Bleacher Report - Articles by Garry Christman

WE ARE...PENN STATE!!!

Garry Christman — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:29:09 -0500

Is it time to proclaim the Big 12 the greatest football conference EVER???

After reading about and hearing all the bashing of the Big 10 going on, right along with many folks calling the Big 12 the best thing since sliced bread, I think it’s time we go ahead and name the BCS champion now.

Good idea? So, here they are ladies and gentlemen, your BCS champions for the 2008-2009 college football season: the OKLAHOMA SOONERS! Forget actually playing the game, who needs that? According to a bunch of you “experts”, we might as well go ahead and crown the Sooners champs.

After all, there’s no conference in football as good as the Big 12, is there? They’ve got all those Heisman candidates: Harrell, Daniel, McCoy, Crabtree, Bradford. They’ve got some of the best coaches in the game; Stoops, Brown, Pinkel, Leach. We can just go ahead and name a champ, can’t we? Well, NO, we CAN’T.

I was born and raised in eastern Pennsylvania. I’ll say it proudly; I follow Penn State football with a passion. I’ll be the first to admit if Alabama, Texas Tech, and Penn State all win out, the Tide and Red Raiders should play in the title game.

If Penn State wins out, and either Alabama or Texas Tech or both lose a game, the Nittany Lions are going to the BCS title game. If, by some chance, a one-loss team would be selected to go to the title game over an undefeated Nittany Lions team, I pray that JoePa doesn’t find the idiot that came up with the idea of the BCS.

For all you singing the praises of the Big 12, check out these stats. Since the start of BCS games back in 1999, these are the conference records in all BCS bowl games: ACC (1-9), Big 12 (6-8), Big East (6-4), Big 10 (8-9), MWC (1-0), Pac 10 (8-4), SEC (11-4), WAC (1-1), Ind (ND) (0-3).

Hats off to the SEC at 11-4; LSU is 4-0, Florida is 3-1. Hats off to the Pac 10; USC is 5-1. The 6-4 Big East is led by 3-1 Miami (FL). Shame on you ACC at 1-9.

The mighty Big 12 is only 6-8? Can it be? Yes, it is. And check out who’s been the biggest loser in BCS games for the Big 12; the mighty Sooners of Oklahoma at 2-4.

Yes, they did knock off Florida State for the national championship, but look at the games they shouldn’t have bothered to show up for.

Totally outplayed by LSU for the national title, not even close in losing to USC 55-19 the next year for the title, first team to lose to a “BCS buster” team when Boise State upset them in the Fiesta Bowl, and then having their lunch stolen and eaten by West Virginia last year. Still think the Big 12 is such an outstanding conference?

How about some other outstanding teams from the Big 12? Well, I’ve got to give props out to Texas Tech. They did knock off the No. 1 team in the nation. They did wipe out Kansas in Lawrence.

But overtime against Nebraska? At home? Now check their non-conference schedule; Eastern Washington, Nevada, SMU, Massachusetts.

Hats off to Texas (10-gallon hats, that is). They rolled through a pretty difficult schedule before that last-second loss to the Red Raiders.

But they haven’t played a football game outside Texas since Oct. 4 at Colorado; in Dallas against the Sooners, home against Missouri and Oklahoma State, in Lubbock against Texas Tech, and next at Baylor.

Does the SEC have some outstanding teams? Sure they do. Florida has played some great football against some good teams.

Before we claim they’re the best, remember they did lose to Mississippi. At home. 31-30. After leading by 10 at halftime.

How about Alabama? They’re ranked No. 1 in all the polls right now, but outside of winning at Georgia, who’ve they beaten? They knocked off Clemson, who turned out to be highly overrated. Other non-conference foes they had; Tulane, Western Kentucky, Arkansas State. Not exactly high strength of schedule.

Let’s go ahead and discuss USC and the Pac 10. Of all the one-loss teams that might get looked at for the BCS title game (if a one-loss team goes), the team that may have the strongest case is USC.

The Pac 10 isn’t as strong as the Big 12 or the SEC, but look at USC’s out of conference schedule; at Virginia (who’s playing much better), wiping out Ohio State at home, and Notre Dame at home later on. However, they lost to Oregon State in a game that wasn’t as close as the score reflects.

Now to the conference I enjoy more than others, the Big 10. Plain and simple, stop bashing Ohio State for their play in the last two national championship games. They did get blown out by Florida two years ago, but we were pretty close to having a Michigan-Ohio State rematch in the title game.

They did get blown out by LSU last year; they just did not play well. But in BCS games, the Buckeyes are 4-2, which is nothing to be ashamed of.

This year is unusual in that teams that normally do well are having down years, with Wisconsin and Michigan being the biggest disappointments.

The Badgers haven’t played up to expectations, but look at the last five teams they played; Penn State, Ohio State, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan State. Combined record: 34-12.

That may not be the “murderer’s row” that Texas went through with Oklahoma, Missouri, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech, but it sure ain’t shabby.

Michigan wasn’t expected to do much this year. New coach, new system, give them a year or two and they’ll be back at the top.

Now, of course, let me finish with my beloved Nittany Lions, currently the class of the Big 10. Their non-conference schedule may not have been the best in the nation, but they’re not playing creampuffs either.

They pummelled Oregon State, a team that took USC out to the woodshed. Just look at the team and stats. Top 10 defensive team, top 10 offensive team, balance running the ball or throwing it, outstanding skill players, and leadership throughout the lineup.

Think you can run the ball against them? Look at Beanie Wells stats against them; 22 carries, 55 yards. Terrelle Pryor’s stats, 9 carries, 6 yards.

Can’t run the ball against the Nittany Lions? Go ahead and try to pass on them. 24 sacks, 17 turnovers recovered. Think your defense can stop Penn State? Evan Royster is averaging over 7 yards a rush.

If you flush Daryl Clark out of the pocket, he’ll tuck the ball in and take off. Give Clark time to pass and he’ll hit one of the outstanding receivers he has; Derrick Williams, Deon Butler or Jordan Norwood.

Just when you think everything is OK, you kick or punt to Derrick Williams, who turns around and burns you for a touchdown.

And who do you have leading all this talent? One of the greatest coaches in football history, Joe Paterno. On top of that, go to the Rivals.com website and see how they rank the coaching staffs.

Of head coaches, JoePa is ranked eighth. Offensive coordinator Galen Hall is ranked second in the nation; defensive coordinator Tom Bradley is ranked first in the nation. Still think Penn State doesn’t deserve that high ranking?

With so much time left in the college football season, it’s too difficult to even guess who’ll make the title game.

Alabama has LSU and possibly the SEC championship game; Texas Tech has Oklahoma State and then travels to Norman to take on the Sooners.

Penn State goes to Iowa, never an easy place to play. If Penn State should win out and make it to the title game, many will complain that the Big 10 was weak and they don’t deserve to go.

That’s fine, think what you want. No matter who they would play, you give me this Penn State team, the coaching staff they have, and top that off with JoePa, the best bowl game coach in history. All I have to say is this; WE ARE…..PENN STATE!

Boston Bruins: How Good Are They?

Garry Christman — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 06:15:01 -0500

The Boston Bruins are now 12 games into the 2008-2009 season. What have we learned about the team so far? Here’s my listing of five things I like about the team and five things they need to work on to become a better team.

Likes

1. The Boston Bruins Truly Exemplify the Word 'Team'

If any of you had the chance to watch the Bruins play the Stars on Nov. 1, you know what I’m talking about. Shawn Thornton came off the bench to go after Steve Ott after a cheap shot on Stephane Yelle. Marc Savard jumped on Sean Avery after Avery rammed Milan Lucic into the boards. In the years that Marc Savard’s been in the NHL, I’ve never seen him in a fight. He didn’t hesitate at all when it came to getting even with Avery. Outstanding team play.

2. Phil Kessel Is Finally Finding His Game

Kessel has become a three-zone player. His engine is constantly going no matter where he is on the ice. He’s got speed, he hustles back on defense, and he forechecks and harasses the other team in their own zone. He is finally showing the maturity and skills all Bruins fans were waiting for.

3. Tim Thomas Is a Big Time Goalie

Others in the league, notably Brodeur, Giguere, Luongo, Nabokov, and Osgood, get more attention. The “Tank” just brings it every game he plays. Without him on the swing through Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver, the Bs go 0-3, not 2-1.

4. Blake Wheeler Is the Real Deal

He still has some developing to do, but he’s shown he can score, he can feed his teammates, and he can play the body and control the puck.

5. Patrice Bergeron Is Playing as If Last Year Never Happened

Many fans were worried that Bergeron would come back without the same fire and grit he had before. They were right. He came back with more fire and grit than he had before. He hasn’t completely found his scoring touch, but he’s getting back to where he was before his concussion. Just watch the highlight of him beating Turco from behind the net.

Dislikes

1. The Penalty Kill

Can it get any worse? Actually, it can, but things have been looking better. Including the Dallas game, opponents have gone 2-for-16 against the Bruins in their last four games. It’s an improvement, but it has to keep getting better for the Bruins to be a real threat.

2. Manny Fernandez Is Not Yet the Kind of Goalie He Was in Minnesota

I thought last year that the trade for Manny was one the Bs had to make. I still think it was a good trade. He’s recovering from knee surgery, and he still isn’t back to where the Bruins need him to be. With Thomas playing out of his mind, Manny may not get the chance to play as much as he’d like to this year.

3. Michael Ryder Has Got to Start Scoring More

When you invest $12 million for a right wing sniper, you’ve got to get at least 25-30 goals from that player. So far he’s got two goals. He’s only taking about three shots per game. He’s got to be more of a presence with the first line and he’s got to take advantage of his time on the power play. The biggest thing he’s got going for him right now is that he’s plus-7, tied for the team lead so far.

4. Marco Sturm Has Got to Start Scoring More

He doesn’t make as much as Ryder, but he’s definitely expected to put 25-30 goals in the net this year. He seemed to find a groove against Dallas, scoring two goals. More is expected of him to be successful.

5. Zdeno Chara Is Not Playing His Normal Type of Game

So far, he’s got three assists and is minus-1. Watching him the past few games, it seems as if he’s hesitant to unload that slap shot of his. His offseason surgery may have something to do with that.

I’ve been lucky to watch most of the Bruins games so far this year. They seemed to find their game at home against Pittsburgh and on the road against Buffalo, even though they lost both games in shootouts. The game at home against Toronto was embarrassing, to say the least. Then they got back to what wins them games, shutting out Vancouver and Edmonton before losing to Calgary.

It’s easy to see the differences between this year’s team and last year’s team. Both teams play with an amount of heart and emotion and commitment to give their best at all times. However, this team, with Bergeron back, Kessel playing like he is, Thomas standing on his head in the net, and young guys like Wheeler developing and playing well, is much more talented than last year’s. If they can continue to improve and play as a team, there’s no telling how far they can go.

Jaromir Jagr: So Long and Good Luck

Garry Christman — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 04:39:07 -0400

I'm a diehard Boston Bruins fan; always have been, always will be. I'm not old enough to remember them winning a Stanley Cup, but I sure do remember some of the painful moments.

The losing battles against the Bobby Clarke led Flyers of the mid-'70s, Guy Lafleur's shocking goal in the 1979 playoffs, the losses to the Oilers for the Stanley Cup. And of course, the end of the playoff seasons usually brought on by the Pittsburgh Penguins of the early '90s.

The main reasons for the Bruins' exits at the hands of the Penguins normally involved two players, Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr. Unfortunately, Lemieux's career was cut short by injury and illness, but he's stepped into management and helped restore the Penguins to cup-contender status.

Jagr's been able to play at a high level for the Penguins, Capitals, and Rangers. It is truly sad to see him leave the NHL for Russia.

To me, Jagr is a lot like Terrell Owens of the Dallas Cowboys. You hate him when he's on the other team, but you sure do love him when he's on your team. He draws a lot of attention, and he's still one helluva hockey player.

He was clearly the best player for the Rangers in the playoffs this year. I wish he had chosen to stay in the NHL. Part of me wished Peter Chiarelli had made a play for him in free agency.

Good luck in Russia, Jaromir. You've killed my beloved Bruins through the years, but you have earned the respect and admiration of this fan.

What Do the Boston Bruins Do If Marian Hossa Goes Elsewhere?

Garry Christman — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 20:09:37 -0400

Much of the talk of "making a big splash" in free agency for the Boston Bruins revolves around one name: Marian Hossa. We'll have to wait until July 1, at the earliest, to see if the B's can get Hossa in a spoked B uniform. Until then, it sure is fun to imagine the possibilities when you pair Hossa up with Savard, Bergeron, Kessel, and the other up-and-coming youngsters in the Bruins lineup.

When talking about Hossa and the Bruins, a bigger question comes to mind. What if the Bruins can't get Hossa signed? What do they do next? I've got four names to throw into the hat for discussion. If no Hossa, the Bruins need to bring in at least two of these players. Two of the players are currently with the Canadiens. Wouldn't it be wonderful to steal a player or two from the much-hated Habs?

RIGHT WING

One of the biggest weaknesses the Bruins face in the future is a lack of depth at right wing. Hossa would help clear up that weakness. Here are two other players who have to be considered if Hossa isn't signed.

Brian Rolston – Rolston has played the last three years for the Minnesota Wild. He signed with the Wild as a free agent after leaving the Bruins. Why the Bruins ever let him go in the first place is another discussion altogether. He may be a little old (35), but he would bring a ton of experience to the team.

His stats are outstanding for a defensive-minded team. His last seven years, he's scored between 48-79 points each year. He’s been over 30 goals each of the past three years. He plays on the power play and the penalty kill. He gets back on defense. He won't be able to give a team as many years as Hossa would, but he'd provide scoring, playmaking, leadership, and special teams play for a team that needs help.

Michael Ryder – Ryder is only 28 years old, and could be signed to a longer-term contract than Rolston. He's had two 30-goal seasons in the past three years; his first year he scored 25 goals. His numbers dipped slightly this year. Outside Hossa and Rolston, Ryder would be the most affordable option available.

DEFENSE

One of the bigger needs the Bruins have is a puck-moving defenseman that can serve on the top line with Chara or take charge of the second line. Aside from Dennis Wideman, who showed promise toward an ability to man the power play, the Bruins have a lot of youngsters coming up through the organization who aren't ready for serious playing time on the big club. Here are two defenders that would provide an immediate boost to the B's lineup.

John-Michael Liles – Liles is probably the most talked-about free agent defenseman the Bruins are rumored to be interested in. Brian Campbell is out there, but the Bruins just don’t have the money to bring him to Boston. Liles would provide just what the defense needs. He’s a little smallish (5'10" and 185 lbs.), and is not as physical as others. But he can move the puck, he can play the power play, he can provide some offense when necessary. Liles would be a welcomed addition to Boston.

Mark Streit – The second of the Canadiens on my list. Streit is versatile enough that he can play forward in addition to defense. Liles had 20 points on the power play in 2008; Streit had 34. He doesn't play as many minutes per game as Liles, and he’s a few years older, but he’s a little bigger. His penalty numbers are almost exactly the same as Liles.

Peter Chiarelli and the Bruins management have some difficult decisions ahead of them. Do they pursue Hossa? Instead of Hossa, do they pursue other free agents and try to fix more problems with the club? Or do they stand fast with what they have now, depending on trades and their youngsters to develop?

The next few days will be most interesting around the NHL. Whatever they do, I hope the Bruins can come away with a stronger team and a brighter future.

Wouldn't Marian Hossa Look Great in a Boston Bruins Uniform?

Garry Christman — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 06:41:00 -0400

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article explaining why the Boston Bruins should stay out of the free-agent battle for Marian Hossa.

The main reason I cited was strictly financial. Peter Chiarelli and the rest of the Bruins management would have to do too much to clear enough salary cap space to bring Hossa to Beantown. But I thought of a way they might be able to make this happen.

The idea originally occurred when I was keeping track of the NHL draft on June 20 and 21. One of the biggest headlines of the first day was that the dreaded Canadians had been given permission to speak with Mats Sundin.

It didn't strike me right away, but the more I thought of how this related to Marian Hossa, the more I felt the Bruins might be able to bring Hossa to Beantown.

I read a lot about the NHL, and I track it fairly closely. The three teams that have been named the most in the hunt for Hossa are the Rangers, Canadians, and Bruins. If the Canadians bring in Sundin (if I'm not mistaken, they've been given until 17 July to try to reach an agreement), there's no way they can afford Hossa.

Why not the Bruins? To bring him to Boston, this is what the Bruins need to do:

Trade Manny Fernandez

If the Bruins bought out Manny, they'd still have to eat some of his salary over the next two years. At $4 million plus, that's a hit of about $1.5 million each year.

Save that money. Find a team willing to deal for Fernandez (maybe the Kings), and take a draft pick in return.

Re-sign Alex Auld

Trading Manny won't help if you don't have a reliable goalie to take his place. Fernandez was brought in to give Tuuka Rask more time to develop in Providence. If you can find a taker for Manny, offer Auld a contract—maybe two or three years, at $1.5 to $2 million a year.

Timmy Thomas and Auld would be the goalies this year. Next year, it would be Rask and Auld. If the B's can make both these things happen, they've just saved $2+ million which can be used to go after Hossa.

Buy Out Murray

Glen Murray has been an outstanding Bruin. However, he is getting older and his skills seem to be eroding. Watching him leave Boston would be painful, but buying him out would give the Bruins another $2.5 million in the hunt for Hossa.

I know some of this would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to make happen. And Chiarelli would still have to find $2 to 3 million to bring Hossa to Boston.

But the biggest problem the Bruins had last year was goal scoring. Hossa would help put an end to that in a big way.

Fantasy Football: Tips and Tricks to Win Your League

Garry Christman — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:24:35 -0400

I’ve been playing fantasy sports, be it baseball, basketball, football, or hockey, since 1998. Of all those, I have found the most success while playing fantasy football.

It’s strange; of those sports, football isn’t my favorite. That would be the NHL. But since I’ve found the most success in fantasy football, and the fantasy season is gearing up to begin, I thought I’d share some of the things I’ve learned through the years.

Know Your Scoring System

Most websites (such as Yahoo!) provide a default scoring-system (i.e., six points for touchdowns, three points for field goals). Before you go into your draft, know exactly what your scoring system will be. Some commissioners’ design scoring so that negative points can occur, while others choose more traditional scoring (one point for each interception).

Normally, return yards do not count for points in fantasy football. In that case, drafting a wide receiver who has few receptions may not help you much. However, if return yards gain points, drafting Devin Hester will help you tremendously.

Know What Positions Each Team Will Be Made Up of

Again, websites using a default system normally use a default lineup. Your team will start one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, one team defense, and a kicker.

Before your draft, check the lineup settings for each team, especially if you’re doing a live draft. In leagues that I am commissioner, I usually use the same formula. You can start 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 team defense, 1 K, and 1 other player that is either a RB/WR or TE.

It’s not a big change from the default scoring, but it does affect your lineup when you draft. You have to make sure you have enough players in each position to cover the bye weeks.

Know the Bye Weeks of the Players You’re Looking At Drafting

The biggest affect bye weeks will have are with your QBs. In leagues that I play, I normally draft two QBs. When I draft, I will ensure the QBs do not have the same bye week. If so, you may have to pick up a QB on the waiver wire to cover you for that week. You also have to weigh the bye week when drafting RBs/WRs. When drafting, most websites now include the bye weeks for each player.

Know How You Want to Draft Before You Start the Draft

Each time I go into a draft, I have a sheet of paper with me that lists exactly how many players I want in each position. I stick to that method with each draft. I don’t worry too much about who I will draft (unless I have the first pick). I focus on having the right number of players, not so much which players.

Know How to Pre-Rank the Players Before the Draft

Having Larry Johnson No. 1 on your pre-ranked list won’t help you much if Mr. Johnson breaks his leg in the last game of the preseason and is gone for the year. Keep up to date on a player's status prior to your draft.

If you know the draft sequence before hand, try to get an idea of who’ll be available when it’s your turn. There are only a handful of players that will automatically go in the top five (Ladainian Tomlinson for one).

If you draft later in the round, identify a good second-tier player that will be available when your turn comes around.

Know Who’s On the Waiver Wire

Before and during the season, keep an eye on the waiver wire. I’ve gotten very lucky when another team has dropped an outstanding player because of one or two bad weeks.

On the flip side, I’ve dropped players that I shouldn’t have. Watch the waiver wire. If someone is out due to injury, you may be able to pick them up and put them in a DL slot. You’ll be able to carry that player AND an additional player until the one on the DL returns to the team.

Also, you might be able to pick up a good player who had a major injury the year before. Normally, they’re ranked pretty low. If other owners in your league aren’t paying attention, you might just get lucky.

Know the Matchups

There are many players that you’ll start (Peyton Manning, Terrell Owens, LT) regardless of which team they’ll be facing. Others, you’ll have to see whom they’re matching up against.

Normally, I’d start Reggie Wayne against any team. However, if that team is Denver, and the player he’ll be matched up against is Champ Bailey, I’ll think twice before I start him.

Know the Playoff Schedule For Your League

Your main goal should be to get into the playoffs. After that, matchups really come into play. Playoffs normally occur during Weeks 15, 16, and 17 of the NFL schedule.

I’ve won a lot of regular season leagues, only to lose in the first round of the playoffs because I wasn’t paying attention to matchups. I’ll give you a perfect example.

In the middle of last year, I looked at the waiver wire and the schedule of players I was interested in. Jamal Lewis of Cleveland jumped out at me. The schedule at the end of the year featured some teams he could run on. I picked him up off the waiver wire. Those last three weeks, he gained 383 yards. I won the league title after finishing seventh during the regular season.

Draft Running Backs That Catch A Lot of Passes

Good running backs will get you yards and rushing TDs; great running backs will get you receiving yards and TDs as well. When you draft, try to get RBs that catch passes. Steven Jackson of the Rams is a perfect example. Last year, he rushed for a little over 1,000 yards in 12 games, but he also had 38 receptions for 271 yards. The year before, he had 90 receptions for 806 yards.

Don’t Be Afraid To Trade Star Players

A lot of fantasy-football players are afraid to trade their star players. I’ve always been open to trading top players, as long as I get equal value in return.

Sometimes you can trade one great player for two or three good players. The leagues I’ve done the best in are with teams that I’ve had to make moves with, either through trades or using the waiver wire.

Having Peyton Manning on your team is great, but trading him for Tony Romo and Antonio Gates might pay off for you in the long run.

Fantasy football is a wonderful game to play. It’s grown in popularity each and every year that it has existed. Get into the game and enjoy yourself!

Gary Bettman, It's Time to Change the NHL Schedule

Garry Christman — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 04:55:21 -0400

Dear Mr. Bettman,

Since you've taken over as commissioner of the NHL, many people have pointed to you as the reason for the declining interest in hockey in the U.S. I was one of those people, trying to figure out what you were doing.

After the Flames left Atlanta for Calgary (for those of you who remember those days), I never thought we'd see the NHL again in the southern U.S. Now, we have the Atlanta Thrashers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, and the Nashville Predators. Maybe that decision of yours and the league to expand into the south wasn't so bad after all.

The "Winter Classic" is another great idea that, if carried out correctly, will do nothing but add to the interest in ice hockey.

Now, we have an exciting Stanley Cup final with two of the most attractive teams in the NHL. The first two games weren't all that great, but the last three have been pretty good. Game five has to go down as one of the best in the NHL in a long time.

Hockey seems to be on the upswing now, and this is the time you need to capitalize on the increase in popularity. The one thing I want to see you do is change the schedule so that each team plays each other team at least twice a year; a home and home series.

A few years ago, the NHL went to an unbalanced schedule, each team playing those in the same division eight times. Frankly speaking, that's way too much. I'm a devoted Boston Bruins fan; I love watching them play Montreal, Buffalo, Ottawa, and Toronto.

The games against Montreal and Toronto are the best, involving history that goes back to the "Original 6." But enough is enough. I think four to five games against each division opponent would be more than enough.

The NHL has the exact same number of teams as the NBA. Additionally, the NBA has the same exact number of games as the NHL. The NBA works out the schedule so that each team gets at least a home and home against every other team.

I enjoy sitting back and watching the Lakers travel east to face the Celtics, Knicks, and Sixers and then watch those teams travel to the Staples Center in return. The NHL needs to adopt the same type of schedule.

If I'm an LA Kings fan, or Anaheim, San Jose, or another Western Conference team, I want at least the chance to see Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, or another young star.

Being a Bruins fan, I want to see Jarome Iginla, the Sedin boys, and all those young Swedes that fill the Detroit lineup, at the TD Banknorth Center.

If I'm from Canada, I want to see Calgary in Montreal, Vancouver in Ottawa, and Edmonton in Toronto each year.

In November 2007, the NHL decided to change the schedule so that each team plays each other team at least once a year. This is a step in the right direction.

Take it a little further; make it a home and home with each team. If I have a choice between seeing Detroit one time or watching the Canadiens for the fourth time, I say bring on Detroit.

Make the change Mr. Bettman.

Boston Bruins: Do They Need Marian Hossa?

Garry Christman — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:08:15 -0400

How many of you were able to watch Game 6 of the Boston–Montreal playoff series this year? If you watched the game like I did, and you’re a huge Bruins fan like I am, you were probably as excited and thrilled as I was.

It would be hard to find anyone that thought the Bruins would be able to take even one game in the series, much less three. The Bruins made the Habs sweat. Personally, I think that fact hurt the Canadiens in their next series against Philly.

Unfortunately, Game 7 went to the dreaded Canadiens and the Bruins were sent home for the summer. A lot was accomplished, especially for a team that many picked dead last in the Eastern Conference. The biggest question facing the Bruins going into next season is where do they go from here?

There’s been a lot of talk about the resurgence of the Boston Bruins. Throughout the 2007-2008 season, the Bruins seemed to be a team that kind of “straddled the fence.” They’d have a five- or six-game winning streak, looking formidable and difficult to beat. Then, they’d follow it up with a five- or six-game losing streak, barely able to score a goal.

At times, they were exciting to watch; other times, I had to turn away because their lack of scoring was too painful to bear. The one thing that truly stands out in my mind about this years Bruins is that they absolutely never gave up. The heart was there, the will to win was there, the fight was there.

However, the lack of scoring talent was painfully apparent at times. These are my thoughts on where the Bruins will go from here.

Going into the offseason, one name is being mentioned more than any others; Marian Hossa. Would it be nice to see Hossa in a B’s uniform? Absolutely. Is it going to happen? Unfortunately, I don’t think so. Personally, I don’t want the Bruins to bring Hossa to Boston and the reasoning for that can be summed up in one word: finances.

Very few teams in the NHL have more than one or two players earning in excess of $5 million. Some have three. Detroit has Lidstrom, Datsyuk, and Rafalski; Anaheim has Scott Niedermayer, Pronger, and Giguere. Some teams have two; the Rangers have Drury and Gomez; the Lightning have Lecavalier and St. Louis.

If the Bruins were to sign Hossa for what’s expected to be between $6 and $7 million, they’d have three players over $5 million; Chara, Savard and Hossa. Compounding the problem for the Bruins is that they already have three other players over $4 million; Bergeron, Fernandez and Murray.

Simply put, they can’t afford him at this time. Barring trades, the Bruins would have to do too much (buy out Murray, possibly buy out Schaefer and Fernandez), to put Hossa in a Bruins uniform.

What do I think the Bruins should do? For starters, buy out Murray. Right wing is a weakness for the Bruins, but Murray seemed lost this year without Bergeron setting him up. Take the cap hit of $1.4 million each year for the next two years.

Many people have said they’d like to see the Bruins buy out or trade Fernandez. It’s time to admit that’s just not going to happen. Fernandez was brought to Beantown for one reason; to be the No. 1 goalie.

Tim Thomas has done an outstanding job, but if Manny comes back healthy and ready to play, he opens the 2008-2009 season as the starter. Auld is gone as a free agent. Unless he shows without a doubt that he’s ready for the parent club, Rask will be in Providence one more year.

Peter Schaefer was a disappointment this season, but I think he’ll be back. I don’t think Chiarelli brought him in to get rid of him after one year. When he was the assistant GM, Chiarelli had Schaefer in Ottawa. His play improved towards the end of the year; I think he’ll be given another chance to prove he can bring something to the team.

Many have been calling for the Bruins to trade Kessel and his $2.2 million contract (base salary plus expected bonuses). He’s 20 years old and has a bright future. Now’s not the time to trade him. Be patient, let him grow. How many years did it take for Joe Thornton to finally take off? Give Kessel some time.

I hate to say it, because I’d love to see the Bruins make a big splash in free agency, but I’d like to see them do exactly what they did at the trade deadline: stand fast. When you look at the list of unrestricted free agents, the pickings are really kind of slim outside of Hossa.

They can identify one or two key free agents, guys they know will be able to help immediately. They should wait for the following year, when the free agent market will have much more available talent.

The following Bruins become free agents after the 2008-2009 season (shown with their salary):

Fernandez - $4.75 million

Murray (if they don’t buy him out) - $4.15 million

Axelsson (if they don’t buy him out) – $1.85 million

Alberts - $1.4 million

Thomas - $1.1 million

Hnidy - $760,000

That’s $14 million that comes off the books next year. The salary cap this year will be between $55 and $56 million. If it goes up to $60 million or so next year, and being freed up from some of the salary shown above, the Bruins would be in great shape to pick up some outstanding free agents.

Now, just look at the list of players that can hit the open market next year; Vinny Lecavalier, Marian Gaborik, Henrik Zetterberg, Alex Tanguay, Erik Cole, Brian Gionta, Ales Kotalik, the Sedin brothers, Mike Comrie, Maxim Afinogenov, Tim Connolly, Ryan Miller (if they need a goalie).

Marian Hossa wearing a spoked B next hockey season would be outstanding. Waiting a year to try to pick up some of the talented names above may be even better.