Even though the Stanley Cup Finals are not over yet, I thought I would give some views of what I have noticed this last year in the NHL. I have three different topics, players and teams that impressed me, things that are not of major intrest to me but still note worthy, and things that pissed me off.
Players and Teams that impressed me:
Ian Laperierre - I can honestly say that I am not a big fan of his, however taking that puck to the face and the way he played in Philadelphia has changed my views on him, hell he wasn't even out for a month before returning to the line up.
The Sedin Twins - They dominated this year and Henrik should go home with the Hart as well as the Art Ross (which he has already won since he had the most points in the regular season).
The Los Angeles Kings - A team that has been cellar dwellers for a few years has finally got back into the playoff picture, but I am not sure they have the depth to become a major force in the West.
The Phoenix Coyotes - If you had these guys in the playoffs at the beginning of the season, what am I saying if you say you did you are lying. These guys came out of nowhere to get home ice in the first round, too bad it was Detroit they had to face.
Jaroslav Halak - Halak put an end to what was the continual goaltending controversy in Montreal. The Habs should get a good deal for trading Carey Price.
Items of note worthiness but not of major interest to me:
The Washington Capitals - The President's Trophy winners completely melted down in the first round, which has gone to show that they may suffer like the San Jose Sharks in the playoffs, great team in regular season, but can't up their game in the playoffs.
Toronto Maple Leafs - Who knew the Leafs were going to get two star players in such a short time span, unfortunately (or fortunately), they traded them to the Boston Bruins.
Gary Bettman - The IIHF went after hockey players not playing in the world championships, and Bettman sounded off and called out the IIHF, it is one of the few times I have actually sided with him in something.
Things that pissed me off:
Pierre Maguire - I have bashed this guy so often I have decided to lay off on the insults to him until I can find words that accurately describe how piss poor this man (if you want to call him that) is at colour commentary. I highly doubt that it will work as Maguire often shows how little he knows about doing a good broadcast every time he speaks.
Ron MacLean - Usually it takes alot to get me to side with Gary Bettman on anything what so ever when it comes to hockey, he did it in the span of 3 minutes in an intermission interview. MacLean is an absolute tool, has absolutely no comedic timing when it comes to his feeble attempts at jokes (If you can even call them jokes), and is one of the leaders of making the Vancouver Canucks being the bastard sons of Hockey Night in Canada whenever the Canucks are mentioned.
NHL on NBC - Well to save time we will make a list of everything they are doing right when it comes to broadcasting the NHL. Mike Milbury, I guess that concludes the list.
The officiating - This sounds like the same broken record player that when it comes to Pierre Maguire. However there are some differences in the two, the officials are obviously bias towards certain teams. Officials can intentionally cost teams games or carry out personal vendettas without fear of punishment (Auger vs the Canucks). And the also have started calling one of the stupidest penalties when it comes to those weak sticks.
Hockey Night in Canada - with the acception of the following, the rest involved in on screen items should be let go.
The ones who stay:
Jim Hughson
Craig Simpson
PJ Stock
Scott Oake
Don Cherry
Well, this concludes the major items of the year and until next time keep your stick on the ice.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
The Ultimate Canucks Team
I was on canucks.com and they had a comment board on the ultimate Canucks team. Well I thought I would give my opinion and put my team together
Forwards
D. Sedin H. Sedin Bure
Bertuzzi Morrison Naslund
Smyl Kesler Linden
Burrows Peca Odjick
Cooke
Defense
Mitchell Lumme
Ohlund Jovanovski
Lidster Edler
Aucoin
Goalies
Luongo
McLean
Brodeur
PP Lines
D. Sedin H. Sedin Burrows
Lumme Bure
Bertuzzi Morrison Naslund
Jovanovski Edler
PK Lines
Burrows Kesler
Mitchell Ohlund
Smyl Peca
Lidster Edler
These would be tentative lines I have set up but they are definitely the players I would choose. As you can easily see, the first two lines have the soul intent of scoring on there mind, and I always have wanted to see what would happen if Pavel was on the same line as the Sedin's because Pavel could get open and could make the amount of goals being put in now look like child's play. The second line better known as the West Coast Express dominated from 2001-2004, Naslund finishing second twice in scoring in that time span. The bottom two forward lines are for checking yet have some offensive flair. Linden had a couple of 80 point seasons in the early-mid 90's and Kesler last year had 75 points. Smyl finishes up a line that would be able to shut down most top lines in the league. The fourth line consists of a Canuck favorite and two more shutdown guys. Odjick would also keep opposing teams honest, even though we know Pavel can take care of himself, it is just an insurance policy. Matt Cooke gets the 13th forward due to the fact that he could play on a scoring line and he can check.
The defense is basically taken from the 1990's onward to today. Mitchell and Ohlund are two of the best shutdown defensemen the Canucks have ever had. Lidster is just a tough old SOB. Lumme was a great offensive defenseman back for the Canucks during their run in '94. Edler is probably going to go down as the best Canucks defenseman of all time that we have had so far. And then there is Jovanovski, one of the best two way defensemen in the game when he was healthy. Aucoin gets the 7 spot due to the fact that he would be great on a PP with his wicked hard shot and he has always been a solid defenseman.
The goalies were pretty easy to decide. Luongo who is the best goalie the Canucks have ever had, and the two goalies that backstopped the Canucks Stanley Cup Finals runs. Luongo gets the nod as the starter because, as far as I am concerned, he is the best goalie in the world today.
Forwards
D. Sedin H. Sedin Bure
Bertuzzi Morrison Naslund
Smyl Kesler Linden
Burrows Peca Odjick
Cooke
Defense
Mitchell Lumme
Ohlund Jovanovski
Lidster Edler
Aucoin
Goalies
Luongo
McLean
Brodeur
PP Lines
D. Sedin H. Sedin Burrows
Lumme Bure
Bertuzzi Morrison Naslund
Jovanovski Edler
PK Lines
Burrows Kesler
Mitchell Ohlund
Smyl Peca
Lidster Edler
These would be tentative lines I have set up but they are definitely the players I would choose. As you can easily see, the first two lines have the soul intent of scoring on there mind, and I always have wanted to see what would happen if Pavel was on the same line as the Sedin's because Pavel could get open and could make the amount of goals being put in now look like child's play. The second line better known as the West Coast Express dominated from 2001-2004, Naslund finishing second twice in scoring in that time span. The bottom two forward lines are for checking yet have some offensive flair. Linden had a couple of 80 point seasons in the early-mid 90's and Kesler last year had 75 points. Smyl finishes up a line that would be able to shut down most top lines in the league. The fourth line consists of a Canuck favorite and two more shutdown guys. Odjick would also keep opposing teams honest, even though we know Pavel can take care of himself, it is just an insurance policy. Matt Cooke gets the 13th forward due to the fact that he could play on a scoring line and he can check.
The defense is basically taken from the 1990's onward to today. Mitchell and Ohlund are two of the best shutdown defensemen the Canucks have ever had. Lidster is just a tough old SOB. Lumme was a great offensive defenseman back for the Canucks during their run in '94. Edler is probably going to go down as the best Canucks defenseman of all time that we have had so far. And then there is Jovanovski, one of the best two way defensemen in the game when he was healthy. Aucoin gets the 7 spot due to the fact that he would be great on a PP with his wicked hard shot and he has always been a solid defenseman.
The goalies were pretty easy to decide. Luongo who is the best goalie the Canucks have ever had, and the two goalies that backstopped the Canucks Stanley Cup Finals runs. Luongo gets the nod as the starter because, as far as I am concerned, he is the best goalie in the world today.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)