It's been an interesting week in the NHL for sure. Two coaches fired, Bobby Ryan trade rumors, and a handful of other exciting goodies. To touch on them:
-Bobby Ryan says he "wouldn't be shocked by a trade". There have been a lot of rumblings about it, mostly in Toronto and with the New York Rangers. Toronto would be a logical fit as he is Brian Burke's draftee and the Rangers could use a 30-goal scorer. The package that the Ducks will want in return will be substantial; likely a first round pick, a young top-6 winger and a top prospect. Not sure if Toronto can conjure that up without denting their already depleted farm system, nor can they afford to move any more first rounders.
-There were scouts from the Leafs, Stars, Kings, Blackhawks, Canucks, and Avalanche at last night's Hurricanes/Panthers game. Not sure who they were looking at, but it's safe to say Tomas Kaberle may be on the block in Carolina. Kaberle has no goals and five assists in 25 games this season and is a -12, worst among Carolina defenseman and third worst among NHL defenseman. For a guy averaging 19:21 a game and getting paid over $4 million, those numbers don't cut it and I wouldn't be surprised to see someone take a flyer on him.
-Bruce Boudreau is taking the high road in his firing, saying that he never once considered stripping Alex Ovechkin of his captaincy and saying the two "got along famously". Not even sure what that means, but it makes you wonder how much, if anything, Boudreau is holding back.
-The NHL is looking at this Derek Joslin hit on Kris Versteeg. I'd say he sits two.
-In other exciting news, the Blue Jackets are almost out of the basement. It's tough to be a Ducks fan at the moment.
-Former Lewiston Maineiac Kevin Marshall was recalled by the Philadelphia Flyers this season. He's pointless in two NHL games and a -2 this season.
-Finally, I'll leave you with this thought provoking question: your team is going to trade for Bobby Ryan. What do you give up for him? Post your comments below.
GOH
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Coaching Overhaul In Southeast Division
Two Southeast Division teams, both with evident expectations, have fired their head coaches within a few hours on Monday morning. Paul Maurice was let go by the Carolina Hurricanes and the HBO star Bruce Boudreau was terminated by the Washington Capitals. Two different coaches, two different histories, but one common underpinning: their teams were underachieving.
The Capitals sit in 8th in the Eastern Conference, 3 points out of first place in the Southeast Division. They are off to a 12-9-1 start that has been marred by a 3-6-1 record in their last ten games and are burdened by superstar Alex Ovechkin's sub-par play; he has just 17 points through 22 games. A perceived rift between Boudreau and Ovechkin may have sealed Boudreau's fate; it's much easier to get rid of the coach than your $121 million superstar.
Boudreau went 201-88-40 in the regular season, leading the talent-laden Caps to four consecutive division titles in his four-plus seasons. He won the Jack Adams in 2007-2008 in his rookie season after taking over Glen Hanlon's Capitals and never looked back. But the players seemed to have tuned Boudreau out and his brash style may have run it's course in Washington. From an Associated Press excerpt, Capitals GM George McPhee weighed in on Boudreau's firing:
Dale Hunter will take over the reigns in the nation's capitol after coaching the London Knights from 2001-2002 on, winning the 2005 Memorial Cup. Hunter will demand accountability the way Boudreau failed to over the Caps listless stretch, something that was needed to shake up a stagnant locker room.
In Carolina, the situation is much different. The Caps were at least holding a playoff spot and they had a coach with a .611 winning percentage. Paul Maurice and his Hurricanes are stuck in dead last in the Southeast, four points ahead of the Islanders for last in the East and the Isles have played four fewer games. Realistically, the Canes have been the worst team in the Eastern Conference.
It was Maurice's second failed stint in Carolina, who went 384-391-99-46 overall in both his stints with Carolina, garnering just four playoff appearances in ten full seasons with a trip to the Finals in 2002. But, like in Washington, Maurice seemed to have lost his team with a rock-bottom effort in Montreal a week and a half ago. The Canes power play sits at 12.2%, good for 29th in the league. This came to the forefront yesterday in a 4-3 loss at Ottawa where the Canes went 1-for-8 on the power play. For a team that has been on the power play a league-best 115 times, the Canes simply weren't getting results under Maurice and a change was imminent.
The Canes bring in Kirk Muller, a long-respect assistant coach who had just two months of coaching the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL (10-6-1), was brought in to replace Maurice. Muller, who was nicknamed "Kirk is Work", will expect his players to work hard in all facets of the game will hold his team accountable. He is versatile, something that is essential for a team like Carolina who is in transition. From Muller in the Montreal Gazette:
The Capitals sit in 8th in the Eastern Conference, 3 points out of first place in the Southeast Division. They are off to a 12-9-1 start that has been marred by a 3-6-1 record in their last ten games and are burdened by superstar Alex Ovechkin's sub-par play; he has just 17 points through 22 games. A perceived rift between Boudreau and Ovechkin may have sealed Boudreau's fate; it's much easier to get rid of the coach than your $121 million superstar.
Boudreau went 201-88-40 in the regular season, leading the talent-laden Caps to four consecutive division titles in his four-plus seasons. He won the Jack Adams in 2007-2008 in his rookie season after taking over Glen Hanlon's Capitals and never looked back. But the players seemed to have tuned Boudreau out and his brash style may have run it's course in Washington. From an Associated Press excerpt, Capitals GM George McPhee weighed in on Boudreau's firing:
The Capitals are simply too loaded to be mired in another November swoon, similar to a stretch last season where the Caps dropped nine in a row in December. When your superstar has tuned you out, a change has to be made. Boudreau likely won't be unemployed for long. But in DC, the time to win is now, and Boudreau simply wasn't producing the results in a "what have you done for me lately?" league."This was simply a case of the players were no longer responding to Bruce. When you see that, as much as you don't want to make a change, you have to make a change," general manager George McPhee said."Bruce came in here and emptied the tank. He gave it everything he could and did a really good job, but the tank was empty," McPhee added. "When that happens, you get a new coach, where the tank is full and see if it makes a difference."
Dale Hunter will take over the reigns in the nation's capitol after coaching the London Knights from 2001-2002 on, winning the 2005 Memorial Cup. Hunter will demand accountability the way Boudreau failed to over the Caps listless stretch, something that was needed to shake up a stagnant locker room.
In Carolina, the situation is much different. The Caps were at least holding a playoff spot and they had a coach with a .611 winning percentage. Paul Maurice and his Hurricanes are stuck in dead last in the Southeast, four points ahead of the Islanders for last in the East and the Isles have played four fewer games. Realistically, the Canes have been the worst team in the Eastern Conference.
 |
| Maurice posted a .417 winning percentage in two stints with the Carolina organization. |
The Canes bring in Kirk Muller, a long-respect assistant coach who had just two months of coaching the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL (10-6-1), was brought in to replace Maurice. Muller, who was nicknamed "Kirk is Work", will expect his players to work hard in all facets of the game will hold his team accountable. He is versatile, something that is essential for a team like Carolina who is in transition. From Muller in the Montreal Gazette:
The time was right in both Carolina and Washington. Maurice and Boudreau arenot bad coaches but they had overstayed their welcomes in their respective cities. In a results-driven league, it's simply business that is pushing these two out the door. Hunter and Muller will face different challenges respectively, but the overhauls for both squads was essential if they want to right the ship for a playoff drive.
“You have to be good defensively, you have to be good without the puck,” he added. “But since the lockout and no red line, you’ve got to be able to score and you’ve got to be able to score at the right time. So I really stress for the guys to be a very aggressive forechecking team, and I tell my forwards that if they want to play here they gotta work … they’ve got to be workers and do a lot of skating and tracking down and heavy forecheck.”
GOH
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Mail Bag for 11/26/11
Hello all. Life got in the way of this blog and I haven't been able to write much in the last few months but I'm going to give this thing another crack. The first blog of the stint is going to be the mail bag, where I field questions through Twitter (@GlovesOffHockey) or e-mail at glovesoffhockey@gmail.com. Feel free to submit your questions for next Saturdays blog! Without further adieu, your questions:
Do you think coach Kevin Dineen and the Panthers can continue their play and make the playoffs or will the fizzle out come crunch time?
Matt
Westbrook, Maine
The Panthers have been off to a torrid start and there's no reason to think they'll slow down. While I think Washington may still be the eventual Southeast Division champion, the Panthers are still sitting pretty with a three point lead over the Caps just after Black Friday. The Panthers have been the benefactors of a big summer that saw the acquisitions of Tomas Fleischmann, Brian Campbell, and Kris Versteeg to name a few. The biggest improvement under Kevin Dineen (who I said would win the Jack Adams back in August) has been special teams. The power play (19.1%) is ninth, up from 13.1% last season which was good for last in the NHL. The penalty kill, 6th last year, is 15th this year but is still an efficient 82.3%. The next five games will give us a better picture of where the Cats really stand with match-ups against Tampa Bay tonight, followed by tilts with Carolina, Los Angeles, San Jose, and Washington. When the dust settles I think the Panthers will steal one of the bottom three playoff spots in the Eastern Conference and Dineen will win the Jack Adams.
Who is your pick for Vezina Trophy?
Blake
Limington, Maine
There's been some stellar goaltending play in the NHL this season and through two months my pick would have to be Niklas Backstrom of the Minnesota Wild. Backstrom is 7-4-2 with a 1.97 GAA and a .935 S%, backstopping the Wild to the top spot in a tightly contested Western Conference. Tim Thomas will likely be in the discussion at season's end as well, as the two-time Vezina Trophy winner is off to a white-hot start, posting a 10-4-0 record, a 1.85 GAA and a .936 S% to accompany his three shutouts. Nikolai Khabibulin is off to an impressive start in Edmonton as well, helping the the young Oilers to 6th in the West, just three points out of the top spot. Former second overall pick Kari Lehtenon has also shocked many, helping Dallas to 5th in the West with a 13-4-1 record, a 2.35 GAA and a .926 S%. My early pick, however, has to go to Backstrom, who is playing his best hockey since his rookie campaign in 2006-2007.
What's been the reason for the Bruins successful November?
Tom
Portland, Maine
As I said in August, I expected the Bruins to start slow. But the Bruins have put up points in every game in November, their only blemish a shootout loss on Black Friday against Detroit. The Bruins success can be largely tied to Tim Thomas, who has gone 7-0 with a 1.55 GAA and a .943 S% in November. The emergence of Tyler Seguin has been monumental as well, with Seguin showing why he was a second overall pick in 2010. Seguin is on pace for 88 points after scoring just 22 in his rookie campaign. During the Bruins incredible November run, Seguin has notched 13 points (8 G, 5 A) in 11 games and has been carrying the team on his back. The biggest thing for the Bruins has been their commitment to what made them successful in their Cup-winning 2010-2011 season--playing a gritty, physical game. The Bruins, mostly void of pure goal scorers outside of Seguin and Nathan Horton, have simplified the game, gotten pucks to the net, and have had their power play clicking much more efficiently in November. When the Bruins stick to what makes them effective they are as dangerous as they come in the NHL.
Do you expect the Hurricanes will have any problems re-signing Jeff Skinner and other key pieces in a few seasons?
Mike
Brookline, Massachusetts
The Canes are a particularly frugal team in today's NHL under Peter Karmanos, but that doesn't mean they can't spend money. The top priority after Jeff Skinner's entry level deal expires after the 2012-2013 season will be locking the phenom up long-term. Skinner could likely fetch a Jonathan Toews-esque deal, somewhere in the 5 year/$30 million range. The Canes are well under the cap but do have some restraints. That said, Tuomo Ruutu's $3.8 million cap hit comes off the books after 2012 which will open up space for the Canes to sign Skinner and Pat Dwyer. Tomas Kaberle's $4.25 million cap hit comes off after 2014, but Kaberle will likely be moved by then and the Canes will have some extra spending money. Bryan Allen and Tim Gleason's contracts are up after the season and logic would indicate both won't be brought back to make way for young guns Justin Faulk and, in the wings, Boston College stud Brian Dumoulin on the back end. The Canes have a good, young core in place and I don't think they'll have any issues keeping it in tact.
Do you think the Canucks can make some noise again in the post-season?
Ethan
Litchfield, Maine
I do and I don't. The Canucks have proven lethal on the power play this season, clicking at an NHL-best 24.5%, which goes a long way come April. But the Canucks have been plagued by inconsistent play and are in the middle of their longest winning streak of the season--three games. But, as it has been for a while now, the Canucks success rests on one man's shoulders--Roberto Luongo. Luongo has been hampered a little by injuries this season and Cory Schneider has filled in admirably. But if this team is going to make another Cup run, Luongo will need to be the man in the pipes. Luongo has put up pedestrian numbers this season with a 2.97 GAA and a .896 S% and has many Vancouver fans calling for the relinquishing of his starting role. Schneider has been remarkable, posting a 2.02 GAA and a .927 S% to go with his two shutouts, both of which have come in the last two games while a healthy Roberto Luongo watched from the bench. The bottom line is this: despite all the offensive firepower and star-studded line-up, as Roberto Luongo goes, so go the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks will rally to make the playoffs, but I don't anticipate consecutive Finals appearances for the British Columbia boys.
That's all for this week. Hit me up with your questions and check back next week for another Mail Bag!
GOH
Do you think coach Kevin Dineen and the Panthers can continue their play and make the playoffs or will the fizzle out come crunch time?
Matt
Westbrook, Maine
 |
| New additions Fleischmann, Versteeg and Campbell have powered the upstart Panthers. |
Who is your pick for Vezina Trophy?
Blake
Limington, Maine
There's been some stellar goaltending play in the NHL this season and through two months my pick would have to be Niklas Backstrom of the Minnesota Wild. Backstrom is 7-4-2 with a 1.97 GAA and a .935 S%, backstopping the Wild to the top spot in a tightly contested Western Conference. Tim Thomas will likely be in the discussion at season's end as well, as the two-time Vezina Trophy winner is off to a white-hot start, posting a 10-4-0 record, a 1.85 GAA and a .936 S% to accompany his three shutouts. Nikolai Khabibulin is off to an impressive start in Edmonton as well, helping the the young Oilers to 6th in the West, just three points out of the top spot. Former second overall pick Kari Lehtenon has also shocked many, helping Dallas to 5th in the West with a 13-4-1 record, a 2.35 GAA and a .926 S%. My early pick, however, has to go to Backstrom, who is playing his best hockey since his rookie campaign in 2006-2007.
What's been the reason for the Bruins successful November?
Tom
Portland, Maine
As I said in August, I expected the Bruins to start slow. But the Bruins have put up points in every game in November, their only blemish a shootout loss on Black Friday against Detroit. The Bruins success can be largely tied to Tim Thomas, who has gone 7-0 with a 1.55 GAA and a .943 S% in November. The emergence of Tyler Seguin has been monumental as well, with Seguin showing why he was a second overall pick in 2010. Seguin is on pace for 88 points after scoring just 22 in his rookie campaign. During the Bruins incredible November run, Seguin has notched 13 points (8 G, 5 A) in 11 games and has been carrying the team on his back. The biggest thing for the Bruins has been their commitment to what made them successful in their Cup-winning 2010-2011 season--playing a gritty, physical game. The Bruins, mostly void of pure goal scorers outside of Seguin and Nathan Horton, have simplified the game, gotten pucks to the net, and have had their power play clicking much more efficiently in November. When the Bruins stick to what makes them effective they are as dangerous as they come in the NHL.
Do you expect the Hurricanes will have any problems re-signing Jeff Skinner and other key pieces in a few seasons?
Mike
Brookline, Massachusetts
 |
| The Canes biggest priority in the next few seasons: lock up Jeff Skinner long-term. |
Do you think the Canucks can make some noise again in the post-season?
Ethan
Litchfield, Maine
I do and I don't. The Canucks have proven lethal on the power play this season, clicking at an NHL-best 24.5%, which goes a long way come April. But the Canucks have been plagued by inconsistent play and are in the middle of their longest winning streak of the season--three games. But, as it has been for a while now, the Canucks success rests on one man's shoulders--Roberto Luongo. Luongo has been hampered a little by injuries this season and Cory Schneider has filled in admirably. But if this team is going to make another Cup run, Luongo will need to be the man in the pipes. Luongo has put up pedestrian numbers this season with a 2.97 GAA and a .896 S% and has many Vancouver fans calling for the relinquishing of his starting role. Schneider has been remarkable, posting a 2.02 GAA and a .927 S% to go with his two shutouts, both of which have come in the last two games while a healthy Roberto Luongo watched from the bench. The bottom line is this: despite all the offensive firepower and star-studded line-up, as Roberto Luongo goes, so go the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks will rally to make the playoffs, but I don't anticipate consecutive Finals appearances for the British Columbia boys.
That's all for this week. Hit me up with your questions and check back next week for another Mail Bag!
GOH
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