Toronto Maple Leafs V Philadelphia Flyers Preview

Tonight October 24, 11 on Leafs TV at 7pm the boys in blue will be taking on the Broad Street bullies in the first of three meetings on the season. Actually, the next time the Flyers and Leafs face one another will be on February 9, 12.  Tonight’s meeting is also the regular season debut of the Schenn v Schenn clash as Leafs defenseman Luke Schenn takes on little brother Brayden Schenn.

Entering tonight’s action, Toronto finds themselves in a familiar situation to last weeks clash with divisional rival the Boston Bruins. That is to say, the Leafs will be taking on one of the top teams in the NHL, and a win could go along way at showing fans that they are ready to contend with the big boys of the Eastern Conference. At the same time, tonight’s game also features Toronto taking on a powerhouse that has lost its last two games. We’ll find out if Toronto has learnt anything from last Thursday’s defeat to the Boston Bruins.

One area of concern for the Leafs an in particular their fans, is that tonight’s game will be the third appearance for backup goalie Jonas Gustavsson. The heavily criticized Swede has become a whipping boy of sorts after disheartening performances first in the aforementioned game with Boston and then in relief of top goalie James Reimer on Saturday in Montreal.  Tonight’s start will be make or break for Gustavsson as a slew of media outlets are speculating that if he can’t show some consistency and win a few games, the Leafs may be forced to look at other options.

On the other hand, the Leafs coaching staff seems to have learnt something from Boston, as Ron Wilson and his assistant coaches have elected to go with the same lineup as Saturday night in Montreal. For those of you that missed that game, Toronto came out flying and was seemingly able to roll four lines the entire night. The fourth line of Mike Brown Philippe Dupuis and Jay Rosehill in particular were able to play defensively responsible in their own zone. As well Rosehill and Brown were each able to play around eight minutes, which is something the Leafs coaching staff has needed from their fourth line.

Looking at the standings, the season may be early, but if the Toronto Maple Leafs want to continue their push to the playoffs, they will have to come out with a win against Philadelphia tonight. As we noted earlier, the Flyers are coming off back-to-back losses, but Toronto would be best served adding to the misery rather then allowing the Flyers any opportunity to win. Toronto currently has 11 points, while Philadelphia has nine points. The Leafs special teams and defense will have to show up tonight, as despite the Buds being in third place in the Eastern Conference, they have given up 23 goals and scored only 24 this season.

Tune in to Leafs TV for the game at 7pm, before tuning into the best Damn POST GAME SHOW Online at Leafs Talk Radio.

Written by: Eric Freedlander (@three_2_lose)

LEAFS BEAT HATED HABS FOR SECOND TIME THIS MONTH

Well Leafs Nation, could that game have been any more exciting? The game was back and forth which is typical for a game featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens.

Both teams came out hard and gritty. Montreal came out flying dictating the early pace of the game. Early in the first a scary moment happened when Brian Gionta ran into James Reimer, forcing Reimer to lose his helmet. Reimer was shaken up and taken out of the game as a precaution at the end of the period. Gionta was given a two-minute penalty for goaltender interference on the play.

As the Leafs power play went to work they give up a shorthanded goal. The goal arose when two of the Habs players drove to the net and Reimer looked very tentative, (still shaking off the affects of the Gionta collision) and was forced way back. This goal allowed the Habs to take an early one to nothing lead, before Toronto would respond a short time later on another power play.

Jonas Gustavsson was in net to start the second period, leaving Leaf Nation gasping. After Gustavsson let in the first shot he faced, fans and management alike were left asking themselves what will we do if Reimer is injured for an extended period of time?  Luckily Leafs Nation, you won’t have to worry for long, as Reimer should be back Monday night to take on the Philadelphia Flyers.

 After trailing two to one after Gustavsson let in the first shot he faced, the man known as Phil the Thrill came back 37 seconds later to tie the game at two. The Leafs would then take their first lead of the game on a Dion Phaneuf blast from the point on another power play. Yes that is right fans the Leafs had two power play goals on the night.

Entering the third period the Leafs appeared to sit back for a short period of time. This in turn proved costly, as the Habs tied the game on a Mike Cammalleri rocket just in side the blue line. Then Travis Moen picked up his second goal of the game to let the Habs take the lead four to three. However, that is when Leafs Captain Dion Phaneuf took over the game, as he and the Grabovski line had an excellent rush, which ended with Nikolai Kulemin scoring the game-tying goal. After regulation the Buds and the Habs were tied at four.

The game came to an end quickly in overtime, as the previously mentioned Grabovski scored the game-winning goal. Grabo came out from behind the Habs net and made a nice spinning deke before depositing the game winner. Final Score Leafs 5 Canadiens 4.

Toronto’s victory over Montreal was also huge in the standings, as thanks to a Tampa Bay shutout over the Buffalo Sabres, the Leafs were able to take sole possession of first in the Northeast division. It is absolutely fantastic to see the Leafs contending early this season. However, with that being said, can the Leafs keep it up all season long and finally make the playoffs?

The next step in Toronto’s quest to make the playoffs will take place Monday October 24, 11 when they battle the new look Philadelphia Flyers. This is an important game, as the Leafs have been deadlocked in the standings with the Flyers on a couple of different occasions. You can watch the game on Leafs TV at 7pm and then tune in to the best damn post game show afterwards at Leafs Talk Radio.

Written by: Stephen Marshall (@hockeyman1929)

Edited by: Eric Freedlander (@Three_2_Lose)

Posted by: John Davis (@Hockeyman1981)

Everyday I’m Hustling Leafs V Habs Preview

Since the start of the season some two weeks ago, the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs have each struggled significantly. The one dilemma both teams share is their inability to get consistency through the lineup when it comes to scoring on their opponents. In each team’s most recent game on Thursday October 20, neither team could muster much offense against powerhouse teams. Montreal lost a three to one decision to the Pittsburgh Penguins, while Toronto got lit up like a Cheech and Chong film by the Boston Bruins six to two.

What’s most intriguing about Canada’s most prolific teams losing, is that neither lived up to their moniker as teams that “hustle” and never give up. To quote the great Rick Ross, “It ain’t no coincidence that my age is kilo”. As two of the younger teams in the NHL, the Habs and Leafs have constantly struggled with consistency. In fact, you could make the argument that if neither the Habs nor Maple Leafs had amazing goaltending from starters Carey Price and James Reimer, neither team may have won a game by now.

Entering Saturday night’s action at the Bell Center in Montreal, the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs will need to get back to what’s made them each unbeatable in the past. That is to say, they have to hustle real hard and somehow anyway at all get off to a fast start. The Achilles Heel for the two original six franchises is they are each notoriously slow starters.  In their first encounter, to open the season back on October 6, neither team really got off to a fast start. With this being the case, that opening night game has dictated how each team has played thus far in the season.

In my opinion, Saturday night’s game on CBC at 7pm couldn’t be more important to either team. Entering Saturday’s game, Toronto has collected points in five of six games, while accumulating a record of four – one – one. At the same time, Montreal has only collected points in two games while going one – four – one in that stretch. If Toronto loses, it could start another long losing streak that the team may not recover from. Similarly, if Montreal continues to lose, they may need to hit the panic button, as building a hole early is never easy to climb out of.

ROUGH START TO ROAD TRIP

Last night the Leafs were handed many firsts of this young season and if it was going to happen I guess why not it be the defending Stanley Cup Champions have. Let’s get started on that list of firsts. It was their first road game of the season, which resulted in their first road loss and also their first loss in regulation.  How many more firsts can there be you ask yourself? I will continue. It was Gustavsson’s first start of the season and what a lot of people expected to happen did. The tem did not look confident in from of him and they got pounded 6-2. Bringing another first of the season, the most goals surrendered by the team thus far. Some bright spots if you can say there were any in a 6-2 loss were that Kadri was in the line up and looked pretty good out there. Finishing with 13 minutes of ice time, his first point of the season coming on Steckel’s goal and a plus 1 rating on the night. Looking forward to Saturday hopefully we can see some more first, such as The Maple Leafs winning their first road game of the season. Also I would like to see them kick The Habs ass again for the 2nd time this month. As a Leafs fan you can’t tell me it’s not a little bit more fun at work on a Monday after a Leafs win against The Canadians on Saturday night.   Check back soon for a pre-game report and always catch the Leafs talk Radio 5 minutes after the final buzzer at http://m.blogtalkradio.com/leafs-talk-radio/2011/10/22/toronto-maple-leafs-post-game-show   Written By: Stephen Marshall  

Leafs Pre Game Report-Toronto Maple Leafs Set To Make Statement Against Rival Bruins

      vs         

Tonight the Toronto Maple Leafs will be taking on the Boston Bruins in the buds first road game of the regular season. The game can be seen on TSN at 7pm.

This game is a crucial one for both teams for a few different reasons. Firstly, this will be the first official game between Boston and Toronto in which we know who all the pieces in the big Phil Kessel deal from a few years ago are. Secondly and perhaps more importantly, the Leafs could really make a statement for their season, by decimating the defending Stanley Cup Champions.

Thus far in the season, the Bruins have struggled significantly, as they appear to be suffering from a Stanley Cup hangover. The Bruins are without star center David Krejci which in turn has hurt their special teams. On the other hand, the Leafs have experienced much success in the first four games of the season going into last night’s action with the Winnipeg Jets. However, like Boston, Toronto has struggled on the power play.

Another crucial factor in the outcome of this game is the return of the Monster Jonas Gustavsson. Gustavsson who hasn’t played a regular season game, since giving up seven goals to the New York Rangers last January, will be looking to show not only the Maple Leafs, but a potential trading partner, that he can be a viable option in between the pipes. The question Leafs nation is wondering, is whether or not the man known as the Monster has the mental toughness to battle a tough team like the Boston Bruins. If he can show that he is still competent in the net, Toronto may be able to form an impressive tandem with the Monster and number one goalie James Reimer.

Thursday October 20, 2011 is the first of six divisional matchups against the Boston Bruins for Toronto. Can the boys in blue continue their hot start? No statement will be bigger then a win over last season’s Stanley Cup Champions.

Come Listen and chat live with the boys from RSC LEAFS TALK 5 mins after the final buzzer
http://m.blogtalkradio.com/leafs-talk-radio/2011/10/21/toronto-maple-leafs-post-game-show-vs-bruins

Written By: Eric Freedlander (@Three_2_Lose)
Edited & Posted By: John Davis 

Leafs post game report from October 19th, 2011- Jets grounded by the Leafs at the ACC

Well it wasn't the prettiest of wins but it's 2 points at the end of the day. That's what matters most. This was a big character win for the Leafs who showed they were able to once again battle from behind and come back to tie just as they did against the Avalanche on Monday night. Last night though had a much more positive ending with the Buds winning, potting 2 nice goals in their first shoot out of the season. The goals were scored by Lupul and Frattin. Then Reimer did his job turning away the two shooters he faced. The first 2 periods we're not the greatest for the Leafs especially for the forwards after 37 minutes in to the game only 4 of the 12 had shots on net and with Armstrong getting injured early on it was really more like 4 of 11. Hopefully they can get off to a better start tonight, which I think will really be required with Gustavsson getting the nod tonight. A quick start out of the gate and some good defense, the Leafs could continue their winning ways by taking advantage of a struggling Bruins team. So now the Leafs are 4-0-1 to start the season. The Leaf's have taken 9 of a possible 10 points and are now sitting in 3rd place only behind first place by 1 point. Tonight with a win and a Pittsburgh and Washington loss they can leap in to first place. So catch the game tonight and cheer your Leafs on. Then catch the show after the game at http://m.blogtalkradio.com/leafs-talk-radio/2011/10/21/toronto-maple-leafs-post-game-show-vs-bruins

Written by: Stephan Marshall
Edited and Posted by: John Davis

Toronto Maple Leafs Prospect Report

Since Brian Burke took over the helm of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008, he has steadily collected himself a growing cupboard of prospects. As everyone is well aware of, he likes to build himself from the back end out. He started turning the Toronto Maple leafs franchise into a respectable team in terms of prospects where in the previous decades we have been ridiculed of terrible drafting along with giving away our assets of draft choices in trades. Although many people believe we have a great strength in goaltending and defense, we are just starting to see forwards making an impact throughout the junior level.

Although we have 7 players throughout the junior ranks playing at over a point per game average, we will look at the three players that are making a difference to their respective clubs. We can only hope that they may in fact, one day suit up for our Blue & White.

Bradley Ross – Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

Games Played	Goals	Assists	Points	Points Per Game	PIM	+/-
11	7	11	18	1.64	19	-2

Playing for the third place team in the Western Conference in the WHL, Bradley Ross is starting to show his offensive flare to go along with his tenacious physicality. Ross is often compared to players such as Steve Ott, Darcy Tucker, and Cal Clutterbuck. However, he was sent back to the WHL to provide leadership and hone in his offensive instincts before he makes the move to the professional level.

Ross is a prototypical “Brian Burke” type player who will hit, fight, back up teammates and more importantly provides leadership. Last night Ross and the Portland Winterhawks hosted the Saskatoon Blades. Ross registered 2G, 2A and playing to an even rating in a 7-6 Final.

Playing with skilled players such as Ty Rattie (STL), Ryan Johansen (CLB), Nino Niederreiter (NYI), and Sven Bartschi (CAL), Ross will look to provide that toughness along with the leadership and offense that Portland will need to make another playoff run in the 2011-12 WHL season. 

Josh Nicholls – Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

Games Played	Goals	Assists	Points	Points Per Game	PIM	+/-
10	6	7	13	1.30	8	1

A Member of the Saskatoon Blades, Josh Nicholls is a huge wildcard prospect for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Playing for the 2^nd place team in the WHL and being given a bigger role on the team, Nicholls has been on fire and leads his team in Goals, Assists, Points, and Points Per Game. Last night the Blades took on the Winterhawks in a shootout. Unfortunately, they fell 7-6 but Nicholls was named first star of the game for registering 4G, 2A; the 4 goals were all scored consecutively for his team, and were scored in the 2^nd and 3^rd periods. Nicholls looks to continue his hot streak when he and the Saskatoon Blades take on the Tri-City Americans.

Greg McKegg – Erie Otters (OHL)

Games Played	Goals	Assists	Points	Points Per Game	PIM	+/-
7	2	8	10	1.43	6	-8

Playing for the last place team in the OHL, and suffering a minor concussion last week, McKegg has shown why he is the captain of the Erie Otters and why some consider him to be a steal in his draft year. Although he has not played since last Wednesday, he still leads his team in Assists, Points, and Points Per Game; followed closely by another Leafs prospect Sondre Olden.

The Erie Otters are the 4^th lowest scoring team in the OHL, they are eagerly expecting his return. It is unlikely that they will make the playoffs this year, but after a 49-goal campaign, he will be looking to make an impression for his graduation to professional hockey. It is expected that McKegg will return to the Otters lineup in the next 7-10 days.

Written by: Torrey Duckworth
Edited & Posted by: John Davis 

Leafs welcome Jets for first time in 15 years‏

 Tonight in another all Canadian match-up in the NHL the 

4th in 5 games for the Buds. The Toronto Maple Leafs play host

to the Winnipeg Jets for the first time since March 13th 1996. 

A game that was so long ago it ended in a 3-3 tie in pre shootout 

days. Tonight the Leafs look to continue their quick start to the 

season. Already at a 3-0-1 mark earning points in all 4 games.

The Jets on the other hand are at the opposite end of the spectrum

going 1-3 in there first 4 games. Finally winning for their first time 

since returning to Winnipeg with a 2-1 victory versus the Penguins. 

With the Buds playing 4 games in the next 6 nights look to see 

Gustavsson between the pipes at least once in that span. Maybe 

even tonight. If not most likely tomorrow when the Leafs take on 

the defending Stanley Cup Champions The Boston Bruins. Gustavsson 

not knowing when he will be playing had this to say "You just have 

to practice hard and do well in practice to get some confidence to 

go out there and play in a game," The last time he saw action was 

against Detroit in preseason on September 30th in a 4-3 win. 

Tonight I am sure we will see quite a few Jets fans at the ACC 

and that's great, cause getting a NHL franchise back in Canada 

is amazing and hopefully we get some more. So catch the game tonight 

on TSN at 7:30pm and join me and the crew after the game at:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/leafs-talk-radio/2011/10/20/toronto-maple-leafs-post-game-show

Written by: Steven Marshall (@hockeyman1929) 

Edited by: John Davis

Off Season Moves & 2011-2012 Predictions-Toronto Maple Leafs

     It has been another long off season for Ontario's Favorite hockey team missing the playoffs for the 5th straight year. Having all this time off has given Leafs GM Brian Burke a lot of time to fine tune his machine. From the starting line up, to the assistants behind the bench there seems to be a new vibe taking flight in the players and fans. I will be giving you a few predictions on how I feel this new and improved team will fair in the eastern conference.




     The mastermind (Burke) was up to his antics again in this years entry draft trading away picks 30th & 39th for Canadian jr heart breaker, Tyler Biggs. Time will only tell, but I feel this is a great move for the team. Burke is almost where he wants to be with his leaf team in my eyes. This off season Brian fired assistant coaches Tim Hunter and Keith Acton, leaving an opening for new coaches Greg Cronin and Scott Gordon to step in. Burke said "There needed to be a change, the bench was getting stale". Who couldn't agree more with that statement. It seemed like these guys were just walking in to their office, doing enough to get by, collecting a pay check and fucking off. Glad to see these bums off the bench. It's lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges. I feel a minor coaching change was needed to give Kessel  a little more life and energy coming off the bench, and maybe he will be that 50 goal man we are all waiting to see. I'm very happy Brian Burke has stayed true to his word and kept head coach Ron Wilson. Nothing is friendlier then a wet dog, this is how most of leafs nation feels about the relationship with Wilson and Burke. Does no one remember this guy has 1400+ games and over 600 wins as an NHL head coach. By no means does this automatically give Ron Wilson a golden key to success. When your given seeds today and expected to produce fruit tomorrow, success will never come. Leafs nation needs to remember when Burke said he was re-building this torn apart franchise, I don't think he was joking. Just because he pre-maturely ejaculated all over Phil Kessel doesn't mean the re-build is off and we are in the play-offs.


     So the top line is set, the play-offs are in sight...............Hold the fuck on, lets break the top line and supporting lines down before we go talking play-offs. It looks as if our top 2 lines are pretty much set in stone for the start of the season. Kessel, Connolly, & Lupul should get the nod in the 1st slot and Grabby, Kouly, and MacArthur sitting pretty on the 2nd line. This being said, doesn't mean the leafs wont switch first and second  lines depending on the opponent that night. The Questions will be answered this season, "will Kessel ever be a 40-50 goal scorer".  The leafs management brought in top line center Tim Connolly to support Kessel and Lupul in this upcoming season.  I can see this line really turning some heads this year, of course that is if they all stay healthy. Knock on wood. They should have a real advantage on the PP having Connolly's versatility playing the point, and Lupul's ability to retrieve pucks on the end boards. Leaving our man Kessel wide open and ready to be an elite 50 goal man..The second line looks to pick up right where they left off last season with all players feeling secure and locked in to a leafs uniform until at least the end of the '11-'12 season. Grabovski, Macarthur and Kulemin were the back bone of Toronto's offense last season with the line combining for 172 points. For a line with low expectations they achieved a much better grade then critics would have given them from the start. I see this line not having as big of an impact as last season maybe taking a more suitable back seat type role (finishing with 150pts combined). Now to the most controversial line going in to training camp, because there really isn't a definitive solid 3 man line seen by the coaches. I'm going to play head coach right now and save us all an argument. I see the 3rd line shaping up like this; Nazem Kadri will crack the line up and make the 2011-2012 maple leafs roster. This kid is everything a leaf use to be, he plays with heart, he's highly skilled and I feel he has taken the proper guidance and steps from the AHL coaches and has matured into the player Brian Burke is going to hate. The kid takes risks and plays on the edge for a little guy. Which at times can put him in  a bad position. I think Burke has finally prepared the team defensively for the" Kadri" type of player.You will see him on the Left wing to start the season. Joining  Kadri on the right wing will be Colby Armstrong. If  Armstrong can stay healthy for most part of the season look for the leafs to improve on their record. Last season the Leafs were 20-16-3  with Armstrong in the lineup and only a 3-11-3 record when he was hurt. If that is not an impact player I don't know what is. Now comes the tricky part, center. Tyler Bozak will never see the kind of ice time he saw last year and will only get the start on the third line if the newly acquired Matt Lombardi is still feeling the effect of his concussion late last season. I feel he will be ready and  Lombardi will start as the third line center. The forth line should be Mike Brown on the right wing and look for Rosehill and Orr to exchange nights with in themselves on the left side.You can also never rule out the chance of a rookie making his debut. Now this is where I wish I could have been penciling in Tyler Bozak last season, on the 4th line center position


    The defense has been built like the Berlin wall and defense wins championships. I'm not saying start up the parade plans but I think we are headed in the right direction with the new faces. (John Michael Liles and Cody Franson)  Look for Komisarek to be the odd man out and maybe get a start early in the season to see if he can be the player he was. Here is how I see the defense man pair up.

Keith Aulie & Dion Phaneuf 

John Michael Liles & Luke Schenn

      Cody Franson & Carl Gunnarsson

        Mike Komisarek

     And then there was one. Well that is one man back, and that man will be Optimus-reim. He lead the team with his "never quit" attitude. The whole team really played hard for the rookie goalie when he got the call up. James Reimer finished last season with a .921 save % and a GAA of 2.6, and I feel this kid is the real deal.  The one good move by John Ferguson Jr was putting some good goalies in our system. I will never give up on a goalie and that is why Jonas Gustavsson will be a great back up. Jonas hasn't really put up the numbers to be a legit #1, and at this point doesn't deserve the number 1 spot.

   With that all being said the Leafs may make the play-off in some sort of fairy tale way, but I don't see them finishing any better than 9th. The team has improved but not to the quality of the eastern conference. Every team that was in the post season last year has improved leaving the leafs on the out side, golfing again.
    

Bettman's 5 Step Approach

   Its been hard to focus on hockey right now seeing all the world issues, continuing  to have a major effect on so many lives. With the devastating, natural and man made disasters in japan,  I wish the people the best of luck in the coming days. Unfortunately hockey can't stop so here's my look on the Bettman 5 step plan.

      Gary Bettman has been under fire lately from some major sponsors and also Mario Lemieux forcing him to come up with his 5 step approach to reduce the number of head injuries. Facts prove that 17 % of the head injuries are from "illegal hits" so my 3 strike system only applies to that small percentage. That leaves us with 78% of injuries to the head injuries falling under different categorizes.(the NHL left out 5% because they couldn't find the video). This leaving Bettman to come up with a much more complex plan to try and conquer the issue. His plan is as follows; 1st Bettman is acquiring the services of Brendan Shanahan to review the equipment and make the proper changes. I believe this is the main issue. The elbow and shoulder pad seem to cause the most problems on the ice. This has to be examined under a microscope. A lot of people say we need to go back to the old style of pads. This could pose a major problem, the game is bigger, stronger, and faster, if Shanahan can come up with a way to not jeopardize the safety of the player and reduce the amount of hard plastic then this could help.This can not be done over night so maybe look for the effect of this first step in the next season. Secondly, the NHL will be revising the concussion protocol   If player is suspected to have suffered one, he must be removed from the bench for an assessment in a quiet area. I feel this will have no effect. 3rd, is part of the idea I had come up with, seeing a team receive fines and other types of consequences for having a player dishing out head shots. 4th step is the second most important step that is going to take place (aside from the equipment), having safety engineers review the arenas and find a design for the glass. They may even suggest to make the rink larger, not Olympic size but maybe just to adapt to the size of the new NHL. The last step Bettman says the NHL will take is to gather a special group of players (Shanahan, R Blake, Yzerman, Niuewendyk) and have them further review the various injuries and devise any other ways to attack this problem.


    

3 Strikes You're Out

      It has been a crazy week in hockey, seeing the unrest of the head shot in the forefront. After many debates, I believe the most logical way for the NHL to finally get a strangle hold on the head shot problem is a 3 strike system. This idea I have come up with was derived from the proven criminal system used in California, and also some simple psychology. If they threaten to take something from a human it’s instinct to apply every means possible to protect what they have. That being said, the best possible way for this system to be rolled out is the following: If a player is given the questionable 2 minute penalty for a head shot, he will automatically be put in front of a panel of ex NHL hockey player's with a minimum 5 years retired from the league. From there the panel will decide unanimously if the player in question was guilty of a direct head shot. For argument’s sake, we will use the most recent act resulting in a suspension, Pavel Kubina. So at this point Kubina would have received a 20 game suspension - STRIKE 1 - and the team would be responsible for a fine. Now, if Kubina gave another head shot he would earn STRIKE 2, serving an 82 game suspension (full season) as a result. At this point if Kubina returns to hockey after the 82 game suspension and delivers another head shot that would be STRIKE 3, a complete ban. That’s it. He’ll never play professional hockey again. Let’s see how fast Matt Cooke and Trevor Gillies for example, either learn their lesson or never lace up again. This plan of mine could be picked apart if common sense isn't the first thought from the people in charge. For example, will the referees be hesitant to call a penalty that will result in the player be removed from hockey? I say no. The referees will not be the determining factor, it will fall in the hands of the panel. They will be the bad, or in my eyes the good guys in the whole deal.

Zdeno Chara Hit Pt 2

(after the hit-Gomez talks with Chara)

      In part 1 of this post, I explained why I believe the Chara hit was dealt with accordingly. The decision made by the heads at the NHL just wasn't good enough for  the Montreal Canadians fans, who flooded the Metro Police lines with calls for an inquire on Chara. Another Group who have had very strong words for the NHL is major sponsor Air Canada stating "Its becoming extremely difficult to associate our brand with this sport".  Also going on to say "If no action is taken on the matters at hand, we (Air Canada) will be removing our brand from the game".

     The fans in all respect have the right to be infuriated by the hit to the home town player, but to flood the police lines is kind of ridiculous. 911 and other police lines are used for EMERGENCIES only. On the 7 year anniversary of the controversial Bertuzzi hit on Moore, the Chara hit is looking to follow down the same path  in history. As in, the police investigation in Colorado that follwed the Bertuzzi hit. I feel the only reason the police should opening an investigation is because someone filed a complaint of assault. The police force is obligated to investigate any complaint, that being said, the result of the investigation should follow suit with the Bertuzzi hit. The police will see the hit as Mike Murphy (a very intelligent representative of the NHL) did, a strong hit with no intent to injury. So hope you feel good wasting more tax payers money.

     National Hockey League Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations was left in a very tough spot being the one to hand down the "No suspension" to Chara. The league has been under a lot of pressure lately to make some sort of structured punishment for shots to the head. This issue will be debated until the number of head related injuries decrease. People taking personal attacks at Murphy need to give their heads a shake. Remember he played  and coached in the NHL and also holds the Title of  NHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations. He has a very good view of the game hence his job.

 

     How do we move forward? The 3 ideas I have come up with are the following; Bigger Ice; 3 strike rule; and Respect. Bigger ice is a format used in international hockey and seems to work well for the speed game. Having the extra ice surface allows players more space to showcase their talents.That's what the NHL was looking for taking the clutching and grabbing out of the game. 3 strike rule sits well with me. The way I feel this system could  work the best, is to start now. The NHLPA should vote on a player to be put in the 3 strike program. If after a game the league feels a hit was worth reviewing send it to the NHLPA and have a unanimous vote and deem if this player delivered a head shot. If the player in question was seen by his peers to have delivered a head shot, then strike one. With each strike the penalty should increase until a max of 3. After being viewed by your peers as a repeat offender you should never be allowed to play hockey again. That brings me to just plain old RESPECT. No one will ever know whats going on in someones head before an incident like this, so the "players" are responsibility for their actions prior to stepping on the ice. The game is bigger stronger and faster then ever and I see the least amount of respect for one-another. There has been just too many head shots to ignore the "respect" issue.

      The last issue I would like to cover, is Air Canada saying they will "withdraw their sponsorship, if no action is taken". I understand the NHL is a representation of Air Canada but to get involved that soon after the hit seems quite fishy. So I dug a little deeper and came across some interesting facts about Air Canada. The Head Office is located in Montreal Quebec. Could some "head" Air Canada representatives been present at the game? In turn having an almost immediate reaction from Air Canada. The potentially bias Air Canada, may have bitten off more than they can chew, threatening the NHL so fast. Rogers Entertainment has shown interest in the purchase of the ACC in Toronto and also the Maple Leafs. The NHL doesn't look as if they will be reversing the call so in the near future you might see a swing in sponsorship.

Zdeno Chara Hit On Max Pacioretty

(An example of Chara's strength)

      On March 8th the most controversial hit of the season was delivered. With all of the head shots lately, the NHL was going to be examined under a microscope for the decision on the hit.  Max Pacioretty was hit into the turn buckle that separates the glass from the boards in between the benches by Chara. At no point do you want to see anybody injured but with the nature of contact sports, injuries occur. Although the controversial hit left Pacioretty  life-less on the ice, I am going to side with the NHL as I usually do. Upon further review Colin Campbell & Mike Murphy deemed the hit  "A  hockey play, with a bad outcome", and no suspension was handed out. Zdeno Chara and Max Pacioretty have had a competitive rivalry during the games between the two, original six teams. So it is fair to say that Chara was trying to hit Pacioretty through the boards with his shoulder. The out come, in my eyes, wasn't what anyone would want on their shoulders. Pacioretty followed the boards and unfortunately ended up hitting his head on the partition. If Chara wanted to injure Max he could have done it in so many other ways. Its not as if the puck was no where near the play and Chara took his head off. The CORRECT call was made on the ice. Interference.  When engaging in a physical battle with Chara you need to be prepared,  I am sure nothing could have prepared Pacioretty for the outcome. It was a unavoidable freak accident involving two hard working hockey players. My best regards go out to Max and his family. The whole hockey world is on your side and wish you a speedy recovery.      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jimZ1tSdPY0

The Concept of Expansion In The NHL

The Concept of Expansion

Winnipeg Jets. Quebec Nordiques. Hartford Whalers. Toronto Legacy? There are too many ideas floating around. Too many questions. Too many ideas for the NHL to move forward. Too much that is unknown. What is known, is the success of the 30 current NHL teams; or lack there of. Everyone hears common discussions about failing teams like Atlanta, Nashville, and Phoenix. Each team is having their own problems, which relate back to the franchise profits.

In the 2009-2010 seasons, there were 7 teams that did not make a profit. The Flames, Thrashers, Predators, Oilers, Lightning, Senators and Coyotes were the only teams to not make a profit in the season. What makes it worse is that 3 of those teams made the playoffs. As the most talked about topic now – the relocation of the Phoenix Coyotes – continues, the primary idea is relocation. Many people are thinking that it would be best for the NHL if they relocated all the struggling teams to new markets. The only problem is who gets them? And how do you decide where to locate a team; without showing bias to a Canadian or American market? That seems to be an ongoing debate.

With the option of relocation looming, and more markets liking the idea of bringing an NHL franchise in, relocation might not be the only way to accomplish that. The other idea that the NHL could entertain would be league expansion. This could create other problems, as they would have to re-configure the league and find a fair way to introduce the new teams and their players. The NHL will likely never release talks about expansion however there are some aspects that you would have to consider in order for expansion to take place.

If the NHL were to expand, the most likely scenario is to change the league from a 6-division league to a 4-division league, and by doing so; they would include 8 teams in each division. In all likelihood, the league would remain with an Eastern and Western Conference; however introduce South-West/South-East, and North-West/North-East divisions. By following this method, it would allow for 2 additional teams into the league. If Phoenix were to be relocated back to Winnipeg, it would leave the opportunity for adding an additional 2 American market teams, or possibly an American and Canadian Market team. In all likelihood, the leading markets for an expansion team would include a second franchise in Toronto or a return to Quebec for the Nordiques. As for the American markets, the leading candidates would be Kansas City, Las Vegas or even another return of sorts, back to Hartford. With the addition of these teams, changes would be made, and it would finally allow the Detroit Red Wings to join the Eastern Conference. The two most likely markets; Quebec and Kansas City.

With these scenarios, the re-structuring of the divisions could look very different.

Western Conference

North-West	South-West
Vancouver Canucks	San Jose Sharks
Colorado Avalanche	Los Angeles Kings
Edmonton Oilers	Anaheim Ducks
Calgary Flames	Dallas Stars
Winnipeg Jets	St. Louis Blues
Kansas City	Nashville Predators
Minnesota Wild	Columbus Blue Jackets
Chicago Blackhawks	Atlanta Thrashers

Eastern Conference

North-East	South-East
Toronto Maple Leafs	Florida Panthers
Montreal Canadiens	Tampa Bay Lightning
Quebec Nordiques	Washington Capitals
Detroit Red Wings	New Jersey Devils
Ottawa Senators	Carolina Hurricanes
Buffalo Sabres	New York Islanders
Boston Bruins	New York Rangers
Pittsburgh Penguins	Philadelphia Flyers

The most interesting part about the possibility of expansion is this restructuring of the teams. It could create more rivalries and it would allow more teams to be competitive due to the battles ongoing in each division. With all the possibilities, there still remains many things to be figured out by the league. It definitely creates some interesting thoughts and ideas going forward, however it also could never happen. Regardless of who your team is, it could make for a better and stronger league.

Written by: Duck4Puck1989