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Last Word On Sports

Sports News Since 2011. Honestly.

Last Word On Sports Logo

Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

Year: 2012

NHL Free Agency Watch: Top 10 Forwards

Posted on by Ben Kerr

Yesterday, I looked at the RFAs who were not qualified, so I am not going to rehash players like Latendresse, Wolski, Mueller, or Pouliot.  What I am going to do though is look at the players who are in my opinion the Top Group III UFA forwards who are scheduled to be available at noon on July 1st in the NHL’s annual Free Agent Frenzy.   With the cap rising to 70.2 million this summer, teams have money to spend and improving the offence is always an attractive option.

 

1) Zach Parise, New Jersey Devils, Left Wing/Right Wing
2011-12 Salary: $6,000,000
2011-12 Stats: 82 GP, 31 G, 38 A, 69 Pts, 32 PIMs

There really is no question about it, Parise is the gem of this year’s free agent forward class.  The New Jersey Devils winger really can do it all, be it creating goals, assists, or playing a solid two-way game.  Parise has five 30 goal seasons, only missing the mark once in the last 6 years.  That was in 2010-11 when he was injured for much of the year and only played 13 games.  Parise scored 45 goals and 94 points in 2008-09 and 38 goals and 82 points in 2009-10.  Parise is a complete player, equally adept at both ends of the rink.  He’s a fast skater who uses great stickhandling to beat defenders off the rush.  He is a pure sniper, with a hard accurate shot and quick release that can beat goalies even without traffic in front of them.  Parise is an intelligent playmaker with good vision and passing skills.  He is able to spot openings in the defence and feather crisp passes to teammates in prime scoring areas.  Despite Parise’s smaller size, he never shies away from traffic and goes into dangerous areas to make plays.  The only question mark with Parise is how many dollar signs he will see in free agency, and where he will play.  As the clear number one forward he’s looking at a gigantic payday.

 

2) Olli Jokinen, Calgary Flames, Centre
2011-12 Salary: $3,000,000
2011-12 Stats: 82 GP, 23 G, 38 A, 61 Pts, 54 PIMs

Jokinen had an impressive season for the Calgary Flames this year.  In contrast to when he was last a free agent in 2010 when Jokinen was coming off a disappointing campaign and took a large paycut to return to the Flames, I expect Jokinen to get a significant raise in this year’s free agent market.  Firstly, he is the best centre on the market and there are always teams looking for another top 6 center.  He also has the size and plays the two way game NHL teams covet.  Last season the Flames used Jokinen as their go to matchup centre, and he performed admirably in the role.  Jokinen is a power forward who uses his size and excellent skating to create space in the offensive zone.  He has a heavy wrist shot and a good release which have helped him to accumulate four 30 goal seasons.  Jokinen loves to work the puck down low and then uses his vision and passing ability to set up teammates in prime scoring areas.  At 33 years old Jokinen might be looking for his last truly big Free Agent pay day, asking for both a raise and a significant term on this deal.

 

3) Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes, Right Wing
2011-12 Salary: $4,550,000
2011-12 Stats: 79 GP, 22 G, 28 A, 50 Pts, 48 PIMs

Doan has been the face of the Phoenix Coyotes for over 15 years as the former 7th overall pick has spent his entire career with the franchise.  He even debuted when the team was still located in Winnipeg, as a rookie in the 1995-96 season.  Doan was the heart and soul leader of the club in their recent run to the Western C0nference Finals.  At 35, Doan is certainly getting older, but this season he scored at least 50 points for the 9th straight year.  He is a rugged winger, with a hard accurate shot and strong skating skills.  Doan is your typical power forward who wins a ton of board battles and drives the net hard.  With his age, the danger here is in the 35+ nature of the contract he will receive (should it be a multi year deal) and the question of exactly how many more years he has left in the tank given the physical toll his style of game places on his body.

 

4) Alex Semin, Washington Capitals, Right Wing/LeftWing
2011-12 Salary: $6,700,000
2011-12 Stats: 77 GP, 21 G, 33 A, 54 Pts, 56 PIMs

Semin is among the most naturally talented players in the entire NHL.  However his production does not always match the elite  talent level he possesses.  Semin has a rocket of a wrist shot, and a lightning quick release which he can use to score from anywhere in the offensive zone.  He is a great skater, with very quick acceleration and the ability to fool defenders with quick changes of speed.   Coupled with his fantastic stick handling skills he is extremely dangerous every time he touches the puck.  Semin does have his issues though, he struggles in his own zone as he does not always bring a consistent effort level.  He also can have a tendency to rely too much on his skill and attempt too many pretty plays offensively leading to turnovers and odd-man rushes against.  Semin is also prone to taking undisciplined penalties.  However for all his problems, there are still few players in the NHL that can match his elite skill set, and as such Semin will probably command another large contract.

 

5) P.A. Parenteau, New York Islanders, Right Wing
2011-12 Salary: $1,250,000
2011-12 Stats: 80 GP, 18 G, 49 A, 67 Pts, 89 PIMs

The long time AHLer finally cracked the NHL full time at the age of 27.  In his first full NHL campaign he scored 20 goals and 53 points for the New York Islanders in 2010-11.  Proving those numbers were no fluke, he would actually improve his point total this season putting up 67 points.  Parenteau is an excellent playmaker who has the ability to slow the game down in the offensive zone and control the puck for his team.  He uses his high level hockey IQ, great vision and outstanding passing ability to make crisp tape to tape passes, and create goal scoring chances.   His offensive arsenal is best used on the power play, but he has been able to score points at even strength as well.  Parenteau’s wrist shot is merely average in terms of velocity, but he has a good release and good accuracy which make it a dangerous weapon.  Parenteau’s weaknesses lie in his skating ability which is merely average, and in his defensive play.  Parenteau shows effort in his defensive zone work, however he is often on the losing end of board battles, and his lack of quick feet can sometimes leave him a step behind the play.

 

6) Jiri Hudler, Detroit Red Wings, Left Wing
2011-12 Salary: $4,250,000
2011-12 Stats: 81 GP, 25 G, 25 A, 50 Pts, 42 PIMs

Hudler bounced back form a disappointing 2010-11 season and playoff, to again reach the 50 point mark.  Hudler is an extremely skilled offensive player.  His best attribute is probably his soft hands and great stickhandling ability.  He couples this with quick skating, good acceleration, and good edge work to be able to fool defenders off the rush.  Hudler’s soft hands allow him to capitalize quickly on scoring opportunities around the net.  He has good hockey sense and vision which help him to be an effective play maker off the wing.  At just 5’9″ Hudler’s biggest liability is his diminutive frame, as he can be overpowered along the boards in both ends of the ice.

 

7) Dustin Penner, Los Angeles Kings, Left Wing
2011-12 Salary: $4,250,000
2011-12 Stats: 65 GP, 7 G, 10 A, 17 Pts, 43 PIMs

After an disappointing season that included him missing games due to pancake related injuries, Penner really came on for the Kings during their playoff run, where his 11 points in 20 games rejuvenated his reputation, and helped the Kings win the Stanley Cup.  Now a two-time Stanley Cup Champion, Penner is a big bodied forward who has shown scoring touch around the net.  His best season came in 2009-10 when he scored 32 goals and 63 points for the Edmonton Oilers.  Penner is at his best when he gets to the front of the net and causes problems with his size and buries chances with his soft hands.  His effort level, consistency and fitness have all been questioned over the years and should remain a cause of concern for NHL GMs on July 1st.

 

8) Ray Whitney, Phoenix Coyotes, Left Wing
2011-12 Salary: $3,000,000
2011-12 Stats: 82 GP, 24 G, 53 A, 77 Pts, 28 PIMs

The ageless wonder put up 77 points at the age of 40.  While the higher profile members of the 1991 draft class in Eric Lindros and Pat Falloon are long since retired or busted out of the NHL, Whitney just keeps going strong reaching 1000 career points at the end of this season.  Whitney is a great puckhandler and playmaker capable of controlling the play in the offensive end of the ice.  His hockey sense and vision make him a dangerous threat both at even strength and the power play.  I’m not sure how many years Whitney has left, but with his performance this year he certainly will get at least one more contract in the NHL.

 

9) Jaromir Jagr, Philadelphia Flyers, Right Wing
2011-12 Salary: $3,300,000
2011-12 Stats: 73 GP, 19 G, 35 A, 54 Pts, 30 PIMs

Last summer, Jagr returned to the NHL signing with the Flyers after three seasons in the KHL.  The sure-fire first ballot hockey hall of famer may have lost a step or two, but he still has the amazing puck skills that have made him one of the best in NHL history.  Jagr showed that he can still be an effective offensive player, teaming with Claude Giroux and Scott Hartnell on the Flyers top line and putting up 54 points last year.  At his age, and with all the hockey he’s played, his endurance and defensive play are question marks.  However Jagr has natural talent that few in the NHL can match and can still produce points when put in situations with high offensive zone starts and plenty of power play time.

 

10) Andrei Kostitsyn, Nashville Predators, Right Wing/Left Wing
2011-12 Salary: $3,250,000
2011-12 Stats: 72 GP, 16 G, 20 A, 36 Pts, 26 PIMs

It was a tumultous season for the Belorussian winger.  A three time 20 goal scorer, Kostitsyn’s production dipped to just 16 this season split between Montreal and Nashville.  On top of that his reputation suffered a major hit after he was suspended for an incident which occured before game 2 of the second round of the playoff series between Nashville and Phoenix.  Kostitsyn is a big bodied winger with impressive skills.  He has a fantastic wrist shot and release that can sizzle off his stick and find the back of the net.  He is also a willing forechecker who throws his body around in an attempt to get loose pucks for his team.  Kostitsyn is also a talented stickhandler who can beat defenders with his quick fakes.  However Kostitsyn’s production never does seem to live up to his skills.  He has poor hockey sense, and his effort level (especially defensively) can be questionable at times.  He can also be guilty of taking too many undisciplined penalties.  Kostitsyn can be a valuable secondary scoring option for a team, however GMs should be careful not to overrate him.

 

One thing that should be clear about this free agent class, after Parise it is weak in terms of prime forwards.  The rest of the group feels like a bunch of plan Bs, and Cs, and probably shouldn’t be relied upon as true elite first line talent for teams.  While there are some valuable additions who can be a third wheel on a top line (with other stars), or for 2nd and 3rd lines, and these player can  improve a team’s powerplay there are flaws with all of the remaining forwards in this free agent group.  Parise is the only true gamebreaker in the group.  However the rising cap and lack of other options may make teams go a little crazy with money and term on July 1st.

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

Cole and Ronaldo, Scapegoats Extraordinaire?

Posted on by Michael Kovacs, ADMIN

I’m not sure where you are, but around here school is letting out for the summer.  Teachers are rejoicing, parents are scared.  But as a teacher who happens to have two kids, what is it that I’m supposed to feel?

As I kicked back with a pint watching Italy take England’s midfield to school, I just had a feeling that the game was going to penalties.  Each side had several chances.  I spent a good amount of the second half trying to ascertain whether Italy’s attack lacked finish, or whether England’s defending was really that good?  As the game rolled along, and we got into extra time, I began piecing together who I would select to shoot for me if I was England’s manager.

England Manager Roy Hodgson was faced with choosing the five players he felt could take the best penalties, as Italy and England completed 120 minutes without a goal. Expectedly, he chose Gerrard, Rooney, and Young.  Unexpectedly, at least for me, he went with defensive stand-out, Ashley Cole.  Cole has done fairly well with taking penalties, most notably during Chelsea’s Champions League run.  That said, in almost 100 caps for England he has a staggering “zero” goals for the Three Lions.  100 games.  0 goals.  And when the team needed someone who could net a ball with ease from a few feet away (okay, more than a few) they opted with they guy who has never touched the back of the net in international football.

The result, as you have seen 1000 times thanks to the good folks at Sky, BBC, ESPN, or virtually any other sports news channel, was Ashley Cole taking a horrendous penalty.  Not only did he get little behind the ball, but it was directed in the most convenient of places for a keeper – right into his padded gloves.

I can sometimes buy the argument that you want experienced players taking lead when the game is on the line.  I also concede that taking a penalty is not always about how hard you hit it – a lot goes into reading the keeper, being self-confident in one’s own abilities, making a decision and of course executing the kick.  That said, I just can’t see how you would not want a forward instead of a defender taking that shot.

Cristiano Rinaldo found himself in a similar situation on Wednesday as Portugal fought hard against Spain for 120 minutes.  With Spain and Portugal exchanging misses in the first round of penalties, they followed up with a goal each before Portugal missed a second.  With Spain up 3-2, with only one shot remaining, Cesc Fabregas had the chance to seal Spain’s spot in the finals with a goal, which he neatly bounced off the post into the net.  One glaring omission from penalties was the arguably the greatest goalscorer on the planet, who did not get a chance to shoot!

Ronaldo was selected to shoot fifth, as Portugal figured it would come down to final shots.  Fortunately for Spain they didn’t get to take their fifth shot as Spain put it out of reach as they went up by two with only Ronaldo’s shot remaining.

So, we have two players, each taking a lot of blame in the media.  I think the blame however, should be directed toward the team’s managers.  Roy Hodgson should not have had a defender with such little goal scoring ability (though he had a great tournament defensively) taking the fourth, and very meaningful, shot.

Paulo Bento, Portugal’s manager, should have had Ronaldo taking a shot earlier.  It is a given that a team’s best player must have the opportunity to shoot, and putting him fifth was a bit of a gamble that certainly didn’t work out for them.  Seeing his expression as Fabregas netted the final blow to Portugal’s chances said all we need to know – “Oops” (or something like that).

Even though I don’t think either player can be responsible for their team’s demise, they certainly did factor into the outcome.  Cole took a horrible shot, but it was Roy Hodgson that needs to answer for that, not Cole.  And as painful as it is to say, Bento should have made Ronaldo shoot earlier.

…until tomorrow, lads.

New Under-21 League Poised to "Rescue" English Football?

Posted on by Michael Kovacs, ADMIN

It’s no secret that problems exist in English football.  Whether they are the result of mismanagement at the senior level, coaching inadequacies at the youth level, or a shallow talent pool is uncertain.  In response to the perceived “issues”, which supposedly have caused poor results in international competitions (most notably being dominated for much of the match with Italy at Euro 2012), 17 Premier League clubs, along with six in the Championship division are poised to create an “Under-21” league.  Only QPR, the Swans and Wigan will not be represented. from the Premier League.

In order to become a “category -one” club, teams must spend £1.5 million of their clubs’ own money on youth development but will receive grants of £775,000.  If a club, such as the three aforementioned, are not able to commit to category one, they can choose to participate in “category two”, which requires spending £1 million, with £500,000 in grants.  There are also category three and four academies available.  The third category requires spending £105,000 to go with £210,000 worth of grants, while category-four is strictly for clubs dealing with players who fall under the “16+” age range.

I hate sounding like a bloke from the associated press – sorry.

Actually, the idea is quite interesting, but I question how this league will necessarily improve the skill set of players in the long run.  Considering the players who are representing England at the international level, most have come from youth academies run by some of the league’s top clubs as it is, competing in the Premier Academy League.  I’m not sure there is a big difference between the two.  And where do the reserves fit into the bigger picture?  Would this league take away talent from reserve teams, or will it give extra playing time to those younger players who might not be benefiting from much playing time considering there is not an age limitation for reserves?  See where I’m going with this?

The other argument from the FA is that because teams will get these grants they can continue to develop talent even if relegated as the grants are based on category, not on league position within the FA.  So, let’s say team A from the Premier League gets relegated next year, as long as they are in category one they still collect the £775,000.  Make sense?  I hope so.

The under-21 league, if nothing else, will provide two important things:

1.  It will give more playing time to young players who otherwise might see limited action on reserve teams.

2.  It will provide more specific training/coaching to younger players who require something different from their older counterparts.

Good or bad, I suppose time will tell.  I like the idea, but am not sold on how big its impact will be.

…until tomorrow, lads.

 

 

Thomas Davis to Make NFL History?

Posted on by Anto Dowsett

Most NFL fans know about Jon Beason’s injury last year, which proved a major blow to Carolina’s defense.  Ultimately the Panthers finished with a miserable 27th-ranked overall defense last year. Jon Beason, who plays MLB for the Carolina Panthers, is an all-pro linebacker who is an all-around great football player. But do you know about Thomas Davis, his line-backing partner?  The Thomas Davis that the Panthers drafted 14th overall in the 2005 NFL Draft?  The Thomas Davis who was not highly recruited and only received one Division-1 scholarship?  He could be a reason for many athletes worldwide to feel inspiration, and to never give up, when the injury bug strikes.

Thomas was born in Shellman, Georgia and attended Randolph-Clay high school which had a total school population of 471. Due to this, as I mentioned above, he was not highly recruited out of high school as the small size of his school made his chances for exposure very minimal. After accepting the single Division 1 athletic scholarship he received, Davis attended the University of Georgia where he played for the Bulldogs from 2002-2004. In his final season, he was a consensus first-team All-American.

Drafted as a safety as the 14th overall pick in the first round of the 2005 draft, Carolina decided to convert him to linebacker in his rookie season. And in his first year, he recorded 38 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Also, a year later, he improved on his tackling mark by setting his new career high at 88. 2008 was his career year though, where Davis recorded 113 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and he also forced 2 fumbles, all the while starting all 16 games for the second year in a row. But this is not where the story was made; the story begins in 2009.

Playing at a Pro Bowl level going into the 2009 season, the injury bug decided to strike Davis seven games into the year. He suffered an ACL tear and this caused him to be placed on the season-ending injury reserve. Going into 2010, Thomas knew that he had to be careful not to hurt himself again and watch what he did. Well unfortunately, the injury bug struck once again, as Davis tore his ACL again, and he would be placed on the IR . Two back-to-back injury-ridden seasons do not help one’s self-confidence. Most would give up and deem themselves unable to participate in strenuous physical activity. But Davis kept fighting back, and last year, he found himself ready to come back and play again.  But for the third time in as many years, the former Bulldog once again tore his ACL and rode on the IR, an all-too-familiar circumstance.

At this point, I believe that 99.9% of football players would think to themselves that football wasn’t their thing and would walk away from the game. But Thomas Davis said “no”, he was not going to let three injuries stop him from living out his dreams. He dreamed of playing football, and now that he was so close, he knew what he had to do to stay there.

Fast forward to the present, and we have Thomas Davis who has received a clean bill of health and is ready to participate in Carolina’s upcoming training camp.  According to Davis, he’s not going to take it easy:

“There won’t be no holding back then. I want to make sure I’m doing everything in my power to make sure I’m as healthy as possible and ready to go.”

Unfortunately, two things are working against him. One, if Thomas is able to make a comeback, it would be the first time an NFL athlete has ever come back to play after three ACL tears.  Secondly, football is a business and Carolina can ill-afford to wait for Thomas to heal before going out and finding another linebacker to take his place. Not only will Thomas have to overcome the injury bug, but he will also need to win his starting position back on Carolina’s front seven. This will make for a good training camp and preseason battle.

…and that is the last word.

Feel free to post comments below.

NHL Free Agency Watch: Top RFAs who were Not Qualified

Posted on by Ben Kerr

With the NHL Entry Draft now concluded, GMs, players, and fans turn their attention to July 1st and the day dubbed by hockey pundits as the Annual NHL Free Agent Frenzy.  In preparing for that frenzy, teams had until Monday, June 25th, 2012 at 5:00pm EST to submit qualifying offers to their restricted free agents in order to retain their rights.   The NHL/NHLPA CBA says that a qualifying offer must include:

  • a 10% raise for players making between $500,000 and $749,999 last season
  • a 5% raise for players making between $750,000 and $999,999 last season.
  • an offer equivalent to the previous years salary for players making $1,000,000 or more last season.

Players who do not recieve qualifying offers will be unrestricted free agents on July 1st, 2012.  While there were a huge number of NHL and AHL players who did not receive qualifying offers, the following are some of the most notable names who are now scheduled to be UFAs on July 1st. Note that the numbers are actual NHL base salary in dollars in the 2011-12 season, not the cap hit. It is the salary itself that matters for Qualifying Offers.

 

Blake Comeau, Calgary Flames, Left Wing
2011-12 Salary: $2,500,000
2011-12 Stats: 74 GP, 5 G, 10 A, 15 Pts, 30 PIMs

Comeau fell off dramatically after a breakout season where he scored 24 goals for the New York Islanders in 2010-11.  He also scored 17 goals for the Islanders in 2009-10.  Prior to last year his career had been showing a steady upward trajectory, going from a guy shuttled back and forth between the NHL and AHL, to a guy who was a reliable source of secondary offence.  When at his best, Comeau is an excellent skater who uses his agility, acceleration and top end speed to beat defenders wide and drive the net hard.  He is also very effective on the forecheck.  However the questions remain, why did he fall off the map so dramatically?  and Can he regain his 2011-12 form?

 

Peter Mueller, Colorado Avalanche, Right Wing/Centre
2011-12 Salary: $2,000,000
2011-12 Stats: 32 GP, 7 G, 9 A, 16 Pts, 8 PIMs

Mueller has definitely shown the ability to be a quality top 6 scoring threat when he is healthy with 143 Pts in 254 Career Games (0.56 PPG).  The problem is that Mueller just cannot stay healthy.  Mueller has suffered at least three documented concussions since the 2009-10 season, including a major concussion in 2010 training camp that cost him the entire 2010-11 season, and much of the 2011-12 season.  While he would return to the lineup and perform well in 2011-12, the Avalanche have evidently decided that for $2,000,000 he is not worth the risk.  The Avs, or another team may take a chance on him on a cheaper deal.  When healthy, Mueller is an extremely intelligent player, blessed with high end hockey sense.  He is calm and composed with the puck, and this coupled with his great vision make him an effective playmaker.  He is more likely to produce points when his team controls the puck in the offensive zone, than he is to score off the rush.  This is due to his below average top end speed and poor acceleration.

 

Cam Barker, Edmonton Oilers, Defence
2011-12 Salary: $2,250,000
2011-12 Stats: 25 GP, 2 G, 0 A, 2 Pts, 23 PIMs

The Oilers are now the 3rd NHL team to give up on the 2004 NHL Draft’s 3rd Overall Pick.  Barker has quite simply never lived up to the hype of his draft position, and is at best a 6th or 7th defenceman on an NHL club.  It is not surprising that the Oilers did not qualify him given his salary.  Poor defensively, when he wasn’t a healthy scratch Barker was often “turnstiled” off the rush in Edmonton.  He quite simply does not have either the skating ability, the agility, and the quick turns and pivots needed to handle NHL forwards.  While some weaker skating defencemen can make up for this with great positioning and hockey sense, Barker lacks these as well.  He also doesn’t bring significant offence to the table.  A name with some hype due to past expectations, but a player who is just not worth the bother.  NHL GMs would be smart to stay away from Barker.

 

Wojtek Wolski, Florida Panthers, Left Wing/Centre
2011-12 Salary: $4,000,000
2011-12 Stats: 31 GP, 4G, 8A, 12Pts, 2 PIMs

Another player who has fallen out of favour with multiple clubs, the Panthers were Wolski’s fourth NHL team.  Wolski certainly has talent as his 2009-10 stats of 23 goals and 65 points would attest.  He has two NHL seasons where he has recorded over 50 points in his career, and two other seasons where he scored over 40 points.  Wolski has a very good arsenal of shots, including a hard, accurate wrist shot with a quick release that often confuses goalies.  He also possesses a hard accurate one-timer which is featured on the Power Play.  Wolski has good vision and passing skills, and is able to set up his teammates with prime scoring opportunities.  A shootout specialist, Wolski has quick hands, and a wide arsenal of shootout moves at his disposal.  The reasons Wolski wasn’t qualified, and the reason why he might be on his 5th NHL team (unless he re-signs with Florida for less than the $4,000,000 he made last year) are consistency and effort level.  Wolski just does not bring consistent effort every night, and can go throw long stretches where he does not battle for pucks in the offensive zone, and does not backcheck.  This drives NHL coaches, GMs, and fans batty, as he has the tools, but not the motivation.  Given his impressive skill set, some team may take a chance on a cheaper contract with Wolski, and if they can ever find a way to get the kid motivated, they might have a first liner on their hands.  However with 3 and now possibly 4 teams giving up on him, it might be easier said than done.

 

Guillaime Latendresse, Minnesota Wild, Left Wing
2011-12 Salary: $2,600,000
2011-12 Stats: 16 GP, 5 G, 4 A, 9 Pts, 20 PIMs

Like Mueller, Latendresse is a talented player who has produced for Minnesota when healthy.  In the 2009-10 season, he scored 25 goals and 37 points for Minnesota in just 55 games after being traded from Montreal.  However he has only played in a grand total of 27 games since then.  Latendresse has suffered at least 2 documented concussions in his career, including one that caused him to miss the majority of last season.  In 2010-11 a chronic hip problem kept him out most of the year.  In both Montreal and Minnesota, Latendresse has been questioned about his commitment to off-ice training and physical fitness.  When he is on his game, Latendresse is a big bodied winger, with an excellent wrist shot and release.  He is most effective when he uses his large frame to drive the net, and to lay out big hits, but he does not do these two things on a consistent basis.  Latendresse also has poor first step quickness and acceleration which can hurt his defensive game, as he’s a step behind the play at times.  Latendresse still has talent and size, which is an intriguing package to nearly any NHL team.  If he can stay healthy, he’s a capable 2nd line LW who can provide goals if put with a decent playmaker.  I feel some team will definetely take a chance on Gui.

 

Gilbert Brule, Phoenix Coyotes, Centre/Right Wing
2011-12 Salary: $1,850,000
2011-12 Stats: 33 GP, 5 G, 9 A, 14 Pts, 11 PIMs

Another high draft pick who did not live up to the hype.  Brule has never put up the offensive numbers that were expected when Doug MacLean and the Columbus Blue Jackets made him the 6th Overall pick at the 2005 Entry Draft.  Brule did put up 17 goals and 37 points for the Edmonton Oilers in 2009-10, but it seems that was a fluke season, and his numbers were inflated by getting a lot of ice time due to the number of injuries, and general lack of scoring depth in Edmonton that season.  Brule is undersized, but he does skate well, and is quick to get in the offensive zone on the forecheck.  He’s also a decent defensive player.  Brule will probably never be a top 6 forward in the NHL, however he can still be useful to some team in a fourth line energy role.

 

Benoit Pouliot, Tampa Bay Lightning, Left Wing
2011-12 Salary:  $1,100,000
2011-12 Stats:  74 GP, 16 G, 16 A, 32 Pts, 38 PIMs

Picked two spots ahead of Brule in 2005, the former 4th overall pick has not lived up to the hype (are we sensing a theme here?).   After not recieving a qualifying offer from the Montreal Canadiens in 2011, Pouliot signed with the Boston Bruins as unrestricted Free Agent.  Pouliot scored 16 goals in a third line roll for the Bruins.  On Draft Day Pouliot was traded to the Lightning, and they did not qualify him.  It however is a good possibility that Pouliot will not make it to July 1st, and may sign a deal with the Lightning before then.  Pouliot is a fast skater and a talented stick handler who can create offense off the rush.  He has a great wrist shot and a quick, release which can handcuff goalies.  Pouliot is a big body, but he is often inconsistent in his efforts to get to the front of the net, or to battle for loose pucks along the boards.  He is also poor in his defensive positioning and effort levels, which requires him to be insulated in the lineup with strong defensive linemates or with limited minutes and highly skewed offensive zone starts.

 

Marc Andre Gragnani, Vancouver Canucks, Defence
2011-12 Salary: $550,000
2011-12 Stats: 58 GP, 2G, 13 A, 15 Pts, 26 PIMs

Given his low salary of only $550,000, it is shocking to me that Gragnani was not qualified by the Canucks.  Gragnani was thought to be a key component in the trade deadline deal that sent Cody Hodgson and Alexandre Sulzer to the Buffalo Sabres, for Zach Kassian and himself.  Many analysts thought that the Canucks were receiving the better defenceman in Gragnani, while the Sabres were getting the better forward in Hodgson.   Gragnani may not have delivered as expected last season, after coming off a breakthrough performance for Team Canada at the 2011 IIHF World Hockey Championships, however he is still a young, and talented puck moving defenceman who will be an asset to an NHL team.  Gragnani is a quick and agile skater who is able to join the rush offensively.  He is also an accurate passer and possesses good vision which helps both in the transition game, and on the Power Play.  Gragnani possess a good slap shot, which he is able to keep low and accurate.  He does show some ability to use his size to battle in front of the net and in the corners, however he still would be characterized mainly as a puck mover, and not a physical defensive defenceman.   Despite all this I believe Gragnani to be the best player on this list and I believe he will receive an NHL contract that will be higher than the $605,000 the Canucks would have been required to offer him in their Q.O. if they wished to retain Gragnani’s rights.

 

Eric Fehr, Winnipeg Jets, Right Wing
2011-12 Salary: $2,200,000
2011-12 Stats: 35 GP, 2 G, 1 A, 3 Pts, 12 PIMs

It seemed as though Eric Fehr had broken out in the 2009-10 season with the Washington Capitals when he scored 21 goals and 39 points.  However Fehr has regressed steadily and dramatically in the two seasons that have followed that campaign.  Fehr has struggled with injuries, missing time in 2010-11 due to a dislocated shoulder, and in 2011-12 due to a recurrence of the shoulder difficulties and an eventual shoulder surgery. Fehr is hoping to move past these injuries and rediscover the confidence and scoring touch he showed earlier in his career.  When at his best Fehr is a big body who stands infront of the net and creates havoc for goaltenders.  He creates most of his goals through tip-ins and rebounds.  Fehr has a hard and accurate shot, however his release is slow and can be telegraphed at times, which allows most goalies to make the save on him.  Defensively, Fehr is good positionally and cuts down the passing and shooting lanes.  However for a player his size, Fehr is not very physical in either end of the rink.

 

With such a weak UFA class this year, some of these players may make attractive targets for teams on July 1st.  Younger than your typical UFA, teams may believe that these guys have talent, and its just a matter of better coaching or a change of scenery that will turn them into productive NHLers.  They can certainly fill holes and add depth to a team, but it is doubtful that any of these players is a true difference maker.  NHL GMs will have to be careful not to overspend on these players, and to find them the right situations to succeed.  If they don’t, it will be more Free Agent Frenzy money that is unwisely spent.

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

…. and that’s the last word.

Did Silva vs. Franklin Disappoint?

Posted on by Mark Modeski

This weekend we watched two legends in MMA square-off for the second time in their career, for what was one of the least promoted fights of the year. Franklin was a late addition to the card, filling in for the often injured Vitor Belfort, and ended up grinding out a decision against the former PRIDE champion. After reading through the main card a lot of North American fans scratched their heads and asked “why?”.

In all fairness to the UFC, the original headliner for this fight was supposed to be Sonnen v. Silva – which was poised to be the largest fight of the year. After the injury that main event was bumped the co-main event was promoted to the top spot on the bill. While the main event of Franklin v. Wanderlei didn’t hold as much appeal as the originally planned one the UFC took a chance that it would pay dividends for them – and believe it or not it didn’t disappoint.

While the actual viewership numbers for the event are not yet available, it’s safe to say that the pay-per-view numbers fell flat – or did they? Ratings for the prelims averaged about 1.47 million, which is in line with what they would typically be. The statistic that will blow you away is that the event was viewed by more than 20 million people! Most of those people were, of course, not North Americans, but Brazilians. Check mate, ZUFFA.

The card, while lacking depth in the average fan’s eyes, was stacked to the average Brazilian viewer. The whole point of this event was to continue to bolster the international presence of the UFC. The Brazillian fans finally got to see the finale of their version of TUF (The Ultimate Fighter), which was highly rated through the course of the show’s lifespan.

So, did the UFC succeed, despite having only minimal North American appeal? I think 20 million viewers would say: “yes”!

As for the event itself, the fact that Rich Franklin pulled out a decision victory over Wanderlei is not what is important when considering the bigger picture.  Saturday night proved that the sport has yet to peak as many have argued. It will continue to grow and build fans around the world.

… and that is the last word.

Feel free to post comments below.

Changes to Interleague Play have Reopened the Designated Hitter Debate

Posted on by Max Warner

June 24th marked the end of interleague play for the 2012 season and will mark the last year that interleague play will occur in its traditional format during the season.  The changes for interleague play in 2013 and the seasons to come have reopened the debate around the use of the designated hitter and how “America’s Favorite Pastime” continues to be played under two different sets of rules.

When interleague play was first introduced in 1998, it was a novel concept aimed at increasing ticket sales.  For the first time in MLB history, National League and American League teams would play each other during the regular season.  This offered fans an opportunity to see star players from the rival Circuit, and to watch teams which had never before visited their team’s home park.

The dark side of interleague play was that it created matchups which dared to reach historic levels of irrelevance.   Many readers will no doubt recall that memorable June 2006 series when the Royals swept the Pirates in a three-game home stand.  What about Cleveland taking 2 of 3 games in a 2008 weekend set against the Padres, backed by Jamey Carroll’s dominating 5-for-12 performance at the plate?  Finally, who can forget Oakland’s Gio Gonzalez outduelling the Marlins’ Javy Vazquez with 8 innings of one-hit, shutout pitching on June 28, 2011?  The 12,124 fans who came to the Coliseum that night certainly won’t.

The primary complaint leveled against interleague play is actually just as ridiculous as the Legends of Interleague highlighted in the preceding paragraph:  “Interleague is unfair because it forces AL pitchers to bat in NL parks”.  The argument is that because AL pitchers are even worse hitters and baserunners than their NL counterparts, AL teams are at a tremendous disadvantage in NL parks.  AL teams are also “disadvantaged” when playing NL rules because they have to bench their designated hitter or else risk putting them in the field.  My response to this rubbish is that AL pitchers are free to practice hitting and running whenever they like, just like their NL counterparts do.  And heaven forbid if a designated hitter has to take 20 minutes out of his precious batting practice sessions to field a few groundballs!

I, for one, despise the designated hitter rule and the generations of sissy pitchers (and fans) it has spawned.  Having a player designated to hit for another player is the sporting equivalent of having your mom wash your laundry for you. Requiring the pitcher to bat adds far more dynamics to the game.  Managers have to employ more hit and runs and sacrifices to squeeze more offense out of their lineup.  Pitchers who throw at hitters face the prospect of being thrown at when they come to bat.  Teams are forced to use more bench players as pinch hitters, and team managers must use creative strategies to work around the necessity of having their pitcher bat (including the vastly underrated double-switch).  But perhaps the greatest effect of not using the designated hitter is that hitters who cannot field a position on the diamond are rightfully relegated to nothing more than pinch hitters.

Baseball was one of the few team sports which required every player to play both offense and defense.  And that is the way the game has always been played in the oldest organized league in baseball, the National League.  However, in 1973, the American League broke ranks with the Senior Circuit and introduced the designated hitter as a way of creating more offense, with the hope of selling more tickets.

Because the Junior Circuit continues to employ the designated hitter, players who can’t catch or throw, two of the most fundamental skills in baseball, have been able to forge long and productive careers.  It’s hard to argue that Edgar Martinez or David Ortiz should be in the Hall of Fame when they didn’t own a glove for most of their careers, and could conserve more energy over the course of a season because they didn’t have to endure the rigours of standing in the field in sweltering heat or playing a defensive position every day.

This brings us back to 2013.  Up to this season, interleague play typically occurred during one or two blocks of consecutive weeks prior the All Star Break.   Because the Houston Astros are moving from the NL Central to the AL West in 2013, each league will now have 15 teams.  This means that, on any given night, one team from each league will not have a game against an opponent from the same league, and there will be an interleague game nearly every night for the entire season.  Interleague games will become just another part of the weekly schedule and, gasp, may even decide pennant races!  I can’t wait to see the Yankees eliminated from playoff contention when C.C. Sabathia sprains an ankle trying to leg out a single against the Rockies.

MLB has tried to create a balanced schedule (another common complaint about interleague), by having each team in a division play the same teams from the rival Circuit during interleague play, save for one series against special designated rival teams.  The designated hitter crowd is already howling for MLB to permanently implement the designated hitter in the National League to create a uniform set of rules and level the playing field for AL teams.  Enforcing NL rules in NL parks appears to be the greatest inequality the game has seen since the introduction of the curveball in the late 19th century.  What’s next, a designated runner for the slow guy on the team?  I am actually hoping that MLB restores the AL to pre-1973 rules and forces the pitchers to hit again and the designated hitters to field a position or else grab a spot on the bench.  If this happens, I will personally purchase a glove for David Ortiz so that he can continue his great career.

Lost amid all this nonsense is the fact that from the 19th century to 1973, all pitchers were expected to hit, and some even enjoyed it and were very good at it.  Babe Ruth actually started his career as a pitcher with the Red Sox, and only moved to the outfield in order to get at bats on days when he wasn’t pitching.  I’m not saying that abolishing the designated hitter will lead to the discovery of the next Babe Ruth, but it will mean that baseball will be played under one set of the rules, the rules by which it was always meant to be played.

…and that’s the Last Word.

Miami Heat – NBA's Next Great Dynasty?

Posted on by Mark Modeski

So after millions of dollars spent building up one of the most lethal 1-2-3 punch combinations in the history of the NBA, the Miami Heat have won their championship. King James finally has his crown. When all is said and done you can’t take anything away from LeBron, Wade or Bosh – they all put up outstanding efforts and truly played what can only be defined as “clutch basketball”. So, could this Miami Heat team be the next great dynasty in basketball to rival the Bulls in 1990’s or the Lakers in the 1980’s?

Billy Bean coined the term “Moneyball” for his style of selecting players for his team – picking up underrated players for a great value. I used the term “Moneyball” in basketball to define the complete opposite; teams spending exorbitant amounts of money on players to try and buy themselves a championship.

When the Miami Heat announced the signings of Bosh and James a few years ago there was no denying that this team was out to buy itself a championship. It raised the ire of many, and perturbed true basketball fans across the country (and world). It even prompted an open-letter from James’ former team owner promising that he would buy Cleveland a championship before Miami – which he not only failed at doing, but also further fueled the “Moneyball” furor.

When I compare this most recent championship Miami Heat team to that of the 1990’s Bulls or 1980’s I see a lot of similarities and a lot of differences. The key similarities lie in the one-two punch that each of these teams had: Johnson-Jabar/Worthy, Jordan-Pippen and now James-Wade (I put Bosh on the periphery). Where the difference lies is that the Bulls and Magic of yore were built more so on prospect, then by using the “Moneyball” formulation. This isn’t to say that there were some key pick-ups made by each the Magic and Bulls during their dynastic periods – but, they had credibility because they built their teams on a foundation of solid prospecting.

The Heat do lose some credibility in my eyes, and I think the eyes of others for the reason that they bought their championship instead of building it.

Does this take anything away from the talent of the team? Not at all. This is most likely the most talent rich team in the NBA right now – however, the Heat have turned themselves into antagonists within the same vein as the New York Yankees.

I am sure more championships will come to Miami over the coming years, but whether or not people outside of the die-hard fan base will ever be able to board with the team is another story.

 

… and that is the last word.

Justin Schultz: Set for Free Agency

Posted on by Ben Kerr

Justin Schultz, the Anaheim Ducks 2nd round draft pick (43rd overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry draft is now officially a Free Agent, able to receive contract offers from all 30 NHL Teams.  He however cannot officially sign a contract until July 1st.   An examination of the CBA would show the reasons why Schultz is a UFA, but the short of it is this, after 4 years post-draft any player who is drafted out of a North American League that is not the CHL, and de-enrolls from his school can become an Unrestricted Free Agent 30 days after that de-enrollment.   As a player subject to the Entry Level System, Schultz must sign a 2 year entry level deal, with a maximum base salary of just under $1 million, and performance bonus clauses.

Schultz is a highly touted offensive defenceman who has played the last 3 years at the University of Wisconsin.  Since his draft he has greatly developed his game and turned into one of the best players in all of college hockey.  He has won the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year award, been a first time conference all-star twice, averaged over a point per game twice, led the nation in scoring by a defenceman, and has even been a finalist for the Hobey Baker trophy.  With his distinguished career as a Wisconsin Badger, and the skills he possesses, he will  undoubtedly be a player sought after by all 30 NHL clubs.

Defense
Born Jul 6 1990 — West Kelowna, BC
Height 6.01 — Weight 185 — Shoots Right

2007-08 Westside Warriors BCHL 57 9 31 40 28 11 3 5 8 4
2008-09 Westside Warriors BCHL 49 15 35 50 29 6 1 2 3 2
2009-10 U. of Wisconsin WCHA 43 6 16 22 12
2010-11 U. of Wisconsin WCHA 41 18 29 47 28
2011-12 U. of Wisconsin WCHA 37 16 28 44 12

Schultz is a very good skater.  He has good top end speed, and quick acceleration.  He uses his edges extremely well, and makes quick tight turns and pivots.  He is agile, has good balance and is very strong on his skates.  Schultz’s skating is at an NHL ready level, and should help him to transition directly into the league during the 2012-13 season.

Schultz’s main skill is his offensive game.  He is extremely calm and cool with the puck, and eludes forecheckers to start the breakout.  He makes crisp passes and has good vision.  Schultz loves to join the rush when the opportunity presents it self and is dangerous when doing so.  He is a Power Play Quarterback who makes smart passes to open teammates in the offensive zone.  He also has a great slap shot and one-timer.  Offensively, Schultz can do it all and this will be extremely attractive to NHL teams.

Defensively Schultz is good but not great.  His puck moving skills are the strength of his game, as the ability to beat the forecheck and start the transition means that his team is rarely pinned in its own end for long period of time when Schultz is on the ice.    He defends well against the rush, and his quick feet allow him to stay in position to defend against the rush.  Schultz is also willing and able to battle defensively in front of the net or along the boards.  His biggest weakness is that he can sometimes get caught chasing the puck and pull himself out of position, however there has been improvement in this aspect of his game at Wisconsin.

With potential to be a top pairing defender in the NHL, Schultz and his agent’s phones will be ringing off the hook in the next few days.  There has been plenty of internet buzz and speculation about who he will sign with, but suffice it to say that everyone in the NHL will want the chance to add this good young defenceman to their prospect pool, without giving up any assets to do so.

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

… and thats the Last Word.