Dazzling Devils’ rare reversal of fortune

Mack Liddell / May 24, 2012 / No comments

Remember the 2010-11 edition of the New Jersey Devils – the bottom feeding, offensively-challenged laughing stock led by high-priced, under-achieving Russian forward Ilya Kovalchuk.

How things have changed.

After finishing 23rd in the league last season, the Devils are one win away from making it to the Stanley Cup final in what has turned out to be a rare and impressive bounce-back campaign.

If the Devils close out the New York Rangers they’ll become just the third team in 20 years to make the Cup final a year after finishing 23rd or worse.

The last team to do so was the Carolina Hurricanes in 2005-06, albeit under different circumstances due to the 2004-05 season being wiped out by a lockout, thus giving playoff MVPs Eric Staal and Cam Ward an extra year of development. Nonetheless, Carolina finished 23rd overall in 2003-04 and went on to win the Cup in 2006.

The 1992-93 Stanley Cup-winning New York Rangers also rebounded after finishing with the sixth-worst record in a 24-team NHL. Calgary came close to accomplish the feat in 2003-04, taking the Tampa Bay Lightning to a seventh game after finishing 22nd overall the season before.

But it’s easy to see why the Devils took such a significant dip despite strong seasons before and after their downturn.

The Devils got off to a dreadful start (9-22-2) under then-new head coach John MacLean before going on a tear (29-17-3) and staving off further embarrassment under the guidance of Jacques Lemaire.

Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur had one of the worst statistical seasons of his career while missing time with various injuries.

Captain Zach Parise also had his season derailed by injury when he suffered a torn meniscus in November and missed all but 13 games.

And as previously mentioned, Kovalchuk, with the ink still drying on his mammoth 15-year, $100-million contract, had a miserable season, finishing with career lows in points and goals per game to go along with a horrendous minus-26 rating.

Regardless of bad fortune or poor performances, the Devils’ regular season turnaround and intrepid playoff run has shocked the hockey world.

Which begs the question: Is there a current team that finished in the bottom eight of the league that has the talent and fortitude to make a march to Stanley Cup final next season?

A summer of free agency, trades, player development and the draft tends to change things, but as of now there doesn’t appear to be a team that will make the jump next season.

The Anaheim Ducks are likely the closest to contending, given the top-end talent they have up front to complement workhorse netminder Jonas Hiller. If the Ducks can avoid a slow start – they went 10-22-6 before coming to life in the second half – they should be fighting for a playoff berth, and maybe more.

It doesn’t look as promising for the other basement dwellers.

Columbus is, well, Columbus – who knows if they’ll ever make it back to the post-season let alone contend for a championship.

Edmonton has a phenomenal young core that should contend for many titles down the road, although not likely next season.

The remaining teams in the bottom eight – Montreal, the Islanders, Toronto, Minnesota and Carolina – are in varying stages of development, although none seem poised to replicate the success New Jersey has had this season.

And considering no team has done what New Jersey is on the verge of accomplishing, fans of the Ineffectual 8 shouldn’t hold their breath.

 

 

 

Category: Puck /

Tigers face a familiar task in second half

Mack Liddell / July 14, 2011 / No comments

One year ago today, the Detroit Tigers were sporting a respectable 48-38 record and sat one-half game back of the division-leading Chicago White Sox and three games ahead of the Minnesota Twins.

When they take to the field Friday night to kick off the second half of the season, the Tigers find themselves in a similar position. Detroit (49-43) is on top of the American League Central, fighting off the resurgent Cleveland Indians, who are a half-game back, while the Chicago White Sox remain within striking distance five games behind the Tigers.

It’s a familiar dream-turned-nightmare situation the Tigers found themselves in last season.

After a solid first half and showing signs an extended fall was on its way, the Tigers face-planted after the all-star break, going 4-13 to close out July and 33-43 in the second half and ending the season 15 games out of a playoff spot.

It’s hard to put a finger on the change of fortune — it was a full-fledged implosion.

Rookie outfielder Brennan Boesch burst onto the scene in the first half, batting an other-worldy .342 and was among the AL leaders in on-base percentage and slugging percentage. In the second half, Boesch’s average was a team-worst .163 and his OPB and SLG% were nearly cut in half.

The post-all-star break virus spread throughout the clubhouse. Veterans Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen enjoyed a healthy a productive spring and early summer, but combined for a measly 84 at-bats after the break.

AL MVP runner-up Miguel Cabrera had a decent second-half, but the fatigue endured from carrying the offensive load for an entire season certainly took its toll.

On the mound, the Tigers actually enjoyed slight improvements post all-star break, which speaks volumes about how terrible the offence was down the stretch.

Top-three starters Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello put up better numbers in most statistical categories after the break, while the bullpen produced mix results.

None dropped off faster than closer Jose Valverde, however, as the enigmatic righty only closed out seven of nine games while sporting an ugly 6.38 ERA in the second half after racking up 19 saves in 20 attempts to go along with a 0.92 ERA to start the season.

 

Considering the rotation’s pitching struggles outside of Verlander, who is having a career year, the 2011 Tigers have fared well through 92 games this season, although skepticism will certainly be heightened this time around.

Much like 2010, offence has come in bundles, and not only form the bat of franchise first-baseman Cabrera.

Surprise all-star catcher Alex Avila has seemingly turned a sharp corner in his sophomore campaign, emerging as an everyday player and getting it done behind the plate and in the batters box.

Jhonny Peralta and Victor Martinez have got off to great starts as well, while Boesch has once again shown up for the first three and a half months of the schedule.

If the aforementioned sluggers can click at a similar clip in the upcoming months, and if rookie of the year runner-up Austin Jackson heats up, the offence won’t be a concern.

And seeing as how the Tigers’ pitching staff is already floundering in the deep reaches of the AL basement, a modest improvement isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

And neither is avoiding another disastrous meltdown, despite the familiar optimism turned harrowing nightmare from a season ago.

 

 

 

 

Category: The Other Guys / Tags: , ,

NHL GMs avoiding ominous offer sheet

Mack Liddell / July 8, 2011 / No comments

There is nothing more confounding in the realm of NHL business than the shadowy nature of the offer sheet.

At the moment, two of the game’s best young players – Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos and Los Angeles Kings defenceman Drew Doughty – remain unsigned restricted free agents, waiting patiently as their agents and general managers work towards a new deal.

Meanwhile, 29 other GMs steadfastly sit on their hands, unwilling or uninterested in swooping in with an offer of their own, despite being within their legal right to do so.

Although not out of bounds, using an offer sheet to acquire talent can be a dangerous option for several reasons.

For starters, most teams will move mountains before letting a franchise player like Stamkos or Doughty slip through their fingers, even if the compensation in their case would amount to four first round draft picks.

Offer sheets can also inflate player salaries – although after watching the insanity that unfolded July 1, the same could be said of the open market – as was seen with Thomas Vanek’s outrageous offer sheet-induced seven-year $50-million dollar deal and Dustin Penner’s five-year $21.25-million contract then-Ducks GM Brian Burke furiously turned down.

“I have no problem with offer sheets, they are part of the CBA,” Burke said in the aftermath of the Penner offer sheet in August 2007. “I think it’s a tool certainly a team is entitled to use. My issue here is this is the second time this year in my opinion Edmonton have offered a grossly inflated salary for a player, and it impacts on all 30 teams.”

As mentioned by Burke, they are part of the CBA and so long as the money thrown at a player isn’t a far reach from their actual worth in relation to the salary cap, no problem.

A recent example of acceptable comportment was when Ryan Kesler signed a $1.9-million offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers in 2006. Kesler had just finished his first full pro season and scored 10 goals and 23 points, making the value of the offer sheet relatively in line with his production and future potential. No hard feelings.

Considering the starting point for both Doughty’s and Stamkos’ demands appears to be around $7 million per season, there isn’t much room for inflation, although a $12.8 million max offer – a highly unlikely scenario – would certainly cause some discomfort for Lightning GM Steve Yzerman and Kings GM Dean Lombardi.

But to keep the peace and lines of communication from seizing shut, it’s doubtful these two young phenoms will be poached by the competition via offer sheet.

If Stamkos and Doughty are unsigned prior to camp opening in September or their agents let it be known they are preparing to sign an offer sheet, a trade could be a viable option. Although it should be mentioned deals featuring stars of this magnitude take time, as was seen last year when Ducks forward Bobby Ryan didn’t put pen to paper until mid-September.

Burke took the trade approach two years ago when he sent two first round picks and a second-rounder to Boston for then-disgruntled winger Phil Kessel. Had he not held discussions with GM Peter Chiarelli and instead sprung an offer sheet on him – of which the compensation would have amounted to a first, second and third round pick – the relationship between the two would have likely turned sour.

You have to wonder if Burke’s decision to overpay for Kessel instead of violating an ‘unwritten code’ had any influence on the bounty the Leafs GM received when dealing Tomas Kaberle to the Bruins this past spring.

Ultimately, a GMs job is to improve his team using every tool at his disposal, even if his peers begrudgingly frown upon the tool in hand.

If a team puts itself in the position where they don’t have the required cap space or the hard cash to match an offer by a rival team, well, that’s part of the game.

But in a business that relies on relationships, it’s no surprise most GMs avoid the ominous offer sheet rather than put a loaded gun to the head of a rival associate, even if it means improving his team.

 

Category: Puck / Tags: , , , , , ,

Leafs: life after Richards

Mack Liddell / June 30, 2011 / No comments


With less than 24 hours until doors open to the annual free agent frenzy, Maple Leafs fans are anxiously awaiting the result of the Brad Richards sweepstakes.

Toronto GM Brian Burke will undoubtedly throw big money at the 31-year-old and due to the scarcity of top-line centres — the Leafs most pressing need — it’s a safe bet he will show some flex on term as well.

Burke knows No. 1 centres rarely hit the open market and he will do whatever he can to sell Toronto to Richards. Rest easy, Leafs Nation.

The bubbling fear amongst fans, however, is that Richards doesn’t want to play in Toronto, no matter how much cash Burke fans in his face. Maybe it’s disdain for the glaring media spotlight, maybe it’s the weather. Maybe he wants to win now and thinks he has a better chance to do so elsewhere.

Those are his decisions to make and the benefits of going to free agency.

But that’s not good enough. If Richards decides to sign anywhere but Toronto, the fans will erupt in a flurry of red-faced, bulgy-veined finger-pointing with tones of perpetual doom.

Any other signing will be met with scorn: it’s Richards or bust. Everybody else is an overpaid, underachieving bum.

Forget the progression the young players showed down the stretch last season, that was a fluke. Every prospect has peaked. How are they going to score? Huh, tell me!

Well, that’s a fair question, although most who objectively aseess the Leafs know competent goaltending is a far bigger concern and the primary cause of dismay in recet years.

If James Reimer doesn’t perform like he did last season, having Richards in the lineup won’t make much of a difference.

Burke and his experienced management team aren’t going to corner themselves by focusing all thier attention on one player. If Richards turns his back to Toronto, it’s on to plan B, whatever that may be.

It wasn’t too long ago that fans were clamouring for management to build from within, develop draft picks and pass on aging, expensive free agents and trade options.

With Reimer, Nazem Kadri, Luke Schenn, Nikolai Kulemin, Joe Colbourne, Keith Aulie, Matt Frattin and Jake Gardiner enjoying varying degrees of success at the pro level, and another core of players developing in major junior, the youth movement is in full flight.

Richards solves an immediate need, but it’s not the end of the world if he suits up elsewhere next season.

 

 

 

 

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Carter, Richards flying out of Philly

Mack Liddell / June 23, 2011 / No comments

So … in the event you were unplugged from the digital world Thursday afternoon, or live in the southern U.S., there was some pretty big NHL news that came out of Philadelphia.

The Flyers started the day by trading Jeff Carter to Columbus for 21-year-old winger Jakub Voracek and their first (eighth overall) and third round picks in the 2011 draft. While the hockey world was busy Tweeting, texting and BBMing that news, GM Paul Holmgren pulled the trigger on an even bigger deal, sending captain Mike Richards to Los Angeles for top-prospect Brayden Schenn, gritty winger Wayne Simmonds and the Kings’ second-rounder in Friday’s draft.

And just for good measure, Holmgren topped off his day by inking free-agent goalie Ilya Bryzgalov to a nine-year deal worth $51 million.

Whew … I’m exhausted just writing that. I imagine a nice glass of scotch will be awaiting Mr. Holmgren when he gets home tonight.

And there could be plenty more nights filled with stiff drinks and deep, possibly remorseful contemplation for Holmgren depending on how these two blockbusters pan out.

It takes a lot of guts to trade your captain and top goal scorer, but even with Carter and Richards out of the mix, the Flyers still boast 76-point centre Claude Giroux, Daniel Briere and now Schenn down the middle.

With the immediate assets acquired Thursday afternoon, the Flyers can roll out a top-9 that includes Giroux, Briere, Schenn, Simmonds, Voracek, emerging power forward James van Riemsdyk, Scott Hartnell, Ville Leino (if re-signed) and Kris Versteeg.

Add in Bryzgalov — terrible contract aside — and the eighth overall pick plus a second- and third-rounder and the Flyers are looking pretty good now and for the future.

They do lose 59 goals and 132 points with the departure of Carter and Richards, but that void could be filled depending on the development and production of the three incoming players.

Also, Philadelphia’s downfall this past season wasn’t putting the puck in the net, it was keeping it out. And irregardless of the ludicrous length or overpayment for Bryzgalov, he immediately solves the Flyers’ biggest problem and gives fellow russian backup Sergei Bobrovsky a mentor to work with — albeit an unhinged, park-loving, money-grubbing one.

As far Columbus is concerned, Carter gives the Jackets their first proven No. 1 centre and captain Rick Nash a top-flight playmate to work with, something they have lacked since the franchise’s inception in 2000.

Losing Voracek doesn’t hurt as bad with the emergence of winger Matt Calvert along with the ongoing development of talented sniper Nikita Filatov. And while it always seems like a tragic loss when a team gives up a first round pick, especially in the top-10, the Jackets have had their fair share of failures in that regard and will gladly take a proven player versus an unknown at this point.

While Los Angeles GM Dean Lombardi surely had a tough time parting with Schenn, one of the the top prospects league wide, it’s a deal that makes the Kings a legitimate Stanley Cup threat.

Richards’ gritty two-way play will mesh well with captain Dustin Brown and gives top-centre Anze Kopitar some help carrying the offence. Add in outstanding young netminder Jonathan Quick and explosive D-tandem Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson and the Kings have a solid foundation to build on.

Once the dust clears and the frenetic keyboard pounding subsides, each team should be happy with how it all played out. Each team addressed their needs and there was good value going both ways. You’re all winners!

Pass the scotch.

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Mullet mulligan: Jagr returning to NHL

Mack Liddell / June 21, 2011 / No comments

Free agent Jaromir Jagr has narrowed down the final destination for his return to the NHL next season to two teams: the Detroit Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins.

According to several sources, Jagr’s camp approached the Penguins about a possible return, although it cannot be confirmed at this time Pittsburgh has interest in the 39-year-old forward. Another source told ESPN.com on Monday there is mutual interest between Jagr and the Red Wings and that coach Mike Babcock spoke with the Czech native over the weekend.

It’s reported that Jagr is seeking a one-year contract, but at what cost is anybody’s guess.

Jagr spent the past three seasons with Omsk Avangard of the Kontinental League and racked up 19 goals and 51 points in 49 games last season. He also suited up for the Czech Republic in the 2011 world championship, scoring five goals and eight points in eight games.

While nothing is official as of yet, it’s hard not to get wrapped up in the hype surrounding the return of one of the most dominating, exciting players of this generation, even if he can’t get around the ice like he used to and has since trimmed his world-famous mullet.

The thought of Jagr suiting up alongside Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin will rekindle memories of Mario and Mario Jr., and slotting him in the top-6 on the veteran-laden Red Wings would certainly make for some outlandish highlight reel goals.

But as is the case with the return of past-their-prime stars – or a brainless remake of a once-great TV show or movie – expectations should be tempered.

Michael Jordan in a Washington Wizards jersey was an ugly scene starring a bloated and broken down star – seeing the best player in the history of the NBA limp off in the sunset was painful to watch.

Brett Favre’s multiple comebacks; let’s not go there.

And of course there’s the repeated comeback attempts by Peter Forsberg and his brittle ankle. Although he deserves credit for knowing when to call it quits, despite the fire burning inside.

The last time Jagr laced up in the NHL was 2007-08. He finished with 25 goals and 71 points.

That doesn’t seem too long ago until you realize that Alexei Kovalev was an 84-point player that year and Jagr was outscored by J-P Dumont (29-43-72) and Jason Arnott (28-44-72) and was tied in points with Olli Jokinen and Vaclav Prospal.

As was seen this past season, hockey is faster and more physical than ever. Older players can thrive, as demonstrated by Mark Recchi, Nicklas Lidstrom and Teemu Selanne, but it will be a significant adjustment for Jagr to adapt to the speed of the NHL after being gone for so long and competing against inferior talent.

Despite his climbing age and dwindling speed, Jagr was relatively healthy during his three years in Russia and didn’t miss a game in the three years before bolting for the KHL. But he’ll need to avoid getting trucked like this if he wants to maintain a clean bill of health.

If utilized properly, Jagr can still be an effective player. He hasn’t lost the hockey sense that made him a five-time Art Ross Trophy winner and has the size to wreak havoc down low and while engaged in the cycle.

Although he no longer has the physical tools required to be an impact player over the course of an NHL season and playoffs at his age, Jagr would be a nice addition and could do some damage on a team with an established core.

 

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Comatose Canucks cling to life

Mack Liddell / June 10, 2011 / No comments

It was just one week ago that the Vancouver Canucks were flying high, standing on top of the hockey world, an easy and effortless jaunt through Boston away from predictably washing away 40 years of just-abouts and what-ifs.

Some Canucks fans were even willing to do the Bruins a favour and let them win one game so the Stanley Cup could be hoisted on home ice, in Canada, where it’s meant to be.

Unfortunately they weren’t banking on Roberto Luongo having one of his “moments” (it’s that time of month), or hockey’s Ultimate Warrior Ryan Kesler shrinking like LeBron James in the fourth quarter. And what about those red-headed twins?

The list of no-shows and sleep-walkers wearing green and blue the past two games is long and unacceptable.

Give credit to the Bruins: they’ve thwarted Vancouver’s relentless attack, punished them physically and are getting the goaltending required to win professional sports’ most elusive trophy.

And to think they outscored the Canucks 12-1 in Games 3 and 4 without leading scorer Nathan Horton, or receiving significant offensive contributions from Patrice Bergeron and Milan Lucic.

But home ice has a way of holistically healing the shattered confidence of a group of 22 grown men.

After the Canucks got blown out by the Chicago Blackhawks in back-to-back games in Round 1 — one in Vancouver and one in Chicago — Luongo bounced back in full valour and put on a clinic in Game 7 at home, after losing in a relief effort the game prior.

It should not surprise anybody — not even the harshest of critics — if Luongo steals the show, in a good way, Friday night.

The blame is not his to carry alone, however. You’re not going to win many games when you score once in two games.

If Vancouver is going to bounce back in Game 5, they’re going to need to crank up the intensity and involve themselves physically in their own zone and on the forecheck.

They’ll also need to put the defibrillators to their power play, which has gone 1-for-22 in the series.

And while you can’t take anything away from Tim Thomas, the Canucks need to get more quality shots on net. And while they’re at it, maybe they should try lifting the puck off the ice instead of trying to beat Thomas down low over and over again — it doesn’t happen often.

Ultimately the Canucks need somebody to, pardon the cliche, step up and spark some life into a team drifting towards the light at the end of the tunnel.

In fact, the Canucks should be hoping for more than one person to desperately grab the ankles of a season almost out of reach. Luongo needs to be sharp and keep his team within striking distance, the Sedins need to produce and Kesler needs to lead — physically, emotionally and on the score sheet. And it wouldn’t hurt if a few of the guys along for the ride (looking at you Mason Raymond) decided to help out as well.

Boston is in the driver’s seat. The Bruins don’t have to change their game, just continue to infuriate and outwork the Canucks, something they’ve done with relative ease since the series shifted to Beantown.

But if they think they can stroll into Vancouver and roll over the Canucks like they did in Boston, they’re in for a surprise.

The Canucks might be on life support, but they’re not dead.

Category: Puck / Tags: , , ,

Rome hit sparks debate

Mack Liddell / June 7, 2011 / No comments

 

 

Let’s just clear this up right away: Aaron Rome’s late hit on Nathan Horton was dirty and reckless and warranted the five minute major assessed on the play. It’s hard to argue otherwise.

It is also fitting that Rome was tagged with a four-game suspension Tuesday afternoon — the longest in finals history — and will be out for the remainder of the Stanley Cup Final, alongside his concussed victim.

“Two factors were considered in reaching this decision,” said NHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Mike Murphy.  “The hit by Rome was clearly beyond what is acceptable in terms of how late it was delivered after Horton had released the puck and it caused a significant injury.”

This statement echos the sentiments of most hockey enthusiasts — aside from the deranged and discriminate mouth-breathers, whose clouded judgement blocks out even the slightest ray of rationality —  and raises an interesting debate surrounding eye-for-an-eye justice in the NHL.

The Toronto Star’s Damien Cox had this to say via his Twitter account @damospin on Tuesday following the announcement of Rome’s suspension:

Horton can’t play so neither can Rome. Straightforward justice, although VAN will still take that tradeoff any day.

Sure, that’s a fair and traditionalist form of punishment applicable when there are only a maximum of four games remaining in the season, but straightforward justice, as Cox refers to it, should be buried in the Kavir Desert — it’s unpractical and absurd.

Sidney Crosby missed four months of hockey and is still on the long road to recovery, yet Washington’s Dave Steckel walked away unpunished. Does Steckel deserve to be banished to the press box for half the season and possibly longer because of an inconclusive and perhaps accidental hit?

No.

Subsequently, does a a player who commits a more egregious foul get off with nothing but a slap on the wrist if the player he targeted escaped a significant injury and a prolonged absence from the ice?

As one of the possible hundreds of combinations that can be used in weighing the moral and practical application of retributive justice, was Steckel’s hit more dangerous than the one Ben Eager laid on Daniel Sedin? Maybe based on the lingering effects of the hit, but not in its essence.

Although Cox and others clamoring for a more just form of punishment are doing so to push an agenda of accountability, which in its purest form is a noble position, hockey is not a straightforward game and simplifying the disciplinary process to the lowest common denominator is bullheaded and draconian.

Justice was served. Case closed. Let’s play hockey.

Category: Puck / Tags: , , , , ,

NBA on the brain

Mack Liddell / June 4, 2011 / No comments

* I needed to get this off my chest. It’s nothing more than a window into my conflicted mind. Writing is therapy.

It pains me to say this and I still have trouble believing it, but deep down in my sub-conscious I have felt more emotionally invested in the NBA Finals than the Stanley Cup Final.

Yes, it’s only been one game in the NHL versus two in the NBA, so I will be watching with great intrigue to see if the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins can pull me back in Game 2.

I have little doubt that once the puck drops Saturday I will fall in love all over again, at least until the Mavericks and Heat pull my heart strings the other way on Sunday.

How did I get to this point? I mean, hockey is my everything. Hell, this might be the first time I’ve written basketball in over a year. Well, the answer is quite simple: LeBron James.

I loathe James, like many others – it’s hard not to. The Decision has been analyzed, scrutinized and beaten to death, but it’s hard to forget. Every time James touches the ball, or a Miami fan cheers, I want to karate chop both in the throat.

When James, or Bosh or Wade prance around the court, tongue wagging and chest punching, I contemplate risking jail time and a certain beatdown just to fly to Miami, run on the court and make one of them the next Nancy Kerrigan.

Watching Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks come back from 15 points down in the final six minutes of Game 2 made me want to shed tears of joy. I can only imagine the jubilation among basketball fans – yeah, Heat fans don’t count – if the Mavericks make the Big Three cry on national television.

I just haven’t found that unscrupulous villain to wish awful things upon, or a Rudy Ruettiger-like hero to rally behind in the Cup final. But my disappointment is deeper than a lack of antagonist-protagonist drama.

Vancouver’s 1-0 win in the series opener had moments of brilliance and it’s an absolute joy to watch Tim Thomas go to work. But outside of a splendid display of goaltending, the game was a bore.

In fact, the only moments I recall in absolute clarity are a bit finger, Thomas flailing majestically inside and outside of the crease, and the inevitable Vancouver goal in the third period.

Vancouver carried the momentum from the opening faceoff, and beyond a few short bursts of push-back from the Bruins, there was little doubt as to who was going to walk away victorious – even if it took nearly 60 minutes to determine the outcome.

Or who knows, perhaps this loathsome diatribe is just a reflection of my feelings towards these two teams and their fan bases – I cringe knowing one will have bragging rights for another 12 months.

But my love for the game will outweigh my outright apathy towards the teams involved so long as it’s exciting, balls-to-the-wall hockey. And I still have faith these teams can put on a tremendous show.

I’m just distraught by my conflicted thoughts.


Category: Puck, The Other Guys / Tags: , , , , ,

For sale: the rights to Richards

Mack Liddell / June 2, 2011 / No comments

According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, the Dallas Stars will not be offering centre Brad Richards a contract for next season.

Stars owner Tom Hicks is in the process of selling his share of the team to Canadian businessman Tom Gagliardi, but until it’s finalized Dallas won’t be making any long term investments.

Richards has made it clear in the past that stable ownership is an important factor when deciding about his future.

“You look around the league at teams that are consistently winning, and it starts at the top. It’s always that way,” Richards told the Dallas Morning News in April. “It makes things clearer for a guy like Joe [Nieuwendyk] and what he’s doing. How many times have we talked about ownership this year? There are a lot teams where you don’t have to talk about it, you never talk about it. You just go play hockey, and things are always taken care of.”

Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk addressed the dilemma of offering Richards a contract with the ownership situation up in the air.

“There’s really not any point because we know that he is not going to sign without an owner,” Nieuwendyk told ESPN. ”We made a very serious attempt to get Brad signed prior to the trade deadline. We made a long-term contract proposal and it was rejected.”

Although the news is a devastating blow to the Stars, who were eliminated from the playoffs on the last day of the regular season, it’s got to have a number of GM’s across the league licking their chops at the prospect of reeling in a No. 1 centre with Richards’ pedigree.

The two teams who are rumoured to be at the forefront of the Richards sweepstakes are the Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers, although more suitors will certainly emerge if Richards is still available July 1.

With Nieuwendyk confirming Richards is all but gone, he’ll likely look to move his negotiating rights before free agency opens in less than a month.

But how much can Nieuwendyk expect in return?

Last year, the Philadelphia Flyers acquired the rights to defenceman Dan Hamhuis for American League blueliner Ryan Parent. They also grabbed the rights to then-San Jose Sharks goaltender Evgeni Nabokov for a conditional 7th round pick.

They struck out twice in negotiations, as Hamhuis signed with the Canucks and Nabokov bolted for Russia. They lost Parent, but kept the pick, as it was conditional on Nabokov signing.

Philadelphia did, however, lock up Scott Hartnell and Kimmo Timonen years prior after obtaining their rights before they hit the market.

But in all due respect to those players, Richards is in another stratosphere.

The closest recent example is the Calgary Flames’ pursuit and eventual acquisition of Jay Bouwmeester. Calgary gave up a 3rd round pick and the rights to then-unrestricted free agent Jordan Leopold to have first dibs at Bouwmeester.

On the eve of free agent open season, GM Darryl Sutter locked up his prized blueliner for five years with an annual cap hit of $6.68 million.

Now, a premier centre and power play quarterback who has won a Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe and has averaged 72 points over his career carries more weight than a good two-way D-man, but it’s a good starting point.

It’s hard to imagine the Rangers, Leafs, or whoever else jumps into the ring to give up anything of substance without guaranteeing Richards will be taking the opening faceoff for their team in October.

But with the demand far outweighing the supply — especially for the Leafs and Rangers, who desperately need and can afford a front-line pivot — it will be interesting to see how this situation plays out leading up to the NHL draft.

Negotiations will likely start with a mid-round pick or middling prospects, but that cost could skyrocket depending on the desperation or conviction of the teams involved.

It should be noted the Rangers traded their two second round selections in 2011 in exchange for Flames prospect Tim Erixon on Tuesday, which could hinder their plan to trade for Richards’ rights.

Another layer to the story is whether Richards wants to play in a major media market like Toronto.

Toronto Sun reporter Steve Simmons speculated in this article a while back that Richards had no interest in playing for the Leafs, but until he’s wearing another sweater or says so himself, not much should be taken from this.

The Leafs will have approximately $21-25 million in cap space to play with this summer and GM Brian Burke won’t have a problem outbidding the rest of the field if he so chooses. Length of term is another beast altogether, though. Burke has made it clear he doesn’t support “lifetime deals”, but he might have to show some flex if Richards is his primary target.

Because of Richards’ supposed reluctance to play in Toronto and Burke’s strong-willed principles, it might be a shrewd move to pull the trigger and buy time to hammer out a deal.

But only if the price is right. Time will tell.

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