Bleacher Report - Articles by Was El-Halabi

Sean Avery's Six Game Suspension: An Insult to Every Player in The NHL

Was El-Halabi — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 07:25:01 -0500

With the decision made today by Gary Bettman to suspend Sean Avery for six games, the NHL has officially failed to correct the mistake they originally made three days ago.

Following his comments prior to the Dallas Stars' away game at Calgary on December First, Avery was immediately suspended indefinitely by the NHL. The indefinite suspension lasted through two regular season games, and was announced today as a six game suspension following a hearing between Avery and Bettman yesterday in New York.

While it was right for the NHL to take disciplinary action against Avery for his comments, the length of the suspension is an absolute shame, and an outright insult to every player to have laced up the skates in the NHL.

If looked upon as a single incident, and without comparison to any other suspensions in the NHL over the last few years, one can argue that the discipline is just.

We don't, however, have the luxury of avoiding comparison. With the suspension handed down to Avery today, the NHL has made it blatantly obvious that the squeaky clean image of the league is much more important than the safety of it's players.

When it comes to assault in the NHL - although sticks, stones, and hits from behind may break your bones, words will get you suspended.

No matter what the NHL was trying to accomplish with its lengthy banishment of Avery, the fact that it has yet to do anything similar with more important matters is baffling.

Too many times over the last few seasons has the NHL outright failed its players. Too many times has the NHL proven that money trumps safety. For a league that prides itself on clean and physical play, the NHL has failed miserably in its attempt to promote that very style.

It has been an all too frequent sight this season, as in those past, to see a player lying crumpled on the ice. Whether it be via a hit from behind, elbow to the head, or cross-check to the face, the NHL has been mediocre at best in it's discipline of the offenders.

Patrice Bergeron, a budding young star centre for the Boston Bruins, lost an entire season to injury last year after becoming the victim of a devastating hit from behind by Randy Jones of the Philadelphia Flyers. An entire season for Bergeron, and a two game suspension for Jones.

Mike Van Ryn, playing on the blue line for the Toronto Maple Leafs, has been out of action since November eighth, following a Tom Kostopoulos hit-from-behind special. Kostopoulos' suspension? A mere three games.

Chris Pronger of the Anaheim Ducks, suspended seven times in his 14 NHL career. Received two one-game suspensions during the 2007 playoffs after vicious hits to the head on both Detroit's Tomas Holmstrom and Ottawa's Dean McAmmond.

If we are to add up Jones' and Kostopolous' suspensions, they still would not equal the suspension that Avery received for using the term "sloppy seconds" to describe Elisha Cuthbert. In what is a true disgrace to the players of the National Hockey League, Gary Bettman has failed once again.

I guess if it doesn't hit YouTube, it doesn't really matter.

Maple Leafs-Sharks: Toronto Dips Their Toes in the Shark Tank Tonight

Was El-Halabi — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:17:06 -0500

Tonight in California, it will be a night of firsts for both Brian Burke and Ron Wilson.

It will be coach Ron Wilson's first trip back to San Jose since taking the head coaching job with Toronto in the offseason.

For general manager Brian Burke, it will be his first trip back to California after leaving the Anaheim Ducks midway through the season.

Holding a record of 9-9-6, but coming off of a pair of impressive wins over the Philadelphia Flyers and the surging Los Angeles Kings, Wilson will lead his troops into battle against a Sharks team that currently leads the league in points.

Since losing Wilson to the Leafs in the offseason, the Sharks haven't lost much else. Going into tonight's contest with a league best record of 20-3-1, this San Jose team is the current class of the NHL. Even without All-Star backstop Evgeni Nabokov for much of the season, the Sharks have been able to plug in other pieces and achieve the same results.

Their scouting department, a veritable factory for top-tier goaltenders, can once again be praised for having picked the diamond that is Brian Boucher out of the rough. The young goalie has performed admirably when called upon this season, and is outperforming almost every other goaltender in the league.

Another protege of the San Jose school of 'keepers, Vesa Toskala makes a trip back to where it all began for the Finnish phenom. Getting into top form, Toskala is riding two solid performances into this game, hoping to keep the momentum going. After a shaky start to the season, the diminutive Toskala has found his talent once again, and will prove to be a force between the pipes for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Playing the second of back-to-back games against a San Jose team that has been dominating its opponents may have many believing this will be a walk in the park for the Sharks. This Toronto team, however, has proven to be resilient—and may once again tonight.

The Legend of Bill Barilko

Was El-Halabi — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 10:00:10 -0500

Even though the story of Bill Barilko is often referred to as legend, few people under the age of 50 know its details.

A hard working kid, Barilko was born and raised in Timmins, Ontario, and the only sweater that he ever wore was the historic blue and white of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Though never particularly impressive statistically throughout his NHL career, Barilko won four championships, the most memorable of which was the last.

Barilko played brilliantly during the final series of the 1951 playoffs versus the Montreal Canadiens. After preserving the victory for Toronto in Game 1 with a great blocked shot, Barilko remained in the background until Game 5 at Maple Leaf Gardens.

With the first four games of the series all going into overtime, Game 5 seemed to be headed in the same direction. With the Leafs leading the series 3-1, a win on home ice would clinch the Cup.

Under three minutes into the first overtime, Barilko let loose a slapshot from just inside the point that snuck past Habs 'keeper Gerry McNeil. Maple Leaf Gardens erupted, as Barilko became a national hero and won the Cup for Toronto all with one slap of the puck.

Shortly afterwards, Barilko was sadly lost to the world forever. On a fishing trip in the summer of '51, Barilko's plane disappeared in the skies over Ontario. His death remained a mystery until 1962 when his plane was discovered near Cochrane, Ontario.

Curiously, the Leafs had not won a championship since Barilko's overtime heroics in 1951. The year that he was found, however, the Leafs were successful in their quest for another Stanley Cup.

His No. 5 is one of two numbers ever retired by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Bill Barilko–national hero, man of mystery.

What Good Would Mats Sundin Do Now?

Was El-Halabi — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 02:19:29 -0500

In the National Hockey League's version of the Brett Favre saga, new reports surfaced last week that indicated a possible Sundin return in mid-December. At this point in this merry-go-round story, one question begs to be answered: Does anyone care anymore?

True fans of hockey care. The Big Swede has spent the better part of the last two decades dazzling fans on the ice and being ever so gracious off of it. In a society dominated by limousine crotch shots, bad boy celebrities, and airhead blondes, Sundin has always stood out for the right reasons.

In the hockey hotbed that is Toronto, one can liken the media onslaught faced by Sundin on a daily basis to that which Paris Hilton would receive after a night of drunken debauchery.

Always in the spotlight, and always under a microscope, Sundin was a true gentlemen. Endearing to Leaf fans across the world, Sundin's big smile on the ice and clever wit off of it provided fans exactly what they needed, night in and night out. Anyone who has watched the big Swede score a goal over the last 17 years has that big toothy grin indelibly etched into their memories.

For fans today to complain about his indecisiveness is unfair. Stating time and again that he wanted nothing more than to finish his career in the city he loved, the Toronto Maple Leafs nevertheless pushed, poked, and prodded last season for Mats to drop his no-trade clause.

Etiquette apparently a foreign concept to the Silver Fox that is Cliff Fletcher, the attempt to dump Sundin understandably left a bitter taste in the captain's mouth. After 13 years wearing the historic Maple Leaf, one can only wonder how difficult the decision to come back and wear a different sweater must be.

To return at this point in the season, Sundin's impact would greatly depend on where he landed. A Cup contender would absolutely receive a boost in their bid for Lord Stanley's mug. On a team like Toronto, filled with young and impressionable skaters, Sundin's influence would undoubtedly further their development and help to mold a winner in the years to come.

As a true fan of hockey, and a long time supporter of Mats Sundin, I can only hope that he has the opportunity to lace up the skates at least one more time. If only to hear that beautiful phrase, "Goal scored by No. 13, Mats Sundin".

The Future of Justin Pogge with the Toronto Maple Leafs

Was El-Halabi — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:18:05 -0500

As the Toronto Maple Leafs' season continues to plod along in mediocrity, we can look toward the future for promise of a better tomorrow.

Although the recent signing of Brian Burke brings with it the possibility of some immediate changes, the path set out for the Buds at the beginning of the season says otherwise. In line for a decent draft pick at the end of the season, the Maple Leafs also have assets that may be peddled at the trade deadline for prospects and picks.

With the youth movement that the Leafs are currently undertaking, itonly seems logical that Justin Pogge would be in line to stand between the pipes in the near future. In order for Pogge to get the chance to prove his worth at the NHL level, one important thing must happen: Vesa Toskala needs to start playing like the Finnish phenom that he is.

Once Toskala begins to put up the numbers that he is capable of producing, his trade value will immediately skyrocket.

As the trade deadline nears, teams in the playoff hunt will be looking to improve their positions, especially on the blue ice. At this point in the season, a few options exist around the NHL for teams that may be looking for a goaltender. Always impatient with his goalies, Calgary's Mike Keenan could use someone to light a fire under Mikka Kiprusoff's hockey pants.

Across the province, in Ottawa, the Senators are in dire need of consistent production in net, and Jason Spezza's name has continually surfaced in trade rumours this season. Moreover, the New York Islanders have been more than happy to wheel and deal with Toronto in the past, and could definitely use some support in net.

With Rick DiPietro's wonky knees and hip, Toskala may be just what they need to stabilize their back end. Lastly, Dallas' Marty Turco's woes could very well be turned around with someone like Toskala sitting in waiting behind him.

In the AHL, Pogge continues to progress well, putting up a GAA of 2.71 and a save percentage of over 0.900 while shouldering the majority of the starts. After carrying the Canadian juniors to a gold medal in 2006, as well as playing exceptionally well for the Toronto Marlies last year, Pogge has demonstrated poise and consistency in the most demanding position on the ice.

Always improving, Pogge is a bright spot in the Leafs' not too distant future. More so than with forwards and defencemen, goalies take time to develop. With a little bit of patience, we may see Pogge blossom for the Buds.