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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 Draft Prospect Profile #53: Trevor Carrick

Posted on by Ben Kerr

Drafted 115th Overall by the Carolina Hurricanes.

Trevor Carrick graduated from the OJHL to play in the OHL for the Mississauga St. Mike’s Majors this year.  As a rookie he needed to prove himself and started the season on the bottom pairing where he struggled.  However Stuart Percy’s injury problems allowed Carrick to get more ice time and he took full advantage, showing great improvement over the course of the season.  Carrick’s strong second half has catapulted him from being off our draft radar early in the year, to 53rd in our rankings.  After a long run of offensive minded defenceman, Carrick joins Patrick Sieloff as a primarily defensive defenceman ranked in the second round for this year’s draft.

Defense
Born Jul 4 1994 — Stouffville, ONT
Height 6.02 — Weight 175 — Shoots Right

2010-11 Stouffville Spirit OJHL 40 6 13 19 44 19 2 11 13 10
2011-12 Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors OHL 68 6 13 19 64 -5 6 1 0 1 7

Carrick is primarily a defensive defenceman.  He shows great intelligence and excellent positioning on the ice.  He is rarely caught out of position, and plays an effective positional game.  He gives his opponents very little space on the ice and pressures the puck carrier well.  He cuts down passing and shooting lanes with smart positioning, and an active stick.  He is also an effective shot blocker.  Carrick is not a huge hitter, however he does well in board battles and in fighting for position.  Carrick has also been known to drop the gloves on occasion to stick up for teammates, but he’s not someone who will go out looking for a fight either, he just doesn’t back down when it comes to him.

Offensively, Carrick is the steady stay at home type.  He makes good, short crisp passes on breakouts, but can struggle with his accuracy on long stretch pass.  He’s not likely to rush the puck up the ice as his primary concern is his own end of the rink.  In the offensive zone, he pinches rarely (and only when absolutely necessary), however he does possess a decent shot, and keeps it low and accurate from the point.

Carrick is a decent skater but he isn’t going to blow you away either.  He has slightly above average top end speed, but his acceleration could use some work.  His agility and pivots are good but not great.  His lateral mobility, balance, and agility are all good enough that when combined with his smart positioning and high hockey IQ, he is rarely beaten off the rush, and is able to effectively play his position.

We believe Carrick has the ability to become a good defensive defenceman at the next level and would compare his potential to become a player similar to Josh Gorges of the Montreal Canadiens.

… and that is the Last Word.

Please, Don't Suck the Life from Baseball!

Posted on by Mark Modeski

A recent announcement has slowly been trickling through baseball circles that the league is set to follow suit with the rest of the major professional sports in North America and implement the “instant replay”.  Debate is already spreading like wildfire as to whether or not this a smart move on side of professional baseball. From a purely qualitative perspective, the vibe is mostly negative.  Why? Mainly because adding in the instant replay will kill the sport!

A famous quote from Peter Golenbach; “Only boring people find baseball boring”.

I am sorry Mr. Golenbach,  but you’re sadly mistaken in that assertion.  Baseball viewership numbers have been in steady decline over the last few years (Nielsen), and this is not necessarily a symptom that is evident in other sports such as football and basketball. Part of the reason for this is that baseball’s heart and soul has been dying – literally. While the action-packed and in-your-face nature of football and basketball have been able to bring in a newer and younger generation of viewers, the slow-paced nature of baseball has not had the same allure, and as such viewers of the sport who are dying are not being replaced.  There’s no easy way to say that.

In response to diminishing ratings, the MLB commission has decided that there is no better way to invoke greater engagement in the sport than by slowing it down with more replays. Okay, perhaps his goal isn’t to slow it down, but that is such an obvious side effect.  Right now baseball has replay, but only for homeruns.  The new proposal is to roll out more and more replays in baseball it will allegedly only apply to homeruns, foul/fair balls and caught/trapped balls in its first year – but, once the system is optimized it could be applied to anything and everything. The very notion of that last line makes me cringe.

What could make it work? Perhaps if the set-up was similar to that of the NFL, where a coach has a select number of challenges he is allowed to issue per game.  That could help to mitigate long and arduous delays; but, let’s be honest with ourselves, this really is not going to happen. The replay will be implemented as an umpire’s discretionary tool. Did I forget to mention that there will be a group of over-weight umpires sitting in a central location reviewing every play, trying to earn a paycheque and prove their worth?  Have another bag of corn-nuts – you know they will.  Sorry, cheap shot, I know.

Would it really be worth it to you to sit through ten-minutes of a reviewed play just to see that ever-so-close out at first base by your least favourite player on the team be overturned? I’ve been a baseball fan all my life, and while I love the anticipation factor of the game, sitting and waiting for three or four replays an inning could suck the life out of the game for me. Truthfully, for all the times a player for Team A has been called out for something that could have won the game, that same player has likewise been called safe on a dodgy call that helped him win the game. The universe has a funny way of balancing itself out.

My hope is that there is enough outcry from the public that this doesn’t happen, but if it does I will continue to watch – it just means I might drink a few more beers, as there will be more opportunities for me to refill my glass.

… and that is the last word.

England's Set-back for Euro 2012

Posted on by Michael Kovacs, ADMIN

For every tournament involving the national teams, I scroll the Internet, trying to find some positivity concerning England’s chances.  Just this morning I did the same, and was disheartened to hear of Frank Lampard’s thigh injury.  Coupled with Gareth Barry’s stomach injury (really, stomach?), and Wayne Rooney missing the first two contests, certainly the team lost some its veteran presence.  Jordan Henderson of Liverpool will be added if Lampard is determined unfit to play.

The team is not considered one of the top favourites to win the tournament, which begins for them vs. France on June 8.  Actually, it’s kind of refreshing.  Roy Hodgson’s squad is missing a few quality players, and is seemingly trying to shed some excess age by going with a younger team.  They still stalwarts Stephen Gerrard (captain), John Terry (former captain) and Ashley Cole, the latter two fresh off their Champions League victory.  But for me, it’s the addition of youth, the next generation, that is pivotal.  How will they hold up?

I was happy to hear not so long ago about the addition of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.  The “Ox”, as AFC fans refer to him as, describes himself this way; “I play with no fear.  I run at players, regardless of who they are and try to make a difference. I have a youthful enthusiasm and I am so excited about this.”  I tend to agree with him.  Being a Gooner myself, I have seen him play plenty of times.  While I believe he is best to come on in the second half when needed, he will certainly create a spark.  His energy is infectious, and his passion unquestionable.  He will be a great addition to the national squad for years to come.

Add Phil Jones and Jack Butland, you can see the manager’s interest in seeing the new faces develop for England.

England are in a group with Sweden, Ukraine and France. We will be giving you a full breakdown of each group, so please check back.

…and that is the Last Word.

Can the NHL Expect to Cash-in on this Year's Stanley Cup?

Posted on by Grant Alexander

Last year’s Stanley Cup had the Boston Bruins beat the Vancouver Canucks in a thrilling seven-game series. It also saw some of the highest television ratings of all-time for a Stanley Cup final.

The series as a whole averaged 4.6 million viewers in the US making it the most-watched combined network/cable Stanley Cup involving a Canadian team, and the most watched series as a whole since 2002. Game 7 alone drew 8.54 million viewers in the States making it the most watched game in 38 years. In Canada, game 7 drew an audience of 8.76 million making it the second most-watched CBC Sports program in history, trailing only the Gold Medal game in 2002. That game brought in an almost untouchable 10.6 million viewers, which is almost 1/3 of the country’s population.

So what kind of numbers can we expect to see from this year’s Cup final?  Is this match-up one which people will tune-in to see en masse?

There are a number of factors at play, with the biggest and most obvious one being the markets these teams are in. According to Forbes, the L.A Kings are surprisingly the 10th richest franchise in the league, putting them well ahead of all of their west coast rivals. Unfortunately it still isn’t one of the major hockey markets in North America when compared with the “big” teams, and doesn’t receive a lot of attention from the rest of the hockey world, particularly in the East.

New Jersey on the other hand, is in a major hockey market. But they happen to be a small fish in a big pond, sitting 20th on the list, and dominated by juggernauts such as the Boston Bruins (5th), Philadelphia Flyers (8th), and cross-river rivals, the New York Rangers (2nd). Oddly enough they do command high viewership numbers when they make the finals. I’m not sure whether it’s bitter rival fans tuning in to cheer against them, or if it’s to watch the “legend in the making”, Martin Brodeur, play.  Either way, historically the numbers are there when Jersey plays.

In 1995 the Devils split an average of 5.2 million viewers with the Detroit Red Wings. In 2000 and 2001 when they made back to back finals, they split an average of 5.5 and 5.0 million viewers with the Dallas Stars and the Colorado Avalanche respectively. And amazingly enough, they hit 3.6 million playing one of the least-watched teams in the NHL, the Anaheim (Mighty) Ducks, during a big decline in viewership.

What Could Go Right?

1. L.A beat the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-seeded teams in the West, and could be the only 8th seed team to win the Cup.  This storyline has captured a lot of attention, and hopefully will filter to the “fringe-fans”.  If so, perhaps the NHL can capitalize on the massive LA market.

2. A Storyline of Martin Brodeur and his legacy in hockey.

3. LA fans tuning in, in even bigger numbers with the Lakers/Clippers out of the NBA playoffs.

4. Capitalizing on the New York/New Jersey tv viewing market.

What Could Go Wrong?

1. Game times,

2. These teams have no history.  If the series isn’t close there will be low viewership until games 4-7.

3. Had the New York Rangers made the final instead of the Devils, they would have been a much bigger draw.

4. A Perception among casual fans that the Devils will play boring, trap hockey.  Hardcore hockey fans know that the Devils are a different team this year, but the old perceptions still linger.

 

For your info, here are the NHL Stanley Cup Finals TV Ratings from 1995-2011

Year/Network/Average Viewers/Teams

2011 NBC/VS  4.6 million, Boston v. Vancouver
2010 NBC/VS 3.4 6 Chicago v. Philadelphia
2009 NBC/VS 3.1 6 Pittsburgh v. Detroit
2008 NBC/VS  4.479 Pittsburgh vs. Detroit.
2007 NBC/VS 1.764 Ottawa vs. Anaheim
2006 NBC/OLN 2.834 Carolina vs,Edmonton
2005 NHL Season Cancelled
2004 *ABC/ESPN 3.286 Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Calgary Flames
2003 *ABC/ESPN 3.627 New Jersey Devils vs. Anaheim Ducks
2002 ABC 5.768 Detroit Red Wings vs. Carolina Hurricanes
2001 ABC 5.058 Colorado Avalanche vs. New Jersey Devils
2000 ABC 5.511 New Jersey Devils vs. Dallas Stars
1999 FOX 4.873 Dallas Stars vs. Buffalo Sabres
1998 FOX 4.830 Detroit Red Wings vs. Washington Capitals
1997 FOX 6.370 Detroit Red Wings vs. Philadelphia Flyers
1996 FOX 5.090 Colorado Avalanche vs. Florida Panthers
1995 FOX 5.210 New Jersey Devils vs. Detroit Red Wings

The average estimate is around 4 million viewers.  Will this year’s version top that?  Does Marty Brodeur have a enough in the tank to extend this series?  Are the Kings forwards going to dominate the Devils stingy defence like many predict will happen?  Only time will tell.  These are all factors that will affect the ratings, and if the NHL has any interest in cashing in on the Stanley Cup 2012, they need a little help.

…and that is the Last Word.

NHL Draft Prospect Profile #52: Mike Winther

Posted on by Ben Kerr

Drafted 54th Overall by the Dallas Stars.

From a team standpoint, it was a disappointing year for Mike Winther, as he spent the year playing for one of the WHL’s basement dwellers, the Prince Albert Raiders.  However from a personal standpoint it was a year of great growth for Winter.  He was able to play top line minutes, and to obliterate the point totals from his rookie season with over three times as many goals, and over five times as many points.  Winther also proved his ability to play in any situation and was relied upon to play many roles for the rebuilding Prince Albert team.  Winther finished the year playing for Team Canada at the IIHF Under 18 World Championships, where he was a member of the Bronze medal winning squad.

Left Wing/Center
Born Jan 9 1994 — Trochu, ALTA
Height 5.11 — Weight 170 — Shoots Left

2010-11 Prince Albert Raiders WHL 61 9 1 10 18 -11 4 0 0 0 2
2011-12 Prince Albert Raiders WHL 71 32 24 56 59 -9 — — — — —

Winther spent the majority of the season at left wing on the Raiders top line, however he is also capable of playing centre and has been used in that capacity in the past.

The first thing that stands out about Winther is his excellent skating ability.  His skating is so, so smooth.  He has very good first steps, quick acceleration, and great top end speed.  His agility and edgework is also excellent, as he makes quick movements, and changes directions effortlessly.  Winther’s skating is in the very top echelon of this draft class, and while he may not be Morgan Rielly or Andreas Athanasiou, he is in the top 5 or 10 pure skaters in this draft class.

Offensively Winther has high end hockey IQ.  He finds open areas in the offensive zone and exploits them, finding good areas from which to unleash his hard, accurate shot.  Winther has a good release that is often able to catch goalies off guard.  He is better suited to be a goal scorer than a passer, as he has a shoot first mentality.  He was at his deadliest on the PP, scoring 16 of his goals that way, the extra open space on the ice allowing him to find those open spots.  His vision is also not at the best level and for this reason his future may be better suited at left wing than centre.  Despite his size Winther is offensively engaged, fighting hard down low for pucks and getting to the front of the net, however he will need to add strength to be truly effective.  At 5’11” he’s not huge, but not overly short either.  However his 170 lb frame is a concern.

Winther has really excelled in his defensive assignments for Prince Albert.  He has become a top penalty killer and a guy used against other team’s top lines at even strength.  Despite getting these tough matchups, and playing on a rebuilding club, Winther was only -9 on the season, which is a testament to how well he performed.  In the defensive zone his strong positioning and quick stick and feet create a lot of turnovers and allow Winther to quickly transition from defence to offence.

Winther projects as a potential 2nd or 3rd line forward, who has versatility to play multiple positions, can play the PP and kills penalties.  He could become an important player coaches rely on in any situation.  We’d place his maximum potential to become a player similar to Joe Pavelski of the San Jose Sharks.

…. and thats the Last Word.

Nicklas Lidstrom: The Best Defenceman Since Bobby Orr, Set to Retire?

Posted on by Michael Kovacs, ADMIN

“And with the 53rd pick in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, the Detroit Red Wings select, from Vestaras, Sweden, Nicklas Lidstrom.”

I was going back and forth on how to do justice to one of the finest careers in the history of hockey, and I arrived at an important conclusion; I can’t.  But saying nothing at all does little good, so I will attempt to highlight the career of the best defenceman since Bobby Orr. Will he hang up his skates at the conclusion of the 2012 NHL Playoffs as is expected to be announced tomorrow?  Maybe.  But I, and most fans as well, hope not.

The Red Wings During Lidstrom’s Time

The Red Wings scouting department through the 90’s changed the way hockey teams scout in Europe.  Consider these steals:

Johan Franzen at #97, Filppula at #93, Ericsson at #291, Zetterberg at #210 (Seriously, was this guy hiding in a barn or something? ), Datsyuk at #171 (See above), Holmstrom #257, Fedorov #74 (Ridiculous) and Konstantinov at #211.

But when the Red Wings selected Nicklas Lidstrom, way off most teams’ radars, with the 53rd pick, the ingredients for the dynasty of the late 90’s and early 2000’s was born.  The team was so far and away the best of the last two decades that they won an incredible 875 games.  The next closest, the New Jersey Devils, won 70 fewer games in that span. With Lidstrom the Wings played in six Stanley Cup Finals, winning four of them.  They also had the magical 65-win season in the mid-90’s.  Yes, hockey is a team game, but let’s see what the individual accomplished.

Awards and Trophies

To truly appreciate how important Nick, we need to look at many criteria.  First, let’s take a look at some of his personal accolades before delving into other stats.

World Championships, Gold Medal, 1991

NHL All-Rookie Team, 1992

Stanley Cup winner, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2008

NHL All-Star, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011

NHL First Team All-Star, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 20011

Norris Trophy, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011 (Second most, behind Bobby Orr, and the First European-born and trained to win)

Conn Smythe Trophy, 2002 (First European-born player to win this trophy)

Olympic Gold Medal, 2006

Olympic All-Star Team, 2006

Named “Best NHL Player of the Decade” (2000’s) by Sporting News and Sports Illustrated

Names “Best European-trained Player in NHL History” by Hockey News

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Clearly he has the hardware to make the case to be the sport’s second greatest defender as no other defenceman can match the above list.  But it’s not just about awards and records.  With a look at some important stats you can see what an important piece he was, and this on the greatest hockey team over the past two decades.  Here are some interesting tidbits for you:

  • With 1564 games played, he is the current active games played leader at any position in the NHL, and the all-time leader in games played by a European-born player
  • 264 goals, 878 assists, 1142 points, good for fifth in history for a defenceman
  • +450 in the plus/minus category
  • Most points by a swedish born player
  • Oldest d-man to record a hat trick, Lidstrom joins former Red Wings greats Alex Delvechio and Steve Yzerman as the only three players (for any team) with over 1500 games having played exclusively for just one team throughout their careers.
  • 12th all-time in playoff points at any position

What the Numbers Won’t Tell You

Stats and awards can only tell you so much. I didn’t want to just run down everything the guy has done, you can just Google it, I tried to show what I feel are some of his greater accomplishments.  But what won’t show up on any stats chart is his style of play.  He is always playing against the top lines from around the NHL, having the job of shutting down opponents best players.  He is described as a smooth, calming presence on the blue line, always cool and excellent under pressure.  Being on a team that was highly successful, he was never the type of guy that was a prima dona, craving the spotlight. He is refreshingly not self-absorbed.  He respects his teammates, which has made him so successful, and has earned admiration from players around the league, and fans of teams from around the NHL.  It is hard not to like the guy.

I truly believe Nicklas Lidstrom is the greatest defenceman since Bobby Orr.  You may find someone with more goals, or a higher plus minus, but when you put everything together Lidstrom is my number two.  Stats are not everything.  One must consider the team a player plays for, his role within the team’s plan, the team’s style of play and contributions that are non-quantifiable.

I welcome any comments, but let’s celebrate the career of one of the greatest players the game has ever seen – and that is not debatable!

…and that is the last word.

 

The "Alistair Overeem Dilemma"

Posted on by Mark Modeski

For years there were whispers of steroids, but no proof. His tests either came back clean, or he was fighting for a promotion in a country that doesn’t require testing. He went from a lean lightweight to a mammoth-sized heavyweight, not even overshadowed by Brock Lesnar. Overeem has claimed that eating horse meat is responsible for his size.  If true, sign me up.

However, Alistair Overeem finds himself on the receiving end of a nine-month suspension handed down by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for testing positive for elevated levels of testosterone (fourteen times higher than the normal amount in a human male). The question to be answered – where will Alistair’s fate lie within the ZUFFA organization once his suspension is up?

Dana White has never been silent when it comes to his fighters and the use of illegal substances. One infraction and you can find yourself in the unemployment line, and there are many fighters who have been subjected to this (i.e. Nate Marquardt, Kimo Leopoldo, Sean Sherk, Hermes Franca, etc…). Dana White has already clearly stated his position on the Overeem dilemma;

“He went before the athletic commission and he got his punishment and he’s gonna serve his sentence now,”

– Dana White.

White also claimed in a recent press conference that he would no longer be handling any affairs with Overeem, and that Lorenzo Fertitta would be dealing directly with the heavyweight and his management. So, as all MMA fans know, if you put-off Dana White your career can come to a screeching halt.  MMA fans also know, however, that Dana is also notorious for softening his stance.

“When he comes back, he has to apply for a license again and then we’ll go from there. Yeah, I mean I think he should (remain a top contender), yeah.”

Already we can see the ice melting. Could Overeem be sent down to the “minors” (aka Strikeforce) as punishment upon his return? Not likely. ZUFFA is going to fold the heavyweight division in Strikeforce over the next year or two, mark my words. There would be no point sending Overeem down to the minors for a year or so and waste what few years or solid fighting he has left.

With all this in mind, will Overeem be back in the UFC? My guess is a definitive “yes”. Never has White claimed he will be banned from the UFC. Overeem is still a legitimate top-five competitor, and White would hate to lose any depth in one of the hottest divisions in the UFC right now. Conveniently, Overeem’s suspension is up on December 27th, just in time for the end of the stacked New Years card. It should also coincide nicely with the amount of time needed for the winner of Dos Santos v. Velaszquez to recover and prepare. In the meantime, I will sit and patiently wait to see Overeem’s return to the UFC… as it is all but assured.

… and that is the last word.

Feel free to add your comments below.

Will Zach Parise be a Devil Next Season?

Posted on by Paul Fazzari

With the Stanley Cup Finals starting up this Wednesday night in Newark, the last two teams standing are ready to give everything they’ve got left in tank in what I believe should be a long, hard-fought series between the New Jersey Devils and the Los Angeles  Kings.

With the Stanley Cup the only thing on the minds of the players right now it makes me wonder if more is at stake here than just the hardest trophy to win in all of professional sports. There are a lot of question marks surrounding the New Jersey Devils these days – about ownership and whether or not this will be the last season for future Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur between the pipes. I ask myself a different question;  What of the Devils’ captain? Does the outcome of these Stanley Cup Finals have any bearing on whether or not Zach Parise will be back wearing a Devils uniform again next October?

Parise was drafted by Lou Lamoriello and the Devils 17thoverall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft. He joined the big club for the 2005-2006 season and has been with the Devils ever since.  Zach has been bred to play Devils “defense first-offence next”, hockey since being drafted.  Since that time he has become the Devils most consistent offensive threat without sacrificing defensive play in his own end of the rink. However, after an injury plagued 2010-2011 season in which the star left-winger only played 13 games, the Devils struggled big time out of the gate. They fought hard down the stretch but ended up missing the post season for the first time since 1996.

Parise became the subject of endless trade rumors towards the end of last season and into the summer. It became well known that he was unhappy with the Devils organization, especially after the poor handling and trading of longtime friend and mentor Jaime Langenbrunner to the Dallas Stars. It was starting to look as if a trade was in fact in the future for Parise as he went unsigned passed last year’s July 1st free agent deadline and became a restricted free agent. With trade speculation running rampant into the summer, Zach Parise signed a one-year $6 million-dollar contract on July 29th with the Devils as if to say, “I’ll give you one more year, but you better turn this thing back around.”

The Devils did just that. Under newly-hired coach, Pete DeBoer, the Devils got things back on track in a hurry. DeBoer named Parise the team’s Captain on October 5th and the players (including Russian Sniper Ilya Kovalchuck) started buying back into Devils hockey and playing a team game. A healthy Parise put up another solid regular season posting 31 goals and 38 assists playing in all 82 games.  Expected by many to make the post-season this year, nobody was predicting New Jersey to still be playing hockey in June. Parise has been rock-solid all playoffs putting up 7 goals and 7 assists through 18 playoff games while leading his team into these finals.

With things seemingly back on track in New Jersey heading into Wednesday night, do the Devils have to beat the Kings and win the Stanley Cup for Zach to want to re-sign with his team? I tend to think the answer to that question is “no”. The Devils have shown enough compete this year as a team for their leader to want to return regardless the outcome of the finals. But the finals are not the only question mark here. With the NHL being in the salary cap era nothing is ever certain. Going into next season the Devils are projected to have about $22-million in cap space. Sounds like a lot right? The problem is they only have 13 players under contract for the 2012-13 season. $22 million split 10 ways to get the team back to a 23-man roster is starting to sound like a whole lot less. Lou Lamoriello definitely has his work cut out for him heading into what will no doubt be a busy summer. The Devils have one RFA to sign this summer in Mark Fayne, but also have 11 unrestricted free agents on their current roster including Parise and both of their goaltenders.

With Parise due for his big payday he will likely be unwilling to sign another short-term deal. Chances are he will be opting for what has become the trend for the NHL and its star players. He will want the long-term deal for the big money that he deserves and his agent, Wade Arnott, will be able to get him. He has proven to be the leader on this Devils team and should be compensated accordingly. After giving up to farm to sign Ilya Kovalchuck for an unheard of 15 years for $100 million, and ownership far from certain in New Jersey, the question of, “Does winning or losing the Stanley Cup affect Zach Parise wanting to re-sign with the Devils?”, now becomes “Can the New Jersey Devils afford to keep him?”

…and that is the Last Word.

Chelsea Makes the Most of Its Champions League Money

Posted on by Jack Stone

Big news for Chelsea FC fans,  as Eden Hazard, the attacking midfielder for Lille in French Ligue 1, has decided to join their side.

Hazard, born on January 7, 1991 in Belgium is only 21 years of age, but managed to finish this past season with 20 goals for Lille and has attracted the highest profile teams in Europe including Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool,  Real Madrid and of course, Chelsea FC.  Managers Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini have each personally paid visits to France to watch Hazard play, in hopes of bringing him to their respective Old Trafford and Etihad stadiums.

Although Arsenal have been courting Hazard since the last transfer window, and more recent rumours were rampant that he would end up signing with Manchester City or United, Twitter followers read today;  “I’m signing for the Champions League winner,”  in reference to the Blues’ victory over Bayern Munich on May 19.  It is suggested that Hazard will join the club for a transfer fee of nearly 40 million Euros.

Despite being  just 21 years of age, Hazardalready has lots of professional experience as he joined Lille at 16, and has played 140 career matches for the club.

In other Chelsea news the club has re-signed Goalkeeper Petr Cech for four more years.  Since joining the Premier League team from French side Rennes in 2004, Cech has made 369 appearances and won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and two League Cups, and of course being a major part of winning the Champions league title this past month.  For those who missed the finals, Cech made a crucial stop on a penalty in extra time.

… and thats the Last Word.