Bleacher Report - Articles by Jason Cohn

What Do the Calgary Flames Need to Do to Get Back to the Stanley Cup Finals?

Jason Cohn — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:17:57 -0400

So you ask, what do the Flames need to get past the first round, or even further in the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

Great question. I am sure front office would love to know, but if you promise not to tell...Okay, you can. I will let you in on a secret.

One word: DEPTH

Let's be honest, the Flames fall off quick after Iginla. It is quite simple—when Iginla is on, the Flames win or stand a chance to, when he is off or shut down, the Flames don't have much of a prayer.

The cure: Two more scoring players, a big time centre who can score, and a winger who can put them in as well.

The probability: Flames fans, you won't like this...I don't see it happening. With the salary cap and all, I can't see them bringing in big names.

I am sorry to say the Flames will always be a line or so short of Stanley Cup success—you can just hope for a dominant run like they had against Tampa Bay.

NHL Trade Deadline: What Should the Toronto Maple Leafs Do?

Jason Cohn — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:18:41 -0500

Trading deadline.

For some teams, it is a great day, some a sad day, and for some it can be disaster.

The Ottawa Senators didn't wait to improve their team and they did it in a big way.

Sure they went on to lose their next two games, but they pick up grit, determination, and Stanley Cup experience.

They are the team to beat.

Their neighbors to the southwest however, are in a different situation.

Do they sell off? Do they stand pat? Do they trade Sundin (if he lets them) and then try to resign him in the off-season?

You know what?

IT DOESN'T MATTER!

They can't sell off.

No one is going to take players like Kubina and McCabe because of their ridiculously high salaries. Even if Toronto buys out their contracts (which the Leafs CAN afford to do) they are still going to take a serious salary cap hit for several years.

So they can't really sign anyone big.

They could jettison Sundin and sign a big name, but just one. And clearly, that won't fix the team.

The Leafs could finish dead last and draft first, but that draft pick is going to need time to develop to make an impact.

So Leaf nation, say hello to another 3-5 years of horrendous hockey, no matter who management brings in.

Dig up the foundation, and start it over!

Alex Schnaider: Can a Russian-Canadian Billionaire Save the Leafs?

Jason Cohn — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 01:33:28 -0500

Okay, so as most people in the Leaf nation have heard, Alex Schnaider has inquired about buying the historic Toronto Maple Leafs.

But his interest raises more questions.

First off, who is this guy? And what right does he have to come in and snap up the Leafs (and Raptors, Toronto F.C., condos, etc.)?

Is he even a Leaf fan?

To the first question: Alex Schnaider is a Russian-Canadian billionaire who has made his money in his dealings in the former states of the Soviet Union. He is also bankrolling the new Trump Towers in Toronto; if he keeps the top floor, he could someday overlook the Air Canada Centre and check on his holdings.

He recently invested in Israel's top soccer team, and is clearly looking to expand.

But what Russian billionaire these days doesn't own a soccer team or sports team?

Schnaider most likely wants to buy the team because it makes money; but secondly, he is probably more a fan of the game than Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment (MLSE).

Look at what MLSE are doing with the Leafs. For some reason, they got it right with who they brought in with the Raptors, but it's basketball—who cares? (Don't shoot me for that comment!)

The starved-for-success Leaf nation can only hope Schnaider gets a hold of MLSE. But don't hold your breath.

The structure of MLSE is such that Larry Tannenbaum has first rights to any shares up for sale. That means even though he owns less then 20 percent, he in essence is the only man you need to deal with.

And while the Ontario Teachers have said that even though MSLE's potential might be closed to being maxed out and they thus might be interested in cashing in, they would then have to reinvest that amount. And the Teachers don't like risk.

In the end, though, money talks, and a big offer might pry the historic Leaf franchise to someone who just might install hockey people in the organization.

Could it happen? I doubt it. Too many ifs and buts are in play.

But if you are a Leaf fan, hope that ANYONE buys the Leafs, because that appears to be the only chance you will see your team make a run for Lord Stanley that doesn't include just stopping by the Hall of Fame down the street!

Can the Calgary Flames Make a Run for the Cup? Or Is Their Streak Just Window Dressing?

Jason Cohn — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 01:11:47 -0500

Ok, so before last nights game against Gretzky's Coyotes, the Flames were the hottest thing around, truly earning the right to wear the Flaming C.

Now, one may ask a couple of questions about the Flames.

One, are they the real deal and can they continue to play like this and win and stay on top of the division and make a real run in the playoffs?

Two, what has them winning now?

And three, probably most important to Flames mangement, is should they be shopping around for anything, or are they good to go as is?

Ok, let me address the first question. Are they the real deal? I think they are, but then again I am biased, I am a Flames fan. But let me claw back for a second and tell you I am skeptical, and that is because again, I am a Flames fan!

The Flames have always put out good, solid, hard hitting, gritty teams. That is Flames hockey, and that is the way the franchise has always been. Does that really work in the regular season? Sure, but to an extent.

Look at Ottawa of past, a great team in the regular season, fast, talented, but lacked the grit. Come playoffs, they are using that skill on the golf course. Anaheim last year won with a combination of speed, finess, but also grit.

Do the Flames have what they need to continue to play like they are? I don't think so. I have a bad feeling because lets look at the how the season has gone so far. The Flames until their recent run weren't so hot. Why? Iginla was not scoring.

I hate to say it, but as Iginla goes, so does the Flames. They just don't have the depth in scoring. Wait, you say what about Huselius? Sure, he is a big part of the Flames, but even he won't be a guy that will lead the team. Iginla needs to be there night in, night out, and at his best. Not that he can't do it, but if he falters a little, so do the Flames.

They lack that extra bit of punch, just like when they lost to Tampa Bay in the Stanley Cup.

I guess this ties into the other two questions. What has them winning now? Iginla is on fire and controlling the play. Huselius is scoring. Kiprusoff is playing well. He isn't stealing games for the Flames, and he never really does, but he is making that extra save now which is the difference.

Is he the goalie to win you a Stanley Cup? On this team, I think the answer is no.

You need someone who can steal you two games in a seven game series. Don't take this the wrong way, I am not knocking Kipper at all, I am just saying that with the current Flame team, you need someone who can do it themselves in the net.

The third question, which is always the tough one, is should they add to the team? I say yes. You need another 30-40 goal scorer on the team that can take the pressure off of Iginla. Right now, you play the Flames in the playoffs and you put your checking line on Iginla. You shut him down, odds are you win the game. You need another player to spread out the other teams defense.

Will the Flames do it? I don't think so. I hope I am wrong, but I don't see them bringing in someone that can fill that role. It isn't their character.

So where do I see the Flames finishing this year? Second in their division behing the Canucks, and then crashing out in the first or second round of the playoffs to a team with more depth then them.

Hope I am wrong!

NHL Winter Classic: Great To Be Outside, But for Whom?

Jason Cohn — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:45:39 -0500

So like thousands (dare I say millions?) of hockey fans around the world, I watched the game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

The Winter Classic was a follow-up to the NHL's previous outdoor game, which came off like a commercial for Montreal Canadiens hats. This time, Ryan Miller wouldn't be outdone—and should have the entire supply of headgear sold out to the Buffalo Sabres faithful in no time flat.

The game was interesting to watch, but it wasn't really NHL-caliber hockey. If you ever played shinny and tried to stick-handle your way through snow-covered ice, you'll know how frustrating it can be.

Watching Sidney Crosby tap the puck in the air as he's skating should have told you that the conditions weren't exactly ideal.

In fairness, the action was entertaining, if only because it kept you saying to your buddies, "Wow, how are they able to stay warm? Imagine cleaning your visor like that all the time."

I for one thought the players should have just worn ski goggles.

The ending, at least, was ideal: Crosby taking a penalty with the game on the line, and finding the net for the winner. He was excited, and so should he have been—it's a great memory that he'll always keep.

In a postgame interview with the CBC, Crosby likened the lead-up to his shot to the scene in Gladiator where Maximus walks out to the thundering sounds of the stadium. Personally, it reminded me of those awesome (note the sarcasm) NHL commercials with a lingerie-clad woman putting on a player's equipment before battle.

Now, of course, every team wants an outdoor game. Montreal is screaming for one before they host the All-Star Game. Maybe the league should consider playing on the beach in Florida—at least you'd get better looking fans than the fat guy in Buffalo with paint on his oversized belly.

In all seriousness, though, outdoor hockey isn't everything it's cracked up to be.

The ice conditions are horrible. The players are playing in cold weather, which means their bodies aren't as loose as they should be. Imagine if Crosby had torn a muscle in the cold.

Thankfully Eric Lindros is no longer playing, because with all the snow coming down, players had to constantly look down to stickhandle—and we all know what happens to players like that.

Sure, an outdoor game will sell 70,000-plus tickets. That's great money, but nowhere near what NHL owners are paying their stars.

My two cents: The Winter Classic is yet another gimmick that Gary Bettman and Co. are using to secure an NHL TV contract in the U.S.

But hockey will never crack the top four sports in large U.S. markets—so why keep trying? Instead, grow the game where it's strong, keep the current teams flourishing, and be happy with that.

In any event, see you at next year's outdoor game. I'll have my latest toque in hand—or on my head. Whatever. You get the idea.