2012 - Page 49 of 114 - Last Word On Sports

Top 10 Athletes NEVER to Have Won the Big One! Part One

Posted on August 19, 2012November 4, 2021 by Michael Kovacs, ADMIN

We all have our list of players who have outstanding ability, but became lost due to playing for mediocre teams. While this is in no way a complete list, I am hoping you can add to my list in the comment section below. I decided to choose players who were active since I started following sports in the mid-80’s. Also, I did not choose any active players, sticking to retirees. This list is #10-#6. After reading this, you will see a link at the bottom for #5-#1, or click here.

So, let’s countdown the top 10 players that never won the championship in their respective sports because of the teams they played for.

10. Charles Barkley’s image has been tarnished as of late as people seem to be waiting for the next ridiculous thing that comes out of his mouth. Wait, how is that different from his playing days? Always edgy, Barkley was the quintessential bad boy (okay, maybe Rodman more so) of the NBA. Raw, nasty and in-your-face, Barkley was honored by playing in 11 all-star games. This power forward is one of only four players to retire with 20,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 4,000 assists. Named to the list of the “50 Greatest NBA Players in History”, Barkely’s Sixers, Suns and Rockets never won the championship. Like Ewing, Barkley’s career is tarnished by controversy; he mistakingly spat on a young girl in 1991. Regardless, like him or hate him, you can’t challenge his stats and dominance as a “small” power forward.

9. Patrick Ewing was one of a few personalities that carried basketball in the 80’s and 90’s. A dominant rebounder and blocker, Ewing holds more records in those categories than I can possibly mention here. For instance, he holds the record for most games with consecutive blocked shots at 145! The Knicks were a good team because of him, but with the dominance of other Eastern Conference teams like Chicago, Boston, Indiana and Miami, Ewing failed to win an NBA Championship. Unfortunately, the latter part of his career was marked by injuries before he finally retired in 2002, a few years past his expiry date. Also, Ewing’s legacy was damaged with the “Sex Club Scandal” in 2001, but that doesn’t take away his legitimacy in making my list. I didn’t really like his style, but appreciate what he brought to the centre position in the 90’s.

8. Leafs fans might not like to be reminded of how long it has been since they won the cup, but it is important to note because during their drought there have been several fantastic Leafs during that time. With all do respect to Sittler, he wasn’t during my time, but Mats Sundin was. I am not a Leafs fan, but I do have respect for a player of Sundin’s quality and commitment, and it is too bad he never won a cup, or even got a sniff. As the longest-serving non-Canadian or American to captain a team, Sundin scored at least 70 points in every year with the Leafs and led the team in scoring in all but one (lost out to Mogilny by seven points). Sundin scored his 500th goal in 2006, making him the first Swedish born player to do so. Despite all of this, Sundin is missing a Stanley Cup ring.

7. The honour of the only player in the Professional Football Hall of Fame to play for both the NFL and CFL goes to Warren Moon. A legend in the Canadian game for his outstanding run of Grey Cups (Hosers word for “Superbowl”) in the late 70’s and early-80’s, Moon took his game south of the border where he was pivot for the Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs. Until very recently, Moon had the career record for passing yardage (surpassed by Damon Allen and Anthony Calvillo of the CFL and Brett Favre of the NFL) as well as career touchdown passes and completions (also surpassed by Favre). Combined CFL and NFL stats give Moon 70,553 yards and 435 touchdowns. This CFL and NFL legend, however, never got a sniff at the Superbowl, falling short each time without a legitimate supporting cast. The closest he came was in the 91 season when the Buffalo Bills stormed back from a 35-3 halftime deficit to win in what would be known simply as, “The Comeback”. So was the career of one of the game’s most gifted passers.

6. I almost don’t need to write anything for you to really understand where I am coming from with the next guy on my list – Jim Kelly. He is the only one on the list that I would argue did have the support needed to win, but due to some circumstances beyond his control, ahem, “wide right”, as well as some super-stacked Redskins and Cowboys teams, I felt he needed to be in this group’s company. Engineering the Bills offence during the Superbowl runs of the early 90’s, Kelly became the punchline for athletes who never managed to win the big one. During his illustrious career, Kelly was a gifted passer with a knack for understanding how to distribute the ball. Unfortunately, he couldn’t do it in any of the four Superbowls.

Okay, there you have 10 through 6 of my list of top athletes never top have won the big one. Click here to continue and see 5 through 1 and see who tops my list. I invite you to start compiling your list and see how yours matches up to mine.

…and that is the last word (almost)

Follow me on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport

It's Time for a Permanent, Real Grass Baseball Field in Rogers Centre

Posted on August 18, 2012November 5, 2021 by Max Warner

The era of the multipurpose stadium is over. After watching the Jays play yet another season on the ragged-looking turf of the Rogers Centre, the thought of installing natural grass seems even more appealing. The turf at RC is looking even more trampled, worn out and unsuitable for baseball this year than in years past, and RC is now only one of two MLB stadiums that still use plastic grass.

During the Blue Jays’ State of the Franchise meeting in early February this year, the Jays acknowledged that they were considering the possibility of putting a grass surface in Rogers Centre in order to appease their unhappy fans. General Manager Alex Anthopolous conceded that some free agents were unwilling to sign in Toronto because of the prospect of playing on artificial turf, which is harder on a player’s knees and legs over an 81 home game season.

Installing grass in RC simply cannot be done so long as the stadium is being used for football and soccer. Both sports require the stands to be shifted to accommodate a rectangular playing field. The parts of the grass baseball field which would be covered by seats for football would be damaged or destroyed.

Rogers Centre has rarely been used for soccer, so doing away with those games is far less of an issue. Four friendlies with international clubs have been hosted since 2010, with each game played on a temporary grass surface. In March 2012, Toronto FC used Rogers Centre for their home opener, although Robbie Keane and David Beckham of the visiting L.A. Galaxy openly criticized the artificial turf field that the game was played on. Although not optimal, occasional soccer games could be held on a baseball configured, grass field at RC, just as was done this year in Yankee Stadium for a Chelsea exhibition match.

The lease agreement with the Toronto Argonauts at RC expires after 2012, and I am dearly hoping that Rogers does not renew with the Argos. It is ridiculous that Rogers keeps artificial turf in RC in part to accommodate the maximum 11 home games of a football team that nobody in Toronto cares about. The Argos were dead last in CFL attendance last year, and they are second last this year with an average of just over 22,000 fans per game. Rogers Centre is far too big for the Argos, and the football team needs to find a smaller, more intimate venue much like the Montreal Alouettes did when they moved to Molson Stadium in 1998.

Unfortunately, Rogers has extended the Buffalo Bills Toronto Series to 2017, meaning that one Bills football game is scheduled to be played at RC every year for the next five years. The Bills’ Series will cost Rogers $78 million, and it’s unclear if Rogers makes any profit from these games. If Rogers wants to make RC a baseball-only, natural grass facility, they are going to have to break or opt out of their contract with the Bills, neither of which seem very likely at the moment.

If an NFL franchise did permanently relocate to Toronto, Rogers Centre would have to be extensively renovated to increase its seating capacity, or a brand new stadium would have to be built. As Toronto Mayor Rob Ford alluded to earlier this season, such a renovation plan would likely involve digging the floor of the Rogers Centre deeper into the ground to create more seating space. Such a renovation would dramatically alter Rogers Centre and would make it inhospitable to baseball. One only has to look at the Oakland Coliseum to view the negative effects of a football-only renovation to a multi-purpose facility.

Rogers cannot justify maintaining the status quo to accommodate the Bills or Argos, when five Buffalo games cost Rogers so much money, when there is no prospect of luring a permanent NFL team to Toronto in the near future, and when the Argos’ attendance is so poor that they cannot possibly be generating much profit for Rogers. The Jays play a minimum of 81 games each year in Rogers Centre, and are the most frequent, most revenue-generating sports tenant, yet they somehow are forced to suffer with a playing field that is inadequate for their needs. According to Forbes Magazine, the Blue Jays and Rogers Centre represent a $337 million investment; it’s time that Rogers started treating them as such.

Making the Blue Jays the sole sports tenants of RC and putting in a permanent grass baseball field makes perfect economic sense. Any dip in revenue lost from the football games could be partially offset by the increased attendance which would result from having a more appealing baseball facility and attracting better free agents who would boost the team’s performance. Increased team performance could translate into higher advertising and merchandise revenue as well. And Rogers Centre could continue to hold select non-sporting events to bring in other revenue during the year.

Perhaps the artificial playing field wouldn’t be such a big deal if Rogers actually took any of the money made from the Bills Toronto Series and the other events at Rogers Centre and started increasing the Blue Jays’ payroll. Toronto currently sits 23rd in the Majors with a $75 million payroll in 2012. Rogers, and many Torontonians for that matter, seem to forget that the Blue Jays are the only “Big 4” sports franchise in Toronto to have won a championship in the past four decades. Making the Blue Jays the sole sports tenants of RC and bringing in a grass baseball field is what Rogers must do to show that they are truly committed to making the Blue Jays a priority.

…and that’s the Last Word.

Follow me on Twitter: @MaxWarnerMLB

Q & A With the Gridiron Chef; vol. 1

Posted on August 18, 2012November 5, 2021 by Michael Kovacs, ADMIN

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…

NCAA Football Preview – Big 12 Conference

Posted on August 18, 2012November 5, 2021 by Lindsay Higgins

With NCAA football season right around the corner, its important that we get a handle on who the major players are in the major conferences. Earlier this week I previewed the Big East Conference. Today we go a little bit further south and west to look at a conference with some of the sport’s traditional powers; the Red River Rivals, Texas and Oklahoma. What can you expect from the Big 12? Glad you asked.

With the changing landscape of college football (conference re-alignment, a new playoff structure, and other changes to the way Bowls are handled), there may be some drastic changes to the conference over the next several years. For now though let’s put all the politics aside and enjoy the Big 12 as it sits today.

Team Added: TCU (from Mountain West), West Virginia (from Big East)

Teams Lost: Texas A&M, Missouri (to SEC)

BAYLOR BEARS

2011-12 Record: 10-3, (6-3 Big 12)

Returning Starters: 7 on offense, 8 on defense

Key Losses: QB Robert Griffin III, WR Kendall Wright, RB Terrance Ganaway

Key Addition: RB Lache Seastrunk, a transfer from Oregon who sat out the 2011-12 season

Of Note: The Bears have a rugged schedule that includes 8 2011 bowl teams, as well as Sam Houston State. The Bearkats (yes, that is how it’s spelled) played in the FCS Championship game last season.

Can’t-Miss Game: October 13 vs. TCU. Last year’s game was a barnburner won by Baylor, 50-48.

IOWA STATE CYCLONES

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

Returning Starters: 6 on offense, 5 on defense

Key Addition: It’s not often that a true freshman kicker is a key addition, but Cole Netten is taking over the position on a team that was 12 of 20 on field goals last season.

Player(s) To Watch: QBs Steel Jantz and Jared Barnett. Who gets the nod, and since both are capable, how long will his leash be if he struggles?

Of Note: The Cyclones have four tough road games on the schedule at Iowa, TCU, Oklahoma State, and Texas

Can’t-Miss Game: October 8 at Iowa. Intra-state rivalries can produce good games even with average teams.

KANSAS JAYHAWKS

2011-12 Record: 2-10 (0-9 Big 12)

Returning Starters: 4 on offense, 6 on defense

Key Addition: QB Dayne Crist, a fifth-year transfer from Notre Dame (where he was recruited and coached by new Kansas head coach Charlie Weis)

Player(s) To Watch: After finishing last in FBS last season, the entire defense. Can Weis- not a noted defensive coach- and new coordinator Dave Campo make the unit respectable?

Of Note: Weis also landed BYU QB transfer Jake Heaps, who will be eligible to play in the 2013-14 season

Can’t-Miss Game: Gotta pick the intra-state matchup October 6 at Kansas State .

Kansas should win more than two games this year, but they’re still going to lose to the better Big 12 teams.

KANSAS STATE WILDCATS

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

Returning Starters: 5 on offense, 6 on defense

Key Loss: Surprisingly, no huge losses on either side of the ball.

Player To Watch: Collin Klein is a talented dual-threat QB, but has he improved his passing in the off-season?

Of Note: Special teams should be solid, with both the kicker and punter, as well as two return specialists, back in Manhattan.

OKLAHOMA SOONERS

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

Returning Starters: 6 on offense, 7 on defense

Key Loss: All-Big 12 DE Frank Alexander, WR Ryan Broyles (NFL); DT Stacy McGee (suspended indefinitely in August)

Key Addition: Stud RB Dominique Whaley returns after breaking his ankle last season

Of Note: Mike Stoops, brother of head coach Bob, returns as defense coordinator. He was head coach at Arizona from 2004 through last season.

Can’t-Miss Game: For something a little different, Oklahoma-Notre Dame on October 27

OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

2011-12 Record: 12-1 (8-1 Big 12)

Returning Starters: 4 on offense, 8 on defense

Key Losses: QB Brandon Weeden, WR Justin Blackmon (NFL)

Player To Watch: True freshman Wes Lunt, who won a three-way QB battle to be named the starter

Of Note: The Cowboys face three of their toughest conference opponents- West Virginia, TCU, and Texas- at home

Can’t-Miss Game: November 24 at Oklahoma

TEXAS LONGHORNS

2011-12 Record: 8-5 (4-5 Big 12)

Returning Starters: 6 on offense, 6 on defense

Key Losses: LBs Emmanuel Acho and Keenan Robinson

Key Addition: Heralded true freshman RB Johnathan Gray, who set a high school record for career rushing TDs with 205

Of Note: The coaches have not named a starting QB yet; the job will go to either sophomore David Ash or junior Case McCoy (younger brother of former Longhorns QB Colt).

Can’t-Miss Game: Grab yourself something deep-fried and be sure to catch the Red River Rivalry with Oklahoma on October 13

TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS

2011-12 Record: 5-7 (2-7 Big 12)

Returning Starters: 6 on offense, 6 on defense

Key Loss: None.

Key Additions: Two RBs returning from 2011 knee injuries, senior Eric Stephens and sophomore DeAndre Washington.

Of Note: TT is switching from an unusual 4-2-5 defense to a more traditional 4-3

Can’t-Miss Game: October 20 @ conference newcomer TCU

TCU HORNED FROGS

2011-12 Record: 11-2 (7-2 Mountain West)

Returning Starters: 5 on offense, 5 on defense

Key Loss: LB Tanner Brock was expected to return from injury, but he was among the players implicated in the campus drug scandal over the winter and was subsequently removed from the team

Player(s) To Watch: New kicker Jaden Oberkrom and punter Ethan Perry are both true freshmen

Of Note: QB Casey Pachall threw for 2,921 yards and 25 TDs in his first year as the starter. He returns, as do most of his targets.

Can’t-Miss Game: The November 3 matchup of conference additions TCU and West Virginia

WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

2011-12 Record: 10-3 (5-2 Big East)

Returning Starters: 7 on offense, 6 on defense

Key Loss: DE Bruce Irvin (NFL)

Key Addition: None, most of the offense and the defensive secondary are returning

Of Note: This is West Virginia’s first season in the Big 12. How will they match up?

Can’t-Miss Game: September 29 against Baylor will be WVU’s welcome to the Big 12

BIG 12 OVERVIEW

Conference Champ: Oklahoma

Possible Dark Horse: West Virginia

OGeffensive POTY: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia

Defensive POTY: Alex Okafor, DE, Texas

Coach On The Hot Seat: If Texas Tech misses a bowl game for a second consecutive year, Tommy Tuberville could be gone

Feel free to leave your comments below and follow me on Twitter @LastWordLindsay

The Premier League's "Penthouse and Basement"

Posted on August 18, 2012November 5, 2021 by Michael Kovacs, ADMIN

I really don’t give too much credence to what people predict for the premier league season. So naturally I thought I’d offer yet one more prediction to go with the other one million you can find if you were to just google “Premier League predictions”. Why, you ask? Well, part of it is an unnerving desire to hear myself speak (or see myself type, I suppose). At least I admit it! The other part is that I really have a strong feeling about who will wind up playing Champions League football in 2013/14, and who will find themselves on their way to relegation. After looking at my picks, feel free to make your own “Penthouse and Basement” picks.

Naturally, when we consider who is going to challenge for the Premier League title, it must start with Manchester, both City and United. I would have to be hopped up on goofballs not to consider them as the front-runners for this year’s crown.

The Winners: Manchester City

Manchester City have far too much money, and as a result, far too much talent. It’s really as simple as that. Despite the very close race with their cross-town rivals last year for the crown, with another year of experience together I only expect them to improve their play. From top to bottom, City is a spectacular team. Joe Hart is still an excellent keeper. Their quality in their own end has grown together, as has their midfield, but it’s their play in opposition’s territory that defines them. Mario Balotelli is a year older. Whether that means he is more mature remains to be seen, however, I’m sure he’ll still do something stupid this season. Assume Tevez will play a full year, and there is also that Aguero guy…he’s not bad, eh? City is a team built to win. I wouldn’t be surprised if they go fairly deep in the Champions League as well.

Battling for Top Spot: Manchester United

Relax, United fans. RvP is certainly one of the best strikers in the world and will only help their goal-scoring along with Roo. However, I throw caution to the wind. First, goal-scoring wasn’t their most pressing need this summer. I still feel they might be a little susceptible to the counter and to sloppy play in their own end. Vidic will certainly help. Also, as any Arsenal fan will be very willing to tell you these days, up until last year van Persie’s career has been riddled by injuries – serious, long-term injuries. While we can’t anticipate an injury will occur, it certainly wouldn’t surprise me either. I am only mild on the prospects of Kagawa. He comes highly regarded, but let’s wait and see on him.

Not to be forgotten: Arsenal

Arsenal have lost their captain, again. Last year was Cesc Fabregas, this year Robin van Persie. The difference, however, is that Arsenal seem to have become much more proactive in replacing lost talent. Podolski from the Bundesliga, Giroud from Le Ligue and Cazorla from La Liga are very impressive signings. For me they more than make up for the loss of van Persie. One of Arsenal’s biggest issue last year was having to rely so much on RvP as their second options were not options. But now the team is much deeper, mature, and many holes have been filled. Cazorla will be one of the top attacking midfielders in the Premier League, and look to Giroud (who is a giant) to cause havoc off set pieces this year for the Gunners. Podolski is very highly regarded, and it seems as though Wenger is going to play him more to the middle of the field. If they can get Jack Wilshere healthy again, I like Arsenal to challenge both United and Chelsea for second spot. Expect a slow start to the season considering some major pieces to their squad need time to come together.

* Note: It appears Alex Song is off to Barcelona, and Arsenal will replace him with Nuri Sahin from Real Madrid.

Rounding out 2013-14 Champions League : Chelsea

I really think there is going to a log-jam for second spot this year in the Premier Leauge. I really like the Hazard signing, especially because he complements Oscar and Marin. Chelsea grossly underachieved last year, and with their mammoth Champions League win, I am sure they will rebound strongly this season. Chelsea does have a few big question marks, most importantly surrounding whether Torres will show up or not. If his form returns to that of old, I like Chelsea’s chances to finish top four, and maybe even as high as second. Without Drogba, if Torres plays like he has of late in the Premier League, then I can’t see them making much of a serious challenge for a top spot. You wouldn’t think so much hinges on one player, but I think for Chelsea it does. They have a great unit in midfield, and decent backs led by Ashley Cole (who I regard as the best at his position in the league, and possibly the world), but they ultimately need to regularly score.

Clearly I’ve not gone out on any limb here as many people have predicted very close to what I have. I can only really see Tottenham making a challenge for one of those four spots. They have a great team, but I just don’t like their chemistry. I think we saw that last year. They were off to an incredible start, but fizzled badly to finish the season. Which Spurs team will we see this year?

Let’s switch to the League’s basement. Unfortunately for these teams, I really think they will be hard-pressed to remain in the Prem past this season.

The Bottom of the Bowl: Southampton

As an Arsenal fan I have a soft-spot for Southampton, as it has churned out some great young talent in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott before him. I still think they are a team that seems to find exciting young players and develop them accordingly, however, I am concerned they are a bit green for the Premier League this year. We know Southampton can score (they did plenty of that in the Championship), but will the improved competition prove too much? Unfortunately, yes, I think it will.

At Least We Didn’t Finish in Last: Reading

We’ve heard that defense wins championships, and Reading proved that last season. However, the Premier League is on a much different level than the Championship. Playing defensively is one thing, but if you can’t put the ball in the net defense won’t matter much. I think Reading will have a lot of trouble finding the net this season, and they will realize soon enough that their defense isn’t enough.

Oh, we were so close: Norwich

Norwich has brought in Chris Hughton to instill a defensive system, which was missing last year almost entirely. In fact, it was only their ability to find the back of the net that saved them from being demoted. But with a defensive minded coach, they will have to sacrifice goals, which is what saved them in the first place. For me, if Hughton can get their defense working as a solid unit fast enough, they might avoid relegation. I just happen to think they will be far behind before they figure it out.

There you have it lads – my predictions for the ceiling and basement of the Premier League for this year. Feel free to leave your own “Penthouse and Basement” in the comments below and follow me on Twitter – @TwoLeftCleats

Until next time, lads.

Top Shelf Prospects: Pittsburgh Penguins

Posted on August 17, 2012November 5, 2021 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 Pittsburgh Penguins.

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.

2012 Draft Prospects Reviewed:
Derrick Pouliot, Olli Maatta, Matt Murray, Matia Marcantuoni,

Top Prospect: Simon Despres, Defence
Born Jul 27 1991 — Laval, PQ
Height 6.04 — Weight 229 — Shoots Left
Selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in round 1 #30 overall at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft

Simon Despres has consistently been a top defender and all-star at all levels. His trophy case is overflowing with accomplishments. In 2011 he was on Team Canada’s top defence pair at the World Junior Championships and won a silver medal. He went on to win the QMJHL defenceman of the year, playing for the Saint John Sea Dogs. In the playoffs, Despres would help the Sea Dogs to the QMJHL title and the Memorial Cup, even scoring a huge goal in the Championship game. This past season, Despres would graduate to the pro game. He would be an AHL All-Star and even played 18 games for the Penguins, scoring his first AHL goal.

Despres is a solid two-way defender who does it all. He is a very good skater. He has good top end speed and good acceleration which allow him to lead the rush with ease. His agility, edgework and pivots allow him to be mobile in all directions and make him difficult to beat off the rush. His quick changes in direction, and good first step allow him to effectively close gaps quickly and to throw some nice hits when defending.

Despres has very good vision and passing ability he’s a natural quarterback on the Powerplay play. He has good vision and can set up the play for his teammates. He reads the play well and make smart decisions. His slapshot is above average. He also utilizes a good wrist shot with a quick release.

Defensively Despres does nearly everything right. He reads the play well and cuts down on options his opponents have by closing time and space. He fights hard and uses his size and strength to win board battles and clear the front of the net. He also uses his long stick and great reach to cut down on passing lanes. If there is one area Despres can improve it is in coverage when his man doesn’t have the puck, as he can occasionally lose his man working down low. This is not a huge issue, but one that Despres should work to correct nonetheless.

Despres will push for a job in Penguins training camp this season. With Zybanek Michalek gone at least one spot has opened up on the Pens blueline, however there is a lot of competition and it won’t be easy. The Penguins are absolutely loaded in young defencemen right now, and while Despres may have a leg up headed to camp, he is by no means a lock.

Top Prospect #2, Joe Morrow, Defence
Born Dec 9 1992 — Sherwood Park, ALTA
Height 6.01 — Weight 206 — Shoots Left
Selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in round 1, #23 overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft

If Despres is the Penguins #1 prospect, than Morrow is the 1B. There really isn’t a lot to separate these two young players. Morrow is coming off a terrific season in the WHL for the Portland Winterhawks where he scored 17 goals and 64 points in 62 games. His point total was second only to Brenden Kichton’s 74 points for top scoring defenceman in the league. Its important to note however that due to a January injury, and a December trip to the try out camp for Canada’s National Junior team, Kichton played 9 more games than Morrow. Based on his pace, those 9 games would have made things very close in the scoring race.

Morrow might be the best skater out of all the prospects I profile in this series. His stride is textbook, its graceful and fluid. He is very fast, possessing both excellent top end speed, and the acceleration to hit this top speed in just a few strides. He loves to lead the rush and is always a threat to go coast to coast with the puck. Morrow has excellent agility, and great use of his edges. His pivots are crisp. This allows him to make quick cuts and to be mobile in every direction, which is useful both offensively and defensively.

Morrow is a natural on the Powerplay. He is calm and poised with the puck on his stick and keeps his head up looking for the smart play. His mobility at the line breaks down defenders and opens up passing and shooting lanes. He is a crisp and accurate passer, setting the table for his Winterhawks teammates. When shooting Morrow has an absolute rocket of a slapshot, and is especially lethal with his one timer.

Defensively Morrow has improved over the past year, but is still a work in progress. On the plus side, his great skating ability makes him difficult to beat one on one. His puck moving skills and great passing allow him to move the puck quickly and efficiently and remove it from danger in his own end. He is also aggressive in his own end, a good body checker, and someone who wins board battles and clears the front of the net.

On the downside, Morrow is a bit of a “Riverboat Gambler”. He can sometimes make bad decisions rushing the puck, or pinching at the blue line that can lead to odd-man rushes against. He also has a habit of looking for the big hit a little too often, which also gets him out of position and creates issues defensively. Morrow will need to reign himself in going forward.

As a late 1992 birthday, Morrow is eligible to go to the AHL this season, and that is likely where he’ll end up. While he’ll probably push hard for a spot on the Pens in camp, he needs time in the AHL to work on his decision making and defensive game. If the Penguins are patient, they could have an excellent blueliner on their hands.

Top Prospect #3, Scott Harrington, Defence
Born Mar 10 1993 — Kingston, ONT
Height 6.01 — Weight 203 — Shoots Left
Selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in round 2, #54 overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft

It was a year of highs and lows for Scott Harrington. In December he made Canada’s National Junior team and was an important shutdown defender for the squad. A shoulder injury suffered against the Americans would hamper him somewhat in the actual tournament, and a crushing Semi-Final loss in a failed comeback attempt against the Russians meant that Harrington brought home a Bronze medal, instead of the gold he was surely hoping for. Undeterred Harrington would return to his London Knights squad, and forming a top pairing shutdown duo with Jarred Tinordi would help lead them to be the best defensive squad in the OHL. The Knights would go on to win the OHL Championship, but would lose the Memorial Cup final in heartbreaking fashion in Overtime.

Harrington is a shutdown defender. He reads the play very well and positioning in the defensive zone is superb, and as a result he is able to cut down passing lanes and block a lot of shots. He has good size and plays a strong physical game along the boards and clearing the front of the net. He has good mobility due to strong agility, a good skating stride, and strong edgework. This mobility allows him to stay with any forward and he is rarely beaten by speed. A good first pass helps him to clear the zone and gets the Knights transition game started.

Offensively, what you see is what you get from Harrington. He’s a decent passer and has good vision, but he isn’t going to wow you with this part of his game. He also has a decent slapshot, but its not at the level of Morrow, or even Despres. His offensive instincts are average and he doesn’t join the rush very often preferring his role as a stay at home defender. He puts up a few points in the OHL, but going forward we shouldn’t expect huge offensive numbers. His game will be centred around his defensive abilities.

Harrington has another year of junior eligibility left, and will likely be back in London. The Knights will again have a strong team and he should be able to go for redemption and another shot at the Memorial Cup. He should also be a key returning piece for Canada’s National Junior team, and will be looking to bring back the gold from this year’s tournament in Russia.

Sleeper Pick, Tom Kuhnhackl, Left Wing/Right Wing
Born Jan 21 1992 — Landshut, Germany
Height 6.02 — Weight 183 — Shoots Left
Selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in round 4 #110 overall at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft

Kuhnackl missed a lot of time this season playing in only 32 regular season games due to various injuries and a 20 game suspension for a charging play which left Hurricanes’ prospect and Kitcheer Ranger Ryan Murphy out with a concussion. Niagara’s long playoff run was extremely beneficial as Kuhnhackl was able to get in another 19 games. Unfortunately Kuhnhackl’s scoring pace was down quite a bit from his rookie season in Windsor where he was well over a point per game in both the regular season and the playoffs. Kuhnhackl would only score 37 points in 51 games this past season.

Kuhnhackl is a strong offensive player. He has good stickhandling skills and excellent creativity. He can score goals through his good wrist shot and snap shot, both of which feature a quick release, or he has the ability to drive the net. He reads the play well and understands how to get open to get his shot off. He is also a good playmaker who sees opponents and moves the puck well.

Kuhnhackl is also a smart defensive player, working on penalty kill in his stints with both Windsor and Niagara. He is good at reading the play and anticipating passes in order to create turnovers. He plays a strong positional game and is a willing shot blocker. Kuhnhackl also uses his good speed and quickness to pressure puck carriers and create mistakes.

Kuhnhackl is not afraid to go to the dirty areas of the ice or to compete along the boards for loose pucks, but he needs to add some serious upper body strength to be more competitive in these aspects of the game both defensively and offensively. He is likely to start next season playing for Wilkes-Barre in the AHL, and will need some time there to refine his game and to gain more consistency in his production.

Ray Shero has had the Penguins absolutely load up on young defencemen. Their top 3 prospects in this report are defencemen, and they used both of their first round picks in the 2012 Draft on defencemen. They also traded for Brian Dumoulin, and have players like Brian Strait, Rober Bortuzzo, Nick D’Agosino and Philip Samuelsson in the pipeline. In terms of prospects the Penguins might have the deepest group of defencemen in hockey. At forward, its another issue. Beau Bennett is a good young winger, a talented skater with good hands and instincts who needs to bulk up and stay healthy. However aside from him and Kuhnackl there is not much in the Penguins system. Sure there are some longshot depth players, but by and large the forward ranks just do not compare to the defence. The Penguins must beef up this area, or they will be in a perpetual cycle of not having enough top 6 wingers to create two lines around their stud centres in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Feel free to leave your comments below and please follow me on twitter @LastWordBKerr

Milan-Juve to battle in the Trofeo Berlusconi

Posted on August 17, 2012November 5, 2021 by Luciano Giuliano

Well, it’s the time of year every Italian soccer fanatic waits for and that is the return of Serie A! But first, Milan and Juve will lock horns in the annual Trofeo Berlusconi Sunday, a rematch of last year’s derby at the San Siro.

This encounter is significant in the sense that it marks the end of club friendlies in Italy and occurs one week prior to the first round of Serie A games. The superstition surrounding this match-up is that, whichever side lifts the Trofeo Berlusconi will be the side that does not win the scudetto this year. This does not always apply seeing that Inter ruled the Italian league for four years in the post-calciopoli era.

This was a heated battle last term as the Rossoneri feel stripped of a possible title due to the phantom goal scored by Sulley Ali Muntari which was disallowed. Now, however, beginning this year, the Serie A will deploy two more officials and place them behind the nets for the sole purpose of being goal judges. This should hopefully eliminate, or at least reduce, controversy regarding disallowed goals.

Rossoneri transfer guru (although, he is not so much of a guru these days) Adriano Galliani and head coach Massimiliano Allegri will be on the lookout for Juventus striker Alessandro Matri seeing that the Diavoli are in the market for a hitman. The 27-year old Matri is a product of Milan’s youth academy and has trained under Allegri at Cagliari Calcio prior to the tactician’s appointment to the Milan hotseat and is keen on working with him again.

There will be some major absentees for both clubs for this encounter. Captain Massimo Ambrosini and Philippe Mexes will not take part in this match due to a knock and a possible transfer respectively.

Juventus will also be missing key players in Gianluigi Buffon and playmaking wizard Andrea Pirlo. The Bianconeri do not want to risk injury to the side’s most important duo. Coach Antonio Conte will continue to serve his 10-month ban and will be watching from the stands tonight.

Who will prevail?

Bookmakers are not choosing a winner in this encounter as a victory for both contenders is quoted at 2.50. It is very difficult to predict. Both teams have made various additions and significant changes.

AC Milan will feature a much more youthful formation with new signings Francesco Acerbi, Christian Zapata, Kevin Constant, and Riccardo Montolivo. Milan’s frontline is certainly not lacking firepower with players such as Kevin Prince Boateng, Antonio Cassano, Alexandre Pato, Robinho, and Stephan El Shaarawy.

Juventus have also reinforced the squad with midfielders such as ex-Udinese duo Kwadwo Asamoah and Mauricio Isla, and ex-Man United promising 19-year old Paul Pogba; with defenders like veteran Lucio, and youngster Alberto Masi; and in attack with the ‘Atomic Ant’ Sebastian Giovinco.

Possible formations:

AC Milan

Abbiati

Abate – Acerbi – Zapata – De Sciglio

Montolivo – Flamini – Nocerino

Boateng

Pato – El Shaarawy

Giovinco – Matri

Asamoah – Vidal – Pogba – Marchisio – Lichtsteiner

Lucio – Bonucci – Barzagli

Storari

Juventus FC

Look for:

Milan: Boateng – Pato – El Shaarawy. Should the trio connect, they could very well cause problems for the Juve backline as did Napoli in the Italian Supercup. The Bianconeri love to keep possession and push up the field which will allow Pato to burst down the middle or the flanks for a quick counterattack.

Juventus: Midfield is key to victories. If Juve can force Milan to turnover the ball in midfield, quick movements up the park may cause the floodgates to swing open.

Prediction:

ll in all, it should be a very tight affair with the Old Lady just edging past the Diavolo. AC Milan 1 – 2 Juventus.

Beer League Chronicles: How one Broken Stick changed my Outlook on the New faces of the NHL

Posted on August 17, 2012November 4, 2021 by Grant Alexander

My summer men’s league team is currently in the playoffs. And we have found our way into the semi-finals. Thank you, thank you, I know it’s exciting, but hold the applause please. We are currently tied 1-1 in a best of three series, and are going to play the crucial game three this week. But during game 2, disaster struck! My stick, who has lead me into battle for the past two seasons, who has buried more garbage then the city of Toronto, was finally laid to rest after a vicious slash by an opposing defenseman.

The thought of replacing such a crucial member of our team, at such a crucial point in the season was appalling. But as I walked into Sport Chek, and saw the rows and rows of sticks, with little yellow sale tags on them, excitement took me. I was a 12 year old boy again.

After brushing away the first three teenage salesclerks, I arrived in composite heaven. Knowing what I wanted, I went straight for the Easton’s with 100 flex, and a Sakic curve. The same make of stick I have been using for almost the last decade. Then I started sifting through the different models, which vary by weight, feel, and price. While I was narrowing down my selection, I noticed a fourth salesman lurking over my shoulder.

So beating him to the punch, I asked him,

“Can I help you?”

Taken aback he stammered,

“I-I noticed you were looking at Easton sticks, and that that you might be interested in their new EQ line that’s on the display over there”

It was my turn to be a little surprised,

“Oh, new line, yes I would be interested…”

So I walked over to the display and started checking out the new EQ 30, 40 and 50. I grabbed a random lefty off of the rack, and right away noticed the same great feel I’ve come to love from the Easton line. Then, Nick (I decided he was worthy of having a name after showing me the new sticks), explained that they had a new visible weighted blade, which gave you more control and made it easier to take hard passes. And that it also had an adjustable weighted end cap that allowed you to change the weight distribution through the shaft. Perfect, I was sold. They looked great, felt great, had some new added features, and were on sale. I just needed to choose a price point, find my buddy Joe, and I was ready for game 3!

I chose the EQ40, but there were no Sakic’s to be found? Come to think of it, none of the EQ’s had a Sakic left on the rack…

I turned to Nick,

“Hey buddy, I noticed that your all out of Sakics’, do you think you might have some more in the back?”

And he responded (you might want to sit down for this one),

“There is no more Sakic. Sakic has been replaced by Taylor Hall.”

“Taylor Hall! Taylor Hall…..What the Hell!”

“Ya man, it’s the same everything, a P3 blade, with a mid-curve”

“Dude?”

“Dude? Are you okay?”

I was obviously not okay! The store started spinning. Up was left, down was right. How could I replace Joe Clutch with Taylor Hall? Especially in the playoffs! Joe Sakic, nicknamed Joe Clutch for scoring the most playoff overtime goals ever! How could you want anybody else but him on the ice with you in the playoffs? Do the kids today not know who Joe Sakic is? The 9th leading scorer in NHL history?

As I drove home with my new, older model Joe Sakic stick in the truck. I couldn’t help but think what a huge slap in the face this was to Joe. Being replaced by a 20 year old kid! An un-proven kid at that! Theres no doubt in my mind that he won’t be a good player, maybe even a star. But there is no way he will ever be as good as Sakic was, and I would be willing to bet just about anything on that! Easton really dropped the ball on this one!

I thought about it all afternoon, and late into the evening. And when I finally calmed down, and sat down to tape up my new stick, I realized I was wrong…

These kids today don’t want a Joe Sakic stick. Or an Yzerman, or a Hull for that matter. They want an Ovechkin, or a Crosby, or a Hall. I’m holding on to a generation passed. A golden era of hockey, from my childhood, not theirs. An era I cherished growing up, and will always remember. But an era I also have to let go of. Would I have wanted a Gordie Howe stick growing up? No, I wanted a Gretzky or a Lemieux! So bring on Taylor Hall! And out with the old, and in with the new!

…. and thats the Last Word.

Top Shelf Prospects: Phoenix Coyotes

Posted on August 17, 2012November 5, 2021 by Ben Kerr

Welcome to today’s edition of “Top Shelf Prospects” – a team-by-team look at the top prospects in the NHL. Today, as I continue my alphabetical journey through the NHL I bring you a look at the Phoenix Coyotes. 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 hard or fast rules though, and I may make some exceptions depending on the circumstances.

2012 Draft Prospects Reviewed:
Henrik Samuelsson, James Melindy,

Top Prospect: Brandon Gormley, Defence
Born Feb 18 1992 — Murray River, PEI
Height 6.02 — Weight 190 — Shoots Left
Selected by the Phoenix Coyotes in round 1 #13 overall at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft

Brandon Gormley capped off a stellar junior career in style, winning the 2012 Memorial Cup with the Shawinigan Cataractes. Gormley was also named to the Memorial Cup all-star team. This came after a mid-season trade from the Moncton Wildcats where Gormley had spent most of his junior career. Gormley and the Wildcats had won the 2010 QMJHL title. Gormley was part of Team Canada’s 2012 Bronze medal winning World Junior squad. He had an excellent showing with 3 goals and 6 points in 6 games, and was named the top defencemen of the tournament. It was just one more award in a trophy case that is already filled to the brim for the young defender.

Gormley’s biggest asset is his tremendous hockey sense. He uses this to his advantage at both ends of the ice, and is an excellent two way player as a result. Gormley understands the play very well, and always seems to make the smart play in the offensive zone. He understands when to join the rush, when to pinch at the blue line, where his teammates are on the ice, and whether the smart play is a pass or a shot. Gormley also has excellent grasp of the game in the defensive end of the ice. He creates turnovers and starts the transition game due to his good reads, smart positioning and excellent anticipation. Gormley’s hockey instincts are very good, and are just something that cannot be taught.

Offensively he has a very good slapshot, and an excellent one timer. It is hard, and accurate. Gormley understands how to get his shot through and to keep it low and on net for maximum effectiveness. His playmaking ability is also very good as he has excellent on ice vision and crisp passing abilities. In transition, he doesn’t often lead the rush, but he makes a good first pass out of his own zone which leads to a quick transition. He also has the ability to sneak in as the trailer on the play.

If there is a criticism of Gormley, its that I’d like to see him add some bulk to his frame and become a more physical defender. While he is a good defender positionally, and makes good use of his long stick and good reach, it would be nice if he could occasionally through the big hit.

Overall Gormley is one of the top defensive prospects outside the NHL, and the Coyotes got an absolute steal when he fell on draft day 2010. Gormley should push for a job in Coyotes training camp, but he will face some stiff competition, and may end up in the AHL to start the year. Even if he does start in San Antonio, my prediction is that he’ll end up in Phoenix, either by the end of the season as an injury callup, or for the start of the 2013-14 season.

Top Prospect #2; David Rundblad, Defence
Born Oct 8 1990 — Lycksele, Sweden
Height 6.02 — Weight 189
Selected by the St. Louis Blues in round 1 #17 overall at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft
Traded to the Ottawa Senators at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft
Traded to the Phoenix Coyotes in December 2011

After an outstanding 2010-11 campaign in Sweden which saw Rundblad led the Elitserien in scoring by a defenceman, and win the Borje Salming trophy as top defenceman in the league, he made his way to full time pro hockey in North America last summer. A member of the Ottawa Senators organization at the time, things did not go as expected for Rundblad. He made the Senators team and even played 24 games for the club, scoring his first NHL goal. In December Rundblad and a 2nd round pick were traded to Phoenix in a move for Kyle Turris. Rundblad would spend the rest of the season on a permanent yo-yo between the AHL and NHL, only appearing in 6 games for the Coyotes.

Offensively Rundblad is extremely skilled. He has excellent vision and outstanding passing ability, putting the puck through the tightest of openings to set up teammates. His first pass out of the zone starts the transition game and leads to offence for his team. He is particularly adept at the long stretch pass. On the powerplay he is a natural quarterback and should be able to one day play that role in the NHL. He also has a strong and powerful slapshot which he keeps low and gets on net. His shot creates tip ins and rebounds.

Defensively Rundblad’s game needs a lot of work. He is a riverboat gambler, and while he’s offensively skilled he needs to learn when to dial it back a little. Some of the plays he tries are quite simply not going to work at the NHL level. He pinches too often and gets caught, leading to odd man rushes the other way. He needs to learn when to pick his spots, and that taking care of his own end of the ice is important as well.

Rundblad’s skating ability also hurts his defensive game. He does not pivot as well as he should and thus is susceptible to being beaten to the outside when defending against the rush. He tries to make up for this with his positioning and a quick stick, but he still needs work. He also needs to be stronger and more physical as he struggles to win board battles or to keep the front of the net clear.

Overall Rundblad has the tools to be a great offensive defenceman in the NHL, but his defensive game needs a lot of work. He will attempt to make the Coyotes out of training camp, however I feel that he would be best served by heading back to the AHL and further refining his game. If he can work on that defence and even become just an average defender, he’ll be a hugely valuable NHL player. If he can’t, he’ll end up a powerplay specialist who will drive coaches crazy with his defending. There is a ton of potential here though, and that keeps him high on the list of Coyotes prospects.

Sleeper pick and Top Prospect #3; Max Goncharov, Defence
Born Jun 15 1989 — Moscow, Russia
Height 6.04 — Weight 215 — Shoots Right
Selected by Phoenix Coyotes in round 5 #123 overall, at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft

After leaving CSKA Moscow and the KHL in the spring of 2010, Goncharov has spent the last two seasons playing for Phoenix’s AHL affiliates (San Antonio in 2010-11 and Portland in 2011-12). He was another defenceman who seemed to constantly be being called up and sent down again by the Coyotes last year, but despite a lot of time on the Coyotes Roster, he did not actually play in an NHL game.

Goncharov is a talented skater. His top end speed and acceleration are good. His agility, edgework, and pivots allow him to be mobile in all directions and help him to create offense off the rush, to walk the line to set up his shot in the offensive zone, and to handle his duties in the defensive zone both off the rush and in his own end. His quick foot work allows him to close gaps quickly and he loves to throw the big hit. Defensively Goncharov uses his size and strength to win battles on the boards and to keep the front of the net clear.

Offensively, Goncharov is a good stickhandler who can lead the rush, and beat defenders one on one. He also has a good wrist shot and slap shot and joins the rush as a trailer as well. On the powerplay he has a great one timer from the point that is both powerful and accurate. However he lacks the playmaking skills to be a true quarterback, and is more likely to end up the triggerman on the powerplay.

Goncharov is a player with all the tools to suceed as a top 4 defenceman in the NHL, his challenge will be taking those tools and putting them all together into a package as a complete player. He is prone to mistakes such as bad giveaways in his own zone, bad pinches in the offensive zone, and getting caught out of position looking for the big hit. If he can cut those down, he’s got what it takes to be a solid player.

Goncharov will head to training camp looking to make the Coyotes Roster, and make his NHL debut. At 23 years old and in the final year of his Entry Level Deal, the time is fast approaching where the Coyotes will have no choice but to give him his chance and see what he can do. With the depth on Defence on the Coyotes squad and in their prospect ranks, he’s nearing the point of no return where the team must decide if he has a future with the club, or allow him to move on, either by trading his rights to another NHL club, or potentially seeing him head back to the KHL where he can earn a lot more money than he can in the AHL.

The Coyotes are certainly building their team around the defence as seen by excellent young defenders Keith Yandle, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson on the big squad, and the plentiful young defenders in the system. In addition to the three profiled here, the Coyotes also have Connor Muphy, a first round pick and talented puck mover who needs to stay healthy; Mike Stone, a solid defensive defenceman who is developing a two way game in Portland, and Chris Summers, a smooth skating defender and 2006 draftee who is entering a make or break season as well. The Coyotes also have goaltending depth as this year’s revelation, Mike Smith, is still young. In the pipeline Mark Visentin, Mike Lee, and Louis Dominigue give them a trio of talented prospects. The Coyotes could use a lot of help at forward and in drafting Samuelsson and Martinook with their first two picks and signing Andy Miele last year, they have started to address this area. However future acquisitions and drafts must continue to focus on building depth at all 3 forward positions.