Bleacher Report - Articles by John Buco

Breaking Down the NHL: Western Conference, Central Division

John Buco — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:25:50 -0400

The NHL season is almost upon us again. It seems like a couple weeks ago that the Pens knocked off the Red Wings to win their third Stanley Cup. But, here we are again. This time around, many squads have undergone significant changes.

In that light, I am going to break down the NHL, division by division, starting in the West. The Central Division is going to be my starting point, since I am doing this completely arbitrarily and this seems to be the strongest division in all of hockey.

It is inconceivable to think that all five teams in a division can make it to the playoffs, but if it were ever to happen in a given year, the Central Division has the best shot.

You’re looking at two of the finest teams of a year ago (Detroit, Chicago) and two of the upstart surprises (St. Louis, Columbus). Additionally, it is a mistake to discount a Nashville team that missed the playoffs last year for the first time in four years.

Detroit Red Wings

As much as I do not like them, I do respect them, and that is why my division favorite is the Detroit Red Wings. This has nothing to do with their history or legacy since 2000. They are simply, if narrowly, the best team in the division.

Their top two lines are arguably the best in hockey. If you’re the opposing team and you see Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen, and Daniel Cleary across from you, you are in for a game. That does not even account for Henrik Zetterberg, Tomas Holmstrom and some of the young guns on this team.

Furthermore, their defense is second to none. Albeit aged, they can still dominate anyone in the league. Nicklas Lidstrom is the anchor of the defense, the team captain, and he is entering a contract year. Brian Rafalski and Niklas Kronwall have proven their mettle. As a matter of fact, I cannot look at the starting six for the Wings and see a name that I have not heard before.

All that said, the biggest problem area for Detroit is in the net. Don’t get me wrong, Chris Osgood is a good goaltender, capable of taking a team deep into the playoffs. He is also going to be 37 in November and is a constant health risk.

It also seems that Detroit is not fully confident in the young Jimmy Howard. If Osgood goes down or his game goes south, Howard will have to take the net with confidence and guile. Otherwise, Detroit is going to have to go find someone—unless Dominik Hasek is available.

You also cannot discount Detroit’s intangibles. Mike Babcock is always in the Adams Trophy discussion at the end of a season and Detroit’s power play and penalty kill have been in the top 10 in the NHL over the past decade.

Prediction: No reason. Absolutely no reason why Detroit should not make the playoffs. However, they may not win this division. Which brings me to the team that I would love to see win this division: the Chicago Blackhawks.

Chicago Blackhawks

The Blackhawks have a very comparable team to Detroit, both in strengths and weaknesses.

Chicago has one of the three top lines that can hang with Detroit’s big three (we’ll hit others in later editions). Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, and Patrick Sharp are probably the NHL’s best line of youngsters. While Datsyuk and company hold superior experience, this young trio is faster and has less mileage.

Both Toews and Sharp have a good chance to lead the West in scoring in the near future and Kane definitely has a shot to be the one of the great set-up men in the game.

When you talk about Detroit, Zetterberg and Holmstrom always get thrown into the discussion, but the Hawks have an equally potent number of players that include Kris Versteeg, Andrew Ladd, and Dustin Byfuglien.

Oh yeah, and let’s not forget perennial 40-goal scorer Marian Hossa, who left Detroit for what looked like a better opportunity in Chicago. I guess you can’t argue with Chicago’s determination to return to the finals, but Hossa has been wrong before (chuckle).

The Blackhawk defense is comparable to Detroit’s in every aspect except defined leadership. Lidstrom is clearly the leader of that squad. Chicago would love to see a leader emerge, but something tells me that it is not going to happen this year.

Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook are still young and Brian Campbell has always been better at just being a good defenseman. When he tries to put on the leader skates, his game falls apart (see +/- Buffalo Sabres, circa 2007). The other three are a smattering of talent, none with leadership qualities.

Ironically, the two division favorites have the same problem. The goaltending in Chicago is even more questionable than in Detroit. Cristobal Huet is another good goaltender. However, he tends to choke in the playoffs and with no experienced relief this year, he will be carrying the load.

Chicago may have to go and get an experienced netminder in December or at the trade deadline to cover the fragility, both physically and mentally, of Huet. J.S. Giguere or Marty Turco may be available at these times, depending on how their respective teams are coming along.

Prediction: Chicago has a real chance to make a run at the division title. If they do, they may wind up with the best record in the West. I believe they are going to come up just short, for the above reasons. A big question mark in goal, coupled with a lack of definitive leadership on defense spells a team falling just short of the Wings. The Hawks should definitely secure the fourth spot if they don’t win the division.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Coming off the first trip to the playoffs in franchise history, the Blue Jackets have lots to be positive about. They boast one of the top and most highly touted goal scorers in the NHL and the reigning Calder trophy winner in goal. That covers two of the three most important facets of their game.

Rick Nash returns as this team’s undisputed captain and leader. He has topped 30 goals four times in his career and posted career marks in assists, points, and plus/minus last year. He finally has a top-line center to feed on in Derick Brassard.

Brassard hit his payday this year to center the Jackets top line. He sits between Nash and Kristian Huselius, poised for a breakout season, provided he stays healthy. Columbus also hopes that Antoine Vermette and Raffi Torres will reclaim some of what they had in Ottawa and Edmonton, respectively.

It is difficult to imagine R.J. Umberger topping his numbers from last year: career high 26 goals and 234 shots. If he can, Columbus has yet another weapon. Samuel Pahlsson could also be a great surprise pickup.

Then there’s Steve Mason. Who is he, you ask? Oh, he’s just the reigning Calder trophy winner who won 33 games with a 2.29 GAA last year. He also led the NHL with ten shutouts. Yep, that’s one better than a guy named Luongo, and at least three better than guys named Nabokov, Ward, and Brodeur.

Many critics of Mason fear the sophomore slump, but I still think he’ll manage a 30-plus win season. The shutouts will probably drop a bit, but that’s to be expected. He may also be the victim of the Blue Jacket’s glaring issue.

Columbus’ defense leaves a lot to be desired. In fact, their top pair, Mike Commodore and Rostislav Klesla, are mere journeymen who do their job, but nothing more. They do not have a defenseman to quarterback the power play and none of them really have the potential to emerge as a leader.

If they are in the mix come February, which I think they will be, a deadline deal may get done for a quality scoring defenseman. I am not sure who will be available, but it’s hard to believe that the Islanders will be good enough to force Mark Streit to hang around.

Prediction: Columbus has a lot more expectation heading into this season than they have ever had in the history of the organization. A non-playoff performance would be a disappointment. I do not expect them to disappoint. I am putting them in the sixth or seventh slot heading into the post-season, behind San Jose, but ahead of whichever team takes that eighth spot (of the six possible bubble teams).

St. Louis Blues

St. Louis was the feel-good story in the NHL last year. After a 2008 season riddled by injury, the Blues finished last in the Central division with 79 points. In 2008-2009, the Blues rallied by way of 92 points and a playoff berth, their first since before the lockout.

Like Columbus, St. Louis has good reason to be optimistic this season. They are also under a much larger microscope from critics and their fans.

Brad Boyes emerged last season as the Blues leading scorer and playmaker. Setting a career mark in assists, points and shots, Boyes also contributed 35 power play points and a ridiculous 11 game-winning goals. His plus/minus was a nasty -20, an area that needs improvement.

The rest of the top line is, at most, respectable. St. Louis gets Paul Kariya back at the start of this season. When he has played at least 69 games in a season, Kariya has averaged 92 points per season. Approaching age 35 this season, Kariya is still a 70-80 point threat if he can play 82 games. He is also 56 points away from the magic 1000.

That makes Boyes and top-line center Andy McDonald both threats to top the 40 and 30 goal marks, respectively.

The Blues second line is nothing to sneeze at either. Ageless Keith Tkachuk is 37 and still flirting with 50 points each season. He topped the 1000 mark last season and his production has consistently dropped, but he is still a scoring threat every time he touches the ice.

Much of that has to do with playmaker T.J. Oshie centering the second line. He had an excellent rookie campaign, posting 25 assists, 36 points, and a plus 11. Those numbers can only improve.

It’s a wonder David Backes managed 31 goals and over 50 points while spending 165 minutes in the sin bin. If he can still be a pest and score at least 25, he’s one of the biggest assets on this team.

The Blues defense has two of the best young defensemen in the league. The two Eric(k)s, Brewer and Johnson, are heading into their prime and are poised to lead this unit. Johnson is coming off a season-ending knee injury, but he should rebound nicely. 2008 first-round pick Alex Pietrangelo is also ready to take the main stage in the NHL.

The Blues have the other Mason. Chris Mason, who a year ago, posted career numbers in wins, minutes and shutouts. He was respectable in comparison to his counterpart in Columbus and should have another good year with a healthy defense in front of him.

St. Louis is pretty average across the board. They didn’t make any noise in the off-season and their only real additions are the return of Kariya and Johnson. An emerging superstar is the only way they can separate themselves from the middle pack of West teams.

Prediction: St. Louis should make the playoffs again, somewhere in the bottom half. They have to avoid injury and Paul Kariya needs to have gas in the tank coming into the playoffs for them to succeed.

Nashville Predators

The Preds find themselves on the outside looking in for the first time since the lockout. While ownership and relocation problems loom in the upper echelons of the organization, Barry Trotz and David Poile have managed to hold together a cohesive team, capable of producing wins.

Jason Arnott, team captain and scoring leader last season, will have to keep it going as he enters his 18th season in the NHL. The journeyman center will turn 35 in October, yet he managed to tie his career high for goals last season with 33. It is safe to say that the team needs point-per-game production from the aging center.

His wingers are a little sketchy, but Martin Erat has not had less than 49 points in the last five years. He will need to produce this season, along with line mate J.P. Dumont, who has been a perennial underachiever. Steve Sullivan is an interesting study. because while he spent most of last season on the IR, his flashes of brilliance as the season ended pointed to good things to come.

Finally, we look at David Legwand. Legwand has been the face of this franchise, albeit a non-existent one, since he was drafted second overall by the Predators in 1998. Eleven years later, he finds himself in the center of staunch criticism and massive underachievement. He was supposed to be to this team what Rick Nash is for Columbus now. He must have a stellar year in order to make good with the fans, or to up his value at the deadline and head to a team with a shot at the Cup.

Nashville’s top two on defense both had fantastic seasons last year. They will have to build on that this season. Ryan Suter and Shea Weber can stand toe-to-toe with Datsyuk and company, Chicago’s youngsters, and Nash/Brassard, but after them, the depth is pretty thin. The team does have former first-rounder Dan Hamhuis, who has also been disappointing throughout his career.

In net, Pekka Rinne has established himself as the legitimate number one. In his first full season as a starter, Rinne posted 29 wins, a 2.38 GAA, and 7 shutouts. Those are great numbers for a first season, and he will have to continue that trend to make Nashville competitive. If he can’t, the very capable Dan Ellis is waiting in the wings.

Nashville can make some noise during the season, and I would not be surprised if they are in the hunt for that eighth spot come March, but they need a superstar scorer to even out the playmaking ability of their other top players. Jason Arnott cannot fulfill that role anymore.

Prediction: Nashville will most likely be on the outside looking in again. Their goaltending is on par with St. Louis and Columbus and their defense is top rate. But the lack of goal scoring will be their undoing. I suspect they will end up in the ninth or tenth slot, just short. Aalthough, a couple wins against Columbus and a couple against the Blues could change the whole picture.

As I said, on the whole, this division just edges out the East’s Atlantic Division as the strongest and toughest division in hockey (thanks to the Islanders). I would not be surprised if all five of these teams ended up squeezing into the playoffs. I would also not be surprised if only two got in. The bottom three are questionable coming into the season, but I think at least St. Louis and Columbus will pull out return trips.

Facing the Facts: Five Teams That Should Consider Michael Vick

John Buco — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:06:20 -0400

So Michael Vick is reinstated. He is looking for a job in the NFL. Where is he going to find one?

Many NFL teams are still in the market for a marquee quarterback. Vick will be a work-in-progress, but he may eventually be just as deadly as he used to be.

With that, here is a look at five teams that should be looking at Vick as a project, but no worse than any of their other stop-gaps.

5. Minnesota Vikings

They lost out with Brett Favre telling them no. They are still not a bad team, but their quarterbacks are anything but marquee. The Vikes have a solid defense and the most lethal runner in the sport. A solid quarterback would make the team a serious Super Bowl contender.

Michael Vick is probably not the answer right now. But, the Vikings would be remiss in management of the team were they not to give him a serious look.

4. Cincinnati Bengals

Two reasons Michael Vick should go to the Bengals.

One, Carson Palmer is not a kid anymore and cannot bounce back from injury.

Second, the Cincinnati Bengals seem to thrive on picking up “questionable” personalities. I’m sure he would fit right in with Ochocinco and the other Neanderthals and misanthropes this team attracts.

3. Seattle Seahawks

Last year should be the only indication this team needs that they need a solid back-up plan if Matt Hasselbeck goes down. Michael Vick could be the jolt of energy this team needs. The running back situation is up in the air and the defense has its question marks.

The only two solid positions are quarterback and wide receiver. However, this team could possibly have won the West last year with their star quarterback healthy. Instead, Seneca Wallace drove the team into the ground.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

I am a die-hard Steelers fan. Normally, I would be utterly against any personnel decision that would damage the team image and chemistry. However, with the Ben Roethlisberger rape case on the horizon, the defending champions have to look at viable options, no matter how crazy, to have a shot at defending their title.

Michael Vick would have several strong, vocal leaders around him that may suppress his personality and turn him into an actual team player.

1. San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco has needed a franchise quarterback since Steve Young retired. They have met with limited success. Alex Smith is a bust, Ken Dorsey wasn’t worth the draft pick, and everyone else they’ve tried has been nothing more than a stop-gap.

Michael Vick would need a year or two to get ready, but with the very strong presence of Mike Singletary handling the team, he could be able to thrive.

I believe that the 49ers would benefit the most and Michael Vick. Coincidentally, Vick would probably benefit the most from the 49ers management and their system. It is another team with a franchise tailback already on the roster and a developing defense. Best of all, they have the young and explosive Michael Crabtree. That’s enough to entice any quarterback.

NHL Receiving No Love in the United States

John Buco — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:22:44 -0400

Baseball is still considered America’s pastime. Football is America’s sport. Basketball has been on the rise for years.

Still, without a Canadian Stanley Cup victory in 15 years, the NHL does not receive nearly as much media attention as the other three. It also has a much smaller fanbase.

Let us take an objective look at this.

Baseball is slowly losing all credibility in the country. Based on this year’s All-Star game, there appears to be but one savior: Albert Pujols. He is the only superstar left that has not been directly linked to steroids or other performance enhancing drugs.

If he is able to achieve either 62 homers or the NL triple crown, that would be a significant lift for the sport. At this point, that remains to be seen and the achievements over the last decade and a half have been shadowed by the steroid menace.

Football has taken much of the limelight from baseball, but it still has its problems. Everything from Michael Vick to Steve McNair’s death, to the myriad of problems with Cincinnati players has Commissioner Goodell pulling his hair out.

While each of these situations have been dealt with in an appropriate manner, it stands to reason that problems in football are not isolated incidents.

Basketball: See above football. Same reason, different players. Namely Stephon Marbury, Carmelo Anthony and Dennis Rodman.

So with all the ambiguous problems surrounding the resolution of these issues, why does the seemingly innocent NHL get no love? Three big reasons exist, among many smaller ones.

First, the media hype resulting from these incidents in other sports bolsters the recognition of the sport. Whether good or bad, recognition is everything. Hitler may have been recognized in a bad way, but 50-plus years later, people are still talking about him.

The NFL season hasn’t even begun, but already we’re talking about the sport due to the release of Michael Vick from house arrest. The most interesting piece of gossip from the NHL is Marian Hossa and where he would end up. Not great for the media coverage.

Second, the big stars do not get the recognition they need to attract the popularity of the masses. Look at Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Alex Rodriguez and more. They have done ads, endorsements, thousands of public appearances, and more.

Sidney Crosby needs to embrace that side of the business of the sport. Yes, he’s young. So is LeBron James. That doesn’t matter. He is one of the only ones who can help the sport right now.

Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin need to get a much better grasp of the English language before they can start with endorsements and public appearances. NHL executives and agents need to be more conscious of this side of the sport and make an effort to exploit it.

Finally, the NHL fails to embrace the best times to promote. The Winter Olympics is one of those times.

The 2009 playoffs were easily the best in years. NHL executives should have taken advantage of that and promoted the sport in a big way. There are only so many things ESPN and Sports Illustrated can do.

The Caps-Pens series should have been the biggest, most publicized series of the playoffs, with the NHL’s three brightest stars playing. In addition to this point, the NHL needs to (and excuse my French) get the hell off of Versus. Most people do not even have access to the station.

The NHL has incredibly tough odds to become a populace favorite in the United States. But with a little tweak here and there and maybe a change in management, the fanbase could double in five years.

For the last 15 years, an American team has won the most coveted prize in the sport and has generally gone unnoticed except in the city that won it. Hockey is such an entertaining, fast-paced sport that people cannot truly appreciate without watching the game.

The NHL has an obligation to bring that game to the masses. It can be done, but it will take time and hard work.

Heading into Training Camp: The Reigning Champion Pittsburgh Steelers

John Buco — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:26:32 -0400

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been sitting on top of the world for the past five months.

This team has helped surpass every other NFL franchise in overall success, and now comes the time to defend that success.

The Steelers do not have as tough a road as one might think.

First of all, they do not have a rough schedule. In fact, this might be the easiest schedule I’ve seen for a defending champion in a long time.

The Steelers really only have three, possibly four, tough games before a convenient Week 8 bye. They see Tennessee the first game of the season, followed by a possible challenge at Chicago. The next tough game comes two weeks later against San Diego, but they get the Chargers at home.

The final week before their bye, the unstoppable force meets the immovable object when Adrian Peterson goes head-to-head with the Steel Curtain. This could be the marquee game of the first half of the season if both teams manage to stay undefeated, so circle this one on your calendars.

The second half of the season is a relative breeze, with the only challenges coming from Baltimore (twice) and Miami at the very end. Because of that, the Steelers should steamroll right back into the playoffs.

Regular season prediction: 13-3 (losses at Baltimore, Tennessee, and Green Bay).

Pittsburgh needs to do very little to restructure its roster, as the Steelers didn't lose much in free agency and added depth from the draft and injury returns.

Obviously, the turmoil surrounding Ben Roethlisberger's alleged rape case is a huge issue. But I won’t go in depth about that, considering the already heavy media coverage.

One issue that isn’t touched on enough is the replacement of Bryant McFadden. OK, so maybe he wasn’t Darren Perry, but he could hit hard.

Believe it or not, a good free safety is hard to replace. Right now, Ryan Clark, who basically worked nickel and dime packages for the Steelers last year, figures to be the starter come game day. But, we will see exactly how good he is—otherwise, the team may have to go get someone.

Another issue is lack of depth at two positions: Outside linebacker and offensive tackle. The Steelers will have a huge problem if either LaMarr Woodley or Lawrence Timmons go down early in the season, because the options left are young and rough around the edges.

When you look at the depth chart, offensive tackle may look safe, but Max Starks has a history of injury and Trai Essex is wildly inconsistent. I do not think they need to look for someone else, but team management needs to watch some of these guys closely.

One thing that will drastically improve is the depth in the backfield, which rivals that of Baltimore and Miami. Rashard Mendenhall is finally healthy and looking good going into training camp. That leaves Mewelde Moore as third man, but what a third man he is.

Carey Davis has emerged as a quality replacement for Dan Kreider, and Pittsburgh drafted a backup for him in Frank Summers.

Some smaller issues to keep in scope are the development of Limas Sweed in his second year as a pro, Heath Miller’s touches, and what the team should do if Roethlisberger is unable to perform during this court case.

Sweed has shown much promise, and he has the benefit of working with arguably the finest mentor (Hines Ward) and the fastest up-and-comer (Santonio Holmes) in the league. Heath Miller, now in his fifth season, deserves more touches with Holmes and Sweed spreading the field. As far as Big Ben goes, it would surprise me if the court case affected his play much, but Charlie Batch is a fine option if Roethlisberger has problems.

Lastly, and this is from a personal standpoint, all you diehards out there should keep an eye on A.Q. Shipley. He’s a rookie out of Penn State and the backup center.

I played against this guy in high school, and he is a behemoth. As much as I hated him then, this guy is born and bred Pittsburgh. He is the future anchor of that offensive line, so watch him closely over the next few years.

I think the Steelers have a great season ahead of them. My preseason prediction (pending the Big Ben fallout) is at least a return to the AFC Championship game, likely against the Patriots.

If I could pick an ideal Super Bowl matchup, I would say Pittsburgh and Minnesota. Feel free to disagree, but I think the rematch from the regular season would be phenomenal.

Mid-Year Review: Will Pittsburgh Be the City of Champions Come December?

John Buco — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 03:12:52 -0400

Well, I said it from the start of the NHL playoffs.

If the Penguins are able to pull out a Stanley Cup victory, all the Pirates have to do is have a winning season and it will come full circle. As of today, they are three games back of .500. It may be extremely close, but trading Nate McLouth was not the best start.

That said, let’s hypothetically say that they don’t make it and have a ML record 17^th losing season in a row. Where does that put Pittsburgh in the 2009 scope? Unless the Steelers and Penguins are in last place by the end of December (fat chance), they should be at least in contention for the top spot.

It is interesting because I moved from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles 2 years ago. And it seems that L.A. has the only chance to dethrone Pittsburgh as the #1 sports city of 2009. We have already established that the Steelers and Pens have, at least, temporary supremacy over their respective sports. L.A. doesn’t quite have it yet.

With the Lakers knocking off the Magic in grueling fashion, the pressure falls on the Dodgers to pull out a baseball pennant. They are well on their way, even without Manny Ramirez, who will be back soon. If the Dodgers can even make it to the NLCS, some talk has to be made of L.A. supremacy because it is a much larger market than Pittsburgh.

However, the problem the city of Los Angeles has is the non-existence of a football team among the non-existence of three of its pro teams: the dismal LA Clippers, the upstart Kings, and the Beckham-less Galaxy. Throw in the Sparks of the WNBA, and L.A. has a three team lead on Pittsburgh. Between the string of terrible seasons for the Clippers (keeping par with the Pirates) and the David Beckham debacle in pro soccer, L.A. has its problems.

Ultimately, if it comes down to two championships apiece, the tie-breaker will likely be the records of the poor teams and the respective records of the current champs come December. The Lakers being in contention is always a given and the Steelers rarely miss the playoffs. The Pens will not lose much in the offseason, so they can only get better.

My personal vote is for Pittsburgh, because I sincerely doubt the Dodgers can keep the pace they have now. Even if the Pirates die off after the All-Star break, you cannot argue two major championships in one calendar year.

I will be sure to follow up this article come the end of the year along with a list of the top 10 sports cities in 2009.

Pittsburgh Penguins Just Making It with Dynamic Duo

John Buco — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:06:23 -0500

The Pittsburgh Penguins could go down in history as a storied sports franchise.

They have a long way to go to catch the Steelers, and even the Pirates, in Pittsburgh, but they are certainly making a grand show of it lately.

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin lead one of the most high-powered offenses in the NHL. They are two similar, yet different players.

Crosby plays with finesse and a little grit. Malkin employs a large frame and exquisite skill.

And they complement each other beautifully.

Consequently, one would be hard-pressed to find another duo in the league capable of producing as well as these two do, even on a mediocre day.

Ovechkin is so good, he makes everyone else around him look good, too. Datsuyk and Zetterberg are a force, but not quite as skilled as the Pens' top two.

Although many would hate to believe it, these two guys will be together in Pittsburgh for a long time, and they are probably better-suited to each other than Jagr and Lemieux, or possibly even Gretzky and Messier were.

The question then becomes, what would the Penguins do if they lost one of these great stars?

The answer lies in last season.

Crosby went down with an injury for six weeks, and was very fragile for the next three. Malkin emerged as a force in his absence.

Quite honestly, it was probably better that way. Malkin was able to meld with the team and showcase his talents while not in the shadow of "Sid the Kid." Now, they work better together.

Granted, the Pens do not have the supporting cast they had last season.

Ryan Malone, Colby Armstrong, and Erik Christiansen have all departed. Fleury has been blowing hot-and-cold for much of the season, and, while Dany Sabourin has been capable, Ty Conklin was a much better option in '07-'08.

Pittsburgh is also without their top two defensemen until early in 2009.

All that said, an injury to either Malkin or Crosby would be devastating to the team at this point.

Jordan Staal could be the next to step up his game, and Pascal Dupuis still has some gas in the tank. Miroslav Satan and Ruslan Fedotenko both have shown flashes of brilliance, particularly in the playoffs.

While the Penguins will continue to contend for the Eastern Conference crown, Fleury must work on staying healthy and consistent. One other player, preferably a defenseman, needs to step up and take command of the blue line—Phillipe Boucher was supposed to be that guy until he was hurt. Brooks Orpik is the logical choice, but it might have to be Kris Letang. He’s younger, but he’s probably a better option to quarterback the point on the power play and be a strong penalty killer.

In the meantime, Crosby and Malkin will continue to work their magic and make everyone else on the team better.

The Runner-Up: A Look at the 2008-09 Pittsburgh Penguins

John Buco — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:26:15 -0400

The Pittsburgh Penguins have come a long way since the 2001 season.

After the final retirement of Mario Lemieux, the Pens were able to look forward into a new era. Promising? Not in the least.

Hometown boy Ryan Malone was the brightest point on this Penguins squad for three years. Guys by the name of Hlinka, Kehoe, and Olczyk took turns behind the bench, all leading to the same conclusion—the bottom is out of the tub.

During these years, the Penguins stockpiled draft picks and developed from within.

Then came the lockout. An entire season passed without a single game of hockey played. This was a sad time for the NHL in America, because it was just starting to become popular again, with American teams winning the Cup every year, the latest having been the Tampa Bay Lightning.

After the lockout, the Pens looked forward. Was the future promising? Absolutely. The biggest acquisition post-lockout was Sergei Gonchar. Not a star by any stretch—but a certain upgrade over the likes of Dick Tarnstrom.

They had a guy sitting in the wings who was arguably the best young hockey talent in the world—Sidney Crosby. They had the goalie of the future in Marc-Andre Fleury, and the best product from Russia since Sergei Fedorov in Evgeni Malkin.

Michel Therrien was the new guy behind the bench, and could not have stepped into a better situation outside of the city of Detroit.

There was nowhere to go but up—but it was a long way up. The initial strides were tough. One more season in the gutter was highlighted by the scoring race between Crosby and rival Alexander Ovechkin of Washington. Ovechkin won the battle, but both teams still finished poorly.

Enter into the past two years. Long story short, because it is so recent, two playoff appearances, one Finals appearance, and the emergence of three faces of the franchise.

Now we come to 2008-09. Would anything short of a Stanley Cup be a disappointment?

The answer is yes and no.

The Penguins are not the team they were a year ago. Players like Ryan Malone, Ty Conklin, and Marian Hossa have departed for greener pastures. (Two of them to Detroit's pasture. Boo.)

They have been replaced with some odds and ends. Miroslav Satan is the top player coming into the team this year. But as stated by many other writers, he is not Marian Hossa, and the fans of the Pens cannot expect him to be Marian Hossa. He will pull his weight. He just needs some time.

Ruslan Fedotenko was imported from the Islanders along with Satan. He's not quite the prolific goal scorer, but the Pens have plenty of those, so he just needs to find a role and play into it.

Malkin and Crosby just need to do what they do, and the rest of the offense will fall into place. A good year from Jordan Staal wouldn't hurt either.

The defense is more cause for concern, especially in the last couple days. Ryan Whitney is already done for at least a good chunk of the season. No one really knows when he'll be back. The hopes are as early as Christmas.

The big punch to the gut came after the last preseason game, where top defenseman and team leader Sergei Gonchar took a huge hit and spent the rest of the game in the locker room. The diagnosis is a shoulder problem and the training staff is still uncertain of when he'll be able to return.

With the top two out, the brunt of the defensive load will fall on tough guy Brooks Orpik and fan favorite and female heart-throb Kris Letang. Hall Gill will certainly play a role,u along with Rob Scuderi. With Gonchar and Whitney out, the third defensive pairing is unknown at this point, although AHL superstar Alex Goligoski seems poised to move forward.

Aside from Crosby and Malkin, the other area of the Penguins team with the least cause for concern is between the pipes. Marc-Andre Fleury obliterated all doubts of his abilities last season, especially in the playoffs. He is now among guys named Luongo, Nabokov and—dare I say it—Brodeur as the elite netminders in the league.

The scary part about Fleury is his fragility. No one knows what will happen if he goes down—and I'm sorry, but Dany Sabourin is not anywhere close to the answer. I know, neither was Ty Conklin, and I've been wrong before—but Fleury is what is going to keep the Penguins in games against high-scoring teams like the Senators, Flyers, and Rangers.

So, as I said, anything short of a Stanley Cup would be a disappointment—unless the fragility of some players becomes a problem. At that point, a playoff appearance would be a success.

In conclusion, the Pens still need a few more pieces to duplicate that early-1990s dominance. They need a Ken Wregget and a Kevin Stevens. Those two pieces are not difficult to find. My votes are for Daniel Carcillo (another up-and-comer that the Pens let get away) and Nikolai Khabibulin (Chicago is looking for an excuse to get rid of him. He's a good rental for the Cup push).

The Penguins are now the team to beat in the East, so the road will not be easy.

Here's the prediction: Penguins def. Capitals in Conference finals. Penguins vs. Dallas in Stanley Cup finals. Wouldn't it be great if the next dynasty started against the very team the last dynasty started against?

Notes from an MLB Amateur: You Poor Toronto Blue Jays

John Buco — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 09:24:31 -0400

You poor, poor Toronto Blue Jays. Sometimes life just isn't fair.

Between Alex Rios becoming a cornerstone, Roy Halladay having another career year, and Vernon Wells looking like the slugger of old, this team had high aspirations of finally making it back to the playoffs.

Somebody didn't tell the Tampa Bay Rays, who leaped right over the Jays and stole their thunder. And guess what? Now nobody notices the vast improvements the Jays have made.

Roy Halladay is beginnging to become the face of the franchise. Sure, he's no Curt Schilling or Randy Johnson, but he consistently wins 15+ games and is in the top-five in strikeouts. Even when the team has been had, he's been good.

Alex Rios has yet to live up to the contract Toronto gave him. That being said, he has been consistent, albeit somewhat mediocre. He has the strength and speed to be a season-to-season, 30-90-30 guy, with at least a close-to-.300 average.

Outside of Greg Zaun, the team has picked up a few of baseball's dregs that probably still have a few good seasons left in them. David Eckstein, Marco Scutaro, and Matt Stairs all have some form of mileage with stints in Los Angeles, Oakland, and Kansas City, respectively.

Zaun has been a consistent player for the Jays for the last three years, and he shows no signs of stopping. He has the potential of a Pudge Rodriguez or even a Jorge Posada. Time will tell if he becomes a star.

Lyle Overbay must have left his bat in Milwaukee. He’s been a solid fielder, but the Jays traded for his power and consistency. As of yet, they have not experienced either of those. Hopefully he will hit the “Jeter” stride.

Along with Halladay, the starting pitching has been relatively solid. Jesse Litsch has come on strong for a relatively productive season, despite a staggering ERA. A.J. Burnett looked like he had turned the bend, but he has cooled off since the All Star break.

The bullpen is young and talented, but it is anchored by vet B.J. Ryan, who has had an outstanding season. He may not be the same as he was two years ago, but take a look at some of the other fallen closers (Gagne, Percival, Borowski). He hasn’t done that poorly.

The Jays also have four players sitting on the DL that could contribute. Scott Rolen may still have some fuel in the tank. That’s all I’ll say about him, because the rest of the Toronto press tells the negatives about overpaying for a guy on the downside of his career.

Jeremy Accardo is a bit unknown, but he is a vital part of that bullpen. Aaron Hill fills a hole at second base. Brad Wilkerson can provide a power boost; batting cleanup behind Rios would be a perfect fit.

Sad to say, but it looks like the Jays will miss the playoffs again. They need one or two more pieces to the puzzle. Hopping the Yankees will be easy, but then they have to best the Red Sox. That will be a task and a half.

Sports in America: Match-up #3

John Buco — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:17:28 -0400

Of the fourteen-sport bracket, four have advanced: Football and baseball with first-round byes, MMA defeating the Olympics, and most recently, basketball knocking off volleyball. Now, arguably the biggest match in the first round, pro tennis will take pro golf head on.

This is a match-up that comes with a potentially tough decision. These two sports boast some of the best athletes in the world. Tiger Woods is often considered the best athlete in the world, ahead of guys such as Lebron James, LaDainian Tomlinson, Tom Brady, Barry Bonds, and Sidney Crosby.

The PGA/LPGA tours boast many other great athletes such as Ernie Els, David Duval, Vijay Singh, Michelle Wie, and the recently retired Annika Sorenstam. Golf also has a rich history (Jack Nicklas and Arnold Palmer) and a strong pleasure base among other athletes and celebrities.

Tennis, on the other hand, has a tremendous following all across the world. Roger Federer, Raphael Nadal, and Andy Roddick lead the charge for the men, while beauties Anna Kournikova and Maria Sharapova prevail for the women. Unfortunately, the focus on the women is more on their looks rather than their game. The history is rich here as well, with Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, and Martina Navratilova.

The bottom line: It is a tough call, but we are looking at America’s Past-time. The edge goes to golf. In most circles, Tiger Woods is considered superior to Roger Federer, which is a big deciding factor. One also cannot ignore the popularity of the sport among celebrities and athletes; a popularity which tennis does not share.

Sports in America: Match-Up No.2

John Buco — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 09:54:43 -0400

NBA/WNBA/NCAA Basketball vs. PBV Volleyball

This match-up almost seems unnecessary because one of these seem outrageously superior to the other. But, there’s always a George Mason, Oral Roberts, or Davidson. So, we will see where this one goes.

With seemingly overwhelming odds, Pro Beach Volleyball has had very steady and moderate success in Florida and Southern California. It is rarely seen on television and when it is on, Fox Sports Network usually carries the broadcast. Volleyball gets no ESPN coverage or any main network coverage.

Three individuals keep this sport on the map. Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh have been teammates as long as I can remember. I don’t follow volleyball in-depth, but every time I turn on the TV, I see these girls and they are phenomenal. Phil Dalhausser is the male everyone is talking about now, but he’d not a stud. Misty and Kerri get a lot more attention because they are attractive too.

So, how do these athletes compare to Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Diana Taurasi, and Mike Krzyzewski? Simple. They do not. Even with the limited exposure of the WNBA, they could probably win this on their own. With a rich tradition grounded with Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, and Magic Johnson, there is no single small sport that could contend with basketball. We are not even looking at Lebron James, Kobe and Kevin Garnett, yet.

The bottom line: The contest is a blowout. Volleyball is a perfectly viable sport in it’s own right and one that I truly enjoy. It just cannot compete with the Big Four in America. The victory lies with basketball.

Tune in Monday, July 21 for the next installment where the PGA takes the PTA head on. This is easily one of the most tantalizing match-ups in the bracket.

Sports in America: Is Baseball Still America's Past-time?

John Buco — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:42:59 -0400

Over the last fifty years, sports in America have changed dramatically. In 1958, baseball, boxing, and the Olympic games were the most watched and the most appreciated sporting spectacles. Now, things are quite different.

So, in true Sportscenter fashion, I will take the next couple weeks and bracket different sports in America and face them off for a champion. I will try to remain as unbiased as possible, and I expect many people will disagree with me.

Nevertheless, here are the match-ups:

Round One

NFL/NCAA Football - BYE

Olympics - MMA Fighting

NBA/NCAA/WNBA Basketball - PBV Volleyball

PGA/LPGA Golf - PTA/LPTA Tennis

NHL/NCAA Hockey - Leisure Sports

NASCAR/Formula 1 - Pro Boxing

MLS Soccer - Xtreme Sports

MLB/NCAA Baseball - BYE

Since the NFL/NCAA football gets a bye, in this article, I will examine the Olympic Games versus the newcomer, MMA Fighting.

The Olympic Games are not an American, but a world tradition. By all rights and privileges, the Olympics should be the past-time of every country around the world, but obviously, that is not the case. The Olympics, winter and summer, are a culmination of all the sports across the world. Football is not included in that mixture, which hurts the Olympics' chances in this bracket.

There are so many events that I cannot go into each individually, but among the high level events, track and field and swimming are the most popular. Michael Phelps and Tyson Gay keep the Olympic Games in the sports section of every paper during the Games. Without individuals like them, the Olympics would be ignored in America.

MMA Fighting is the newest entrant into the American world of sports. It is gradually growing in popularity. It wins out over pro wrestling because it is real, and not scripted. Boxing loses out because it is not as intense or aggressive. At this point, I think MMA is a powerful fad in America that will eventually start to diminish. For now, men like Kimbo Slice and Tim Sylvia make the sport intriguing and fun to watch.

The bottom line—MMA upsets in a very close one. Although this is the year of the summer Olympics with Michael Phelps and Tyson Gay set to break all kinds of records, the Olympics only come around once every two years and are basically ignored up until they begin. MMA is there all year round, every year. I would guess that in about five years or so, this decision will change, as MMA will have lost its freshness and luster.

Keep watching my articles for next couple weeks. Next up, Pro Basketball takes on the men and women of PBV Volleyball.

Pittsburgh Pirates: The Time for a Firesale Is Near

John Buco — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 08:23:46 -0400

The Pittsburgh Pirates are on the verge of their 16th straight season under .500. Now, I'm not a huge baseball fan, but being from Pittsburgh, this borders on embarrassing.

The Pirates are long overdue for spring cleaning, and a firesale should come shortly after the All-Star break. In light of that situation, the Pirates should get fair market value for some of their players.

1. Xavier Nady

The Pirates cannot wait for his injury problems to go away. However, at this point, he's had a solid season, despite his trips to the DL. They might be able to pawn him off on some AL team in need of a DH. He's an average outfielder, so his frequent injury problems make him a good DH candidate.

2. Jason Bay

It is time to say goodbye and part ways with Bay. The Pirates had hoped he would lead them back into the playoffs, but the pitching and other supporting characters were just never there.

Bay could hit three home runs a game and the Buccos would still lose 5-3. Jason Bay fit the Brian Giles mold very well, so they may be able to get a viable, young starting pitcher.

3. Adam LaRoche

He looked like a good piece of the puzzle two years ago. Now he is just another mediocre contributor in an awful system. Bullpen help and maybe a minor-league prospect is the best that can be expected for LaRoche.

4. Freddy Sanchez

Sanchez would be a great addition to the Rays, Diamondbacks, and Dodgers, strictly as a person to get on base. Sanchez is the best start to manufacture runs in a strong system. The Diamondbacks would be the best option, since they are in the financial cellar and they need something to turn things around.

Once they get some fresh, young players into the system, they may have more success. They still need a marquee starting pitcher. Ian Snell has the potential, but he needs to have a season where he spends no time on the DL. Matt Capps also has the potential to be a great closer as well. They have a solid foundation of quality guys in Nate McLouth and Ryan Doumit. They just need the supporting cast.

Greatest Sports Movies of All Time

John Buco — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:20:29 -0400

Sports has been a great forum for the movie industry.

Whether movies have been based on true events or fictional and pulled out of nowhere, they have always brought an element of excitement and suspense.

So many of these lists are out there. This list is far from an absolute truth, so feel free to disagree with my opinion.

I will start with a couple honorable mentions and then move up the list.

Honorable Mentions

The Mighty Ducks - The Ducks movies were neither well-written, nor did they feature fantastic acting. However, all three were solid kids' movies and you have to salute a movie that created a pro sports team.

Iron Will - I would say that the majority of readers have never seen this movie. It is not your traditional sports movie. Based on a spin-off race of the Iditerod, this movie is filled with heart-felt moments and suspense. It is a movie that everyone should at least try on for size.

Ali - Will Smith is fantasic in this movie. Outside of that, the movie leaves a lot to be desired, which is the main reason it didn't make my top 10.

Cinderella Man - I don't believe that Russell Crowe can make a bad movie. This stunning story is no exception. A boxer that goes from rags to riches by fighting his way to the top. Simply fantasic.

10. Eight Men Out

In another few years, I'm sure the steroids scandal and the Pete Rose story will be made into movies. Until then, this stands as the best picture of a storied sports scandal. Watch the Black Sox fight against greedy ownership and mob members in this recreation of the 1919 World Series.

9. A League of Their Own

A lot of people would put this one higher, but I have a few other movies close to my heart that bump it down. A young Tom Hanks is part of a stellar cast that is endearing and humorous.

8. Bull Durham

You have to love Kevin Costner's dedication to sports. Between Tin Cup, Field of Dreams and Bull Durham, he has three great sports movies. I'll address Field of Dreams later in this article. Bull Durham is hilarious. Tim Robbins/Kevin Costner's relationship with Susan Sarandon is great. It is just an overall worthwhile movie.

7. Remember the Titans

The Titans are left off of so many movie lists that is beginning to get ridiculous. Not only is this "based on a true story" film almost flawless with the actual events (minus Gary Bertier's accident), the flavor of the movie is flawless. Every ounce of this movie speaks to all generations in different ways. Whether the game intrigues you, or the race struggle wins your heart, the movie still sits in the top 10.

6. Raging Bull

De Niro is so good in this movie, it makes me wonder why he ever did anything else. Another "true story" piece about a boxer. See it. It is just too good.

5. Miracle

Personally, this is my No. 2 for two reasons. One, I am a hockey fan more than anything else. Two, it is based on arguably the greatest moment in sports history. But, for the masses, there are better sports movies out there.

4. Field of Dreams

The best baseball movie of all time. No arguments, no discussion. Most people generally agree and put this movie in their top three. I have three others in mind.

3. Chariots of Fire

For its time, this was a breathtakingly beautiful film with a great cast. It won several Oscars to boot and has one of the most recognizable songs in American cinema history. The story is really unforgettable.

2. Rocky

It was incredibly tough to put this film at No. 2. Personally, this is my No. 1. It has one of the most well-written scripts and is extremely emotion-driven. Oh, and it won the Oscar for best picture.

Ready?

1. Hoosiers

Everyone's No. 1. Can't change the trend now. I never quite understood it until I saw it. See it. Then you'll understand it too.

So there you have it. Feel free to criticize/make deletions or additions. I love movies and sports movies are some of the best. I'd also love recommendations.

Fantasy Question of the Week: Who are the Sleepers?

John Buco — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 09:19:25 -0400

Fantasy seasons are often made with the addition of the right sleepers. Whether it is at the beginning of the season or halfway through, a sleeper player can determine the difference between victory and defeat.

Players like Earnest Graham, Braylon Edwards, and Derek Anderson come to mind from last year. I rode Earnest Graham the whole way to a league title.

So, who stands in line as the sleepers for this year's competition?

1. Julius Jones

Okay so, maybe not a sleeper per se, but he has been on the back burner in Dallas for the last two years. Now, he has the opportunity to shine as the feature back. I'll make a believable prediction: 1300 yds, 10 TDs.

2. Matt Forte

Everyone has been talking about this guy since Cedric Benson was cut. He's going to have to win the position battle with the "other" Adrian Peterson in training camp, and if he does, look for him to have a great rookie season. Prediction: 1050 yds, 7 TDs.

3. Selvin Young

Denver has been looking for replacements for their Super Bowl team for the last decade. It seems they have found their Elway replacement. Now they need a Terrell Davis replacement.

Each year, they have found different people to fill the role: Mike Anderson, Olandis Gary, Tatum Bell. Will Selvin Young be the long term answer? Prediction: 750 rush yds, 400 rec yds, 8 total TDs.

4. Chris Brown/Steve Slaton

I'm not sure who to go with here. But one thing is for sure, Ahman Green is not built for endurance. I would love to see what Steve Slaton can do behind the much improved Houston offensive line. Prediction: Brown, 900 yds, 5 TDs; Slaton, 800 rush yds, 400 rec yds, 8 TDs.

5. Trent Edwards

This may be Buffalo's season to break .500. Don't mistake this as a bad team, but they have arguably the toughest opponent in the league to face...twice. Unless thwarted by an extreme amount of bad luck, chalk up two wins for the Patriots against the Bills.

Look for the Bills to take second in the division and fight for the wild card behind Marshawn Lynch and Edwards. Prediction: 2500 yds, 15 TDs, 13 INTs.

6. Tarvaris Jackson

Jackson knows that if the Vikings want to make and advance in the playoffs, the pressure is on him. Adrian Peterson is one of the top two backs in the league. Jackson has got to find some way for the passing game to support him. Can he do it? Possibly. Prediction: 2200 pass yds, 400 rush yds, 22 TDs, 11 INTs.

7. Jerry Porter

Time for a new life and new start. If Porter ends up having a great attitude, he could have a career year on the receiving end of David Garrard. Prediction: 1000 yds, 7 TDs.

8. Bryant Johnson: Jerry Porter Part II. He needed to get out of the shadow of Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. He may be part of the Alex Smith puzzle. But Alex still needs a 6' + receiver to go up for jump balls. Prediction: 600 yds, 3 TDs.

9. Malcolm Kelly

The final rookie on my list. Possibly the most lucrative sleeper. If Jason Campbell hits a strong year, Kelly could be up there with McFadden and Mendenhall has front runners for Rookie of the Year. Prediction: 700 yds, 6 TDs.

10. Kansas City Chiefs Defense

I thought I ought to throw one defensive unit on here. The Chiefs probably won't score too many points this year, but I sincerely doubt they'll give up many. Between Glenn Dorsey and Tamba Hali, they have a strong defensive front.

Their line backing core is average, but solid with Donnie Edwards anchoring the unit. Surtain is getting up there, but he's still a leader and a strong force in the secondary. Prediction: 12 INTs, 40 sacks, 3 shutouts.

There are some others out there, but these are my favorites. If you miss out on Darren McFadden, Rashard Mendenhall, or the few other top rookies, consider taking a chance on one of these guys. They may make your season.