Bleacher Report - Articles by Stephen Thomas

How To Fix the NHL

Stephen Thomas — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:46:06 -0500

Post-strike, the “quality” of an NHL game has increased, but a lot of the same problems exist: Teams struggle selling tickets, revenue is down, and the game is still diluted.

So, with that in mind, it’s time to delete some teams, expand rosters, and reorganize the league!

My first act as commissioner of the NHL will be to invoke the "snow rule."

The worst thing the NHL did with expansion was moving hockey to places that were not hockey areas (Atlanta, Phoenix, Florida). With this in mind, I create the snow rule that requires a minimum amount of snowfall each year for a city to qualify for an NHL team.

If a city’s annual snowfall falls below a certain point for a sustained period of time, the three/five rule (five years if beginning in the first three years in a location, three consecutive years after five years) is invoked, and the team may move to another city approved by the NHL (with preference given to Canadian cities).

However, note the Los Angeles exception. This is the lone city to which the snow rule does not apply and is replaced with an attendance clause.

For my second act as commissioner of the NHL, I institute the CCR redesign: combine, contract, and relocate.

Note that preference of combination is given to teams with some form of history, namely Stanley Cup Championships. However, all teams (Tampa Bay, Carolina) cannot be catered to.

Without further adieu, your NEW NHL re-alignment!

Please note, combined teams can be seen in parenthesis.

Wales Conference (East)

Northern Division

Montreal

Toronto

Ottawa

Quebec (San Jose/Dallas)

Boston

Southern Division

New York

Hartford (Devils/Islanders)

Pittsburgh (Penguins/Buffalo)

Philadelphia

Washington

Campbell Conference (West)

Northern Division

Calgary

Edmonton

Vancouver

Winnipeg (Phoenix/Anaheim)

Minnesota

Southern Division

Detroit

Chicago

St. Louis

Colorado

Los Angeles

A lot of emphasis is put on cities that have had teams moved recently. All Original Six teams must stay. Also, special priority is given to Next Six teams.

My third step is to (sadly) take a cue from the NFL and create a six-team, NFL style playoff system. The winner of each North and South division will get a first-round bye, seeds three through six face off.

For my fourth move as commissioner, I will expand the NHL rosters by 10 spots, which will eventually be dwindled back to 25 total over the next 20 years. The idea behind this is to prevent players currently in the NHL from losing their jobs.

Also accompanying this will be a reduction in draft rounds for the first 15 years. This will work congruently with the NHLPA as players in the minor leagues are not members of the players association.

In reality, the only players losing their jobs in the long run are bottom-rung players in the minors. In fact, having this system will also increase the quality of the minor league game.

Continually, in order to divide up the players from contracted teams, a lottery selected, serpentine draft will be held.

My fifth ruling as commissioner is to amend the current overtime system.

No longer will points be awarded for overtime losses or shootout losses. Additionally, if you win in overtime or a shootout you will only be rewarded one point. This will force teams to keep playing hard, especially late in the season, and puts more of an emphasis on regulation-time victories.

My sixth rule will stop winter classics from being played during the regular season and relegate them to the All-Star Games only. See my previous article for reasons behind that.

Continuing along these lines, ruling seven is that the All-Star Game will be rotated yearly between the United States and Canada. However, attempts to move it between East and West will also be emphasized.

Ruling eight: Even if it’s a low-ball offer, the Stanley Cup Finals and a majority of the playoffs will be on network television. The biggest step to reviving interest in the league is to create awareness.

These are my rulings on day one as commissioner of the NHL! If you think that’s something, wait for day two!

Big-Market Teams Purposely Staying Quiet?

Stephen Thomas — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 13:25:08 -0500

The economy’s sagging. Big name free agents are sitting on the market with their astronomical demands. And who, for argument’s sake has remained relatively quiet? The big-market teams.

Of course, names like C.C. Sabathia, Mark Teixeria, A.J. Burnett, John Smoltz, Raul Ibanez and Francisco Rodriguez received big money contracts.

However, big names are still on the market: Manny Ramirez, Ben Sheets, Adam Dunn, Andy Pettite and Orlando Hudson.

There are also some nice piece players out there: Oliver Perez, David Newhan, Kevin Millar, Bobby Abreu and Livan Hernandez.

If the league were as unbalanced as it supposedly is, or worse, as much as it can be, none of these decent names would be on the market. Both New York teams are opening new stadiums this spring; they can both afford Ramirez.

The Mets rotation currently has three solid starters in Johan Santana, John Maine and Tim Redding. They could certainly use an arm like Andy Pettite, who is not only used to pitching in New York, but has big game experience that could possibly prevent the Mets from choking for a third straight year.

Further, currently listed in the left field position of the Mets depth chart is Daniel Murphy. Who? Precisely. Do people actually believe the Mets don’t have the funds or resources to add Manny Ramirez or Adam Dunn out there?

With Tim Hudson being out the first four months of the upcoming season, are there those who don’t believe they could take a chance on Ben Sheets on the cheap?

However, don’t believe that this story is full of angels, there certainly are demons in this situation as well.

The Brewers top two starters from a year ago are or were free agents going into the off-season. Where is their bid for Sheets? Why are they not taking a run at Perez?

Last year, a little more offense could’ve allowed the Diamondbacks to hold off the Dodgers. Where’s their bid for Dunn, a player they coveted at the trade deadline last year. If there was a legit power source coming up from the minors, why wasn't he there last season? Winter ball doesn't make players that much better.

In our “down economy,” most of the league is still making money, and if they’re not, you can bet they’re receiving their share of profit sharing and luxury tax moneys from the Yankees, the Mets, the Mariners, the Tigers and the Red Sox.

To tell the fans it’s because of the economy that teams can’t go out and get free agents is a sham. Owners are just blaming the economy for why they can’t hand out big time contracts. But at this point, less than a month until pitchers and catchers report, are the rich going to bite the bullet and steal these players off the market, or are small-market teams going to stop being so stingy and attempt to better their teams?

Time to Move the NHL All-Star Game Outdoors

Stephen Thomas — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:39:46 -0500

Following the NHL’s third outdoor game, the feel of the novelty—and that’s all it is—is starting to wear off.

Around the time of the 2008 Winter Classic between Pittsburgh and Buffalo, a lot of obvious complaints were shot towards the game. The one most heard revolved around the fact that it was a regular-season game, and is it fair to have a team play a game under unusual circumstances with two points on the line?

However, on the positive side, at least on the inside, is the fact that players are clamoring to play in the outdoor game.

So how do we solve both of these problems? Simple.

Have the NHL All-Star event played outdoors.

First of all, when the game and festivities occur normally, it’s still plenty cold to have the game in most of the northern cities.

Secondly, one of the things negotiated in the most previous collective bargaining agreement was that there would be no All-Star Weekend in years in which the Olympics are held. This proves that the game isn’t a big deal to the NHLPA.

Further, if all of these players are clamoring to play in the game, why not offer it as a reward to their fine play?

The NHL wants to present a new game to the public; one of speed and skill, and not a physical confrontation. When is the last time anyone saw a check thrown in an All-Star Game?

Finally, and the most obvious, it’s an exhibition game. All-Star games are nothing more than a novelty to begin with—why not increase the actual novelty of the novelty?

The point of the matter is, few hockey fans watch the All-Star Game or find any merit in it. At least by adding the outdoor aspect to it, not only will you get some regular fans in watching, but the ratings will receive a huge boom from casual viewers.

The only downside of this idea is that it precludes the game from being played in a southern city. This is one of the novelties the League attempts to give to the southern cities to draw more interest in the teams.

However, frankly speaking, if the situation arises where a team’s struggling and a fan base abandons them, it is more than likely to happen in the South rather than the North.

Further, when the time comes for NHL contraction, who’s going to be the first to go?

Florida or Minnesota?

Phoenix or Ottawa?

Mark Teixeira: Cursing Boston As The Empire Strikes Back?

Stephen Thomas — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:55:38 -0500

Since Dec. 23, the fortunes for some Boston teams have taken a turn for the worst. It all started with a rumored $12 million difference over eight seasons ($168M vs. $180M) to free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira. And who outbid them? None other than the Evil Empire.

Babe Ruth was sold from the Red Sox to the Yankees in 1919 for over $500,000 ($125,000 in cash, three $25,000 notes and a $300,000 loan). With inflation estimates, the value of this sale equates to $5.025 million today—a mere half of what the Red Sox refused to give up for the season’s prime free agent.

Could this move be a change in fortunes for both New York and Boston?

On Dec. 23, the Celtics won their 19th consecutive game. However, that was the beginning of the end for the defending champions, who have gone on to lose six of their next eight games. Prior to this streak, they had lost two games the entire season.

While the Celtics have struggled, so too have the New York Knicks, though not to the surprise of many. Since the signing, the Knicks are 2-4. One of their two wins? Of course, a 100-88 win over the Celtics.

Boston College football lost their bowl game against Vanderbilt, tripping up a nice 9-4 season and losing to a 6-6 team. Less than a week later, the Eagles head coach Jeff Jagordzinski was fired. And why was he fired? Because he could feel the tide turning for Bean Town; he attempted to flee for the New York City glitz and glamour, and interviewed with the Jets.

While the New England Patriots are undefeated since the fateful day, they did, however, become the first team to go 11-5 and not make the NFL playoffs. Further, they’re now forced to apply the franchise tag to Matt Cassell, costing them upwards of $29 million to hold onto two quarterbacks.

The hardest team to correlate to this is the BC basketball team, who defeated previously unbeaten No. 1 North Carolina. However, they went on to lose one of the worst games in the team’s history, falling to Harvard 82-70.

Last but not least, we can’t forget the lesser evil Boston Red Sox. First, John Henry complained of the Yankees limitless money supply thanks to their new stadium. Nothing like the rich kid in high school with the BMW complaining because his friend got a Porsche.

Will the Boston free-fall continue? The only way to know for sure is to watch when the Death Star opens April 16 against Cleveland, and we'll see who's sitting where when the dust settles in October.

Neutral Site? Tell That to Oklahoma, Penn State

Stephen Thomas — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 08:28:16 -0500

While the Sooners prepare to take the field against the Florida Gators in the biggest game of their season at the Orange Bowl in Miami, they might as well be walking into The Swamp in Gainesville.

Florida, the same way as Louisiana State did last year, will essentially be playing a home game for the National Championship. Last year, many experts pointed to the speed differential between the SEC and Big 10, but playing in front of a crowd mostly filled with screaming Tigers fans has to be taken into account.

Since the BCS National Championship Game came into existence, this year will be the fifth "home" game for one of the participants. So far, the home team has been 2-2.

2008 – LSU defeats Ohio State 38-24 at the Louisiana Superdome

2006 – Texas defeats USC 41-38 at the Rose Bowl

2004 – LSU defeats Oklahoma 21-14 at the Louisiana Superdome

2001 – Oklahoma defeats Florida State 13-2 at the Orange Bowl (Miami)

Among the other BCS sanctioned bowls, the biggest home field advantage has been to the benefit of the Southern Cal Trojans. Since 2004, USC has played all but one of their bowl games at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. The only year they didn't, 2005, they played for the National Championship in Miami. The only game they lost was the 2006 National Title game against Texas.

One of the biggest thing for the rest of the bowls is to invite local schools so they can have a team that "travels well," and the bowl has it's best opportunity to sell out.

Brief recap of this year’s bowls:

EagleBank Bowl – Washington DC

Wake Forest 29, Navy 19 (Navy plays in Baltimore)

magicJack St. Petersburg Bowl – St. Petersburg (Raymond James Stadium)

USF 41, Memphis 14 (USF plays in RJS)

Sheraton Hawaii Bowl – Aloha Stadium

Notre Dame 49, Hawaii 21

Motor City Bowl – Ford Field, Detroit

Florida Atlantic 24, Central Michigan 21

Meineke Car Care Bowl – Charlotte, N.C.

West Virginia 31, North Carolina 30

Champs Sports Bowl – Orlando, Fla.

Florida State 42, Wisconsin 13

Emerald Bowl – San Francisco

Cal 24, Miami 17

Independence Bowl – Shreveport, La.

Louisiana Tech 17, Northern Illinois 10

Texas Bowl – Houston

Rice 38, Western Michigan 14

Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl – Fort Worth, Tx.

Houston 34, Air Force 28

Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl – Nashville, Tn.

Vanderbilt 16, Boston College 14

Chick-fil-A Bowl – Atlanta

LSU 38, Georgia Tech 3

International Bowl – Toronto

UConn 38, Buffalo 20

If the BCS title game, BCS sanctioned games, and in fact, all bowl games are as important as the BCS insists, these home games should be prevented. BCS officials have stated in the past that the chief reason there is not a playoff in Division I college football is because it it would render the other bowls insignificant.

But in all reality, when will a classic match up like Tulsa/Ball State or Florida Atlantic/Central Michigan ever be insignificant?

Pens Current Roster Needs To Step Up

Stephen Thomas — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 15:23:11 -0500

Having lost six out of their last eight, and suffering through an o-fer their last 33 power play opportunities (before going 2-6 against Atlanta on Jan. 6), the Penguins are looking for some sort of spark to reignite the defending Eastern Conference champions.

The current issues with the Penguins shouldn’t be classified as to who they don’t have, but rather who they do have, not playing up to par.

Since returning from injury on Dec. 18, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury is sporting a 4-6 record. While there are some bad losses mixed in there, there are also losses to Boston, Montreal, and the Rangers. Fleury could still be recovering from his dubious “lower-body injury,” which caused him to miss nearly three months last season.

If Fleury can’t recover fully from his injury, or worse, re-aggravates it and has to go back on the shelf, the Pens have to make a move for a better backup goalie. Though Dany Sabourin has been serviceable (2.72 GAA), his save percentage is at .902, which has contributed to his 6-7-2 record.

Another key player returning from injury recently has been defenseman Ryan Whitney, who, in eight games since returning, has only compiled three assists (two against Atlanta on Jan. 6) and posted a minus-five. As the best defenseman on the roster Sergei Gonchar is still on the shelf, and the under-performance of Whitney on both ends of the ice has been hard to endure.

Speaking of the crucial two-way defenseman, Gonchar has yet to step on the ice this season, and questions remain if he ever will. In the past two seasons, Gonchar has compiled 10 goals and 38 assists and eight goals and 38 assists, respectively, on the power play. Gonchar’s presence alone should aid the Penguins power play, which is converting at 17 percent, 10th in the East.

If returning to form doesn’t put the Pens in the place they hope to be, a shuffling of the lineup, namely more ice time for second-year defenseman Kris Letang or rookie defenseman Alex Goligoski (six goals, 13 assists) and more of a defensive presence on the first line (Crosby currently sports a plus-five) could be in order.

The biggest problem facing the Penguins at the trade deadline is how close they are to the salary cap (approximately $56.13M of the $56.7M cap). Moving guys whose financial obligations outweigh their production (Ruslan Fedotenko, Hal Gil, Mark Eaton) should be done.

GM Ray Shero should seriously consider moving Fedotenko and Eaton regardless—and, if this is done, look closely at picking up Brendan Shanahan.

Adding Shanahan to the mix (namely the first line) will create either more offense on the two-line if Miro Satan is moved, or more defense if Pascal Dupruis is moved. Shanahan could provide the scoring, leadership, and toughness that was hoped for from Gary Roberts in past seasons, but never came to fruition.

The main thing the Penguins have to do is to get healthy. The last month and a half of the season shapes up nicely for Pittsburgh to make a run, considering out of their last 19 games, games against Washington (one, road), Boston (one, home), Philadelphia (one, home), the Rangers (one, home), and Montreal (last game of the season, road), giving the Pens a reasonable chance to compile at least 25 points in March and April.