Parroting the NHL

by J. Scott Moore

Myths, half truths and things people repeat without thinking

Real hockey towns don’t have Ice Girls? Boston, Chicago, Caps, Devils, Flames, Ottawa, Vancouver, Islanders, Pittsburgh…who else?

The Original Six are “real” hockey towns. Oh, so all those empty seats in the Joe and Chicago’s arena were just smart fans staying away from a bad product? And there’s absolutely NO bandwagoning going on in Chicago these days…right….!

The shoot out is a skills contest-this is a team sport. The OT should go from 4-4 to 3-3 to 2-2, etc. Wait, I thought you said this is a team sport!

Players that are suspended for injuring another player should have to sit out as long as it takes the injured player to return. Actually, the player’s association might want to look at negotiating this one into the next CBA because this will undoubtedly increase the number of men that get a shot at the NHL by at least a 1,000 players. There will be so many players sitting on their duff at home waiting for such-and-so to get healthy that the minor leagues will be exhausted of players. Of course never mind that all the players sitting on said duff will need to be paid…so watch those ticket prices go thru the roof! Great idea.

Southern Hockey doesn’t work. How long have the Blues been operating? Wasn’t it Buffalo and Washington that went bankrupt long before Phoenix?

+/- is the most worthless stat in the NHL – that is until it supports that argument you are making about such and so player. Then all of a sudden it’s ok to add it to the argument, though often with a CYA caveat / cliché, “Even though +/- is the most worthless stat in all of hockey…blah blah blah”

What are your hockey pet peeves?

   

Avalanche Goalie-Go-Round

by J. Scott Moore

Ever since the Avs went with Budaj/ Raycroft it’s been a joke. What you say? But Craig Anderson! Yes, yes. BUT. But, if you can be honest with yourself, that was a shot in the dark, a gamble, a roll of the dice. Ok, over doing the metaphors? It wasn’t a complete shot in the dark, maybe a shot in a dimly lit room.

Read the rest at Hockey Independent

 

Book Review - Gabby: Confessions of a Hockey Lifer

"Gabby" is Bruce Boudreau’s hockey nickname, ‘cause he’s a talker.  As Boudreau points out, it could be worse.  These days it seems to be all about putting a “y” or an “ie” and the end of the players last name.  That might have left him as “Boudie” and that is a bit too close to booty for my tastes.

Well “Gabby” has been in hockey for his whole life and fittingly he and co-author Tim Leone take us step by step through his hockey life.

I thought the book started a bit slow.  Written more like a check list of where he went and who he played for instead of a nice flowing narrative.

There is also a lot of name dropping early on, but that is ok, it’s interesting to see how much paths cross in the minors and how those guys end up all over the league.  Surprising how many recognizable names (though not huge name players) that he has coached and that are now in the league, either on the Avs or otherwise.

Speaking of names we all know, Boudreau played his last season in minors for coach Barry Melrose.  Melrose made quite an impression on Boudreau and his name pops up repeatedly throughout the rest of the book.  Boudreau wraps the chapter by telling his readers: “I keep a picture of Barry Melrose in my house”  I mean, who does that?  Let alone admits it?  Well, it is funny.

I felt that the pace and narrative really picked up a lot with the coaching years.  The writing is average but the material becomes more interesting.  He is quite liberal with revealing his salary as a minor league player and coach and that is certainly interesting.  That info was not so liberally dispensed once he made it to the big leagues.

The book wraps up with a game by game synopsis of his first season as head coach of the Caps.  It was a bit much.

Overall I never did care much for the style of the writing.  The storytelling was disjointed.  A chapter might start with a mention of Alex Ovechkin and his style of play.  Then the text would suddenly shift to something seemingly completely unrelated years previous.  Of course it would get back around to making the point that he laid out in the opening of the chapter.  But it wasn’t smooth.

I suppose if you are a big fan of Bruce Boudreau you will find this an interesting book.  But I didn’t think he gives much insight to many of the players.  He seems to love Mike Green much more than Alex Ovechkin and there are the requisite stories and such.  But overall, meh.

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!

Hello Tears - Goodbye Playoff Beard

The tears have barely stopped flowing since the second empty- netter last night, just a really emotional time for me.  My stomach muscles hurt from sobbing myself to sleep. 
Some how I've pulled it together long enough to get a post up and even managed to shave the beard.
Here's a little playoff beard before and after photo shoot.  I'm pretty disappointed that it's time to shave it off.  For the obvious reasons but also because I was starting to get into the caveman look.  Gooseberry however, is quite happy that it is gone.

First the Before (notice the awesome Avs hat I got Lappy to sign)

Oh, and here's an intermediate shot.  The soul patch.  Always wanted one of those.  Probably just because Stevie Ray Vaughan used to sport one.  Mueller looks like he can wear one well enough, but I'm not kidding myself.  It lasted all of 10 minutes.

And now the After

Now that the Avs are out (sniff) I'm throwing in with the Hawks.  This is no doubt shocking news to many, especially Gooseberry, that I am willing to overlook Mr. Mustache and his evil ways to root for this team.  I could say that it's because I have family in Chicago and it's a good young team with good guys and fun to watch. 

But that really doesn't have anything to do with it.  It's the phenomenal goaltending I've seen all year, the brilliant coaching and of course Marian Hossa.  He's won everywhere he's ever played.  I can't miss!  And look, who doesn't love the team name and mascot?  A Blackhawk?  Awesome.  Know what else Stevie Ray Vaughan wore well besides a soul patch?  An Indian headdress!  Yeah, nothing cooler than a full headdress and a soul patch.  I'm amazed ALL Hawks fans are not dressed in a war bonnet for every game!

Since the Hawks aren't "my team" I feel zero responsibility to be objective or represent the intelligent or balanced fan.  No way buddy!  I'm a 100% bandwagon fan.  I have no idea who Cain and Taze are, are they brothers?!  So as the Hawks blaze through the playoffs I assure you that I will be providing hyperbole-laced bull crap like any good bandwagoner should! 

Of course Frenchy will also be appalled by my lack of Sid-love.  Whatever dude.  Ovie rocks!  Imagine the Caps and the Hawks in the Finals, the goalies would be so ragged by then it will be a score-fest to rival spring break in Cancun.

Oh, and bad news Goosey - I'm starting my Hawks playoff beard right ... NOW!

-From the Point

The David Koci hit on Mike Green

Well, just for fun you might want to head over to CBC to hear what Don Cherry has to say about the Koci hit on Green. I can't get the link to go directly to the video, thanks CBC.ca. So click the link or screen shot, click Sports, click CBC Hockey Night in Canada, click Coach's Corner, click the Dec 19th episode, about 5 minutes in. Nice snow suit, Don, sheesh!

Dirty? Read the discussion over at HockeyIndependent.com

Caps @ Avs photo blog

Five for Fighting Monday

Once again it's Monday! Don't let the week beat the hell outa ya.

This weeks Five 4 Fighting spotlight is on the Washington Capitals @ Colorado Avalanche. Mainly because I'm going to the game, woot!

So you want to fight Matt Bradley? Wow, this is a hell of a fight! I hope this game doesn't come to blows, and I certainly hope that the Caps don't use Bradley to swing the momentum cause it might work. Wait, yes I do hope the game comes to blows, and I also hope Jose Theodore is in goal so the Avs get a win! At the same time I expect that Alex Ovechkin guy to put on a show.

So Bradley fights like this? Koci is a lot bigger than Bradley so that may not happen, probably just as well. The Caps don't fight that much anyway.

-From the Point

Grit, Goals & Glory

The heck with the play maker! The guy I want to watch in a hockey game is Alexander Ovechkin! The other night I was watching the Washington Capitals (I mean Jose Theodore) just hand a win to the Atlanta Thrashers, and Ugly Oh! was just running around hitting people like an out of control truck! They were losing and he was pissed.

This guy LOVES to play hockey. Ovechkin will run you down, no matter who you are. He loves to score, he is a finisher. And he loves to celebrate! A jump into the glass is always appropriate!
His recent celebration of his 50th goal has attracted a lot of attention. Now, if scoring 50 goals was a common occurrence in this league, fine, make a stink of it. But it really isn't that common.
So Rick Tocchet, the interim head coach of the Lightning on the night in question has a problem with it. And Rick Tocchet says he thinks less of Ovi for this celebration? Please. So where is Ovi now Rick, above or below your bookie? Oh wait, YOU were the bookie. Give us a break Ricky. I don't see a halo over your head. You've been dismissed from coaching jobs more than once under a cloud of less than honorable situations. You left the Colorado Avalanche because of differences with the coaching staff, whatever that means. Keep your trap shut!
And what is wrong with Don Cherry (besides his wardrobe)? He is all but endorsing a contract hit on Ovechkin. Is this Grapes' idea of playing hockey like good Canadian boys, like Bertuzzi (if I must)? And Grapes isn't the only one endorsing this line of thought.
No one would stand for this sort of overt suggestion about Sidney Crosby.
Last I checked Ovechkin is playing hockey well within the rules. So he hits a few people and gets a little cocky when he scores his 50th goal. Waaaah! You're all a bunch of cry-babies!
Posted by: From the Point