2012 - Page 54 of 114 - Last Word On Sports

NHL Happy Hour: Your Best Bet NHL Drinking Partners

Posted on August 6, 2012November 5, 2021 by Maksim Vasilyev

Today is an extra special NHL Happy Hour. Why you ask? Well, most of the time, going to a bar in NYC to try and catch a hockey game means you need to pray that basketball, football, and baseball are not on at the same time. It simply isn’t a guarantee that a bar will be showing the local hockey game on their tele’s – shame, really. But there are a few bars in the city that will always have the Rangers/Devils/Islanders on. One of these bars is called Warren 77.

So what makes Warren 77 special? It is owned by the infamous Sean Avery. That’s right, an ex-NY Ranger owns this hole-in-a-wall bar, only few clicks south of the World Trade Center. The bar is filled with sport and hockey memorabilia. It is a rather dark place with worn-out chairs, painted brick wall, and a dark wood bar. It has arcade game stations as tables and Hulk Hogan and John McEnroe featured on the wall. It also contains one of my favorite pictures of all time. Guess who is dressed up as Batman and Robin – Steve Yzerman and Brendan “I-drop-the-puck” Shanahan.

This is an awesome place to watch the Ranger games, and if you stick around late enough, it has been known for Ranger players to frequent after games. I doubt they will be visiting this place anymore, due to obvious reasons. Never the less, this place is an awesome spot to grab a good home-brewed Warren 77 beer and some of downtown’s best cocktails.

Today’s drink of choice is a Moscow Mule – vodka, fresh ginger bits, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and ginger beer. This is one of the most refreshing drinks you could possibly enjoy, though the half ton of ice may have something to do with this. It is simply delicious. But does it have longevity? Let’s see…

Since Sean Avery owns this bar, and because he stops in once in a while, I got to thinking; what NHL player would be a good drinking buddy? Who would stay till the last call, who you would need to be carried out, and who would be throwing punches at the end of the night? I mean we all know hockey players drink. Alcohol and hockey are like Marilyn Monroe and Presidents (well, just one). It is not spoken about, but we know they consumed each other frequently.

So let’s start with “the crazy” and work our way to “the good”.

Darren McCarty is well known for his trouble with alcohol in his personal life. He is doing much better now, and kudos to him. Beer and whiskey would probably the drinks he would choose. I can see myself taking some Jack shots and chasing them with a crisp, cold Guinness with the former Red Wing tough guy. The bar would probably play heavy metal with a live band and/or be a spot filled with regulars. The night would probably last one drink too long, and quite possibly one fight too many. I can picture few words being exchanged and if his on-the-ice personality has anything to do with it, some people are going home with black eyes and fewer teeth. There ain’t no party like a tough guy party.

The funny thing is that Darren definitely would not be drinking my drink. It is just a little too soft for him I imagine. It is a bit muddy looking due to the ginger beer and the ginger bits. It is a refined drink for people who enjoy a rather enhanced experience and have a deep taste pallet. It is sort of posh, but being in Sean Avery’s bar I thought go big or go home.

You know who I can imagine being a sloppy “college frat boy drunk” while out on the town? Sidney Crosby. He is widely regarded as the best player in hockey – please spare me arguments otherwise. There is this other side to him that everyone outside of Pittsburgh notices. He can be a little bitchy at times. His beard is just awful and he looks like he would be two sheets to the wind after a couple beers. You know what I mean? He just has this vibe that just makes you want to smack him, right? The last thing I want is to have to have his back…he must walk around with a bulls-eye on his back.

This Moscow Mule was mostly refreshing and delicious, but as I reach the bottom of the glass its flaws start to show. Just like a frozen pond during an extra warm winter day, once the ice starts to melt and the ginger settles on the bottom, you see the ugly side of the muddy water. The ginger bits are getting stuck in the straw and it is becoming harder to drink. An extra vodka shot was needed to speed up the process of feeling well and seeing purple. I suppose that in itself isn’t a bad thing. Ahh, those Russians.

You know who would be awesome to take some vodka shots with? Malkin and Ovechkin. I know these two party in Moscow, and party hard. They are both are a bit older and both seem to be in rather serious relationships. On the other hand, knowing Russians like I do, drinking vodka is always a go.

As far as the North American stars that would do some vodka shots I think teammates Patrick Kane and Jonathon Toews would not shy away from joining in the fun. Kane has developed a reputation over the past two years as the drunken kid in Chicago, but to me it is just media blowing things out of the proportion. We all have been in our early 20’s (except those of you who are still teens) whether we remember them or not. If you read this Patrick, I would love to hang with you and knock down some brewskies. Just look for the Russian guy in NYC – that should narrow it down to just a few hundred thousand.

Patrick Kane sounds like an awesome time, but from the pictures I’ve seen (no, I am not a stalker) he seems to be selling himself short with the ladies. He needs some lessons from two NHL players that I would absolutely love to go out and party with – Jeff Carter and Mike Richards.

Their partying seem to be going on during the regular season, which caused both to be shipped out of Philly after signing monster-length deals. It seems that they were partying hard. Want proof? Check out these photos of Mike Richards treating his former teammates in Philly to a visit from a porn star. The best part is that now these two are in LA. Now, I am just assuming, but there might be a bit more partying in LA than Philly. Am I wrong, Flyers fans? No one really knows who Mike Richards and Jeff Carter are in LA and they are probably better able to keep indiscretions on the down-low. To me that is a plus for these two. Throw in a little bit of Mr.Doughty and we have a night to remember. I can picture the “Hangover Three” happening while out with these lads. Go LA, Go!

So my drink is empty and I am kind of hesitant to order another one. The ginger spice has taken over my taste buds and nothing will taste how it should any more. It is a specialty drink after all, and I just don’t know if I have another one in me. Maybe I am not as fancy as I thought I was?

The best part about drinking though is having fun. Having fun with good friends and enjoying your time out. Gleeing out and not paying attention to what others think.

Who does this best? Simple. Paul Bissonnette. There is no better player to follow on twitter than this man. The best part is the pictures of him out and about. Vegas, LA, Vancouver, and Montreal. He goes everywhere, and everywhere he goes good times follow. I have never been more jealous of hockey players then after I started following this man on twitter (again, NOT a stalker). You should too. Hockey players are usually known to be reserved individuals. They will provide the most boring and predictable interviews. The players aforementioned have their private life in private, even if the few fascinating pictures leak out here and there. Paul chooses not to take privacy so seriously. He shows his life and speaks his mind. It is all very interesting and sort of admirable while being absolutely entertaining. He lives his life and is not shy or embarrassed by it. He also knows how to have an awesome time.

He also has good friends:

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

Which NHL players would you love to go out for a drink with?

…and that is the Last Word.

Follow me on Twitter, @Maximus91, and check out the other instalments of “NHL Happy Hour”.

NFL Fans, check out “A Pint of NFL” for comparisons between beer and football players.

The Canucks need Shane Doan, and he needs Vancouver

Posted on August 6, 2012November 5, 2021 by Ben Kerr

Here we are, August 6th, 2012, and Shane Doan is still a free agent. With nearly every other big name unrestricted free agent off the market, Doan is clearly the crown jewel of the NHL UFA’s still available. Doan has been waiting for a resolution on the Phoenix ownership situation, but as we know the Coyotes ownership situation is the story that doesn’t end.

While I don’t doubt that Shane Doan would prefer to stay in Phoenix, at 36-years old, he might be looking for long-term security, too. At this point, does anyone believe that Phoenix can offer that type of security? I think that even someone as loyal as Doan should be having doubts, and rumors are swirling that Shane Doan has narrowed down his list of possible destinations to three teams: the Pittsburgh Penguins, the New York Rangers, and the Vancouver Canucks. I believe that Vancouver is the team that has the most to gain by adding Doan, and that the city is the best landing spot for him.

There is little doubt as to who the leaders and best two players are on the Canucks. The Sedin twins are undoubtedly amongst the best players in the NHL. However, they will also turn 32-years old before the start of next season. The prime of their careers is winding down. Sure they will still be good players for more than a few years, but we must ask how much longer they will be at their absolute best. If the Canucks are going to continue to rely on the twins, the time to win with them is right here, right now.

The Canucks team, and the Sedins specifically, have long been criticized for their lack of toughness and for what has been perceived as poor playoff performances. Personally I think these criticisms are unfair. The twins have put up impressive numbers in the playoffs; Daniel has 46 points in his last 49 playoff games while Henrik has 51 points in his last 52 games. Would anyone argue that a point-per-game isn’t enough offence in the playoffs? As for the toughness argument, they are point producers. The list of skilled offensive players who don’t drop the gloves often is long and filled with the greatest names in the history of the sport. Quite simply it isn’t their job to be pugilists. I’ve never seen the twins shy away from playing in the corners or getting to the front of the net. Their offensive game is based on puck-control and playing the best cycle game in the NHL. They control the puck down low and the twins are not afraid to get into dirty areas and take the abuse that comes with it.

Now let’s turn our attention to Doan. As a RW there is an opening for him to play with the twins. His game is that of a pure power forward; he is a strong force on the boards and in front of the net. He’s also a pure goal scorer. In many ways his talents would fit like a glove with Daniel and Henrik. Meanwhile, he would be the tough, physically punishing player that the Sedin line has lacked. He would be able to play bodyguard for the twins while not sacrificing at all in the skill department. Doan is gritty, a warrior, and above all he is a leader. Doan is the type of heart and soul player who could inspire the Canucks when they need it most, bringing them the last piece to get over the hump.

So where does this leave Alex Burrows? As the regular linemate of the Sedins and a player who has had great success with them, wouldn’t bumping him out of that spot be a problem? No. Burrows also has chemistry with Ryan Kesler. He could seamlessly move into the second line and create a dynamic two-way duo with Kesler. This line would be amongst the best shutdown lines in the NHL, and would also provide offence at the other end of the rink. Win-win, right?

And what Doan’s needs? How is Vancouver the best fit? Well, Doan will be 36-years old before the start of next season. He is clearly on the downside of his career. This season he made it to the conference finals for the first time in his career. At his age, its unclear how many good years he has left. If he is going to win the Stanley Cup before he retires, it’s time to play for a contender now. Who better than the Canucks, a team that has won their division three straight years, and the defending back-to-back President’s trophy winners? In each of the last three years the Canucks have lost to the eventual Stanley Cup Champions. They are close, and have been able to keep their core together. Playing in the Northwest division, the Canucks should continue to dominate for the immediate future. Meanwhile the Penguins and Rangers will be involved in the 4-way war that is the Atlantic Division. The gruelling battles in that division, and the number of other contenders there, make emerging from that hell-hole a tougher proposition, and advancing to the Finals very difficult. Quite simply the Canucks would provide Doan the best chance to win, and win now.

So what needs to happen for this union to take place? The Canucks must clear room for Doan. They currently have less than $2.5 million in cap space, and I think it’s safe to say that more space will be needed to sign Shane Doan. The simplest way would be to move Roberto Luongo to create that room. Replacing Luongo with a much cheaper backup to Corey Schneider would create the space necessary to sign Shane Doan.

This move just makes too much sense for all the parties involved, so of course, I predict it won’t happen…. even though it should.

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

UFC on FOX 4: Naming a #1 Contender to Face Jon Jones

Posted on August 5, 2012November 5, 2021 by Mark Modeski

There was controversy surrounding UFC on FOX 4 well before the event took place on August 5th. In fact, there was probably more controversy in the build-up to the fight then there was from the event itself. The key issue that was causing such heated debate leading up to Saturday was regarding comments made by Dana White about how the results would lead to a light heavyweight tilt against reigning champion, Jon Jones.

Shogun, Brandon Vera, Lyoto Machida and Ryan Bader were coming into the event on Saturday with the expectation that one of them would be facing Jon Jones in the next few months (assuming Jones beats Dan Henderson). The key issue lies in the fact that all of these fighters have been defeated by Jones in the past. As I mentioned in a previous article, Jon Jones has built up a dominance in the light heavyweight division that is starting to show shades of Anderson Silva and Georges St. Pierre, and it can be hard watching re-matches, considering the previous losses were so lop-sided.

As expected, Shogun and Machida came out victorious in their respective matches, so both naturally felt worthy of a shot at the title. Dana White all but confirmed in the post-fight press conference that Lyoto Machida would likely be the one awarded another bout against Jones. Why? Apparently the decision was mainly due to the fact Machida’s victory was more impressive – and because Machida looked “hungrier” during the fight (and outside of the ring).

While many people may not be excited by the prospect of a re-match between Jones and Machida, out of all four of the aforementioned fighters Machida probably presents the most interesting challenge. To anyone who watched the first match-up between Jones and Machida at UFC 140, we watched Jon Jones, who has seemed invincible, feel some heat. Despite what anyone says, Machida dominated Jones in the first round of their match by staying with his patented karate stick-and-move fighting tactics. It wasn’t until Jones got wise and started to work a clinch-and-grapple game that he rebounded in that fight. With this all being said, Machida has proven that he can scathe the champ, and if he can learn from his previous mistakes then he does have a chance of wearing the belt again.

To people who think Jones should face someone else, I don’t really know what you want? Jones has dispatched every top-level fighter in the light heavyweight division. Assuming he beats Henderson, there are few alternatives in the division. Hopefully there will be some emergent challengers moving through the ranks, but until then we fans we need to resign ourselves to the fact that we’re going to have to watch re-matches for the title in the light heavyweight division.

On a side note, I want to give a shout out to Brandon Vera. After years of wondering where his dynamism had gone, I think we finally saw it re-emerge last night. Despite the loss, Vera looked fantastic. He had Shogun on the ropes a number of times. I am looking forward to seeing him fight again soon in the UFC!

… and that is the last word.

The NFL Power Shift

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

Between 1997 and 2008 we witnessed the AFC win nine of a total 12 Super Bowl’s. There was no doubt who the superior conference was. For a couple of years in the mid-2000’s it even seemed like a given that the real Super Bowl was the AFC Championship game and the actual title was just an afterthought. That has all changed now. The NFC has taken down the last three Super Bowl’s and four of the last five. It’s not tough to pinpoint where it all started. The New York Giants knocked off the New England Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII in one of those title games that was supposed to be an afterthought. In the last three years the Saints, Packers and Giants have out-dueled Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Tom Brady respectively to earn their conference the NFL’s ultimate prize.

Is this just a small trend or is it a pattern that is here to stay?

Before the AFC took over the league starting in 1997 the NFC had won 13 straight Super Bowl’s dating back to 1984. Why? Well, they had the best teams. Obviously. But they had the best teams because they had Joe Montana and Troy Aikman and Steve Young and Brett Favre. In the league of the Quarterback who ever has the most talent at that position is going to prevail over a long enough period of time. And that talent is not always evenly distributed, especially when it usually ends up being a handful of superstars who carry the bulk of the load.

If you were to make a list of the best 12 Quarterbacks in the league right now only four of those QB’s would come from the AFC. Three of those QB’s are listed above as the last three Super Bowl losers. They are Peyton Manning, age 36, Ben Roethlisberger, age 30, and Tom Brady, age 34. These are the players responsible for six of the last nine AFC Super Bowl’s. As dominant as we know they still could be there is no denying that at least two of them are on the downside of their careers. Only four Quarterbacks have ever started a Super Bowl past age 34 and had their team claim victory, and only one, John Elway, has done it in the last 28 years.

On the other hand the NFC right now is loaded. The Green Bay Packers right now are the most dominant team in the league and they a built around Quarterback Aaron Rodgers who is right in his prime. They also have Eli Manning, winner of two Super Bowls and Drew Brees, winner of most passing yards ever. But it is the talent beyond these three that is what makes the NFC stand out. Cam Newton appears to be next in line for future stardom and is only entering his second year. Tony Romo, Michael Vick and Jay cutler are high-caliber veteran players who all play on quality teams, and Matt Ryan and Matt Stafford are young players who appear capable of taking that next step to post-season success.

It is totally realistic to expect the NFC has what it takes to go on a long run of Super Bowl’s led by the uber-talented Green Bay Packers and play-off specialist New York Giants. If the AFC doesn’t get to hoist the Lombardi Trophy again for a while don’t say you weren’t warned.

…and that’s that last word.

A Pint of NFL: The Two Sides of Ben Roethlisberger

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

I picked up today’s beer on the way to a family gathering. I don’t usually buy on a whim because seldom can I walk into neighborhood store and find a quality beer I’ve not tried yet. Today, the stars were aligned. There, on a shelf stuck helplessly between a sad can of Pilsner Urquel and a six-pack of Budweiser, was a single clear bottle of Amber ale. Sorry for the drama, but that’s really how it went.

When I got to the pool party and got reacquainted with my extended family, I rested my lone bottle in the cooler alongside some random bottles of cerveza, and after about an hour, fished it out. Not having an opener I used a lighter. The smell of my Innis & Gunn is what first hit me. As the first gulp went down I had my co-headliner for this article.

Like my beer, Ben Roethlisberger first presents as very tough. Big Ben is widely considered one of the toughest, hard-nosed football players in the NFL. As a part-time Steelers fans myself (I play a bills fan on weekends) there are many games I can cite in which Ben played, was injured, yet endured, whereas many other quarterbacks wouldn’t have. Please, don’t dispute that. I’m enjoying this beer, I don’t want it spoiled.

The first gulp is delicious. Not refreshing, rather, it is tasty. The sweetness from the toffee and hint of caramel are the stars of this show. My mistake is deciding on tasting this beer while enjoying a sausage on a bun that someone handed me on the side. Not that my Oktoberfest with onions and mustard is bad in any way, it’s just that this beer isn’t a complement – it stands alone. I feel about this beer what I can only assume a Shiraz drinker would feel about ice wine. It’s a dessert, not a solo act. It’s not to be paired with anything. It is a little on the heavy side, as some may have said the same about Ben once or twice. Okay, maybe a few more times than that.

Ben has been getting the cold shoulder since his “legal issues” arose a couple of years back. It’s not my intent to get into that right now – remember, I’m enjoying a beer, and having it ruined by reminiscing about the stupid things he did will only spoil the moment. Let’s just call this a disclaimer, asking you to set aside your feelings for him as a moral human being, and concentrate on what he brings to the gridiron. I need a drink.

Ben plays through pain. If backed into a corner to defend this, I’ll just throw last season’s incredible performance versus the Browns into the ring. The Steelers were fighting over top spot with the Ravens late in the season. Just before half-time, a 300 lb. rhino landed on Ben’s leg, with his ankle doing a contortionists’ act. Heinz Field went silent. Ben limped off the field for x-rays for what he assumed was a broken leg . Rather than sitting the rest of the game, he was taped up and back on the field for the second half. That, my friends, is Steelers football. Lambert. Greene. Bleier. Holmes. Ward. I raise my clear bottle in salute of some of the finest, toughest Steelers ever to play, and take another sip.

I don’t know much about Innis & Gunn, but what I do know is that they aged this beer in oak, whereas other versions of their brand rested in whiskey barrels. I’ve had beer aged in whiskey barrels before, and really enjoyed them. They presented an old cigar quality. This beer isn’t quite like that. It’s almost like a pretender, trying to be something it’s not – a sheep in wolves’ clothes if you will. Sounds harsh, and I don’t mean it to be because I rather like it, it’s just that it ends up too woodsy and sweet for me to give it a top-billing. Again, I draw a comparison to Roethlisberger, who is being criticized by some for fabricating or at the very least embellishing his most recent injury yesterday. So, is Ben the tough S-O-B that most feel, or is he a pretender, hoping to add his name to Steeler greats?

In practice yesterday, a 300 lb rhino (again with the rhinos!) landed on his leg resulting in a sprained ankle. His ankle was iced and he skipped the rest of the practice. Call me stupid (actually don’t – I might cry), but isn’t that what normally happens when a team’s star quarterback sprains his ankle? Would it be better for him to hobble out with those rhinos again so he can throw a few more out patterns and the occasional screen?

My beer is on its last legs now, and given that Ben has been playing a hard-nosed style of football for the past eight seasons, I wonder if he might be on his last as well. Injuries add up. As a thirty-something-or-other myself, I can’t play a game of softball without feeling some nagging past injury re-surfacing. With a nagging rotator cuff injury, which he apparently is playing through, and an ankle that seems on the brittle side, I question whether he will be forced to change his game or suffer the consequences of playing in the NFL. If he indeed is as tough as he positions himself as, then I think his time amongst the top quarterbacks in the NFL (yet a step below the Mannings and Rogers of the world, of course) is slowly winding down. He can’t cope with that abuse much longer. However, if he is a pretender like many NFL fans, and an increasing number of fans from Pittsburgh, believe, then he may still have some gas in the tank.

My beer, as it starts to fade, leaves me begging for more. Not more of the same oak-aged beer, but a return to the strong, classic whiskey-aged barrels which produced so many memories. In a way, perhaps that is also what I want of Ben Roethlisberger. I don’t want to question whether he is sincere in his ailments. I want to consider him amongst the Lamberts and Greenes, I just don’t know if I can.

Cheers.

Top Shelf Prospects: Florida Panthers

Posted on August 5, 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 Florida Panthers. 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 asking 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 Profiles:
Michael Matheson

Top Prospect: Jonathan Huberdeau, Left Wing
Born Jun 4 1993 — St-Jerome, PQ
Height 6.01 — Weight 171 — Shoots Left
Selected by the Florida Panthers in round 1, #3 overall of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft

Jonathan Huberdeau is one of the best young prospects outside the NHL right now. The 2011 third overall pick is a dynamic offensive threat from the wing. Listed by many as capable of playing centre as well, Huberdeau has used almost exclusively at Left Wing for Saint John for most of the last two years. The captain of the Sea Dogs has had a remarkable junior career. He has led the powerhouse team to two straight QMJHL Championships and even won the 2011 Memorial Cup. In 2011 he was both the QMJHL playoff MVP and the Memorial Cup MVP. Last year he was limited to just 37 regular season games due to injuries, but put up an incredible 72 points in that time, nearly 2 points per game.

Offensively, Huberdeau brings everything you could ask for from a player. He has incredible hockey sense and instinct to play the game. Huberdeau reads the play well at both ends of the rink and almost always makes the smart play. He exploits holes in the opponent’s defence and finds openings to create offence for himself or others. An excellent stick handler, Huberdeau is able to both protect the puck and to beat opponents one on one with his soft hands. He can mesmerize goalies and defenders with his arsenal of quick moves and dangles, and his quickness helps him score goals in tight. He also has the ability to let go an NHL ready wrist shot with great accuracy and a quick release. The defence is naturally drawn to him and his talent, and if they are not careful, he has the excellent vision and play making abilities, to spot open teammates and to make a crisp tape to tape pass leaving them with an open net to shoot at. Marry these skills with Huberdeau’s great speed, agility, and balance on his skates, and you have a dynamic offensive force.

Huberdeau is also a willing backchecker and has been used by Saint John on their penalty killing units. Once again it is his great hockey sense and hockey IQ that help him here. He anticipates plays extremely well and as such is very good at cutting down on passing and shooting lanes. He is able to create turnovers and create quick transitions back to offence. He truly is the complete package.

After being sent back to Saint John for an extra year of junior seasoning last year, Huberdeau really should make the Panthers this season. He has all the skill, and should he get enough ice time, could contend for the Calder Trophy.

#2 Prospect: Jacob Markstrom, Goaltender
Born Jan 31 1990 — Gavle, Sweden
Height 6.06 — Weight 196 — Shoots Left
Selected by the Florida Panthers in Round 2, #31 overall of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft

Markstrom is the best goalie prospect in the world right now. At 6’6″ he’s part of the new breed of NHL goalie, giants who cover a ton of net and give the shooter little to look at. Markstrom combines his excellent size with excellent coverage on angles, solid puck tracking and an ability to almost always keep his shoulders square to the puck. In this way he further minimizes the amount of net his opponents look at. Markstrom has well refined butterfly technique and quick legs that take away the lower portion of the net. His lateral movement is very good and he goes post to post quickly and efficiently. He also has a good glove hand which helps him take away the top portion of the net.

If there is an area where Markstrom still needs work, it is in his rebound control. He is prone to giving up bad rebounds to the front of the net, especially on hard, low point shots. This lack of rebound control can cause headaches for his defence at times, but he also has the ability to recover quickly and be in position for many of the second chance opportunities the defenders can’t clear. This is something that is a common problem with young goalies though, and should be something he can work out in time.

Markstrom is 22 years old and has two seasons in the AHL under his belt. Many analysts, including myself, believe he is ready to take the next step and start his NHL career. It would seem that the Florida Panthers disagree as right now, it appears that the Panthers will go with Jose Theodore and Scott Clemmensen as their goaltending tandem. Markstrom will spend one more season as the starter in the AHL, and may get some NHL time (as he did last year) if injuries arise. It looks like it will be one more year before he’s up in the show for good.

Prospect #3: Nick Bjustad, Centre
Born Jul 17 1992 — Blaine, MN
Height 6.05 — Weight 212 — Shoots Right
Selected by the Florida Panthers in round 1 #19 overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

For most teams, I’ve looked at two top prospects plus a sleeper. However the Panthers are too good and too deep, I quite simply couldn’t leave Nick Bjustad off the list. The huge centre is listed at 6’5 and 212 lbs in releases from the University of Minnesota. He certainly looks the part as he towers over competitors out there.

Bjustad has a number of offensive weapons. He skates very well for a man his size, and with great balance and a powerful stride that helps him drive to the net. He protects the puck well, controlling the play on his stick, and buying time for teammates to find an opening. When they do, he has the vision and playmaking skill to find them. However Bjustad’s biggest asset is his NHL ready wrist shot. He is a pure sniper with a heavy, accurate shot and a deceptively quick release.

Bjustad is a good two way centre who is as efficient in the defensive end as he is in the offensive end of the ice. He kills penalties, using his large frame and long stick to cut down passing lanes and create turnovers. At even strength he backchecks effectively and uses his size and reach to keep opposing forwards to the outside and to protect the front of the net both against the rush and against the cycle game.

If there is a criticism of Bjustad it is that despite his size, he’s not a very physical player. By that I mean that he’s not a big hitter either in a defensive role or on the forecheck. Its not that he’s soft or anything like that. He is willing to take a lot of punishment and works in the dirty areas of the ice to produce points, but he just doesn’t initiate contact and dominate physically like you’d expect from someone his size. He mainly uses his size to shield the puck in the offensive zone, and to keep opponents away from the net in his own end.

It would appear that Bjustad will return to the University of Minnesota next year for his junior season. He should dominate there, and may be a contender for the Hobey Baker award. Quite frankly its a little disappointing to see Bjustad staying one more year in College. He is certainly AHL ready, if not NHL ready. I do however predict he will leave school after his junior season, and depending how well he does this year might just be ready to go straight to the big club bypassing the AHL.

Sleeper Pick: Corban Knight, Centre
Born Sep 10 1990 — High River, ALTA
Height 6.01 — Weight 180 — Shoots R
Selected by the Florida Panthers in round 5 #135 overall of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft

Corban Knight is another Panthers prospect who has decided to stay in school this year. Big things are expected from the University of North Dakota senior as he looks to build on his performances as a point per game player the last two years. Knight is an agitator who plays an on-edge, in your face style of game. He is a source of constant forechecking pressure for the UND team, as his good speed helps him to get into the offensive zone quickly. If there is a scrum after the play, you know that you can often find Knight right in the middle of it. Offensively, he is more of a playmaker than a scorer. He’s creates offense by digging pucks out of the corners and getting them to teammates out front of the net. His wrist shot has decent velocity, but he will need to improve his release in order to be a regular goal scorer at the pro level.

Knight may not project as a top 6 forward, however his good work ethic, fiesty attitude, and solid defensive play mean he could become a valuable contributor on the Panthers 3rd or 4th line in the Future. He does need a little more time though, and will probably find himself in the AHL after his senior season.

The Panthers have spent the last several years amassing draft picks and building one of the deepest systems in hockey. I’ve added an extra prospect to this report, and we still haven’t even gotten to Alex Petrovic, and Quinton Howden, players who would be top 2 prospects on many of the teams in the NHL. Add to them even more depth in Drew Shore and Rocco Grimaldi, a boom or bust player in John McFarland, and solid AHL producers like Colby Robak and Joonas Donskoi and you have one of the best and deepest systems in the NHL. Thankfully for their opponents, I felt that aside from Michael Matheson the Panthers had a very underwhelming 2012 draft which is extremely unusual for this team. However after loading up on talent at the 2011, 2010, and 2009 drafts I don’t know if this really even matters. The Panthers system is so stocked at every position that they could afford to trade a few picks to help the big club, and could afford to take some long shot picks in the later rounds. After finally making the playoffs in 2012, the Panthers deep farm system should ensure that they will be a regular participant and won’t be starting another long streak of futility anytime soon.

Please feel free to leave comments below and follow me on twitter @LastWordBKerr

The CFL Now on NBC Sports

Posted on August 4, 2012November 4, 2021 by Carl Mostacci

The newly branded NBC Sports Network and the Canadian Football League recently announced nine CFL regular season games, along with all playoff and the Grey Cup Championship final, would be carried by the network in the United States starting on August 27th.

The NFL Network carried CFL Games in the US the past three seasons with decent ratings. But it decided to opt out of carrying CFL games this season, because is has committed to televising more of its own league games. I cannot blame the National Football League for wanting to promote its own brand of football first.

Many football fans across the United States love any kind of ball that involves the pigskin, whether it is Pop Warner, high school, college, semi-professional or professional. Back in the early 1980’s ESPN carried CFL football games during the NFL labour dispute, which garnered some fans south of the 49th. In addition, the CFL developed a small US following during its ill-fated two year US-expansion experiment. Seeing as how the majority of CFL players hail from the United States, many family members of these athletes will watch games on television. Many players from top US colleges end up playing in the CFL, so it might be interesting for college fans to see how some of these players have continued their career.

For these reasons, it makes sense that CFL games are carried in the United States. I think it’s a great opportunity for NBC Sports to carry the games. CFL games in Canada are televised on TSN. Both TSN and NBC already have established a working relationship in broadcasting hockey games. Both networks share commentators (ie. Gord Miller, Pierre McGuire, Jeremy Roenick, Keith Jones) and game feeds in their hockey coverage. TSN also airs weekly Sunday Night NFL Football in Canada, which is produced by NBC Sports and shown on the main US NBC Network. Hopefully this partnership will continue to prosper.

I have to believe that more cable subscribers in the US will get NBC Sports then they did the NFL Network. I know NBC is now owned by Comcast, which is a huge provider of Cable to millions of homes in the north-eastern US and beyond. This means the Canadian Football League will be on display to many more people, and hopefully we will see appreciation for the Canadian game grow.

Feel free to leave comments below.

NBC Sports Network’s 2012 CFL schedule (all times ET):

Date	Game	Time
August 27	Edmonton @ Toronto	7:30 pm
August 31	BC @ Montréal	7:30 pm
September 3	Toronto @ Hamilton	1 pm
September 3	Edmonton @ Calgary	4:30 pm
September 7	Calgary @ Edmonton	9 pm
October 5	Hamilton @ Edmonton	9 pm
October 19	Edmonton @ BC	10 pm
November 1	Hamilton @ Toronto	7:30 pm
November 2	Calgary @ Edmonton	9 pm
November 11	Semifinals	TBA
November 11	Semifinals	TBA
November 18	Finals	TBA
November 18	Finals	TBA
November 25	Grey Cup	6:30 pm

The Stanley Cup or Olympic Gold? Which is more coveted?

Posted on August 3, 2012November 5, 2021 by Maksim Vasilyev

There is a great difference between growing up in the United States and Europe when it comes to sports. For one you don’t have to know what baseball is if you’re from Europe – one of the few benefits (sorry baseball fans). The second one is a bit more complicated and rather a big deal to me.

I grew up in Russia in a small town called Saint Petersburg. To you it may seem strange for me to call one of the major cities in Russia small, but it is when compared to where I live now – New York City. I have now lived in North America longer than I have in Russia, but because I left when I was 13, there are certain things that have been instilled in me that have not left. Drinking vodka is probably is one of them, but the sport culture is the more important one.

National sport pride and Olympics.

Olympics were by far the most important sporting event in Russia/CCCP. I remember watching every single event with my grandparents, both of whom served in the Soviet Army. We watched all of the events from figure skating to gymnastics to ice hockey to skiing. Naturally, we were much better at winter sports as a country and since everyone loves winners, more attention was given to the events for which we had a chance for a gold medal, but it would not take away from the overall interest in how other nations performed. After all, by the time I could appreciate sports, the Soviet Union broke up and we were introduced to new countries that would be participating independently.

So what made our country care about the Olympics? Simple – Geography. European countries are a spit-shot away from each other and this creates ideal conditions for multi-national tournaments. Every sport has a European championship tournament with soccer holding the most prestigious ones. It is instilled in you that at some point during each year you will be rooting for your country in a competition against rival countries.

In the past, the Olympic competitions also carried political weight, creating more heightened anticipation. This competition comes from the thousand of years of war between countries that are so close to each other, but now instead of swords they battle with hockey sticks and victories are counted by the amount of gold medals a country can win, not by death tolls.

In North America, hockey competition is mostly between cities. The only time the Olympics were heavily hyped was during the Cold War when USA/Canada had to defeat Russia due to political reasons in the USA’s case, or for hockey pride for Canadians (where major hockey competitions such as Olympics and the World Juniors are still MUST SEE TV). Tell me, was the Summit Series not infinitely more important to Canada than any Stanley Cup? Once the Soviet Union collapsed these rivalries lost their lustre, and even Hollywood had to find a new enemy to replace the Ivan Drago‘s of years past. Sure, the USA beating Canada in the 96 World Cup of Hockey created a buzz in the United States, but it’s not the same. It didn’t carry over. The United States’ losses in the 2002 and 2010 Olympic Gold Medal Games to Canada did not create a sense of national failure among hockey fans, the way it would have in Canada or in Russia if they were on the losing end.

Another blow to the Olympics importance in the US is how often the games are played. The Olympics will never draw the same attention of American fans, because it only happens once every 4 years unlike every other major sports that is available in North America – NBA, NHL, NFL, and MLB.

Some may argue that the USA hockey program participates in international yearly championships, but only the hard-core fans pay attention due to time differences and lack of coverage by the mainstream media. There is an obvious lack of American coverage of the Hockey World Championships. Canada is a hockey crazy nation and even hosted the World Championship in 2008, but even then it takes a back seat to the Stanley Cup Playoffs which are being played at the same time. For myself, living in New York it is tough to catch a glimpse of the action, except, thankfully, on the lovely internet, which saves many a day.

So here is the question: which is more cherished the Stanley Cup or Olympic Gold? The answer is simple – the Gold.

While that answer is simple for me, some will undoubtedly disagree. Having been removed many years from my home country (thankfully so) and having really no true national pride for my homeland when it comes to politics, I do still root for Russian athletes. I root not just for the bragging rights, but because I somehow still care. It has been beaten into me to care. More than just the athletes and teams, I cherish those tournaments. To me the value is in the fact that it is once every four years. It is pure sport, pure competition, and just because you are good enough, does not mean you will be called upon. One of the greatest players to ever play in the NHL, Nicklas Lidstrom, recognizes the importance of the Olympics gold, even after winning almost every award possible in NHL.

Olympics also are a tougher mental competition. While in the Cup playoffs a goalie can be pulled and come back to win the next 4 games to advance to the next round, or if a player misses a one-timer into an open net, he can still rebound the next game. They call this mental toughness, resilience, and an ability to learn from your mistakes. In the Olympics’ elimination round, every mistake is final. There is no tomorrow and your entire country, not a city or a state, is depending on you to win. When entire countries shut down to watch the game, missing an empty-net one timer, giving up a 20-metre goal, and not winning leads to tremendous heart ache and disapointments.

This is why the European players care about the Olympics and will always participate. It blows my mind that NHL would even think about not letting these players play for their home country. This epic event happens once every four years. Schedule around it and let the best players play – not for money, contracts, but for the flag on their sweaters. It should unite people nation-wide. We need that unity sometimes. Our daily lives are already filled with people who are usually divided by sports, politics, and whether to eat at a Chic-fil-A or not. The Olympics gives a chance to forget about that and share a beer over a common interest, common goal, and a common flag.

To me, in the United States we do not get behind our national teams as we should, most people are apathetic towards the Olympics. Some will say that this is just because Hockey does not have national prominence in the United States. However I don’t see the same American pride to any of their Olympic Teams. The Dream Team is a national curiosity in Basketball due to the talent there, but it is not the source of passion that national teams are in Europe. To basketball fans an NBA title means much more. I guess because we are such a big country or because there are so many city vs city rivalries that we get bored by the national teams, which sucks. National events lack history, perhaps because we no longer have a villain to beat. But what we are missing is something wonderful. There is nothing like going into a bar for a FIFA World Cup game and have everyone in the bar rooting for team USA. Singing the national anthem before the game, jumping up at the missed opportunities, and celebrating with strangers when your team scores. I wish the same carried over for every sport, especially Olympic hockey, because the gold is not just a win for that player, that team, or that city…it is a win for the whole country.

So Stanley Cup or Olympic Gold?

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Top Shelf Prospects: Edmonton Oilers

Posted on August 3, 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 Edmonton Oilers. 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 asking 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.

I also reviewed Justin Schultz while he was still a free agent looking for a team, and his report has not changed, so I will include a link to that as well.

2012 Draft Prospect Reviews:
Nail Yakupov, Mitch Moroz, Daniil Zharkov
Bonus Review: Justin Schultz

The Oilers have so much of their young talent already on the big squad (Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent Hopkins), no longer qualifying as prospects under my criteria (Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, Anton Lander), or previously reviewed by me (Nail Yakupov, Justin Schultz). That I`m gonna have to treat this team a little bit differently. There will still be two prospects plus a sleeper, but I can`t really call them the Oilers top 2 prospects, because they really aren`t. They are still very good prospects, but merely the top 2 players still left under this criteria as opposed to the most valuable pieces of the Oilers future.

Oscar Klefbom, Defence
Born Jul 20 1993 — Karlstad, Sweden
Height 6.03 — Weight 201 — Shoots Left
Selected by the Edmonton Oilers round 1 #19 overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft

Oscar Klefbom is a bit of an interesting case for me. When I saw him at the 2011 IIHF Under 18 World Championships just before his draft, I saw a player who was a dynamic offensive force from the blue line, but one who took chances and needed to work on his defensive game. Just about 8 months later when I saw Klefbom at the 2012 World Junior Championships, I saw a player who had made major strides and became a shutdown defender and a tournament all-star for the Gold Medal winning Swedish squad, but a player who seemed to be a bit snake bit at the offensive end of the ice. The improvement in his defensive ability was profound, and I’m sure made the Oilers brass smile as they watched the young protege play in the tournament on Alberta soil. I wouldn’t be too worried aobut the lack of offensive production though, I still believe Klefbom has the offensive skill, I just feel that in this short tourney he was a bit unlucky to only get 2 points in 6 games.

Klefbom’s biggest asset is his skating ability. He has excellent edgework, and is ability to quickly pivot and change direction in all 360 degrees. This skill is extemely valuable in both the offensive and defensive ends of the ice. He is extremely difficult to beat off the rush as he adjusts to an attackers movements and cuts them off. He closes gaps quickly and efficiently which allows him to line up the attacker for a big hit if given the opportunity. He is also able to quickly recover if something does go wrong. Offensively Klefbom is able to use his mobility to walk the line and open up passing and shooting lanes when he has the puck. He also adds good top end speed and this allows him to both lead and join the rush.

Klefbom has a BOMB of a slap shot. He sets up at the point on the power play and unleashes absolute howitzers at opposing goalies. He also has a very hard, very accurate wrist shot, and an excellent release. Klefbom’s puck control, vision and passing are assets, however they are not at the level of fellow Oiler prospect Justin Schultz. For this reason Klefbom projects as the trigger man, with Schultz as the QB on future Oilers’ powerplays.

Klefbom is quickly developing into an effective two way defenceman. It is assumed however that he needs a bit more time before he is NHL ready. I expect Klefbom to return to the Swedish Elite League and play another season for Farjestad before making his way to North America. When he gets here he may need some AHL time before he is ready for the show. The Oilers should be patient with this kid because he has the talent to be a huge part of their defence in the future.

David Musil, Defence
Born Apr 9 1993 — Delta, BC
Height 6.04 — Weight 203 — Shoots Left
Selected by the Edmonton Oilers in round 2 #31 overall of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft

David Musil is the son of former NHL defenceman and current Oilers scout Frantisek Musil. With the first pick of the 2nd round in the 2011 draft, the Oilers kept it all in the family taking the young blueliner. Many have suggested this was a move fueled by nepotism, but the fact is that Musil has the skill to justify such a lofty draft position, and fills a major void on the Oilers blue line.

Musil is a big, rugged, defence first defenceman. He is strong on the boards and overpowers opponents to win battles and come away with the puck. He also works effectively down low and keeps the front of the net clear so his goalie can see the puck. His positioning and footwork are at an advanced level for a 19 year old, and this should come as no surprise as he’s probably had 19 years of teaching from his father. Musil knows how to wait for the opportunity and pick his spots so he doesn’t get caught out of position often, but he does like to throw a big hit if its available.

Unfortunately the hints of offence that Musil showed as a 16 year old WHL rookie have just not developed. He has a decent break out pass and can get the puck moving, but he’s not a defenceman who takes a lot of chances or joins the rush a lot. He’s also got a hard, low and accurate slapshot which can be an effective weapon. But he lacks the offensive instinct to move laterally and open up shooting lanes for himself. In the offensive zone he is a decent enough paasser, but by no means is he going to quarterback a powerplay. While he may not be a total loss at the offensive end, he does not project to put up big numbers and defence will be his strength.

Musil is exactly the type of defenceman the Oilers need going forward, as Ryan Whitney, Jeff Petry, Justin Schultz and Oscar Klefbom will handle the offensive duties for the team going forward. He’s still a couple of years away from joining the team though. He probably will spend this season back in the WHL, and then go for some AHL time in 2013-14 before he’s ready to make the leap.

Sleeper Pick: Teemu Hartikainen, Left Wing
Born May 3 1990 — Kuopio, Finland
Height 6.01 — Weight 215 — Shoots Left
Selected by the Edmonton Oilers round 6 #163 overall in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft

With 29 NHL games under his belt over the last two years, Hartikainen may not be a sleeper to Oilers fans, but he is still a relative unknown commodity around the NHL. He is a hard nosed winger, with decent size, who gives his all every shift. Hartikainen is a strong physical presence who gets involved in and wins his share of board battles. He forechecks well and causes turnovers in the offensive zone. Hartikainen is at his best controlling the puck off the cycle and working down low in the offensive zone. Without the puck he has very good hockey sense and knows when to get open for a pass, and when to cause havoc in front of the opposition’s net. The one thing holding him back is his skating. Hartikainen is not particularly fleet of foot and could use some work on his acceleration and first step quickness.

Defensively Hartikainen uses his body effectively and efficiently. He is a willing backchecker and works hard to provide back pressure when an opponent has the puck. He understands proper positioning and is a willing and able shot blocker. He shows the same dogged grit and determination that make him effective in the offensive zone in the defensive end of the ice.

Hartikainen is close to being NHL ready, and should eventually become a good bottom six checking player who provides a little offence from time to time. I don’t expect him to be a huge scoring threat in the NHL, but his hard work, and good defensive skill will eventually get him a place in the league. Working against him is the great depth the Oilers currently have on the wings, and this will make it tough for a player like Hartikainen to crack the lineup.

When it comes time to assess the youth of the Oilers, they are one of the most intriguing franchises in the NHL. The criteria you use, says so much. If we merely look at all their assets under the age of 25, we clearly see the most talented hockey club in the NHL. There is not much doubt about that, the players this team has in Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle, plus Nail Yakupov, Justin Schultz and Oscar Klefbom on the way. It quite simply is a group of young players that is second to none in the NHL. However when we look at prospects only, the amount of talent that is already graduated to the NHL is astounding. While we are left with a good group, it probably falls out of first, but with Yakupov and Schultz leading the way remains in the top 5. However when we assume Yakupov and Schultz will soon be full time NHLers the group falls to the middle of the pack.

Personally, I prefer looking at the first ranking (all assets of a team under the age of 25) as I feel this is a better indication of the true future of the hockey club. A team should not be penalized because their top prospects are so good, at such a young age, that they no longer are called prospects. And when we look at things this way, and assess the future of the Oilers, it is a bright one indeed.

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Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

Year: 2012