Bleacher Report - Articles by Aaron Brenker

Will Mats Sundin Make the Vancouver Canucks Cup Contenders?

Aaron Brenker — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 13:39:57 -0500

The Vancouver Canucks have had a stellar start to the season, tallying 39 points. They are now just one point behind division leading Calgary, and by the way, they just acquired Mats Sundin. Is it ludicrous to call the Canucks cup contenders?

Prior to the season many people, including myself, predicted the Canucks to be battling for ping-pong balls, but they have surprised everyone and now find themselves in the thick of a playoff race.

The Canucks already look like playoff contenders, with a solid line-up filled with talented players, such as Ryan Kesler, Pavol Demitra, and Kyle Wellwood. The Canucks also have one of the best goalies between the pipes, the currently injured Roberto Luongo, and now have a solid offensive attack with young talent and future hall-of-famer Sundin.

I believe that with the addition of Sundin, the Canucks are now playoff contenders, but not cup contenders.

The Western Conference is filled with superb teams like the Detroit Red Wings, San Jose Sharks, and the Calgary Flames. They are all more plausible cup contenders in my opinion, and there are many other teams that can contend better than the Canucks.

With the decision of Sundin, the Canucks will be the focus of many people around the NHL, as they look to reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since the 1993-94 season. That year, they were defeated by the New York Rangers, a team that seemed the consensus favorite to land Sundin.

Jussi Jokinen Should be Picked up by Florida Panthers

Aaron Brenker — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 13:16:04 -0500

The Panthers could use a player like Jokinen, Jussi that is. The young Finnish forward was recently released by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Florida Panthers' biggest problem this year has been scoring, and although Jokinen is not a true scorer, he is a young play-maker who has untapped talent. He was acquired by Tampa in a blockbuster deal that sent Brad Richards and Johan Holmqvist to the Dallas Stars.

Last season, Jokinen had 14 goals and 14 assists in only 52 games. He shines most in the shoot-outs, as he has excellent deke moves and great vision up the ice. However, the young forward has struggled this year with Tampa, scoring only two goals.

The acquisition of Jokinen may help the Panthers finally put together four solid lines, as the top two lines seem to be coming together. I believe Jokinen would make an excellent line with Rostislav Olesz and Richard Zednik, as both Zednik and Jokinen are quick, solid forwards, and Olesz is a nice power forward.

Time will tell where Jokinen goes, as the young forward continues to wait for a team willing to take a gamble on him.

Top Five Comeback Players of the 2008 NFL Season

Aaron Brenker — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:33:25 -0500

What makes the NFL special is the triumph and failure of it's collective players, but what makes the NFL even more compelling is to see a player fall on his face and get right back up. This has been the season of the comeback for the NFL. All sorts of teams, coaches and players have had great comeback seasons, and this is one of the reasons the 2008 NFL season has been incredibly exciting. Today I will give my top five comeback players of the NFL season.

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Calgary Herald Reporter Takes Cheap Shot at Florida Panthers

Aaron Brenker — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 06:18:21 -0500

The Florida Panthers had a successful road trip, as they tallied an impressive six out of eight possible points in four tough buildings.

The Panthers' last victory came against the Calgary Flames in an epic shootout battle. Many Panthers fans felt quite excited about how great the Panthers were playing, but the majority then received an angering cheap shot from a Calgary Flames reporter.

Vicki Hall, a reporter for the Calgary Herald, hardly mentioned how an injury-depleted Panthers team beat a playoff contending Flames team, and instead took a shot at the Panthers' home attendance with these statements:

"The frigid temperature notwithstanding, the Florida Panthers must have felt right at home Friday night at the Pengrowth Saddle-dome. A punishing winter storm choked traffic on Calgary streets, leaving the Flames' barn half empty for the opening face-off. Much like a regular game night at the Bank-Atlantic Centre in Sunrise, Florida."

Not only do I find these statements utterly rude and condescending, but I also find them to be completely inaccurate.

The Florida Panthers' average home attendance is 15,436, which is definitely not incredible, but does not equal a half empty arena, as Hall so eloquently put.

These statements have angered many die-hard Panthers fans, as these comments were most likely not made from experience, but rather general Canadian opinion. A good reporter and journalist researches before he/she makes comments about a topic, and clearly Hall did not do these things.

Despite all the criticism and injuries the Panthers have gone through, they now find themselves in the thick of a playoff race. They will focus on their next opponents, the Carolina Hurricanes.

Florida Panthers Climbing out of the Cellar

Aaron Brenker — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 07:54:36 -0500

About two weeks ago, the Florida Panthers were in the cellar of the Eastern Conference. Players were not scoring and worst off, key forwards like Cory Stillman, Nathan Horton, and Richard Zednik caught the injury bug. But the Panthers have managed a complete turnaround.

It all started on a paramount home-stand for the Panthers, as they played the Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, and the New York Rangers. The Panthers came away with four out of a possible six points, and now they've taken their solid play to the road.

The injuries to the Panthers' top forwards have also brought out the best in the Panthers less known forwards. Ville Peltonen, Radek Dvorak, and Gregory Campbell have all stepped up, and are bringing tons of productivity to the Panthers' offense.

The Panthers now find themselves tied for the eighth spot in the playoff race with the Buffalo Sabres, and will finish their Canadian trek against the Vancouver Canucks.

The Panthers are continuing to rack up points, and are starting to make believers out of many Cats fans. They are also back in talks with disgruntled defenseman Jay Bouwmeester.

Time will tell if the Panthers can keep up their solid play, but Cats' fans are really getting a glimpse at some of the best Panthers' hockey in years.

The Fall of the NHL Enforcer, the Rise of the Instigator

Aaron Brenker — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:56:04 -0500

The NHL enforcer was once the most important component of a team. Clubs that were not as talented were able to counter their opponents' skill with brute strength.

Decades ago, teams like the New York Islanders and Philadelphia Flyers enjoyed much success due to the amount of enforcers they had protecting the more skilled players they had.

The Broad Street Bullies, or the Philadelphia Flyers, were quite successful at simply beating the hell out of their opponents.

In the 1975-76 season, the Soviet Union's dominant hockey club, the Central Red Army, had a Round Robin exhibition tour against the NHL's best. The Red Army was unstoppable and defeated the New York Islanders and other elite NHL squads.

It was not until they faced the Broad Street Bullies that the Red Army truly knew the meaning of pain.

The Central Red Army was clobbered by the likes of Bill Barber and Dave Schultz, and refused to come back on the ice after intermission.

The NHL enforcer continued it's prominence throughout the years. Teams like the New Jersey Devils and the Toronto Maple Leafs attributed their success to their enforcers.

In the 1999-00 Stanley Cup, the New Jersey Devils used extreme strength and force to plow through their opponents. Players like Scott Stevens, Bobby Holik, and Ken Daneyko put fear into opponents, and allowed the Devils' defensive play to reign supreme.

The hockey role that always seemed to take a backseat to the enforcer was the role of instigator.

Decades ago, there was no such thing as an instigator; you were either an enforcer or a sniper. Nobody ever thought that a player would try to annoy an opponent to draw a penalty, but that's just what these agitators do.

The instigator did not start to gain prominence until after the 2004-05 lockout. The rule changes made the game skill oriented than strength oriented. This was quite a switch for most veterans, as strength used to come before skill in the NHL.

The amount of penalties called grew, and the amount of enforcing by the big men began to shrink. One of the best instigators of all time, Darcy Tucker, showed how important the role of instigator was, as his antics towards his opponents led to more power-play time and goals for the Maple Leafs.

Once Tucker began to become more skilled, he stopped agitating opponents as much as he used; it looked like the role of instigator was once again dead. But, the antics of New York Ranger Sean Avery created an incredible amount of excitement, and need for an instigator.

The Rangers used Avery's annoyances for two stellar playoff runs. His most famous, or infamous, moment came in round one of the 2007-08 NHL playoffs. During an offensive- zone cycle, Avery skated in front of goaltender Martin Brodeur and rapidly waved his stick in front of Brodeur, in an effort to screen the goaltender.

Clearly, Avery got into Brodeur's head; that one play may have been responsible for the 4-1 series win the Rangers obtained.

The Ottawa Senators are also seeing the benefits of having an instigator; Jarkko Ruutu is emerging into one of the better agitators in the NHL.

The Senators are receiving more power-play time, which is allowing more time for the Sens skilled players to work their magic.

Hopefully, the role of NHL enforcer will never die. However, it seems like more and more teams feel there is no need for an enforcer in the new NHL. It is nice to see a new NHL role receive prominence, but the loss of the enforcer could be catastrophic to everything that makes the NHL special.

Florida Panthers Acquire Nick Tarnasky, Send Wade Belak Packing

Aaron Brenker — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:56:09 -0500

Earlier today the Florida Panthers traded away veteran Wade Belak to the Nashville Predators. The Panthers acquired young forward Nick Tarnasky, and this will most likely not be the last move Jacques Martin will make in the coming weeks.

Belak's leadership will be missed, but when he was not fighting, he did not bring anything to the table. Belak's lack of physicality in his play also hurt his chances of staying with the Panthers.

In acquiring Belak, the Predators bring a tough, veteran presence to their young locker room. If Belak can do what he does best and fight, Nashville will be happy they acquired him.

On the other side, the Panthers bringing in Tarnasky brings to their club a young, hard-working, and physical player that has a bit of potential. Although last season he only tallied 10 points, he is a solid role player who will get in front of the net and pick up a goal or two.

Tarnasky shined brightest last season when he used his physical presence to net two goals against the Florida Panthers. He also scored the game-winning goal in a 10-round shootout against the Washington Capitals last season.

It seems both teams will benefit a little bit from this trade, but I feel the Panthers win this trade, because they acquire a young player with a bit of potential and offensive ability for a guy who was hardly on the ice for them through the first 20 games of the season.

NHL Draft Prospects: Can John Tavares Handle the Pressure?

Aaron Brenker — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:41:30 -0500

Being the first pick of the NHL draft means you are clearly the best prospect around, that you can handle the pressures that come with the label of No. 1 pick.

But is highly touted prospect John Tavares ready to possibly be dubbed the No. 1 prospect?

Players such as Rick Nash, Ilya Kovalchuck, Patrick Kane, Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, and Vincent Lecavalier have been able to handle the pressure of being No. 1 picks, and are putting together stellar NHL careers, but a prospect that fails to meet their potential faces a lifetime of criticism.

First overall pick busts such as Patrik Stefan, Alexandre Daigle and Joe Murphy set the franchises that selected them back a few years—not to mention were hampered by judgment on every little mistake they made.

The 2009 NHL entry draft is still quite awhile away, and prospects such as Victor Hedman or Jared Cowen could overtake Tavares as the No. 1 prospect, it seems to many though that Tavares is the most talented prospect in this coming draft.

Tavares certainly has been impressive in his OHL career, he does not seem to be as talented as those who can before him however. Many have claimed him as the "next great one", much like they did with Sidney Crosby.

If drafted first Tavares will be faced with unparalelled pressure, and most likely the weight of a struggling franchise on his shoulders.

The Oshawa Generals sniper will most likely be rushed into professional play, much like Steven Stamkos and will struggle with growing pains, which will make fans become uneasy and truly test Tavares confidence, strength and will.

Tavares must show that he will not let the criticism bother him, because a great NHL player is not defined by how many goals he scores, but how quickly he silences his critics.

Jay Bouwmeester: Where Will He End Up?

Aaron Brenker — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 11:48:46 -0500

The Florida Panthers are struggling offensively, and coach Peter DeBoer claimed they are in need of a center. This statement has increased the chance of a Jay Bouwmeester trade. Many teams are desperately in need of a puck-moving defenseman, so a Bouwmeester trade should be able to get the Panthers valuable offensive help.

Many teams seem interested, but the front-runners seem to be the New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Ottawa Senators, and the newest contestant the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The rumored package the Rangers were offering was Brandon Dubinsky and Petr Prucha. The Rangers are struggling to find an offensive defenseman to help out Wade Redden, but Dubinsky along with Nikolai Zherdev and Nigel Dawes seem to be New York's future, so this trade seems highly unlikely.

The first team that had substantial interest in the young defenseman was the Philadelphia Flyers. There have been rumored packages tossed around, but the most talked about rumor was Flyers' center Jeff Carter, and a pick for Bouwmeester. But with the year Carter is having, that rumor has been silenced, and the Flyers have offered players like Joffrey Lupul and Randy Jones.

Although these players are solid, they do not provide the Panthers with the offensive firepower they need, so this trade most likely will not happen as well.

A team that seems more likely to acquire Bouwmeester may be the Ottawa Senators. Ottawa has gotten little, to no production from their blue-line. Rumors say that the Senators have offered Antoine Vermette, Cristoph Schubert, and their first round draft pick for Bouwmeester. Rumors, however have also claimed the Senators also want Stephen Weiss in return.

If this trade sent Bouwmeester to Ottawa, this would be the best package on the table for the Panthers. The trade helps both teams immensely, and helps each team's weaknesses. In my opinion, Ottawa seems to be the most likely to acquire Bouwmeester at the moment.

The most recent interest has come from the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs recently just traded Alex Steen and Carlo Colaiacovo. Many claim this was a move to try and free up space for Mats Sundin, and a Bouwmeester rental. The Leafs have many pricey players they are looking to get rid of, such as Nik Antropov, Alexei Ponikarovsky, and Jason Blake.

Florida would greatly benefit if they could acquire any of these three players for Bouwmeester. Panthers' General Manager Jacques Martin has not hesitated to deal with Toronto in the past, and Ottawa is a place he knows quite well, so I see Bouwmeester either going to the Maple Leafs or the Senators.

Whatever happens there will be loads of pressure on Martin to get equal offensive value back, especially after the lack of offensive return in the Roberto Luongo and Olli Jokinen trades.

Critical Stretch Coming Up for the Florida Panthers

Aaron Brenker — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 11:49:32 -0500

It's been a rough season for the Florida Panthers so far, but it's only going to get tougher, as they play three incredibly huge games in the coming week.

The Panthers will take on the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday. Carolina, or the dive team as many Panthers fans like to call them, bring to town a solid four line offensive attack. Players like Eric Stall, Ray Whitney and Justin Williams have always been a thorn in the Panthers' side.

This is probably the biggest game of Florida's home-stand, as it is a four point game, against a division rival. Currently the Panthers find themselves in the cellar of the Eastern Conference, but a win against the Hurricanes will go a long way in renewing the Panthers' confidence.

The second game of Florida's home-stand is against the New Jersey Devils. The Panthers outplayed the Devils in their last meeting, but three beautiful goals by New Jersey helped propel them over Florida.

New Jersey plays sound defensive hockey, with excellent two-way forwards. The Panthers will have to win the puck possession battle, if they want to gain two points from the Devils.

The last game of the home-stand pits the Panthers against the New York Rangers. The Rangers got off to an amazing start to the season, but have struggled a bit as of late. The Panthers must capitalize on New York's recent struggles.

New York brings in a group of excellent scoring forwards, but also a crop of at times careless defensemen. The Panthers will have to be wary of Nikolai Zherdev, Brandon Dubinsky, Chris Drury and Scott Gomez. But the player who could give Florida the most problems may be Aaron Voros.

Voros is a physical forward who has been successful offensively. The Panthers defensemen will have to keep Voros away from the front of the net, a place that he has called home for most of the young NHL season.

This will be a very telling home-stand for the Panthers. The Panthers must win at least two of the three games for it to be a successful home-stand.

Terrell Owens or Greg Camarillo: Which Would You Rather Have on Your Team?

Aaron Brenker — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 02:57:18 -0500

The Dolphins have lacked a play-making receiver for quite a while. Miami is trying to develop young receivers into stars. It seems that Ted Ginn Jr. and Davone Bess are playing good, but Greg Camarillo seems to be pulling away as the No. 1 option.

While Camarillo is blossoming, Terrell Owens is faltering. Owens is a play-making receiver, with loads of talent, but sometimes his mouth eclipses his talents.

The Cowboys are seeing first hand that when T.O. doesn't get the ball he's not going to play his heart out. Owens has also in the past set the 49ers and Eagles franchises back a few years, due to his cancerous attitude in the locker room, but here is my question. Which receiver would you rather have on Miami? Greg Camarillo or Terrell Owens?

The two receivers are about as different as it gets, but both play similar styles on the field.

Camarillo is having a solid season with the Miami Dolphins, and is on pace for 80+ receptions. He will also forever be remembered in Dolphins history, for saving Miami from an imperfect season. Camarillo is a young receiver who has not even reached his prime yet, giving him quite a while to further improve his game.

Owens is having a mediocre season by his standards, and his frustrations are beginning to show. He has claimed that the offense moves when the ball is in his hands, but when Dallas tries to get him more balls Owens keeps dropping them. Owens is not a young stud anymore, and is beginning to become another over the hill, disgruntled wide-receiver.

So, who would you guys rather have on Miami. The hard working, young, improving receiver in Camarillo, or a flashy, old, prima donna receiver in Owens.

Call me crazy, but I would rather have the constantly improving Camarillo on the Dolphins.

Jarkko Ruutu: The Jerk with the Smirk

Aaron Brenker — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 12:23:13 -0500

Throughout the NHL there are many different types of players. There are the snipers, the play-makers, the leaders, the enforcers, and the instigators.

Teams need all of these components, but an instigator may be one of the more important types of players. These players can hit, annoy opponents, and most importantly draw penalties.

Many NHL fans claim Sean Avery is the best at this, but one of the less known instigators in the NHL may be Jarkko Ruutu. Ruutu goes out on the ice with one objective in mind: Annoy the opponent as much as possible.

During his NHL career, Ruutu was mainly a small gritty forward that could maybe score 10 goals a year. He has now transformed his game however, making him a valuable commodity to any team.

In the Pittsburgh Penguins' Stanley Cup run, he was responsible for keeping the bigger and physical opponents in the penalty box. With the other team's enforcers in the penalty box, the Penguins' super-stars were able to display their talents.

The Penguins were sad to lose Ruuto to free agency this offseason, while the Ottawa Senators were quite excited to pick up the "pest," and are quickly seeing what a difference Ruutu is making for it's forwards.

In the Senators last game against the New York Rangers, Ruutu single-handedly shifted the Rangers' focus from their super-stars to him. He was able to draw penalties, which allowed the Senators to come away with a 4-1 victory.

If the Senators can make a playoff run, Ruutu will be responsible for allowing forwards Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley, and Daniel Alfredsson the chance to show their offensive talents.

Florida Panthers Waive Wade Belak, More Changes To Come?

Aaron Brenker — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:36:59 -0500

Earlier today the Florida Panthers waived enforcer Wade Belak. Belak was a very good checking forward, but brought nothing to the table offensively. This was a move to possibly free up a bit of salary space for the Panthers.

Throughout the season Belak played sparingly and was only put in to help protect the Panthers' younger players. However, with the acquisitions of Keith Ballard, Nick Boytnon, and Bryan McCabe, Belak was not needed as much.

The Panthers may be shifting focus to acquire players now. Rumors have surfaced that the Panthers are continuing to shop around for disgruntled defenseman Jay Bouwmeester.

The most interest seems to be coming from the Ottawa Senators. The loss of Zdeno Chara a few seasons ago, and the loss of Wade Redden last off-season, have left the Sens with no puck-moving defensmen. The loss of puck-moving defensemen has severely hampered Ottawa's powerplay, thus they are in serious need of a trade.

The Ottawa Citizen is reporting that the rumored package includes forward Antoine Vermette, defenseman Cristoph Schubert, and Ottawa's first round draft pick. Panthers' center Stephen Weiss may possibly be involved in the package as well.

Ottawa has also claimed they have interest in defenseman Cory Murphy, however that rumor seems to have subsided.

The trade would be beneficial for both teams, as Vermette is a solid player in need of a change of scenery, and Schubert is another physical presence that could help protect the Panthers' forwards. Bouwmeester would be an excellent pick-up for Ottawa as well. He would fill their need for an offensive defenseman and help solidify the Sens' powerplay.

Time will tell if these rumors are accurate, but both team's need a roster shakeup, and this trade could provide just that.

Florida Panthers Must Trade Players Lacking Passion

Aaron Brenker — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:00:27 -0500

A quarter of the season is basically done, and the Florida Panthers are on pace to finish the season with 60 points. This has been without a doubt the worst Panthers team I have seen in my ten years of watching them.

Talent has always been a problem for the Panthers, but now it seems some of the players don't care about winning, and are just here to collect paychecks. The defense and goaltending has been solid as advertised, but the play of the forwards has been at times sickening to watch.

There are some forwards who really are trying, but just can't finish. Players like Radek Dvorak, Richard Zednik and Villie Peltonen are not the most talented players in the world, but they play every shift like it's their last. I will take players like that over talented players who don't put out every night.

Players like Nathan Horton, Jay Bouwmeester, Kamil Kreps and Rostislav Olesz have been incredibly disappointing this season.

It seems Horton does not show up on some nights, while Bouwmeester clearly does not want to be in Florida. Olesz has been nothing short of an utter disappointment, as he just can't seem to reach his potential. Kreps has also had the same problems as Olesz.

General Manager Jacques Martin must trade Boumeester as soon as possible. The Panthers do not have the cap space to sign him, and if they trade him now they can still possibly get equal value back for him. The longer Martin waits, the more likely it will be for him to receive little to nothing for Bouwmeester.

Martin has over and over again stated that players like Nathan Horton, Stephen Weiss, Kamil Kreps and Rostislav Olesz have loads of potential. But potential won't get you anywhere.

The Panthers must shake up this team, or Florida will be in the John Tavares, Victor Hedman sweepstakes.

The Florida Panthers need an attitude change and a roster shakeup. At this rate it is going to take nothing short of stellar play from Florida in order for this team to be respectable again.

Patrick Cobbs Adds Another Dimension To Miami Dolphins' Offense

Aaron Brenker — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:50:17 -0500

The Miami Dolphins sport an excellent running game, with two excellent running backs. Ronnie Brown brings excellent play-making and can eat up yardage every game. Ricky Williams brings a veteran presence and has an incredible burst of speed, making him a nightmare to defend.

But there is one running back who many don't know about; the third running back on the Dolphins' depth chart: Patrick Cobbs.

Cobbs has been a depth player most of his career with the Dolphins, but is now finally being used in the regular offense.

Cobbs brings so many intangibles to the field. First off, he is an excellent player on special teams, something the Dolphins desperately need. Now, he is truly developing into an offensive threat.

The Dolphins caught a glimpse of how good Cobbs can be in a game earlier in the year against the Houston Texans. Cobbs passed by Houston's secondary and was the benefit of an excellent trick play by Miami, as he caught a 53-yard touchdown pass.

Later on in the game, Cobbs had a tougher road to the end-zone, as he turned a safe screen pass into an 80-yard touchdown dash. Cobbs had three receptions for 138 yards in that game.

Cobbs has also shown he can be a factor in the running game, as he scored a huge 12-yard touchdown to help the Dolphins squeak past the Oakland Raiders.

The three-year veteran has also been recently used as another back in the Wildcat offense. Cobbs, at times, was found in the backfield along with Williams and Brown. The talent of Cobbs will take some pressure off of Miami's other playmakers, such as Ricky Williams, Ronnie Brown, and Ted Ginn, Jr.

The Dolphins' continued success will depend on how much pressure Cobbs can take off Miami's more featured running backs. The more involved Cobbs becomes in the offense, the longer Miami will keep possession of the ball.

I see the Shawnee, Oklahoma native having a huge impact in Sunday's game between the Dolphins and the Patriots.

Return to Florida Marlins in the Cards for Former Ace Carl Pavano

Aaron Brenker — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:33:26 -0500

Former Florida Marlins starting pitcher Carl Pavano is interested in a return with the Marlins.

Marlins' GM Michael Hill met with Pavano's agent Tim O'Connell and it seems the Marlins may be close to signing the free agent. Pavano had a 33-23 record in two-plus seasons with the Marlins.

Pavano was a key part of the Florida Marlins' 2003 World Series run. The 32-year-old right-hander was first acquired by the Marlins in a trade with the Montreal Expos that sent away power hitter Cliff Floyd.

In the 2004, Pavano enjoyed a career year, winning an impressive 18 games and serving as the ace of a struggling Florida Marlins' pitching staff. Following the 2004 season, Pavano became a free agent and the New York Yankees had their checkbooks ready.

The Yankees signed Pavano to a four-year $39.5 million contract, but Pavano struggled to stay healthy and was often placed on injured reserve instead of the pitching mound.

The possible acquisition of the former Yankee would really go a long way in solidifying a young, talented, but inexperienced Marlins' pitching staff. The leadership of Pavano would definitely go a long way in giving younger pitchers Chris Volstad, Josh Johnson, Anibal Sanchez, and Ricky Nolasco more confidence.

Now that the free-agent signing period has started, the Marlins will be active in trying to acquire players that will bring leadership, talent, and confidence, and it seems Pavano can bring all that and more to the table.

Miami Dolphins: From Worst to First?

Aaron Brenker — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:31:44 -0500

After a terrible 1-15 season last year, many believed the Dolphins would be lucky to win six games. But, 10 games into the season, Miami already has six wins and are on the verge of getting more.

Is it really possible that the Dolphins can go from worst in the NFL to first in the AFC East?

Yes, the Dolphins have the easiest remaining schedule in the NFL and will have the advantage of playing one of their biggest games of the year (New England Patriots) at home.

The Dolphins have very winnable games against the St. Louis Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, and San Fransisco 49ers, but still also have tough games left against the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and New England Patriots.

These games can either make for one of the best Cinderella stories in the NFL, or could put a bitter ending to the fairy tale story. It's in the Dolphins hands and they will need to focus on each opponent, each week. Head Coach Tony Sparano will not allow the young Dolphins to look ahead.

Miami has an offense that is at it's best when they score first. This is not an offense that can get into shootouts and the defense must stand tall and allow the team to play their style of game.

Chad Pennington seems to have a calming influence on Miami's young offense and is helping the Dolphins' young talent reach their expected potential, especially with Ted Ginn Jr.

The Dolphins have also showed that their base offense, without the wildcat formation, is quite good. It's led by solid, smart passes by Pennington and a great one-two punch in running backs Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. The consistently improving play of running back Patrick Cobbs is also helping Miami's offense.

The defense has kept pace with the surprising offense as well. Led by veterans Joey Porter, Jason Ferguson, and Vonnie Holliday the Dolphins' young defense has held the opponents to low scores, which has allowed the offense to take control of the games.

There are still six games remaining and the Dolphins have the AFC East division crown in sight, but they must take care of business in the easier games, and must play mistake free football in the tougher games.

Cats-Bolts: Panthers Must Learn How to Finish

Aaron Brenker — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:43:11 -0500

It was not the prettiest of victories, but the Florida Panthers will take any victory they can get.

The Panthers started out great, storming out to a 3-0 lead on two goals by Bryan McCabe and another goal by David Booth. The Panthers' offense was solid, but the defense was flawed at best, allowing 51 shots to poor Tomas Vokoun.

Vokoun handled the challenge exceptionally, stopping 48 of the 51 shots and proving he is still the all-star goalie he has been in the past. Excessive offensive attacks and constant pressure by the Tampa Bay Lightning kept him on his toes.

Too many shots finally led to the Lightning's first goal, as Radim Vrbata tallied his first goal of the season. Vokoun kept his team in the lead with consistent solid saves, but towards the beginning of the third period Evegeny Artyukhin inched the Bolts closer making the score 3-2.

It looked like the Panthers would be able to limp out of Tampa with two points, but in classic Panthers fashion Steve Eminger scored the tying goal with minutes left in the third period. The Panthers seemed demoralized and were outplayed the rest of the third period and overtime.

It was on to the shootout, where both teams have struggled in the past. Vokoun stopped Tampa's Vincent Lecavalier on the first shot. The Panthers' first shot was missed by Stephen Weiss.

It was then shootout star Jussi Jokinen's turn, but he missed the net slightly. Then on Nathan Horton's shot the Panthers finally tickled the twine.

Vokoun stopped Tampa's last shooter, giving the Panthers a 4-3 victory.

This was a big win for the Panthers, but they gave away a point to a division rival and could not hold a three-goal lead, which is inexcusable.

Here are my three stars of the game:

First Star: Tomas Vokoun with 48 saves

Second Star: Bryan McCabe with two goals, one assist

Third Star: Steve Eminger with one goal, two assists

Brett Favre Acquisition Was Best Thing to Happen to Miami Dolphins

Aaron Brenker — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 12:35:29 -0500

In the offseason, it seemed like the New York Jets' trade for future Hall of Famer Brett Favre could only hamper the Miami Dolphins' chances of winning games.

However, the acquisition of Favre sent veteran quarterback Chad Pennington packing, and once Pennington became a free agent, the Dolphins were chomping at the bit to acquire a solid game-managing quarterback.

At the time, anything seemed better than the Dolphins' present quarterbacks John Beck, Chad Henne, and Josh McCown. The leadership of Pennington began to pay dividends in the first game of the season, as he kept his young teammates close with the high-flying Jets.

It seemed, though, that Pennington would not be enough of a presence to keep the Dolphins out of the AFC cellar, but his short passes and skillful distribution of the football allowed mediocre receivers Ted Ginn, Jr. and Greg Camarillo to come out of their shells, becoming solid offensive threats.

Ten games into the 2008 season, the Dolphins are 6-4 and in the thick of an exciting playoff and divisional race. It is hard to imagine where Miami would be without Bill Parcells' excellent decision to bring in Pennington.

Now it is up to veterans such as Chad Pennington, Joey Porter, and Vonnie Holliday to keep this young team hungry. Tony Sparano will definitely make sure his team plays every down like it's their last.

The Dolphins have the luxury of the easiest remaining schedule in the NFL. Miami will have to take care of business against the lesser teams they will be going against, such as the San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, and Kansas City Chiefs.

Still, this team will have to step up, as they still have three huge divisional games against the New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, and the surging New York Jets.

It looks to be an exciting finish to the season, but I think the Dolphins' playoff hopes are in their hands, and they will decide their own fate.

Which NHL Cities Are Home to the Most Loyal Fans?

Aaron Brenker — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:13:26 -0500

What makes a loyal fan?

Is it being a fan of the best team? No.

Is it being a fan of a team for the longest amount of time? No.

Is it going to the most games, as a fan of your team? No.

A loyal fan is a fanatic who stands by his/her team through thick and thin.

This leaves me with this question—which teams have the most loyal fans?

Many people will quickly jump at teams like the New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings and other famously good teams, but the true fans are the ones who stand by their team through the good and bad times.

It is much easier to be a fan of a team that is in Stanley Cup contention each year, such as the Detroit Red Wings.

Some fans have continuously stood by a team that has not made the playoffs in years. Fans of franchises such as the Florida Panthers, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Los Angeles Kings have seen their teams not achieved playoff berths in many years.

Fan loyalty is in the eye of the beholder—but season ticket holders who consistently purchase tickets for a team who has not been in contention for years are truly loyal fans.

Miami Dolphins Pull Victory Out From Black Hole

Aaron Brenker — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:09:24 -0500

The Miami Dolphins improved to 6-4, with their close 17-15 victory over the Oakland Raiders. The Dolphins won their fourth game in a row and kept their playoff hopes alive, in a roller-coaster ride of a game.

The Dolphins started out exceptionally. A balanced time consuming drive was capped off with a reverse to Ted Ginn Jr. The play was totally unexpected and Ginn took the ball 40 yards to the end-zone. This excellent drive gave the Dolphins a 7-0 lead.

A controversial pass interference call gave the Oakland Raiders great field position, and this allowed kicker Sebastian Janikowski the opportunity to add a field goal, cutting Miami's lead to 7-3.

Stalled drives and excellent defense by both teams kept the game close, but a 12 yard touchdown run by Patrick Cobbs gave the Phins a 14-5 lead. Another field goal by Janikowski helped the Raiders chip away and put the score at 14-8.

The game looked to be in the Dolphins' hands, but a 93 yard punt return touchdown by Johnnie Lee Higgins gave the Raiders an astonishing 15-14 lead. Phins' fans were stunned and all seemed to be lost, but there was no quit in Chad Pennington.

With only 4:30 left on the clock Pennington was cool, calm, and poised in the huddle and orchestrated a solid drive. His first two passes were complete right in the teeth of the Raiders' defense, but even with the great beginning to the drive the Dolphins faced a fourth and five in Raiders' territory.

Facing the possibilities of having rookie kicker Dan Carpenter attempt a 53 yard field-goal the Dolphins elected to go for it on fourth down. A slant route down the middle to Ginn gave Miami a fresh set of downs. A couple of solid run plays gave Carpenter the chance to give Miami the lead, and on a 37 yard field-goal Carpenter's kick was perfect. Miami took a 17-15 lead, and that would be enough to give them their sixth victory of the season.

Miami will quickly have to regroup after this emotional victory, as they face division rival New England in a game that could make or break either team's seasons. The time is now for the Dolphins to make their run for the playoffs, and you can bet the Tuna and coach Tony Sparano will have the team ready.

Florida Panthers Beginning to Show Claws

Aaron Brenker — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 13:43:06 -0500

In their last contest, the Florida Panthers lost a close game to the Detroit Red Wings.

The final score was 3-2. The loss left the Panthers' fans and players frustrated, but may have left some a bit optimistic.

In the Panthers' last three games, they have shown that they are taking steps in the right direction. A 3-1 victory over the surging Anaheim Ducks and a dominant 4-0 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning have provided a spark in an otherwise dim beginning to the season.

It seems more and more Panthers' forwards are stepping up, and adding productivity to the offense. Forwards Stephen Weiss, Ville Peltonen, Gregory Campbell and Richard Zednik are beginning to come out of their struggles, and are adding more scoring chances to a presently sputtering offense.

Another forward that is showing promise is youngster Michael Frolik. In the 3-2 loss to Detroit, Frolik showed poise and confidence on the ice, and created numerous scoring chances for Florida.

Finishing still is a huge problem for this team. Players like Nathan Horton and Rostislav Olesz have to be more aggressive offensively. During the Detroit game, I saw many occasions when Horton passed up point-blank shots, and dished the puck to other players shooting from tougher angles.

Olesz, once again, was non-existent in this game. He truly needs to step up and show his physical, gritty side in order for the Panthers to be successful. He has failed to break out, and it seems he may just be another draft bust.

The Panthers will look to string some wins together, as they play their next game against the struggling Tampa Bay Lightning.

There is still plenty of time for the Panthers to turn it around and make the playoffs, but they are losing precious points, and will need to win consistently to stay in the playoff hunt.

Florida Panthers' Castoffs Excelling in the NHL

Aaron Brenker — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:40:24 -0500

Throughout a sports franchise's life, players will come and go.

Some will be released, some traded, some acquired and some drafted—but it is the organizations responsibility to weed out the good players from the bad.

This has been something the Florida Panthers franchise has not been able to do.

Poor drafting and decisions by the front office has kept the Panthers from a playoff berth. Lets take a look at some former Panthers that have gone on to have great NHL careers:

Ray Whitney

Whitney was solid while with the Panthers, but never fully reached his potential. Whitney was an All-Star one year with the Panthers, but that was also with the help of sniper Pavel Bure.

The Panthers traded Whitney to the Columbus Blue Jackets for future considerations and Kevyn Adams. Whitney finally reached his potential once he found the Jackets, tallying 137 points in two seasons with the Columbus.

Later Whitney would continue playing at a high level, both for the Red Wings and the Hurricanes. Whitney has become a leader and one of the best players for the Hurricanes. He has won a Stanley Cup and played at an All-Star level for three seasons in Carolina. Every time the Panthers play the Hurricanes, Whitney reminds Florida what a mistake they made giving up on him.

Niklas Hagman

Hagman played four seasons with the Florida Panthers. He was drafted 70th overall in the 1999 NHL draft.

The Finnish skater was dubbed to be a hard-hitting forward who could put up points. He drew comparisons to Bill Guerin. But Hagman never could find the scoring touch with the Panthers, and barely managed to tally 20 points in his seasons with the Panthers.

The Panthers traded Hagman to the Dallas Stars for a seventh-round draft pick. Hagman struggled in his first season in Dallas, but quickly after exploded on the scene, scoring 17 goals in his second year with the Stars. In his final season with the Stars, he tallied 27 goals, and became the grinding forward the Panthers thought they were getting.

Hagman is currently playing exceptional hockey with the surprising Toronto Maple Leafs.

Kristian Huselius

The Panthers drafted Huselius 47th overall. Huselius was solid at first, with the Florida Panthers scoring 43 goals in his first two seasons. Later on, however, Huselius struggled to play two-way hockey and often played lackadaisically in key games. The Panthers had enough of his lazy play and traded him away to the Calgary Flames.

Huselius found his old form, and became one of the Flames most dangerous players. He scored 74 goals in three seasons, with the Calgary Flames and became a free agent many teams wanted to get their hands on. The Jackets once again snatched up a former Panther, and he has become a key player for Columbus.

Radek Dvorak

The original Panther had a solid beginning to his NHL career with the Florida Panthers, but it was mostly as a role player—not as the scoring forward the Panthers expected. The Panthers would later trade Dvorak to San Jose, and he was later was traded to the New York Rangers.

Dvorak broke out with the Rangers. He scored 31 goals and added 36 assists for New York. Dvorak would later become a key component in the Edmonton Oilers' Stanley Cup run, scoring timely goals and being one of the Oilers' most responsible forwards.

The Panthers thought they could correct their mistake by bringing back Dvorak, but he has struggled to find any offense for Florida, tallying only 17 points in one season for the Panthers.

Mark Parrish

The former Panther was involved in the biggest trade in Panthers' history. He and fellow Panther Oleg Kvasha were traded to the New York Islanders for Roberto Luongo and Olli Jokinen. Despite his struggles in Florida, Parrish became an All-Star in New York and was a solid veteran presence in the Islanders' locker room.

Parrish has been a consistent player for every team he has played for since the Panthers. He was released by the Minnesota Wild, giving GM Jacques Martin a chance to bring back the solid veteran, but he passed. The Stars jumped at the chance to acquire the cheap talent, and he repaid the Stars by scoring a natural hat-trick in his first game with Dallas.

Many other solid players have been let go by the Panthers. Some more names that come to mind are Victor Kozlov, Rob Niedermayer, and Jaroslav Spacek. Whether this is the fault of the players, locker room, or front office is up to you.

Hopefully the Panthers will not have to add such names to this list as Nathan Horton, Stephen Weiss, or Rostislav Olesz.

Florida Panthers Must Deal Jay Bouwmeester

Aaron Brenker — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:14:51 -0500

Early in the season, offense has been hard to come by for the Florida Panthers. The loss of Olli Jokinen has had a horrible effect on the Panthers' offense.

With scoring being imperative in the new NHL the Panthers must rectify the mistake of acquiring defensemen rather than forwards. The best way for the Panthers to acquire a talented forward would most likely be to deal star defenseman Jay Bouwmeester.

As good as he has been in the past it seems the trade rumors are taking it's toll on Bouwmeester's play, and it seems he has no desire to stay in Florida.

Rumors have spurred that the Rangers are willing to trade Brandon Dubinsky and Petr Prucha for Bouwmeester, but this was reported by the anonymous blogger Ecklund so it can quickly be dismissed. Some teams that may have interest in Bouwmeester could be the Flyers, Rangers, and the Senators.

The Panthers desperately need a center, as injuries are further thinning the Panthers' forwards. Injuries to Kamil Kreps and Rostislav Olesz are causing players such, as Gregory Campbell and Brett McLean to play out of position.

It is imperative for GM Jacques Martin to make a trade, as soon as possible. If he waits until the deadline, he will be lucky to get high draft picks and prospects for the all-star defenseman.

Whether the Panthers acquire another forward or not, the offense must improve if this team wants to climb out of the Eastern Conference cellar.

Florida Panthers' Front Office Lacks Care for Fans

Aaron Brenker — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 17:06:13 -0500

Another slow start to the season for the Florida Panthers leaves me feeling hopeless in my aspirations of seeing playoff hockey.

The Panthers have always lacked a true scoring forward, ever since the trade of Pavel Bure. Defense and goaltending are solid for the Panthers and have been decent for the past few years, but the Panthers have never been able to score.

The team lacked scoring last season and what did the Panthers' front office do? They signed journeymen Richard Zednik, Brett McLean and Radek Dvorak. These players are solid complementary players at best, and cannot be relied on to score goals.

The Panthers had the same problems offensively coming into this season and in an effort to address this issue they traded away their franchise-leading scorer, Olli Jokinen for two defensemen. The signing of Cory Stillman was nice, but he is not a guy who can be relied on to score goals for you, as he is another solid complementary player.

This team seems to have no passion, and if the front office cares about its fans they would definitely consider moving players. Disgruntled defenseman Jay Bouwmeester must go. The longer Jacques Martin waits, the less value he will get for Bouwmeester.

In my opinion the Panthers should also consider getting rid of underachievers Nathan Horton, Stephen Weiss and Rostislav Olesz. I am sick of always hearing the excuse that these young players are full of skill and potential. Potential will get you fired and will not help you build a winner.

Owner Alan Cohen and General Manager Jacques Martin must make moves to truly show they care about winning. The time is now pull the trigger and make a move for once Martin.

Olli Jokinen Trade Paying Off for Florida Panthers

Aaron Brenker — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 14:22:55 -0400

It was during the 2008 NHL draft that the Florida Panthers shipped former captain Olli Jokinen to the Phoenix Coyotes. In return, the Panthers received defensemen Nick Boynton and Keith Ballard.

At the time everyone had their doubts, but it seems as of now the Panthers are getting quite a bang for their buck. Ballard and Boynton have increased the Panthers' defense and have helped add physicality and grit to a young Panthers team.

Eight games into the season both Ballard and Boynton are among the top five Panthers scorers. Ballard has tallied eight points, while Boynton has added five.

The loss of Jokinen has definitely hurt the Panthers' powerplay, but that can also be attributed to the injury of puck-moving defenseman Bryan McCabe.

Jokinen has been solid for Phoenix as well, having accumulated seven points. However, Phoenix has struggled to find more scoring and now finds themselves near the bottom of the NHL standings.

It will take many more games before we can truly find out who got the best of the trade, but at the moment it seems that the Panthers have received two solid hockey players in exchange for one.

The Panthers will take on former captain Jokinen on Nov. 8. The Panthers currently are 10th in the East, while the Coyotes find themselves 14th in the West.

David Booth: The Poor Man's Pavel Bure

Aaron Brenker — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:27:19 -0400

They seem so different.

One is a pure scorer who put fear in his opponents' eyes. The other is a young, scrawny forward that many in the hockey world know little about.

But they are united by one burning desire, and the ability to always know where the puck is. This is what makes David Booth quite similar to Pavel Bure.

Booth has shown in the early stages of his career that he has a nose for the puck—much like Bure did throughout his career. Bure was a flashy scorer who always seemed to have the puck on his stick. While Booth is less flashy and less feared, he has many of the same attributes the Russian Rocket had throughout his career.

A 23-year-old Panthers forward, Booth has the breakaway speed that made Bure a nightmare to play against. He also has the constant hunger needed to put the puck in the back of the net, much like Bure.

It's early in the 2008-09 season, but Booth is already showing he can be a leader who can score goals when his team needs it the most. This was a key component that made Bure a force in the league for years.

Many have no idea who David Booth is, but I have a feeling by the end of the year many will consider him an elite talent, with the ability to score on any given shift, on any given night.

Booth did not take long to develop. In his first season with substantial playing time he posted 22 goals. Bure did not take long to develop, either, as he tallied 34 goals in his first season.

Booth is truly turning into a superstar, and will continue to play his hard-nosed, 110-percent playing style—which could one day catapult him into becoming one of the greats in NHL history.

Rangers-Blackhawks: New York Stifles Chicago to Improve To 3-0

Aaron Brenker — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:06:32 -0400

The New York Rangers put forth a solid two-way effort, and it showed in the final score.

The Rangers improved to 3-0 with a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks. Brandon Dubinsky once again played incredibly, recording three points.

Offensively, four different players scored for the Rangers. The line of Brandon Dubinsky, Nikolai Zherdev, and Aaron Voros seems to have developed excellent chemistry, the line accounted for seven total points in tonight's game, with each player contributing a goal.

The Rangers once again played solid defensive hockey, as they held a high-powered Chicago offense to only two goals. Free-agent acquisition Wade Redden continued his solid start, scoring his second goal of the season. In net, Henrik Lundqvist was once again excellent, making 30 saves.

The Blackhawks played solidly tonight, and were in the game for most of the night. Patrick Kane provided the first goal for the Blackhawks, which tied the game at one at the time. The Blackhawks' second goal was scored by young defenseman Duncan Keith. Chicago's youngsters were solid tonight, but could not convert on golden opportunities—and that cost them the game.

The Rangers are now 3-0 for the first time since the 1989-90 season. They are now the only team with six points in the NHL, and they look to stay perfect as they take the ice tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers.

Cory Murphy's Release Opens Door for Panthers' Prospects

Aaron Brenker — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:23:26 -0400

Earlier today, Cory Murphy—former stand-out defenseman in Finland—was waived.

Murphy was solid at the beginning of his Florida Panthers career, but due to injury and lack of defensive responsibility, he failed to be an effective puck-moving defenseman. If he is not claimed by noon, Murphy will be sent down to the minors.

This move was important in many ways.

Now that Murphy has been waived, it opens up another roster spot for a Panthers' prospect. The initial thought was that prospect Shawn Matthias would be the newest Panther, but with the excellent preseason Anthony Stewart has had, he may be brought up to the Panthers' roster as well.

The Panthers still need to decide which prospect they want to send down. Michael Frolik may be the odd man left out for now, as Matthias seems more ready and Stewart has been playing very well as of late.

Murphy could still possibly rejoin the Panthers for depth, as they may feel the need to bring him back up if retained. In 47 games, Murphy scored two goals with 15 assists. If he can put up numbers like these consistently, he may become a Panther again.

It looks to be another tough decision for the Panthers. The first game of the season is coming up and the Panthers' roster may look a bit different than we thought it would.

Markus Naslund Rejuvenating His Career with the Rangers

Aaron Brenker — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:25:38 -0400

The Rangers' two wins in Prague over the revamped Lightning can be credited to the solid play of veteran Markus Naslund. Naslund scored a goal in the first game and added an assist in the second game, as the Rangers went 2-0 in Prague.

Naslund is definitely not the player he once was, but he is still a very good playmaker, who will help the Rangers establish four solid attacking lines. The 35-year-old veteran had an off year with Vancouver, as he tallied 55 points, but this was for a Vancouver team that did not score many goals and relied on goaltender Roberto Luongo.

This is not the case for the New York Rangers, as players like Scott Gomez, Chris Drury, and Brandon Dubinsky are more than capable scorers. Naslund, being used as a complementary player, will really give a boost to an already superb Rangers' offense.

The addition of Naslund seems to also have added more leadership to New York, as he has been able to work his magic on the Rangers' power play, setting up point shots and golden opportunities for New York's power play unit.

It is still early and there will be times when he will falter, but I think the addition of Naslund could add the ingredient the Rangers have been missing in the past.