Bleacher Report - Articles by Steve Welliver

Team Canada 2010: Crosby, Staals, Nash, and Young?

Steve Welliver — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:03:11 -0400

The Olympic team for Canada could very well be a case of just that! Crosby, one Staal and Nash I would say are virtual locks. And, the team will be notably younger than the team that competed in 2006.

the big question is can Jordan or Mark (Staal) make the team? I would say that Jordan has a 50-50 chance to make this team. Maybe as a taxi squad player,and maybe as a fourth line type of guy. Think of a larger, younger Mike Peca from 2002.

Mark has a really tough task ahead of him. With several quality D men in front of him, I think he would have to have a real break out season. And even if he can do that, I am not sure he makes the team. He may also need the injury bug to hit at least one of the top Canadian defencemen and potentially as many as three. Certainly not out of the realm of possibility but certainly a long shot.

I wish all of the players good luck, as Canada may not have the absolute best players anymore (see Ovechkin,Malkin, Datsyuk), but they certainly do boast the best depth of any of the nations competing. A family that can send two and potentially three siblings on a deep Canadian team is an accomplishment in and of it self. Henry and Linda certainly can be proud of their boys.

For 2014 do we see four Staals playing? Only time will tell, but it would be a story. Good luck Jared, Mark,Jordan and Eric!

NHL Trade Deadline 2009: Winners and Losers

Steve Welliver — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:54:24 -0500

With the last of the trades trickling into the NHL office, it is time to talk about the winners and losers on deadline day.

Winners

Calgary Flames

Getting Olli Jokinen and Jordan Leopold was a huge coupe for Darryl Sutter and the team in Calgary.

They get a good, if not great, two-way center in Jokinen, and a defenseman in Leopold, who you can drop into the lineup and play big minutes. I believe in the 2004 season it was Regehr and Leopold who played together then. Look for that again this time around.

But beware, Calgary, if Mike Keenan does not take this team deep into the playoffs, he will be found in the unemployment line too.

Phoenix Coyotes

Their performance since the all-star break dictated changes be made in the make-up of the team. So, they got younger, faster, and I would almost argue better, and right away.

Matthew Lombardi is starting to play to his potential, and Brandon Prust will play a role for the team too. He is a good team guy who sticks up for his teammates.

Also, getting Prucha Kalinin and Dawes from the Rangers for Morris is a monster move. Look for Phoenix to live up to its name and rise from the ashes in 2009-2010.

Losers

New York Rangers

They have continued their recent history of overpaying for players, only this time it is not so much in salaries, but in talent.

Giving up youngsters Dawes and Prucha for a rental in Morris seems a little steep. Did the Rangers do enough to get out of the first round?

I think for Mr. Sather to have any chance of being around for the entry draft they had better have. I just don’t know if they did.

Anaheim Ducks

It is not so much that they are losers in all this. But for this season, I think they decided it best to sell than to buy.

And the Brendan Morrison experiment is officially over.

They have acquired some nice pieces and got a little younger in the process. But for the fans, it is time to start thinking about next year.

Other News

There were some very interesting little deals that may have some impact leading up to the playoffs.

The Blue Jackets picking up Vermette is a good deal for them, and for Ottawa next year. Ottawa gets the best goalie they have had since—okay, maybe the best goalie they have ever had.

Florida picking up Steve Eminger could help them secure a playoff spot. They have a relatively unknown—outside of Jay Bo—group of defensemen. Adding Steve Eminger could be a good pickup to help them get into the dance in the East.

With all that happened today, the Flames made the moves to improve their team the most, and did not completely mortgage the future to do so.

They still have Mikael Backlund, Greg Nemisz, and Leland Irving, and have upped their chances in the ultra competitive Western Conference.

New York Islanders: Who Should Stay and Who Should Go?

Steve Welliver — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:03:24 -0500

With the trade deadline a few days away, who should the Islanders trade, and who should they keep?

I would think no one is guaranteed to stay at this point, but I think some have a better chance at staying—Okposo and Bailey, etc.—than others.

Let’s work with three categories.

The Obvious

Bill Guerin—Although he has been a good captain, it is time for Grandpa Bill to move over and let the next captain of the Islanders—possibly Trent Hunter—emerge.

Dean McAmmond—recently acquired, but a player I am sure they told not to unpack his suitcase. He will be 36 in June, and has no contract for next season.

Richard Park—A great team guy who would have value in the playoffs. He will do whatever is asked of him, including drive the bus.

Brendan Witt—A workhorse defenseman who can log minutes for a team as a solid No. 4.

Radek Martinek—A great shut-down defenseman, and a solid No. 3. Can he stay healthy? That's the only issue.

Question Marks

Doug Weight—His sprained MCL keeps him from being almost assured a new zip code come March 5.

Andy Sutton—Another guy who can log some minutes, looks like a No. 6 defenseman, but the broken foot makes him tough to move.

Jon Sim—There doesn’t seem to be much trade value for Sim, but he could be a “throw in.”

Jeff Tambellini—Is it too soon to give up on him? He has shown he can score consistently in the AHL, but hasn’t been able to translate that in a regular spot for the Islanders.

Joey MacDonald, Yann Danis—There are teams who would like either of these guys as insurance policies. The only problem is there is no one else who can play. Both are free agents at the end of the season, so I would not be surprised to see one of them move on.

Real Value

Mark Streit—Before I am flogged publicly, this one means a lot of sense. He commands good, if not great, return as a puck-moving defenseman and power-play quarterback. By the time the Islanders are in a position to really need this type of player for their own playoff run, he will be in the last year of his deal or already gone from the Island.

I think Garth Snow and the front office should seriously consider offers.

Blake Comeau—He has really shown he belongs in the NHL this year. Seems to play bigger than his 6’1”, and competes hard. The team would have to see a really good offer to let go now.

Trent Hunter—Potentially, he could be the captain of the blue and orange next season. A great character player, he goes up and down his wing and hits anything in his way. He can also put the puck in the net. Another player with value whom teams would love to have in the playoffs.

Jack Hillen, Kyle Okposo, and Josh Bailey—The future of the Islanders. These are the blocks to which the organization has committed to building around. It would take a pretty exceptional offer (lottery pick) to lure one of these three away from the Island, but it is possible. I think the management team has to have the mindset of listening to any deal.

I think the team has to look long and hard at the future of the organization, and decide what pieces fit into a five-year plan that started with this season. If a player does not fit that plan, and has trade value, then to borrow from Monte Hall, “Let’s make a deal!”

Canada's Hockey Olympians: With 364 Days Left, Is it Too Early to Choose Them?

Steve Welliver — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 15:07:12 -0500

With the Vancouver/Whistler Olympics set to start in less than a year, who should Canada take for the run for gold? And don't think the U.S. team has forgotten how Canada robbed them in 2002 on their own soil. Don't you think the Americans would love to return that favour in 2010?

I think the team will be remarkably different from the team in 2006. Without further ado, here are my choices for 2010 Canadian Men's Olympic Hockey team:

Goalies

Martin Brodeur
Roberto Luongo
Carey Price

Defensive pairings

Dan Boyle/Jay Bouwmeester

Shea Weber/Dion Phaneuf

Chris Pronger/Robyn Regehr

Mike Green

Forward Lines

Rick Nash/Sidney Crosby/Dany Heatley

Jeff Carter/Joe Thornton/Jarome Iginla

Ryan Getzlaf/Vincent Lecavalier/Corey Perry

Shane Doan/Mike Richards/Patrick Marleau

Marc Savard

The aforementioned team has a good mix of youth, experience, toughness, size, speed, and skill. My choice for captain would be Shane Doan, with alternates going to Iginla and Pronger.

Please send me your thoughts if you agree, disagree, or what ever the case may be. I know currently some of these players are not playing (or not playing well in the case of Carey Price), but they will be. There is no reason to think a return to form won't happen.

Coming soon: the rest of the elite six (USA, Sweden, Czech Republic, Finland, and Russia).

New York Islanders Midseason Awards

Steve Welliver — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:13:57 -0500

To celebrate the “half way to John Tavares” season, I would like to hand out a few awards.

The Islanders are a team that has had some bright spots, as well as some disappointments this year.

Stealing the names from the league awards (as well as making up a few of my own), here we go!

Hart Trophy – Richard Park

I know this is not an obvious choice, but no matter what role he is asked to play, he does it, and does it well. He has played mentor for the new kids, and leads the way on and off the ice. He does not get the credit he deserves but really is a catalyst for this team.

Norris Trophy – Mark Streit

There is no argument here, as Mark Streit has taken turns leading the NHL’s defensemen in scoring this year, and has a respectable minus-two rating on a team 15 games under .500. Also, he is the only current NHL defenseman to lead his team in scoring.

Vezina Trophy – Joey MacDonald

By default, the award goes to MacDonald. Not to say he hasn’t earned it. The games I Have watched, Joey has done a great job keeping the team in the game, and plays his heart out every game. He has proven that management was correct in giving a career minor leaguer a one-way contract.

Calder Trophy – Kyle Okposo

Okposo has certainly shown he belongs this year. Since returning from injury he has played more consistent hockey. He has great hands and an excellent release. Looking forward to seeing him continue to grow and mature as a hockey player.

Lady Byng – Josh Bailey

He seems like a pretty safe pick here. Not one to be in the box too much, he has also shown flashes of why he was a top 10 pick. A little more physical maturity from Mr. Bailey will mean a world of difference next year.

Selke Trophy – ???

Tough to choose a winner here. A team that has given up over 3.5 goals a game makes it a really tough choice, although I think Sean Bergenheim has the makings of a good defensive forward with his speed and puck pursuit. But at minus-13 (worst among the forwards), he is not there yet.

That is how it boils down as far as the “real” NHL awards. Now, some less than official awards:

Biggest Disappointment Award – Rick Dipietro

And it is not so much him but his health. He has not been 100% yet this year, and the year is half over. The franchise player sitting in sick bay is a major disappointment. If it needs to happen, pull the plug on this season so he is right for next year!

Biggest Surprise Award – Blake Comeau

Since coming up from Bridgeport, he has fit right in. The games I have watched this year, his line is by far the most dangerous, and he tends to be the catalyst. He is looking really good in the bigs. Not bad for a kid from Meadow Lake SK!

Weirdest thing to happen in a game – Flight of Fowl

A chicken flew into the Coliseum, flew around for 30 minutes, and left out the front door. The reason why no one heard of this, is there was no one at the game to witness it!!!

Let’s get some fans out to the games people. I live in Alberta, so I am out, but I am sure there are a few people in New York who can go. I watch the games through my cable provider, and the seats are empty.

NHL Awards at the Halfway Mark

Steve Welliver — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:16:36 -0500

Here are my NHL awards, for the first half of the season. Let the arguments begin!

Hart Trophy

Alexander Ovechkin, LW, Washington Capitals

Runners-Up: Jarome Iginla RW, Calgary; Marc Savard, C, Boston

Norris Trophy

Shea Weber, D, Nashville

Runners-Up:

Dan Boyle, D, San Jose; Zdeno Chara, Boston

Vezina Trophy

Tim Thomas, Boston

Runners-Up

Steve Mason, Columbus; Ryan Miller, Buffalo

Calder Trophy

Steve Mason, G, Columbus

Runners-Up:

Bobby Ryan, RW, Anaheim; Kris Versteeg, RW, Chicago

Lady Byng Trophy

Patrick Marleau, C San Jose

Runners-Up:

Pavel Datsyuk, C Detroit; Zach Parise, LW, New Jersey

Selke Trophy

Mike Richards, C, Philadelphia

Runners-Up:

Henrik Zetterberg, C, Detroit; Daymond Langkow, C, Calgary

Jack Adams Award

Todd McLellan, San Jose

Runners-Up:

Claude Julien, Boston; Joel Quenville, Chicago

Art Ross Trophy: Evgeni Malkin, C, Pittsburgh
Maurice Richard Trophy: Alexander Ovechkin, LW, Washington;

William J. Jennings Trophy: Boston - Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez

All-NHL First Team:
G – Tim Thomas, Boston
D - Shea Weber, Nashville
D - Dan Boyle, San Jose
LW - Alexander Ovechkin, Washington
C – Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburg
RW - Jarome Iginla, Calgary

All-NHL Second Team:
G – Niklas Backstrom, Minnesota
D – Zdeno Chara, Boston
D – Mark Streit, New York
LW – Zach Parise, New Jersey
C – Marc Savard, Boston
RW – Ales Hemsky, Edmonton

All-Rookie First Team:
G - Steve Mason, Columbus
D - Alex Goligoski, Pittsburgh
D – Drew Doughty, Los Angeles
LW - Blake Wheeler, Boston
C – Derrick Brassard, Columbus
RW – Kris Versteeg, Chicago

All-Rookie Second Team:
G – Pekka Rinne - Nashville
D – Matt Hunwick - Boston
D – Karl Alzner - Washington
LW – James Neal - Dallas
C – Patrick Berglund, St. Louis
RW – Bobby Ryan, Anaheim

Farewell To a Canadian Icon

Steve Welliver — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:10:04 -0500

Today, Canada mourns the loss of a great man in Ted Rogers, the Owner of the Toronto Blue Jays. My thoughts and prayers go out to Loretta, his children, and all the other family and friends who will truly miss this man.

Back in 2000, I had the unique opportunity to meet and shake hands with Mr. Rogers. I was working for his cellular phone company at the time, and he took time out of his day to introduce himself to all 200 staff members, and even posed for pictures with anyone who had a camera.

It is not every day you get the opportunity to shake hands with a man whose net worth is in the billions. And what a gracious man he was, talking about whatever you wanted to talk about.

He took over the Jays after their World Series triumphs, and rescued the team from a fate similar to that of the Expos. He revitalized baseball in Toronto, and the rest of Canada (at a professional level) at a time when it was in serious need of revitalization. He has made the Jays into a competitive team, and made the Rogers Centre a place to be again in Toronto.

With his passing, there are many questions that will be answered all in time, but for now, it is time to say good bye to a true Canadian hero, entrepreneur, and family man. Again, I want to extend my condolences to Loretta, Edward, Lisa, Melinda, and Martha.

CFL's 96th Grey Cup: Lights Out on the Grey Cup

Steve Welliver — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:29:31 -0500

The curtain has closed on another CFL season. The much maligned Calgary Stampeders took home Lord Earl Grey’s cup with a 22-14 win in Montreal over Alouettes.

The game was not the game many thought. It was a close defensive struggle from the opening kickoff, through to the final tackle. Chris Jones’ defense came up huge against Montreal, especially in the second half. Any time a defense can hold a team to one point in the second half is almost unheard of. Calgary was not to be denied, and their defense showed exactly why they have the best defense in the CFL.

Mike Labinjo with four knock downs, a sack, and a tackle, was the player of the game (although Henry Burris won the award). He took the defense on his back, and took them to the promised land. He made the difference two weeks in a row, having stuffed BC almost single handledly on the goal line last week.

The offense led by Henry Burris’ legs, not his arm that made the difference. Montreal did not have an answer for his legs, and that was the difference. He extended drives using his legs, and kept the offence on the field, and left AC to chill on the sidelines. He ran for 79 yards, but more importantly kept plays alive when feeling the pressure from Montreal’s front four.

A game all of Calgary can be proud of, and a team that is young, experienced, and still hungry.

CFL's 96th Grey Cup: Stampeders-Alouettes: A Journey North for the Grey Cup

Steve Welliver — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:45:23 -0500

As some of you are aware, this weekend marks the end of the CFL season, with the play for the Grey Cup. Close to a 100-year tradition in Canada (this is year 96), this is the pinnacle for fans of Canadian Football.

This year has the Calgary Stampeders (class of the league with a 14-5 record) against the Montreal Alouettes (12-7). They both finished first in their respective divisions, and each won their lone playoff game to get to this game.

Montreal (by virtue of a rotating venue) is playing for the Grey Cup in front of their hometown crowd of 65,000 strong.

Breaking down the game is really simple: Montreal and Calgary had the two best offences this year, so a typical CFL game of 41-39 would be the conventional wisdom. The winner will be the team who has the ball last, kicking a field goal with no time on the clock.

This is how it will break down when Calgary has the ball

Calgary will continue with what they have done all year by running a shortened offence, not taking huge gambles with the football, and allowing Henry Burris to manage the football.

He has grown this year into a Quarterback who is responsible with the ball, and will now throw it away or tuck and run rather than trying to force something that isn’t there.

Credit that turn around to Quarterback Guru John Hufnagel, who has turned Hank from the ranks of gifted but…to a Most Outstanding Player nominee in the CFL.

Also, Calgary will try to get Joffrey Reynolds and Demetris Summers the ball to take some of the pressure off of Henry from the likes of Anwar Stewart. Calgary will do as much as they can to keep the ball for as long as they can, keeping Anthony Calvillo on the bench.

The difference will be Montreal’s ability to force Calgary into second and long, and make Henry make the tough throws to a sure-handed group of receivers led by Ken Yon Rambo. If Montreal cannot keep Calgary’s offence off the field, it will be a long day.

When Montreal has the ball

All the hype this year has gone to Anthony Calvillo. After a serious illness to his wife to end last season, people were beginning to wonder if the end of the line was here for AC. Well 43 TDs with only 13 interceptions was a resounding reminder that AC is still as cool as they come.

If you ask the players in Montreal though, much of the credit this year belongs to Avon Coburne. Averaging 79 yards per game rushing and 51 receiving, he does it all for the Montreal offence.

They will continue to give him the ball as much as they possibly can, and will try to stretch the Calgary defense that lives on man coverage, and timely pressure.

Again, Calgary’s ability to force the issue, and not allow Montreal to do what they want to do will be the real difference. If Montreal can get Avon the ball in space and get him 25 touches, it will be a long day for Calgary.

Special teams

This really is a toss-up. Calgary showed last week to have a good return game, with Montreal’s coming in all that much better. The key will be limiting the long returns, and hoping they can win the field position game.

Montreal's return game is the more consistent here with Calgary’s being more work-man like, not breaking the big play, but providing decent field position. Edge: Montreal

The kicking game is where Calgary has an ever-so-slight edge over Montreal. Having Sandro DeAngelis kicking field goals for them is a true gift. Lining up, there is never a question of if. Damon Duval is no slouch here, and so it is a slight edge Calgary.

The skinny

Calgary has proven week in and week out to be able to bend a little on defense and not give up the big play in the first half. At half time, they make the necessary adjustments and are lights out.

Chris Jones has mastered the half time adjustment aspect of defensive coordinator, and that will be the difference in the game. Expect Calgary to be trailing at half by about three, and make the necessary adjustments at the half to win by four points, 28-24.

New York Islanders: Brian Burke Is Announced As Next GM

Steve Welliver — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 06:15:16 -0500

It doesn't hurt to dream, does it?

Memo to Charles Wang: Take a serious look at this man for our general manager. I am sure you are happy with the job that Mr. Snow has done with his time as GM, but talk about baptism by fire.

Why not allow Garth to take a step back, learn at the hip of Mr. Burke, and see if Brian really can build an organization from the ground up?

That would be the task in taking on an Islander team whose attendance is among the league’s lowest, and whose talent on the ice is also among the league's lowest. He would have the task of rebuilding the great Islander franchise to where it deserves to be: among the NHL elite.

With Mr. Burke’s hard ass style, maybe he can also convince several area politicians of the fact the Islanders are a huge part of New York, and to lose them because they have no building to play in would be devastating to hockey fans in the area. It would also mark a huge disgrace to New York, losing one of the NHL’s proudest franchises to Las Vegas, Nevada, or Flin Flon, Manitoba!

Now, why won’t Brian Burke come to New York as an executive for the Islanders? Well, they have Garth Snow, and want to stay committed to the plan he has in place. That makes sense, except it is not everyday a Brian Burke becomes available.

Also, the move would be a very positive sign for the fans that Mr. Wang is seriously committed to returning a winner to New York. From the merry-go-round of the past few seasons, I just do not get that vibe yet. From the General Manager carousel, to the coaching carousel, it seems like every step forward is met with two steps back.

Finally, is the Island too small for Brian Burke? It is not the hockey capital of Toronto, nor is it MSG. So, does that play into Mr. Burke’s decision at all?

I am sure it does, as well as his statement with needing two hands on the steering wheel (both being his) would be a huge reason why he probably will not be the next general manager of the Islanders. Mr. Wang has a history of going somewhat around the General Manager (see Alexei Yashin).

Will Brian Burke be announced as the next general manager of the New York Islanders? I truly hope so!

Do I honestly think it will happen?

Sadly, no.

The Islanders: Five Reasons Why They Are the Best New York Hockey Team

Steve Welliver — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 07:40:56 -0500

Let me first preface this by saying I am including all four New York Teams (Islanders, Rangers, Devils, and Sabres). The reason being is, technically the Sabres are NOT a New York area team, and the Devils are not actually in New York, so I thought it only fitting to include both.

Also, as an Islander fan it is way too easy to bash the Rangers, and I figured I would attempt some objectivity in this article!

5. They are the only New York team to have a member of hockey’s royal family (the Sutters) play for them.

4. The Islanders have the best winning percentage of Stanley cups out of the four teams at .800. The Devils are 2nd at .750, Rangers 3rd at .400, and the Sabres have yet to win Lord Stanley’s cup.

3. They played in arguably one of the greatest playoff games in NHL history against Washington on April 18-19, 1987, in which the Islanders won 3-2 on Pat LaFontaine’s goal at 68:47 of Overtime. The 73-save performance by Kelly Hrudey was a spectacular display of goaltending excellence.

2. The Islanders are one of only two NHL teams to come back from a 3-0 series deficit to win a playoff series (the other team was Toronto).

1. The last true dynasty in the NHL, winning four consecutive cups to start the 1980’s, and appearing in five in a row. Had the league not chosen to adopt a 2-3-2 playoff format that year (the only year the finals ever had that format), the Islanders may have won five in a row!

This may seem like ancient history to most of us, but it is a tangible link to the franchise’s history. One that is in need of being remembered and one that needs to be celebrated. They are the greatest New York Hockey team, and no one can take that away from them.

With another top five draft pick seemingly inevitable, they can continue to build through the draft and develop their next dynasty!

New York Islanders after 10 Games: Is the Island Sinking?

Steve Welliver — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:57:39 -0500

A 2-7-1 record after 10 games, good for last place. On pace for 41points. Too bad there is not a default for first overall pick, as the way the Islanders have fared through 10 games they will probably lose the lottery for the chance at Backlund or Tavares.

The last time the Islanders were faced with the leftovers from the first overall pick, they got (drum roll please)...David Chyzowski. There was a choice for Quebec to make between two can’t miss prospects, Chyzowski and Sundin. Well, I guess they both weren’t “can’t miss.”

There are a few bright spots to this team though. The investment in Streit is paying off. He is on pace for a career year, with nine points in the first 10 games. Also, Doug Weight and Bill Guerin seem to have recreated their magic from days past. With Weight at a point per game, and Guerin having scored four goals in the 10 games, both are good signs that all is not lost.

The youth movement is in full swing. The contributions of Bergenheim (10 GP, 2 G, 2 A), Nielsen (10 GP, 1 G, 3 A), and Okposo (10 GP 1 G, 3 A), have not been overwhelming, but they are worth noting. Only Bergenheim is getting more than 15 minutes of ice time per game, allowing the other two to ease into the NHL game. This is an important step in the development of this franchise’s future stars. And with the addition of Bailey in the near future from IR, that should further provide some youth to the lineup, if only for nine games (as the Islanders may opt to return him to Junior).

Finally, as far as pluses go for this year, the fact this team has yet to play its full roster could be considered a plus, as they can only get better. With DP on the shelf until December, and the much anticipated debut of josh Bailey on hold until sometime this month, there has to be a tiny bit of optimism.

Furthermore, Joey MacDonald has not been the problem; rather it is the revolving door on the blue line. With only two defensemen having played all ten games, they have yet to play their top six all in one game. Speaking of MacDonald, his time starting has shown the fans that management made a good decision in signing him to be the team’s backup.

As for disappointments, there are a few aside from five points in 10 games. The play of Jeff Tambellini (8 GP, 0 G, 1 A) has to be a disappointment. Part of the reason Ted Nolan was ousted over the summer was the playing time given to Tambellini, et al.

Based on the ten games this season, maybe there was a reason Nolan was reluctant to play Jeff. Maybe he is in fact a career point-per-game player in the AHL, and not the NHL. Let’s wait a few more months before throwing all the dirt on to his NHL career.

Also, I think management has to take a hit here too. Having DP as backup for the first four games when he clearly was not ready to contribute was a mistake. Why not leave him on the injured list so Yann Danis can get some valuable playing time and DP’s injury the proper time to heal.

Are Josh Bailey, Kyle Okposo, Jeff Tambellini, and the rest ready for full time NHL careers? Only time will tell. Are the playoffs even a possibility? I think the organization would be fooling itself to think a playoff berth is a reality, but to equal their points from last year would be considered a successful season.

Is the Island sinking? Not yet, but it is starting to retain water.