Bleacher Report - Articles by Joe MacDonald

U.S. Open Preview: Twenty to Watch at Bethpage

Joe MacDonald — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:19:27 -0400

To golf fans, the official start to summer is the United States Open Championship, the second of the four grand slam events.

The 109th edition of golf's second oldest major will be played this week on the Black course at Bethpage State Park in Nassau County, New York. The course last hosted the event in 2002, when world No. 1 Tiger Woods earned a three-shot victory over Phil Mickelson.

Both Mickelson and Woods are among the favorites again in 2009, and both offer intriguing story lines for fans and members of the golfing press.

Woods, of course, is the defending champion after his amazing and courageous win at Torrey Pines in 2008 while playing on a badly injured knee. A win at Bethpage would be his 15th professional major and move him one step closer to Jack Nicklaus' all-time record of 18. It would also signal his return as the undisputed best player in the world.

Mickelson, who has always been a crowd favorite among the boisterous Long Island crowds, will be a sentimental choice because of the health issues of his wife Amy, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

A win would also erase some of the sting of his collapse on the final hole at Winged Foot in 2006 when, needing a par to win, Phil made an ugly double bogey to lose by a shot. Mickelson is winless in the 11 majors played since that June Sunday.

Of course there are other golfers in the field, even if Phil and Tiger frequently monopolize the attention of both the galleries and TV viewers. Here is my list of the 20 players most likely to win the U.S. Open, from No. 20 to No. 1.

No. 20—Hunter Mahan, United States

Mahan is a great ball striker, currently ranked 13th in total driving and 14th in ball striking on the PGA Tour. He's also one of a handful of young Americans who should win a major someday.

A streaky putter, Mahan can make birdies in bunches when he gets hot. While that typically doesn't suit the style of play required at a U.S. Open, the 49th-ranked player in world showed he might be ready for a major breakthrough with a 10th-place finish at the 2009 Masters.

No. 19—Stephen Ames, Canada

Ranked 52nd in the world, the native of Trinidad has a game suited for U.S. Open venues and a proven track record in golf's toughest events, including a victory in the 2006 Players Championship.

Sometimes underappreciated by golf fans, the 45-year-old is ranked ninth in the PGA's all-around category and is a serious threat to contend.

No. 18—Sean O'Hair, United States

The 26-year-old has been improving steadily since joining the tour in 1999 but has really come into his own this season. O'Hair has five top tens in 11 starts in 2009, including a fourth at the Mercedes-Benz Championship and 10th place finishes at Pebble Beach and the Masters.

But it was his second place finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, where he lost a five-stroke, 54-hole lead to Tiger Woods, and his impressive victory five weeks later at the Quail Hollow Championship that served notice that he's someone to watch when golf's best get together.

No. 17—Angel Cabrera, Argentina

The big Argentine is a two-time major champion, backing up his victory in the 2007 U.S. Open with a win in this year's Masters.

Based on his record as a whole in 2009 (five missed cuts in 10 official starts on the PGA and European tours), it would be hard to imagine Cabrera getting two wins away from a grand slam, especially when you consider his atrocious driving statistics, where he ranks 189th in accuracy.

But his Masters win and a 14th-place finish at the Players shows he should never be discounted at golf's major events.

No. 16—Camillo Villegas, Columbia

The South American sensation, known more for his buff bod, Spiderman-like green reading techniques, and matinee idol looks prior to last season, exploded with a pair of wins during the FedEx Cup playoffs in 2008. The results have been a little less spectacular in 2009, with a pair of top tens (Buick Invitational and the WGC-CA Championship) and a T13th at the Masters ranking as his best finishes.

Still, the 27-year-old is an exceptional ball striker (ranks second in ball striking on the PGA Tour) and could contend if the putter cooperates.

No. 15—Retief Goosen, South Africa

The two-time United States Open Champion (2001 and 2004) has had an up and down year. He won for the first time in two seasons at the Transitions Championship in March but has struggled since, including missed cuts at the Masters and the BMW PGA Championship, the European Tour's marquee event.

Goosen does know how to win this championship, however, and if you had to have a guy other than Tiger make a four-foot downhill slider on U.S. Open greens to save your life, he's your guy.

No. 14—Steve Stricker, United States

The Wisconsin native recorded his second career win three weeks ago at the Crowne Plaza Invitational and is in solid form heading into the championship. Only an average driver (105th in driving distance), Stricker makes up for it with exceptional iron play and some of the best putting on tour.

Bethpage may be too long for him, but if he gets the putter working, he could hang around.

No. 13—K.J. Choi, South Korea

Choi always seems to save his best for golf's biggest stages. He has seven career PGA wins but only a single top-10 this year, a third-place finish at the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles. He did finish 13th at the Memorial in his last start, so he could be rounding into form.

He hits the ball so straight that his game is suited for the U.S. Open test; he could contend.

No. 12—Ernie Els, South Africa

The Big Easy is a two-time U.S. Open winner (1994 and 1997) but hasn't been the same since knee surgery in 2005. His swing still looks as silky smooth as ever, but the putts just don't seem to fall any more.

That being said, he knows how to win majors, and an eighth-place finish at the Memorial shows he may be ready to challenge for a fourth grand slam title.

No. 11—David Toms, United States

The 2001 PGA Champion probably doesn't hit it far enough to win at Bethpage, but he does everything else so well that you have to give him a chance.

One of the tour's best putters, he also leads the tour in driving accuracy, an important stat at any U.S. Open.

Despite not winning in 2009, Toms has been amazingly consistent, with six top tens in 14 starts and a pair of second-place finishes in Hawaii and at the St. Jude last week.

No. 10—Lee Westwood, England

The Englishman hasn't been on form so far in 2009, with only one top 10 in 10 starts (seventh at the Johnny Walker), but the 36-year-old always seems to play well in the U.S. Open, as evidenced by his third-place showing at Torrey Pines in 2008.

Westwood has the power and the all-around game to be a factor at Bethpage. His 29 worldwide victories prove he knows how to win, and a major would be a nice addition to an already impressive résumé.

No. 9—Kenny Perry, United States

The native of Franklin, Ky. sits seventh in the official World Golf Rankings, and high on the list of the best players never to win a major. His last, best chance came at this year's Masters, when he blew a late lead before losing in a playoff to Angel Cabrera.

Despite that loss, Perry has the game (eighth in total driving, second in ball striking) and the mental toughness to win at Bethpage. As he gets closer to 50, Perry's chance to join the list of major champions is fading fast, so he'll be ready and focused.

No. 8—Henrik Stenson, Sweden

The 33-year-old has shown twice in the last three seasons that he can beat the world's best with wins at the 2007 WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and this year's Players Championship. Stenson challenged twice at majors in 2008, finishing tied for third at the Open Championship and tied for fourth at the PGA.

The sixth-ranked player in the world has more than enough power to be a factor this week, and at 33 and in the prime of his career, he may be ready to take the next step in his career progression. Definitely one to watch.

No. 7—Paul Casey, England

Many casual golf fans would be shocked to learn that Casey is the third-ranked golfer in the world, but his stellar play in 2009 (three wins and six top tens in 12 events) has vaulted him to the heights of the golf world.

He hasn't really contended in a major, with a T6 at the 2004 Masters being his best of three top 10 finishes in 25 career starts, but his victory in the BMW PGA Championship in May proved he could win the big events. He has the form and the all-around game required to be a major champion.

His time could be now.

No. 6—Jim Furyk, United States

While maybe not the longest player off the tee, the 2003 U.S. Open champion drives it so straight, hits his long irons so pure, and putts so well that he's always a contender at the national championship.

Furyk also comes into the week in top form after a strong second-place finish at the Memorial, one of five top 10 finishes in 11 starts this season, including a 10th at the Masters and a fifth at The Players.

In addition to his win in 2003, the Pennsylvania native had back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2006 and 2007, so he obviously loves this event.

No. 5—Sergio Garcia, Spain

Love him or hate him (and in 2002, the Bethpage galleries were probably closer to hate than love), the Spaniard is one of the most talented and successful players in the game and always a threat in the majors.

Despite his well-earned title as the best player in the world without a major, Garcia has an impressive record in the big four with seven top-five finishes in the last five years. Of course, two of those top fives were crushing losses to Padraig Harrington at the 2007 Open Championship and the 2008 PGA.

He finished fourth in 2002 and should be a factor at Bethpage again in 2009.

No. 4—Padraig Harrington, Ireland

The three-time major champion has been off form most of the season as he goes through swing changes. In fact, his only top 10 was a fifth-place finish in the desert at Abu Dhabi in January.

Still, it's hard to discount a man who's won three of the last seven majors played, including back-to-back wins at the Open Championship in 2007 and 2008. Harrington has the all-around game to be a contender at Bethpage, and his mental toughness is second only to Tiger among modern-day pros. He has to regain form at some point, and this week would be as good a time as any.

No. 3—Phil Mickelson, United States

We don't know for sure who will win this year's U.S. Open, but we do know who the crowd's favorite will be. Phil would have been the toast of Long Island even before his wife's cancer diagnosis; his family crisis only deepens those sentiments.

Prior to his forced holiday, Mickelson was having a typically successful Phil season with a pair of wins (Los Angeles and the WGC-CA Championship) and two other top fives (Masters and Quail Hollow). He also has an unbelievable U.S. Open record with four second-place finishes.

The question is, how mentally prepared Lefty will be for the grind of a U.S. Open? If his head is there, he may finally win the one championship that means the most to him and forever erase the memory of the 18th hole collapse at Winged Foot.

No. 2—Geoff Ogilvy, Australia

The Aussie won the 2006 U.S. Open and has a great record in the majors with six top tens in 20 career grand slam events. He's also had magnificent success in the World Golf Championship events, winning the Accenture Match Play twice and the CA Championship once in the last four years.

Ogilvy started the year with a bang by picking up a victory at the Mercedes Championship but has been less than stellar since with just two top tens. Luckily for his fans, one of those top tens came in his last start at the Memorial Tournament, meaning he could be rounding into form at just the right time.

With almost limitless power and a great touch, Ogilvy is a true contender to add a second major championship.

No. 1—Tiger Woods, United States

At most majors in this era, it basically comes down to Tiger Woods versus the field, and most times, Tiger's not a bad choice.

The world No. 1 has a chance at a unique double Open defense this year, being the defending champion after his amazing win at Torrey Pines last June and the winner the last time the tournament was held at Bethpage in 2002.

Only a fool would say he won't do it. Deemed by many to be off form since his return from major reconstructive knee surgery that sidelined him for nine months, the 14-time major champion has two wins and six top tens in six starts and comes in off his most impressive performance of the season at the Memorial.

If he can get off the tee close to the way he did at Jack's event, it's impossible to imagine him losing. Look for another Tiger win, a record-tying fourth U.S. Open, and another big step on the road to Nicklaus' record.

Red Wings-Penguins: Third Liners Help Force Game Seven

Joe MacDonald — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 10:17:39 -0400

In a series full of superstars, it was the role players who made the difference in the Pittsburgh Penguins' crucial 2-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings in Game Six of the Stanley Cup Finals on Tuesday in Pittsburgh.

Third-liners Jordan Staal and Tyler Kennedy scored and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury made 26 saves, 13 of them in a wild third period, to preserve the one-goal victory.

The Penguins win sends the series back to Detroit on Friday night for a climactic Game Seven.

Pittsburgh dominated the first period, outshooting the Red Wings 12-3, but were stymied once again by the outstanding play of Detroit goalkeeper Chris Osgood, who made several key saves during the opening 20 minutes. The Conn Smythe Trophy candidate stopped both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on glorious chances to keep the teams scoreless after one.

The second period was more closely contested, with the Penguins again holding a slight edge and they were rewarded when Staal stuffed his own rebound past Osgood, on a two-on-one, 51 seconds into the period.

The goaltenders took over for the rest of the period with Osgood and Fleury taking turns frustrating the opposing shooters.

The Penguins continued their aggressive play at the start of the third period, culminating in Kennedy's fifth goal of the playoffs at 5:35, giving the home side a 2-0 lead and sending the Mellon Arena fans into a frenzy.

Far from conceding defeat, the Red Wings upped their intensity after Kennedy's goal and had cut the lead to one by the 8:01 mark of the final frame.

After an impressive forechecking shift, veteran Kris Draper fired a rebound of a Jonathan Ericsson shot past Fleury, ensuring an exciting and tense final 12 minutes.

The Penguins managed to hold on, thanks to the solid play of Fleury and yeoman efforts from Pittsburgh's under-appreciated defensive corps, particularly veterans Hal Gill, Brooks Orpik, and Rob Scuderi. Scuderi made three key "saves" late in the game, bailing Fleury out of potential dangerous situations.

The trio was particularly effective during back-to-back Detroit power-plays mid-way through the period as the Wings pressed for the equalizer.

The Wings best chance at an equalizer came late in the third period when a beautiful saucer pass by Pavel Datsyuk sent Daniel Clearly in all alone on Fleury.

But the Pittsburgh net-minder read the Detroit winger's deke to the backhand perfectly and made a spectacular, game-saving glove save.

The Penguins' inability to win a defensive zone faceoff in the final minute increased the tension as both Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal were beaten cleanly by the Wings' Henrik Zetterberg, creating more than a few uneasy moments for the Eastern Conference champions.

The series now shifts back to the Motor City on Friday for the first Stanley Cup Game Seven since Carolina's seven-game victory over Edmonton in 2006. Game time at the Joe Louis Arena is 8:00 p.m. EDT.

Stanley Cup Playoffs: Ignoring Obstruction a Problem For The NHL

Joe MacDonald — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:58:49 -0400

I think all hockey fans are excited about the quality of play during this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The games have been exciting with equal measures of breathtaking skill, intensity and physical play.

I am a big fan of the league allowing players to engage in one-on-one battles, whether it be in the corners for the puck or in front of the net for position. But I do think the on-ice officials and their off-ice supervisors have dropped the ball a little when it comes to obstruction and interference, particularly in the neutral zone.

Things that were automatic penalties during the regular season are being ignored during the finals as the referees try hard not to influence the outcome of the games.

Unfortunately, that, by definition, is their very role.

The job of the referee is to ensure that both teams have an equal and fair chance of being successful and that skill and hard work wins out over illegal tactics. If a breach of the rules is committed and detected, it's the responsibility of the on-ice officials to penalize the infraction.

It shouldn't be any different in the first game of the regular season than it is in the seventh game of the Stanley Cup finals.

The game and how it's played should not change because the situation is more intense or because there is more on the line. Being a couple of wins away from a Stanley Cup shouldn't be a license to revert to the clutch and grab tactics that almost killed the game in the 1990s and early 2000s.

But as hockey's holy grail gets closer, the refs seem to be less and less inclined to interpret the rules the way they've being doing it all season long. So now it's permissible for Henrik Zetterberg to clutch and grab Sidney Crosby from one end of the rink to the other, or for Hal Gill to blatantly interfere with Daniel Cleary after a shoot-in.

Don't get me wrong.

I think Zetterberg is doing a fantastic job of checking Crosby and I'm a big fan, but do you really think all of his "shadowing" tactics would be legal in a late November regular season game.

I don't think so.

What the NHL finally figured out since the lockout, is something the NBA and NFL figured out long ago. To attract new fans and provide the best calibre entertainment for your current followers, you have to let your stars shine. The NBA did this by making it a foul to even look at Michael Jordan (insert Kobe Bryant, Lebron James or any of the other current NBA stars) with a less than friendly gaze. In the NFL, rules have been made to allow quarterbacks and receivers more room, thus increasing offense.

That's the path the NHL's been on, too, for the past three or four years, but something seems to have changed as we get deeper into the playoffs. Now the offensive stars have to battle through the same tactics that, ultimately, caused Penguins owner Mario Lemieux to quit.

As a 40-year fan of the greatest game in the world (in my opinion), I would much rather see a beautiful pass from Crosby or Zetterberg converted by Malkin or Hossa, then watch these stars forced to play the game with some one on their backs for the entire 60 minutes.

To ensure this, all the league has to do is to have the games called exactly the same way as they were during the regular season. That will give the superstars the room they need to be great and the fans the best entertainment value for their hard-earned dollar.

Failure to do this puts hockey back on a slippery slope to obscurity.

Stanley Cup Finals: Game Four Preview

Joe MacDonald — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:17:37 -0400

The Pittsburgh Penguins will attempt to even the best of seven Stanley Cup Finals series at two games apiece, when they host the defending champion Detroit Red Wings at Mellon Arena tonight.

The Penguins have renewed confidence after a hard fought 4-2 win over the Wings on Tuesday night. Maxime Talbot was the star for the Penguins, scoring twice, including the clincher into an empty net.

Goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury had a solid outing and was especially sharp in the second period, when Detroit out shot their hosts 10-3. His defense upped their play on Tuesday and showed a willingness to sacrifice their bodies as well. Overall the Penguins blocked 18 shots in the game compared to only five by Detroit.

Art Ross Trophy winner Evgeni Malkin had three assists and now leads the playoffs with 33 points. He has recorded a point on five of the club's six goals so far in the championship series.

Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby notched his first point of the finals, an assist on Sergei Gonchar's game winner in the third period, and the challengers will be hoping Sid the Kid is ready to break out. He did come up big in the face-off circle in game two, winning 63 percent of his face-offs (12 for19).

Crosby spent 45 minutes on Wednesday with line-mates Bill Guerin and Chris Kunitz watching video of every shift he played during game three, looking for something to increase his offensive production.

Although they didn't figure in the scoring, one of the Penguins most effective units on Tuesday was the line of Jordan Staal, Tyler Kennedy, and Matt Cooke, who seeminly caused havoc for the Detroit defense on every shift.

For the Red Wings, 2008 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Henrik Zetterberg had another monster game, scoring once and setting up the second Detroit goal with a beautiful cross-ice pass to Johan Franzen.

The talented Swede logged an amazing 24:19 in ice time, trailing only Wings' captain Nick Lidstrom at 26:40. Gonchar and Crosby led the Pens with 22:29 and 22:19 respectively. He also one 58 percent of his face-offs, trailing only Crosby and teammate Valtteri Filpula (10 for 16) in that category.

Red Wings' goalie Chris Osgood was just good on Tuesday, not spectacular as he'd been in games one and two. Still, of the three goals he surrendered, only Kris Letang's first period slap shot that beat him through the legs could be in anyway blamed on the three-time Stanley Cup champion.

The Wings have to be a little worried about their penalty killing after surrendering two goals on three chances in game three.

Perhaps the perfect illustration of their problems came on Pittsburgh's game winner when the Penguins had numerous chances and controlled the puck for a minute and twenty seconds before Sergei Gonchar potted the decisive goal.

The defending champs might get a big lift tonight with the return of Hart Trophy nominee Pavel Datsyuk. The Russian center missed the last five games with an ankle injury but looked good in practice on Wednesday. It appears all systems are go for a return to the lineup for game four.

Datysuk should help the Wings at both ends of the ice and maybe his return will get winger Marian Hossa going on a more consistent basis. Hossa has displayed dominance on rather rare occasions during these playoffs, but has also disappeared at times.

Checking center Kris Draper is also expected to be available for the Wings, who are hoping to make the 2009 finals a carbon copy of the 2008 championship series and head back home with a 3-1 lead.

Game Four Prediction: The momentum would appear to be with the Penguins after the victory in game three and neutral hockey fans everywhere are hoping for a Pittsburgh victory in game four to extend this entertaining series.

Look for Sidney Crosby to break out of his scoring funk tonight and for the teams to head back to Detroit knotted at two games apiece. Penguins 5, Red Wings 3.

Penguins-Red Wings: Who Will Win Lord Stanley's Mug?

Joe MacDonald — Fri, 29 May 2009 09:16:54 -0400

I learned a valuable lesson in the Conference semifinals: Never underestimate the heart of a champion.

It looked like the Detroit Red Wings were vulnerable heading into their Western Conference Championship series with the Chicago Blackhawks after a less than convincing performance against the eighth seed Anaheim Ducks in round two.

But despite several key injuries, the Red Wings found a way to not only win the series but also dominate the young Blackhawks, winning the series in five games to advance to their third Stanley Cup final of the decade.

Their opponents will be very familiar. For the second consecutive year, the Eastern Conference champions are the young and super-talented Pittsburgh Penguins, featuring two of the top players in hockey in captain Sidney Crosby and NHL scoring champion Evgeni Malkin.

The Penguins seem to be getting better and better as the playoffs roll along, sweeping the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference finals after a pair of emotional victories against archrivals the Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals in rounds one and two.

The 2008 final resulted in a six-game win for the Red Wings, although the final tally flattered the Penguins in a series that never seemed to be in doubt. Detroit were simply too strong, too experienced, and much better than their young challengers.

But a year changes a lot. While the Red Wings are still regarded by many as the best team in hockey, most observers think that the 2009 edition of the National Hockey League's championship series will be much more competitive than last year's mismatch.

On the personal side, the 1-1 mark I posted in round three makes me 11-3 overall for the 2009 playoffs. Not too bad, but we need a big finish to cap a successful, if not profitable, playoff run.

Series O: Detroit Red Wings (2W) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (4E)

Season Series

The teams spilt the regular season series, with each club winning on the other team's home ice.

Jordan Staal scored a hat trick in the third period and set up the winner in overtime in a dramatic 7-6 win for the Penguins at Joe Louis Arena in November, while on Feb. 8, former Pen Ty Conklin made 25 saves and Pavel Datsyuk scored twice in a 3-0 Red Wings win at Mellon Arena.

Both games were played before Dan Bylsma took over from Michel Therrien as Pittsburgh's head coach and before trade deadline deals that landed wingers Bill Guerin and Chris Kunitz in Penguins uniforms.

Playoff History

Last year's Stanley Cup final is the only time the two clubs have met in the playoffs, giving Detroit a 1-0 series lead.

Stanley Cup Experience

Pittsburgh has five players on the roster with Stanley Cup rings, and most of the key players return from the team that went all the way to the Stanley Cup finals in 2008.

As the defending champions, it's not surprising that the Red Wings have 22 players on the roster with at least one Stanley Cup ring. Five Detroit players—Nick Lidstrom, Tomas Holmstrom, Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby, and Darren McCarty—have their names on the cup four times.

Who's Hot

Pittsburgh's dynamic duo of Crosby and Malkin have raised their game to a new level in this year's run to the finals, and they share the NHL playoff scoring lead with 28 points. Crosby had seven points in the four-game sweep of the Hurricanes, while Malkin was even better with nine points in the four contests.

Wingers Bill Guerin, Chris Kunitz, and Ruslan Fedetenko were also solid contributors during the Carolina series. The veteran Guerin had two goals and three assists in the final three games against Carolina, while linemate Kunitz finally scored his first goal of the playoffs in game two to go along with his 11 assists.

Fedetenko scored key goals in games three and four for Pittsburgh, providing the same type of timely goal scoring he contributed for Tampa in their 2004 Cup run.

The Red Wings offensively have been led by forwards Johan Franzen and Henrik Zetterberg. Franzen leads Detroit in points (19) and goals (10) through three rounds, although after a three-point explosion in game one was held to a single assist in games two through five.

Zetterberg, too, had big performances in games one and four and has dominated many games with his all-around play.

A revelation in round three was the play of center Valtteri Filppula, who stepped in to fill the void left by Hart Trophy candidate Pavel Datsyuk's injury and registered a point in all five games of the Chicago series.

His 14 points leave him tied for third in team scoring with Dan Cleary, who continued his amazing postseason with five goals in the Conference finals.

Finally, after a slow start, star winger Marian Hossa seems to be rounding into form and dominated games four and five of the last series.

While both teams have a healthy collection of scoring stars, perhaps the most consistently outstanding players for both teams during their respective runs to the Stanley Cup finals have been their goalies.

Both Marc-Andre Fleury of the Penguins and the Wings' Chris Osgood have been nothing short of spectacular at times during the '09 playoffs and have given their clubs a chance to win each and every night.

Who's Not

It's hard to find players who aren't contributing in a meaningful way when a team gets all the way to the Stanley Cup finals. Winger Petr Sykora of Pittsburgh, a star for the Penguins in last year's final, lost his lineup spot early in the run to Miroslav Satan and may only get a second chance in an injury situation.

With only six points in 17 games, third line center Jordan Staal's production is a little less than expected, but he does so many good things at both ends of the ice and on special teams that it's not a cause for concern.

For Detroit, super pest Tomas Holmstrom has been a little quieter than normal with only a single goal through three rounds, but he's still consistently able to cause havoc in front of opposing goalkeepers. Most of the other Red Wing disappointments are due to injury rather than poor play.

Key Matchup

Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk vs. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin: Assuming Datsyuk is available, the strength of both teams is up the middle.

The Detroit duo has the experience and the better defensive game, while the Pittsburgh pair may have a slight edge in pure offensive talent. Zetterberg and Datsyuk usually take all the key face-offs for the Wings and are usually on the ice when the game is on the line.

The Penguins really seemed to gel when coach Dan Bylsma decided to double-shift Malkin and Crosby, and they've responded with strong play in all facets of the game.

In the playoffs, generally the team that wins is the team who gets the most from their star players. This series will be no exception. The winner of the Crosby-Malkin vs. Datsyuk-Zetterberg matchup will likely be drinking from Lord Stanley's mug in early June.

X-Factor

Injuries. The Red Wings were able to overcome the inexperienced Blackhawks despite injuries to key players, including Datsyuk, captain Nicklas Lidstrom, super checker Kris Draper, and young defenseman Jonathan Ericsson. The way the Penguins are playing, Detroit will need all hands on deck to win their second consecutive Cup.

Prediction

The parallels to 1984, the last time there was a Stanley Cup rematch, are striking. That year, the up and coming Oilers, led by young superstars Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier, beat the veteran defending champion Islanders to win their first of five Stanley Cups in seven seasons.

In the modern salary cap era, such a dynasty isn't likely, but there's a good chance history will repeat itself in 2009. The Penguins' maturation and the Red Wings' injury woes will mean that Sidney Crosby will be the first player to touch the Cup at the end of the series.

Take the Penguins in six.

Gary Bettman Needs to Negotiate, Not Litigate, Coyotes Situation

Joe MacDonald — Thu, 28 May 2009 09:45:19 -0400

Sometimes swallowing your pride and making a good, long term decision is the hardest thing to do. It's never easy to admit you've been out maneuvered, especially if you have a unhealthy level of personal dislike for your opponent.

That's the situation Gary Bettman and the National Hockey League is currently facing with the ongoing saga of the Phoenix Coyotes. The Commissioner does not like Jim Balsillie, and resents the way he's attempting to come in through the back door of the NHL ownership fortress after a couple of failed attempts of entering through the main entrance.

Bettman has made it his personal mission to make sure the brash tech billionaire never gets membership in the exclusive club he directs, a club where knowing the right people and cultivating the right friendships seems to be a lot more important than actually having the financial resources and business acumen required to run a successful franchise.

The Commissioner and his advisers are rightly concerned about the precedent this bankruptcy proceeding could create and are worried that a ruling that allows Mr. Balsillie to move the Coyotes to Hamilton would permanently undermine the league's ability to determine who owns their franchises and where those franchises are located.

The other major sports leagues share Bettman's concern and have filed briefs with the bankruptcy court supporting the NHL's position.

So, obviously, the NHL understands at lot more is at stake here than a failing franchise moving to a more hockey-friendly market. The very integrity of the league's rules, bi-laws and constitution are at stake.

Hopefully, at least one person in the league office sees this and is advising a negotiated settlement between the National Hockey League and the Research in Motion CEO. This is simply a fight the NHL cannot afford to lose, and it would be much better for the Commissioner to swallow his enormous pride and do what's right for the game, the fans and the league.

While he may not be Gary's first choice as a dinner companion, Jim Balsillie has the passion, smarts and, most importantly, the cash to make a great owner. Hamilton will be a successful location for an NHL franchise, while there is little or no hope the club will ever be successful in the Arizona desert.

The smart move would be for the National Hockey League to give Balsillie his team, before the courts make them and their whole organizational structure is compromised. Even if they think there's only a 25 percent chance the courts will rule against the NHL, is it really worth the risk. And if the odds are even closer to 50-50 or worse, it's the league's obligation to the other owners to settle this thing before a bankruptcy court judge changes their business forever.

The question is whether Gary Bettman is a big enough man to concede defeat and withdraw the troops before the collateral damage is greater than the potential benefits of winning the battle.

Stanley Cup Conference Finals Predictions

Joe MacDonald — Sun, 17 May 2009 16:01:51 -0400

To me, Chris Berman will always be the Swami. His fearless, if sometimes off-the-wall, NFL predictions have long been one of my favorite SportsCenter segments.

But there is fear today in Boomer's Bristol, Conn. office. Fear that he may ultimately lose the title of Swami to yours truly, if my run of winning Stanley Cup playoff predictions continues.

After picking seven of eight winners in the first round of the National Hockey League Playoffs, I managed a strong round two as well, posting a 3-1 won-loss record. I correctly picked the Penguins, Hurricanes, and Wings to be part of the National Hockey League's final four, with only the Blackhawks messing up my perfect record.

That gives me a 10-2 record overall in the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs, a statistic that hasn't earned me any money to this point. Unless, of course, you count the thumping I'm giving my friends and family in the annual MacDonald Clan playoff hockey pool.

But what to do for an encore? How about picking the winners of the NHL's conference finals? Sounds like a plan to me.

So without further ado, here are my selections for the Eastern and Western Conference championship series. As usual, no guarantees, but I think they are just about as reliable as Gary Bettman's claims that he doesn't have any personal animosity towards Jim Balsillie.

Eastern Conference

Series M—Pittsburgh Penguins (4) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (6)

Season Series: The teams spilt the regular season series, with each club winning twice. One of Carolina's victories came in overtime.

Playoff History: This is the first time the two teams have met in a Stanley Cup playoff series.

Stanley Cup Experience: The Hurricanes have nine players who have taken a drink from Lord Stanley's mug. Pittsburgh has five players on the roster with Stanley Cup rings and most of the key players return from the team that went all the way to the Stanley Cup finals in 2008.

Who's Hot: Pittsbugh captain Sidney Crosby leads all playoff scores with 12 goals and 21 points, while Art Ross Trophy winner Evgeni Malkin sits third with 19 points. Sophomore defenseman Kris Letang had three goals and three assists against the Capitals, while veteran Ruslan Fedetenko had five points in the last five games of the Washington series.

For Carolina, center Eric Staal continues to shine with nine goals and 13 points through two rounds. After a slow start, winger Sergei Samsonov caught fire against the Bruins with four goals in the final five games of the series. Defenseman Joni Pitkanen had a pair of huge assists in Game Seven to break out of a postseason slump.

Who's Not: Winger Petr Sykora has virtually played himself out of the Penguins lineup after going pointless in six games and has been replaced by Miroslav Satan. The same goes for winger Pascal Dupuis, who's been a healthy scratch the last three games after failing to record a point in 10 games to start the playoffs. Despite 23 goals during the year, Chris Kunitz is still looking for his first tally of the postseason.

Carolina's getting little or no offensive support from their third and fourth leading scorers during the regular season. Center Tuomo Ruutu has only a goal and three assists in 14 games after recording 54 points in 79 regular season contests, while captain Rod Brind'amour, fresh off a 51-point campaign, has just two points through two rounds. Power play specialist Anton Babchuck, has only one assist in 12 playoff starts after scoring 16 goals during the regular season. He also gives Hurricane supporters a heart attack every time he handles the puck on his own end.

Key Matchup: Eric Staal vs. Jordan Staal. Brotherly love will take a back seat to a potential Stanley Cup title when two of the NHL's three Staal brothers hook up in a classic head-to-head matchup. Eric is the undisputed offensive leader of the Hurricanes, while younger brother Jordan is Pittsburgh's premiere defensive center. Both are big, fast, and physical. This should make for interesting conversation at this summer's family barbecues.

X-Factor: A driven Sidney Crosby. The Pittsburgh captain seems to be a bit upset he didn't receive a Hart Trophy nomination as the league's most valuable player and is intent on reclaiming his status as the National Hockey League's top player. His intensity and performance were both off the charts in the Washington series and he probably won't be satisfied with anything less than a Stanley Cup ring in 2009.

Prediction: Despite Carolina's strong run, the Penguins are just too talented. Take the Penguins in six.

Western Conference

Series N - Detroit (2) vs. Chicago (4)

Season Series: The Red Wings one four of six games during the regular campaign, with two of the victories coming in overtime. One of the Detroit wins was a 6-4 triumph in the NHL's Winter Classic at Wrigley Field on New Year's Day.

Playoff History: Perhaps surprisingly, the Blackhawks hold an 8-6 edge in the playoff series between the two teams. It's been a while since they met in the postseason, however, with the last meeting coming in the 1995 Conference final (won by Detroit in five games). The clubs have met twice in the Stanley Cup final, in 1934 and 1961 and both series were won by the Blackhawks. The 1961 Cup victory was the last time the Chicago franchise captured hockey's ultimate prize.

Stanley Cup Experience: As the defending champions, it's not surprising that the Red Wings have 22 players on the roster with at least one Stanley Cup ring. Five Detroit players—Nick Lidstrom, Tomas Holmstrom, Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby and Darren McCarty—have their name on the cup four times.

Chicago has three players with championships including starting goalkeeper Nikolai Khabibulin, who backstopped Tampa Bay to the 2004 title.

Who's Hot: Winger Johan Franzen had six goals and three assists against Anaheim and leads the team with 15 points in 11 games. The 2008 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Henrik Zetterberg also caught fire in the second round, recording at least one point in all seven games (3-7-10). Six-time Norris winner Nick Lidstrom is on a point-a-game pace through two rounds with three goals and eight assists in 11 games.

For Chicago, second-year winger Patrick Kane exploded in the Vancouver series with eight points in six games, including a hat-trick in the series-clinching game six. Fellow sophomore Jonathan Toews broke out of a mini-slump with two goals and an assist in Game Six, while Martin Havlat continued his torrid pace with seven more points against the Canucks to raise his team-leading total to 13. Third-line center Dave Bolland was also on fire in the conference semifinals, contributing six points in six games.

Who's Not: The strange disappearance of Pavel Datsyuk from the scoring summaries continues to baffle observers. The Red Wings' leading scorer in the regular season with 97 points contributed only three assists against the Ducks, and has just a goal and four assists in 11 playoff games. Similarly, Datsyuk's frequent linemate, winger Marian Hossa, has also underachieved. Except for a two-goal performance in Game Four, the All-Star had just a single assist in the seven game series with Anaheim.

For the Hawks, center Patrick Sharp had only a single point in the final four games against Vancouver and he'll need to contribute if Chicago has a chance against the defending champs.

Key Matchup: Nikolai Khabibulin vs. Chris Osgood. Both goalkeepers have overcome long stretches of mediocre play during the regular season to get their respective teams to this point. Still, the prospect of one or both blowing up at a key moment in the series remains a real possibility. With talented shooters on both sides, good goaltending will be required to make a trip to the Stanley Cup finals.

X-Factor: Scotty Bowman. Nobody knows the Red Wings' system and players better than their former coach. If anyone can give the Hawks the insight they need to pull the upset, it's Bowman.

Prediction: The Red Wings looked vulnerable against a one-line Anaheim team in the conference semifinals. They'll have to play much better to beat a deep Chicago squad. It says here that won't happen. The Blackhawks pull the upset in seven games.

Gary Bettman Needs To Get a Blackberry

Joe MacDonald — Wed, 06 May 2009 12:50:39 -0400

I'm not sure what type of smart phones the National Hockey League executives are using these days, but I think the time has come for Commissioner Gary Bettman to trade his in for a new Blackberry.

Bettman's arch-enemy Research-in-Motion founder and CEO Jim Balsillie has made an offer for the bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes. The offer is a substantial $212.5 million, and there's no doubt that the RIM head honcho has the cash.

The condition to the offer, of course, is that Balsillie wants to move the team to southern Ontario, a move that makes sense to virtually everyone except those who work in the commissioner's office.

Although they haven't said so in so many words, the NHL's initial reaction, or at least the tone of the press releases, makes it clear that the league intends to do whatever it has to do to keep the technology billionaire out of their exclusive club.

Shame on a guy who actually has the money and a proven hockey market for wanting an NHL franchise when there are plenty of southern U.S. cities and dubious investors still out there that the league can attract.

Without a doubt, Balsillie could use a course in how to make friends and influence people. He is brash, aggressive, and expects to get what he wants if he wants it badly enough—not exactly qualities that are endearing to the National Hockey League Board of Governors.

But those same traits are what make him a successful businessman, and that's definitely what the NHL needs in this time of economic turmoil.

So maybe it's time for Bettman and his followers to give in to the inevitable and allow Balsillie to bring the floundering Coyotes to Hamilton, Kitchener, or wherever he has in mind. Hockey's never going to work in Phoenix and even the league concedes that there is a large enough hockey market in southern Ontario for two NHL teams.

More generally, it's time to give up on this dream of competing with baseball, football, and basketball for national supremacy in the United States. Bettman and his cronies must acknowledge the regional nature of the hockey market and do everything that the league can do to maximize the fanbase and revenue opportunities in those markets.

It's actually a potential personal win for the commissioner. Canadian hockey fans will be appreciative, the league will be stronger, and maybe we can even throw a couple of free Blackberries into the deal.

How sweet would that be?

What's the World's Ultimate Sporting Event?

Joe MacDonald — Fri, 01 May 2009 12:01:56 -0400

According to vancouver2010.com, I'm a mere 287 days from realizing one of my sporting dreams.

On Feb. 12, 2010 I'll be arriving in Vancouver for ten glorious days as a spectator at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. The event tickets have been purchased, the flight has been booked, and the hotel room has been reserved.

As I near my 46th birthday, I'm well past the age of wanting time to go by fast, but to say I'm excited about the trip would be a definite understatement.

I've always considered the Olympics to be sports ultimate event and it's held a prominent place on my bucket list for many, many years. But finally getting a chance to realize one of my sporting fantasies made me wonder. What do you consider the world's greatest sporting event? If you had to choose just one event what would it be?

There are so many possible choices. This Saturday, for instance, we have what's been described by many as the most exciting two minutes in sports, The Kentucky Derby, a personal must-see event on my calendar. And just a few weeks ago, we had the ultimate event on the golf schedule, The Masters, another annual tradition high on my list.

Then of course we have the usual suspects—The Super Bowl if you are a football fan; the World Series if baseball is your game; the NBA Finals if your a basketball junkie and the Stanley Cup Finals if you're a hockey nut.

Or if you're a college sports enthusiasts, maybe you're dream experience would be a trip to the Final Four or tickets to the national championship football game.

And that's just the beginning. Some may prefer the Daytona 500 or a trip to Indianapolis on the Memorial Day weekend. Tea at Wimbledon might be nice as would a tour in the Alps during the staging of the Tour de France bicycle race.

Or for the hardcore fan, how about a weekend at the X-Games or a long dog-sled ride during the Iditarod. For runners, the Boston Marathon may be high on the list while others may prefer the intensity of a boxing or mixed martial arts championship bout. As I say, the possibilities are endless.

So what's your ultimate sports experience?

Stanley Cup Playoffs: Second Round Predictions

Joe MacDonald — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:27:33 -0400

Picking seven out of the eight first round Stanley Cup Playoff series correctly was almost enough to make me forget my less than stellar Masters predictions - well almost.

I managed to get all four winners right in the Eastern Conference after the ice chips settled and three of four in the West, with only the Anaheim Ducks spoiling the perfect record. Should have known better than to rely on Joe Thornton.

With renewed confidence, I present my second round selections. No guarantees, but they are probably as good as any stock tip you've received in the past six months or so.

Eastern Conference

Series I - Boston Bruins (1) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (6)

Season Series: The Bruins dominated the Hurricanes during the regular season, winning all four games.

Playoff History: Boston leads series 3-0. This is the first post-season meeting between the clubs since the 1999 Conference Quarter-Final, won by Boston in six. It's also the first time the clubs have met past the first round. The other two meeting were in 1990 and 1991 when Carolina called Hartford home.

Stanley Cup Experience: The Hurricanes have nine players who have taken a drink from Lord Stanley's mug. Four Bruins are also Stanley Cup winners.

Who's Hot: Forwards Michael Ryder (4 goals, 7 points), Phil Kessel (4-2-6), David Krejci (2-3-5) and Marc Savard (2-3-5) led the Bruins versus Montreal. For the Hurricanes Eric Staal (5-2-7), Ray Whitney (3-4-7) and the surprising Chad Larose (2-5-7) led the offense, while Jussi Jokinen proved to have a knack for scoring the big goal when needed.

Who's Not: The Bruins will look for bigger contributions from rookie Blake Wheeler (0 points) and veteran Mark Recchi (0-1-1) in round 2. Captain Rod Brind'amour, winger Eric Cole and power-play specialist Anton Babchuk were held pointless by New Jersey and will have to supply some offense if the 'Canes have any hope.

Key Match-up: Eric Staal vs. Zdeno Chara. Staal is the heart of the Carolina offense and Chara is simply the most physical defenseman in hockey. If the Carolina center can still be a difference maker with the big Slovak on his back, the Canes have a chance. If not, it could be a short series.

X-Factor: Goaltender Cam Ward of Carolina. The Hurricanes will need their goalkeeper to duplicate his effort in the 2006 playoffs, when he won the Conn Smythe Trophy, to have any hope of advancing. His play in round one is definitely cause for optimism.

Prediction: Carolina's been as good as anybody since mid-season and seemed to have some mojo going after their incredible escape from the brink of elimination against the Devils. Look for the upset - Carolina in seven.

Series J - Washington (2) vs. Pittsburgh (4)

Season Series: Washington won three of four games during the season, losing the other in overtime.

Playoff History: Penguins lead the series 6-1. The last two playoff meetings between the once and still bitter rivals were in the first round in 2000 and 2001, both won by Pittsburgh. One memorable chapter of the rivalry took place in 1995, when the Penguins rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to beat the Caps in seven games.

Stanley Cup Experience: Pittsburgh has five players on the roster with Stanley Cup rings and most of the key players return from the team that went all the way to the Stanley Cup finals in 2008. Washington has only one former Stanley Cup champion in the line-up, Sergei Federov, who won three Cups with Detroit.

Who's Hot: The usual suspects led their respective clubs in round one. For the Penguins, Evgeni Malkin lead all scorers with nine points (4-5), center Sidney Crosby had four goals and four assists and won over 63% of his face-offs and veteran blue-liner Sergei Gonchar added five points (1-4). On the Washington side, Alexander Semin (5-3-8), Alexander Ovechkin (3-4-7) and Nicklas Backstrom (0-7-7) all averaged at least a point a game up front and blue-liners Tom Poti (2-4-6) and Mike Green (1-4-5) provided offense from the back end.

Who's Not: The Penguins might need a bigger contribution from center Jordan Staal (0-1-1 in six games) and winger Petr Sykora (0 points in 4 games) to beat the high-powered Capitals. Sykora was a healthy scratch for games five and six of the series and will need to respond if and when he's given a second chance.

Key Match-up: This series may well come down to which of the league's two mega-stars want it the most. Both Sidney Crosby of the Pens and Alexander Ovechkin of the Capitals have great supporting casts but both are the unquestioned leaders of their respective teams. Add in a generous portion of personal dislike between our two protagonists and you have a recipe for a great series.

X-Factor: Rookie goalie Simeon Varlamov of the Capitals. The young netminder stepped in admirably when veteran Jose Theodore didn't answer the bell in game one against New York. His numbers in round one were spectacular but you have to give the punch-less Rangers' offense some of the credit. He'll face a much different challenge against the talented penguins.

Prediction: Wouldn't this make an amazing Stanley Cup final? Look for the Penguins experience and a super-motivated Sidney Crosby to be the difference in this one. Penguins in six games.

Western Conference

Series K - Detroit (2) vs. Anaheim (8)

Season Series: The Red Wings had little trouble with the Ducks during the regular season, claiming seven of a possible eight points.

Playoff History: Series tied 2-2. After early round losses in 1997 and 1999, Anaheim has won the last two series. In 2003, the seventh-seeded Ducks swept the number two ranked Wings in the first round on the way to a surprising appearance in the Stanley Cup finals. Then in 2007, Anaheim beat Detroit in a bitterly contested six-game Western Conference final en-route to their first Stanley Cup.

Stanley Cup Experience: Nerves shouldn't be a factor in this match-up as no fewer than 36 of the participants have their name engraved on the cup at least once, 22 Red Wings and 14 Ducks.

Who's Hot: Eight different Red Wings averaged at least a point a game in round one, led by Johan Franzen (2-4-6) and the under-appreciated Daniel Cleary (2-3-5). The big line of Ryan Getzlaf (2-6-8), Corey Perry (3-1-4) and Bobby Ryan (4-0-4) and the Ducks' defense, anchored by captain Scott Niedermayer (1-4-5) did most of the damage for Anaheim.

Who's Not: Hart Trophy finalist Pavel Datsyuk (1-1-2) wasn't always Detroit's most dangerous player against Columbus, but then again, he didn't have to be. He may have to raise his game against the more experienced Ducks. As the Red Wings focus on Anaheim's big line, more will be expected of veteran Teemu Selanne (1-1-2) in terms of secondary scoring.

Key Match-up: Red Wings' forwards vs. the Ducks' defense. Detroit has as talented and deep a forward group as any team in the league. Anaheim's success is built around a big, mobile defense. A classic match-up to answer the age old question - does a good defense really beat a good offense?

X-Factor: Special Teams' play. Both teams have great power plays (Detroit ranked first, Anaheim fifth during the regular season) and are sometimes suspect when shorthanded (ranked 25th and 23rd respectively). The series could come down to which team is able to stay out of the penalty box, which is sometimes a problem for Anaheim.

Prediction: This will be a tougher series than expected, but if Chris Osgood can continue to provide good goaltending, it's hard to pick against the defending champs. Red Wings in six.

Series L - Vancouver (3) vs. Chicago (4)

Season Series: The teams split four games during the regular season, but the best indicator might be a convincing 4-0 Vancouver win late in the season.

Playoff History: Series Tied 1-1. The Hawks and Canucks haven't met in the playoffs since the 1995 Western Confernce semi-final, which Chicago swept in four games. Prior to that you have to go all the way back to 1982, where the Canucks beat the Blackhawks four games to one in the conference final, before falling to the Islanders in the Stanley Cup championship series.

Stanley Cup Experience: The Canucks are the only team left in the playoffs without a player with a Stanley Cup ring. Chicago has three players with championships including starting goalkeeper Nikolai Khabibulin who backstopped Tampa Bay to the 2004 title.

Who's Hot: A lot of pressure was placed on the broad shoulders of the Sedin brothers entering the playoffs and they responded against the Blues. Daniel led Vancouver with 5 points (2-3) with bother Henrik (1-3-4) just behind. Veteran defenseman Sami Salo (1-3-4) also had a strong opening round series. For the Hawks, rookie Kris Versteeg continued to open eyes around the league with a team leading seven points (2 goals, 5 assists). Forwards Martin Havlat (3-3-6), Patrick Sharp (3-3-6) and Jonathan Toews (2-4-6) and defenseman Cam Barker (3-3-6) and Brent Seabrook (1-5-6) were also consistent producers.

Who's Not: The Canucks will need more offense from veteran Mats Sundin (1-0-1), who missed time with a groin injury, and youngsters Ryan Kesler (0-1-1) and Mason Raymond (0 points in four games). The Hawks have so many weapons that all-around defenseman Duncan Keith going pointless in six games isn't a big cause for concern, but they should expect more production in round two from the Team Canada candidate.

Key Match-up: Samuel Pahlsson vs. Henrik Sedin. Unlike the Hawks who get consistent offensive contributions from three lines, the Canucks rely heavily on the Sedins to score their goals. Pahlsson was acquired from Anaheim to match-up against the top offensive centres. With respect to Olli Jokinen, Henrik will be his first big test in the 2009 playoffs.

X-Factor: Roberto Luongo, Vancouver. The Canucks' captain was nearly unbeatable down the stretch and during the first round sweep of St. Louis. He's the best at his position, no matter what the Vezina nomination say, and is looking to validate his ranking with a championship. He could be the difference in a close match-up.

Prediction: The Hawks are definitely a team on the rise, but their best years are yet to come. Look for the more experienced Canucks to book their place in the conference final. Vancouver in six games.

Team Canada 2010: My Early Selections

Joe MacDonald — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:36:26 -0400

In 302 days, one of the most anticipated hockey tournaments ever held in North America begins. Of course, we are talking about the men's hockey competition at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

Over the next few months, expert after so-called expert will give their opinions on who should be on the various national squads that will contest the 12-team tournament.

To the citizens of the host country, the make-up of only one team really matters. And no selections will be more scrutinized, analyzed and criticized than the 23-man roster chosen to represent Canada.

So who should be on Canada's dream team for the 2010 Olympics? Here are my selections:

Goalkeeper (3)

My Picks: Roberto Luongo, Vancouver Canucks; Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils; Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets

Also considered: Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins; Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes; Marty Turco, Dallas Stars; Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens

Luongo is the best in the world at his position, and is ready to take over as the number one man from Brodeur. The NHL's all-time wins leader is a great insurance policy and already has an Olympic goal medal.

Mason gets the nod for the third spot over Marc-Andre Fleury and Carey Price as the man who looks the most like the heir apparent at this point.

If Luongo or Brodeur go down, the back-up position may be between Ward or Turco, who have a bit more experience than the three considered for the primarily ceremonial third spot.

Defenseman (7)

My Picks: Chris Pronger, Anaheim Ducks; Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim Ducks; Jay Bouwmeester, Florida Panthers; Shea Weber, Nashville Predators; Dion Phaneuf, Calgary Flames; Duncan Keith, Chicago Blackhawks; Mike Green, Washington Capitals

Also considered: Dan Boyle, San Jose Sharks; Brent Burns, Minnesota Wild; Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins; Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings

Niedermayer and Pronger will provide experience and leadership to what otherwise is a very young, if skilled defense. Phaneuf, Weber, Bouwmeester and Keith round out the top six, with Mike Green from Washington slated as the seventh man and power-play specialist.

Depending on how well Green plays in his own end, he could quickly move into the top three pairs.

Boyle and Burns are the toughest cuts on the blueline, but would be worthy additions if someone else struggles or gets hurt. Doughty and Letang are long shots but are developing quickly.

Forwards (13)

My Picks

Line One: Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks; Dany Heatley, Ottawa Senators; Rick Nash, Columbus Blue Jackets

Line Two: Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning; Jarome Iginla, Calgary Flames; Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks

Line Three: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins; Jeff Carter, Philadelphia Flyers; Eric Staal, Carolina Hurricanes

Line Four: Mike Richards, Philadelphia Flyers; Shane Doan, Phoenix Coyotes; Brendan Morrow, Dallas Stars

13th man: Simon Gagne, Philadelphia Flyers

Also considered: Marc Savard, Boston Bruins; Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning; Jonathan Toews, Chicago Black Hawks; Jason Spezza, Ottawa Senators; Patrick Marleau, San Jose Sharks; Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning; Patrick Sharp, Chicago Black Hawks

Getzlaf, Heatley and Nash were dynamite together at the 2008 World Championships, finishing 1-2-3 in tournament scoring. Lecavalier, Iginla and Thornton provide an overwhelming combination of size, skill and experience. Crosby gets two wingers with speed and finishing ability in Carter and Staal.

The fourth line of Richards, Doan and Morrow will be no fun to play against and will also get their share of goals. Gagne is the perfect 13th guy as he can play in all situations and in both ends of the rink.

Of those also considered, St. Louis was the toughest to leave off the team, because of his all-around ability, speed and his chemistry with Lecavalier. Toews is developing fast and could force his way on the team with a big first half.

Spezza and Marleau could be considered if injuries are a factor. Stamkos and Sharp will probably not make the grade in 2010, but could be a part of future Team Canada's.

Luke Schenn for John Tavares: Sounds Like A No-Brainer To Me

Joe MacDonald — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 19:12:30 -0400

Word out of Toronto is that Leafs' GM Brian Burke has already called both the New York Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning to express his interest in trading up for the first or second pick in the upcoming NHL draft. His goal of course is to acquire either forward John Tavares or defenseman Victor Hedman and give the club a franchise player to build around.

Given his famous direct approach, I'm sure this tactic didn't surprise anyone, although I have as much doubt as most hockey observers that he'll be able to pull it off. For one thing, most teams tend to keep their draft picks when a potential franchise player is available. There's also serious doubt that Leafs have enough in the way of assets that could prompt the Islanders or Lightning to part with such a lofty selection.

But what did surprise me is the universal outcry from Leafs' Nation against the possibility of including rookie defenseman Luke Schenn in any offer for the number one or two pick.

Now don't get me wrong, I like Luke Schenn. I think he's going to be a fine NHL player. But he's never going to be a great player and he's certainly not a franchise player. He's definitely a building block for a franchise in a rebuilding mode, but he can't be your cornerstone. And that's what the Leafs need.

I guess it's natural in an organization with few legitimate assets for the fans and even management to overvalue the few players of value they have. But let's be serious for a minute. Schenn is going to be a good shutdown defenseman. But he's never going to be an offensive threat. Maybe he'll score 10 goals and pick up 40 points in his best season.

And while shut-down defenseman are valuable, they aren't as valuable as potential franchise players who may well have the ability to take their team to the next level. Hedman and Tavares both have that potential. A team only get's a chance at a player like that once every 20 or 25 years. Top defensive rearguards can be replaced.

Would the Senators not trade a Chris Phillips type player for a Dany Heatley type? Would the Penguins not trade Brooks Orpik, their shutdown guy, for Chris Pronger, a two-way franchise defenseman. Of course both clubs would make those deals.

If the Leafs brain trust actually believes that Tavares or Hedman are franchise players, a demand from a potential trading partner to include Schenn in the deal shouldn't necessarily mean the end of the discussion.

And right thinking Leaf fans should see that.

National Hockey League: Round One Playoff Predictions

Joe MacDonald — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:44:52 -0400

It only took 1,230 regular season games, but the National Hockey League is finally ready for games that really matter. After an interesting six month season, the last weekend was surprisingly anti-climatic. But that will all change when the eight first round series get underway on Wednesday.

Here are our predictions for round No. 1, as the best teams in the NHL start the quest for Lord Stanley's famous cup.

Eastern Conference

Series "A"—Boston Bruins (1) vs. Montreal Canadiens (8)

Starts Thursday in Boston; TV—CBC

Despite the extensive history between the two clubs that heavily favours Les Canadiens (24-8 in 32 previous playoff series), the Bruins had their way in the regular season, posting a 5-0-1 record against their arch-rivals.

The key to the Bruins is balance up front—they had seven players with 20 or more goals— the defensive leadership of Zdeno Chara, and the goaltending of Tim Thomas, a favorite for the Vezina Trophy as most outstanding goaltender.

The Habs will need outstanding performances from star-forward Alexei Kovalev and goaltender Carey Price to have any chance. The defensive corps will also have to find a way to do without it's star, Alexi Markov, who may be out for the series.

Prediction: Despite the history, the Bruins are just a better team at this point. Take the Bruins in five.

Series "B"—Washington Capitals (2) vs. New York Rangers (7)

Starts Thursday in Washington; TV—TSN

Washington dominated the season series, winning three times and losing once in extra time in four meetings. The teams averaged over six goals per game, and a high scoring series definitely favours the Southeast Division champion Capitals.

The Caps are led by Maurice Richard Trophy winner Alexander Ovechkin (56 goals), who finished second in the league scoring race with 110 points. Nicklas Backstrom (88 points), Aleaxnder Semin (73 points), and defenseman Mike Green (31 goals) lead the supporting cast.

The Rangers are, by their own admission, offensively challenged, and will rely heavily on goalkeeper Henrik Lundqvist to give them a chance. The addition of Sean Avery late in the season has given the New York offense a boost, but they still lack that go-to-guy you need in the playoffs.

Prediction: Lundqvist may steal a game or two, but the Capitals just have too much fire-power in the final analysis. Washington will win in six games.

Series "C"—New Jersey Devils (3) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (6)

Starts Wednesday in New Jersey; TV—TSN

The Hurricanes have been one of the hottest teams in the National Hockey League down the stretch, and the Devils seemingly heading in the other direction. Overall, Carolina took the regular season series 3-1, with the lone New Jersey win coming on the last weekend of the season.

The Devils are led by rising star Zach Parise, who had a career year in 2008-09 with 94 points, and veteran goalkeeper Martin Brodeur, a three-time Stanley Cup champion. Brodeur missed the first five months of the season, and came back to pass Patrick Roy for No. 1 on the all-time wins list, but has struggled since.

Carolina's offensive leaders are Ray Whitney (77 points) and Eric Staal (40 goals). Hurricanes goalkeeper Cam Ward has been finally looking like the same guy who won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2006.

Prediction: Look for Ward to outplay Brodeur, giving Carolina a mild upset in six games.

Series "D"—Pittsurgh Penguins (4) vs. Philadelphia Flyers (5)

Starts Wednesday in Pittsburgh; TV—CBC

The Penguins won four of six games during the regular season, as the two teams combined for 42 goals.

Offense is not usually a problem for the Pens, who boast two of the top three scorers in the league in Art Ross Trophy winner Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby. Sergei Gonchar and sophomore Kris Letang lead a mobile defense, and Marc-Andre Fleury is the undisputed No. 1 man between the pipes.

The Flyers are led by centres Mike Richards (80 points) and Jeff Carter (46 goals, 84 points) and defenseman Kimmo Timonen (43 points). A big question mark for the Flyers is the inconsistency of goaltender Martin Biron which may ultimately be the key to the series.

Prediction: The Pens have been a different team since Dan Bylsma took over as head coach. Penguins will win in six.

Western Conference

Series "E"—San Jose Sharks (1) vs. Anaheim Ducks (8)

Starts Thursday in San Jose; TV—CBC

The Sharks won the President's Trophy as the league's top team in the regular season, and they had the edge on their intra-state rivals, winning the season series 4-2.

San Jose was led by centres Joe Thornton (86 points), Patrick Marleau (38 goals), and defensemen Dan Boyle and Rob Blake, whose additions last offseason stabilized an already talented defense. Goalkeeper Evgeni Nabokov wasn't his usual self sometimes during 2008-09, but is still an elite goalie.

Anaheim avoided the temptation to dump players at the trade deadline, and it paid off for the 2007 champs. The Ducks still have two of the best defenseman in hockey in Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer, and a great first-line led by centre Ryan Getzlaf (91 points). But it gets pretty thin up front after that, and the goaltending has been inconsistent all season long.

Prediction: The Ducks experience should get them one game, but it should be San Jose all the way. Sharks will win in five games.

Series "F"—Detroit Red Wings (2) vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (7)

Starts Thursday in Detroit; TV—TSN

The Jackets and the defending champion Red Wings split the season series, each winning three times, with one of the Columbus wins coming in overtime.

The Red Wings have the same nucleus of players that ran over the opposition on the way to the Cup in 2008, and added Marian Hossa in the offseason. Hossa (40 goals) and centre Pavel Datsyuk (97 points) lead the Wings offensively, while captain Nick Lidstrom was among the leaders in defenseman scoring with 59 points. The only question mark is goaltending, which ranged from inconsistent to awful.

The Blue Jackets got to the playoffs on the back of rookie sensation Steve Mason, who led the league with 10 shutouts. Winger Rick Nash (40 goals, 79 points) leads the offense, but it's Ken Hitchcock's system that is the star in Columbus.

Prediction: The playoff excitement won't last long in Columbus. Red Wings will win this one in five games.

Series "G"—Vancouver Canucks vs. St. Louis Blues

Starts Wednesday in Vancouver; TV—CBC

The Blues shocked the league and themselves with a furious second half rally that saw them jump from also-rans to the sixth seed in the Western Conference. The Canucks, too, caught fire after the All-Star break to snatch the division title from Calgary. The teams split the season series 2-2.

Vancouver is led by the brothers Sedin, Daniel and Henrik, who tied for first in team scoring with 82 points apiece. The club's undisputed star, however, is captain and goalkeeper Roberto Luongo, who posted 33 wins and nine shutouts in 54 appearances.

The Blues also got tremendous goaltending down the stretch from Chris Mason, who responded well to being anointed the No. 1 man after the demotion of Manny Legace. Offensively, centre Andy McDonald had 44 points in 46 games, and winger Brad Boyes led the team with 33 goals.

Prediction: The Blues are riding high right now, and will give the Canucks lots of trouble, but we still see Vancouver prevailing in six games.

Series "J"—Chicago Blackhawks (4) vs. Calgary Flames (5)

Starts Thursday in Chicago; TV—TSN

Both teams struggled a bit in the second half, setting up an interesting first round matchup. The Hawks dominated the season series, winning all four games by a combined score of 19-7.

Chicago is led offensively by youngsters Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, and the rejuvenated Martin Havlat. They also have a strong blue-line featuring Brian Campbell, Brent Seabrook, and Duncan Keith. Nikolai Khabibulin has emerged from a season-long battle to become the undisputed No. 1 in the Chicago goal.

The Flames, as always, are led by captain Jarome Igina, who, with linemates Mike Cammalleri and Olli Jokinen, form an imposing first line. Star defenseman Dion Phaneuf struggled at times during the season, as did No. 1 goalkeeper Miikka Kiprusoff, but the talent is still there.

Prediction: This might be the most intriguing of all the first round series, matching the Hawks' youth and talent against the Flames' grit and experience. We're taking the young Blackhawks in a tough seven game series.

Breaking Down the Masters, Hole-by-Hole: Numbers Two, Three, and Four

Joe MacDonald — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 17:19:27 -0400

(Updated at 8:00 PM EDT on Sunday, Apr. 12)

Over the course of the Masters Tournament, we'll be providing an update on holes two, three and four at Augusta National. We'll be focusing on strategy, how changing conditions affect the playability of the holes and how the leading contenders are making there way through this crucial, if sometimes overlooked, stretch.

Check back often for updates throughout the weekend.

Augusta National has many famous holes, particularly those located on the back nine that have been burned into the minds of golf fans during 50 years of network television coverage.

The lesser known holes on Augusta's front side are just as magnificent and are just now becoming more recognizable to the golf masses due to expanded TV coverage over the past decade.

Three of those great but often overlooked holes are Nos. 2, 3, and 4—a long but reachable par-five, a classic shot par-four of 350 yards and one of the toughest par-threes in major championship golf

While it's probably true that the Masters Tournament has never been won on holes two, three, and four at Augusta National, it's probably safe to say that the championship has been lost a time or two on these three architectural gems.

Final Round Highlights

Although holes two, three and four didn't play a part in the dramatic sudden-death playoff that crowned Argentina's Angel Cabrera as the 2009 Masters' champion, there was still plenty of interesting action on the three early holes that got the thousands of Augusta patrons and the millions of TV viewers very excited.

Hole #2, Pink Dogwood, the 575-yard par-5, ranked as the 16th most difficult hole on Sunday, averaging 4.680. The hole yielded an eagle and 16 birdies, and only 2 bogies. Overall the hole ranked 16th hardest for the entire tournament.

The 350-yard 3rd hole played a little tougher, allowing only 10 birdies, but inflicting seven bogies among the 50 players who played on Sunday. It finished as the 14th most difficult hole on the day (3.940 stroke average) and 13th for the week.

After almost being benign on days two and three, the 240-yard Par-3 fourth was once again a real test on Sunday, as it ranked third in terms of difficulty, averaging more than a quarter of a stroke over par (3.260). There were only 4 birdies all day compared to 10 bogies, two double bogies and one other. Flowering Crab Apple finished the week as the 6th most difficult hole.

The three playoff participants had a relatively uneventful trip through holes two, three and four on Sunday, as Chad Campbell, Kenny Perry and winner Angel Cabrera all played the three hole stretch even par. Campbell and Perry made three pars, while Cabrera birdied three and bogied four.

Other contenders made more noise on the holes. Phil Mickelson, on his way to a front nine 30, made birdies at two and three to increasingly loud roars from the patrons. American Steve Flesh went one better, recording three consecutive threes at two, three and four on his way to a final round 67 and a tiedfor sixth.

The strtech wasn't kind to everyone, however. South African Rory Sabbatini, who entered the final round at -6, just five of the lead, saw his chances all but end with bogies on two and four on his way to a disappointing final round 76.

Third Round Highlights

The leaders navigated holes two, three and four successfully on Saturday, but a miss-step by one of the pre-tournament favorites on the par-five second may have ended any chance at one of the greatest achievements in golf history.

Overall, the three holes all played easier than they did on Friday despite pin locations that would have to be described as more difficult on thee and four. The difference—almost perfect scoring conditions.

Augusta was blessed with sunny skies, warm temperatures and a lot less wind than the players had to deal with in round two.

The 575-yard par-five second hole ranked as the 17th most difficult during Saturday's action, with an average of 4.660. Fifty percent of the 50 players who made the cut made birdie, with only two bogies, one double and one unexpected other.

The third hole, the 350-yard par-4 known as Flowering Peach, also played easier in round three, averaging an even 4.000 strokes to rank 10th hardest. But it was still one of the hardest holes on the course to birdie, with only six of the 50 players managing a score under par.

The dramatic change was the 240-yard par-three fourth, which ranked as the most difficult hole on day one, but only ranked 13th in scoring average on Saturday. And for the first time the hole averaged under par at 2.860.

Almost 25 percent of the field birdied Flowering Crab Apple, and only four (three bogies and one double) had a score over par.

The leaders came through the stretch relatively unscathed, led by current co-leader Kenny Perry who recorded birdies at two and four.

Thirty-six-hole co-leader Chad Campbell birdied the second to improve his cumulative score to six under for the three holes through three rounds. The other current members of the top five—Angel Cabrera, Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker—all played the three holes one under par, with a birdie and two pars.

Others who made a move on the early holes to post a solid score included lefty Steve Flesch who birdied two and four on the way to a solid 68, tied for the best score of the day.

But perhaps the biggest contribution that holes two through four made on day three was the quadruple bogie nine made by Padraig Harrington on the second hole, effectively putting to an end the dream of the "Paddy Slam."

Harrington rallied for a one-over par 73, but finds himself ten shots back with only 18 holes to play.

Hole No. 2 - Third Round Pin Placement and Early Saturday Action

With less severe wind conditions forecast and a slightly easier pin placement, the 575-yard par-five second hole may return to must-birdie status for round No. 3.

Saturday's pin is in the middle-back of the green, making it a little more accessible and making the two deep greenside bunkers, less of a factor.

In early Saturday play, there have been five birdies through 14 players, but also two bogies (Dudley Hart and Paul Casey) and one double (D.J. Trahan), showing the leaders that the hole can be had, but care is still required.

Hole No. 3 - Third Round Pin Placement and Early Saturday Action

With a difficult front right hole location on the par-four third on Saturday, most players will be happy to mark a four on their scorecard and move quickly to the next tee.

Look for most players to lay-up with irons off the tee, looking for the premium yardage that will allow them to spin the ball and get it close as possible to the pin.

Englishmen Justin Rose and Ross Fisher made the only two birdies on the third through 14 players on Saturday, but countrymen Luke Donald (double bogie) and Robert Allenby (bogie) weren't as fortunate.

Hole No. 4 - Third Round Pin Placement and Early Saturday Action

With a difficult pin placement protected by the right green side bunker, look for players to treat the par-three fourth with a lot of respect during Saturday's third round. Shots aimed at the middle of the green will be the norm as most players will be content with a long birdie putt rather than risk potential disaster.

So far players are playing the fourth conservatively, with two birdies (Steve Flesch and D.J. Trahan) and 10 pars through the first 12 players.

It will be interesting to see if the leaders or those just off the first page of the leaderboard are able to resist the urge to do a little flag hunting on the super-tough 240 yard hole.

Second Round Highlights

As predicted, the combination of tougher pin locations and the swirling Augusta wins made holes two and three a little more difficult on day two, while a much more accessible flag on the par-three fourth yielded more than triple the number of birdies that the 240-yard challenge allowed on Thursday.

The 575-yard par-five Second, Pink Dogwood, surrendered two eagles and 25 birdies on Friday but also exacted some revenge from the field with 11 bogies and a double by Canadian Mike Weir.

The stroke average rose from 4.54 during round one to 4.83 on Friday, to rank as the fourth easiest hole.

A relatively easy pin allowed the field to take advantage of the 350-yard par-four third during round one, as the field averaged well under par. The story was a little different on Friday as the number of birdies made on Flowering Peach was cut in half (29 to 14), while the number of bogies tripled to 21 for a stroke average of 4.11. It ranked 13th in difficulty.

The Fourth was a little more forgiving compared to the hole the players faced on Thursday, that surrendered only four birdies and ranked first in difficulty. Fourteen players recorded twos on Flowering Crab Apple on Friday and the average score fell from 3.36 to 3.16.

Still a challenge, but just one of several tough holes on the course during round two action, as it ranked only 10th hardest.

Tournament co-leader Chad Campbell continued his amazing run on holes two, three and four on Friday, picking up birdies on two and four and improving to an incredible five under on the three hole stretch for the week.

Others were less fortunate, and a few of the main contenders will be wondering how much closer that could have been entering the third round if they'd successfully managed this tough stretch.

Among those who'd love to play these holes over include Tim Clark, who sits solo fifth after 36-holes at five under, despite bogies at three and four on Friday. Hunter Mahan made birdie on No. 1, to get to seven under before going six-six on holes two and three. He finished at three under after a 75 but could have been so much closer.

Even former Masters champion Mike Weir wasn't immune as a double bogie on two and a bogie on three knocked him from the first page of the leaderboard. He sits eight shots back at one under, mostly due to his poor showing on the starting holes.

Hole No. 2 - Second Round Pin Placement and Early Action

Judging by the Friday pin placement on Pink Dogwood, the Masters Committee may be looking to exact a little revenge after Thursday's birdie fest, that saw the Masters field turn the 575-yard par five into little more than a difficult par four.

For Friday's round the hole location has been moved to the left-hand corner of the large green, well protected by one of the two huge greenside bunkers and forcing players to be careful not to short-side themselves by going a little too far left. Expect less birdies than during day one.

In early action on day two, the second hole is already showing more teeth. Through 33 players, there have only been 11 birdies and already six bogies—two more than the entire day one total.

Among the leaders who have struggled on the second in early play include, Sean O'Hair, Todd Hamilton and Hunter Mahan, who birdied the tough first hole to get to seven under, only to give it back with a birdie on No. 2.

Hole No. 3 - Second Round Pin Placement and Early Action

Like No. 2, the hole location on the 350-yard third for Friday's second round is in a much more challenging location. It, too, has been moved to the far left hand corner of the green, leaving only a sliver of the putting surface for the Masters' contenders to try and reach with their second shots.

Friday's placement also brings the only greenside bunker that guards the third green into play.

Through 30 golfers on day two, the hole is actually playing slightly over par, with five birdies, four bogies, and the first double bogey of the championship on number three by Hunter Mahan. That's a big difference from Thursday when the hole played a quarter of a stroke under par.

Among those finding success on Flowering Peach during day two action are 50-year old Larry Mize, who continues to stay in contention and Sean O'Hair, who rebounded from his disappointing bogie at two, with birdie at three to get back to four under.

Hole No. 4 - Second Round Pin Placement and Early Action

The pin placement on the tough par-three fourth is a little more accessible today, but also brings the two deep bunkers that guard both sides of the green more into play. The pin is cut in the very front of the green, making the hole play a little shorter, but not necessarily easier.

So far on Friday, there's been a few more birdies with five through the first 30 players, but also still a lot of bogies with nine scores over par with less than a third of the field completing play.

Among the leaders who manged to make a move on number two during the early going are John Merrick who moved to six under with his second birdie in three holes at Flowering Crab Apple, and leader Chad Campbell, who amazingly birdied the 240- yard test for the second consecutive day to get to nine under and extend his lead to three.

Those with less success include Aaron Baddeley and Andres Romero, who both bogied number four to fall farther back of Campbell.

First Round Highlights

And judging from first round results, that trend will continue in 2009.

Perfect scoring conditions made two and three birdie holes on day one. The Par-five second ranked as the easiest hole on the course averaging nearly a half stroke under par at 4.5417.

Among the 96 players in the field there were two eagles (Stephen Ames and Nick Watney) and 44 birdies and only four bogies.

The third was also a green light special during the opening round, finishing as the fourth easiest holes, allowing 29 birdies and only seven scores over par.

Even with ideal conditions the par-three fourth was still a monster, ranking first in difficulty with an average score of more than a third of a stroke over par (3.3646). Only four men—Richard Sterne, Stewart Cink, Andres Romero and Chad Campbell—managed a two on the 240 yard monster.

Campbell, the current co-leader after a fine seven-under par 65, took advantage of the stretch as well as anyone, making two, three and four the middle frames of a tournament record five consecutive birdies to open the championship.

Others weren't as lucky and even two names close to the top of the leader-board, Nick Watney and Kevin Sutherland, would probably like a do over. The pair bogied both three and four despite opening with three-under par 69's.

Overview - How Holes 2, 3, and 4 Play

Hole No. 2

Coming off the challenging first hole, the 575 yard par-five second, called Pink Dogwood, is one of the few holes at Augusta National where you feel you are losing shots to the field if you don't make birdie.

Reachable in two with solid shots by the longer hitters, the only real hazard off the tee is a solitary fairway bunker at the elbow of the slight right-to-left dogleg. Players looking for a chance at an eagle will have to play a slight draw and favor the left side of the fairway.

Of course, any attempt for the green brings the too-deep bunkers that guard both sides of the saddle-shaped putting surface into play.

Players not attempting to reach in two will lay up somewhere between 80 to 95 yards, paying special attention to the pin position to get the best angle to the well-guarded green.

Hitting your second too close is a no-no as well, since a couple of shelves and slopes make it necessary to get some spin on the ball to get a good birdie opportunity.

In 2008, the hole ranked as the third easiest hole with two eagles and 89 birdies compared to only 37 bogeys or worse. A birdie here gives you a quick jump on the field, but a bogey could be a sign of impending disaster.

Hole No. 3

Hole number three, Flowering Peach, is a classic risk/reward short par four that can yield birdies, but also big numbers if a player gets too greedy. Just ask Tiger Woods.

At 350 yards, the hole can be played two completely different ways depending on the pin location and situation. When the pin is located in the front right, an iron or fairway wood leaves a short iron approach to the shallow green.

Getting the proper amount of spin here is crucial, as only 11 paces separate front from back on the right side.

If the pin is anywhere in the back, many players will use a driver or three wood to get the ball as close to the green as possible, leaving a short but challenging pitch with a lob wedge. Right is the only safe miss on this hole as left, short, and long are all dead.

Number three ranked 14th in difficulty in 2008, yielding 44 birdies, offset by 44 bogeys and four doubles. An inviting-looking hole from the tee, but definitely one to handle with care.

Hole No. 4

If par is a good score on number three, it's a major achievement on the difficult par three fourth hole, known to the members as Flowering Crab Apple, a fitting name for a hole that can sometimes leave a bad taste in a player's mouth.

The pros will be using a long-iron or hybrid club off the tee and anyone who claims to be aiming anywhere but the middle of the green is probably not telling the truth.

The green is well-protected by two large bunkers, which seem to swallow up miss-hit shots. Long isn't any more attractive and a bogey would be considered a good score if you hit it long.

Even if you're lucky enough to hit the green, you better make sure you are on the right side of the putting surface as a ridge bisects the green. Miss the ridge and two-putting is a chore on the slippery, sloping green.

Number four ranked as the fifth most difficult hole in 2008, surrendering only 17 birdies compared to 76 bogies and three doubles. Mark four threes on your card for the week and any Masters contestant will leave this tough, short hole a very happy man.

Holes two, three, and four at Augusta National may not be among the most well-known on the world's most famous course, but they often have as much to say about determining the eventual champion as any.

Ten Who Could Challenge Tiger at Augusta

Joe MacDonald — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 13:16:14 -0400

Okay, let's be clear about something right from the start.

Tiger Woods will win the 2009 Masters.

In my opinion, that's more a statement of fact than a prediction from another so called golf expert with dubious credentials. The planets just seem to be aligned for another memorable "Tiger moment."

His game seems solid, despite his recent eight month layoff, especially his short game, a key component of any successful title run at Augusta. He seems even more focused and mentally tough (is that even possible?) than he was before his hiatus. And he continues on course to break, no destroy, Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 professional majors, maybe as early as next summer.

That's not to say it will be easy or that he won't be challenged before winning his 5th Green jacket and 15th major championship. It just means that when the final putt drops on Sunday evening it will be Tiger heading to Butler Cabin for a meeting with Trevor Immelmann and Jim Nance.

So who are the main contenders who could make the "drive for five" more than a walk among the dogwoods and azaleas. Here for your consideration are the 10 players I feel have the best chance to finish second at the 2009 Masters Tournament.

10. Rory McIlroy

Okay, no one really thinks a 19-year old can actually contend at the Masters, do they? Of course this is no ordinary teenager, and it appears certain that a stall in the Champions locker room at Augusta National is an inevitability. No, it probably won't happen this week, but a top 10 finish is not outside the realm of possibilities.

9. Henrik Stenson

Stenson already answered one burning question in the minds of golf fans earlier in the season - boxers or briefs? Now we are only left to wonder if he has the game to be a major champion. Based on recent results, the answer is a definite yes. He's a premium ball striker and has more than enough length to be a Masters' contender. The only question is his sometimes erratic putter.

8. Retief Goosen

The two-time U.S. Open champion has a great record at Augusta with four Top-3 finishes on his resume, including second place money in 2002 and 2007. Showed he was fully back after a mysterious 18-month slump with a gutsy win at Innisbrook. Whether it's possible to tame the difficult greens at Augusta National with a belly putter remains to be seen.

7. K.J. Choi

Struggled in recent years, after a third place finish at the 2004 Masters, with his best finish since a tie for 27th in 2007. But his ability to hit it straight and not wilt under major championship pressure makes him a contender any time one of the big four is played. Closing in on 40, so his window for major championship success may be closing fast.

6. Jim Furyk

Maybe surprisingly, the 2003 U.S. Open champion only has three top 10 finishes in 12 Masters appearances, the last a fourth place finish in 2003. Not the longest player on tour, but one would have thought that his great putting and iron play and his mental toughness would have given him a shot to contend for a Green Jacket at some point. 2009 just might be his year.

5. Padraig Harrington

The winner of the last two majors will be under tremendous pressure to keep the "Paddy Slam" alive. That will make the challenge of Augusta that much greater. To make matters worse, the game just hasn't been all there so far in 2009, although recent results have been encouraging. Still if there's one thing we've learned about the Irishman, is that more than anyone other than Tiger he has the ability to rise to the big occasion.

4. Paul Casey

Casey has a game tailored perfectly to Augusta and comes in as one of the hottest players after his playoff win at the Shell Houston Open. He's also only finished outside the top 11 once in four starts, including a tie for 6th as a Masters rookie in 2004. Certainly should be on any short list of players ready for a major break through.

3. Geoff Ogilvy

Some may be surprised to learn that the 2006 U.S. Open champion has never finished better than tied for 16th in three Masters appearances, but the odds are he'll improve on that stat in 2009. Already a 2-time winner on the PGA tour this season, the 31-year old Australian has the all-around game demanded at Augusta and the knowledge that he can handle major championship pressure.

2. Zach Johnson

The 2007 Masters Champion is having an outstanding season including a win at the Sony Open in Hawaii and a recent third place finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Made a solid defense of his title in 2008 and was in contention until a final round 77 gave him a tie for 20th. A great putter who seems comfortable on Augusta's greens. Has the form and the good memories to do well again in 2009.

1. Phil Mickelson

Only in the age of Tiger Woods would the winner of two of the last five Green Jackets not be an overwhelming favorite. But if anyone can take Tiger down it's Mickelson, who heads into Augusta with two wins already this season and more confidence in his game than at any time in his career. Don't get hung up on the poor showing at Houston. Phil's been focused on this one tournament since the start of the season and is as ready as he's ever been. His short game has been nothing short of amazing in '09, something that should serve him well around the challenging Augusta greens.

The 10 Greatest Masters Of The Last 35 Years

Joe MacDonald — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:35:43 -0400

It's not a stretch to say that the 1975 Masters Tournament changed my life.

Prior to that glorious weekend in April, I had a normal 11-year olds' knowledge and interest in the game of golf. By the time Jack Nicklaus putted out on 18, to claim his 5th Green Jacket, I had become a certified golf nut.

As a result, I've spent the past 34 years in a tumultuous love affair with the world's most beautiful and most frustrating game. And I don't regret a single moment.

Maybe because of the impact the '75 championship had on me, the Masters has remained my favorite event of golf's Grand Slam. In the past three and half decades, the tournament has rewarded my loyalty with some of the greatest moments in golf history.

Here, for your consideration, are, in my opinion, the 10 greatest Masters Tournaments since 1975, in order of significance, impact and excitement.

10. 2001: Tiger Completes the "Tiger Slam"

Tiger Woods fired a final round 68 to beat David Duval by two and Phil Mickelson by three. The win made him the first golfer in history to hold all four professional majors at the same time, after his wins at the 2000 U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championships.

9. 1995: Crenshaw's Tribute to Harvey

Coming just days after the death of his mentor and long-time coach Harvey Penick, Ben Crenshaw shot a final round 68 to edge a charging Davis Love III by a shot and win his second green jacket. Gentle Ben's breakdown after sinking the winning putt on the 18th green remains one of the most emotional moments in golf history.

8. 2004: Phil Gets the Monkey off His Back

Phil Mickelson finally won an elusive first major after a stirring Sunday battle with Ernie Els. After a slow start, Els eagled both the 8th and 13th to take the lead, but Phil rallied with five birdies on the back nine, tying the lead with a 20 footer on 16 and winning the title with an 18 foot birdie effort on the 72nd hole.

7. 1978: Little Man Makes Big Charge

42-year old Gary Player completed one of the biggest Sunday charges in Masters' history to win his third title at Augusta. Starting the day seven shots behind the leader, Player birdied seven of the last 10 holes on the way to a final round 64, to edge Hubert Green, Rod Funseth and Tom Watson by a single shot.

6. 2005: "In Your Life Have You Seen Anything Like That!?"

Tiger Woods held a three-shot lead after 54 holes but Chris Dimarco birdied 9, 11 and 14 to pull within a shot. After both players birdied the par 5 15th, Dimarco hit his tee shot on 16 to within 20 feet, but Tiger hit his over the green, leaving an almost an impossible chip shot. What happened next turned out to be one of the most dramatic moments in golf history, as Woods' chip shot rolled towards the hole and hung on the lip for what seemed like minutes before falling, for a much needed birdie. Surprisingly, it seemed like the shot rattled Tiger more than Dimarco, as the world number one went on to bogey the next two holes to set-up a playoff, but only after Dimarco nearly chipped in to end it on the 72nd hole. Tiger righted the ship in the playoff, birding the first extra hole for the win.

5. 1980: El Matador's Finest Hour

Seve Ballesteros won his first of two Green Jackets and permanently changed the balance of power in world golf, with a dominating victory at the 44th Masters Tournament. The Spaniard led wire-to-wire after an opening round 66, stretched his lead to seven shots after 54 holes and led by 10 with nine holes to play, before letting his foot of the gas to claim a 4-shot win over Gibby Gilbert and Jack Newton.

4. 1975: Jack Wins Showdown with Weiskopf and Miller

Jack Nicklaus entered the final round trailing Tom Weiskopf by a shot, but his final round 68 gave him a one shot victory over Weiskopf and a fast charging Johnny Miller, who shot 66 on the final day. The two key moments on the final Sunday were Weiskopfs' fat 5-iron on the par 4 11th that found the water and the 40 foot bomb the Golden Bear dropped on the par 3 16th to take the lead for good. Nicklaus' leap for joy and the gallery's roar when the putt dropped, shook the hallowed ground of Augusta National like it had never been before.

3. 1996: Norman's Collapse Gives Faldo 3rd Title

No player in the history of golf has had more bad luck at Augusta than Greg Norman. With a little good fortune, the Australian could have had two or three green jackets heading into the 1996 tournament. On the strength of an opening 63, Norman had built a 6-stroke lead after 54 holes and his run of futility in the first major of the season appeared to be on the verge of coming to an end. But a few bad shots, a bit of bad luck and Nick Faldo's final round 67, allowed Norman to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

2. 1997: "A Victory for the Ages"

Coming in to his first professional major as the tournament favorite, after exploding on the scene during the last half of 1996 , Tiger Woods started the 1997 Masters with an opening nine of 40, causing many Tiger doubters to smile smugly to themselves. The 21-year old quickly erased those grins with a second nine 30, that put him right back near the top of the leaderboard. What followed was an Augusta masterpiece that may never be duplicated. 22-under par over his final 63 holes, a tournament record 270 total and an astounding 12-shot victory over Tom Kite. If there had been previously any doubt, a new era in golf's history had officially begun.

1. 1986: The Greatest Masters Ever Played

Few gave the 46-year old Nicklaus much chance to claim his sixth Masters' title and after 54 holes he trailed leader Greg Norman by 4 shots. After a pedestrian 35 on the front side, Nicklaus exploded for 5 birdies and an eagle on the inward nine, with the roars from the gallery seemingly getting louder and louder with each move up the leaderboard. His final round 65 gave him a one-shot victory over Norman and Tom Kite, as player after player seemed to self destruct in Jack's wake. The carnage included Seve Ballesteros, who held the lead before dumping his second shot into the water on 15, and the Shark, who, needing only a par on 18 to force a playoff, hit his approach into the gallery and made bogie. A fitting script for the 50th edition of golf's greatest event.

Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson: Showdown at Augusta?

Joe MacDonald — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 07:46:51 -0400

Is this finally the year for a much-anticipated head-to-head showdown between Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson at the Masters?

Woods, the undisputed No. 1 player in the world, no matter how close his eight-month hiatus has made the official world golf rankings, is coming off a dramatic come-from-behind victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. It was his sixth title at Bay Hill and the 66th PGA Tour win of his career.

Mickelson, meanwhile, looked equally impressive in winning the World Golf Championships CA Championship at Doral, winning a final-round duel with up-and-comer Nick Watney. It was Mickelson's 36th career victory and second in a row after his win in Los Angeles in February.

Both players would appear to be at the top of their games, hitting enough good drives and quality iron shots to show off their unparalleled short games. Mickelson claims his short game has never been better, and Tiger, who says he worked harder than ever on his game around the greens during his layoff, was nothing short of lights out with the flat stick at Bay Hill. And nothing is more important at Augusta than a great short game.

Between them, they've won six of the last 12 Masters tournaments. Mickelson was the champion in 2004 and 2006, while Tiger donned the green jacket in 1997, 2001, 2002, and 2005.

Woods has a streak of four consecutive top-three finishes stretching back to 2005, including back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2007 and 2008. He's finished in the top five eight times in 12 appearances as a professional.

Mickelson has seven top-fives and 11 top-10s in 15 trips down Magnolia Lane.

With their combination of current form, tournament track records, and games suited perfectly to the Augusta layout, the 2009 edition of the Masters tournament could produce a classic confrontation reminiscent of Nicklaus and Watson in the '70s or Jack and Arnie in the 1960s.

A perfect storm is brewing. Now it's up to the two titans of the game to deliver something they haven't been able to do in 46 chances since Woods turned pro in 1996. Go head to head at a major for 18 or even 36 holes to determine the champion.

It will be interesting to see who blinks first.

National Hockey League: Picking Your 2008-'09 Award Winners

Joe MacDonald — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:51:41 -0400

With just a little over two weeks left in the regular season, it seems like as good a time as any to give the league general managers, coaches and members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association some help with their end of season award selections.

I decided to concentrate on what most observers consider the National Hockey League’s five major awards - the Hart Trophy presented to the league’s Most Valuable Player; the James Norris Trophy awarded to the NHL’s top defenseman; the Vezina Trophy given to the league’s top goalkeeper; the Calder Trophy, which honours the NHL’s top rookie and the Jack Adams Trophy which goes to the Coach of the Year.

After pondering the possibilities for a couple of hours, I have a lot more respect for the professionals who are tasked with the responsibility. It isn’t easy. In most of the categories, strong cases could be made for several players not even among my finalists.

So with further ado, here are my selections:

Jack Adams Trophy – Coach of the Year

Finalists: Ken Hitchcock, Columbus; Claude Julien, Boston; Brent Sutter, New Jersey

Hitchcock has the young Blue Jackets playing the same stifling defensive style that led to a Stanley Cup Championship in Dallas in 1999. He’s also poised to do something that no coach has done before—lead the Jackets into the playoffs.

Julien has guided the Bruins to the best record in the Eastern Conference in 2008/'09 after barely squeaking into the playoffs last season. And he’s done it all in spite of a long list of injuries.

Sutter’s Devils were given up for dead when all-world goalie Martin Brodeur went down early in the season. Not only did he keep them in the playoff race during Marty’s absence, he has them challenging for top spot in the conference with a little more than a handful of games remaining.

And the winner is: Brent Sutter, New Jersey Devils. His system made Scott Clemensen look like a front-line NHL goalie

Calder Trophy – Rookie of the Year

Finalists: Steve Mason, Columbus; Pekka Rinne, Nashville; Bobby Ryan, Anaheim

Mason has been nothing short of sensational and his 10 shutouts (and counting) are the most by a rookie goaltender since Tony Esposito had 15 in 1969-70. His 31 wins, 2.18 goals against average and .920 save percentage make him a favourite for the Vezina as well (see below).

Rinne would probably be a slam dunk for the award if Mason disappeared. Seven shutouts to go along with a 2.22 GAA and a .922 save percentage mean he’s for real.

After looking like a possible bust for his first couple of years in the league, Ryan has exploded this season with 24 goals and 46 points in 56 games. He also produced a couple of the goals of the year, showing his skill and potential.

And the winner is: Steve Mason, Columbus Blue Jackets. Double digit shutouts, as a rookie, is just incredible.

Vezina Trophy – Most Outstanding Goaltender

Finalists: Nicklas Backstrom, Minnesota; Steve Mason, Columbus; Tim Thomas, Boston

Backstrom is the heart of the Wild and has the flashy numbers, too. Thirty-three wins, 2.46 GAA and a .921 save percentage confirm his place as one of the game’s elite.

Mason is looking to become the first rookie to win the Vezina since Philadelphia’s Ron Hextall in 1987. He plays like a 10-year veteran and seems to perform even better in big situations.

The unorthodox style of Thomas doesn’t prevent him from keeping the puck out of the net. He current leads the league in goals against average (2.11) and save percentage (.931).

And the winner is: Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins. He’s not pretty to watch some nights, but the individual and team results speak for themselves.

James Norris Trophy – Best Defenseman

Finalists: Zdeno Chara, Boston; Mike Green, Washington; Mark Streit, Islanders

Chara can dominate a game at either end of the ice and has emerged as one of the game’s best leaders. His 16 goals and 43 points are more impressive when you consider how much energy he expends in the defensive end.

Green is likely to become the first 30 goal defenseman in years. He doesn’t play a traditional style of defence for sure, but he logs nearly 26 minutes of ice time a game and has a plus 24 rating in spite of the offensive chances he takes.

When Streit left Montreal for the Islanders after the 2007/'08 season he was viewed as a one-dimensional power-play specialist on a good team. A year later with 54 points and a +plus-six plus/minus with the lowly Islanders, he’s a star. Just ask Bob Gainey how good he is.

And the winner is: Mike Green, Washington Capitals. Chara might deserve the award, but 30 goals as a defenseman, in this era, is just too sexy to ignore.

Hart Trophy – Most Valuable Player

Finalists: Zdeno Chara, Boston; Steve Mason, Columbus; Alex Ovechkin, Washington

Chara does everything for the Bruins and is the main reason they are at the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

Similarly, does anyone really think the Blue Jackets would be in the playoff race if Fredrick Norrena was their starting goalkeeper? Mason is the reason they have a chance at all.

Ovechkin is having another spectacular season leading the league in goals (51), shots on goal (475) and Lambeau leaps into the glass. He’s also eighth in the league with 230 hits, a number that must both excite and scare Bruce Boudreau and George MacPhee.

And the winner is: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals. The game’s dominant player and dominant personality will become only the 11th man to win back-to-back Hart Trophies.

Call Me Crazy, But I'm Still Taking Sidney Crosby To Build A Team Around

Joe MacDonald — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:11:59 -0400

At the start of the current NHL season, TSN conducted a survey of the 30 NHL general managers and asked them the following question:

If you could pick one player to build your team around for the next five years, who would it be?

By a wide margin, the GMs chose Sidney Crosby, with Alexander Ovechkin second and Roberto Luongo third.

Since the season started, however, all I’ve heard is how Ovechkin is the league’s best player and a shoo-in for the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player at the end of the season.

Some insist that Crosby is not even the best player on his own team anymore, with that title going to Evgeni Malkin in the minds of many. I even had a heated debate with a hockey mind I respect greatly, who tried to tell me Zach Parise is as good as Sid the Kid.

What?

Now don’t get me wrong. I think all of those players are amazing. Ovechkin is as dynamic an offensive talent as the NHL has ever seen, and his style and personality have attracted a whole new group of fans to the National Hockey League.

Malkin is also superbly talented and somewhat underappreciated, playing in Crosby and Ovechkin’s huge shadows. And Parise is having a break out season, cementing his place as one of the league’s rising stars.

But for my money, No. 87 is still the pick of the litter. Sure, he doesn’t score as many highlight reel goals as Ovechkin, and maybe he trails Malikin by a few points in the NHL scoring race (although when you factor in Crosby’s five missed games, they are pretty close), but if you consider all the things he does for a team, he’s still the man.

Crosby’s best attributes are his competitiveness, his amazing puck skills, and the ability to make the players around him better. How many times have you seen an amazing Crosby pass cut the heart out of an opposing defense and give one of his teammates the hockey equivalent of an uncontested lay-up?

Unfortunately for Sid the Kid, he played the first 60 games of the season with players who couldn’t throw a rock in the Pacific Ocean from five feet. Shockingly, when he actually started playing with guys who could find the back of the net without directions (i.e. Kunitz and Guerin), the points started to pile up.

I’m pretty sure if Crosby had been matched with his current line-mates all season, both the MVP and the scoring title would already be in his back pocket.

Sure, he played with Malkin a lot this season, but that’s not a perfect fit either. Both are players who have to have the puck on their sticks and are much better when they’re the guy doing the passing and somebody else is doing the shooting.

Crosby leads by example every shift. He plays with passion and fire and what his critics call whining is really a defense mechanism to protect himself from an endless barrage of slashes and cheap shots that all real superstars are subjected to.

As I recall, Gretzky was a bit of a whiner, too and he turned out all right. He’ll figure it out with maturity and experience. Crosby is only 21, after all.

In addition to his offensive gifts, the Pittsburgh captain has worked hard to turn himself into a good face-off man and a good penalty killer. He has the potential to be great in both areas. His defensive awareness has grown in leaps and bounds since entering the league as an 18-year-old.

Crosby’s biggest problem is expectation. If Zach Parise scored 100 pts. this season, people would call it a spectacular season. If Crosby scores 100, it’s a disappointment. He’s a victim of his own success.

So take Ovechkin if you like. Or Malikin. Or Parise. Or maybe even Mike Richards or Jarome Iginla. I’ll take Sidney Crosby any day of the week, without regret or hesitation.

Then let’s see who comes out on top.

NHL Point System Needs Changes

Joe MacDonald — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:14:42 -0400

I think it’s time we say enough is enough when it comes to the ridiculous NHL point system currently in place.

Of course I’m talking about the league’s infamous “three-point game”, where the team losing in a shootout or overtime gets a point, making some games worth more in the standings than others.

Proponents of the system usually site two main points when arguing the current format should be maintained.

Firstly, that it’s unfair to not reward a team who fought it’s opponent to a stalemate for 60 minutes, only to lose in 4-on-4 overtime or a shootout, and secondly, that the three-point games keep the playoff races close and interesting to the very end of the season.

The first argument never made any sense to me because the three other major sports don’t feel any compulsion to reward a team for pushing the game to extra time.

Football, baseball and basketball all play overtime during the regular season and none of those leagues make any distinction between a regulation win and an overtime win. A win is a win and a loss is a loss.

Even the NFL, with arguably the most unfair overtime system in professional sports, where a game can virtually be decided by the flip of a coin, doesn’t give the losing team any extra credit for an overtime defeat.

So if it works fine for the other major sports leagues, it should work for the NHL, too.

It’s harder to argue the second point, because, on the surface, there’s no question that the NHL playoff races have certainly been more interesting since the new point system was initiated. But a closer look at the current standings reveals that could be more of an illusion than reality.

What the current point system does is make the standings look close but also makes it extremely difficult to gain ground on the teams ahead of you. Take the Ottawa Senators for an example.

About three weeks ago, they stood in 12th place in the Eastern Conference standings, 12 points out of the last playoff spot.

In the next ten games the Sens compiled a 9-1 record and where did that get them? Still in 12th place, nine points out of a playoff spot. This is directly a result of the three point game.

Here is how the current standings in the NHL would look for each conference, including games of Wednesday, March 25, 2009, if we stopped rewarding losers of shootouts and overtime games:

Eastern Conference

Pos	Team	Wins	PTS
1	New Jersey Devils	47	94
2	Boston Bruins	46	92
3	Washington Capitals	45	90
4	Carolina Hurricanes	41	82
5	Philadelphia Flyers	40	80
6	Pittsburgh Penguins	40	80
7	New York Rangers	39	78
8	Montreal Canadiens	37	74
9	Florida Panthers	35	70
10	Buffalo Sabres	35	70
11	Ottawa Senators	32	64
12	Toronto Maple Leafs	31	62
13	Atlanta Thrashers	30	60
14	Tampa Bay Lightning	24	48
15	New York Islanders	24	48

Western Conference

Pos	Team	Wins	PTS
1	Detroit Red Wings	49	98
2	San Jose Sharks	48	96
3	Calgary Flames	42	84
4	Chicago Black Hawks	39	78
5	Vancouver Canucks	39	78
6	Columbus Blue Jackets	38	76
7	Anaheim Ducks	37	74
8	Edmonton Oilers	35	70
9	Minnesota Wild	35	70
10	Nashville Predators	35	70
11	St. Louis Blues	34	68
12	Dallas Stars	33	66
13	Colorado Avalanche	31	62
14	Phoenix Coyotes	30	60
15	Los Angeles Kings	30	60

A quick analysis of these standings indicates that the standings would be just as close, and the playoff races just as tight, if the three-point game disappeared. And it would also give teams, who go on a hot streak, a chance to make up some serious ground in the standings.

And, as an extra bonus, the Leafs would be right back in the draft lottery race where they belong.

How can Brian Burke not support this change?

Detroit Red Wings: Fantasy Prospect Report

Joe MacDonald — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 06:13:00 -0400

The Detroit Red Wings have a reputation among hockey fans and National Hockey League insiders as being one of the best franchises at identifying and developing talent selected after the first round of the annual NHL entry draft.

Much of this perception was based on the later round selections of forwards Henrik Zetterberg (7th round, 1999) and Pavel Datsyuk (6th round, 1998). Both players rank high in any list of the biggest draft day steals.

Whether perception is actually reality, though, is a different question.

Despite their reputation, the Wings have not had a lot of success getting their recent draft picks into their NHL line-up. In fact, excluding forward Johan Franzen (a third round selection in 2004), the 36 players the Red Wings have selected in the 2003-2007 drafts have only played a total of 36 National Hockey League games.

Still, one of the great luxuries of being an elite NHL franchise is the ability to be patient, and there are still some prospects in the team's system that could make an impact for fantasy owners in the next few seasons.

Here are the Fantasy Hockey Network's ranking of the Top Five fantasy prospects in the Detroit Red Wings' development system:

1. Jakub Kindl, D– Despite a nightmarish first AHL season, the 21-year old is still regarded as an elite prospect by the Red Wings' brass.

Kindl certainly has all the tools required to be a big-time NHL player, including size, skating ability, and puck handling skills. The 6'3” Czech is also a natural power play quarterback and his skill set would seem to be a perfect fit for Detroit's up tempo, puck possession game.

His -34 plus/minus rating in 2007-08, however, shows he still has a lot to learn about the defensive side of the game. He also needs to use his size more effectively and be a more consistent force at the offensive end. 17 points in a full season in the AHL will not make Red Wings' fans forget about Nicklas Lidstrom.

He still has the potential to be a top two NHL defense-man, but needs to show improvement in 2008-09, or even the patient Wings might be forced to reconsider their expectations.

2. Jan Mursak, LW– Despite a slow start in 2007-08, Murzak reaffirmed his ranking as one of Detroit's top prospects with a strong second half, sparked by a mid-season trade that sent him from the Saginaw Spirit to the Belleville Bulls.

Though small by NHL standards (5'11”, 191 lbs), the Slovenian has added almost 25 pounds to his slight frame since he was drafted in 2006.

Despite his size, the 6th round pick has a complete arsenal of offensive weapons including speed, soft hands, and well-developed hockey sense, which could make him an elite playmaker. He also plays with intensity and surprising grit for a player of his talent level.

Right now, the 20-year projects as a top six forward, but will require more seasoning in the AHL. A 2010 debut would seem likely.

3. Cory Emmerton, C – Mononucleosis shortened Emmerton's 2007-08 season, and his health problems no doubt contributed to his reduced offensive production. Although he still averaged more than a point a game (61 points in 56 games), more was expected of the 20-year old after his 2006-07 breakout season.

The St. Thomas, Ontario native is a natural play-maker. His elite level passing skills and his on-ice awareness make him a continual threat to find the open man or hit a teammate in mid-stride. Definitely a player who makes his teammates better.

To be successful in the show, Emmerton will need to improve his skating and his defensive play.

Still a long-term project, Emmerton will need some minor league experience before he's ready for NHL action. When he reaches Detroit in 2011 or 2012, he should be ready to center one of the Red Wings' top two lines.

4. Jimmy Howard, G – If Jimmy Howard was in any other team's organization, he probably wouldn't crack the list of the club's top five prospects. But sometimes opportunity is more important than talent.

That's not to say that Howard isn't a capable goalie. The 2nd round pick in the 2003 draft rebounded from a mediocre 2006-07 season to achieve one of his pre-season goals—a selection to the AHL All-Star Game.

The native of Ogdensburg, New York is a big butterfly goalie who covers the net well and plays with poise. Among his strengths are concentration, hockey sense, and puck handling.

The biggest knocks on Howard are his lack of consistency and rebound control, two things he'll have to improve to become an NHL starter.

His immediate prospects took a blow when the Wings signed Ty Conklin to serve as Chris Osgood's back-up, but considering both Osgood's age and how prone the two guys in front of him are to injury, Howard's chance may come sooner than later.

5. Brendan Smith, D – The 19-year old scored twice and added ten assists as a true freshman for the Michigan Wolverines in 2007-08, and much more is expected of the youngster in his second season of college hockey.

Smith is loaded with offensive talent. A silky-smooth, effortless skater, the Toronto native has good vision and soft hands, all the tools required for a top-end offensive defense-man.

Like most young players, the 2007 first rounder (27th overall) needs to improve his defensive game and add more muscle to his 6'2” frame. He also must become a little more selective when it comes to joining the offensive rush.

The Red Wings' brain trust regard Smith as a future top four blue-liner with offensive upside, but don't expect any big league contributions from him for at least three years. Someone to keep an eye on, but don't waste a pick this season.

Next in our continuing series, we'll look at the top fantasy prospects of another team famous for developing young players, the Edmonton Oilers.

Don't forget to check out the previous articles in the series:

Anaheim Ducks: Fantasy Prospect Report

Atlanta Thrashers: Fantasy Prospect Report

Boston Bruins: Fantasy Prospect Report

Buffalo Sabres: Fantasy Prospect Report

Calgary Flames: Fantasy Prospect Report

Carolina Hurricanes: Fantasy Prospect Report

Chicago Black Hawks: Fantasy Prospect Report

Colorado Avalanche: Fantasy Prospect Report

Columbus Blue Jackets: Fantasy Prospect Report

Dallas Stars: Fantasy Prospect Report

Dallas Stars' Fantasy Prospect Report

Joe MacDonald — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 03:57:13 -0400

It's hard to build up young talent in an organization without first-round draft picks, and that's the situation the Dallas Stars faced this spring.

In fact, the Stars didn't make a selection until the 60th pick overall, when they added goaltender Tyler Beskorowany from the Owen Sound Attack.

It was the second consecutive season that Dallas did not have a first round selection. The last time the club made a first-round selection was in 2006, when they made defenseman Ivan Vishnevskiy the 27th-overall pick.

The Stars have tried to address the lack of top-level prospects by signing a couple of top European prospects, most notably winger Fabian Brunnstrom. And while the young talent in the Dallas system may not rival that of the Chicago Blackhawks or Columbus Blue Jackets, they have done a credible job identifying talent in the later rounds.

Here are the Fantasy Hockey Network's choices for the top five fantasy prospects in the Dallas Stars' organization:

1. Fabian Brunnstrom, RW

The 23-year old is still a mystery to most hockey observers in North America.

One of the top young players in the Swedish Elite League in 2007-08, many scouts compare his skill set to that of Daniel Alfredsson. The winger has good size (6'1”, 203 lbs.), blazing speed, and great hands—all the attributes required to be a true NHL sniper.

He still needs a little time to develop, but he's almost certain to land a spot on one of Dallas' top two lines in 2008-09, probably next to superstar center Brad Richards.

If that happens, Brunnstrom's North American debut could be highly successful. If everything falls into place, a Calder Trophy nomination is not out of the question.

So while the jury is still out on whether he's the next Swedish superstar or just another solid European player with offensive skills, Brunnstrom is certainly one to watch this season.

2. James Neal, LW

Despite a slow start with Iowa in the AHL last season, Neal rebounded with 25 points in his last 30 games to reclaim his position as one of Dallas' top prospects.

The 6'2”, 185-lb. forward plays a tough, bruising style, reminiscent of current Stars' captain Brenden Morrow. He also possesses a hard accurate shot and great passing skills, making him a serious threat in the offensive end. Add in natural leadership abilities, and it's not hard to see why the Dallas brass is so high on the 2007 World Junior gold medalist.

To be successful at the next level, the Whitby, Ontario native must continue to improve his skating and take a few less bad penalties.

Still at least a year away, the Stars will be looking for Neal to continue the improvement he showed in the second half of 2007-08. If he stays on track, a full time gig in Dallas could be in the offing in 2009.

3. Ivan Vishnevskiy, D

Probably no prospect in the Dallas system has more upside than the 20-year-old defender, but the chance of him becoming a complete bust are also very high.

A super-skilled, puck-moving defenseman, Vishnevskiy has all the attributes needed to quarterback an NHL power play. A silky-smooth skater, the young Russian has excellent on-ice vision and distributes the puck well.

Unfortunately, at this point, his NHL potential is limited by his size (5'11”, 176 lbs.) and his lack of defensive awareness. If he's to become more than just a power-play specialist, he'll have to add some muscle and figure out what happens inside that other blue line on the ice. He also seems prone to injury, which may have something to do with his lack of size

Still a few years away, but the young rearguard should make his pro debut this season. He's definitely not a sure thing, but maybe one worth taking a chance on in a year or two.

4. Sergei Korostin, RW

A potential third-round steal in 2007, Korostin made his North American debut last spring and an immediate impression, tallying 18 points in 19 games with the Texas Tornado of the NAHL Junior “A” league.

The 19-year-old winger's major assets are speed and his ability to handle the puck at top speed. He's also a ferocious forechecker, and has shown a willingness to crash the net looking for scoring chances—which is impressive, considering his rather modest frame (5'10” 187 lbs.).

If the young Russian has a weakness, it is that he tends to get afflicted with tunnel vision occasionally and doesn't make the best use of his teammates.

A work in progress to be sure, and still a few years away—but an unquestioned talent with 40-goal potential.

5. Jamie Benn, LW – A fifth-round pick in 2007 (129th overall), Benn has risen quickly on the Stars' organizational depth chart, after being somewhat of an afterthought in his draft year.

A natural goal scorer with a great shot and deceptive one-on-one moves, the 6'2”, 185-lb. winger excels at finding loose pucks and getting himself in goal-scoring positions, both to receive passes and cash in rebound opportunities.

Like most young players, Benn must get better in his own end and learn to use his body more effectively—things that should come with maturity and another 25 pounds of muscle.

Needs another year of junior and probably a couple of years in the AHL before becoming a fixture as a top-six forward and power-play specialist. A 40-goal upside is possible.

Up next, we'll profile the top fantasy prospects in the system of the 2008 Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings.

Click on the links below to check out other articles in our series:

Anaheim Ducks: Fantasy Prospect Report

Atlanta Thrashers: Fantasy Prospect Report

Boston Bruins: Fantasy Prospect Report

Buffalo Sabres: Fantasy Prospect Report

Calgary Flames: Fantasy Prospect Report

Carolina Hurricanes: Fantasy Prospect Report

Chicago Black Hawks: Fantasy Prospect Report

Colorado Avalanche: Fantasy Prospect Report

Columbus Blue Jackets: Fantasy Prospect Report

Joe MacDonald — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 02:31:54 -0400

Few teams have more elite talent in their systems than the Columbus Blue Jackets. Of course, selecting in the top six or seven on a consistent basis will tend to have that effect.

Still after a few stumbles early in the team's history, the club seems to have taken full advantage of their high picks the past few seasons.

With as many as three “franchise players” in the pipeline, the Jackets have a whole host of candidates ready to join Rick Nash and Pascal Leclaire as the core of what could be an exceptional NHL team in a few years.

The best news for Columbus fans is that almost all of the club's top 5 prospects should be ready for prime time roles in 2008/09, meaning potential could soon become reality.

Here are the Fantasy Hockey Network's selections for the top five fantasy prospects in the Columbus Blue Jackets system:

1. Nikita Filatov, LW: The sixth overall pick in the 2008 draft, Filatov would have been No. 1 if the draft was just about talent.

The 18-year-old phenom averaged almost two points a game playing for CSKA Moscow's No. 2 team last season, including 32 goals in 34 games.

The Moscow native is a dynamic goal scorer and an elite level skater, who has 50-goal potential written all over him. He still needs to add a few pounds of muscle to his 6-foot frame, but the Russian sniper is not afraid to give or take hits.

A born leader with a great attitude, Filatov could crack the lineup in 2008/09. If he does, he's an instant Calder Trophy candidate. He's that good.

2. Jakub Voracek, RW: The slick Czech is a sublime playmaker who uses great vision, explosive acceleration, off-the-charts hockey sense and excellent passing skills to make all of his teammates better.

Would have made the Jackets' roster in 2007/08 if his body would have been NHL-ready. Still needs to bulk up a bit to play effectively at the next level.

The seventh pick in the 2007 draft finished fourth in the QMJHL scoring race last season with 101 points in only 53 games. Developed a reputation as a clutch player in Halifax, so should be ready to contribute right away. A top six forward spot is his for the taking.

3. Derick Brassard, C: The native of Hull, Quebec, had 48 points in 39 games for Syracuse of the AHL and looked good in limited ice time in 17 games with Columbus.

A dazzling playmaker with the ability to read plays, find gaps and deliver laser-like tape-to-tape passes, Brassard surprised the Blue Jacket's brass with his competitiveness.

Like Voracek, he needs to fill out a bit to succeed at the next level, and needs to avoid a major injury, after a pair of broken bones (jaw and arm) cost him significant playing time the past two seasons. When healthy, Brassard has superstar potential and is a definitely a Calder Trophy candidate in 2008-09.

4. Steve Mason, G: It would be an understatement to say Mason had a great year in 2007-08.

The Oakville, Ontario, native starred on Canada's winning teams at both the Super Series and the World Junior Championships, winning top goaltender and most valuable player honours at the WJC.

Add to that a selection as the OHL Goaltender of the Year. Only a playoff knee injury but a damper on what was otherwise a dream season.

Mason, a third round selection in 2006, has all the tools to be an elite NHL goalie: athleticism, positioning, size, determination and the ability to raise his game in pressure situations.

Pascal Leclaire's emergence means there's no rush, but the Kitchener Ranger is a good bet to start 2008-09 in the AHL as Syracuse's No. 1 netminder.

5. Maxim Mayorov, LW – Every team has a boom or bust candidate, a player who just oozes potential but has just as much chance to be a dud as a star. Mayorov is the Blue Jackets player who meets those criteria.

The 6'2" 192 pound winger has the size and the skills to a top-end power forward in the NHL. Blessed with strong skating and puck handling skills, explosive acceleration and a laser-like wrist shot, the fourth round pick in 2007 has all the components that make a true sniper.

Unfortunately, the young Russian's work ethic is somewhat questionable and he definitely needs to work on his defensive game and use his size more effectively if he's to succeed at the highest level.

Definitely a project, but with the potential to be a first-line power forward if he develops. The Jackets hope to have him in North America soon, but he's still at least three to four years away from contributing at the big league level.

In our next installment, we'll have a look at the top prospects in the development pipeline of the Dallas Stars.

Don't forget to check out the past articles in our top prospects' series:

Anaheim Ducks: Fantasy Prospect Report

Atlanta Thrashers: Fantasy Prospect Report

Boston Bruins: Fantasy Prospect Report

Buffalo Sabres: Fantasy Prospect Report

Calgary Flames: Fantasy Prospect Report

Carolina Hurricanes: Fantasy Prospect Report

Chicago Black Hawks: Fantasy Prospect Report

Colorado Avalanche: Fantasy Prospect Report

Joe MacDonald — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 01:59:23 -0400

The Colorado Avalanche have long been one of the league's best identifiers and developers of young talent in the National Hockey League. In fact, six of the team's top eight scorers in 2007/08 were drafted by the organization.

A long run of success has a tendency to reduce the level of talent in any team's organization, and the Avs are no exception. Still the cupboard isn't completely bare with several good prospects in the pipe at different stages of development.

Here are the Fantasy Hockey Network's choices for the top five fantasy prospects in the Colorado Avalanche organization. The list includes a budding power forward, three defensemen with offensive upside and an NHL-ready center who should be a top six forward in 2008/09.

1. T.J. Hensick, C—The future is now for the former Hobey Baker finalist, who the Avalanche have penciled in for the second line center position, if captain Joe Sakic stays retired. Whatever Sakic decides, there's little doubt Hensick will be on the club's opening night roster.

A great skater with a hard, accurate wrist shot and elite vision, Hensick averaged near a point a game in the AHL last season and didn't look out of place in his frequent auditions in Denver.

His size worries some, but the Avalanche brain trust is convinced he'll develop into a all-star caliber pivot.

2. Kevin Shattenkirk, D—The 19-year-old had a successful rookie campaign with Boston University, contributing 20 points in 38 games for the Terriers.

Shattenkirk is the prototypical post-lockout defenseman—mobile with a high hockey IQ and elite passing ability. Although small by NHL standards (5'11”, 193lbs), the 14th overall pick in the 2007 draft more than compensates with his leadership abilities and big heart. He projects as a number one power-play quarterback with 70 point potential.

Two more years of development would be ideal, but circumstances may force the issue.

3. Chris Stewart, RW—Built like a Sherman tank, Stewart is developing a solid offensive game to go along with his size and may find himself in the NHL as soon as this season.

The right-winger scored 19 goals in his AHL debut in 2007-08 and boasts good skating skills and a better than average skill level for a 6'1” 225 lb giant.

Stewart's key to success is hard work but he must improve his play without the puck if he's to reach his potential, which many think could be in the 30-35 goal range. He is valuable in fantasy leagues that reward penalty minutes.

4. Nigel Williams, D—The giant Belleville Bulls defenseman has a unique combination of size (6'4” 226 lbs) and skill that could make him a dominant player at the NHL level.

He was +16 with 10 goals and 12 assists in 38 games for Belleville after a mid-season trade from Saginaw and finished the season with a combined 15 goals and 46 points in 67 games. Williams is a good skater and a great puck handler for a player of his size and he uses his size and strength to play a tough, aggressive game.

Williams is still a project in many respects, but certainly a name to remember.

5. Cameron Gaunce, D—The Avalanche's top selection in the 2008 draft (50th overrall), Gaunce is loaded with leadership qualities and plays with desire and commitment.

The native of Sudbury, Ontario led all Mississauga Ice Dog defensemen with 10 goals and 40 points in 63 games last season and Colorado management feel he has more offensive upside. The 18-year-old has good size and strength but needs to improve his skating to continue his development.

He will return to Mississauga in 2008/09 and plans are to bring the young rearguard along slowly.

Next in our series, we'll look at a team loaded with hot, young fantasy prospects, the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Check out the previous articles in the series:

Anaheim Ducks: Fantasy Prospect Report

Atlanta Thrashers: Fantasy Prospect Report

Boston Bruins: Fantasy Prospect Report

Buffalo Sabres: Fantasy Prospect Report

Calgary Flames: Fantasy Prospect Report

Carolina Hurricanes: Fantasy Prospect Report

Chicago Black Hawks: Fantasy Prospect Report

Chicago Blackhawks: Fantasy Prospect Report

Joe MacDonald — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 03:36:44 -0400

The fact that the Chicago Blackhawks had six players under the age of 24 in their staring lineup by the end of last season says all you need to know about the club's recent success in identifying and developing young talent.

Included in that group were young superstars Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews and future blue-line studs Brent Seabrook and Cam Barker.

Obviously, with that many youngsters in the NHL, the cupboard at the minor and junior level can't be as full as it might have been, under different circumstances, but there are still several good prospects in the Hawks' organization. The club is especially strong at the forward positions, with a half dozen players close to being ready to join Kane, Toews and Patrick Sharp in “the show.”

Here are the Fantasy Hockey Network's ranking of the top five fantasy prospects in the Chicago Blackhawks' system:

1. Jack Skille, RW – Perhaps the most NHL ready of the Hawks' prospects, the Fairbault, Minnesota native has a complete skill set that should make him a top six forward soon in Chicago.

Blessed with size, speed and a blistering shot he can get away in a hurry, Skille has the tools to be an offensive player and a love of contact that can make him physically dominating at times.

The seventh overall pick in the 2005 entry draft needs to improve his defensive game and continue to get stronger to effectively play his style of game at the next level.

2. Igor Makarov, RW – The 20-year old Russian plays a strong two-way game and is just loaded with skill and offensive potential.

A strong, seemingly effortless skater with deceptive puck handling skills and a super quick release, Makarov plays with energy and is effective on both the fore-check and back-check.

Needs to get stronger and more experience but has the potential to be an elite offensive player, if the development goes as planned. One to watch for sure.

3. Kyle Beach, C – Beach is an interesting hybrid player—part power forward, part agitator in the Claude Lemieux mode.

The Everett Silvertip has a scorer's touch and is not afraid to go into traffic to create chances. Most scouts rated him as one of the most competitive players available in the 2008 draft from the blue line in. He also has a mean streak and is not afraid to drop the gloves, making him a double threat in those fantasy leagues that reward penalty minutes.

Been plagued by injuries and off-ice incidents as a junior but maturity should allow his top six potential to shine through.

4. Petri Kontiola, C – A seventh round pick in the 2004 draft, Kontiola made an impressive North American debut in 2007-2008, racking up 68 points in 66 games for Rockford of the American Hockey League.

The 24-year old Finn is a dangerous playmaker with a pass first mentality and the ability to use his teammates effectively.

Needs to pack a few pounds of muscle onto his 6'0” frame, but Kontiola has the tools to be a top notch fantasy producer.

5. Troy Brouwer, RW – Another late round steal (214^thoverall in the 2004 draft), Brouwer has improved by leaps in bounds since his draft year, leading the WHL in scoring in 2005-06 as a 20-year old.

A prototypical power forward, the native of Vancouver uses a hard accurate shot and a high hockey IQ to overcome his average skating abilities. He's especially good playing without the puck, and uses his sense of positioning and size to create space for his teammates.

At 6'3”, 220, the former Moose Jaw Warrior plays an aggressive game, which includes the occasional fight if the situation calls for it.

Next up, we look at the top prospects in the Colorado Avalanche system as we continue our series examining the top prospects in each of the 30 National Hockey League organizations, leading up to the unveiling of our listing of the Top 50 prospects in hockey in late August.

Be sure to check out the previous installments in the series, listed below:

Anaheim Ducks: Fantasy Prospect Report

Atlanta Thrashers: Fantasy Prospect Report

Boston Bruins: Fantasy Prospect Report

Buffalo Sabres: Fantasy Prospect Report

Calgary Flames: Fantasy Prospect Report

Carolina Hurricanes: Fantasy Prospect Report

Joe MacDonald — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:46:01 -0400

After the Stanley Cup championship in 2006, trades and some questionable first-round selections (Nikos Tselios, Jeff Heerema and Igor Knyazev to name three) have all but decimated the Carolina farm system

Two consecutive playoff misses have helped the club restock a little bit, but there is still a decided lack of front-line talent in the Hurricanes’ system

Here are the Fantasy Hockey Network’s picks for the top five fantasy prospects in the Carolina Hurricanes’ system:

1. Drayson Bowman, LW

The 6’1”, 185-lb. winger has 40-goal scorer written all over him. Bowman has a hard, accurate shot and a lightning-quick release. The big winger finished 11th in WHL scoring with 82 points including 42 goals.

Bowman was overlooked by the US World Junior team, but is still on track to become a high-end scorer at the NHL level. Ideally, he is two years away from full-time duty, but he may force his way onto the club sooner.

2. Zach Boychuk, C

The Lethbridge captain is small (5’9”, 176 lbs), but he plays a very gritty game and is super-skilled.

An explosive skater, Boychuk has both an elite top gear and possibly the best two-step acceleration in junior hockey. His exceptional puck skills make him a natural quarterback on the power play.

He needs to pack on some muscle to succeed at the next level, but he has a definite future as a top six forward in the NHL.

3. Jamie McBain, D

After an impressive rookie season with the Wisconsin Badgers of the WCHA (18 points in 36 games), McBain seems right on track to become a top-four NHL defense man.

Blessed with good puck-handling abilities, the smooth-skating rearguard has the skill and size to be an effective two-way player with offensive upside. The Hurricanes will be looking for a big step forward from him this season.

4. Brandon Sutter, C

No one questions Sutter’s heart or defensive abilities—but unfortunately, intangibles don’t translate that well to the fantasy game.

A future NHL captain, Sutter still has enough offensive upside to become a top-six forward, but is more likely destined for a third-line, checking role at the NHL level. He is still a penalty-killing specialist who can contribute 50-60 points a year and the occasional key goal, so he isn't a terrible asset for any NHL team to have.

5. Chris Terry, LW

All but ignored by the other 29 NHL teams in the 2007 draft, the smallish winger exploded in 2007-08 to finish sixth in OHL scoring with 101 points (44 goals).

Selected in the top three of the OHL season-ending coaches poll in a number of categories (smartest player, hardest shot and best play maker), the 5’10” Terry is a little smaller than your prototypical NHL winger, but still projects as a top-six forward in the future.

In the next instalment of our series, we’ll look at the best fantasy prospects in the Chicago Blackhawks’ system.

Check out other articles in the series:

Anaheim Ducks: Fantasy Prospect Report

Atlanta Thrashers: Fantasy Prospect Report

Boston Bruins: Fantasy Prospect Report

Buffalo Sabres: Fantasy Prospect Report

Calgary Flames: Fantasy Prospect Report

Buffalo Sabres: Fantasy Prospect Report

Joe MacDonald — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:01:43 -0400

Like their Northeast Division rivals, the Boston Bruins, the Buffalo Sabres have done an excellent job over the past five years or so in identifying young talent and bringing that talent to the NHL.

Included in the players who have made it through the Sabres’ system and become regulars at the NHL level in recent years are Jason Pominville, Thomas Vanek, Drew Stafford, Daniel Paille, Clarke MacArthur, Nathan Paetsch, and Andrej Sekera.

Unfortunately, free agent losses have caused the cupboard to be left almost completely bare after years of relative excess.

Here are the fantasyhockeynetwork.com choices of the top 5 prospects in the Buffalo Sabres’ system:

1. Tyler Myers, D—The 6’7” giant is more potential than performance at this point, but his combination of size, hands and skating ability make a lot of scouts drool over Myers’ potential.

Many feel Myers is close to NHL ready defensively and if he can harness his considerable physical talents he could develop into a true two-way threat. Still a few years away and with just as many questions as answers at this point, but certainly one worth watching.

2. Jhonas Enroth, G—Although small but NHL standards, Enroth has made believers out of the Sabres’ management. The 21-year old led Sweden to a silver medal at last year’s World Juniors and is rising quickly up the team’s depth chart.

The signing of franchise goalie Ryan Miller to a new five-year contract this off-season will certainly delay Enroth’s debut, but he still appears to be the heir apparent in the system.

3. Tyler Ennis, C—The diminutive Medicine Hat Tiger forward is regarded by many as one of the top pure offensive talents in this year’s draft despite his size. Ennis’ biggest assets are his quickness, competitiveness, work ethic and his ability to make plays in traffic. Will have to bulk up and improve his top end speed to be effective at the next level.

4. Marc-Andre Gragnani, LW—The converted defenseman is considered a rising star in the Buffalo system. The former QMJHL defender of the year, finished second in team scoring for the Sabres’ AHL affiliate in Rochester after a mid-December move to the wing.

Blessed with tremendous offensive skills, great work ethic and good size, Gragnani could develop into a top six offensive forward in the not too distant future.

5. Marek Zagrapan, C—A slick playmaker Zagrapan continues to develop and bulk-up and could get a chance at a full-time NHL job in 2008-09. More likely he’s still three years away and is still a legitimate boom or bust candidate.

But if he can learn to bring his “A” game to the rink every night and eliminate his penchant for taking bad penalties when his emotions get high, he’s a sure-fire top six forward candidate.

Up next, we’ll look at the top five fantasy prospects in the Calgary Flames organization.

Read other articles in the series:

Anaheim Ducks: Fantasy Prospect Report

Atlanta Thrashers: Fantasy Prospect Report

Boston Bruins: Fantasy Prospect Report

Joe MacDonald — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:57:02 -0400

The Boston Bruins have done an excellent job of identifying and developing young players in recent years.

Among the players who have graduated from prospect status to full-time NHL contributors are Phil Kessel, David Krejci, Milan Lucic, and Vladimir Sobotka.

Fortunately for the Bruins' faithful, there are still a few more gems in the system, including the club's future No. 1 goalkeeper.

In part three of our series looking at the prospects in the organization of the 30 NHL teams, here are the fantasyhockeynetwork.com's ranking of the top-five fantasy keeper picks in the Bruins' system:

1. Tuukka Rask, G

While some Boston fans may be disappointed that the original predictions of instant super-stardom haven't quite materialized, the 20-year-old is still a big-time prospect.

Rask is blessed with all the attributes that make-up an elite NHL goaltender—quickness, exceptional reflexes, and the ability to stay calm and focused throughout the game. With another year or two of seasoning in the minors, the Finn should be ready to make his full-time debut in the big show.

2. Zach Hamill, C

The 2006-07 Western Hockey League scoring leader suffered through a slow start last season, ending up with just 75 points in 67 games.

Hamill has great offensive instincts and all the intangibles including heart, work ethic and attitude.

Definitely in need of more seasoning at the AHL level, but still one to watch in the future, the seventh-overall pick in the 2007 draft projects as a No. 1 offensive center when he hits his peak years.

3. Matt Lashoff, D

Despite numbers that might indicate Lashoff's development has stalled, 35 points in back-to-back seasons in the American Hockey League is impressive for a 22-year-old defenseman. A skilled puck-mover, the 2005 first-rounder (22nd overall) is an excellent skater who can contribute offensively and play a solid game in his own end.

Most young defensemen take time to develop, but Lashoff is ready for a top-six role in 2008-09, with the potential for more down the road.

4. Joe Colborne, C

The Bruins used the 16th-overall pick in the 2008 draft to select this mammoth young center. At 6'5", Colborne is a raw talent who uses his range and on-ice awareness to make plays for his teammates, a la Joe Thornton.

Colborne needs to work on his skating and his physical commitment, but the Calgary, Alberta native has the tools to be an elite NHL center. A project at this point with a potentially huge payoff in the future.

5. Brad Marchand, C/RW

A key member of Canada's winning team at the World Juniors, the Halifax native had 31 goals in the Quebec Major Junior League last season. The feisty winger has speed to burn, and plays a lot bigger than his 5'9" frame suggests.

Marchand excels at taking the puck to the net and is more than willing to take the punishment required to get rebounds and tip-ins. He has the determination and confidence to overcome his small stature and become a top-six forward.

In the next installment of our series, we'll look at the top fantasy prospects in the Buffalo Sabres organization.

Read other articles in the series:

Anaheim Ducks: Fantasy Prospect Report

Atlanta Thrashers: Fantasy Prospect Report

Joe MacDonald — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 04:53:59 -0400

Despite a decided lack of on-ice success, the Atlanta Thrashers have surprisingly few blue chip prospects in their system.

Perhaps the club's best young player, center Bryan Little, played in 48 games in 2007-08, making him ineligible for this listing (only players with less than 25 NHL games were considered). The 5'11” forward will be counted on to produce more than the 16 points he contributed as a rookie.

In our continuing series, here are the top five prospects in the Thrashers system, based on fantasy potential:

1. Zach Bogosian, D

The third-overall pick in the June draft, Bogosian is a dynamic skater who just doesn't seem to know how to take a shift off. Blessed with great offensive instincts, soft hands and a cannon-like shot for the point, the 18-year old is a natural as the future quarterback of the Atlanta power-play.But it's the Massena, NY native's competitiveness that almost guarantees a long career as the Thrashers' number-one blueliner.

2. Brett Sterling, LW

Despite his size (5'7”) and his disappointing NHL debut last season (only three points in 13 games), the Thrashers' brass still feel the diminutive Sterling can be an offensive force in “the show.” A true pest in the Theo Fleury mold, Sterling fearlessly goes to the net and has great hands. The feisty winger could give you 35-40 goals and 100 penalty minutes—a dream combination in many fantasy hockey formats.

3. Angelo Esposito, C

The talented Esposito has been on a continual downhill spiral since the hockey world anointed him as the next big thing as a 16-year old. A great skater with elite-level one-on-one moves and tons of offensive smarts, Esposito is even money at this point to become a star or a bust. The Thrashers are hopeful the big center can realize his potential. If he does, they could have a top-line center on their hands.

4. Riley Hozapfel, C

An almost-certain NHLer, the jury is still out on how much of an offensive contributor the 19-year old will be. The strength of Hozapfel's game is his work ethic and hockey sense, and many feel he will develop into a solid all-around player who will produce nice, if not spectacular, offensive numbers. Hozapfel may be a better bet to crack the line-up in the fall of 2009. The 6'0” center's prospects for the coming season will likely depend on who Atlanta picks up in the rest of the offseason.

5. Ondrej Pavelec, G

The 20-year old had a solid AHL season, and didn't disappoint in seven NHL appearances last season. Loaded with confidence and the ability to stay cool under pressure, the Czech goalkeeper is the most asked about young player in the Thrashers system, when other teams are enquiring about trade possibilities.Kari Lehtonen's inconsistency gives Pavelec some hope, but it's likely his best opportunity for a starting role will come with another team.

In the next installment of our series, we'll look at the top young talent in the Boston Bruins' organization

Read other articles in the Series:

Anaheim Ducks: Fantasy Prospect Report

Boston Bruins: Fantasy Prospect Report

Anaheim Ducks: Fantasy Prospect Report

Joe MacDonald — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 06:07:50 -0400

One of the problems that come with success in the National Hockey League is that it inevitably depletes the prospect talent pool. The draft systems is structured to make sure that the best teams get less premium young talent and teams on the cusp of a championship often use future assets to pick up the “last pieces of the puzzle” in trades.

The 2006-07 champion Anaheim Ducks have not been immune to this phenomenon and while the cupboard is not completely bare, it could hardly be described as overflowing either.

Here, in the first of a 30-part series that will examine the best young talent in the systems of all 30 NHL teams, are the sportstwit.com choices for the Top 5 prospects, from a fantasy potential perspective, in the Anaheim Ducks' system:

1. Bobby Ryan, RW– Ryan, a prototypical power forward in the Todd Bertuzzi mode, seems finally ready to assume a top six forward role with the Ducks in 2007-08. Ryan produced a dominant performance for the Portland Pirates, during the AHL playoffs, with 20 points in 16 games. The indication from Anaheim is that the coaching staff and management are finally willing to let Ryan learn on the job and get the opportunity he needs to produce in 2008-09.

2. Jake Gardiner, D – The 17th pick overall in the 2008 entry draft, the Minnesota high school star was described by many as the fastest skater in the draft. He completed a recent transition from forward to defense. The big question about the 18-year old is his overall hockey sense, although scouts say he is smart with the puck and plays an unselfish game. He may be several years away as he is planning to attend the University of Wisconsin in the fall, but he could be a good one if the head catches up with the legs.

3. Brian Salcido, D– The 22-year old finished second in scoring among American Hockey League defensemen with 11 goals and 42 assists in 71 games. A smooth skater who never seems to panic under pressure, Salcido will be a regular in Anaheim by 2009-10 and could get a top six job this season if the rumored Mathieu Schneider trade happens.

4.Matt Beleskey, LW– Considering the 19-year old Beleskey was only a 4thround pick in 2006, his development has been nothing short of spectacular. Career numbers in goals (41) and points (90) has caused many in the Ducks' organization to reevaluate his offensive ceiling. Probably still a year away and somewhat disadvantaged by the fact that he might be competing with super prospect Bobby Ryan for minutes, Beleskey is still one to watch.

5. Nicolas Deschamps, C– The Ducks' were thrilled to see Deschamps fall to number 35 in the draft considering many analysts (including the Red Line Report and McKeen's) had him ranked in the top 20. The Delson, Quebec native plays a solid all-around game and led all QMJHL rookies in points with 67 last season. Many scouts think he has the offensive upside needed to become a very good, all-around NHL center.

Read other articles in the series:

Atlanta Thrashers: Fantasy Prospect Report

Boston Bruins: Fantasy Prospect Report