NHL Draft 2005 - Live Via Some Hotel in Ottawa

It's official. The Sidney party can begin. Mario was up on stage with Crosby to give him his first official jersey and trucker hat. He looked to me to have a little stage fright at first with the millions of flash bulbs going off all at once. Mario and Craig Patrick were all smiles.

The Draft in Pittsburgh was simulcast on FOX Sports Net and only covered about the first 15 picks they could in the hour they allotted. After that, they moved on to Women's Beach Volleyball. On any other given day, I wouldn't mind seeing female athletes in speedo bikinis, but today, I want to see the rest of the first round! I went to my computer and luckily enough found the link on the NHL website to allow the streaming video and finish out the first round.

Why are you such a duchebag, James Duthie? He interviews the Canucks first rounder "You've been scouted as having a hard shot. Have you had the radar measure the numbers?" Luc Bourdon, a polite QMJHL prospect, ducked the question opting for the diplomatic response. If that wasn't good for Duthie, he has to follow up with this annoying attempt "So which is it 101? 98?". Obviously, he doesn't know Duthie - move on! Does this qualify for journalism in Canada?

For those of you watching on TSN in Canada, you probably saw my uncle carrying the Capitals jersey up like it was a folded flag. I hope they got his good side!

Jeff O'Neill was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs as was announced by the Commissioner Gary Bettman. Jeff wanted to play for his hometown team and now it looks like he's going to get that chance.

It was a Goodenow Time to Resign

When I saw the final press conference detailing the actual CBA agreement, I watched NHLPA Executive Bob Goodenow's personality and demeanor. He seemed nothing like the demonization that the media had labeled him with during the lockout duration. He was calm, articulate, and had no horns coming out of his receding hairline. He also made no comments about stepping down.

Today, however, it's a different story. Goodenow wasn't dragged out kicking and screaming. If screaming did occur, it was done behind closed doors.

There was always going to be a transition, Goodenow told a news conference. He just "accelerated" the process.

Apparently, Mr. Goodenow saw the writing on the wall.

I am choosing to take the high road and wish Mr. Goodenow the best of luck with whatever endeavors he chooses to pursue.

"I have no plans for anything right now. I'm going to take a few months off and think about what I might want to do in the future. I really haven't given it any thought."

Ted Saskin, considered the second in command in the NHLPA has been handed the reigns to a really angry group of NHL players. Seems to me, the first thing on the "to do" list is to run a campaign to try and earn some sort of PR campaign to earn respect for the players union. The image of a union that took the blame for being stubborn and holding up an entire season needs to grow out of the "whinny millionaire" stereotype.

Bye, Bob! I can't say that it's been fun, but it's been one wild ride!

[Via: TSN.ca]

CBC Lifts 7-second Delay for Cherry

After making some observations that were blown out of proportion by the CBC (also by having a track record of controversial comments) and it's subsequent decision to run the Coach's Corner on a 7 second delay, the CBC has decided to remove the delay for the upcoming NHL season.

Nancy Lee, executive producer of CBC Sports, said the seven-second tape delay is gone.

"It's a new contract," Lee said, referring to the new one-year deal CBC signed with Cherry nearly two weeks ago.

Now, unleashed, Coach Cherry can now focus on what's important - selling the game back to the NHL fans by using his unique personality and charm on a Canadian public. Can a unhindered Coach Cherry bring the fans back to the arenas and TVs? Time will only tell.

[Via: CBC Sports]

Defending the Black And Gold

When I caught wind that I may not like Erin's Ottawa Sun Column, I was okay with it, Erin's a smart journalist so whatever she has to say is going to be based on factual arguments. Plus, I was open to the idea of reading what my home and hometown team looks like to unbiased eye. Unfortunately, the only bright spot on this article is the SUNshine girl to the lower left hand of the page.

All I have to say is "OUCH". Honestly, I was never prepared for nor expected this kind of envy, jealousy, and outright hate from the fans. Before the NHL lottery, I felt that the Penguins just weren't lucky enough for the #1 pick and emotionally planned to be gracious to the fans and organization of whomever it was that got the "Sidney sweepstakes". I just never imagined just where the hate was going to come from. Like I mentioned before in another post, I read the spew of hate and envy from Crapitals fans, but where there was bad, I found some good fans who were openly gracious to the Penguins.

Erin's argument is symptomatic of OTHER Canadians have been jealous and envious since 20+ years ago Eddie Johnston announced in French aloud "Les pingouins de Pittsburgh choisissent le numero soixante six Mario Lemieux". To see another Canadian favorite son fly south for the winter is just another bitter pill for them to swallow.

Do you think Reebok could produce a special lead Penguins jersey for Sid to slip on during Saturday's draft in Ottawa? It would make for one hell of a metaphor.

See, this is what I mean. But, Ms. Nicks knows her audience and knows that rousing statement is sure to rally people to the anti-penguin jealousy cause. Canadians will eat up any propaganda that somehow states the Americans are "stealing away their game".

The problem with the old NHL was the snobbery and the elitist mentality that the Toronto's and Detroits still thrive on. They've all come to expect that hockey owes them everything and their teams should stay in tact. The real reason the NHL is failing is the inequality of the dispersal of players - a system that weighted too long in the hands of two few team owners. Okay, I'm sidetracked. This is an old argument for another day.

Erin's overall question to her readers is intended to be "Why does Pittsburgh get so many chances?" "Why is Quebec and Winnipeg left out when they deserve it more?" I believe the answer is simple. Many motivational speakers will tell you that we create our own luck. Mario is a good decent human with character. The owners of the franchises that packed their bags and left for another town only had the almighty dollar in mind.

But one is left to wonder just how many chances Pittsburgh deserves to prove its interest in the sport -- second phenom or not. How many chances did Winnipeg or Quebec receive?

Ouch! Those three franchises moving is not the Penguins fault and it's not their problem. Peter Karmanos took the Whalers into the Carolinas a la Mayflower trucks running out of Baltimore in the dead of night. The Quebec and Winnipeg franchises were victims of bad politics. Mario could have sold the team years ago, but it's his character that makes this franchise what it is. The fans and the city love this team. They will turn out en mass to save it from leaving. That's why they haven't gone the way of a relocated franchise.

Their ownership did not care. Despite the odds, Mario's group of ownership and Craig Patrick the GM is committed to making things work in Pittsburgh. Mr. Patrick didn't all of a sudden just get dumb after 1993. The problems of the Penguins were symptomatic of the problem the NHL was having. The out of control salaries were what drove the exodus of players out of the steel city.

I want to say that Erin's right. Pittsburgh's track record is hard to defend, but it's a new NHL and an entirely new economic system for Crosby to come into. He's not going to play for the team that finished last two years ago and barely breaking financially even. Stop being jealous, NHL fans. Crosby is in good hands. Pittsburgh is here to stay. Just deal with it.

I would expect a different slant if Ottawa or some bigger franchise got the rights to draft Crosby. The dissapointment is astounding in the interviews on TSN. Instead of asking Crosby in 1on1 interviews "How does it feel to be projectedly picked by the Penguins?" The TSN analyst says "How much of a dissapointment are you getting not going to your dream team Montreal?" F--K YOU, James Duthie! "You're not in one of those major markets. Are you concerned for your marketing aspect?" F--K YOU, James Duthie! "You look disapointed when your deam matchup of Montreal was called early?" F--K you, James Duthie!

Yes, I have an account on TSN, because I can trust Bob McKenzie. I watch the streaming video clips.

There's a satisfaction now that the elitist fans and the elitist TSN journalists are wringing their hands and I still got one over on Jimmy Mirtle.

Cooperate! Don't Playa Hate!!!

The Natural Order Of Things

So, just how much does this look natural?I'll admit that I was really skeptical at first when the Draft order was going to be announced. I even had an dream like omen a few days ago that I saw Crosby in an Oilers jersey. I had my computer simulate a Crosby Rangers jersey just in case. But, when I heard the news break over the radio, I pumped my fist and shouted my lungs. I even hit my steering wheel a few times.

Of course, I'm going to be gracious to my readers in Ontario and B.C., but the one thing that makes me really glad is that I got one over on Jimmy "fertile mind" Mirtle and told him on his well written blog numerous occasions that Crosby was coming to Pittsburgh months ago. Just deal with it!

I checked the other teams message boards, and I was really glad to see that the Maple Leafs were gracious in their positions. I guess that they were glad that Crosby didn't go to New York City or Montreal. On the opposite side of the spectrum, the cussing, hate and anger vibes you might be feeling is coming from the Capitals fans. Their fans on that board haven't been the least bit corrigible. They've only been able to muster up any kind of conspiracy nut ideas and puff up Ovechkin even more.

Now the Penguins have taken huge leaps to regaining their elite team status they once held in the beginning of the 90's. With future stars Whitney, Malkin, Orpik, and Fleury to grow with the team, it's going to be a possibility that the Pens are on the rise to bigger and better days.

Look for news about a new arena being built here in Pittsburgh sometime soon. The new stability of the team. Selling the team to advertisers and investors is going to prove easier. Watch also for the slots gambling license to come into full few soon.

Of Course, Crosby may decide to "pull a Lindros," but it's unlikely. With French-Quebec native Mario Lemieux mentoring him, who could pass up that chance? I think Gretzky could have done a good job, but in the end, he'd be more comfortable with Mario at his side.

HA HA! I got one over on Mirtle!!

NHL suitors: Four USA TV Networks

The great blog The Puck Stops Here has seemingly disseminated the story that the news website MediaWeek reports the NHL is talking to 4 TV networks for a national broadcasting contract.

Outdoors Network (OLN), Viacom's Spike TV, TNT, and ESPN are all supposedly getting the pros and cons of carrying the load to help bring back the NHL on a national level in the US.

ESPN - It has the experience and recognition. US hockey fans know what they're getting and for me personally, I'm really missing NHL 2night (the US version of HNIC) with Barry Melrose and John Buccigross. Of course, ESPN would just dust off all the old personalities. Bill Clement hasn't done anything in a long time.

Outdoors Network - What is normally known as a hunting and fishing channel, this would be a really interesting partnership. I don't really see how OLN could bring the NHL back because it's not really carried on everybody's basic cable service package you would have to get Comcast. It's a nice idea to extend and grow the channel brand.

TNT - Ugh! More for Billionaire Ted (Turner) to stick his grubby hands in. TNT is already up to their behind in Charles Barkley and the NBA. Can they cut back the NBA coverage to support a NHL playoff run?

Spike TV - It's another interesting choice. They're going to be scraping the bottom of the barrel once the WWE leaves their contract. Spike TV, billed as "television for guys", will be just wall to wall Star Trek: TNG and a little show called MXC. If the NHL wants a new start with a fresh network to grow with, Spike TV is certainly it!

I chose to make a post about this, rather than everybody talking about Sidney Crosby this week. (Everybody has a post about him today it seems like!)


[Via: MediaWeek]

NHL Marketing Plan: Downsize!

With thanks to my friend Erin, I was notified about the upcoming draft plans marked for the Westin Hotel in Ottawa, ON July 30th. This is a giant step up considering the rumors that the draft was going to be held by a joint teleconference call. "Uh, yea, Hi. I'm Gary Bettman, can I use your Kinkos video conference machine?"

"The league wants to keep it on a smaller scale because everything is going to have to be pulled together in a week," a league source said yesterday.

Oh, is that their excuse? Perhaps the league didn't want another PR problem by having the fans boo constantly. Did you ever stop to think of the backlash some anrgy fans would display? I happen to remember watching the past three drafts on TV and hearing the fans disrespect Mr. Bettman each time he spoke.

The whole capital of Canada is really upset at the notion that the scaled down presentation won't be good enough to play up to the media. Judging by the NHL reaction, the powers that be decided that coming to terms on how much they've ruined their image, perhaps a smaller scaled venue was in order.

They're right! After the "scorched earth" policy during the CBA war, it seems as if they realize that a second tier status has now been assumed and it's going to have to build back up to what they once were. You can't judge the relation of the fans in Ottawa to what's left of the fans in North America.

If that's not enough, the league is also planning to hold the draft lottery in private next Thursday in New York.

IN PRIVATE!!! Quick! Call the Mounties and armed guards and watch every move these people make! The fix is in! Who knows what might happen behind the closed doors of a meeting to determine where Crosby is going. Mark my words. If the NY Rangers get the first pick, the lottery was rigged! I want to see it on TV and have a certified unbiased witness there.

But my favorite remark for comedic relief comes from arch-villain, Flyers Pres. & GM Bob Clarke regarding the decision to weight the draft lottery.

"My preference would have been for everybody to be treated the same, but we've heard that just isn't going to happen. But that's all right. There's no point in worrying about it or complaining about it."

[Via: Ottawa Sun]

Guys, Stop Yer Drooling!

The young lady to the right is none other than Paulina Gretzky, the 16 year old daughter to hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky. She is posing quite innocently on the cover of Flare magazine. Even following in her mother's footsteps, Janet Gretzky once posed for the Canadian fashion magazine in 1988.

Supposedly, Paulina isn't just good looks, her parents have been encouraging a singing and acting career. She sang the Canadian National Anthem before a World Cup of Hockey exhibition game and is set to make an apearance in a Bruce Willis movie called Alpha Dog.

[Via: SportsNet.ca]

Hockey Innovator Dies at Age 91

Somehow lost in all the hoopla of the CBA agreement, there was a news story that slipped by most bloggers eyes, but not by this keen reporter!

The hockey world is saddened by the news that the inventor of the slapshot, Alex Shibicky, had gone on to the golden hockey rink in the sky last weekend. He played for the New York Rangers and was one of the surviving members of the 1940 Stanley Cup wining team. He scored 110 goals and 91 assists in his brief NHL career.

Originally a Winnipeg native, Shibicky lived in South Surrey, British Columbia. He is survived by his wife and 5 children.

[Via: TSN.ca]

Don Cherry Returns to CBC and HNIC Coach's Corner

The Don of the Hockey Universe, the much maligned and misunderstood Don Cherry, expressed the eager need to get back behind the CBC desk and take his rightful chair in front of the Hockey Night in Canada sign.

Cherry, who expects to be back on the Hockey Night crew when the season resumes in October, said he feels for the players who he believes are the lockout's biggest losers.

I disagree with the Coach here. (Yes, I'm shocked too.) The only true losers here are THE FANS - the ones that were denied the privilege of watching NHL professional hockey this past season.

Coach Cherry was a constant source of reasonable opinion about the lockout. He chastised the player's Union for being stubborn for change in the league's revenue system and possibly taking jobs away from European League players. However, in this article, he is trying to win back the hearts of the current crop of players.

"I feel so sorry for some of the older players who could have played last year and won't be back," Cherry said last night in an interview. "A lot of them will have to retire. "It's sad because I'm a players' guy. And it will be the middle-class guys as usual who get it in the ear."

Perhaps there was a typo at the end of that sentence. Seems like an "r" should fit with that last word.

"Everybody starts fresh now with the same opportunity," Cherry said. "There are no excuses for GMs who say they don't have money.

Of course, the NHL owners group wanted to "idiot proof" the NHL for future generations, but it won't be for long before somebody comes along and builds a bigger idiot.

[Via: CANOE - SLAM! Sports]

Kool-Aid© Effect Needs Some More Time to Wear Off

A Brief History Lesson: Jim Jones was a religious cult leader who started his own closed community called Jonestown in Guyana. But tragedy struck in 1978 when the compounded town was about to be raided by authorities and the loyal followers drank cyanide with a grape flavored soft drink. To this day, people get it wrong. The brand was Flavor-Aid, not the leading brand Kool-Aid. But today, the phrase "drinking Kool-aid" suggests that the person is a part of a cult and cannot disseminate their opinion from that of a group.

Some players in the NHL who refused to talk about any possibility of a salary cap were often accused of doing the grape Kool-Aid. Early in the lockout, Brian McCabe and several others spoke out and used their propaganda to rally. They showed where their loyalties lied... with the money. Now that the Players Union has been thoroughly smashed, the players who seem to have been drinking a lot of the unions Kool-aid, defends their boss' actions.

"I'm not bitter about the deal," New York Islanders player representative Adrian Aucoin told Newsday. "(Goodenow) did his job. He put up a fight. Sean Avery (of the Los Angeles Kings) said we were being brainwashed, but (Goodenow) had us prepared the right way. I think he did what he had to do."

Well, don't be too hard on Sean. He just had a public break-up with his supermodel girlfriend Rachel Hunter. I'd be really moody after that too.

"I've been disappointed in us as players," Mellanby told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "There has been a lot of talk about how Bob let everyone down. We as players let Bob down. For players to say we got a worse deal, we got a one-page fax in February with (a cap of $42.5 million) on it. The paperwork with the lawyers is a 600-page document. It's irresponsible with some of the reaction some of the players have had."

You've got to be kidding me, right? You mean you want to stay loyal to Goodenow even after you got reamed?

I guess it's going to take a long while before the reality sets in for some players who were so used to making more money than they knew what to do with. To them, they still believe it was worth continuing the lockout. Let's hope that the players, once they begin to go to camp, they will forget about the battle and move on to the future of the league.


[Via: CANOE - SLAM! Sports]

While You Were Sleeping... NHL Ends Lockout

Even after I was a little discouraged that the preliminary reports [on the Yahoo! News NHL front page website] said that no deal had been reached even after the NHL and NHLPA had met into the wee hours of the Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. I had feared that it was certainly possible that the NHL was certainly stupid enough to let this prime opportunity go by. No sports highlights from the other major sporting leagues to get in the way on July 13th.

It was rumored and speculated by just about every pundit that the NHL will announce the end of the lockout when no major league sports were played. I checked my email after dinner today, sure enough, I was given two two official emails from the Maple Leafs and Penguins when the NHL made the official announcement that they have agreed to a new 6 year deal that includes a salary cap. Only thing left is to have the lawyers look it over and for everyone to ratify the deal by signing it.

Personally, I feel like it's been waking up from a year long nightmare (301 Days). I want to go immediately, run out into the street do a little parade while banging my pots and pans. But then nobody would know what I was doing and ship me off into a mental hospital.

NHL-CBA News

We'll Call You When We're Good and Ready!

When the media business is in the business to break news stories... the race to be the first source to talk about the new CBA deal is getting neck and neck. A lot of speculation and points to the contract have leaked out a little. But, seeming in control of the situation, the NHL official stance is that they are still talking and no deal has been made. Twice now, the NHL has had to come out with a news story, like the one linked at the bottom, to save the surprise when it's most advantageous.

Reporters and Sports Talk shows have all speculated that the NHL is waiting for after the All Star game so that the NHL will utilize the slowest day in sports news - the day after the baseball game. (July 13th)

[Via: Yahoo! News]

Familiar Faces No Longer Around Next Year

Of course the main issue when the NHL returns this fall is weather or not it will look the same or what changes are going to make the league different. Already, three NHL teams have announced that they would have new coaches next season. Two of the coaches on the way out the door are familiar faces to the fans.

Coach Pat Burns who has been with Toronto, Boston, and Montreal before taking the New Jersey Devils to the promised land. Last season, Coach Burns announced he had to undergo treatment for cancer. Today, Pat Burs and the NJ Devils announced that he will no longer coach the club citing his health reasons. My thoughts and prayers are for him in this time of need. Larry Robinson has been rumored to take over there.

Also, after having been punked by Minnesota and Anaheim in the playoffs the past two years, the Detroit Red Wings fired their head coach Dave Lewis. Lewis, the unmistakable double for Charlie Chaplain, had large shoes to fill after Hall of Famer Scotty Bowman retired. When the Red Wings slipped from their elite team pole position these past two seasons, it's time to make a change. When Mike Babcock turned down the Ducks offer, it is speculative that the Wings will make a similar offer as the new replacement.

[Via: Yahoo! Sports (Lewis) & Yahoo! News (Burns)]

Crosby, Agent Getting Wooed by Swiss

It may cause some naive and gullible hockey fans to panic a little, but the latest Sidney "Rhinestone Cowboy" Crosby news has him getting offers from a professional hockey team in Europe.

Just like Ovechkin and other anticipated phenom rookies, Crosby is only doing this in self interest. If the NHL drags out farther, Crosby wants to start his pro career on time. If that happens, Crosby may be pushing against the idea of a rookie salary cap.

The next collective bargaining agreement is believed to cap entry-level salaries to a maximum of $850,000 a season over three years, the same amount it was 10 years ago. Hard-to-reach bonuses could be worth as much as $3 million but they won't be gimmes like the previous deal.

I think that this is the modern day dilemma of the original WHA in their heyday. Wayne Gretzky, who Crosby is often compared to, was originally a WHA player signing with the WHA Edmonton Oilers. Only time will tell if the NHL can sell themselves back to the players and earn their trust again. If not, the NHL stars may go back to Europe and this time decide to stay there.

[Via: TSN.ca & Rogers SportsNet]

Online Casino Gambles on Bid for Blues

The St. Louis Blues have an interested buyer. It's an online gambling website that I won't mention here, because I believe it's just a stunt for free publicity. I don't even believe that the group is even serious about actually buying it. Check out this quote from the article and judge for yourselves.

"Occasionally, we've had problems (closing deals),"______.com president Dennis Rose told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "We've been outbid, and some years ago, people were a little bit cynical about the revenues with online gaming. Now, they're convinced how big it has become."

The offer made by the company was made public through e-mails sent to media members. The release stated a "letter of intent" was sent to Laurie, who has yet to respond or offer any comment on the proposal.

"Hopefully, we'll hear from them very soon," Rose told the newspaper. "I'll sit here (waiting) with some rum and Coke."

Does that sound like a serious investor to you?

Still, news is news, and I'll post the link at the bottom.

[Via: Yahoo! Sports]

Quench Your Thirst With Crosby

Sidney Crosby drinks Gatorade - you should to! That is what the next sports drink advertisement should say come this November.

Crosby's agent, Pat Brisson of IMG, would not discuss financial terms of the Gatorade deal. "We've been talking with many brands in different categories," Brisson said. "But also, Sidney doesn't want to be a walking billboard."

The greatest NHL player never to have played 1 NHL game has again taken a large check to the bank. Sidney Crosby joins a whole history of great athletes who have endorsed the popular drink. My only question now is... who's going to notice the conflict of interest when Crosby is sitting on the bench or in the penalty box surrounded by the Powerade logo or takes a gulp from one of it's bottles? You do know that Powerade is the official sponsor of the NHL?

Gatorade issued a news release and Crosby made an appearance Tuesday afternoon at a Sobeys grocery story in his Cole Harbour neighborhood in Halifax.

What's with the cheap stuff Gatorade? Reebok sprung out the monopoly money to ship him to the ACC and parked him in front of the press. All you could do for him is say hello in a grocery store? What's Keith Jackson pulling down that you couldn't afford a little nicer backdrop?

He said the contract was actually signed a couple of months ago, but Gatorade wanted to prepare a promotional campaign involving Crosby and the new X-Factor drink before making the announcement.

Ah, so this is a little timed in anticipation that we may finally learn where Crosby may wind up starting his career. The last kid phenom in the business that had this many sponsors jumping in front of him was LaBron James of the NBA - and he turned out okay!

[Via: TSN.ca]

Canada Day Championships 2005

Continuing with the yearly tradition, I have celebrated every July 1st with a simulated hockey tournament to determine the best Canadian NHL franchise.

Using the current rosters on the EA Sports NHL 2005 game series, I chose a tournament format that contained all original 8 Canadian franchises. I had to use the most updated rosters from the 03-04 season with some subtle alterations. (I put Selane on the Jets while removing Moore and Bertuzzi from the tournament play.)

Divided into East and West pools to determine the preliminary rounds, each team played their regional rivals twice (home/away). From there, they were matched into tournament play.

[RESULTS]

After the prelim series ended, it looked like two teams this year rose to the top of the heap with no looking back. Calgary Flames again with the support of their phenom goaltender Mikka Kiprusoff, went undefeated 7-0 through the prelims and medal rounds. Montreal Canadiens also took off with a 6-1 record to chalenge for this years Canada Day Cup. The first period went slowly, as both teams traded open ice hits with cross rink passes. It wasn't until late 1st period that Richard Zednik was able to hit the first goal home. In the second period Alex Kovalev scored twice. It looked as if the Canadiens had figured out hot to solve the Flames dominance in this years tornament. In the end, the Flames flickered out and the Canadiens were the ones holding up the trophy. Final score: 5-2

Other notables: Even with Hasek in net, the Ottawa Senators did a lousy job scoring and finished at the bottom of the heap with Edmonton. Vancouver didn't really skip a beat with Bertuzzi out of the lineup. They did just fine. Quebec's Milan Hejduk had the top players honor of 15pts.


Previous Canada Day Champions
2002: Toronto Maple Leafs
2003: Edmonton Oilers
2004: Quebec Nordiques
2005: Montreal Canadiens