhaase, in his third system since arriving in Champaign.

Of Note: The Illini have a brutal schedule, with road games at Michigan, Ohio State, and Wisconsin.

Can’t-Miss Game: A Rose Bowl preview it’s probably not, but for something a little different, catch a Big 10-Pac 12 matchup September 8 as Illinois faces Arizona State

INDIANA HOOSIERS 

2011-12 Record: 1-11 (0-8 Big 10)

Returning Starters: 5 on offense, 6 on defense

Key Loss: I’m not sure you can call any loss “key” when the team was 1-11

Key Additions: Several juco transfers, notably QB Cameron Coffman and a handful of defensive players

Players To Watch: Will QB Tre Roberson hold off Coffman and freshman Nathan Sudfeld, and how will coach Kevin Wilson replace him if he struggles?

Of Note: The Hoosiers last won a conference game November 27, 2010

Can’t-Miss Game: October 6, the Hoosiers play Michigan State for the Old Brass Spittoon. You can’t make this stuff up.

IOWA HAWKEYES

2011-12 Record: 7-6 (4-4 Big 10)

Returning Starters: 5 on offense, 5 on defense

Key Losses: All-time leading Hawkeye WR Marvin McNutt (NFL), all-time leading Hawkeye RB Marcus Coker (suspended, transferred).

Player To Watch: Much-hyped junior TE C.J. Fiedorowicz, with 12 catches in his last four games last season.

Of Note: Starting C James Ferentz is the son of head coach Kirk Ferentz

Can’t-Miss Game: If Iowa wants to be in the discussion in the Big Ten, beating Michigan State October 13 would be a good place to start.

MICHIGAN WOLVERINES

2011-12 Record: 11-2 (6-2 Big 10)

Returning Starters: 6 on offense, 7 on defense

Key Losses: DT Mike Martin, C David Molk (NFL), RB Fitz Toussaint (suspended indefinitely after DUI arrest)

Players To Watch: Everyone knows by now what QB Denard Robinson can do with his feet, but he needs to improve his accuracy in the passing game. Also, keep an eye on sophomore RB Thomas Rawls, who with senior Vincent Smith will be replacing Toussaint in the run game.

Of Note: Michigan opens with a neutral-site game against defending champ Alabama.

Can’t-Miss Game: September 22 at Notre Dame. Remember last year? And the year before? If you don’t remember, feel free to tweet my colleague Ben @lastwordBKerr and ask him all about it.

MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS

2011-12 Record: 11-3 (7-1 Big 10)

Returning Starters: 4 on offense, 8 on defense

Key Losses: QB Kirk Cousins, WR B.J. Cunningham, DT Jerel Worthy (NFL)

Player To Watch: Junior QB Andrew Maxwell may be better than Kirk Cousins in some aspects of the game.

Of Note: Consecutive October road games in Ann Arbor and Madison will likely have implications in December with regards to who plays in Indianapolis

Can’t-Miss Game: At Michigan October 20

MINNESOTA GOLDEN GOPHERS

2011-12 Record: 3-9 (2-6 Big 10)

Returning Starters: 4 on offense, 5 on defense

Key Loss: RB DeLeon Eskridge

Player To Watch: Former WR MarQueis Gray, in his second year as the Gophers’ QB

Of Note: This is a very young team with few returning starters. Finishing 6-6 and sneaking into a bowl game would have to be considered a successful season. But take heart, Gopher faithful- hockey season is just around the corner.

Can’t-Miss Game: October 29 vs. Iowa for the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy. For the uninitiated, Floyd is a bronze pig. I love the Big Ten.

NEBRASKA CORNHUSKERS

2011-12 Record: 9-4 (5-3 Big 10)

Returning Starters: 7 on offense, 7 on defense

Key Losses: DE Jared Crick, LB Lavonte David (NFL)

Player To Watch: QB Taylor Martinez, whose mechanics and technique have come under fire. According to Sports Illustrated, Martinez averaged just 12.5 completions per game last year. That number needs to go up.

Of Note: Nebraska is one of five Big Ten teams on most preseason Top 25 lists, and they play the other four- Ohio State and Michigan State on the road, and Michigan and Wisconsin in Lincoln.

Can’t-Miss Game: November 3 at Michigan State

NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS

2011-12 Record: 6-7 (3-5 Big 10)

Returning Starters: 7 on offense, 8 on defense

Key Loss: QB Dan Persa, although current QB Kain Colter filled in capably last year when Persa was injured. Talented S Brian Peters also graduated.

Players To Watch: QB Colter needs to improve in the passing game. Also, keep an eye on the secondary, which lost three starters.

Of Note: The Wildcats have played in a bowl game for four consecutive seasons, a school record.

Can’t-Miss Game: November 24 vs. Illinois for the Land of Lincoln Trophy

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

2011-12 Record: 6-7 (3-5 Big 10)

Key Losses: RB Dan “Boom” Herron, WR DeVier Posey (NFL)

Key Addition: New head coach Urban Meyer

Player To Watch: DE recruit Noah Spence, ranked #9 overall on Rivals.com, could make an impact this season.

Of Note: The Buckeyes aren’t eligible to play in the Big Ten Championship or a bowl game due to the NCAA sanctions resulting from Tattoogate.

Can’t-Miss Game: November 24, when the Wolverines come to the ‘Shoe

PURDUE BOILERMAKERS

2011-12 Record: 7-6 (4-4 Big 10)

Returning Starters: 6 on offense, 7 on defense

Key Loss: RB Ralph Bolden, coming off ACL surgery last winter. He could play sometime this season, but not right away.

Key Addition: QB Rob Henry is back from ACL surgery; it wouldn’t be surprising to see him play some QR or RB, given Purdue’s depth under center (Caleb TerBush and Robert Marve are the #1 and #2 QBs, respectively).

Can’t-Miss Game: November 26 at Indiana, with the winner claiming the Old Oaken Bucket.

WISCONSIN BADGERS

2011-12 Record: 11-3 (6-2 Big 10)

Returning Starters: 5 on offense, 6 on defense

Key Loss: QB Russell Wilson, OL Peter Konz, WR Nick Toon (NFL)

Key Addition: QB Danny O’Brien, a Maryland transfer with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Player To Watch: RB Montee Ball could very well be in New York for the Heisman ceremony in December.

Of Note: Part of why Wisconsin is predicted by so many to win the Big Ten is their relatively soft schedule. Three of their four conference road games are at Purdue, Indiana, and Penn State. They will have to face Michigan State and Ohio State at Camp Randall.

Can’t-Miss Game: I wish Minnesota were a more formidable opponent so I could discuss the Slab of Bacon. From a football standpoint, however, that game will be a bore. For entertainment purposes, I recommend October 27 vs. Michigan State.

PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS 

2011-12 Record: 9-4 (6-2 Big 10)

Returning Starters: A lot of the lists out there are out of date, but as far as I can tell they have 1 on offense and 4 on defense.

Key Losses: Among the players to transfer in the wake of NCAA sanctions were WR Justin Brown (Oklahoma), RB Silas Redd (USC) and kicker/punter Anthony Fera (Texas).

Key Additions: Fifth-year LB Michael Mauti returns after tearing his ACL early last season.

Of Note: Penn State returns just one starter on the offensive line. They have a relatively easy schedule, with Ohio State and Wisconsin at home, and they don’t face Michigan or Michigan State. Road games at Iowa and Nebraska should be their biggest challenges.

Can’t-Miss Game: Home opener September 1 vs. Ohio

BIG TEN OVERVIEW

Conference Champ: Wisconsin

Best Bets to Challenge: Michigan, Michigan State

Offensive POTY: RB Montee Ball, Wisconsin

Defensive POTY: DE William Gholston, Michigan State

Coach On The Hot Seat: I don’t know about hot, but Danny Hope’s seat at Purdue is getting warm (16-21 in 3 years).

NHL Yearbooks: Comparing Last Year's Predictions to Actual Results (Part One)

Posted on by Maksim Vasilyev

I subscribe to a few magazines that range in interests – PC stuff, science, and hockey. The Hockey News is my main source of, well, hockey news, but I do enjoy buying all kinds of books that preview each NHL season. The mags call them “Yearbooks” while I just call them “good reads” and leave it at that.   The thing about these magazines is that they all have experts – people who have watched, read, and wrote about hockey for the better half of their lives. They clearly know what they are talking about. We trust these guys because they are experts. Experts who give us an overview of our teams and while you may agree and disagree, they get paid for it and you do not.

Until now I have hardly ever really questioned their thoughts and recommendations, and have never thought to return to past seasons and see if they really are any good at giving predictions in the first place.  Have I been reading these blindly accepting what they tell me, or do they actually have the ability to predict the standings better than you or me?  So let’s take a look back and compare three books to see who did a better job predicting a team’s position.

For this three-part series, I have decided to compare three very respected sources of hockey predictions – the Official NHL Yearbook, the Hockey News Yearbook and McKeen’s Hockey Pool Yearbook.

With my favorite quote from The Hockey News “Caps will take Cup…really. No fooling us, the red is ready”, here we go…

 

Anaheim Ducks – 13th in the West

This was a disappointing season for the Duck fans. The big three did not perform up to par and Bruce Boudreau could not right the ship fast enough.  The Ducks had a decent second half of the season (22-14-6), but the abysmal start caused them to sink. Both of the magazines overestimated the Ducks, and rightfully so. No one would have predicted the epic mess that was the start of the season. I would not have predicted this team to sink instead of fly, and no one would have really. All three magazines predicted playoffs for the club, but one can say NHL staff saw the trouble that loomed a bit better.

NHL 2012 Yearbook: 8th in the West – Winner

The Hockey News 2012 Yearbook: 6th in the West

McKeen’s – 5th in the West

 

Boston Bruins – 2nd in the East

Well this was as safe a bet as you can get, really. With no major roster changes after winning the cup, the Bruins were poised to make another run at the cup. The downside to winning the Stanley Cup is the extended amount of games you have to play and all of the celebrating that takes a toll on a team.  Would the Bruins avoid this pitfall?  They certainly took a while to find their groove, finishing October going 3-7.  They rebounded, however, and looked almost unbeatable during the month of December going 14-1. That one loss was not even a real loss. They lost to the Red Wings in a shootout.  None of the magazines did too poorly here.

NHL 2012 Yearbook: 3rd in the East – Tie

The Hockey News 2012 Yearbook: 3rd in the East – Tie

McKeen’s – 4th in the East

 

Buffalo Sabres – 9th in the East

This team was praised by all three magazines for the money they flashed going into last season. Between Derek Roy being touted as a point-per-game player, and Ville Leino’s big contract (oops!), the expectations were high. Added to that an all-world goalie, and no one could have expected less. The ship came crashing down with the team being unable to win on the road (18-20-3 away, 21-12-8 at home). Lack of offense and a rather poor first half of the season by Miller caused all kind of headaches (no pun intended) and the results were a bit ugly. But the experts expected big things and no winners here, but I give the slight edge to The Hockey News.

NHL 2012 Yearbook – 4th in the East

The Hockey News 2012 Yearbook – 5th in the East – Winner

McKeen’s – 2nd in the East

 

Calgary Flames – 9th in the West

So we had a major split of opinion here. The NHL guys expected the Flames to make the playoffs and make it with authority. The quote “This will likely be the season when the Calgary Flames either make the playoffs and make some noise or change direction into rebuilding mode for next year and beyond” and pretty much none of this happened. THN had a different opinion and expected the flames to finish out of the playoffs. They did not buy the way the Flames capped of the 10-11 season and saw through the thin depth chart. McKeen’s also had it right, citing similar reasons as did THN.  Hands down the winners here were The Hockey News and McKeens.

NHL 2012 Yearbook – 6th in the West

The Hockey News 2012 Yearbook: 10th in the West– Winner

McKeen’s – 10th in the West – Winner

 

Carolina Hurricanes – 12th in the East

The club missed the playoffs by losing the last game of the season in 10-11, but none of the magazines expected much from them last season. Each saw a bright future for this rather young club, however. The expectation will surely rise this coming year after this summer’s offseason acquisitions. The defense was the real question last season, and this season seems no different. NHL magazine offered up this explanation; “The simple answer could be just time”.  This probably says it all and still holds true this year. The THN guys were slightly more optimistic here and it cost them. While McKeen’s was most skeptical and had the Canes pegged the best.

NHL 2012 Yearbook – 10th in the East 

The Hockey News 2012 Yearbook – 9th in the East

McKeen’s – 11th in the East – Winner

 

Chicago Blackhawks – 6th in the West

Well this was one of those no-brainer playoff teams. They have a stacked offensive unit that can pile on numbers. The problems were in the net and as some fantasy owners can attest, there were plenty of them. THN, were off a bit in their assessment of the Hawks’ goaltending.  THN: “With the goaltending sorted and talent up and down the lineup, it will be hard to keep the Hawks down in the Central”. The big let down here was for poolies who picked Crawford or kept him as a rookie.  McKeen’s felt that “”Impoving a penalty killing unit that finished 25th in the league will go a long way to getting the Hawks into the playoffs next spring.”  Unfortunately the 25th ranked pk unit would fall to 27th and the big climb in the standings didn’t happen.   The NHL guys predicted a bit less from this Hawks squad and they got it right. Lesson learned here is that rookie and sophomore goalies tend not to be trusted for good reason.

NHL 2012 Yearbook – 5th in the West – Winner

The Hockey News 2012 Yearbook – 3rd in the West

McKeen’s – 3rd in the West

 

Colorado Avalanche – 11th in the West

These magazines were all over the map in regards to where the Avs would finish, yet all got it right by predicting them not to play in the post-season. One predicted the team to be the bottom of the bottom, another expected them to be a bubble playoff team, and the third somewhere in between. In fact the Avs finished between the good and the bad, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say they were ugly. They have a young team that just needs to score a bit more and give up a bit less; story of most teams, I know. The NHL Yearbook preview reads like a death sentence with quotes like, “Avs won just once between Jan 26th 2010 and March 17th 2010” and “No puck stopper will escape the statistical curse of playing goal on the NHL’s worst defensive team…” Harsh to say the least.  In the end, they landed smack between McKeen’s prediction and THN’s.

NHL 2012 Yearbook – 15th in the West

The Hockey News 2012 yearbook – 9th in the West – Winner (tie)

McKeen’s – 13th in the West – Winner (tie)

 

Columbus Blue Jackets – 15th in the West

All three magazines were generous and hopeful for last year’s Blue Jackets’ season as well as the team’s future. My, what a difference a year makes.  All of these generous hopes did not come true and forced the trade of the only true franchise player – Rick Nash. NHL experts said, “A culture of change will undoubtedly take hold for the Columbus Blue Jackets this season as they work toward one simple goal: the team has to be better”, and THN said “Despite major additions to the roster, much of the Jackets’ hopes rest on Steve Mason.”  Both of these statements were true.  The Blue Jackets did need Mason to step up and the team did need a culture change. Too bad the team did not get better and Steve Mason did not provide much hope last season nor for the near future. Meanwhile McKeen’s said “The Changes should translate into a jump in the standings, though getting back into the playoffs would be a tall order” while winning the prediction contest by placing the Jackets furthest down the standings of the three.

NHL 2012 Yearbook – 10th in the West

The Hockey News 2012 Yearbook – 12th in the West – Winner

McKeen’s – 12th in the West – Winner

 

Dallas Stars – 10th in the West

Well, this is another club that proved difficult for the magazines to predict as there was quite a range in predicting their final result.  McKeen’s was far too kind, seemingly, going into the season, while conversely The Hockey News was a bit harsh with “They just don’t have the big horses to run in the West”.  I doubt you will hear the same this year. Benn and Eriksson have risen to very near elite status and certainly would be considered big horses. While Dallas certainly was not a goal scoring powerhouse, they were no Minnesota in that regard. The NHL Yearbook did not give much more credit to the younger, better, faster Stars, but still had them finishing slightly better than THN.  NHL Yearbook and McKeen’s, were each two off the mark, but we’ll give it to NHL on the tie breaker that they had the team missing the playoffs while McKeen’s had them making it.

NHL Yearbook 2012 – 12th in the West – Winner

The Hockey News 2012 Yearbook – 13th in the West

McKeen’s – 8th in the West

 

Detroit Red Wings – 5th in the West

Certainly the mighty Red Wings are not as mighty as they once were and some could argue that they are en route for a rebuilding phase. Still, not one magazine dared to peg them to miss the playoffs, and rightfully so.  You can always count on a Swiss made watch and you can always count on the Red Wings to make the playoffs – it just works that way. THN said “The Wings are a little bit older and greyer this year, but still have more than enough talent to vie for a home-ice playoff berth” and boy were they dead on. Not only guessing the playoff spot but the exact position the Red Wings would end up. NHL Yearbook guys have a slightly higher regard for the aging Wings, what might have been a stretch.

NHL Yearbook 2012 – 3rd in the West

The Hockey News 2012 Yearbook – 5th in the West – Winner

McKeen’s – 6th in the West

 

Let’s stop there, take a breather, and re-group tomorrow where we look at the next group of teams and see where these magazines had them finishing in the standings in Part Two of this three-part series.  Are you keeping score between the magazines?  Don’t worry, I’ll tally it up and give the final verdict on Tuesday at the conclusion of Part three.

 

Picture for easy tracking of the winners and losers.

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter – @LastWordOnNHL, and feel free to leave your comments below.

Which magazine do you buy, and how much stock do you put into their prediction?