Your host (Stevens) and his cider.
It’s Time For Hockey Arrrrooouunnnndddd The Horrrnnnnnnnnnn!!!!!
Hello everyone this is Stevens from The NHL Arena….and this is another fine production from The NHL Arena.
This is in tribute to born2playin69 from The Sporting News and his Bloggers Around The Horn…we are merely continuing a fine tradition of banter and fun. I wanted to thank my judges (they know who they are). I keep them incognito just so they don’t get bribed or anything.
And now…..
First Word
Hi I’m Tommy….a Boston fan and I don’t want to embarrass you Chris.
Hey, I’m Brad, aka damned. I’m born and raised in Edmonton, AB, which pretty much means hockey has been life since I was 4. I’m just turned 29 at the end of September. Married for 6 years and the proud Dad of two future Oiler fans in Mason (4) and Jacob (2). My loves outside of my family, is of course hockey, I play basketball, and snowboard whenever life lets me. I may also have an internet problem.
” My name is Inigo Montayo.. You killed my father prepare to die.” Brindy
Well, I’m Kingie, and I’m a Kings fan. Need I say more? Kingie
News Of The Week:
1. NHL Network is a reality in the US at last….though this may not have a great impact on the non-hockey fan…what will it mean to you?
This means that I won’t have to got o second-rate, mediocre opinion blogs to get my NHL news anymore. We all know there is a severe lack of hockey coverage on the major sports networks and that has left an information void that has been filled with a lot of bias and even more rumors. This will provide a solid, central outlet for all things NHL. On top of that and extra 50 NHL games on TV in America can’t possibly be a bad thing. I just hope, for their sake, it has more visibility than VS. Tommy
Being Canadian this can only mean one thing to me, seeing as I won’t have a chance to check out the channel. This gives hockey another chance to be seen in the US. As a fan of the sport I think you have to support any effort to grow the game outside of it’s traditional markets. Not to mention, the fans in the US will now have a place to get their hockey fix. Damned
It won’t mean a whole lot to me considering I already get NHL Center Ice every year, and I’m on the internet quite a bit, so I just look around on the various sites to find out information on the NHL, especially from fine sites like thenhlarena.com. Brindy
I would love having the NHL Network in my area. I live in Southern California, so I get little to no hockey coverage. I recently got Center Ice, so I’ve been trying to catch as many games as I can. Hopefully with the NHL Network launching in the US, the NHL will pick up a bigger fan base. For me, that just means MORE hockey, and what more can a girl ask for? Kingie
2. Bryan Berard just signed with the Isles…Mike Van Ryn and Paul Mara are in their team’s doghouses. And Glen Sather is trying to pry Jovocop from Phoenix….which surprises you most and why?
Paul Mara has a problem with running off at the mouth, and he couldn’t even cut the mustard here in Boston on a weak defensive corps, so that doesn’t shock me at all. A veteran blue-liner could be a great fit for the Rangers, so Jovo doesn’t shock me either. I’m willing to admit that I have not followed Van Ryn’s career, so I don’t know enough about that situation to be shocked. That leaves Berard. The guy has been with 6 teams and never really caught on with any of them. His eye condition is unfortunate, but you don’t sign players based on sympathy. He’s got decent assist numbers throughout his career, so maybe he can help the Isles a little offensively, but I don’t see him having much of an impact on D. Tommy
The Rangers and Jovanovski is the bigger surprise. It can be argued that the Rangers needed help on their blueline before they signed Drury and Gomez. So NOW, when they are hard up against the cap and have spent their wad on high priced forwards they look to improve their defense?!?! It seems ass backwards to me. The Islanders on the other hand are struggling to get anyone with a name to play for them. I’m not surprised they look at a player like Berard that has a troubled past, but still has an upside that’s worth looking at. Damned
Can I say none of it surprises me? Because none of it surprises me! Berard going to the Isles always seemed likely because of his pretty good past there and the fact that they could use a blueliner also added to the likeliness. Mara and Van Ryn are just.. Meh. That’s all I’m going to say about them. And lastly… The New York Rangers want to acquire an overpaid star in the NHL? NO WAY! Stop the presses! Apparently this was supposed to be a Stanley Cup year for the Rangers.. Not anyyyymoreeee if they got Jovo. Their “Let’s buy everyone in the NHL” schtick hasn’t worked as of late, especially when the salary cap wasn’t in place, and it won’t work now. Bank on it. Brindy
Glen Sather trying to pick up Jovo. I can see him wanting to bolster up the blue line, but what would they have to give up in order to accommodate his $6.5 mill contract? In my eyes, its just not worth it. They would have to give up too much, and Jovo would have to waive that no movement clause. I think there are other, more reasonable options out there that would take up less cap space. Kingie
3. Our very own Rick threw down an interesting, thought provoking blog about head shots last week…what do you think should be done about this increasing problem and has the NHL done the right thing here?
The one area I definitely agree with Rick on is the overdone equipment. The more you dress these guys up in virtual armor, the more they will start to think of themselves as moving weapons. What I don’t agree with is more headgear. If you start to cover up players heads and faces they may start to think they’re invincible and things could get really ugly. I think they real recourse the league has here to heavy fines and suspensions, expanding exponentially for repeat offenders. On the ice there isn’t much you can do, as far as officiating goes, to just keep guys from doing it. But off the ice you could certainly consider a lifetime ban for a player that shows a penchant for intent to injure.
Tommy
I firmly believe that head shots, to some extent, are a product of the high impact game that hockey is. If a player makes a hit that involves the head, with his shoulder and both feet on the ground, on a player with the puck, and it knocks that player into next week, I really have no issue with that. Next time keep your head up. The issue that the NHL can’t let go by the boards anymore is when it’s very clear that a player took a run at another players head, when it could have been avoided. Chris Pronger is a prefect example from last years playoffs. He put his elbow into two players heads and got suspended for the actions. The NHL needs to continue to follow through with the suspensions, no matter what player comes into question, when a blow to the head was made that didn’t need to happen. There is also something to be said about changing players equipment from this armoured plastic shell, to foam or leather. But that’s just to simple of an answer for the NHL brains to figure out. Damned
I think the NHL can’t do much about it now other than punishing players more severely than ever. They screwed up to begin with by allowing this game to become less physical, with not enough grabbing and a lot more open ice for players to use. I think payback is an essential part of sports, and it always has been, but now the NHL has made it so that you can’t pay any player back in a game..Unless if you want to be suspended and/or fined. It’s just garbage and the rules shouldn’t have been changed. Brindy
First off, the players need to have more respect towards each other. The Rick brought up a good point about the officiating. If a player is injured, it needs to be reviewed immediately, and the right actions need be taken. Suspension definitely comes to mind, but one game suspensions, are pointless, they doesn’t teach any kind of lesson. I agree that at least a ten game suspension should be handed to repeat offenders. The same message can be delivered with a clean hit. The only way I can see the problem decrease, is with multiple game suspension. Kingie
4. Who is your biggest surprise and disappointment so far this early in the season?
The biggest surprise thus far is Paul Stastny. I know he had a very good rookie season, but he wasn’t exactly mentioned in the same breath with Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin and the top-tier young guns of the NHL, and here he is after 3 games with 8 points (4 goals, 4 assists) on a resurgent Colorado team and he’s on the verge of making a hell of a name for himself. It’s probably too early in the season to have a major disappointment, but since I have to pick one I’ll say it’s the 1-3-1 Anaheim Ducks. Maybe all the excess travel has worn them out, and I understand that J.S. isn’t playing, but you need a better showing than 0-2-1 out of your backup (Bryzgalov). A month from now I’m sure they will be fine. Tommy
The play of Martin Gerber has surprised me. I really thought that the Sens where going to be counting the days until Emery was healthy, but Gerber has played well enough to make the Sens wonder if they should screw with the carma or not once Emery is ready to go. The Flames are my biggest disapointment so far. Brutal pre-season has carried into the regular season. I’m an Oiler fan that picked them to make a run at the Best in the West and so far that’s a total flop. I’m not sure if I should be happy or not? Damned
My biggest surprise team would have to be the New York Islanders, just because.. Who woulda thunk it?? They were clearly marked the worst team in the Atlantic Division, they lost many of their major players, and didn’t make up for what they lost really. I mean sure they acquired a few very nice players like Comrie and Guerin, but I didn’t think they could do what they’re doing now. My biggest disapointment is the Penguins I guess. I don’t think of the Penguins as highly as the majority of the hockey world, but I didn’t think they’d be 4th in the Division this early. I still maintain that the Penguins have a bad defense and Marc Andre Fluery is maybe the most overrated goalie in the NHL. Time will tell if Sid the Kid can turn this team into the contender it looked like last year. Brindy
Biggest surprise so far has been Ottawa with their 5-1-0 record. Not too surprising, but they are looking good so far this season. Biggest disappointment: I’m going with the Kings here. They came out strong in their first game with a 4-1 win against the Ducks, and since then, they have been struggling on this losing streak. Still uncertain about the goal tending, and the defense has been a bit shaky. Its still early in the season, but there has not been much to cheer about. I hope they turn that around quick! Kingie
****Commercial Break****
Off The Rink?
Patrik Stefan, former 1999 #1 draft pick, had to retire this week due to a reoccurring degrading hip condition. Surely he will be most remembered for his gaffe last year on the sure empty net goal that wasn’t. Sometimes we take a very negative approach when we hammer a player that doesn’t live up to expectations? Is that in our nature or are we just off the rink with our accusations?
When you are the first overall pick of an entire entry draft and the most notable thing you ever do in the league is botch the easiest possible goal in NHL history, you deserve all the hammering you get. That play was just a microcosm of the kid’s career. He just wasn’t willing to pay attention long enough to seal the deal. I hope in the future his health improves and he is able to lead a long, happy life, but if you’re going to play a major sport in North America then there are going to be expectations and if you don’t live up to them then there is going to be criticism. It’s that simple. Tommy
We are off the rink. Just think for moment how many players make the NHL. By make the NHL I mean stay in the league and make a career out of it. Not 2-3 year pluggers. We have 30 teams, each with 23 players. That’s 690 jobs, up for grabs by a million kids that want to play in the NHL. Only the truly gifted play in this league, I am sometimes surprised that we rail on kids when they don’t make it like we had hoped. When you really thing about the odds, it shouldn’t surprise us that we see more fail then we see succeed. Damned
He deserved everything he got. Brindy
When players are all hyped up to be the next best thing, of course that is what we are gonna expect, the next “best” thing. I think we get a little too hyped up about some players, that when they don’t perform up to our expectations, we bash on them. They can be average, and we will want more out of them. I think you just have to realize, that a rookie who is expected to be great, is just that: a ROOKIE. It takes a few years, but sometimes they don’t live up to their full potential. Kingie
1st Results:
Tommy: 18
Damned: 17
Brindy: 12
Kingie: 10
Any last words Kingie? Oh…oh….speechless…..BZZZT…..oh…there goes one! Three left….after this commercial break…another one will be eliminated soon….mwahahaha.
Did I mention the twist? Ah yes…you thought you would get to carry your points to the next round….nope! You lose all your points and start from zero!!!!
Over/Under
Alright….lately the NHL keeps seeing an increase in scoring…yet there are so few 50 goal scorers. Okay…so the over/under on 50 goal scorers is 5….will it be over or under and why?
Last year in the NHL there were only two 50-goal scorers, and the year before there were five. The reason for the high team scoring but lower goal totals for individual players is simple. If there is a top offensive player involved in a game he is faced with the other team’s top defensive pairing and their checking line all game long. The top players in the league have to work harder than ever to get their points, and the leading point totals reflect that. There will never be another Gretzky like 200+ point season. As for this season’s O/U I’ve gone back and forth with this one, and I’ve settled on under. If you want an exact number prediction I’ll say four players get 50. If you want to know which players I think can do it, Ovechkin, Heatley, Jagr and .Lecavalier. Tommy
It pains me to say, but it will be under. The trap is alive and well in the so called New NHL. Coming out of the lock-out it seemed that the two headed monster had been slain. Sadly that isn’t the case. Take a good look at the defensive system of the Wild, Canucks, Devils, and the Jackets and you can see in a heart beat that the beast still breaths. As these teams continue to have sucess, it’s only a matter of time until other teams, with less offensive talent, copy the system to win hockey games. That equals less goals across the board in the NHL. Damned
It will be under. There’s no enough pucks to go around for their to be over Five 50 goal scorers!. Heck, there’s only ever been 82 Fifty Goal Scorers in the history of the NHL. The players I will give the nod to next season for 50 are Alexander Ovechkin, Dany Heatley, Simon Gagne and Vincent Lecavalier but those are it with Gagne being the most unlikely of the bunch. Brindy
2nd Results:
Tommy: 6
Damned: 5
Brindy: 4
Ok Brindy…any last words from the home of cheese steaks????
You stay classy San Diego.
This final commercial break brought to you by The War Room. Want something with an edge? Try The War Room! A different day brings a different blogger with a new angle of today’s NHL topics and headlines! Check it out today!
AND NOW………………
THE Frosty Cold SHOWDOWN
Two panelists enter….only one will emerge the victor….and be able to thrust their chest proudly as winner of Hockey Around The Horn. This week’s topics are…
When will Jeremy Roenick score his 500th?
LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE! (told you I’d be the Woody Paige…) The Sharks next two games are against Chicago and Boston. He may get 500 by the end of the week! Tommy
Roenick has accept his role on that Sharks squad. He is also lucky enough to be playing with some of the Sharks upcoming talent. He has his 500th goal by mid November. Done and done.
Okay….Point to Damned…sorry Tommy…..don’t be like Woody Paige…..be Tommy! Heh!
Who will be the first coach to get fired?
It won’t be a firing, per say, because how do you fire this guy? But there will be a wink-wink, nudge-nudge deal behind closed doors with Wayne Gretzky in Phoenix and he will “step down” on “his own terms.” It’s tough being the head coach AND the GM’s boss, huh? Tommy
Paul Marice. A great coach and good guy, in bad situation. The Leafs have to make the playoffs this year or heads will roll. The Buds have key injury issues already, the Jason Blake issue is a distraction, and I’m still not convinced Vesa Toskala is the Saviour. That’s an uphill battle already. If the results don’t come for Marice in the first half, I think he will be out of a job. Damned
Gotta give the hat tip err point to Tommy…..Gretzky is on a slippery slope in Phoenix even moreso than Maurice perhaps.
Who is the best NHL blogger out there?
I don’t read a whole lot of bloggers, so I’ll be a homer and say John Bishop, the guy that writes a blog on the Bruins website. He’s pretty timely with his info and he knows his stuff on top of that. Tommy
Darren Dreger. There are many very good bloggers to be found on the internet. The main ingredient to blogging is a healthy opinion and the ability to type it out so the world can understand it. Dreger has that ability, but he also has a tool many bloggers pretend to have, that being reliable and credible sources. When you read a blog by Darren Dreger your often getting an opinion on a matter that has reasonable chance of being true, unlike many blogs that are the second coming of Eklund. Damned
I have to give the point and the game to Damned….a bloggers best talent is to be able to distinguish the bs from the fact and deliver it in their own opinion in a way that provokes an opinion…either negative or positive (usually positive).
Tommy wanted to say something…..Oh, bite me.
Ok Damned….with the moo from the cow….its time for your extensive face time…take it away!
Face Time:
Am I the only one that’s still pissed about the fact the NHL won’t allow goalies to play the puck? I mean they are trying to make a game better by taking a skill out of the game. Doesn’t that sound pretty dumb? Maybe it’s just me.
Have a great season hockey people.
And with that….we are done here….going on an extended 3 week break because well….Stevens is taking a vacation at the end of the month. In November, Hockey Around The Horn will be on every Monday….at The Arena and on The NHL Arena Program. Rattle the boards and viva le hockey!!!
