Bleacher Report - Articles by Josh Lewis

Thanks for the Memories, Joe: Hockey Loses a Giant

Josh Lewis — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 01:19:47 -0400

So this is how it feels to lose an old friend.

When Joe Sakic announces his retirement from the NHL on Thursday, hockey will lose one of the best it ever had.

Aside from one of the greatest wrist shots in league history, the game will say farewell to many things when Sakic hangs 'em up.

Class. Integrity. Leadership. Dedication. Pride. Skill.

These words don't even begin to describe the extraordinary package hockey fans were blessed enough to witness during Sakic's 20-year career.

In fact, we may never see such a mixture of ability, class, and success again.

That's just the kind of player and person Joe Sakic was.

There wasn't a person in the game or in the stands who had anything but the utmost respect for him. He made fans and admirers everywhere he went—even Detroit.

Sakic was the kind of player who attracted casual fans to the sport, and not always because of Colorado's success.

My stepmother, as you may imagine, has never been a hockey fan. But during the Avs' heyday in the late 1990s, after watching a couple of games, she started to watch more often to see Sakic play. Not because he had a phenomenal wrist shot, or outstanding vision, or because he and Peter Forsberg comprised the best one-two punch in the NHL. And it wasn't because she thought Sakic was cute.

No, my stepmother tuned in because she respected the hell out of Joe Sakic as a human being.

Even now, without the faintest interest in who wins or loses, she makes sure to watch anytime Colorado is on the tube.

The word "class" has become one of the most overused words in sports today. It seems anyone without a criminal record is eligible for class act status.

In Sakic's case, the word fits like a glove. He may as well have it trademarked.

But how did Burnaby Joe earn his reputation? Why is he at the head of the class when it comes to hockey's all-time good guys?

Well, there are the intangibles: the way he carries himself, his soft-spoken, respectful approach to the media, his willingness to share the spotlight.

But there are also a few distinctive moments and features of Sakic's career that help to make him one of the greatest ambassadors the game has ever known.

First, he spent his entire 20-year career with the same franchise, starting out with the sad-sack Quebec Nordiques and leading the team up the ladder to two Stanley Cups after moving to Denver. He captained the club for 16 of those years.

In recent memory, only Steve Yzerman and Mario Lemieux can be placed in the same company.

But the one moment that will forever sum up Sakic's class and selflessness in the minds of everyone who saw it came on June 9, 2001, when the Avalanche won their second Stanley Cup.

Tradition calls for the captain to receive the silver mug from the NHL commissioner and hoist it over his head.

This, however, was no ordinary Stanley Cup win.

Sakic held in the urge to raise the chalice, instead handing it to 40-year-old Ray Bourque, who tasted Stanley Cup glory for the first time in his 22 NHL seasons.

The Avs had dedicated their playoff run to Bourque, adopting a slogan of "Mission 16W," referencing the number of wins it would take to get the legend his first Cup.

The moment Sakic handed the Cup to Bourque, 19,309 fans inside the Pepsi Center and millions more in bars and living rooms across North America grinned like Cheshire cats.

It was an unforgettable, immortal moment that brought tears to the eyes whether you were a Colorado fan, a New Jersey fan, or just a hockey fan at all—and it will forever be remembered as the moment when Sakic went from a classy player to hockey's epitome of grace.

So, all that said, it's fitting that Sakic would close out his career in the same manner he played it: with dignity. He didn't hang on like so many others, marring his legacy and hurting his team.

It's unfortunate that his final season was decimated by injury, but Sakic recognized that he could no longer contribute at the highest level. Despite the tantalizing prospect of playing for his country in his hometown at the Vancouver Olympics, he knew it was time to pass the torch to Matt Duchene, Paul Stastny, and the rest of Colorado's future stars.

Of course, there's more to the Avalanche captain than his glowing personal attributes. There are other reasons for him becoming one of the most beloved players in hockey history.

Sakic will go out as the eighth-highest scorer of all time with 1,641 career points. His 625 goals rank him 14th in league history.

But he cemented his dominance when it mattered: during the playoffs. Sakic is tied for seventh in all-time playoff points with 188, and his 19 postseason game-winners puts him in a tie for third, behind only Brett Hull and Wayne Gretzky.

Most impressive: Sakic is by far the NHL's all-time leader in playoff overtime goals, with his eight doubling that of any other player to ever suit up in this league.

If that doesn't define clutch, I don't know what does.

Of course, Joe Sakic wouldn't be Joe Sakic without his contribution to team success. He captained the Avalanche to two Stanley Cups, including one in their first season in Colorado, capturing the Conn Smythe Trophy that year.

Yes, those teams were stacked with the likes of Forsberg, Patrick Roy, Adam Foote, and many others. But Sakic was undeniably the glue that held them together.

At the end of the day, Sakic's most memorable on-ice achievement may have been his role in Team Canada's first gold medal in 50 years at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.

After a relatively slow start to the tournament, Sakic started to heat up during medal-round wins over Finland and Belarus. But he saved his best for the biggest stage, the gold medal game against the United States.

Sakic scored twice in the final, including the winning goal—courtesy of that potent wrist shot—leading Canada to a 5-2 win and the greatest hockey moment this country has experienced since 1972. He was named team MVP.

But the goal I will never forget was Sakic's second, the one that put the game away with 1:40 on the clock. Bob Cole's call of the goal (beginning at the 2:58 mark) still sends chills down my spine, and it is without a doubt the greatest sports call of my lifetime.

I will always remember where I was at the precise moment Joe Sakic ended Canada's agonizing wait for Olympic glory.

I began to seriously watch hockey in 1994, and with all due respect to Gordie Howe, Sakic was Mr. Hockey to this wide-eyed eight-year-old.

He truly was one of my heroes, and in this age of overwhelming NHL youth, he now becomes the last one to ride into the sunset.

Only one word seems appropriate to sum up what Joe Sakic meant to me, legions of daydreaming young fans, and the game itself.

Thanks.

Steve MacIntyre Not Taking NHL Opportunity for Granted

Josh Lewis — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:05:19 -0400

Writer's note: This article will appear in the April 29 issue of the Kindersley Clarion. That means you, as a B/R reader, are one of the first people to read it. Consider yourself privileged (winky face).

Steve MacIntyre has been the ultimate nomad over the past decade.

The Brock, Saskatchewan native’s hockey career has taken him everywhere from Providence, R.I., to Charlotte, N.C., to St. Jean, Que.

His extensive tour of duty spans just about every rung of the minor league ladder, from the American Hockey League to the roller derby on skates known as the Quebec Senior Professional Hockey League and everything in between. He has never stuck with one team for more than 62 games at a time.

These days, MacIntyre fights the likes of Derek Boogaard and Eric Godard for a living as the designated enforcer of the Edmonton Oilers.

He’s finally reached the National Hockey League at the age of 28, but MacIntyre knows his dream could be over at any time. Enforcers are becoming less and less common in today’s game and the six-foot-six, 265-pound pugilist appeared in just 22 games during his first NHL season, partially due to a broken orbital bone.

“I think that made me realize, ‘Hey, you could lose this opportunity in the blink of an eye and you have to appreciate it and work hard,’” says MacIntyre, who is back in Brock after his Oilers missed the playoffs for the third straight season.

“You work hard getting to where you’re at, but you also have to work hard to maintain where you are. I think that’s one of the biggest things I’ve learned throughout this year. People don’t just give you things. You have to earn them.”

MacIntyre certainly has earned the promotion to the big league. He’s dealt with scoffers since he left the Prince Albert Raiders and turned pro in 2000, and for the present, he’s come out on top.

“Throughout my career, I’ve been told I was too big, too slow, and not talented enough,” he stated. “I was constantly told I would never make it farther than where I was, no matter what league or what level I was at. I was never a top prospect or the most talented, but my mom and dad taught me never to quit. They instilled in me a work ethic.”

Two years ago, MacIntyre couldn’t have imagined getting to this point. Having spent the past six seasons with seven different teams in six different leagues, he decided to pick up his gloves and say goodbye to professional hockey.

“I was playing in the (United Hockey League), right back where I started my career, with the Quad City Mallards. I was just fed up with the game, fed up with the politics, and I was fighting day in and day out and had enough,” MacIntyre recalled.

“I called it quits. My family was back home in Charlotte and it just wasn’t worth it for me, being away from them. I thought it was the best thing for me, to move on with life and get on with the real world.”

After several months of reflection and family time, the defenceman-turned-winger allowed his curiosity to get the better of him. He returned to the game in the fall of 2007 and was offered a tryout with the Providence Bruins of the AHL.

After a 62-game stint there, the Florida Panthers inked him to a two-year contract in the summer of 2008. But when they sent him to the AHL after training camp, the Oilers claimed him off waivers.

For someone who had spent his entire pro career bouncing from town to town south of the border, the opportunity to play six hours from home was pretty heady stuff.

“I was pretty excited. I grew up watching the Oilers and it’s a dream come true even getting the chance. It’s an unbelievable feeling and whether I made the team or they sent me back on waivers, it was an opportunity for me to put that jersey on and to be a part of the Oilers organization,” said MacIntyre.

“I think they felt like they needed a physical guy like myself to watch over the smaller guys on their team. We have a smaller team than most of the teams in the NHL, so they wanted a bit of grit,” he added.

Big Mac, as he has become known among Edmonton fans and media, fought six times during his 22 games with the Oilers, winning four. And among his many appearances on the scoresheet, two of them weren’t for penalties.

His first NHL goal came against the Washington Capitals on Jan. 13 when he opened the scoring in a 5-2 win. But scoring was the furthest thing from MacIntyre’s mind that night.

“I was a little bit nervous playing Washington. They had Donald Brashear there and you grow up watching the game and seeing him do as well as he did as far as my job goes. I was more worried about that,” he laughed.

“I was yelling for (a pass). I was the last guy that was covering defence. That was my old position. I was just covering for a guy and I happened to be in the right spot at the right time. I was just trying to get a shot on net and it might have had eyes, I guess. It was pretty cool, that’s for sure.”

Three months later, with the eliminated Oilers looking to play spoiler against the Calgary Flames on the second last night of the regular season, MacIntyre found the net again and this time it stood up as the game-winner in a 5-1 drubbing.

To put his two NHL goals in perspective, that’s one more than he scored in a full season in the AHL, ECHL and WHA2 in 2003-04.

MacIntyre admitted it isn’t easy to sit in the press box as often as he does, but he’ll take it over long minor league bus rides.

“That’s part of being a professional. You have to adapt to the circumstances. It’s tough being a role player. The game’s changed. Yeah, you want to be out there, but the game has changed and the coach puts you in where he feels you fit,” he commented.

“I’m playing in the NHL. Yeah, I might not get the most ice time, or the most games played, but you’re part of a team and your main focus is winning the Stanley Cup and if I can be part of it, that’s a success for me.”

MacIntyre’s ability to play the wing and defence could very well prolong his NHL career.

“It’s maybe my ace in the hole as far as furthering my career, that I can play a little bit of both. I don’t really care where I’m playing as long as I’m doing something,” he laughed. “That’s the way I look at it. You’re getting to play a sport and have fun at it and you get paid pretty well to do it, so wherever they want me, that’s what I’m going to do.”

With NHL teams placing more and more emphasis on speed and skill and some no longer carrying designated fighters, the future is uncertain for MacIntyre, but he intends to do everything he can to make sure his stint in the big league is more than just a cup of coffee.

“You can’t look too far ahead. You have to live every day and do the best you can. You have to work the hardest. You have to be one of the guys who’s willing to go the extra mile. You have to be that teammate,” he said.

“I think in order for me to stay in the NHL, I have to perfect the little things and that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Eugene Melnyk Tells Me To Blow Myself Up

Josh Lewis — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 11:30:39 -0500

Despite mounting evidence that the Ottawa Senators are moving further away from the playoffs and not closer, owner Eugene Melnyk lashed out at his team's critics on Wednesday for suggesting the organization should go back to square one and try again.

"Anybody that says we should blow up this organization should get their own bomb and blow themselves up," said Melnyk, in response to continuing calls for a rebuild in Ottawa.

With apologies to Melnyk, I am not going to follow his advice. I'm 22 years old. I have too much to live for.

I should make it clear, I have tremendous respect for Eugene Melnyk. I like him as a person and I only wish that he owned the Maple Leafs instead of their archrivals in the nation's capital. He's almost the perfect owner—a man who is passionate about hockey and is willing to open his wallet for success, but allows his people to do their jobs.

That being said, when a falling safe is about to hit you, you don't try to convince observers that your head is hard enough to withstand the impact. You get the hell out of the way.

Yes, the Senators have a lot more talent than their record shows; that's why Melnyk is clinging to the hope of turning things around.

But a year and a half of watching his skilled team play like uninspired doormats should be enough to convince the owner that this group of players is not capable of getting it done. And that's without even mentioning all the years of playoff futility before the team made it to the Cup final in 2007.

It's time to wake up and smell the antibiotics, Eugene.

Aside from your captain, your entire core is comprised of players who don't know how to win. You have one of the poorest prospect pools in the NHL, and Daniel Alfredsson is going to retire before this team gets anywhere near a Cup.

It's time to blow it up. Not with a bomb. With a general manager and a BlackBerry.

Paul Kelly Does the Right Thing: NHLPA Will Not Reopen CBA

Josh Lewis — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:04:58 -0500

The National Hockey League Players' Association announced today that it will not exercise its option to reopen the collective bargaining agreement with the NHL following the current season.

The CBA expires after the 2010-11 season, but the players' association had negotiated the right to modify the deal after four years.

Executive director Paul Kelly explained that although his group would like to see some things changed, the presence of an uncertain economic climate was a key reason for the decision, which was made in consultation with the 30 NHL player reps.

It's another wise move by a man who has done nothing but win people over since taking over the PA in October 2007.

Instead of narrowly focusing on his own ambitions, as we are accustomed to seeing from Gary Bettman and Kelly's predecessors, Bob Goodenow and Ted Saskin (to the extreme, in his case), the NHLPA boss is looking out for the long-term health of the game.

He understands that any kind of labour tension, coupled with the league's inevitable loss of revenue caused by fans and corporations tightening their belts, could be disastrous.

Kelly is not hell-bent on sticking it to his rival, as other chief labour figures have been. He realizes that this CBA is a partnership between the league and its players—a wary one, but a partnership nonetheless. The more the league is able to grow its product, and thus haul in revenue, the more his players get out of the deal.

None of this is to say that we won't see another protracted dispute when the CBA runs out in September 2011. That is a very plausible scenario, particularly considering the economic purgatory the sport could suffer over the next two years. But Kelly knows how to pick his battles, and he knows that this is not one of them.

The NHLPA is finally in good hands. Now if they could only get rid of that Healy feller.

The Real Jason Blake: Is He Worth Trading?

Josh Lewis — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 18:51:50 -0500

One of the most prominent storylines from the Toronto Maple Leafs' slide down the NHL standings in recent weeks is a guy who was all but ignored in off-season analysis of the club.

Was he on the very short list of players expected to lead the way in scoring? Nope. Was he one of the few players considered to be in the team's long-term plans? Not there either. Was he a prime candidate to be traded this season? Nowhere to be found.

So why is Jason Blake suddenly the one making headlines?

Well, the biggest reason appears to be that he has finally gotten past the shock of being diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia last season.

Blake said all the right things at the time about feeling normal and focusing on playing hockey, but the development clearly affected his game and he recently admitted as much.

"How would you feel if someone told you devastating news?" Blake told the Toronto Sun. "It's no fun. But I had a summer to deal with it. I don't think I really had a chance to deal with it last year because I was playing every night. I'm not using it as an excuse by any means, but yeah, I'm having a lot more fun this year than last year."

Leafs head coach Ron Wilson told the Sun in no uncertain terms that Blake has been the team's "best player for two months now...all the things I heard that were negative about him, I haven't seen at all the last two to three months."

Blake, 34, has elevated his game in recent weeks and just about everyone in Leafland is noticing. His recent success was highlighted by a five-point night against the Carolina Hurricanes last Thursday, including a hat trick—an effort which stuck it to former coach Paul Maurice, now with the Hurricanes. It's no secret that the pair didn't see eye to eye last year in Toronto.

Whereas last season most fans (and perhaps the coaching staff as well) just wanted to forget about Blake and use him as little as possible, many viewers are now excited to see him on the ice, and he is frequently used in big-game situations, including shootouts.

At the risk of sounding callous, Blake's new attitude is a good thing for the Leafs on more than one front. Obviously, it's good for the team on the ice. A healthy, happy Jason Blake is a productive Jason Blake. But equally important is the fact that Blake's play could be raising his trade value.

The operative word there is "could." If Blake's skill and production were the only things under consideration, Toronto could move him for a decent return right now. But there are three seasons left on Blake's contract at a $4 million cap hit per year, and that fact hangs around Brian Burke's neck like a millstone in trade negotiations.

No matter how well Blake plays, it's very unlikely that any team would give up what he's worth in a trade. Unless he suddenly turns into the third-millennium version of Gordie Howe, no team will want to saddle themselves with $12 million over three years for a player who may or may not still be making an impact at the end of that deal.

Throw in the fact that most teams are trimming their belts in the wake of the global economic crisis, and it's about as likely as Burke and Kevin Lowe going to the gym together.

The only way Blake could be traded is if the Leafs are willing to throw in a draft pick or prospect and take back a bad contract in return. But even that wouldn't have been possible last season, so it's an improvement.

The $12 million dollar question is this: Is it worth Brian Burke's while to pull off such a trade to move Blake?

The simple answer is no.

The Leafs have cap space coming out their ears and likely will for the duration of the rebuild. Their hand is not being forced. With big ticket players like Tomas Kaberle, Pavel Kubina, and Nik Antropov possibly being moved by the deadline, this may be a team flirting with the salary cap floor of $40.7 million.

Rebuilding teams trade veteran players so they can get draft picks and young talent in return, which, as the theory goes, will help them to be a better team down the road when those players develop.

If the Leafs can't get good young talent in return for Blake, and they aren't pressed for cap space, why move him?

He seems to finally be happy in Toronto. His play is raising the team's spirits. And if the team does indeed sell off some veterans at the deadline, he will be one of the few experienced players left. Believe it or not, you do need a few players who have been around, even on a rebuilding team.

As fans and as management, it's time to sit back and see what Jason Blake can do now that he can focus entirely on hockey.

Team Canada Takes Care of Classless Swedes To Complete Drive for Five

Josh Lewis — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:03:46 -0500

If Canada never wins another World Junior Championship for the rest of time, we can rest assured that this country's string of dominance over the past five years will never be forgotten.

Team Canada capped what was perhaps the most impressive triumph of them all Monday with a 5-1 win over the Swedes in the gold medal game.

No, they didn't run anyone over (except those poor Kazakhs), and they didn't dominate from start to finish. But that's what is so incredible about this team and this win. They didn't have the stacked roster of the 2005 squad that steamrolled the competition in Grand Forks. They didn't have the Jonathan Toews/Carey Price duo which led the red-and-white to gold in Leksand in 2007.

Many people second-guessed this team right from the start. They doubted whether an aging Pat Quinn could get the most out of a group of teenagers. They questioned the choice of Dustin Tokarski over Chet Pickard in net. They said the roster was too small. They said the blueline was weak.

Heading into the tournament, they weren't necessarily wrong. By all accounts, this team would have to fight tooth and nail to finish off the drive for five.

And you know what? They did. They showed the world how this game is meant to be played. They sent a clear message to one and all that they would not be denied.

It takes a special kind of toughness to rebound from what the Canadians had thrown at them. John Tavares showed that toughness when he picked up the pieces and almost single-handedly led his team back from the abyss in the New Year's Eve game against the Americans.

Jordan Eberle displayed incredible mental toughness in the semifinal in finding a way to light the lamp with just 5.4 seconds remaining to save Canada's tournament and reward millions of fans for daring to hope.

What this young man was able to do under enormous pressure is simply extraordinary. Picture yourself on the ice, just seconds away from devastating defeat, with 20,000 screaming fans watching your every move and millions more holding their breath in their living rooms, the weight of a nation on your shoulders.

Most seasoned veterans couldn't perform under those circumstances. Yet 18-year-old Jordan Eberle managed to focus on what had to be done—and he did it. No one watching that night will ever forget it.

That, friends, is what separates the winners from the losers.

To quote our prime minister, Team Canada simply knows how to win. Period.

Speaking of losers, the Swedes simply embarrassed the hockey world last night. No wonder they only managed one goal; they were too busy trying to dive, flop, fake, whine, and cheap shot their way to gold.

Jacob Markstrom should be unequivocally ashamed of his antics. His teammates largely have him to thank for beginning the cycle of frustration that eventually lost them the game. He started flopping around very early on, which inspired the Canadians to bury him.

The fans in Ottawa started booing, and that rattled Victor Hedman. He mugged Angelo Esposito after a collision with Markstrom that the goaltender knew full well was coming. Things snowballed from there, and Mattias Tedenby and David Ullstrom, among others, got in on the gong show.

The Swedes simply took the wrong approach to this game. They chose the trash talk route. Yes, they badly wanted revenge for last year's loss to Canada. But the way to do that is to work your butt off and develop a quiet confidence.

That's what Canada did. They knew they could beat this Swedish team, but they took nothing for granted. They knew what had to be done, and they went out and did their talking on the ice.

So, to John Tavares, Jordan Eberle, Cody Hodgson, P.K. Subban, Dustin Tokarski, and all the other heroes of Team Canada: You have written one of the greatest chapters of international hockey history. Remember it. Cherish it. Relive it again and again.

As Tavares shouted: "That's five, Canada, five!"

It never gets old.

WJC: Does It Get Any Better Than This? Team Canada Wows Us All

Josh Lewis — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:03:45 -0500

How to describe Team Canada's pulse-pounding 6-5 shootout win over Russia in Saturday's semifinal at the World Junior Championship?

I don't know, but I have never been more proud to be Canadian.

If we have learned one thing about Team Canada during its run of four straight WJC championships, it is this: No matter how hopeless the situation seems, no matter how down-and-out this bunch gets, the players who don the red, black, and white always find a way to get it done.

I must admit that when Dmitry Klopov flicked the puck over Dustin Tokarski's right skate with two minutes and change left in the third, I wasn't too worried. This is Team Canada. They'll pull through. Right?

Well, by the time the clock ticked down to 20 seconds left, that hope had packed its bags and headed south. I was sure the drive for five was over.

And then, with under 10 seconds to go, John Tavares threw the puck on net in one last valiant attempt to force overtime. Jordan Eberle, who had been the best Canadian on the ice through 59 minutes of play, drove the net, stole the puck from the knees of a Russian blueliner who had blocked the shot, and slipped in a backhander with just 5.4 seconds remaining, sending the entire country into euphoria.

I just shook my head and smiled, full of pride. Somehow, against the longest of odds, this crew had once again shown why Canada is the capital of heart-and-soul hockey.

With neither team being able to break the deadlock after 10 minutes of overtime, I breathed a little easier. I knew Dustin Tokarski was a better goaltender than Vadim Zhelobnyuk, and while the Russians certainly had a skilled collection of forwards, the Canadians were no slouches either with scorers like Tavares, Eberle and Cody Hodgson.

Thomas Hickey won the coin toss for Canada and chose to shoot first. Eberle stepped up to the plate and hit it out of the park (sorry, wrong sport?) with a high backhander. Capitals draft pick Dmitri Kugryshev followed that up by ringing one off the post.

Tavares went second for the Canadians and beat Zhelobnyuk with a forehand wrister to put some serious pressure on the Russians. Inexplicably, Russian head coach Sergei Nemchinov elected to shoot Pavel Chernov next, and Tokarski stopped his five-hole attempt to wrap up the win for Canada.

No Nikita Filatov? No Evgeny Grachev? After keeping his best players on the ice late in the quarter-final rout over the Czechs and horribly mismanaging the Super Series against Canada in 2007, I am starting to seriously question Nemchinov's tactical ability as a coach.

Regardless, the Canadians move on to face Sweden in Monday's gold medal game, just as most pundits predicted before the tournament.

But with Team Canada narrowly getting past the Americans and Russians, and with Sweden nearly falling to the upstart Slovakians, it certainly has not unfolded the way most observers expected.

It's Canada versus Sweden for the second year in a row. May the best team win, and whatever happens, may we always be proud of these Canadians for gritting their teeth and getting it done when the going got tough.

Team Canada Digs Deep in New Year's Eve Barnburner

Josh Lewis — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 04:30:51 -0500

Every now and then in the sports writing business, something happens that is so unbelievable, so compelling, that a writer simply cannot do it justice.

The New Year's Eve battle between Canada and the U.S. at the World Junior Championship is one of those things.

You want goals? You got 'em. Big saves? Check. Bad blood? Yup. A thrilling comeback? It's there.

TSN's Gord Miller said it best, after Dustin Tokarski's stone-cold stick-up on Colin Wilson: "It's official. This game has now had everything."

I have watched hockey for a long time. I have had more than my fill of exciting World Junior action. And I can say without reservation that Tokarski's flash of leather is the most impressive stop I have seen at this tournament.

One thing is clear. If you missed this game because of a New Year's Eve party, you are feeling like a pretty big idiot right now.

At this point, I feel I should probably tell you the score of the game. It got lost in all the other thrilling storylines. Canada won the game 7-4, with two empty-netters masking the fact that this baby was in doubt right up to the final minute.

Things didn't look good for the Canadians early on in the battle for first place in Group A and a bye to the semi-final.

The Canucks got into penalty trouble early on and grew increasingly frustrated, with some players losing control of themselves. Tyler Myers and Zach Boychuk, in particular, looked pretty stupid in decking American players after the whistle. Boychuk was lucky to escape unpenalized.

The upshot of all this is that the Americans cruised to an early 3-0 lead. Colorado Avalanche first-rounder Kevin Shattenkirk had the first goal on a low shot Tokarski should have had.

It was a shaky start for the netminder as well as his teammates. Jimmy Hayes, a second round pick of the Maple Leafs, scored the second goal on a five-on-three, one-timing a centering pass that Tokarski clearly was not ready for.

The third goal, scored by Senators first-rounder Jim O'Brien, was a top-shelf torpedo that Martin Brodeur wouldn't have stopped.

So things are going down the tubes pretty quickly for our red-and-white heroes, right? Fear not in the great white north. Your faith in Team Canada is about to be restored.

And who better to do it than the patriarch of puck, John Tavares?

When the Canadians finally got a power play of their own, Tavares camped out in his office next to the right post and banged in a cross-crease feed from Cody Hodgson of the Vancouver Canucks to calm down his teammates.

Less than a minute later, Tavares struck again with an impressive individual effort, snaring a wayward pass in the neutral zone, breaking down the right side, sidestepping a diving defender and roofing the puck over Thomas McCollum from close range.

This is where the bad blood comes in. On their way to the bench, the celebrating Canadians had to pass by the Americans. U.S. forward Eric Tangradi stuck out his stick and jabbed Chris DiDomenico in the face as he passed.

Stefan Della Rovere, behind DiDomenico, thought van Riemsdyk had hit his teammate and rammed him into the boards from behind, sending his face straight into a camera.

Neither player was penalized and the intensity level ratcheted up about a thousand degrees. Both teams toed a tightrope of emotions, just a hair away from going over the edge.

"After that first period, we were jumping up and down in the dressing room and going nuts," Ryan Ellis told TSN. "We had to settle down."

Then, with under two minutes to go in the period, Jordan Eberle pulled off a fine bit of stick-handling in tight and sent it over McCollum to tie the game.

Della Rovere lost his balance on that tightrope of emotions early in the second period, hammering Shattenkirk into the corner boards from behind. He managed to avoid a game misconduct, but was handed a two-and-10 and never saw the ice again. Pat Quinn wasn't going to take any chances in a game with so much on the line.

Boychuk gave the Canadians their first lead 37 seconds into the middle frame on a quirky rebound, but Jonathan Blum knotted the score again not long after on an American man advantage.

Almost seven minutes in, Hodgson gave Team Canada the lead for good with a bad-angle shot that appeared to go in off a U.S. defender.

Later in the second period, Wilson took a centering pass all alone in front of Tokarski. There was no one near him. He had all day. He was going to tie the game, simple as that. Wilson dekes right, slips it under the glove, it's going in the net...

"Oh no you DON'T!" as Pierre McGuire put it.

Tokarski simply took it away. He made a save that will go down as one of the greatest in WJC history. It will not soon be forgotten by anyone watching in this country.

After the game opened with seven goals scored on the first 18 shots, it suddenly became a tight-checking goaltending duel in the third period. There was no scoring until the final minute when McCollum was yanked from the net.

Enter Tavares again. This guy is so slick, he even makes empty-netters look pretty.

Grabbing the puck at centre ice, Tavares held off his man with his left arm and steered the puck with his right, protecting the disc until the last second and slipping it into the empty cage with one hand on the stick.

The Americans kept McCollum on the bench and Tyler Ennis added another gimmie to make it 7-4.

Canada got a scare in the second when Boychuk was driven into the end boards by Teddy Ruth, banging his ankle. X-rays came back negative, but it's unknown if he will be ready to go for Saturday's semifinal against Russia.

Toronto's "Leafs Talk Today" Debut a Massive Success

Josh Lewis — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:35:22 -0500

Maple Leafs Talk Show Impresses

After being hyped up for a couple of weeks, the premier of the second season of Leafs Talk Today can only be described as an unqualified success.

The show aired Wednesday afternoon and was clearly a hit with listeners. At last count, well over 5,000 hockey fans tuned in to hear Brian Rolston talk about his lengthy NHL career and his continued love for the game. They also heard Chris DiDomenico give his first interview since being selected to Team Canada's world junior squad.

The best part is that this is just the tip of the iceberg for Leafs Talk Today. In the near future, we'll entertain and enlighten you with interviews with Stanley Cup winners, former WJC standouts, former Toronto Maple Leafs, and well-known NHL media personalities.

Bleacher Report calls itself the place "where the sports bar meets the press box." Well, that description also fits Leafs Talk Today. We are hockey fans who love our team, but we are also dedicated to providing the latest news and unique perspectives straight from the mouths of NHL players and personalities.

To check out Episode 2.1 or find out more about the show, click here

DiDomenico Added to Leafs Talk Line-Up For Wednesday

Josh Lewis — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 07:22:08 -0500

Leafs Talk Today co-hosts Derek Harmsworth and Josh Lewis are pleased to announce that Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Chris DiDomenico, named to Team Canada's world junior team yesterday, will appear on the show's Season Two debut.

DiDomenico, a sixth round pick by the Leafs in 2007, will sit down to talk about his reaction to being selected for the team and his expectations for the tournament.

Brian Rolston of the New Jersey Devils will also appear on the show, which airs Wednesday at 1:30 ET.

Wednesday's episode will also feature an in-depth analysis of Team Canada's roster and, of course, the latest Leaf news.

To tune in and learn more about the show, click here!

Chris DiDomenico Makes Canadian World Junior Team

Josh Lewis — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 07:11:09 -0500

Well, the Canadian world junior team has been announced and there are a few surprises on the roster.

Four of the top five forwards eligible for the 2009 entry draft were cut: Matt Duchene, Brayden Schenn, Nazem Kadri and Evander Kane.

No one expected all of these players to make the squad, but I think most thought at least one or two of them would. Kane is perhaps the biggest surprise after his strong camp led Pierre McGuire to say he had played his way onto the team.

Pat Quinn and his coaching staff elected to go with 12 forwards and eight defencemen this time around, a departure from past years when the team usually carried a 17-year-old or an energy player as a thirteenth forward.

Players inevitably get injured at the world juniors and the Canadians could be in trouble if they lose a forward or two.

Toronto Maple Leafs fans got the news they were looking for in Monday's announcement: Leafs draft pick Chris DiDomenico made the team.

Selected in the sixth round of the 2007 draft, the soon-to-be 20-year-old has seen his stock rise ever since. He made the Saint John Sea Dogs as a walk-on in 2006-07 and has led the team in scoring the past two years, including last season when the team went from rags to riches in making the QMJHL semi-finals.

I have had the pleasure of watching DiDomenico play twice, and he is a very smart player. He knows how to put the puck in the net and he's not afraid to take some abuse to make it happen. He plays much bigger than his 170 pounds would indicate.

DiDomenico has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, and he sees significant time on the penalty kill as well.

Most of the hockey world, including Leaf fans who knew very little about their sixth round pick, got a mild surprise this summer when DiDomenico was invited to Team Canada's summer evaluation camp.

He did well enough to earn an invite to the selection camp last week. Of course, his 34 points in 26 "Q" games this season probably helped too.

The Canadian coaching staff showed their confidence in DiDomenico early by putting him on a line with John Tavares for the first intrasquad game. He didn't look out of place. Then he ended camp with a bang by scoring a goal for Team Red in the final intrasquad game on Sunday.

Quinn and company were sufficiently impressed to name him to the team over first round pick Riley Nash and several future first rounders.

Most Leaf fans already knew that DiDomenico had made great progress since being drafted. Now other fans will witness that first-hand when the WJC kicks off on Boxing Day in Ottawa.

This could be just the boost DiDomenico needs to kick his game to the next level. His skating needs some work and he could stand to gain 15 to 20 pounds. It's unclear how big a role he will play, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him continue playing with Tavares.

DiDomenico will be the second No. 61 to play for Team Canada in recent memory.

The first? Rick Nash.

An Interview With Calgary Flames Forward Curtis Glencross

Josh Lewis — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:05:22 -0500

Author's note: This article originally appeared in the Dec. 3 edition of the Kindersley Clarion.

Not so long ago, Curtis Glencross was toiling away as an 18-year-old with the Brooks Bandits of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

Eight years, three leagues and four NHL organizations later, the Kindersley native has established himself as a valuable two-way player in the best hockey league on the planet.

Glencross, 25, is now a second-year winger with the Calgary Flames, and he has quickly become a staple on the team’s gritty but fast third line.

“I’m getting more comfortable, more confidence and more playing time,” says Glencross, who is on fire lately with 11 points in his last nine games. “I’ve been playing with Craig Conroy consistently and we’ve had the chemistry since day one. It’s nice to know that there’s a bunch of different guys that can fill in with us. Whoever they seem to throw in, sometimes (Rene) Bourque, sometimes (David) Moss is in with us, we seem to have success.

“We’re not trying to do anything fancy, just keep it simple and get pucks in behind the defensemen, kind of grinding it out.”

Grinding it out is what Glencross has done his entire career, both on the ice and through his tedious journey to pro hockey.

Glencross’ father Mel was in the cattle business in Kindersley, while his mother Robin’s family came from nearby Brock. The family moved to Provost, Alberta when Glencross was five years old. He had played his first two years of minor hockey in Kindersley and Brock and continued through the system in Provost.

“Small towns do have good hockey programs and it helps build them up,” Glencross said from Calgary recently. “There are so many different routes you can go now and so many people are involved in the game in the small towns.”

Glencross, whose grandparents Glen and Bette Strutt still live in Kindersley, didn’t seem to be headed for the NHL during his early years playing midget C in Provost. Even after being given a roster spot by the expansion Bandits, the odds of him making it big were long. But in what is becoming a more frequent occurrence, Glencross’ unusual path led him from junior A to the NHL.

“Junior A is a good alternative,” said the six-foot-one, 192-pound forward. “For guys that are late bloomers or are more interested in the school route than the WHL or CHL, it’s good for them to have a place to go besides the CHL. So there’s more options out there for kids.”

After two years with the Bandits, Glencross was offered a scholarship by the Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves. And it only took two seasons for him to move up the ladder again. He hadn’t gotten any attention from the NHL during his draft year of 2001, but the Anaheim Ducks took notice in spring 2004 when he led the Seawolves to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s Final Five for the first time in school history.

The Ducks have become notorious for signing unknown players from the NCAA and turning them into solid NHL players; look no further than Chris Kunitz and Dustin Penner. Glencross believes the growing trend makes a lot of sense.

“That’s a part of their recruiting and lots of teams are starting to get more college guys because they have a few more years to mature. They’re stepping in at 22, 23, 24 instead of at 18 or 19 when you’re still a kid.”

The plucky winger’s next stop was Cincinnati, Ohio, where he would play with Anaheim’s American Hockey League affiliate. After one season, the Ducks signed an agreement with the Portland Pirates, so Glencross went off to Maine. Halfway through his second year in Portland, he was called up to The Show.

Thrown on a line with up-and-comers Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry, Glencross scored his first NHL goal on his first shot against the Colorado Avalanche.

“I got an opportunity and a chance to crack the team and I made the best of it,” he said. “You’ll always remember your first NHL goal.”

The Columbus Blue Jackets perked up immediately. Who was this prairie kid who had seemingly come out of nowhere? The Jackets’ curiosity got the better of them and a few days later, they acquired Glencross from Anaheim. He spent most of the season’s remainder with the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, but 2007-08 would be his coming out party, when he started the year in the NHL and stayed there.

Glencross impressed Blue Jackets brass and scouts around the league with his energetic and physical brand of play, putting up 12 points in his first 36 games with Columbus. But he saved his best performance for his family and friends in Calgary on Dec. 1.

“Playing here against Calgary last year, I had a two-goal night and the OT winner. Going on Hockey Night in Canada after the game and talking to those guys, it was special, watching Hockey Night in Canada growing up and finally getting that opportunity to go on there yourself.”

The overtime winner was vintage Glencross: no breakaway, no slick moves. He grabbed a loose puck and buried it behind Miikka Kiprusoff. That’s how Glencross operates: keep it simple and get it done.

The Edmonton Oilers thought so much of Glencross that they parted with defenceman Dick Tarnstrom to bring him to Alberta in early February. Suddenly, the kid from midget C was playing with his third NHL team in about a year.

The Oilers figured the grinder’s toughness and speed would serve them well down the stretch and possibly in the playoffs. Edmonton fell three points short of the post-season, but Glencross was turning more heads, not only with his physical play but by putting up nine goals in 26 games.

Then he came face-to-face with another new frontier: unrestricted free agency. Glencross took advantage by moving as close to home as possible.

“There was a few teams interested and Calgary was really aggressive,” said Glencross. “Once they found out Edmonton wasn’t going to sign me, they called right away. They gave me a good opportunity here.”

So far, Glencross has taken that opportunity and run with it, racking up five goals and 15 points in his first 24 games. In fact, the left winger made his second Hockey Night in Canada appearance last Saturday after setting up the game-winning goal in Calgary’s 3-1 win over Vancouver.

Glencross attributes part of his recent success to playing for Mike Keenan, who is well known for his love of tough-nosed grinders.

“It feels better with Keenan. It’s the kind of game (the Flames) like and if you go work hard for them they’re going to help you out. That’s part of why I came here because I’m a hard-working player and a gritty player and that’s what they like and that’s the style they want me to play.”

Jeremy Williams Making Case For Full-Time Duty With Toronto Maple Leafs

Josh Lewis — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 16:56:27 -0500

He is one of the most intriguing, enigmatic young players to come through the Toronto Maple Leafs organization in years. And now he's grabbing attention again.

Simply put, Jeremy Williams knows how to put the puck in the net and the way he has responded to being called up to the NHL is nothing short of remarkable.

Williams was but a footnote to the Leafs' draft of 2003, selected 220th overall after such future stars as John Doherty, Martin Sagat, and Konstantin Volkov. In fact, he had been passed over in his original draft year, 2002.

But the diminutive right winger impressed during his second year with the Toronto Marlies, scoring at a point-per-game pace and earning a late-season call-up to the Leafs.

One game. One shot. One goal. It would become a familiar storyline for Williams.

In fact, the Regina native's first NHL goal marked the continuation of a unique Maple Leafs' trend. It was the third straight season that the Leafs had called up a prospect for one game at the end of the year and the player had scored. Matt Stajan did it in 2002-03, Kyle Wellwood did it in 2003-04, and Williams did it in the NHL's first post-lockout season.

But Williams would forge an impressive pattern of his own.

His next season was marred by injuries, but a bright spot came toward the end of the season when Williams was once again called up and once again lit the lamp in his only game.

No. 48 held a unique place in the history books for awhile. He was the only player in NHL history to have appeared in only two games and scored in both.

So imagine the fanfare in 2007-08 when Williams was called up again in the second half and, surprise, surprise, netted his third goal in his third career game.

Suddenly, the seventh round pick was making a name for himself.

Alas, all good things must come to an end, and Williams' streak was a good thing. This time he stuck with the Leafs for another 17 games and managed just one goal over that stretch.

With the Leafs out of playoff contention and nursing some injuries, this was Williams' big chance to prove he belonged in the NHL. Granted, he didn't get a lot of ice time, but Leaf fans, and presumably the organization itself, began to re-evaluate their confidence in the young winger.

Williams' chances of cracking the NHL seemed to be dealt a death blow this fall when he was cut from a rebuilding Leafs squad with a wide open competition up front. In fact, fellow 2003 pick John Mitchell made the team ahead of him.

But after potting 11 goals in his first 19 games with the Marlies, Williams got the call again when Niklas Hagman went on injured reserve.

What did he do in his first game? You have three guesses.

He scored! And he added an assist for good measure, his first in the NHL.

What did he do in his second game?

He scored again!

If Williams keeps up this play, Ron Wilson will have a tough decision to make when Hagman returns from injury.

Williams can snipe as well as anyone in the Leafs organization, and that is a quality the team has lacked for a number of years. And isn't the purpose of a rebuild partly to give your prospects a chance to show what they can do? Well, Williams can do a lot and the Leafs certainly have nothing to lose by giving him a full-time roster spot. He is surely more deserving of a regular shift than Ryan Hollweg.

If the Leafs decide to send Williams back to the Marlies, they will be sending him a message loud and clear: you don't have a future with this team. If the Leafs don't think enough of Williams to let him play during a rebuilding season when there isn't a lot of talent up front, he most definitely will not earn a roster spot in the future when the team is building toward contender status.

Time is running out for Williams. He's almost 25. It's now or never and he has earned the opportunity to make it "now."

Brian Rolston to Kick Off Season Two of Leafs Talk Today

Josh Lewis — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 05:47:57 -0500

Derek Harmsworth and Josh Lewis are excited to announce that Leafs Talk Today, your No. 1 source for all things Toronto Maple Leafs and the NHL, will return for season two on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 1:30 ET.

Brian Rolston of the New Jersey Devils joins the show to talk about his first Stanley Cup, his return to New Jersey, and his experience with Leafs coach Ron Wilson at the 1996 World Cup.

The debut episode of season two will also feature the latest Leafs news, including Brian Burke speculation and Chris DiDomenico's quest to make Team Canada, as well as our weekly trip around the NHL and a sneak peek at Canada's chances at the upcoming WJC.

Leafs Talk Today has also unveiled a new website for season two. For upcoming shows, host bios, syndicated content from B/R and more, get your Leafs Talk Today fix here.

With exclusive interviews, unique segments and a perspective you won't find anywhere else, you won't want to miss the all-new, all-access Leafs Talk Today.

Maple Leafs Make Awful Trade For Lee Stempniak

Josh Lewis — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:55:04 -0500

This column is hard for me to write, because I've been one of Cliff Fletcher's biggest supporters since day one.

However, sending Alex Steen and Carlo Colaiacovo to the St. Louis Blues on Wednesday for Lee Stempniak was the worst decision Fletcher has made since returning to Toronto, and possibly the worst trade he's ever made.

Don't get me wrong, Lee Stempniak is a talented player who probably has second-line sniper potential. He brings some goal-scoring ability that the Leafs have been lacking.

But the Leafs will regret giving up on Steen so quickly. There are less Leaf fans who think this way now, but I believe as strongly as ever that Steen will become an outstanding defensive forward who can put up 70 points a season.

Not only that, he is already a strong leader in the dressing room and on the ice. Toronto has just lost a player who would have been an incredible asset in teaching their prospects how to carry themselves in the NHL.

You'd think the organization would have learned their lesson after trading Brad Boyes, another excellent two-way player who, ironically, also wound up in St. Louis. It's hard to imagine Boyes and Steen not leading the charge for the Blues over the next decade or so, with help from Patrik Berglund, T.J. Oshie, and Erik Johnson.

Let's put it this way: I wouldn't trade Steen straight up for Stempniak, who has been wildly inconsistent early in his NHL career. So throwing in Colaiacovo makes the deal even worse.

It's true that the Leafs were overloaded on the blueline and that Colaiacovo has been extremely injury-prone. So they probably won't miss him much. But speaking in terms of value, I'd bet my brand new car that Larry Pleau and John Davidson are laughing it up over cigars as we speak.

Let's hope that Stempniak can prove me wrong and become a top offensive threat for the Leafs. But if Steen and Colaiacovo realize their potential, even that may not be enough.

Farewell, Alex Steen. I know how much it meant to you to wear the blue and white of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Knock 'em dead in the Midwest.

Home for a Rest: The Pseudo-Athletic World of Federal Elections

Josh Lewis — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:58:17 -0500

It's entirely possible that no one noticed, but it has been an awfully long time since this writer produced a column for Bleacher Report.

That's due to a combination of things, including a federal election, a big career move, and a lack of Internet access.

For those keeping score at home, I'm now covering the sports beat at The Clarion in Kindersley, Saskatchewan, which means I get to watch and report on a lot of good hockey.

But that's irrelevant to this article. The purpose of this piece is to prove that even as I was working countless hours on an election, I was remaining true to my sporting roots.

*cue Stephen Colbert voice*

I was busting my butt for you, B/R faithful. Here's how:

We won the opening face-off by nabbing the most desirable location for campaign headquarters right from under our opponent's nose, half an hour before he was going to sign the papers.
We scored the first goal by bringing the prime minister to P.E.I. at the end of the campaign's first week. Our candidate got an assist by giving a thank-you speech.
The first period ended on a very bad note when the federal agriculture minister got us into hot water by making inappropriate remarks about our opponent. We went to the dressing room down on the scoreboard.
After a rousing pep talk from our co-coaches (campaign managers) we decided to charge ahead and forget about the bad goals we allowed late in the first.
It seemed to work as none of the fans even mentioned the incident during the second period. But the game slowed down a bit as both teams started to get tired.
I threw a big hit in the second period when I uncovered very unflattering information about our opponent's speaking record in the House of Commons. But it didn't give my team quite the momentum boost I had hoped for.
We ended the second period behind on the scoreboard but poised to get our second wind and storm back in the third. The intermission analysts predicted a very close finish with more than a 50/50 chance of our side winning.
We started to mount a comeback early in the third period and the momentum kept building in the home stretch. The desperation in our opponent's camp became clear when Stephane Dion came to the Island and proclaimed that our opponent would become the new agriculture minister should their side win.
With the score tied, Dion's smack talk motivated us even more to bury that go-ahead goal in the final minutes, especially since our opponent was carrying a 15-year undefeated streak that we really wanted to break.

Sadly, we weren't quite as close in the end as the analysts had predicted. We came out on the short end by 924 votes, which stunned the media, announcers, team management, ourselves, and even our opponents.

It wasn't fun to be in the dressing room after the game. No yelling, just an awful lot of disappointment.

But hey, that's the way it goes in sports. You win some, you lose some. We'll win the next one.

Play ball!

Rebuilding the Toronto Maple Leafs: What Constitutes a Successful Season?

Josh Lewis — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:36:47 -0400

With sweeping summer changes almost finished and training camp just around the corner, it's clear that Cliff Fletcher has done what he promised to do: get off to a good start rebuilding the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Gone are Darcy Tucker, Kyle Wellwood, Andrew Raycroft, Chad Kilger, Hal Gill, Wade Belak, and probably Mats Sundin. Next week, we should be able to add Bryan McCabe to the list. Fresh faces include Jamal Mayers, Niklas Hagman, Mikhail Grabovski, Nikolai Kulemin, Jeff Finger, Jonas Frogren, and Curtis Joseph. The Leafs have gotten considerably younger, faster and, Ron Wilson hopes, tougher.

Which leads us to the next question: what next? What goals should Leafs management set heading into the first year of the rebuild? In short, what would constitute a successful 2008-09 season? It's a difficult question.

Only the most delusional of Leaf fans would expect the squad to make the playoffs this season. Despite their big contracts and inconsistent play, the Buds have lost a great deal of talent in Tucker, Wellwood, and McCabe, and the captain will be missed greatly if he chooses not to return. The new players have the potential to be great additions to the roster, but aside from Mayers, Hagman and Joseph, they are very much unproven.

Obviously, a playoff berth is an unreasonable goal for this team, and that makes it a heck of a lot harder to set a tangible benchmark. Complicating things is the opportunity to nab a high pick in the 2009 draft, which features teenage wunderkinds John Tavares and Victor Hedman.

Not surprisingly, this has divided Leafs Nation into two camps: those who want to make a strong push for the playoffs and those who want to tank and land a franchise player in the draft. That means Leaf fans have two completely different barometers for success. One group would be satisfied with a playoff berth or a 90-point season, while the other would only be happy with Tavares or Hedman.

Then there are those who find themselves somewhere in the middle, and perhaps not surprisingly, I'm one of them. A ninth- or 10th-place finish would be very disappointing for me. I'm sick of getting the worst of both worlds: missing out on the playoffs and a decent pick.

At the same time, I don't believe in tanking. Which is not to say I'd be unhappy with a last-place finish; it's slightly more complex. I don't want our players entering games with a losing attitude. I want them to go out there and give it their all every night.

It's crucial that they develop the mindset of a champion, and that means coming to play every night and always doing the little things right, even if you're trailing by five goals. It's also very important that our young guys develop as players. That's less likely to happen if they're losing every game, because confidence is key in reaching your potential, especially in a market like Toronto.

I lean toward getting a high pick, but it shouldn't happen by tanking. If the Leafs go out and put it all on the line every night and lose most of their games, that's fine by me. However, it would be unacceptable and very damaging to our future to wind up with Tavares or Hedman through a lack of effort.

So, how do I define a successful season for the Leafs? Player development. If youngsters like Kulemin, Grabovski, Jiri Tlusty, and Anton Stralman take big steps toward reaching their potential, regardless of their production, I'll be happy. If Nik Antropov can handle the pressure of being the team's top forward, I'll be pleased. If Alex Steen and Matt Stajan carry the team on their backs and display strong leadership traits, I'll be ecstatic.

At the same time, the importance of getting a high draft pick cannot be ignored. The Leafs have done well in restocking their prospect cupboard this summer, but they have a long way to go. The organization still lacks a franchise player up front, and the 2009 draft will be its best chance to land one.

If, when the dust settles in April, Toronto has gotten strong seasons from its youngsters and is holding a top-five pick, everyone in Leafs Nation should be happy.

Searching For The Olympic Soul

Josh Lewis — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 05:30:58 -0400

Another Olympiad has come and gone, and with its passing comes a significant let-down for sport fanatics. But they aren't the only observers who felt a great rush of disappointment as the Beijing Games came to a close on Sunday.

Legions of people who couldn't care less about who wins the Stanley Cup or the World Series will now return to the drudgery of everyday life. They can't help but feel a small void in their souls, a little hole that for the past two weeks had been lit up by the wonder and amazement of the Olympic Games.

Butchers and secretaries, sales managers and teachers, doctors and carpenters. For 17 days, the world's best captivated them all. Even the stereotypical housewife, who'd rather watch her soaps while her husband is forced to catch the ball game in the basement, is reeled in every four years.

What is it about these Games, this collection of athletic pursuits that would normally bore most people, that demands attention? Why does a working person, who routinely falls asleep on the couch during Hockey Night in Canada, feel the need to get up two hours early so they can watch a Norwegian shotputter go for the world record?

The Olympic spirit means something different for every person watching at home. It is plain to see, yet impossible to capture; complex and yet so simple.

The Olympic Games are the ultimate test of character and dedication. It requires a truly special person to put in four long years of pain, endurance and hardship. Only the most committed and hard-working souls are able to keep pushing their limits, to squeeze out one more lap, one more stroke, one more lift, even as their muscles cry out for respite.

And when the inevitable setbacks begin to claw into the psyche, only those blessed with incredible mental toughness are able to dig deep, find that ounce of resilience in their inner reserves, and bounce back.

When we witness an athlete standing atop the podium donning a newly-won medal and basking in the patriotic glow of town and country, we see the pinnacle of achievement. But we can't possibly know the journey of enduring sacrifice, hard work, and excruciating heartbreak. We don't see what that swimmer or long-distance runner has learned about themselves, or how they have grown as a person.

Simply put, the Olympics reveal just how much we are capable of—as athletes, as competitors and as human beings.

Aside from witnessing incredible sporting feats, it's the stories and legends of the Olympics that keep bringing me back for more. I can't help but tear up to see Eric Lamaze, a man who has overcome so much personal hardship, reach the pinnacle of sporting success.

Then there's the Canadian men's eights rowing squad, which was devastated by a fifth-place finish in Athens and vowed to spend every waking hour of the next four years working toward a gold medal and personal redemption in Beijing. I feel privileged to have witnessed them receiving their shiny new hardware on a sunny afternoon at Shunyi, belting out Oh Canada and knowing, deep down inside, that they had achieved something truly exceptional.

Why do the Olympic Games hold such a dear place in our hearts? Because they transcend sport. They tell an extraordinary tale of perseverance, sacrifice, determination, disappointment and jubilation.

In sports, as in life, all are road signs on the path to success.

Blue Jackets Prospect Stefan Legein Quits Hockey

Josh Lewis — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 04:05:17 -0400

Tremors of shock are hitting the hockey world today as the news squeaks out that Stefan Legein, a second-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2007, is quitting hockey.

The stunning development was originally reported by the Columbus Dispatch and has now been confirmed by Jackets general manager Scott Howson.

Legein was a key player on the Canadian world junior squad that won its fourth straight gold medal last January; the right winger also helped the team to victory in last fall's Super Series against Russia.

Why would a 19-year-old with a very bright future suddenly quit the game for which he had such passion? There are no clear answers yet; only a thick cloud of fog.

Legein is an agitator of the first degree who has no trouble putting the puck in the net. He was a constant presence on Team Canada's second line and also put up over a point per game in his last two seasons with the Niagara IceDogs of the OHL.

But Legein's trademark was the thundering body check. He took every opportunity to pound an opponent into the boards (and into next week) and didn't shy away from fisticuffs. In short, he was an easy player to like.

A quick viewing of any game from last year's world junior reveals a kid who simply loves the game.

Or used to.

The details of Legein's premature retirement remain sketchy, but according to the Dispatch, the Jackets have been told that Legein has "lost the passion" he formerly held for the game.

Aaron Portzline at the Dispatch writes that Legein wasn't the same player last season after returning from the shoulder injury he suffered at the WJC. Portzline says Legein did not get along with his IceDog teammates late in the season—if true, a shocking turn for a player who has always been very popular in the locker room—and left the Syracuse Crunch after two playoff games to start training for the 2008-09 season.

As Portzline asks, who wants to work out instead of competing in the playoffs? Very strange indeed.

Then, at Jackets prospect camp, Legein looked lackluster. As one of the team's most promising prospects, it would be reasonable to expect him to stand out, right?

One final twist: when asked about their son's alleged retirement Tuesday evening, Legein's parents said they knew nothing about it.

It's possible they just didn't feel like talking, but what if Legein never told them? That doesn't sound like the Stefan Legein that Canadian hockey fans have come to know and love.

So, how do you lose your passion for hockey? Maybe it was the pressure to succeed, which can be unbearable for a teenager. But that doesn't seem likely, as Legein had already achieved a degree of success with Team Canada that most players can only dream about. And the Columbus media certainly does not provide the fishbowl atmosphere of Toronto or Montreal.

Sometimes young players hang 'em up when they realize they won't get enough ice time to justify riding the buses over getting an education. But that can't be it either. Legein was a bonafide NHL prospect.

Perhaps there was a major change in his life or some sort of family tragedy. Maybe his parents pushed him too hard. Clearly, whatever has led hard-hitting, fun-loving Stefan Legein to such a 180-degree turnaround is something that has yet to see the light of day.

Calgary's Daniel Ryder pulled a similar cut-and-retire routine last year, only to return to this year's training camp.

Let's hope Legein does the same. Otherwise, the Jackets and the hockey world are missing out on a heck of a player, and the kid Canada fell in love with is missing out on a heck of a career.

Report: Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers Agree on Deal For Bryan McCabe

Josh Lewis — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:06:16 -0400

According to TSN, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Florida Panthers have agreed on a trade that would send beleaguered defenseman Bryan McCabe to Miami.

McCabe has reportedly waived his no-movement clause and is willing to move to the Panthers. It's believed that is largely because his wife's parents live in Florida.

Sources close to the Leafs say the only thing holding the deal up is a $2 million bonus owed to McCabe on Sept. 1. The Cats are unwilling to foot the bill, so Toronto will pay McCabe the bonus before the trade is completed.

There is no word on what Toronto will receive in return for the 33-year-old blueliner, but the name being thrown around by bloggers is 28-year-old defenseman Mike Van Ryn, who missed the last 60 games of the season with a serious wrist injury and carries a $3 million price tag for each of the next two years.

Various reports have the Leafs sending another roster player along with McCabe, while others say the Panthers will add a young forward like David Booth or Stephen Weiss and perhaps a draft pick.

Let's have a little fun and try to guess what this trade will look like.

If the Leafs are sending another player with McCabe, it's almost guaranteed to be Alexei Ponikarovsky or Ian White. Both are casualties of the numbers game and neither one has been mentioned by Fletcher or Ron Wilson all summer, which leads me to believe neither is in the plans.

Boyd Devereaux is another possibility. Some might believe it to be Mark Bell, but that's unlikely because the Panthers wouldn't want to take on two bloated contracts.

Let's go with Ponikarovsky. The Panthers certainly don't need two defensemen, but they could use another forward.

As for players who might be coming the other way, Van Ryn is almost a lock. He's been bumped down the depth chart by the acquisition of Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton and has an inflated contract. There are also grave concerns about his ability to put up points with the injury he's sustained.

Of course, the Leafs don't have room for him either, but to get rid of a guy like McCabe you need to make some sacrifices. Van Ryn would likely wind up as the seventh defenseman, which would be a shame because it would deny Staffan Kronwall yet another shot at regular ice time.

There's also the possibility that Van Ryn's injury is bad enough to place him on long-term injury—which would relieve the Leafs of his cap hit, but I'd never wish that predicament on anyone.

Another defenseman whose name has gotten some play is Karlis Skrastins, a very underrated shot-blocking defenseman from Latvia. He would do a lot to tighten up the Leafs' play in their own end, but he'd virtually make Jeff Finger unnecessary, and it's doubtful the Panthers would give him up.

A few forwards have also been mentioned, one being the 23-year-old Booth. He notched 22 goals and 40 points last season, but is not seen as a legitimate top six forward. He is more likely to wind up as a two-way checking player. Problem is, the Leafs have quite a few players who fit that description, including free agent signing Niklas Hagman.

Weiss is another name that has been thrown out there. The fourth overall pick in 2001, he has never lived up to expectations. Despite being given lots of opportunity on a struggling Panthers squad, he has never broken the 50-point barrier and took a step backward last season with 42 points.

At this point, it's tough to see Weiss becoming a second line centre. He could be for the Leafs, but that's not exactly difficult. Acquiring Weiss would make the trade for Mikhail Grabovski pointless. It would be wise to let this underachiever stay in Florida.

Bloggers have also mentioned draft picks, and while it would be mind-boggling to see the Panthers give up a high first round pick in a deep draft for McCabe, they might move a second rounder.

The view from here says it will be McCabe and Ponikarovsky for Van Ryn and a 2009 second round pick.

It's hard to know at this point who the principals will be, but we do know with relative certainty that Bryan McCabe will be a Florida Panther come September.

Once that happens, Cliff Fletcher will have completed all of his major objectives heading into the off-season. He got rid of big contracts and dead weight, he made the team considerably younger, faster and grittier, and the team had an excellent draft.

Congratulations on passing your first test with flying colours, Cliff. I don't know why we ever doubted you.

NHL Millennium Megadraft: Round Four

Josh Lewis — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 05:34:33 -0400

After taking a few days off, we return today to the NHL Millennium Megadraft, and it's time for round four.

A brief explanation for newcomers to the Megadraft: each round is made up of 30 players who were selected within a certain range in their draft year, encompassing each draft from 2001 to 2006. The players are put into a single list and ranked from one to 30.

The first round included players selected in the top five in their draft year. Round two was players picked between six and 10. Number three included players who went between 11 and 15.

Round four? You guessed it—these are players who were picked in the 16-20 range between 2001 and 2006.

The first couple of rounds were chock-full of impact players. The third round was low on franchise quality, but still contained lots of solid NHL players. Predictably, the fourth round is even less star-studded. There are plenty of players on this list who are difficult to rank because they're still fighting to crack the NHL.

Here are the 30 players who will make up round four of the NHL Millennium Megadraft:

2001: R.J. Umberger, Carlo Colaiacovo, Jens Karlsson, Shaone Morrisonn, Marcel Goc

2002: Jakub Klepis, Boyd Gordon, Denis Grebeshkov, Jakub Koreis, Dan Paille

2003: Steve Bernier, Zach Parise, Eric Fehr, Ryan Getzlaf, Brent Burns

2004: Petteri Nokelainen, Marek Schwarz, Kyle Chipchura, Lauri Korpikoski, Travis Zajac

2005: Alex Bourret, Martin Hanzal, Ryan Parent, Jakub Kindl, Kenndal McArdle

2006: Ty Wishart, Trevor Lewis, Chris Stewart, Mark Mitera, David Fischer

THE LIST

91. Ryan Getzlaf: Big pivot wins two-horse race; will anchor Ducks' offense for years
92. Zach Parise: Centre fell to Devils at 17 due to size concerns; no one is concerned now
93. Brent Burns: Winger-turned-blueliner is feared at both ends of the ice
94. R.J. Umberger: More responsibility in Ohio should mean more production for Canucks pick
95. Martin Hanzal: Solid rookie year for towering Czech with excellent puck skills
96. Steve Bernier: Started career strong, but new Canuck struggling to get to next level
97. Travis Zajac: Numbers aren't impressive yet, but ring up another draft steal for NJ
98. Shaone Morrisonn: Big, steady rearguard has become fixture on Caps blueline
99. Marcel Goc: Solid all-around player buried on SJ depth chart; needs more consistency
100. Carlo Colaiacovo: Injuries have done everything but destroy promising blueliner’s career
101. Dan Paille: Will never rack up points, but does all the little things right
102. Denis Grebeshkov: 2002 pick finally putting it together with Oilers
103. Petteri Nokelainen: Two-way forward has gotten second chance in Boston
104. Boyd Gordon: Becoming an energy player with not much offense
105. Ryan Parent: Future shutdown D got a taste of the bigs last season
106. Kyle Chipchura: Character player a casualty of Habs’ deep forward corps
107. Eric Fehr: Strong offensive instincts; held back by injuries and skating issues
108. Jakub Kindl: Prize from ‘05 draft lottery should make strong push at camp
109. Marek Schwarz: Has talent for starting role, but needs to get better in the clutch
110. Alex Bourret: First dealt for Dupuis, then a third rounder; sparkplug’s stock is dropping fast
111. Trevor Lewis: Fast pivot had disappointing AHL season
112. Ty Wishart: Big, solid d-man projects as good shutdown man
113. Mark Mitera: Physical blueliner is a bit of a project
114. David Fischer: Habs pick plays steady game and is seen as top four rearguard
115. Lauri Korpikoski: Skilled forward with solid defense taking a while to develop
116. Kenndal McArdle: Physical winger spent time in ECHL last year
117. Anthony Stewart: Once-budding power forward has been major bust
118. Jakub Klepis: Traded twice, spent time with Caps before heading home
119. Jakub Koreis: Only three letters different from Klepis; not much difference in career path either
120. Jens Karlsson: Kings pick never left Sweden, hasn’t impressed there either

Beijing Olympics: The 4 A.M. Wakeup Call

Josh Lewis — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 07:03:24 -0400

Last night, I was watching CBC's coverage of Canadian swimmer Brent Hayden's decision to withdraw from the 200-metre freestyle semifinals. Then Ron MacLean mentioned that the final for the men's rowing eights would be broadcast in the middle of the night (3:50 a.m. Atlantic time).

At least that's what I thought he said.

Despite having to work the next morning, I decided to set my alarm clock and get up in the wee hours to watch the Canadian gold medal favourites try to win Canada's first medal of the Beijing Olympics.

3:50 a.m. came, far too quickly, and the TV was clicked on (turned down low, of course). Then, to my complete surprise, it wasn't the men's eights competing. It was the women!

Now, with all due respect to the Canadian women's rowing team, I was not exactly pleased to see this. The men's eights are considered a heavy gold medal favourite. The women's eights, not so much.

Did I mention that it was a preliminary heat and not the final?

Figuring that I was awake anyway, I decided to watch the women's heat. The Canadians finished third out of four boats and must race in the repechage on Wednesday to advance to the semis.

Despite all that, I enjoyed the race. Rowing is one of my favourite Olympic sports, and it was a pleasure to watch the four boats giving it their all, finding the mental strength to push forward (or, in their case, backward) while their bodies screamed for relief.

It's the allure of the Olympics and the thrill of international competition that hooks me every time. I find myself getting up at 7 a.m. to watch a field hockey match between South Korea and New Zealand, or a badminton match featuring a German and a Mexican.

These are sports that I would never watch under normal circumstances, especially if Canada is not involved, but somehow the Olympic banner and the prospect of best-on-best competition reels me in every time.

So, what drives me to get up in the middle of the night to watch a rowing competition? Even a hockey game would be hard-pressed to drag me out of bed at that hour.

It's the excitement of watching athletes, everyday human beings, from all over the world try to better themselves. Their ability captivates our imagination. Their drive and determination reflect what we would like to see in ourselves. And the goal of achievement is something that we can all identify with.

NHL Millennium Megadraft: Round Three

Josh Lewis — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:45:12 -0400

Sidney Crosby went first overall. Dion Phaneuf went at No. 31. Who will be picked at No. 61?

It's time for round three of the NHL Millennium Megadraft, a combination of the NHL Entry Drafts between 2001 and 2006.

If you've followed the first two rounds, you know that each round is a compilation of five players taken in a particular range in each of those drafts.

For example, round one was comprised of the players taken in the top five in each of those years, for a total of 30 players. It was the same deal for round two, except with the players taken between sixth and 10th overall.

Today, we'll do round three, which is made up of those players selected between 11th and 15th overall from 2001 to 2006.

Here are the players who will form round three of the NHL Millennium Megadraft:

2001: Fredrik Sjostrom, Dan Hamhuis, Ales Hemsky, Chuck Kobasew, Igor Knyazev

2002: Keith Ballard, Steve Eminger, Alexander Semin, Chris Higgins, Jesse Niinimaki

2003: Jeff Carter, Hugh Jessiman, Dustin Brown, Brent Seabrook, Robert Nilsson

2004: Lauri Tukonen, A.J. Thelen, Drew Stafford, Devan Dubnyk, Alexander Radulov

2005: Anze Kopitar, Marc Staal, Marek Zagrapan, Sasha Pokulok, Ryan O'Marra

2006: Jonathan Bernier, Bryan Little, Jiri Tlusty, Michael Grabner, Riku Helenius

Now we put all 30 players into a new list. The 61st overall pick was much harder to determine than the first overall or No. 31.

The List

1. Anze Kopitar—First Slovenian NHLer became instant superstar
2. Ales Hemsky—Sublime playmaker coming off first 20-goal season
3. Alexander Semin—Dropped off last year, but dangles with the best of them
4. Alexander Radulov—May play in Russia, but still an incredible talent
5. Jeff Carter—Starting to put it all together; new long-term deal will help
6. Chris Higgins—Balanced player tallied career-high 27 goals, 52 points last year
7. Brent Seabrook—Steady presence on Hawks blueline; plenty of untapped offense
8. Dustin Brown—Tenacious winger broke out with 33 goals, 60 points
9. Dan Hamhuis—Hasn't found offense yet, but defensive play has improved
10. Marc Staal—Shutdown defender will look to crack Rangers' top pairing next year
11. Robert Nilsson—Bust no longer; speed and skill a perfect fit for Oilers
12. Keith Ballard—Offensive defenseman will take on more responsibility in Florida
13. Drew Stafford—All kinds of offensive potential, but ice time hard to get for Buffalo wingers
14. Chuck Kobasew—Not hitting expectations; trade to Bruins hasn't helped
15. Fredrik Sjostrom—Speedster has reinvented himself as energy forward
16. Bryan Little—Future captain was decent in 48 games with big club
17. Jiri Tlusty—Up-and-down season for Leafs rookie, but over a point-per-game at AHL level
18. Jonathan Bernier—Kings goalie of the future could be goalie of present too
19. Steve Eminger—Couldn't crack top six in Washington; that's never good
20. Riku Helenius—Another product of Finnish goalie system; has starter potential
21. Michael Grabner—Speedy Austrian sniper is a real wild card
22. Marek Zagrapan—Strong puck skills, but not making much impact at AHL level
23. Ryan O'Marra—Spent most of last year in ECHL; has long way to go to reach potential
24. Devan Dubnyk—Just completed first full AHL season due to Oilers' lack of an affiliate
25. Sasha Pokulok—Enormous blueliner still splitting time between AHL and ECHL
26. Lauri Tukonen—Development hindered by injury; recent trade to Dallas may rejuvenate him
27. Hugh Jessiman—24-year-old put up 40 points in AHL last year; looking like bust
28. Igor Knyazev—Played two AHL seasons before heading home to Russia
29. Jesse Niinimaki—North American resumé includes 24 AHL games, one assist
30. A.J. Thelen—Hometown boy so disappointing that Wild let him go as 20-year-old; now in ECHL

Check in next time as Josh tackles round four of the NHL Millennium Megadraft!

NHL Millennium Megadraft: Round Two

Josh Lewis — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 09:48:06 -0400

Last week, I brought you the first round of the NHL Millennium Megadraft, which is a reorganized collection of NHL draft picks between 2001 and 2006. The first round was comprised of players selected between first and fifth overall, thrown together into a ranked list of 30 players.

This time we'll do the second round, which includes players drafted between sixth and 10th overall during the same time range.

Sadly, the second round of the Megadraft features just 29 players. The death of Vancouver defenseman Luc Bourdon in a motorcycle accident in May shocked the hockey world. Bourdon, who was selected 10th overall in the 2005 draft, surely would have ended up near the top of this list.

Here are the players who will make up Round Two of the NHL Millennium Megadraft:

2001: Mikko Koivu, Mike Komisarek, Pascal Leclaire, Tuomo Ruutu, Dan Blackburn

2002: Scottie Upshall, Joffrey Lupul, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, Petr Taticek, Eric Nystrom

2003: Milan Michalek, Ryan Suter, Braydon Coburn, Dion Phaneuf, Andrei Kostitsyn

2004: Al Montoya, Rostislav Olesz, Alexandre Picard, Ladislav Smid, Boris Valabik

2005: Gilbert Brule, Jack Skille, Devin Setoguchi, Brian Lee

2006: Derick Brassard, Kyle Okposo, Peter Mueller, James Sheppard, Michael Frolik

Now comes the hard part: ranking all 29 players in a new list. Once again, keep in mind that young players who haven't yet established themselves will be ranked lower.

The List

31. Dion Phaneuf: No contest here. NHL's best young d-man and future Norris winner.
32. Pierre-Marc Bouchard: Wild playmaker hit 63 points last year and climbing.
33. Milan Michalek: Physical winger had an off-year, but is still dangerous.
34. Mike Komisarek: Hard-nosed blueliner led NHL in hits last year.
35. Joffrey Lupul: Philly was perfect change of scenery for sniper; he is beginning to hit stride.
36. Pascal Leclaire: Had a breakout season with nine shutouts, but must avoid injuries.
37. Mikko Koivu: Saku's brother starting to find offense; he is a strong two-way forward.
38. Ryan Suter: Edges out Coburn; he's a two-way player becoming a mainstay on Preds blue line.
39. Braydon Coburn: Finally put it all together last season and has great offensive instincts.
40. Andrei Kostitsyn: Had a 26-goal, 53-point rookie campaign; there's nowhere to go but up.
41. Peter Mueller: 54-point rookie year; big things in store for this 'Yotes forward.
42. Tuomo Ruutu: Injuries have derailed progress for this former blue-chipper.
43. Scottie Upshall: Offense hasn't translated to NHL, but energy sure has.
44. Rostislav Olesz: Struggling to find his offense, but is dripping with potential.
45. Ladislav Smid: Hasn't been a standout in Edmonton, but he hasn't been bad either.
46. Devin Setoguchi: Played 44 games last year, and didn't look out of place.
47. Gilbert Brule: Struggling in a big way. Will be in tough for him to get big minutes in Edmonton.
48. James Sheppard: Didn't produce much in rookie year, but Wild will develop him right.
49. Kyle Okposo: Five points in nine games last year for sniper.
50. Derick Brassard: Slick playmaker struggled in cameo last year, but impressed at AHL level.
51. Michael Frolik: Yet to see NHL, but loaded with offensive potential.
52. Boris Valabik: Towering Slovak got a cup of coffee last year; looks poised to grab full-time spot.
53. Jack Skille: 16 games with Hawks last year. He's a gritty player that's likely just a year away.
54. Brian Lee: Picked over Bourdon, Staal, and could crack roster this year.
55. Al Montoya: Dealt to Phoenix and is coming off a subpar year; his stock has fallen considerably.
56. Eric Nystrom: This defensive forward is having trouble making Flames. He played 44 games last year.
57. Alexandre Picard: He was picked far higher than his ranking; one point in 43 career games. May not make NHL at all.
58. Dan Blackburn: A promising career cut short by nerve damage in shoulder. 63 career games.
59. Petr Taticek: He played three games with Florida before being traded to Pens; he's in Switzerland now.

Check in next time when Josh compiles Round Three of the NHL Millennium Megadraft!

NHL Millennium Megadraft: Round One

Josh Lewis — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 06:58:35 -0400

If you're confused by the title, don't feel bad. You're probably not alone. So I'll explain how this works.

Being a draft junkie, and experiencing writer's block due to the lack of hockey action in August, I've decided to play around a bit with the last few drafts.

I've taken the top five picks from each of the last six drafts (starting with 2001, and leaving out 2007 and 2008, because most of those players haven't hit the NHL yet). I've then merged all 30 players into one newly-ranked list.

And that gives us round one of the NHL Millennium Megadraft.

Let's get started. Here are the players we'll be working with:

2001: Ilya Kovalchuk, Jason Spezza, Alex Svitov, Stephen Weiss, Stanislav Chistov

2002: Rick Nash, Kari Lehtonen, Jay Bouwmeester, Joni Pitkanen, Ryan Whitney

2003: Marc-Andre Fleury, Eric Staal, Nathan Horton, Nikolai Zherdev, Thomas Vanek

2004: Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Cam Barker, Andrew Ladd, Blake Wheeler

2005: Sidney Crosby, Bobby Ryan, Jack Johnson, Benoit Pouliot, Carey Price

2006: Erik Johnson, Jordan Staal, Jonathan Toews, Nicklas Backstrom, Phil Kessel

Now to plunk them all into one list, and rank them 1-30. Remember, some of the younger players (e.g. Bobby Ryan) haven't established themselves in the NHL yet and will be ranked lower accordingly.

THE LIST

1. Sidney Crosby: Edges out OV in a two-man race.
2. Alex Ovechkin: A no-brainer.
3. Evgeni Malkin: Not far behind Ovechkin, but not quite on the same level.
4. Rick Nash: Explosive goalscorer has improved all-around game.
5. Ilya Kovalchuk: Other-worldly talent, no supporting cast.
6. Marc-Andre Fleury: Finally proved himself in 2008 playoffs.
7. Jay Bouwmeester: Two-way D-man likely to hit market next summer.
8. Eric Staal: Excellent all-around talent, though consistency is an issue.
9. Jason Spezza: Propensity for turnovers puts him a shade behind Staal.
10. Jonathan Toews: New 'Hawks captain could be near top of list in future.
11. Kari Lehtonen: Injuries an issue, but Lehtonen is a rock when healthy.
12. Thomas Vanek: Tailed off last year, but 50 goals not out of reach.
13. Nathan Horton: Power forward in the making has put injuries behind him.
14. Joni Pitkanen: Stock has fallen considerably, but franchise potential still there.
15. Erik Johnson: Sky is the limit for Blues' franchise player.
16. Jordan Staal: Strong PKer who can snipe, but offensive upside is questionable.
17. Nikolai Zherdev: Perennial headache could reach new heights in Big Apple.
18. Ryan Whitney: Offensive d-man has room to improve in own end.
19. Nicklas Backstrom: Look for Swede to climb the charts setting up Ovechkin.
20. Carey Price: Unflappable goalie will rise considerably with more experience.
21. Phil Kessel: Not the Next One, but Kessel will be a first line forward.
22. Jack Johnson: Nasty rearguard could form NHL's top pairing with Doughty.
23. Stephen Weiss: Centre not living up to expectations; third line centre on most teams.
24. Andrew Ladd: Canes pick looks for fresh start in Chicago; lots of time yet.
25. Cam Barker: Having trouble cracking a regular spot; object of trade rumours.
26. Bobby Ryan: Why Ducks took him over JJ, we'll never know; maybe a top-six forward.
27. Benoit Pouliot: Not an NHL regular yet, but development still on track.
28. Stanislav Chistov: Bruins reclamation project all but finished with NHL.
29. Alex Svitov: Played three seasons with disappointing results before returning home.
30. Blake Wheeler: Off-the-board pick who just finished college, signed with Bruins.

Feel free to make your own list and post it below.

Stick around for next time as Josh puts together Round 2 of the NHL Millennium Megadraft.

Young Leafs: The Carlo Colaiacovo Saga

Josh Lewis — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:11:02 -0400

Carlo Colaiacovo's career in hockey can be summed up by this: when you type his name into Google Image Search, the first photo returned shows him skating off the ice with the assistance of a trainer.

Every fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs knows Colaiacovo's story. Top prospect, first round pick, world junior star, sky-high potential—all of it ruined by injury.

Colaiacovo was selected in the first round of the 2001 draft, 17th overall, by the Leafs. He was considered an elite defense prospect and anchored Team Canada's blue line at the World Junior Championship for three straight years. Alas, the first revelation of the hero's fatal flaw came in his final year of junior with the Erie Otters, when injuries and an appearance at the World Junior limited him to just 35 games.

In five seasons since then, Colaiacovo has missed a whopping 179 games with the Leafs and Toronto Marlies—an average of 36 games per season—due to injuries ranging from a concussion to knee damage to a broken hand.

Every time Colaiacovo returns to the line-up and starts to get into a rhythm, he gets hurt again. This has greatly hindered his development. His career high is 48 games in 2006-07, when he put up eight goals and nine assists.

No one doubts Colaiacovo's ability, though. When healthy, he's a devastating hitter with good shutdown ability and some offense. He's got the talent to be a legitimate top four defenseman at the very least.

Heck, if not for his lengthy injury list, I have no doubt he'd be making up the top pairing with Tomas Kaberle right now. But the fact of the matter is that Colaiacovo isn't on the top pairing, and he isn't always healthy. His woes have caused him to be leapfrogged on the depth chart by Anton Stralman and, to an extent, Ian White.

Colaiacovo will most likely come into camp competing for a spot on the third pairing, and that's even if Bryan McCabe or Pavel Kubina is dealt. If he stays healthy (a colossal 'if'), he will have the opportunity to work his way into the top four, but that would require outplaying either Stralman or Jeff Finger.

Colaiacovo is in much the same situation Nik Antropov found himself in last year. He's coming into training camp facing a make-or-break season. If he stays healthy, he has the chance to take on a bigger role, but if he doesn't, he's likely gone.

We all know what Antropov did last year. That doesn't mean Colaiacovo will thrive this season, but maybe he can learn from his Kazakh teammate. Be confident, pick your spots, and use your skills on a more consistent basis. Those are the keys to a successful year for Carlo.

Let's hope that top-end talent will finally shine through. But I wouldn't bet the family pig on it.

Prediction: 54 games, 10 g, 16 a, 26 pts

Leafs Talk Today Off and Running

Josh Lewis — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:02:36 -0400

Last week I told you about a new online radio show that I would be co-hosting with Derek Harmsworth called Leafs Talk Today.

After an initial snag, we did the first episode on Monday morning. Despite some audio issues, the show went off extremely well and has attracted almost 250 listeners (live and on-demand) in the past two days.

In the first episode, we talked about Mats Sundin, Luke Schenn, Glen Murray and Jonathan Toews, among others, and Alan Bass joined us to take a look at the Philadelphia Flyers' offseason moves.

Alan stuck around for the first segment of "Around The Rinks", which features one NHL division per episode and looks at the offseason changes made by each team. In episode one, we looked at the Pacific Division.

Episode two of Leafs Talk Today ran this morning at 9 AM ET. Topics included Bryan McCabe, Jay Bouwmeester, and Joe Sakic, and we introduced three brand-new segments. Alan joined us again for "Around The Rinks" as we took a look at the Central Division.

You can hear both episodes on-demand right here. The next episode is coming soon, so keep an eye out.

Also, if you'd like to appear as a guest on Leafs Talk Today (especially if you're a fan of one of the Northwest Division teams, since we're doing them next), please drop a note to Derek or I.

Toronto Argonauts Robbed By Riders; Still Have Work to Do

Josh Lewis — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:01:22 -0400

Last week, it looked like the Toronto Argonauts were turning the corner.

Kerry Joseph had finally shown his MOP form in driving the Argos to a last-second, game-winning touchdown over the Edmonton Eskimos. The defense had been solid, and receivers Tyler Scott and James Robinson came out of nowhere to help lead the double blue to victory.

Then came last night's 28-22 loss to the defending Grey Cup champ Saskatchewan Roughriders, and the Argonauts are back at one game under .500.

But what the score doesn't tell you is that the Argos played a very strong game last night and should have won. The Boatmen can attribute their loss to two awful calls in the fourth quarter.

The first came when, after two goal line stops by the Argo defensive line, Riders running back Wes Cates tried to go up and over for the touchdown.

Mike O'Shea leapt forward to meet him, and replays showed that O'Shea was clearly past the plain of the goal line when he made contact with Cates.

The ball was hard to see, but there was certainly no clear evidence of it being over the plain. But it was ruled a touchdown anyway, and the Riders went up 27-22.

Then, with less than three minutes remaining, former Argo receiver Michael Palmer fumbled the ball as he was being brought down and Toronto recovered. The play was ruled a fumble on the field, which means conclusive evidence was needed to overturn the decision.

Replays clearly showed that the ball was loose before Palmer's knee was down. It was clear as day. Yet the ruling was reversed with no video evidence whatsoever.

That ridiculous decision ended any chance the Argos had at getting back in the game. They did get the ball back one last time, but a poor pass by Joseph in the dying seconds gave the win to Saskatchewan.

The good news for the Argos is that they looked solid on most fronts last night. Joseph again looked comfortable behind centre, and he's beginning to use his legs more, which is a great sign for a Toronto team that has never had much of a running game.

The receiving corps continues to improve, anchored by Arland Bruce and supported by Andre Talbot, who has really stepped up with the loss of Tony Miles and the injury to Bethel Johnson.

Rookies Tyler Scott and James Robinson didn't do much last night but both showed all kinds of potential in last week's win over Edmonton. Obed Cetoute and Johnnie Morant have also shown some flashes of ability.

On the running side, Dominique Dorsey was merely average last night and Jamal Robertson hasn't really done anything since a solid opening game against Winnipeg.

No, running isn't as important in the CFL as it is south of the border, but you still need an effective back to open up more options for your quarterback.

The D continued to look good but not great. Something has been missing from this unit this season. It's been solid but hasn't shown the usual effectiveness we've grown accustomed to.

Of course, the absence of Kevin Eiben in the midfield may have contributed to that last night.

Maybe it's the loss of Rich Stubler as defensive coordinator or the loss of players like Khalil Carter and Jeff Keeping, but the defense doesn't seem to have that airtight quality to it, so far.

Ryan Dinwiddie and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are next up for the Argos. That game goes Friday night, and it's a crucial one for the Boatmen if they want to keep a leg up on Winnipeg and stay in the running for first in the East.

From Commercialism to Embarrassment: The Five Worst Arena Names in NHL History

Josh Lewis — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:06:48 -0400

As promised a while back, it's time to rank the NHL's five worst arena names of all-time.

Some of these are borne from obsessive commercialism, while others are simply awkward or embarrassing. You'll see what I mean.

I didn't go after places like the Air Canada Centre or the Bell Centre, because those names actually sound fairly good, even though it's a disgrace that they have taken the place of Maple Leaf Gardens and the Montreal Forum.

5. Raleigh Entertainment and Sports Arena

Carolina Hurricanes, 1999-2002

Okay, so there's nothing embarrassing about this name and it's actually a refreshing change from the advertising cash cow that has plagued sports arenas. But it's simply too generic. A name like this is good for a local multipurpose rink with an ice surface, bowling alley, etc. But for an arena that hosts a professional sports franchise, it's a wee bit obscure.

It's too bad the rink's ownership gave in to the corporate craze, but RBC Center does sound better.

4. Shawmut Center

Boston Bruins, 1995

If you're anything like me, your first thoughts are, "What the hell is Shawmut? And why does it sound so dirty?" Well, there's an incredibly stupid story behind it.

In 1995, when the new arena was being built to replace the Boston Garden, two banks engaged in a bidding war for the naming rights_Shawmut Bank of Boston and Fleet Bank of Providence. Shawmut won the day, and slowly the Shawmut brand was spread throughout the rink, including on every seat.

At the same time, Shawmut and Fleet had been conducting secret merger talks. But they forgot to notify their marketing departments. When the merger took place, the Shawmut name was dropped. The new Fleet Bank had been bidding against itself! Every single seat in the arena had to be replaced on short notice, and the interior colour scheme had to be adjusted.

3. National Car Rental Center

Florida Panthers, 1998-2002

This is a case of commercialism gone way too far. If I want to rent a car, I have to go to this place in Sunrise, Fla., right? What? Oh, you mean someone plays hockey here? If that's the case, why the hell are you calling it a car rental center?

2. Gaylord Entertainment Center

Nashville Predators, 1999-2007

It's bad enough that they named the place Gaylord, but then to add the word "entertainment" to that? And to keep that incredibly $@%#*&-up sequence of words for over eight years?

I don't even want to penetrate the inner depths of this one.

1. Jobing.com Arena

Phoenix Coyotes, 2006-present

If you're going to include a freaking website in the name of a sports arena, it better be one that's easily recognizable. Does anyone here know what Jobing.com is? It turns out to be a job site. Okay, so I probably could have figured that out without looking it up.

But this name is far too obscure for a pro sports arena, not to mention it sounds awful. And someone obviously didn't get past grade four English, because it's spelled Jobbing! Double the last consonant before the suffix! Is it really that hard to remember?

Leafs Talk Today: Filling Your Hockey Void

Josh Lewis — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 10:56:05 -0400

Bleacher Report's NHL writers are well-known for their creativity and originality, and now comes the latest foray into the world of online hockey chat.

Hosted by Derek Harmsworth and myself, Leafs Talk Today aims to become one of the best new hockey talk shows on the web.

The weekly one-hour show will focus on the Toronto Maple Leafs, but we'll also devote lots of time to the rest of the league. Not a Leafs fan? No problem.

Featuring special guests from Bleacher Report as well as interviews and live callers, Leafs Talk Today is the next big thing in Internet sports radio.

Don't miss the first episode tomorrow, Friday morning, at 9 a.m. ET. If that time doesn't work for you, you can tune in on-demand whenever you want.

Let's all chip in and make Leafs Talk Today one of the most exciting hockey shows out there!

And if you'd like to make a guest appearance on Leafs Talk Today, be sure to drop a note to Derek or myself.