More about Bob Probert - "Tough Guy" book review

I hope you read the review I posted at Hockey Independent (if you have, thanks! leave a comment!), but I though I would post a couple other thoughts here.

Some of you might be wondering what I’m doing reading a book about a dyed-in-the-wool Red Wing like Bob Probert. But the bottom line is that I’m a hockey fan. If the Avs moved away tomorrow I would still love hockey. And under the umbrella of hockey are the tough guys. And I love the tough guys. Probert is a classic. So reading this book was a no-brainer.

In many ways this book could be called “How to use Fame, Fortune and a Meat Thermometer to Coast Through Rehab.” Bob Probert was in every famous rehab you can think of and many more to boot. But good times were just a set of tickets and an autograph away when you are Bob Probert. And the meat thermometer? Well, buy the book!

Why is it that Barry Melrose seems to be in every book about hockey I’ve ever read? Has anyone played the Kevin Bacon game, but with Melrose? What is that, 2 degrees of Bacon, or some such?

There are a few tidbits in this book for Avs fans. Probert mentions Claude Lemieux (with New Jersey), Tony Granato and Scott Parker. Though Chris Simon is mentioned, oddly he doesn’t mention that Simon beat the crap out of him in this playoff game. Boom!

Probert uses the term Boom! in the book. Something that seems to be popular with all fighters I follow on Twitter. So just thought I would throw my own in there!

Probert actually had the guts to think about telling Theo Fleury to get his act together and get straight. Wow. He didn’t, but he thought about it, talk about calling the kettle black.

Probert’s inability to keep up with his probation requirements meant that the Wings had to cut a deal with the judge, to Probert’s surprise it was a night in jail. A real surprise since they didn’t even tell him till they were on their way to see the judge. Probert felt tricked and I can’t say I blame him. At one point, Probie hadn’t played in Canada for 3 ½ years due to immigration/legal issues.

The book is full of all kinds of fun stories, like getting a world famous artist to include is number 24 in a painting, the odd wedding gift he received from Don Cherry, how he lost so many pairs of sunglasses and who is “Mo Melly?”

As you can imagine, Probert doesn’t hold back when it comes to his opinion of people. Gary Bettman: well it isn’t pretty as Probert rips him a new one again and again.

Overall a good book, I would recommend it to fans of the Wings, and tough guys!

-From the Point

Five for Fighting Monday - The Gordie Howe Hat Trick

I love the Gordie Howe hat trick. So today Five for Fighting Monday features a hat trick of the first three GH hat tricks of the season.

Note that so far the teams with a player getting a Howe are 3 - 0 on the season.

First Howe of the season is Pavel Datsyuk.

It cracks me up that people actually voted Datsyuk the winner of the fight on Hockey Fights. Perry's no idiot, he wasn't going to pound that guy, he knew the price would be too high, both on and off the ice. You can tell he is sand-bagging. But the best part is how excited the Wings announcers are during the whole fight, like Datsyuk is their new tough guy.

Up next is Kris Versteeg...

This fight was a lot like me and that girl Wendy dancing at our first jr high school dance; awkward, ugly and ultimately uninteresting.

So moving along.

Milan Lucic...

Five for Fighting Monday's run when I feel like running them, usually on Monday but you never know!  Keep you're head on a swivel.

-From the Point

Wings vs Sharks Prediction

Our first matchup of the Western Conference semifinals is tonight.  Frenchy and I make our predictions.

VS

From the Point
As much as it pains me to say anything nice about the Red Wings, well, I just won’t. They are, after all, the most hated team in Denver. Not even the Raiders are close anymore. Regardless, the Sharks could barely handle the Avalanche, so they frankly have zero chance against the Wings. The Wings have owned them in the regular season and that isn’t going to change here. The Wings beat the Sharks on the road this season and I think a split in San Jose is a sure thing and I’ll even bet that the Sharks drop ‘em both at home. I haven’t been impressed with Howard and Osgood is less impressive, but it doesn’t matter. They never see much rubber and they probably won’t see much from the inept first line of the Sharks. Heatley, Marleau and Thornton are sixth, seventh and eighth respectively in playoff points. None of them are positive in the plus/minus category. Dan Boyle has more points than those guys. Wow, that’s not even counting his own goal against Nabby. I can’t help it; I have to put that in there! They got away with it for one round against a very depleted Avs team, but the Wings will make them pay.

Wings in five.

Frenchy
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a fan of the Wings. I’m still pretty pissed they beat the Coyotes out of the first round. But…..I do think they will be able to beat the Sharks. The Sharks did not look all that impressive to me in the first round. They played a beat up Avs team and it still wasn’t a blow out. Their first line was pretty much useless, unless you count giving the Avs a good chance of scoring useful. Things are just going to get harder for them now since the Wings have a much better defensive core than the Avs did. Plus, as long as the Wings have guys like Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Lidstrom and Rafalski playing their best hockey, they’re going to be hard to beat. And another thing the Wings have going for them, they win in the goalie category. Sure Howard is a rookie and he might fall apart at some point during the series due to pressure, he still has more skills than Nabokov. And to me, Nabokov isn’t the most reliable goalie out there, he’s had some weak showings lately, Olympics anyone?!?! The guy crumbles under pressure. I hate the Wings, don’t really like the Sharks either, but I have to go with the Wings.

Wings in six.

Five for Fighting Monday - Top Rated Fights

The Avs' David Koci had two of his fights this season rated highly by the users over at HockeyFights.com. 

This one with Brian McGrattan is rated third overall for the season.

Next up is Koci vs Colton Orr.  This one is currently ranked at 8th overall. 

Remember all those people that love playoff hockey because the fighting is "nonexistent, or almost?"

Right.

How about that Gomer, huh? First fight in 10 years. He's making $8,000,000 and he's scored 1 goal.

Interesting that all the early fights were in the east, and three of these five were the Bruins and Sabres.

A former Avalanche pounding on a Red Wing? Yes please!

Duchene for the Calder!

The Calder trophy talk shifts and alters throughout the season as wide-eyed rookies adapt, or don’t, to the reality of playing 82 games against the best hockey players in the world. It’s a challenge that deserves admiration; the dedication both mentally and physically that is exacted on these young men is immense.
Let’s take a look at who is at the front of the pack today. Most of the discussion lately is about Tyler Myers, Jimmy Howard, Matt Duchene and…Tyler Myers.
Yeah, right now it’s all about Myers.

Tyler Myers

Maybe some of the popularity of Myers as a candidate is that he wasn’t in the discussion before any meaningful games had been played. Everyone loves a surprise, a feel-good story about the player that was only making news in Buffalo. But now he’s making news around the hockey world.
So what’s so great about Myers? Unfortunately I haven’t had a chance to see him play a lot of games so I am stuck with looking at stats that don’t always tell the full story. A good deal of the talk is about how many minutes he plays and all the points he is putting up.
Ok, so Myers plays a ton of minutes. Yeah? So do all top defensemen. In fact eight of the top ten rookies in minutes are defensemen. Not really a surprise.
His league leading giveaways may not really be that big of a surprise either considering that TOI and he IS a rookie after all. Should I give him a pass on that one? A lot of people just seem to be ignoring that fact.
So what about all these points? Lookin’ good there, everyone likes to have that D-man that can chalk up the minutes AND the points. Even better? A third of those points are coming on the power play. If he develops into a quality PP quarterback he becomes very valuable.
And blocked shots? Tops in the rookie class. Ok, but is that as much a skill as it is willingness? Debatable.
All in all he’s a keeper but we knew that. Biggest knock on the kid is his high giveaways ranking.

Jimmy Howard
The kid has played well but he’s kinda like that quarterback for a team that won the Super Bowl with their defense…for example…what’s his name? Trent something? He didn’t WIN the Super Bowl for the team and no one expected him to either. What he did is what he didn’t do. He didn’t LOSE the game with a dumb mistake.

The best thing about Howard is that mask. 
And that's pushing it.

If Howard was all that he would have lifted the Wings INTO to playoffs during those injury-plagued months rather than just maintaining the team at the #9 spot for months on end.
Sure, he deserves a lot of credit for his play and in D-town he’s got quite the field to plow when it comes to replacing the beloved Osgood.
But the Calder? Naw.
Notice recently that the Wings have slipped into that #8 spot? They finally (to my disappointment) look to be playoff bound but it’s because they are getting healthy again.

Matt Duchene

Is your winner. I am an Avs fan you know, but I still think I’m being pretty unbiased. I admit that Myers ought to be given serious consideration.
But Duchene has developed into a player that controls the ice with his play.
Tavares may be a victim of a team that just isn’t that good. Every team he faces can put their top D on him and don’t have to worry about another line. Not so in Colorado. Is it unfair? Yep, but that never stopped a Calder-voter. And hey, it really is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately world, that’s reality.
What’s Tavares done lately? Other than that explosion of points in a single game: not much.
Duchene does get knocked in the discussions because of his slow start. Probably by the people that see a lot of stats and not a lot of his playing time.
Granted, I am using stats as well, I don’t get to see every Islanders game or Sabres game. But he is leading the stats columns in goals and assists and while that isn’t the end of the discussion, it’s a lot of it.
There’s some talk out there that none of the offensive rookies are dominating. Have these people seen Duchene play lately? Duchene is now showing an amazing ability to evade the opposition’s D or barring that, to bounce off of defensemen and hold on to the puck for long periods of time. This allows his line mates to get open for scoring chances. Duchene’s puck possession since the break has taken a leap!
Like Myers, Duchene has a glaring fault in his stats, percentage of face-offs won. Sitting at 44% he is last among rookies with significant quantities of faceoffs and last on the Avalanche.
We clearly have a two-man race, sorry Wings fans. Will it come down to East coast bias? Will one of the candidates fall on his face in the final stretch? Will John Tavares make a run from the middle of the pack?
I’ll put my money on Duchene.
-From the Point

Avalanche Fans Want a Winter Classic in Denver

Chris Botta over at FanHouse talks a little about the dangers and fears that the NHL face when staging an outdoor event. If you don’t live in the Denver area you might think it’s too warm here to host the Winter Classic. Even some people that live here don’t think that it would be a wise endeavor.
But let’s look at a picture I took in my neighborhood today.

Isn’t it sunny and snowy?!?! Perfect! Colorado is one of the sunniest places in the US and the chance of good weather for sitting outdoors for a few hours is excellent! Now, watching the WC pre-game this morning the “ice guy” was talking about sunshine concerns. Obviously an advantage for the fans, the sun could be a problem for the ice crew.
Denver has slightly higher average highs than Boston and Chicago during the day but Denver’s average low is actually lower than the previous host’s temperatures. But the big advantage Denver has is the lack of precipitation. Everyone has spent all week babbling about the possibility of rain and postponing the game in Boston. New Year’s Eve produced significant amounts of snow, enough that crews were hustling to keep the surface clear for practice. The Boston weatherman has also spent a lot of time talking a lot about the dew point which is another advantage in Denver, it’s always going to be lower in Denver than places out east and that improves the ice quality.
The other hot topic in Denver is where to host the Classic. Since ballparks seem to be the popular choice recently, Coors Field certainly seems the likely choice. It is a beautiful ballpark and despite my complaints about the fans being far from the rink, it may be the best choice. Due to the azimuth of the sun at this time of year and the height of the upper decks of Coors field that might block the southeastern sun, wouldn’t the rink be in the shade most of the day?? Denver could do a night game if there is concern about Colorado’s famously ever-present sunshine.
But football stadiums entered the discussion as well: Invesco Field as well as Folsom Field, home of the CU Buffs was suggested. I suspect the NHL likes the ballpark setting for one very obvious, strategic reason: capacity. Football stadiums hold more people and with the high demand so far there is little doubt that larger venues would have sold out.
Bettman likes the venue that allows a long term rink, note that Fenway has a women’s game scheduled, a couple college games, public skates, and an alumni game. All of this off-sets the cost of that $800,000 mobile ice truck and the week of set-up costs. I don’t think Invesco is a possibility for a lot of the reasons noted above but also because the Denver Broncos are never going to be able to say, sure, set up an ice rink on our field, we aren’t going to have any home playoff games anyway. The fans might say it, but the Broncos won’t.
But Folsom Field still seems to be a possibility and the setting is aesthetically pleasing and would be a more intimate setting for the fans. It also has the history that the NHL seems to favor, with football going back to 1924. Fans would be much closer to the rink, a major disadvantage to the ballfields that have been used. To fill out the schedule for the NHL, Denver University could play some games here, preferably against Colorado College, always a popular game. Also, how about the Colorado Eagles making a trip down from Loveland to play an outdoor game? First outdoor CHL game? I don’t know but regardless it would still be a unique situation.
So who should the Avs play? Well the Red Wings seem to be the leader in the club house around here. And maybe the Red Wings should be the opponent, but wouldn’t it be fun to see the Avs play an old Nordiques division rival like the Canadiens?
Back when the Nordiques were good, they often met the Habs in the playoffs. The Avs could ditch the current 3rd jersey they are sporting for one that is much better looking and harkens back to the days of Quebec. Though Bettman may not want to tempt his fate too much with such a game, he has already stirred to pot enough with his empty talk of a team returning to Quebec City.
But the NHL would probably prefer a team that hasn’t already made a WC appearance. All the old Adams division teams and the Wings have already been in the Classic.
So unfortunately I think those scenarios are out.
So how about the battle of the relocated teams, the Avs and the Devils? There’s some real old rivalry there from the Cup games and for the “classic” twist the Avs could wear Nordique jerseys and the Devils could wear Colorado Rockies jerseys. And NBC could have Chico Resch do some announcing!

Wouldn’t THAT be confusing? But the NHL likes to play with that whole vintage/throw-back stuff, so…I think it’s a go. You’re welcome commish!
Let me just wrap this up with another brilliant idea for you, Mr. Bettman. While Jason Cohen writes that the Winter Classic is pretty cool, but not enough for him to skip bowl games, I am very happy that the NHL has taken over this block of time on New Year’s Day. I’m not a college football fan and I find the WC a great event on a day when I have zero interest in the college events. The NHL needs to take a chance on another football dominated day. Thanksgiving Day.
Yes, the NFL owns Thanksgiving but the NHL could still make some ground facing off the previous years’ Stanley Cup teams. A lot of people thought the NHL was nuts to play a game on New Year’s Day but look at where we are today. The NHL should take a shot at Thanksgiving too. Frankly, I love watching the NFL on Turkey Day but there are years when I couldn’t care less about Detroit or Dallas, regardless of who they play. A hockey game in the mix would be great and the NHL could take this day to match up the previous seasons Stanley Cup contenders. No outdoors game or anything like that, but the angle would be a single game re-match.
Don’t be afraid to keep expanding your horizons NHL. We all (usually) benefit when you institute new ideas that work well, are popular and well executed.

A version of this story originally appeared on HockeyIndependent.com

-From the Point

My Name is Red Wing

With the Avs about to play the Wings for the 3rd time this season, I thought I would rip-off…er write an little ditty based on the Dodge Ram commercial. Red Dodge trucks, Detroit Red Wings…get it?

My name is Red Wing and my bench is empty

I am fueled by dead octopi,
Steered by a convict.

I have been driven into the boards,
I am stopped by injuries.
I have a can’t-score spirit in a can’t-win division.

My name is Red Wing and my score sheet is empty

My players are mangled.
They are battered,
They are beaten.
They are not built to last but to circumvent the CBA

The call-ups must not achieve but over-achieve.
I am built to protect a mediocre goalie behind the winged wheel by whining even more than he does.

My name is Red Wing and my goaltender is empty

I had McCarty carry the Stanley Cup, the loyalty of the Hockey world,

the greatest accolade, the envy of my peers.
McCarty carried the Cup,
Joe Eliot carried the Cup,
And delivered the Curse without fail.

My name is Red Wing and my Cup is upside-down

The road ahead is long but I know my destination.
I am on course (golf) and my knee brace is strapped on and ready to go.
I will not win my division,
I will not make the playoffs,
My season will come to a screeching halt.

My name is Red Wing and my season is all but over

-From the Point

Darren McCarty - Air Guitar Champion?

How is that Versus gig working out for you? Just in case you need a new hobby or job, I found this article from a couple years ago. In it, you say:

"I remember in Grade 11, we did, like, an air-band assembly," the 36-year-old forward told NHL.com. "It was right when 'Pour Some Sugar On Me' came out, and I remember playing guitar.

Maybe you can start playing air guitar in the Canadian Championships?

The Perfect Gift for your Avs Fan

We are cutting it a bit close here for the holidays but you have to admit this is a sweet gift for that 'old time' Avs fan that is still carrying the hatred of the Detroit Red Wings. You can order it on Amazon. Perhaps you know where that gentleman of the hockey world, Darren McCarty is and you could send it to him as a retirement gift. I'm sure he would probably laugh his ass off.

Colorado Avalanche fans can walk around town wearing this proudly and reminding those people that keep saying the rivalry is dead. It ain't dead. Red Wings SUCK!

-From the Point

Avs - Canes and Wings

Just a few photos from the last two games.

Music by Hill Country Revue

All you need to know about the Avs beating the Wings

Congrats to Duchie!!!

Colorado Avalanche @ Detroit Red Wings

I thought it would be fun to look up a little info on the Red Wings before the Avalanche play one of their biggest rivals (in the eyes of most of us Avs fans).

In 1926 the NHL added three new teams, one of which was the Detroit Cougars. No, not that kind of cougar! At this time the league consisted of ten teams and two divisions, the American and the Canadian. Both New York city and Montreal boasted two teams. The two that are still around today as well as the Montreal Maroons and the New York Americans.

During the 1928-29 season, Carson Cooper playing for Detroit, was the top scorer in the American division with 18 goals and 27 points. Detroit made the playoffs but was promptly dismissed by Toronto in two games.

For the 1930-31 season the team would change its name to the Detroit Falcons. Interest in the team was lacking and it had yet to crown itself "Hockeytown".

Ebbie Goodfellow in his spiffy Detroit Falcons gear would later be elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame. Ebbie led the American Division with 48 points.
The 1931-32 season would see the loss of two teams due to the hard times. Nonetheless the schedule was increased to 48 games per club. Detroit would finish 3rd in the division with 18W, 20L and 10 ties, and be eliminated in the playoffs by the Maroons.
1932-33 at the height of the Depression owners put a cap, yes a salary cap of $70,000 on payrolls with a $7,500 limit on individual players. Ticket prices were reduced, top dollar seats were $3.00 and the cheap seats were a mere 50 cents. Former player, Jack Adams started coaching in Detroit where the team would finally become the Red Wings. The Red Wings would go on to a 25-15-8 record, a tie with the Bruins, but place second in the division on the tie-breaker. In the playoffs, Detroit would avenge last years loss to the Maroons and advance to meet the Rangers, but fall short to the eventual champs.
1933-34 would be the first year that Detroit would make it to the Stanley Cup finals, but losing in four games to Chicago.
The 1934-35 season for the Red Wings was a poor one and they finished last in the division.
But the 1935-36 season saw the Red Wings finishing first in the division and they would advance to the Stanley Cup playoffs to meet the Maroons once again. Game one was a long affair, the goalies kept it a shut-out though regulation and through five periods of overtime. With 3 1/2 minutes left in the sixth OT, "Mud" Bruneteau put the puck in the net. The Red Wings would eliminate the Maroons to face the Maple Leafs and in a four-game effort, win the Stanley Cup.
...and that's just one of many reasons why we love to hate them...
-From the Point

Oh yeah! Red Wings sign Brad May!

Wow, and I thought today was just another ho-hum day. But it looks like The Def Leppard Curse is still alive and well. The Wings can't possibly think it's a good idea to sign this slag-footed excuse for a hockey player! They already have the esteemed Mr. Todd Bertuzzi. But there must be a reason...the Curse! So voodoo is afoot!
Naw, why am I so bitter? I'm not, no really, I'm just glad the boys are back together. It is what it is!
-From the Point

The Def Leppard Curse

Ha! So it took all the way to game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals to be sure that the Curse of Def Le‘Tard was actually going to bite them in the butt. But it did!

For those of us that were hoping for the demise of the Red Wings all season, well, it was a long season indeed. It looked as though it wasn’t going to happen. And why would it? Even Avalanche fans know that the Wings have built a quality hockey club. I figured that the Wings mojo was just too strong to be affected by some rock-n-roll dope making a mockery of the greatest trophy in sports.

But, of course I should have had faith that a trophy older than that franchise would prevail. Sure, they are an “original six” but that trophy is still more storied, by far.

In fact I never should have doubted it. I’m now sure that Mr. Stanley was just toying with the Wings. Letting them think they were off the hook. Stringing them along until THE VERY LAST POSSIBLE GAME OF THE SEASON!

And then…

BAM!!!

The smack-down was unleashed!

NO ONE and I mean no one with an ounce of objectivity gave the Pens a chance to win this thing.

The only explanation is the curse.

May it continue for years upon years.