Bleacher Report - Articles by AJ Jarnicki

Free Game for Toronto Leafs Fans? Hell Has Truly Frozen Over

AJ Jarnicki — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:09:45 -0400

A couple of days ago, I was reading the Toronto Star, a good 'ole newspaper, and my eyes were drawn to this big Leafs announcement. What was the announcement? A game completely free for fans.

The first 700 people who showed up at a press conference were given a pair of tickets to the game, and the rest will be given away through contests and whatnot. It was an added preseason game against the Buffalo Sabres on Sept. 22, 2008. Considering how many suits there are at Leafs games, if the tickets are not hoarded and sold, which is something that shouldn't happen, this will be a success.

The problem is, tickets for this game are already being put on ticket buying sites. It's ridiculous, a game that is supposed to be completely free for fans, and some people are going to have to pay to get in. This is Toronto, though, and you get used to it. Since this is a remarkable situation for the Leafs fans, let's go through the pros and cons of a decision for a free game.

Pros:

Well, the most obvious is that it is free, except for parking, but the Leafs don't get money for the parking. I've only been to one Leaf game in my life, and it was at Maple Leaf Gardens. This is pretty much the only chance I will have to see a Leaf game live.

Most of the suits will not be in the arena. Most spectators will be into the game. Of course some of the big companies will be able to get in, but for the most part, it will just be fans.

A third pro is the game itself. They almost couldn't have the matchup better. The QEW Rivalry, the Buffalo Sabres. Most fans in the arena do not like the Sabres, so it will be a little louder than if it were Atlanta or Anaheim. If they could have gotten Montreal or Ottawa, it would have been a bit better.

Cons:

The first con about this game, a thing I have already mentioned is that tickets will probably be hoarded and sold, something that shouldn't happen at a free game. At stubhub.com, tickets for this game are already being sold at over $150. That's stupid, but this is Toronto and people will try to get all the money that they can get.

A second con about it is that this game is an early preseason game, so the hockey will not be the best. It's free, though, so I guess we will take what we can get in this situation. The on-ice product would have been better if it was the last game before the start of the season, but again, I'll take what I can get.

Overall, the pros trump the cons, which is good. This will probably be a success and the fans that are lucky enough to get tickets will be happy that they were able to watch this game. If I get tickets, it will probably be the only game that I will get to watch at the ACC for a long time.

NCAA 09: PS3 Is Definitely Needed

AJ Jarnicki — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:09:06 -0400

I had been waiting for NCAA Football '09 for weeks. I had rented NCAA Football '08, and decided to rent '09. Because I couldn't wait for this game to come out, I bought a used copy of NCAA Football '07.

When I first rented '07, I played it for the longest times. All the time, continuous. So I ended up playing an entire season in three days on Campus Legend on '07.

Then, Jul. 15 comes and I go and rent the game. I was VERY excited to play the game. It's not often I get a chance to play a game the day it comes out.

So, let's see, compared to '07, the graphics are almost no different, they are a little better, but the Dynasty and Campus Legend modes are pretty much no different from '07.

The Mascot Challenge is fun. It was weird seeing mascots a gajillion feet tall, and getting past them, but fun nonetheless. Also, before, if your celebrations went to long, you got a penalty. This happens less in '09.

In reality, you should rent the game first, and then make a decision. Because I got '07 two days before it came out, I might get it on PSP, but for people who have '07 or '08 for PS2, you might as well stick with that and save up for a PS3, or XBOX 360, depending on your taste.

How to make this game better? Well, I'd say make the same improvements they did on PS3 and XBOX 360 instead of making us shell out the extra money for a PS3 and the game. Other than that, there's not much you can do except, like I said before, save up for the next-gen consoles.

Oh and for the 2008 FBS season, GO BUCKS! O! S! U!

Second Round Predictions From The AJ

AJ Jarnicki — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 10:57:39 -0400

Ah well, you can't be right every time. Anyways, coming straight at chya is the second predictions coming from me. Let's pull a switcheroo and talk about the Western Conference first.

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs (6) Colorado Avalanche

Oh well, can't pick em all. I picked both these teams to lose their first round series. I thought the Preds would come up with a huge upset and the Wild would out work their divisional rivals. Turns out the only guy who came to play for the Preds was Dan Ellis. And, I just am incensed that Colorado won. Not one of my favourites. Anyways, on to this series. Well, Detroit is outstanding, a bit more than I expected. Osgood played well when called upon. Can he keep it up for another series, though? I am still skeptical about the goalies. Other than that, the offense is great, the defense is lead by the best defencemen in the new millennium. The Avalanche on the other hand are a team I really don't know much about, coming from the East. But Theodore won the series coming up roses all series. I think Burnaby Joe Sakic will play well, along with his supporting cast of Milan Hejduk, Paul Stastny and others. A good rivalry series, I say it goes all the way, but...Red Wings in 7.

(2) San Jose Sharks vs (5) Dallas Stars

I'm going to give away my pick really early in this analysis. I'm picking the Sharks to win the West. They are not only my favourite team left, but when J.R. (Jeremy Roenick, for those not in the know) scores 2 goals and 2 assists at the ripe age of 40 or something on Miikka Kiprusoff, you know you have a good team. The team has great scoring, lead by Joe Thornton, and the defense is absolutely fantastic with Brian Campbell, Team Canada, 2010, book it. And Nabokov, who could win the Vezina Trophy, and is amazingly the front-runner in front of Martin Brodeur. The Stars, all they had going for them was Marty Turco, and the offense was able to beat Anaheim. This is a better team in San Jose. Ribeiro, Morrow and Modano will lead scoring, but it won't be enough to beat S.J. Sharkie (is he still the mascot?) and the San Jose Sharks. San Jose in 6.

Now off to the East.

(1) Montreal Canadiens vs (6) Philadelphia Flyers

I watched last night's game between the Flyers and the Capitals, and my heart sunk when I saw Joffrey Lupul score. I hate Philly with a passion. That being said, they are a good team. The have the aforementioned Joffrey Lupul, along with Mike Richards, Jeff Carter and Danny Briere. They also have Martin Biron in goal, so needless to say, it's gonna be a good one. They are young, however, those Flyers. I know what you're saying. The Canadiens are young too! That being said, they made the playoffs last year, so they have playoff experience, and they have Koivu back. They are healthy and ready to go, Carey Price will shine in a decent series, along with Kovalev and the rest of the crew from Montreal. Habs in 6.

A p.s. from the Habs celebration. What the heck are they thinking? Riots after the first round? Imagine what it'll be like if they win?!!?! Holy mackerel. Toronto had elaborate celebrations after they beat Ottawa in 2002, but not like this.

(2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs (5) New York Rangers

Hmm, weird how both conferences had the same seeds win every series. Creepy, isn't it? Well, let's get to this series. The Penguins played phenomenal, better than I thought they would against the Ottawa Senators. They entire should be commended. And the Rangers, ah, the Rangers. Sean Avery, keep your stick on the ice, as my parents used to tell me. The Rangers have Sean Avery, which helps them a ton. They have Jaromir Jagrmeister and Henrik Lundqvist i net. They look tough to beat. But the Pens have that toughness. Crosby, Malkin, Sykora, Roberts, Hossa, ugh! The list goes on and on. They win this tough good series. Pens in 6.

Well there you go, second round. Have fun cheering on your favourite team. Unless it's Philadelphia. No, I'm just kidding. But the Flyers suck.

The Crazy Season That Was the Sens

AJ Jarnicki — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:25:03 -0400

What a season for Ottawa Senators fans. They went from one of the best starts ever (if not the best) to the collapse of the century.

I'm wondering, from the perspective of Senators fans, honestly what happened? What made you go from 15-2, to seventh and swept in the first round?

It is so puzzling, especially coming from a Toronto standpoint where all we hear is a bit of the analysis from Ian Sendes, oops, that's Ian Mendes. Sorry, my mistake.

From what I know, they had a bad coach to begin with. Paddock was a bad choice from the start.

After the hiring of Paddock, the second domino to fall was Emery. When a guy who took this team to the finals starts showing up late to practice and such, you have a problem.

Yes, that's right I said it: The season was over before it began.

The players showed complete cockiness near the end of the season. They were full of themselves and really didn't think team first. When Vermette is the best player in your last game of the season, you have problems (book it, Vermette scores 30 to 40 goals next year, you heard it here first, take him in your draft and whatnot).

Either Heatley, Spezza, or Alfredsson needs to be your best player, and you work from there. Or your goalie. Gerber, I have to say, came to play. He wasn't the reason Ottawa lost this series. The Pens were just better.

Crosby, Malkin, Sykora, Roberts, Staal...the list goes on and on. Don't feel bad Sens fans, you just got beat by a really good team.

I've heard Murray wrecked the team. This is absolutely bogus. He coached this team to the Finals last year. The only thing he should have done is maybe get some players at the deadline, but that ship sailed and now you've got an 18th pick (I think, someone fill me in on that).

Murray is not the problem. The players gave up a while ago. Muckler shouldn't have been fired. He built this team and he got fired for it. Sens upper management had a brain fart with that one.

Well, that's all I got. As I said before, Sens fans please tell me what happened.

NHL Playoffs: First Round Predictions

AJ Jarnicki — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:56:15 -0400

So the playoffs start tomorrow, and my *sniff* Leafs aren't in it. Three years, yes I know. But instead of crying over their suckiness, I cut to the chase and predict the first round of these, the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Let's start off with the East.

(1) Montréal Canadiens vs. Boston Bruins (8)
Ah, the one-eight matchup, where the most amazing upsets happen. Edmonton a couple years ago, Pittsburgh in 1999, San Jose the year after to just name a couple. But usually, the number one wins dominating. I see this as one of those series. The scoring for Montréal goes deep with names like Plekanec, the Kostitsyn brothers, Koivu, Kovalev to just name a few. The D is absolutely great and the phenom goalie to back them all up, the very young Carey Price. Boston is more than likely getting Patrice Bergeron back for this series, which will make it close, but they just aren't as good as them. Habs in 5.

(2) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Ottawa Senators (7)
This will be a sick matchup, whether or not Sidney Crosby and Daniel Alfredsson are healthy. The Sens have a really good lineup all the way down their roster and a goalie that has yet to perform in the playoffs, and will have to be hyped to go now. The Penguins, although a young team, have been here once before, against these same Senators. They were kicked out easily, mostly because of their youth. They are much better this year, with name like Malkin, Crosby, Christensen, and Staal with playoff experience. And a old guy named Gary Roberts who will help the young'ins through this first round of the playoffs. Pens in 6.

(3) Washington Capitals vs. Philadelphia Flyers (6)
Ugh, I hate this matchup. Ovechkin, the cherry picker and the Broad St-, oh sorry the Philadelphia Flyers. Both these teams I could not care less about. But the Caps are a really hot team right now, but have nearly no playoff experience. In reality, both these teams are really young. I don't see anyone else performing other than Ovechkin. The Flyers have a few players with playoff experience, including Briere, Gagne, who is injured, so he'll be of no help. I don't know, I just don't care about this series. Caps in 7.

(4) New Jersey Devils vs New York Rangers (5)
This will be a good series, regardless of what you Rangers homers think of it. Martin Brodeur can keep any team in a playoff series. I bet he could get into the playoffs with a team like Tampa Bay. The Rangers have a bunch of highly paid players who haven't performed to capacity (what else is new?) like Drury and Gomez. I believe Brodeur, Parise and Elias steal the show and take this series in another great one. Devils in 7. Now lets go out west past the hundredth meridian, where the great plains begin.

(1) Detroit Red Wings vs Nashville Predators (8)
This will be a better series than most think. The Red Wings have a couple of goalies who could be really good or really bad in Osgood and Hasek. Both are old and could just be tired. Remember Osgood and the All-Star Game? Yeah, I bet you do. The Predators had to play really good hockey to get in and I say they continue it what will be the most insane greatness series ever done on ice or ground or floor. The scorers for Nashville can perform and even though I hate southern hockey, the Preds will be phenomenal. Preds in 7.

(2) San Jose Sharks vs. Calgary Flames (7)
The Sharks, ah the Sharks. What an amazing team. Great goalie, great defense, great scorers. Can this team be any better? Probably not. The Flames are so overmatched in this series. Even though I love what Iginla did at the end of the game in Vancouver, there isn't enough depth on the team to match what San Jose brings to the table. Thornton, Campbell and Nabokov stand on their heads as this is a shorter series than most expect. San Jose in 4.

(3) Minnesota Wild vs. Colorado Avalanche (6)
This matchup is very interesting. Holy jeeez, the Wild who are pretty good, pretty good. Take a gander at the standings, they ended up only 4 points worse than the Anaheim Ducks, who are really great, as they were last year. Gaborik with his best year offensively, I think. I'd have to check, but I think it was his best. Rolston good as always, and Backstrom the man who can stand on his head for this team. Then there's the Colorado Avalanche. I've seen a few other predictions for this series and it seems people are doubting the Wild. I can't see why. Their best player has playoff experience (Gabby) and their goalie will be good as well. the Avs are just old and injury prone. Well, at least Forsberg is. Never liked him. They may have a ton of playoff experience, but they are just in the too old part of their careers. Wild in 6.

(4) Anaheim Ducks vs. Dallas Stars (5)
Holy mackinaw, I love these 4-5 matchups. Always a good series. Even if it is over in five games, all of the games are close. The same can be said for this. Turco is really not a playoff performer, but there's a first time for everything, I say he can keep this a really good series. Ribeiro, Modano, Richards and Morrow are 4 really good players, but who else is there on D other than Zubov? Isn't he injured too? So, I guess Boucher is the only other one. The Ducks on the other hand have a sick defense corps and the offense just keeps getting with the addition of Selanne. As if they weren't good enough already. The goalie Giggy is already great, that goes without mention. It is said when your good, you get luckier. This can be said for the Ducks they have a really good team and they just can't be beat in this series. Ducks in 6.

Well, there you have it, the first round analysed by me. Hopefully, you will do great with betting and whatnot throughout the playoffs. I'll be back for the second round with my predictions and maybe I'll post a random blog. Until then, see you later!

The Road Ahead for the Toronto Maple Leafs

AJ Jarnicki — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 11:12:50 -0400

So, the Leafs missed the playoffs. So what else is new? The management of my favourite team sucks, and they give no-trade clauses away like they are Christmas presents. What needs to happen next? Well, someone else needs to buy the team. The Pension Plan doesn't know what they are doing. I do not know exactly who should buy the team, but it should be someone who knows hockey.

Also, Richard Peddie needs to go. He is wrecking the team. A friend of mine calls him Dick Peddie. I'd say that is pretty accurate. To replace him should be someone who is seasoned and has made good moves before. A guy like Scotty Bowman is out there and he should be named President. He has a lot of Stanley Cups. If anyone could clue me in to how many he actually has, that would be nice. I think he would have been President or GM, if he was allowed to bring in his own coach. MLS and E didn't allow it, so he walked away. That's intolerable. Scotty Bowman would have hired a really good coach. I think greatness hires greatness.

Also, the man who should be named GM is John Muckler. I don't care if he is the former GM of the Ottawa Senators, he has built the team into what it is today, even though I hate it. Those two guys I believe would make some really good moves that could turn around the franchise in maybe 4 to 5 years? Maybe? The moves they should make are resign Stajan. He proved at the end of the year he is a good player showing flashes of his greatness for Belleville. Give him another year or two, he will a good two-way player for the Leafs if they keep him. With Wellwood, it depends on the money he wants. If the asking price is more than 2 million, let him go. He doesn't seem to do much for the Leafs anyway. Antropov, after this year, the only thing I would trade him for is either a 2nd round pick or a young player who scored around 20 goals this year. I'd take Colby Armstrong, he seems like a young guy who will be good later on. Mats Sundin needs to be resigned. This is the most important thing they can do, other than picking in the draft.

However, Mats needs to have no no-trade clause. Toronto needs to get something for him. He is 37, almost ready to retire. We need a 20 year old Mats Sundin to captain this team, or at least to "futurely" captain the team. This draft is so deep. The Leafs can pick anywhere in the top ten this year, and they have a surefire good player. Cody Hodgson, Zach Bogosian, Kyle Beach and Luke Schenn are all likely players the Leafs will pick. Hodgson might be a bit too far up, but I'll settle for Beach, Bogosian and Schenn. They need defense, and Luke Schenn is one that I'd love. Team Canada man, he'll be good. Mark my words.