Bleacher Report - Articles by Aaron Neely

Figuring Out the 10 Best NHL Captains

Aaron Neely — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:23:16 -0500

When looking at todays 10 best captains in the NHL we think of the main criteria that creates this person. Obviously the skill level comes into effect because if you are never on the ice, well you can't really lead by example Second, your character and how you are in the dressing room. In todays world, you will never be respected and followed simply by what you do on the ice, if you're a jerk in the dressing room your team will hate you. Finally the players adaptability is crucial. if you can score without stopping the other team from scoring you are basically useless, if you can't score but stop the other team from scoring - useless. You must do it all. Captains are a special breed, not just anyone can be a captain and as is being shown in Montreal and Toronto, when you have had a steady diet of these class individuals, you don't just give the 'C' to a Matt Stajan. However, as I was saying, they are more then just athletes, they are role models and mentors. They make you reach down further into yourself then you have ever been before and they give it there all even if they are practicing during optional skates. Point is, these are the people we all wish we were...

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Toronto Maple Leafs: The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Aaron Neely — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 15:15:48 -0400

As Leaf fans, we’ve all heard the jokes, we’ve all been ridiculed and we’ve all sat in our chairs wondering what the heck went wrong.

Only four weeks ago, Leaf Nation had completed the pre-season that was suppose to start the year the Leafs made it back to the playoffs. Victor Stalberg was a beast, our goalies still understood their jobs as puck stoppers and our defense still knew those childhood lessons such as, “stay in your lane", “don’t chase on the penalty kill” and most importantly, “don’t pinch unless you have support from your forwards.”

Now, since the majority of my heart is dedicated to the Toronto Maple Leafs, I still have a place in my heart for the amazing game that I have played and loved my whole life—hockey.

Through my life I have learned that under no circumstance does anything that happens in October, and most of November, carry great substance in March and April. The good teams prove they are good, the “supposed to be good teams” struggle only to regain form about now and finish in the Top Five and the lesser teams battle inconsistency from start to finish. That is why they rarely win the cup.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are obviously somewhere in the third group of teams that finish somewhere in the 6-15 range in the Eastern conference.

This is where my article goes from an extremely bad outlook on the Leafs continuing season, to a very positive outlook on their season.

For starters, we have yet to ice our complete 23-man roster. Our best hockey player has yet to take the ice for a game and our goalies have yet to iron their creases out.

So why do I still have a positive outlook for this season?

To make things simple, our best hockey player is one of the most dynamic in the NHL. He can score with the best of them, skate past the rest of them and just so happens to be 22 years old.

Our goaltending has been terrible. Joey Macdonald had a farm and should never have left it. Vesa Toskala has a save percentage that, if he was a student, would make him worried about falling off the honor roll.

So now it comes down to Jonas Gustavsson and the start of his NHL career. People may say that he has pressure on him coming back and, hopefully, taking over the starting job. I say what possibly pressure can he have? All he has to do is be better than Toskala and anything more is a plus.

So, Phil Kessel comes back and we get more goals. Gustavsson comes back and based on the scouting report, we keep some goals out. Check and check.

Now it comes down to the rest of the players.

So far, our forwards average just under two goals a game. Our defense somehow made it possible to allow right around 4.5 goals a game. Safe to say, two players aren’t going to change this team.

Here is where this article makes all of you believers that this season is going to go much better then it looks, and Boston will not be picking Taylor Hall first overall.

When Toronto started the season, things were good because our defense and penalty kill were supposed to be better—and they will. Mike Komisarek is one of the best stay-at-home defenseman in the game, Tomas Kaberle is one of the best puck moving defenseman in the game and Luke Schenn is going to improve. Thus, both issues listed above are going to get better.

Another reason, it’s quite simple, Brian Burkes’ ego is bigger than Toronto. He does not want to see Boston walk up on stage and take Taylor Hall. He will make this team better, or find someway, anyway really, to make this work.

Ian White has shown that he can be a solid NHL hockey player since he basically has been our best player in the first three-and-a-half-weeks. Perhaps he is the reason we move Tomas Kaberle and get something in return.

Leaf Nation, please do not start buying Scott Gomez jerseys, please burn that Daniel Alfredsson jersey and realize that despite the early season troubles, we are nine points out of the playoffs with two games in hand and 74 more games to play.

That paragraph made me smile.

The Leafs will win, soon. The Leafs will score more, soon. The Leafs will find a goalie, soon. Let’s just hope that "soon" comes before November.

Kenny Ryan: The Latest Windsor Spitfire

Aaron Neely — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:50:58 -0400

When Kenny Ryan was drafted this year during the 2009 NHL entry draft, lots of talk was dedicated towards the blood lines in his family. With his dad playing alongside Joe Montana during there 1977 national championship team, his brother who played for the Michigan football team as a kicker/punter and Kenny who has been focused on hockey since he was 3 years old.

Because of these NCAA bloodlines it was well known and highly talked about that Kenny had every intention on accepting the close to $220,000 scholarship money that had been offered to him from Boston College.

However, a few days ago, Kenny made one of the better decisions of his life that will forward his hockey career and make Leaf fans feel much better about the Phil Kessel trade.

In case you hadn't heard, Kenny Ryan (on the right in the picture) joined the guy who went eight picks later in this years draft in Jesse Blacker (left) on the Windsor Spitfires. By leaving BC and joining the Windsor Spitfires not only does this give Kenny Ryan a prominent role on a team that is poised for great things this year, but it also gives him resources that were never available to him only one week ago.

For starters, for an 18 year old, playing time isn't something that comes at a premium when playing in the NCAA. Due to the fact that the competition is not teenagers but players in their twenties it is quite obvious that playing time will go to those players due to the fact that they only have four years of eligibility.

Second, and perhaps one of the most overlooked benefits to the OHL and other Canadian Leagues is that Kenny Ryan is officially a pro hockey player. Don't think that matters? Well ask many other NHL prospects who play in the NCAA about the development issues they face when training camp and prospects camp comes around.

Because they are NCAA players, they cannot accept anything free from NHL teams. Flights, food, hotel rooms, cabs, cars, sticks, equipment are all necessities that the player has to pay for—many choose to do their own thing and not show up.

Finally, playing in the OHL this year will give Kenny Ryan way more playing time then he has ever played before. Barring injury, he could play up to 120 games from now until May.

So before Leaf fans begin to jump off the closest tall building because Taylor Hall might end up slipping through our fingers, look at the prospects in our system. And don't sell your Windsor tickets because Jesse Blacker and Kenny Ryan are big boys with big time potential.

Michael Vick: Convicted, Served, Forgiven?

Aaron Neely — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:08:42 -0400

I remember sitting at home in mid summer and watching sportscenter. I was watching to check out the latest NHL signings and on the ticker, the words “breaking news’ came across the line. The following words horrified me, “Kobe Bryant accused of rape.” Those may have not been the exact words; however, as we all know it is accurate.

The trial went down in Denver, Colorado and just a few days ago the Lakers closed out a season against that town’s team. However, hardly any talk was given to that story.

Personally, I believe that the greatest story in today’s sports world that affects us has to do with Michael Vick. What he did was absolutely terrible and horrendous. What he did makes me sick to my stomach and makes me hate these types of people so much more.

Going back a few years, I can remember the majority of Sunday afternoons during the football season where I watched my beloved Bills only to become even more excited when the most exciting football player in the league was to take the field. Michael Vick was electric, he was magical and he became the best friends of chairs throughout the Atlanta reason because so many people who just stand and watch.

Has anyone legitimately thought about Michael in this way recently?

What makes me even sicker then thinking about what Mr. Vick did was how everyone responded to his actions. News anchors across North America acted as if they were far better then him, fans began kicking the man when he was down and here on Bleacher Report we wrote articles bashing the man and treating him as if he was worse then what we are.

For those of you who are familiar with the bible, there is a quote that says “whoever is without sin should throw the first stone.” Point is, Michael Vick made a mistake. He went to jail and as far as I know he is now out on house arrest after serving the majority of his time.

In society we have a justice system because it is a punishment for the wrong they do. For parents out there, do you yell at your child even after they have gone to their room to serve their punishment? As parents would you like to pay for your speeding ticket for the rest of your life? Then why do we hold athletes at such a higher standard for making mistakes?

The athletes that we watch every night in all sports are role models to millions of people around the world. Watching players come back against all odds and dominate can bring tears to the eyes of many. We demand them to be perfect on the field, court, and ice rink because we are paying large amounts of money to watch.

However, their life is their life. They are just like us in every single way; they just are so great at a specific sport we pay to watch.

Like I said, I hate what Vick did. As an owner of a dog, I don’t just own a dog but I adopted my dog into my family. The thought of my dog being beaten and tortured makes me feel terrible. Michael Vick did these things and has paid his dues!

As a sports fan and as a person who has made mistakes in my life I believe that he deserves a second chance. I believe in my heart that he is remorseful and understands what he did was so incredibly wrong that many will unfortunately never forgive. But let it be known—I forgive. I forgive him because the next time I screw up, I hope that everyone around me forgives me because just like you, I am a person.

So here is my conclusion, my grand finale. Everyone who reads this article has made a mistake in their life that they are glad to say is done with and glad that they don’t have to live with it anymore. So let’s give Michael another chance, I am not saying that we forget about it, as the great saying goes, “forgive, but never forget.”

Let’s give this man another chance, because no matter how much we want to think otherwise—he is a man.

He has a family, friends, people who look up to him and most importantly—he has a heart and he has feelings.

So ask yourself, do you like being bullied? Because that is what we are doing to him right now. And if you can legitimately say that you can’t forgive him, ask yourself this question. If you were in a room with him alone sitting at a table, could you still make fun of him in that position!?

I know I couldn’t—I forgave, I will never forget.

Everything But The Draft On Draft Day

Aaron Neely — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:03:42 -0400

Unfortunately for all hockey fans, lately, talk hasn’t been as much about the playoffs and more about the upcoming draft in Montreal. A “sniper” who doesn’t know the name of any defenseman or goaltender he has ever played with, a defenseman who despite only playing hockey for about 12 years somehow deserves being compared to a Chris Pronger or Nik Lidstrom. As well as a Brampton Battalion second line forward who only scored 18 points this year when on the road and opposing coaches got their matchups. You didn’t know that about Matt Duchene did you? However, despite the intense, nail biting, seat friendly series that is happening – we are talking about these three. Now before I go too far, I do believe that these three guys are going to be dynamite – either blowing up the league or blowing up the heads of scouting agencies. However, they are not what this slide show is about. Instead, it is about everything and anything else that is going to happen on Friday night or Saturday afternoon. Stay tuned and find out the most likely trades to take place on that hockey friendly Friday in late June and the few weeks before and after.

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Start Earlier, End Earlier: It's Better for Everyone

Aaron Neely — Wed, 06 May 2009 14:32:18 -0400

The other day, I was lying in bed thinking about the incredible week in sports that just took place.

Manny Pacquiao knocks out Ricky Hatton.

Paul Pierce and the Celtics play to the wire and defeat Derrick Rose and the young and exciting Chicago Bulls.

The always-entertaining Kentucky Derby.

The Toronto Blue Jays continue their magnificent play to start the season.

Oh ya, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin play, what might be, their greatest hockey games yet—given the circumstances.

Then an idea came to my head, what if the NHL could start earlier, and end earlier?

What if rather then start at the beginning of October, they started the beginning of September—perhaps Labor Day weekend?

The NHL has become the younger brother that will never be able to surpass the NBA. They both have their die-hard fans that will never switch and they both have their soft core fans that will always watch both.

However, if the NHL was wrapping up the long battle that is the playoffs within the next two weeks, that rivalry would be gone!

You see, the NHL would be finalizing the conference finals right now if this idea were to ever go through, whereas the NBA would be just starting their second round. Personally, I know what I’d be watching regardless of which sport I like most.

Another plus would be that the ice surfaces would only be better when the hockey mattered the most. Rather then going to Carolina, San Jose, Anaheim, Detroit or Pittsburgh during the hot and dry days that you get in June, you could play in those same arenas in the much more ice-friendly May (not a huge plus, but definitely not as much of a negative).

The overall effect of this would go through all the different leagues. Baseball teams would not have to deal with their cities' NHL teams going through playoff rounds and taking fans away. NBA teams would have the same luxury! At the same time, NHL teams wouldn’t have to deal with NBA series like the Boston-Chicago one that took many fans attention away from the Blackhawks.

Finally, for all of us Canadians who suffer through summers counting down the seconds until our teams hit the ice, we would be able to occupy are minds with golfing and summer activities and once September hits—as do the players.

NHL Playoffs Coming Soon: 10 Stories To Watch For

Aaron Neely — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 19:28:24 -0400

Each and every year, the playoffs are defined and remembered by a story. Whether it was Anaheim led by Paul Kariya and J.S Giguere battling to fall short of the New Jersey Devils. Whether you remember Joe Sakic passing the cup right off to Ray Bourque so he could be the first to raise Lords Stanley. Maybe you remember Darren McCarty's 360 spin after he clinched the cup in OT - we always remember everything. This year, anything can happen as always. Teams are being led by guys who are 21 and carrying the weight of a franchise, city and country on their back. Guys like Jarome Iginla will put on his armour and go to battle like always and Alex Ovechkin will test the theory that defense wins championships. But what else might make headlines this year? Will it be the same stories as the regular season of Alex Ovechkin vs Sidney Crosby? Detroit against San Jose? Maybe Boston will be able to get through the first round and do what they are expected. But then again, does it ever happen the way it 'should'? I've thought of 10 potential headline phrases that will match a story and listed them 10-1. Feel free to debate, feel free to challenge but most of all, feel free to read and enjoy!

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Biggest Sleeper in the MLB: Toronto Blue Jays

Aaron Neely — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 22:55:35 -0400

As the baseball season inches closer and closer to the opening pitch many questions are swirling around.

How will A-Rod do? How will the Yankees do? Manny in LA? San Fran looking to make their first real charge since the Bonds’ days.

Many questions, and we’ll have to wait along time for answers.

So let’s speculate!

When you think of the best teams in the Major Leagues, people automatically think about the Yankees and Red Sox...rightfully so.

But what about that team that usually finishes third in that division? Are they maybe getting closer to surpassing one, or both of those teams?

The Toronto Blue Jays are a team notoriously famous for their “Next year is going to be our year” motto.

However, could it actually be that this is their year? Taking a look at their lineup in years past they have always had one of the three keys components to win games.

They either have a bullpen, pitching or hitting. This year, they are the closest they have ever been to having all three.

When you look at their lineup a few things come to mind. First off, you marvel at the pitching ace that is locked up long term as well as the other young arms.

Roy Halladay is a guaranteed 20+ wins a season as well as a very likely night off for any pitcher who usually comes out of the bullpen. He has and will continue to be a pitcher that competes for the Cy Young award yearly.

Taking over for A.J. Burnett is 24-year-old Jesse Litsch. Having pitched only two years in the majors he still has plenty more to offer. He won 13 games last year and if all things fall into place could push the 18 win marker.

Let’s say for a second that the Blue Jays can get 40 wins between Litsch and Halladay, if the rest of the rotation can play just above average the Yanks and Sox won’t be the only teams contending in the AL east.

Second off, the out field is something to die for. Vernon Wells is a gold glove candidate and as long as he stays healthy is good for 25+ home runs and 105+ RBIs. His swing is perfect and his speed is among the elite. All star? I think so.

Alex Rios is even younger and has even more potential that, if things go well, should be realized this season. He took a bit of a step back last year but came on strong towards the end however should be a shoe in for similar stats as Wells, if not even better.

Add in veterans like Overbay and Rolen as well as young bats Snider and Lind and the returning Aaron Hill who was a Gold Glove second baseman and a 85-RBI guy at the plate and that is a very solid lineup.

Now comes the third and final part, very fittingly as well because it is the part that finishes the game most nights.

Two years ago the Blue Jays through a long term big money contract at B.J Ryan and finally got rid of the issue of a shaky bullpen.

After that Shea Hillenbrand decided to go AWOL and force the Jays into trading him; they somehow acquired Jeremy Accardo for the nut job Hillenbrand.

Combine those two guys with hard throwing Brandon League, Scott Downs and Brian Wolfe and you have quite the bullpen. If their pitching is as good as it was last year then they have one of the best arms in the MLB.

Overall, the Jays are going to make some noise...everyone knows that. The big question is if it can be more noise then what is going to come from New York and Boston.

New York is a soap opera that every writer wishes they created and Boston is getting older but is quite the powerhouse. If Toronto can get past New York then they just might crack into September.

Toronto has what it takes if it can all fall into place. They have the All-Stars, they have the youth and they have the finishers. But can those players finish is what we need to wait and see on.

So unfortunately for A-Rod, Manny and Barry, Toronto might just steal some of your spotlight guys. And they will do it with character and professionalism, so hopefully those three guys can learn from Toronto and see what good news can do. That, however, is a completely different article.

Sean Avery is The Reason The New York Rangers Are Worth Talking About

Aaron Neely — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 12:51:02 -0400

Here's a riddle for you... How do you get overpaid, underachieving Americans... A Russian who doesn't know what giving 100 percent feels like and a defensive group who still has yet to be taught how to make a breakout pass to play like all-stars?

Bring in the biggest “cancer” in hockey who has proclaimed that he is one with himself. I mean, bring in the biggest game changer that you won’t always see in the scorers box, but will have a impact on the game that is only matched by the elite scorers in the game.

What does this mean for that slacking group of veterans? A slacking group of veterans scared out of their mind that they just might be called out.

Around the start of free agency, the Dallas Stars signed a player who everyone thought would push their team over the top. He was suppose to team up with Steve Ott to create the most diabolical and hated tag team of all time. These two guys were supposed to be targeted players league wide.

Unfortunately for them Marty Turco forgot how to stop pucks. Mike Modano's age finally started to show—but who is going to tell him that?

Brendan Morrow went down with an injury and people started to realize that Fabian Brunnstrom was not all he was made out to be. Brett Hull, who can we blame this on!?

Suddenly, Sean Avery calls over some news cameras and says something so horrible, so disturbing and so volatile that it made grown men cringe. Children began to scream out for their mothers and mothers ran for the soap to clean out his mouth!

He said, forgive me… sloppy seconds.

Now jumping back into reality and looking at what happened, I have a question: How did you respond?

Me? I simply laughed and began counting down the seconds until puck drop where I should have seen Dion Phanuef deal with Sean Avery in such a manner that sports center would be showing on their Year in Review show.

However, good old Gary Bettman decided to suspend him indefinitely; the Stars turned on him and blamed their troubles on him and through him under the bus. (Dear Dallas, it didn’t work—you still are out of the playoffs… looks like you might have to blame those veterans listed above).

As the news broke in New York, Glen Sather must have been drooling all over his desk realizing that 28 other GM’s were getting behind Dallas and their stance that all their team issues were Sean Avery’s fault. No one could see that Mr. Avery just might be the most important role player in the NHL.

Jumping into March with about eight games left for most teams, the New York Rangers have made some huge changes this year.

They had a huge speed bump that knocked their coach off the bus and has Glen Sather holding onto the emergency door at the back dragging on the ground seemingly ready to fall off at any moment. Until one day when an old friend jumped back on the bus and brought him and his team back to respectability.

Today, Glen Sather is sitting on top of the bus, shirt off swinging it around getting all Ranger fans ready to wave those tools at MSG come playoff time (don’t picture it…)

But taking a closer look—he isn’t the only one up their. Sean Avery is right beside him guiding the troops into April, May and perhaps even June.

Sean Avery has picked this team up by the throat, thrown them on his back and led them back into the realm of respectability. He has brought a swagger to this line-up that left when he did.

Nik Zherdev knows once again that he is a highly skilled hockey player. Scott Gomez and Chris Drury are now accountable knowing that the real captain can call them out at any moment and Henrik Lundqvist is playing like he always has.

The New York Rangers are back, or should I say Sean Avery is. Through his 10 games that he has played he has vaulted himself from third line minutes to first line minutes. He has 8 points in 10 games and has created power play opportunities that have given guys like Antropov the chance to succeed in the red, white and blue.

What this has created is a surge from the Rangers that has seen them go 7-3 since Avery has come around. They are playing with passion and with swag and come playoff time, this is not a team anyone wants to face.

If the playoffs were to start today, the first round would have the Rangers play the Devils. I couldn’t write it better myself. Brodeur vs. Avery round two—yes please!

But could anyone stop this freight train that has become the Rangers? Can teams ignore Sean Avery enough to not take stupid penalties that he creates?

Can they score enough goals against Henrik Lundqvist to overcome the damage that Gomez, Drury, Zherdev, Avery, Antropov and Naslund will cause? I don’t think so.

Martin Brodeur has found his kryptonite. He has found the one person in the world that can get under his skin enough to make his game falter. Sean Avery did it last year in the playoffs and will surely do it this year.

He will run Brodeur and will beg for someone to do something about it. He will talk and talk and talk and talk and when the game is over he will continuing talking about how they won the game.

As great as the Devils have been playing lately I just can’t see them overcoming this. Sure they have the best goalie of all time and Zach Parise. But is that enough to go against the mightiest of all super pests to ever play this game? I don’t think so.

Sean Avery never destroyed the Stars, all their “savvied” veterans did that quite fine—he just took the hit. Sean Avery re-built the Rangers—something their “savvied” veterans couldn’t do—let’s give him the praise.

Sean Avery also is going to be the one responsible when we are talking about them in the Eastern Conference finals.

Way to go Sean! You’re a beauty.

The Best Basketball Players Can Play More Then Just Basketball

Aaron Neely — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 19:03:13 -0400

Because sports don't last all night, all day, and all year, we need something else to talk about. Usually it is about how the top players performed last night or about how they should perform tomorrow night.

But when talking about performance becomes obvious—in the case of Wade and LeBron—we need something else to talk about. And don't think for a second that they don't know that.

Throughout the years, star players have always had some sort of "dealing" with one another.

Bird and Magic had it.

Kobe and Shaq had it.

Tiger and Phil have it.

Gretzky and Lemieux had it.

Crosby and Ovechkin have it.

Sometimes it is truly a hatred for the other player, not because of who they are but because that other player is what is standing in the way of them and supremacy.

Every time they play, they will play against each other, guard each other, battle each other, and play better and reach unfathomable levels of skill because of the other's presence in the game.

Star players will always go against each other and be compared to one another. The media builds games up when they play each other and the spot light it always on. Whether they play with each other or play against each other, the rivalry will either be on the court or in the record books—it's never absent.

Over the weekend, SI.com quoted LeBron as saying:

"It doesn't matter—whatever happens, we'll go against each other...Maybe we'll go against each other in practice. That would be fine." (This was in response to a statement saying that one of Wade or LeBron would have to switch conferences for them to ever compete against one another in the finals.)

My question is, why?

Why would LeBron ever say such a thing, clearly knowing what the hidden "message" is that he would be sending?

Why would he make that last statement about possibly going at it in practice? Maybe he wants two opposing teams to go at it in the morning before games!?

Personally, I believe it is exactly what Kobe and Shaq apparently had where they reportedly "manufactured" problems with the two of them and Phil Jackson simply for media coverage and stories to make them seem far larger than they truly were.

Before I go any further, I want to say that the chances of these two guys playing together, or ANY of the stars in the free agency class of 2010 playing together is very small.

Why would such incredible players ruin their legacy by tagging up with another superstar only to ruin their legacy? These two guys aren't like Pippen and Jordan—they are like Jordan and another, far larger, stronger, bigger, and more powerful Jordan, with a bit of Magic to him.

LeBron and D-Wade are smart, intelligent people as well as business men. They know that to become recognized throughout the world, they have to make a greater impact and hit news stations around the world for other reasons other then their skill set.

They need to make the news for what they say as well as what they do.

Everyone knows that LeBron wants to be known world wide, like Tiger is known world wide. He wants to build himself more than just on the basketball court—but in the business realm. He wants to market himself and bring attention to himself. I'm guessing that Wade would not mind a little slice of that pie as well.

LeBron first was rumoured to go to New York. He never shut that rumour down causing a parade that started at MSG with signs saying "Hail the King" (ok...maybe not).

Then it was reported that during a scrimmage that he played with some buddies, LeBron took a shot at the Knicks by referring to an abysmal defense that was being played as "New York Knick's style defense"—parade over...no more signs.

So now I hear that LeBron and Wade could be tagging up. Sounds to me like two intelligent business men are sitting back with $1,000 suits, champagne and comfy leather chairs giggling to one another and betting on who's name appears more on Sportscenter.

Question is, who is tasting who's ass?

July 1: Who is coming to town?

Aaron Neely — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 18:59:31 -0400

Every year around this time, hockey fans league wide begin to think of a couple things. If you are a fan of a team battling for the number 1 draft pick then John Tavares is the only hockey player on your mind. If your team is not that bad, then maybe Evander Kane or Braden Schenn is your guy. Maybe you are lucky enough to have a team in the playoffs and that is where your focus is, or maybe you are battling for that final playoff spot. But what is on the minds of many, whether it be the back of your mind or the number 1 thing you think of every day is July 1st and free agency. Each year, teams create a list of hopefuls that they hope to obtain. Sometimes a team prepares to throw an obscure amount of money at a player hoping to blow them away. Other times, a team will sit back and pay no attention to those players and go for that hidden gem that comes at a nice price and will deliver just the right amount. What I plan on doing is to give everyone a top 10 list of players that are going to hit the open market this year. Some are obviously going to be there and some are players who you may not here about but may be wearing your team colours come next year.

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NHL Rule Modifications: Running Home Before Tagging Third

Aaron Neely — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:50:05 -0400

Unless you're currently living in an igloo (which would make me wonder just how you're reading this), you have heard the great debate about fighting.

Many people believe it should be abolished from hockey all together, some believe it should be left alone, and others find a middle ground, asking for it to be restricted.

Living in Toronto, I get a daily dose of hockey news that might not be rivaled anywhere else in the world. Every day, I have the luxury of reading beaucoup hockey news in the paper, watching three T.V. stations focused on hockey, and perusing four local websites that are completely hockey-centric.

Today, as I was browsing through some websites I came across this link:

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/03/10/nhl_meetings_staged_fight/

For those of you who don't want to read it, here is a summary...

The NHL wants to implement rules that limit fighting in the NHL. A proposed penalty for fighting with a visor has been put in place. Instigating fights is to be called more frequently, "staged fights" are to be reduced, and fights after big hits are to be cut back on (that last one being the only logical measure, in my mind).

An example used in the report was the incident in which Jason Spezza fought Dion Phaneuf after Phaneuf's high hit on Dany Heatley.

According to these new rules, Spezza would have been given 19 PIM: two for instigating, five for fighting, and a 10-minute misconduct PLUS two for instigating with a visor.

The NHL is completely missing the base on this one. Now you see my reference to "running home before tagging third." Clever? Maybe not, but stay with me.

Basically, the NHL is kicking themselves in the head while trying to fix their foot here.

First off, though the NHL wants players to keep their visors on, this is going to make everyone want to take his off.

There is no way that they are going to be able to expect anyone to wear the thing if they are going to hurt their team when fighting. Do you think Iginla will keep his? Will the recent eye injury of Moreau possibly be repeated, as he probably won't keep a visor on after this?

Visors are something that everyone should wear. Do they restrict your vision? I dunno, ask the leagues top five scorers what they think—they all wear them.

I think their stats say that their vision is just fine. But by implementing these revisions, so many players are going to keep them off on the chance they are called upon to defend their team.

Agitators will have to take their visors off, power forwards won't wear them, and anyone with any intention of coming into contact with the other team risks a penalty for wearing one!

Secondly, the NHL is proposing to increase the frequency with which the instigator penalty is called. For those of us who hate the Cal Clutterbuck's, Steve Ott's and Claude Lemieux's of the NHL, prepare to hate them even more.

These guys will see this rule change as a chance to run around and chirp like never before. With the new regulations, they're going to want to see if they can get someone to snap, thereby earning their team a power play.

These guys need to be accountable.

The league also plans on reducing the "staged fights" after a face-off. Sorry, but it's going to be a joke to see a couple heavyweights skate around the ice for 15 seconds only to come back together at center ice and drop the gloves.

Finally, the NHL wants to reduce fighting after a big hit. Seems like a Brian Burke- or Ken Holland-type rule, because this one actually makes sense!

That's the only time an instigator penalty should be called. A big hit is part of hockey, so if you don't like it, get your head up!

Recently on The Score (a sports channel we have in Toronto), former Tampa Bay Lightning head coach Steve Ludzik, said that, after a huge hit in his day, "the player would come to the bench...and all the players would be yelling at him to keep his head up."

No one fought the guy simply for a big hit, because that is part of the game! You don't like it? Hit one of their players.

The NHL is creating a league where tough guys are restricted and agitators are allowed to run free. If they want to contain guys like Sean Avery, wait until he plays Minnesota without a instigator rule and just see what happens when Derek Boogard hits the ice.

Avery will keep his mouth shut, that's what'll happen.

The NHL has always been a league where "rank" is a big part. If you are a heavyweight, you stick to the heavies. If you are a middleweight, you stick to the middles. And if you are a skilled player, be skilled. Don't deal with people outside of your rank.

Skilled players will score more goals. There will be bigger hits and better fights.

Please, do not restrict fighting, Gary!

Jeff Carter: Coming to an NHL Team Near You?

Aaron Neely — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:13:41 -0400

The guy is 6'3", 210 pounds. He is one of the fastest skaters in the NHL and has a shot that can be called one of the best in the league. He will be a 50-goal scorer and is good for about 90 points. He is an All-Star and will be considered one of the best centers in the league by the time he is 25.

So, why is he going to be dawning another jersey sooner, rather than later?

The reason for this is because how do you pay a top line center man $5.25 million a year, especially when the economy is going to bring the NHL's hard cap to about $46 million a year?

One of the worst mistakes that Paul Holmgren ever made was not realizing the gems that he had in his system. If he had realized this, he would have had about $6 million a year to spend on a quality winger or a defenseman.

Heck, if we still want to dream about what could have been, Jay Boumeester could have joined this team about a week ago.

Point is, now the Flyers are going to have to make some big decisions. They are quickly digging themselves into a similar situation as the Penguins. They simply have players who are too good with a cap that cannot hold all of them.

Briere, Lupul, Timonen, Richards, Hartnell, and Gagne are all signed for over $4 million a year and Matt Carle is at $3.8 a year. Is it even possible to pay Carter over $5 million a year?

If you answered yes to that question, then please explain how and then complain to your local school board to get your math teacher fired.

If you somehow think that they are able to keep all those untradable players and keep Carter, think again. After next year, the cap should drop to around $46 million. If you simply look at that and think they could fit some no-name players and ride those key guys, then look closer.

The Flyers only have two defensemen and no goalies signed after next year, meaning they have to sign two goalies, five defensemen, and fill out a fourth line. If you keep Carter in the mix, before you do all of that you have about $7 million with which to sign 10 guys.

On the other hand, if you said no, then you know it is because of the players I mentioned above. Not one of them will be leaving town for a variety of reasons. Either they are overpaid, way too injury prone, not worth the risk, or, in Mike Richards' case, way top good to be moved.

That leaves Jeff Carter as the odd man out. And since we are in the age where general managers are content to wait until the last minute to make a move, don't be surprised when Carter is lost and the price really is not that large. Don't expect to have a deal like they were offered from Toronto for a defensive stud like Tomas Kaberle.

However, things are not all that bad. They have highly touted University of New Hampshire stud James Van Riemsdyk, who should come in and fill the void without much of a loss to their team. He will come in physically ready and prepared to have a Blake Wheeler type season. So do not fret, Flyers fans!

However, since we are fans who do not get judged on what we think that the time that a decision is made and have the luxury of saying what Paul Holmgren should have done a year and a half ago, we can sound all-knowing. Simply sit and imagine if Daniel Briere was never offered that huge contract and the Flyers had a second line led of Van Riemsdyk, Carter, and Lupul.

Not to mention that would most likely be their second line for about six years or more.

Thankfully, as a Leafs fan, Briere signed on the dotted line and Paul Holmgren somehow turned a blind eye to the guy who gave Ovechkin a run for the goal title for most of this year.

Thank you, Mr. Holmgren.

Oh, and if you would be so kind as to trade him to Toronto, that would be greatly appreciated!

Creating the Perfect Hockey Team

Aaron Neely — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 20:24:37 -0400

Every year general managers create a team that they feel can win the Stanley Cup. Players on these teams are not simply the best of the best, but players who can fit within a team system. They have to be players that do not cause problems and have instant chemistry with their line-mates. As well, these teams are never simply all veterans who have all played a thousand games and have spent more time in the playoffs then many players will ever spend in their whole NHL career. Teams need to have a bit of everything. Experience, youth, grit, skill, speed and a whole lot of luck are needed to win the Stanley Cup. Finally, they also have to fit within the NHL's hardcap of 56 million dollars. A general managers job has never been harder. Luckily for me, I have the chance of picking 21 guys out of the near 700 that currently play in the NHL. However, what I am going to do is take goalie pairings, line combinations and defensive pairings that actually exist on teams today. And let's start with what wins championships...

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Get Fighting Out of Hockey? No Way

Aaron Neely — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:41:18 -0400

The other night, I had the privilege of attending a Toronto Maple Leafs game, albeit facing the lowly New York Islanders—but a Leafs game none the less.

We had 12th row from the ice in the Leafs zone, right above the goal line on the Maple Leafs bench side.

As the introduction began and the game started to be played, an often heard phrase was not about the game but about the hopes of a fight breaking out right in front of us. Thanks goes out to Phil Oreskovic and Tim Jackman for being willing to dance and accommodate so many.

As Phil Oreskovic was skating towards the bench at the end of his shift, Tim Jackman gave him a little shot with his stick and a few choice words. Then came what has become sign language in hockey for "let's fight"... the glove shake.

As Oreskovic and Jackman dropped them and began to size each other up, frantic mothers reached for their child's face to block their eyes, men booed and yelled at the crazy hooligans on the ice for stopping play and ruining the game.

Children who didn't have their eyes blocked began crying and screaming for their parents and many others looked away in disgust and put their coats on and left the building for the night.

Ya, freaking, right.

What really happened was immediately 20,000 people jumped up and began cheering, as suddenly Phil Oreskovic had 20,000 ring men in his corner to give him tips. Upper cut one senior man screamed!

Body shots, BODY SHOTS a little boy beside me yelled. People who had left early to use the bathroom or get food flooded back in to watch the fight and concession staff left their posts to fill whatever room was left.

Ok, maybe a little stretch...However, after about 10 punches in the fight were thrown, Oreskovic took him down to the delight of 20,000 pleased fans. A standing ovation was given, all the players were on their feet banging their sticks against the boards.

Only the cheers for a wounded Canadian soldier in attendance, rightfully got a far louder applause. But I am sure even he applauded what he saw.

Point is, not one person left the building. Not one person complained, and not one person sat in their seat listing off reasons why that was extremely dangerous and everything that could have happened to these two grown men who willingly took part.

Now for those of you who are not Toronto or New York fans, you probably have no idea who these two hockey players are. So here is a little introduction:

Tim Jackman is Minnesota State product. He was drafted in the second round by the Columbus Blue Jackets and comes in at a towering 6'4", 215.

Now before everyone immediately starts thinking that he simply is in the NHL to fight consider this...In 44 games in the AHL last year, Jackman posted a respectable 36 points. He does have some offensive upside in his game as well as intimidating size.

As for Phil Oreskovic, he played his second career game against the Islanders and is a Brampton Battalion product from the OHL. He is also around 6'4" but is about 225. This year with the Marlies (Leafs AHL team), the stay-at-home defenseman has nine points in 59 games as well as a team leading +15.

And before you start thinking he is simply the token boxer, consider this...In the OHL he won awards for the best open ice hitter as well as the best defensive defenseman.

My point is, these guys can play hockey and fighting is just a way of showing it.

Are they ever going to come in and put up hall of fame numbers? Absolutely not.

Recently, the NHL has, in the minds of many, begun the process of eliminating fighting from the NHL. They say that they are just making it safer by putting in place rules for all fighters, but someone tell me how punching someone in the face is safe and what legitimate rules can you fail with before you just take the action out.

The greater picture is that without fighting, guys like this are never going to be seen. Are they simply fighters? No. They have to bring to the table what they can with the assets they have, if that means fighting the so be it. Guys like this are not going to be at the tops of their teams prospect list and without showing they can do something more to help a team that few can do, they may be career AHL players.

These two guys are going to be bottom end hockey players on any NHL team they play for. They both know that. The contributions they do make by fighting will leave a positive impression in their coaches minds and give them a chance to show they belong with their skill after they get that chance.

When they fight, people take notice. I guarantee walking into the Air Canada Center, less then half of the people knew Phil Oreskovic. Walking out...20,000 were raving about his play. Simply put, after his fight, people took notice.

Tell me this, for those of you who had the once in a lifetime privilege to witness Aki Berg dawn the blue and white, think about his play. Now imagine if, with his size he fought maybe 12-15 times a year. I guarantee we would all be saying that he was a stellar defensive defenseman.

Point is, his defensive game was very good. Pat Quinn played him in all situations and because his offensive skill wasn't there, the average fan would never notice him or notice his good side—if he fought, we would all have known.

As well, the effect that it has on the game and his teammates is also huge. When he was on the ice, Martin Gerber is not going to be touched or harassed because no body knows what he will do to them.

No 180-pound featherweight is going to take a run at Ian White because Phil Oreskovic just might dismantle their face and multiple other body parts..

On the other side of things, having a guy like Jackman will make rookies like John Bailey, Kyle Okposo among others on the young Islanders squad feel a lot safer.

It will give them more room to play without feeling like they will be run and if they are, whoever runs them will have to pay the price and be accountable to Tim Jackman.

In the NHL there are guys like Derek Boogard and Georges Laraque who, if fighting was not in the NHL—neither would they be.

But there are also guys like Phil Oreskovic and Tim Jackman who will make the NHL by fighting and then show the hockey world they can be assets with their hockey skills.

These large, mamoths of human beings who some think of as slow, actually make the game a lot faster due to the fact that the speedsters will be left alone by pests. When a heavyweight is on a team, no middleweight will ever take a shot at any skilled, notable player.

Early this year, Ryan Hollweg took a run at Zach Parise only to have Michael Rupp jump on the ice and bloody up his face. Michael Rupp is 6'5", 230lbs, Hollweg a mere 5'11", 200. Think he will do that again?

Fighting governs the game more than a referee does. Fighting brings accountability to the game of hockey and without it we would never see the highlight reel plays and the incredible speed that we see every single night around the NHL.

As well, without fighting—we'd never have Phil or Tim and the hockey skills that they will one day show. But for now, we'll watch them shake their mits, grab on and watch as 20,000 people shoot out of their seats like a goal had been scored.

Days after the game had been played, when friends ask how the game was...I don't tell them about Ponikarovsky's top-shelf goal or Grabovski's overtime winner, I tell them about Phil and Tim and the excitement that was injected into the game.

In all honesty, the game was pretty boring until they dropped 'em. After they did, it looked like they were battling for one and two in the league rather than John Tavares.

Neely, Out.

A Look at the 2008 NHL Draft

Aaron Neely — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:45:17 -0400

Every June the consolation prize for being terrible is captured. Teams file into ice-less arenas and fill tables and talk about hockey players who still have to ask their parents if they can go out on a Friday night. On the opposite side of things, 18 year olds file into ice-less arenas hoping that they have done enough to capture the eye of men old enough to be their grandparents. June is a month where the worst teams get to show off their teams future. They call names and no matter what the future holds, for that day, the player they chose will be an all-star. But what if we could go back months later and change the order of the draft? What happens if we could watch the play of these young rookies and change the draft order based on actual NHL play, rather then junior hockey where they dominated so much. Well unfortunately for teams like Ottawa who thought Alex Daigle was number one pick worthy - this cannot be done. Fortunately, as fans... Why not give it a try? I am going to look at the top 10 players taken in this years draft and change the order based on play this year. Where should they have gone based on progression thus far? Let's find out.

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Deadline Day: Stars of Today for Heros of Tomorrow

Aaron Neely — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 17:49:37 -0500

Throughout all of sports Trade Deadline day is no greater then in the game of hockey. The NHL has made quite the effort to use Trade Deadline day in the same sense as the NFL uses draft day.

It is a day that can make a team for the long run, a day that a team can begin the next stage and really blow things up or a day where a team can make that one move to bring in a savvy vet to push them over the top.

Over the years, we have seen deals that have changed the face of hockey teams. Some for the good, however, some have also been for the bad.

Looking back a few years to the infamous day that was, when Nashville decided they wanted to make short term gains for the sake of long term pains. They decided a shaky Peter Forsberg was good enough and would help them enough to warrant Scottie Upshall, Ryan Parent and a first rounder who turned into Jonathan Blum.

Was it worth it is the question all GM's ask themselves once the summer roles around after acquiring rental players who rarely ever stick around.

In this case, Peter Forsberg went out to collect 15 points in 17 games but only scored two times! Come the playoffs...Well they lost in the first round after only five games.

You see, trade deadline days can cost a teams future. If Scottie Upshall and Ryan Parent were still dawning Nashville colours they would have one of the brighter futures in the league. Not saying these two are greats but they contribute immensely to the success of a franchise as is being displayed in Philadelphia.

This being said, trade deadline days can also bolster a team for the long haul in the playoffs even if that team is seemingly not bothered at the fact that one individual player will be gone once July 1st roles around.

Last year, Marian Hossa's name was front and center and come 3 pm was the newest member of the powerhouse Pittsburgh Penguins. He joined forces with Sidney Crosby and contributed mightily to the success of that franchise guiding them to the Stanley Cup Finals.

And even though they lost to Detroit think of the profit and experience those young players gained from that run. Well worth it, it seems.

A couple years back in Edmonton, what seemed like one of the worst days in history for their franchise in trading Ryan Smyth.

However, Ryan Smyths loss helped them lose more games and subsequently helping them gain the rights to Sam Gagner who is helping the Oilers far more then Ryan Smyth would have.

Not to mention Robert Nilsson and Ryan O'Marra and a first round pick who turned into Riley Nash, who after he finishes with his time at Cornell University should be joining the Oilers and contributing immensely.

So there it is, a small dosage of good and bad deadline days and even a deadline day that seemed terrible but ended up to benefit a team in the long run. So how will teams fare this year? Who will cringe at the thought of trade deadline 09 and who will rejoice? Here are my top five teams looking to hit the jackpot with the very real chance of destroying it all.

New York Rangers

New York has already began their transformation with the hiring of John Tortorella. One of the best coaches America has ever produced. He is going to bring great change to this team and prove why having nine perimeter forwards simply doesn't work in hockey at any age group.

This team is softer than feathers with the exception of Colton Orr who actually has been playing excellent as of late and is already one of Tortorella's favourite players.

However, as I was saying, this team needs some extra punch to their lineup. They need a player that understands his role and goes to the front of the net and likes fighting for loose pucks in the corner.

A player who I think fits this mold is the Edmonton Oilers Eric Cole. A good American born hockey player, he has great size, amazing speed, and he is a savvy vet who gets the game.

He has a Stanley Cup ring that he collected with the Carolina Hurricanes and has played a few times under Tortorella on the International stage. Not to mention he is coming from Edmonton which will put a little smile on Glen Sather's face.

Another player who I could see New York being interested in is Toronto's Dominic Moore. Not quite at the same skill level as Cole but none the less is going to deliver an extra punch this team needs. Also would be intriguing because of the smaller price tag that Moore comes with. He is currently in the last year of his contract too.

Thirdly, I believe that little talked about Trent Hunter would fit perfectly with the Rangers, not to mention he is only 30 minutes away from the arena!

Currently among the tops in the NHL in hits, he has great size and a knack for the front of the net and can play that third line center ice job perfectly.

Whether New York gets one of these players will have to be something that we wait and see about. However, this is exactly the type of player that has to become a Ranger. Tortorella knows that they are way to soft and understands they need size and speed.

They are among the worst in goals for however, simply do not have the cap space to add an allstar forward unless they really dig deep into their future or can manage to convince a team to take on of their high price duds.

Edmonton Oilers

Now here is where Deadline day really gets interesting. The Edmonton Oilers have been quite shaky for so long that they have stockpiled some of the best future talent around and are willing to split with a few of them for the long term gain.

Besides the widely talked about Eric Cole being moved look for some serious adjustments on their back end.

Edmonton has one of the most creative, fast and youthful front 9 in the NHL and simply do not have the defensive talent to match their offensive skill set. If the Edmonton Oilers can get their hands on someone like Derek Morris or even the Islanders Mark Streit then look for them to pull the trigger.

HOWEVER, this is where being a Canadian franchise really helps out a team. They have the ability to wait it out and not address their blue line or any part of their team because they have some of the best fans in the entire world.

Edmonton Oiler fans understand the process that is being played out. They know that the future of this team does not rest in the players of today, but in the players of tomorrow. Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano, Ales Hemsky, and soon to be Oiler Jordan Eberle are going to be stallions for this team in the long run.

Edmonton will not make any move that affects their first or second round draft picks and could easily acquire a first round pick from Boston or New York for Eric Cole.

As well, they could do more selling and send a guy like Ladislav Smid or Shawn Horcoff packing if the RIGHT deal comes along. Do not look for Edmonton to make a big trade that won't still be helping them three years down the line.

As well, it is well known throughout the hockey world that Jay Boumeester has a large interest in coming back to western Canada to play hockey. He is a guy that loves the weather somehow and unlike Mr. Pronger, has a family that also loves the climate of western Canada.

Now, many of you may be thinking that I just said they won't make big deals at the deadline.

But, there have been a couple teams talking to Florida who may be granted exclusive rights to negotiate long term deals with Boumeester before the trade happens. If this happens then Edmonton could use the fact they have so many young players and send some of them to Florida along with Horcoff to complete the deal.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh may have knocked down the first domino today with the trade of Ryan Whitney to Anaheim. Pittsburgh realizes that they need to make great changes. Also do not think for a second that Ray Shero is satisfied with the addition of Chris Kunitz to be Sidney Crosby's long sought after winger.

All this is doing is building them scoring depth and adding a piece they lost last year at the deadline with the trade of Angelo Esposito as well as lessening the blow of losing Ryan Malone.

Now, the reason I add them to this list of top five teams to watch at the deadline is because they just might make some of the biggest trades involving the biggest names.

It has been well documented that Milan Hejduk has been rumoured their number one priority as a first line winger. And again, do not think for a second that because Whitney is gone that this priority has changed.

The acquisition of Kunitz solidifies a third line that Jordan Staal has been long since apart of. With Kunitz now there, look for Staal to be their biggest trade bait.

Jordan Staal simply has never "fit" on this team and everyone there knows it. He is a No. 2 center man who will never be able to play that in Pittsburgh. He has untapped offensive skill that he will never reach and an ability to help lead a team that he will never have to find in Pittsburgh.

He should be playing powerplay time and could be just what Colorado wants to start their mini-rebuild.

Jordan Staal also signed a large contract that, combined with Malkin and Crosby, adds up to about 18 million plus. Combine that with the fact that the cap should drop to about 46 million. It does not take a economics student to see the problems that lie there.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The biggest question in the hockey world these days has nothing to do with races for first place, races for the playoffs or even races for John Tavares. No, the biggest question coming Wednesday, is what the heck is Brian Burke and his staff going to do?

Tomas Kaberle, Pavel Kubina, Jason Blake, Nik Antropov, Alex Ponikarovsky, Dominic Moore, Ian White, Jamaal Mayers, Anton Stralman, amongst many others have quite the chance to leave town! That is almost half of the hockey team!

This team has become such a circus that Brian Burke has actually, publically, put a price tag on most of these players. Whether that is good or bad managing has yet to be seen but even crazier is that there is in fact, a market for each one of these players. Someone, somewhere will be interested to some degree.

Whether we are talking about Tomas Kaberle who is one of the best defenseman in the game or a guy like Jamaal Mayers who a team would not mind having for their fourth line (Detroit Red Wings have expressed interest) Brian Burke has been and will continue to field calls for all these players.

However the even bigger question is what is Brian Burke planning on bringing back in return? The obvious answer would be to say well picks and prospects to build a great future. But is that really that simple? Negative sir.

Brian Burke knows that the teams looking to trade for these players are going to be teams who are going to the playoffs and the addition of these players are "suppose" to push them over the top. Now other then Antropov and Kaberle no one else is going to give first round picks for these players so do not expect anymore then two coming the Leafs way.

However is that really what Burke wants? A pick in the late 20s who will take about four or five years to develop into a worthwhile player? Absolutely! But not for the reasons of keeping them in Toronto.

What Burke is trying to do in Toronto is win a cup within the time he has on his contract (5 years). No pick that he gets in the late 20s is going to make a significant impact on his team within that time.

So why would he want those picks you ask? Well for a team like Anaheim, Philadelphia, Vancouver or any other team who will be good for a long time coming, they want those picks so that they will have a constant flow of young talent that they do not need to rush. Just look at Detroit for example.

What Burke wants is to package late first round picks and make deals for impact "now" players. A guy like Chris Pronger who can mentor Luke Schenn or someone along those lines who is going to make them a better team.

The plan is to gain as many picks as they can to trade them come draft day or package them together and move up significantly in the draft.

Couple a few of those deals with the free agent group this offseason and next offseason and Brian Burke is looking to this deadline day to make his team playoff ready and Stanley Cup contenders much quicker then most people think.

Vancouver Canucks

Finally we reach No. 1, and I can already hear the collective gasps as you see that number one is being occupied by the Vancouver Canucks. The same team that already "apparently" made their splash for the Swedish sensation Mats Sundin. Except, they are not even close to done.

Vancouver has to do something big this year. Period.

The Sedin twins can walk away come this summer and if that happens then the re-building stage has to happen again unless they can sign a franchise forward. They do however, have tradable assets and the main reason why I put them number one is because of those same tradable assets that could bring a cup to Vancouver.

As I talked about at the beginning of this article, teams have been busts and teams have done the impossible on deadline day. And Vancouver has the greatest shot at becomming on of those two.

Along with the chance of losing the Sedins and Ohlund this year, Roberto Luongo and Willie Mitchells contracts are up next year. Think there is any chance in signing those two guys back if the Sedins walk? Meaning, they have one MAYBE two years to do something big to remain a top team.

Come deadline day, Cory Schneider, Michael Grabner and even highly coveted blue chip prospect Cody Hodgson could find themselves going to training camp somewhere else next September.

With those three guys potentially being apart of a deal, you have the chance of bringing an allstar forward or defenseman to this team. They also have a first round pick that is always an intriguing part of any potential deal.

Ever think about how Marian Gaborik would look in western Canada? Well don't think too long because come Wednesday that just might happen and according to many people in the hockey world a first round pick and a decent prospect such as Grabner may just be all it takes.

Marian Gaborik will not be ready to play until the last couple weeks of the season—just enough time to get ready for a long run in the playoffs. As well, Marian Gaborik is best friends with Demitra who signed a two year contract last summer with Vancouver.

If Vancouver can give him a little preview of life in western Canada and convince him to sign an extension, suddenly all those potential free agents would seriously consider sticking around.

If that deal falls through then the push that Vancouver makes for coveted deadline day star Jay Boumeester will be massive. Then two of those three rookies I mentioned, especially Schneider who, one day will be a top tier NHL starter. Could find themselves in Florida starting their careers.

Florida has said they want instant help and maybe trading Ryan Kesler could get them that. But they also are not considering Thomas Vokoun the long term answer and adding Schneider into the deal with a first round pick could inspire the Panthers to make that deal.

One of the greatest things about Trade Deadline day is not looking back in the summer at what was or even looking back three years later at what wasn't.

It is when our children or the generation coming looks back at those "meaningless prospects" that turned into NHL superstars and maybe Hall of Famers. Everyone knows the sniper in St. Louis named Brad Boyes, ask Toronto fans how Owen Nolan is doing and that proves my very point.

Deadline day is great for buyers come Thursday because of the high that comes of adding that superstar or that last piece to the puzzle. However, deadline day is also great because the sellers can relish the fact that they quite possibly just picked up the saviour to their franchise.

Neely. Out.

In a Dark Time, Ken Griffey Junior Still Shines Bright

Aaron Neely — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:07:27 -0500

Barry, McGwire, Sosa, Palmeiro, A-Rod, and many more superstars that once captured our eye, wore out the edge of seats, and put smiles on our faces have come crashing down on their heads harder then the baseballs they once hit.

America's game has been played, cheated, and tainted ever since 1996.

We witnessed home runs that should have never been hit, records that should never have been broken, and players that should not be considered stars.

However, throughout all the smoke and mirrors that we have been forced to look at for so long, one thing has remained positive—someone we can look to and smile, tell kids to admire, and tell stories about how we once witnessed the one they call Junior swing the bat.

During a Tiger Woods video, Ken Griffey Jr. told Tiger Woods that the secret to hitting the baseball further is by having a big butt, and that if Tiger wanted to hit the golf ball further, that's what he needed to get.

However, absent from that talk was the word steroids. Coincidence? Obviously not.

Besides the talk of a big butt comes a welcoming and relieving fact. Throughout all the years of baseball that we have witnessed where steroids are a major contributor to stats and highlight reels, some people accomplished miraculous stats and plays the right way...using their skill.

Ken Griffey Jr. has a smile to die for, a swing that is copied by almost any baseball player who wants to look good swinging the bat, and a family living in Florida that could rival the Jeffersons.

He is a role model by any definition, a face that baseball needs throughout this hard time. He is also someone who, as fans, we need to look to and thank.

He worked hard, played hard, and fought through injuries without the help of steroids. When his body began to break down, he had to work even harder.

The thing is, everyone knows that steroids were all around him. He may have even seen and known players taking them. However, Junior remained clean.

Unfortunately, this man known as Junior is in his final days as a major leaguer. He signed a one-year contract with the Mariners in what seems like a last ditch effort to continue playing. Just another sign proving he loves the game he plays so well and has worked so hard at.

However, even though his baseball days are ending, we still get one more year. One more year of welcoming Junior into our home stadiums, one more year to marvel at the "perfect swing." One more year to thank a man for bringing some light to baseball through this hard time, and one more year to remember the legend named Junior.

Neely, Out.

The Biggest Problem in Detroit: The Wings Are Too Good

Aaron Neely — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 02:09:58 -0500

Somewhere within the drama of the 0-16 Lions, the Pistons great debacle of trading Chauncey and the Tigers squad who is on the verge of something great fly those Wings, who just never seem to come down.

As I sat watching Sportscenter the other night I caught my local sports anchor so casually say "Detroit wins again" it came out so easy, rolled off his tongue and seemed like something that was expected from the time the puck hit the ice at the beginning of the game.

You see, ever since Scotty Bowman took control of the reins and groomed a young Steve Yzerman into one of the greatest players to lace 'em up. Detroit really hasn't faltered, in fact, they may just have gotten better and suffered for it.

With a team that wins so frequently and is so often in the final four once the playoffs begin to wrap up, you'd think that picking so late in the first round would eventually catch up with them because of the lack of "star players" picked around there.

Funny thing is, they don't pick their "star players" in the first round, in fact, they usually wait until the 210th pick to take a guy like Henrik Zetterberg who just so happens to be considered one of the best two way players in the game.

In '94, waiting until 257 got them a guy named Tomas Holmstrom. No. 171 in '98 got them Pavel Datsyuk. And arguably the second best defenceman ever was surprisingly taken in '89 at 53rd overall. And to think Detroit was bashed for taking him that early.

Now I am not trying to sound like a genius for bringing this widely known knowledge to the table. It is well known that Detroit has the best management, scouts and ownership in hockey.

However, what isn't so commonly known around hockey circles is that Detroit has some of the best NHL-ready AHL players out there. Ville Leino was told that he was an NHL ready player and would play on any teams top 2 lines.

Problem was, Detroit was too good to keep him there. Jan Mursak and Darren Helm would make 29 NHL teams this year, but, once again, sorry kids. Detroit's too good. But once again, if this is the case, where is the attention? The fanfare? The media attention?

Just to clarify, when I say they get no attention, I am referring to the fact that San Jose should begin to plan their Stanley Cup parade. Boston should just buy plane tickets to San Jose to play them in the finals and Calgary, Chicago and Washington follow those two listed teams as top 5 in the NHL.

But once again I post the question, What about Detroit?

My philosophy is this: They are too good for their own well being.

Seeing Detroit win is like watching the sun come up in the morning. It's great to see but if you sleep through it, it is just common knowledge that it happened.

Detroit simply wins way too often and makes it look way to easy. Watching the Detroit powerplay is magical, their penalty kill is perfect, 5 on 5 play makes some wonder why the other team skates out onto the ice. They have everything you'd ever want and then a whole lot more.

So to sum up the question I asked earlier, a whole lot easily...The answer is: they are simply too boring.

One of the greatest things about the NHL is that each and every night you walk into NHL arenas not having a clue who is going to win.

In the NBA I can tell you who is winning every night. A reason why Proline (Canadian gambling tool) doesn't allow you to bet on their games.

The NFL, although filled with parity, still has become far too easy to guess who is going to win. And the PGA has a guy named Tiger who wins, and if he doesn't people are wondering when he is coming out of his drought.

The point is, although the Red Wings end up with the same amount of wins as the rest of the top teams and don't always win Presidents trophy. They just have this sense of expectation that they are going to win.

Also, 85 percent of the time they do win, they make it look so simple that people are not intrigued and to the average hockey fan, it isn't exciting.

A few weeks ago, the Nashville Predators who at the time had the longest streak in the NHL without allowing a power play goal and who also boast the fifth best penalty kill, welcomed Detroit into town.

Detroit finished the game 5-of-6 on the PP. And don't let that fool you, because Nashville took a penalty at the end of the game giving Detroit a three-second PP which not even they can score on.

And this is not even the end of the story. I mentioned management earlier on, but what I didn't mention was the fact that they have four people working for them who could, for the most part, call any team and ask for the job as GM and have it before they sat down for dinner.

Jim Nill, Steve Yzerman, Jim Develanno, and their actual GM, Ken Holland, are amongst the best in the business.

Also, up until this summer, a guy by the name of Scotty Bowman was in there as well.

Point is, top to bottom excellence is inscribed in the organization.

This excellence also carries a respect level and a certain degree of honour playing for this team.

Their best player is Nik Lidstrom, who not only is the captain and best defenceman is the teams highest-paid player. No player, regardless of name, ever surpasses that salary.

You see, the Red Wings have a policy and that is, if you want to play for us or stay, you are making less then Mr. Lidstrom. Never was this policy more obvious than when a guy named Marian Hossa called. Did the policy go out the window? Nope!

He had been offered $9 million a year for nine years by Edmonton. Sure deal right? Uhh...

After having just been beat out by Detroit will a member of Pittsburgh for the Stanley cup. Marian Hossa told his agent to give them a call and see what they could do.

Detroit came back with a 1 year, $7.45 million contract, eight years and $73.55 million less then what he could have had.

Point is, Detroit is a class act top to bottom. They are respected and demand respect. If a player doesn't like it, well they will be just fine without him. Whether they draft someone 211th or call that lucky free agent who would pay to play for them, they aren't leaving the top anytime soon.

So before you turn away from the next Red Wings game five minutes into the second period of a 4-0 Detroit game, stop and continue watching the beauty and grace of the game.

The powerplay that cannot be stopped.

The 5 on 5 play that seems like keep away.

Or the defensive game plan that gives a guy like Ty Conklin the chance to look like a Hall of Famer.

Remember that this is the same team that re-signed Darren McCarty for awhile for the main purpose of putting some money in his pocket after bankruptcy and to get his life and marriage back on track.

They are the same team that pushed an aging Steve Yzerman to keep playing even when he had no business being on their team from a skill aspect.

Detroit hockey may be meaningless anytime after December as they usually don't play a meaningful game after that. And furthermore, it may be meaningless after the second period. But it is hockey, it is class, and it is done with respect and grace.

To me, that sounds like hockey.

Neely. Out.

Leafs' Management Decisions: The Day of the Blue and White

Aaron Neely — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 20:17:34 -0500

As March 4 begins to get closer and closer on our calendars, Leafs' management is well aware that the day will be crucial to getting the Leafs back to not only a point of respectability, but also to becoming a legitimate Cup contender.

They are aware that Leafs fans expect nothing but the playoffs, and certainly nothing less than a top four team. That being said, Brian Burke knows what he has to do.

As the whole hockey world knows, the Leafs only have one top six forward. And despite Cliff Fletcher's early season declaration that Nik Antropov was the best, Antropov has more than played himself out of that title—which I would give to Jason Blake.

Unfortunately, because JFJ so swiftly signed Jason Blake to a long-term deal that puts him into senior status. He unfortunately won't maintain that play and is unfortunately, not going anywhere.

Now, it doesn't take a genius to sum up what Brian Burke and his staff will be looking to do on deadline day. They will look to stockpile draft picks as well as acquire a couple of solid young players.

Jason Blake

As mentioned above, this guy won't be able to go anywhere. If he were in the final year or two of his contract then someone would take a stab at him—but he has a while remaining on that big contract.

Adding to his troubles is the fact that the cap should drop to $46 million after next season making his contract huge.

Overall, he's better in blue and white than anything the Leafs could get for him.

Nik Antropov

Despite not being the "only top six forward on the team" like Cliff Fletcher described, this guy can still help a team win. The only reason he isn't what Cliff Fletcher said is because he has nobody to play with.

However, put him with someone similar to Mats Sundin's skill set and who wouldn't want a 6'6" guy with decent speed, a knack for the front of the net, and hands of gold?

Like the rumor mill has been saying, Columbus and Pittsburgh are top competitors in battling for this guy, as both teams have players who can rekindle the type of play that Mats Sundin got out of this guy.

Should he go to one of these teams, it would lead to a late teen or early 20 pick in the draft. Don't believe that Pittsburgh is willing to send Jordan Staal the Leafs way.

A first round pick would do it.

Tomas Kaberle

He's not going anywhere, so don't get your hopes up—that is, unless anyone can tell me why the Maple Leafs would get rid of a top 10 NHL defenseman who, at age 29, is making $2.5 million less than he should be.

The Leafs want to get younger and faster. Oh wait, I just described Kaberle.

It would take a package similar to what was offered last year to pick him out of Leaf hands.

A first round pick and an NHL ready-impact player (example: Jeff Carter).

Pavel Kubina

Similar to Kaberle, this guy probably isn't going to be moved, but for different reasons.

Kubina makes $5 million a year and is also signed next year, but this guy isn't at the same skill level as Kaberle. Moreover, there are just way too many other defensemen out there for teams to pick up that might have similar contracts, but aren't signed after this year.

More importantly, the Leafs know that they can trade him on draft day to anyone—not just the list of 10 teams that he submitted. However, if he goes, my gut tells me that the Washington Capitals will be front and center. Another first round pick would get him off the Leafs hands.

The Leafs, I am being told, are also debating keeping him around for the long haul.

Dominic Moore and Ian White

It would take quite the deal to get either one of these guys to trade in their blue and white. It just doesn't make sense to trade either one of these guys because of their age, productivity, and skill set.

I'm not saying that they won't be traded, but I just can't see a team paying what they would need to for the Leafs to trade them. If anything, it would be a team who has stockpiled young players and doesn't need draft picks quite that badly.

That being said, I just don't see a second or third round pick getting either one of these guys to go. They are leaders in that dressing room.

Alexei Ponikarovsky

Can you say, gone?

I have no idea who would take him, but someone is going to need a third line checker. His salary is a little much for his productivity, but again, someone is going to want him.

Although no Leafs fan is on his bandwagon, the guy does have great speed, a good shot, and a knack for getting to the net.

The only team that would want him that comes to mind would be a Western Conference Canadian team. I'm also hearing the possibility of Minnesota and Florida wanting him.

Regardless of what is offered, this guy is going to go. Obvious fact but best deal takes him no matter what it is.

Mike Van Ryn

This guy is where the Leafs are really going to have to do a lot of thinking.

When he has played he has done wonders for this team and made the McCabe trade look much better than first thought.

However, due to injuries and a defensive game that needs some Band-Aids I just can't see him leaving until the summer at the earliest.

Goalies

Who would want them? They stay.

The Rookies

I really cannot see Brian Burke trading any young rookie because that, to me, just doesn't make sense for a playoff team. If they (Kulemin, Grabo, Stralman, Pogge, Tlusty, etc.) are going to be traded, then it is going to come sometime around the draft.

Luke Schenn

Having already been offered a top five pick for this guy and Brian Burke turning it down quite quickly, it is safe to say this guy is staying with the blue and white...for good.

The Game Plan

As for what the Leafs are going to be looking for other than the obvious picks and prospects, I'm hearing that they are going to be looking heavily for a heavyweight fighter. This is because Brian Burke has seen just about enough of Luke Schenn being the only guy willing to drop his gloves for his teammates.

Other than that, draft picks and prospects are what the Leafs need.

Please comment and tell me what you think!

And no, Boumeester is not coming to Toronto at the deadline.