Many people disagree about what is the hardest sport in the world. The definition of 'hard' matters. So does the definition of sport. My opinion will hopefully be very controversial and ignite an interesting discussion.
I think bodybuilding is the hardest sport ever. There are a few reasons why I believe this is true. Unlike most other sports, bodybuilding requires a 24/7 effort. There is no off-season. Everything one does affects their body, and this simple fact must be taken into account for a bodybuilder.
Secondly, building muscle is not easy. Some people are at a disadvantage from the start, because of their genetic profiles. Ectomorphs (people who have trouble gaining lean muscle) must be especially diligent in their diet and training. Mesomorphs (people who can
build lean muscle easily, because of genetics) must train for years to be able to enter a competition. Bodies can only grow so much in a given time period. Bodybuilding is a long-term sport, which adds to its difficulty factor.
Now, I'm sure there are arguments against bodybuilding. I am expecting people to condemn the sport for widespread steroid use. There are a couple bodybuilding agencies who strictly enforce natural bodybuilding by rigorous testing. These include NANBF (North American Natural Bodybuilding Federation) and the NPA (Natural Physique Association). The other agencies are not as strict in their testing, but anabolic steroids and HGH are still illegal. The other argument I am anticipating is the lack of talent/skill involved in the sport. What bodybuilding lacks in talent, it makes up for in dedication. Most people's bodies require exercise six times a week to gain muscle. Most people would never work out twice a day for hours at a time six times every
week. Diet is just as important, if not more important. The optimum muscle building ratios of protein/carbohydrates/fat is different for every one. Finding the right balance can take years. Then, it is a challenge to eat correctly all year round. No other sport restricts one's diet like this; the temptations are everywhere.
I am interested to hear people's opinions. Comment, comment,
Of course, one of the loudest ovations of the night came for Tampa Bay Lightning center Vincent Lecavalier. After this season, his contract extension kicks in. And boy is it front-loaded. Montreal fans would love nothing more than to have their son come back to play for the hometown team. But I'll tell you right now. It won't happen. And if it does, my Tampa Bay Vincent Lecavalier t-shirt will suddenly skyrocket in monetary/nostalgic value.
ALL STATS UP TO 1/27/09
1. Detroit Red Wings (2nd) -While we're on the topic of the All-Star game, it's absurd that the Wings had no representatives. It's equally foolish that Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom will receive suspensions for not attending the game. I understand you want the players to show up, but don't force an injured guy to show up and potentially make it worse.
Enough! The Red Wings were last year's Stanley Cup Champions, and they've picked up right where they left off. The 2.87 goals against per game (17th in the league) isn't pretty, but 3.62 goals per game (1st) is a great number. Just look at this team's depth up front.
Pavel Datsyuk leads the way so far with 56 points in 46 games. Offseason signing Marian Hossa is showing he's worth the money with 47 points in 47 games. Henrik Zetterberg has been a little banged up (as usual), but he's not far behind with 43 points in 45 games. He's a little injury prone, but not too much; the injuries are never major. If he could stay healthy, though, I'd tell you to pencil him in for 40 goals each year. The guy can play:
Good work by the Red Wings management, who just locked down Zetterberg for essentially the rest of his career at a pretty reasonable price. But I was talking about depth! Jiri Hudler (39 in 47) and Johan Franzen (32 in 41) can supply a little extra firepower. My bad, I forgot Mikael Samuelsson (32 in 46) and Tomas Holmstrom (30 in 39). It's debatable, but the Red Wings may have the most 20 goal scorers by the season's end.
Sure, Nicklas Lidstrom has been a little off his game this year, but 32 points in 44 games is still good. Brian Rafalski is enjoying playing on his hometown (homestate?) squad (35 in 47), while Niklas Kronwall can score (25 in 45) and brings a nice physical element as well.
I'm not sure what surprises me/makes me want to throw up more: the fact that Chris Osgood has a 3.21 GAA and .883 Sv%, or the fact that he has a 15-3-6 record in spite of such poor numbers. Supposed backup Ty Conklin grabbed the reins while Osgood was hurt, and has posted significantly better numbers (2.33 GAA, .917 Sv%). The Wings don't need an incredible goalie: they just need a decent one. Still, don't be surprised if they try to swap for an upgrade at the trade deadline.
FINAL Grade: A-. I'd like to see the defense be better, but part of it is on Osgood too. Besides, Mike Babcock knows how to run his team. Expect them to be battling San Jose for the number 1 spot in the West for the remainder of the season.
2. Chicago Blackhawks (4th) -Ah, the Blackhawks. The darlings of the NHL. Known for their incredible youth! Though it hasn't been working for them too well as of late.
Patrick Kane's (42 points in 43 games) recent 7 game scoreless streak isn't pretty, and the rest of the team hasn't handled the extra responsibility all too well (13 goals in last 7 games). Captain Jonathan Toews is good, but he gets too much credit (36 points in 45 games). I doubt he'll ever become as good of a raw scorer as Kane, but he can still be effective. And that name is pronounced "Taives" or "Taves" or "Tayves", not "Toes".
Somehow Martin Havlat (37 in 45) is staying healthy (has only played 70 or more games twice in 8 seasons), and he's making a difference. Rookie Kris Versteeg (36 in 44) has been invaluable, and Patrick Sharp is showing last year was no fluke (35 in 45). Both Versteeg and Sharp are "Stuff with Brett Approved". Sharp especially: this guy takes faceoffs, plays the penalty kill, scores goals. He does what's needed. Lastly, Andrew Ladd is slowly shaking that label of "draft bust" with 28 points in 45 games.
The Blackhawks powerplay has jumped from 24th to 9th, thanks to Brian Campbell (30 in 45). After Campbell, the defense is rife with youth, and not in a bad way. Duncan Keith (26 in 41) is also one of the best two-way defensemen in the league. Cam Barker has very quietly scored 19 points in 35 games, and James Wisniewski is still trying to find his game at the NHL level (7 points in 16 games).
The goalie rotation is particularly interesting. Cristobal Huet was signed over the summer to a rather large contract. Apparently the Blackhawks forgot Nikolai Khabibulin was still good. They've posted similar numbers (Huet: 2.30 GAA .919 Sv%, Khabibulin: 2.37 GAA .923 Sv%), but if anybody gets shipped it will be Khabibulin. His contract expires after this season and the Blackhawks could use a second line center. Rumors will gradually increase as the trade deadline gets closer.
FINAL GRADE: B+. They're young, skilled, and quick. If they can escape this slump quickly they should be okay.
3. Columbus Blue Jackets (9th) -The only team yet to make a playoff appearance, let's hope they can do it this year.
Everything with the Blue Jackets essentially starts and ends with "Stuff With Brett Approved" left wing Rick Nash. He leads the team with 46 points in 44 games, and is easily the most intimidating weapon in their lineup. Nash plays a physical game, but his skills have never truly shown through his stats. Oh, and he scored this goal:
Not only was that a great goal, but it was a game-winner on the road in the closing moments. That's why he's the captain. In other Columbus offense news, Kristian Huselius ranks second with 33 points in 44 games. R.J. Umberger (26 in 48) wasn't the natural fit with Nash the Jackets were hoping he'd be, but he's still a contributor. At least he's keeping his head up. Derick Brassard (25 in 31) seemed to be the answer for Nash until he got injured. Regardless, there's hope in sight, as recent trade acquisition Jason Williams has 4 points in 4 games.
The leader on defense? Surprisingly enough, Mike Commodore. Commodore, usually viewed as a depth defenseman with a physical component to his game, has 21 points in 48 games. Just behind him is Fedor Tyutin with 20 points. Tyutin was acquired with Christian Backman in exchange for Nikolai Zherdev and Dan Fritsche from the New York Rangers, and while it seemed as though Backman might become the offensive leader on this blueline, his 4 points in 42 games say otherwise.
Goaltending? Steve Mason (2.04 GAA, .926 Sv%) is pretty much a lock to be nominated for rookie of the year, and it wouldn't be a stretch to give him the award already. It can be argued that he's a product of the system, but let's look at the goalie whose job he took, Pascal Leclaire. Leclaire posted a 3.83 GAA and a .867 Sv% before getting injured. He'll miss the rest of the season. In his place, Wade Dubielewicz will serve as backup. So far, though, Mason hasn't needed much help.
FINAL GRADE: B. Here's to the first playoff berth in franchise history.
4. Nashville Predators (14th) -This is the one that kills me. My heart goes out to the Predators. Two summers ago, the team went through an ownership change. You figure it wouldn't be a big deal, but it becomes one when a franchise goaltender is shipped and the team lets go of its highest-scoring forward and defenseman to cut down payroll and make it a cheaper sell. Yet they still made the playoffs! A lot of the credit goes to Barry Trotz, but it was an uphill battle. Of course, as usual, they were shown the door in the first round by Detroit. Rough times.
Then, this past summer, they had to watch talented young Alexander Radulov leave for Russia despite still having a contract with the Predators. And just as it seemed they might make it again, they've dropped to 14th. It's still possible that they'll make the playoffs, but it doesn't look good.
Oh, and there are incessant rumors and whispers of the team being relocated due to monetary troubles. The concept of the team being moved is thrown around so much I'm surprised the players haven't gotten fed up and punched out a reporter. Like I said, every season the world tries to suffocate them, and yet they show up and make the best of it. Enough of this, though. Onto the team.
I take one look at that offense and it just reminds me of how I get pissed when there isn't any iced tea in the fridge. There is no real difference maker: it's a committee type thing. Evidence? J.P. Dumont leads the team in scoring with 34 points in 48 games. I don't want to say Jason Arnott is in decline, but his 29 points in 40 games doesn't bode well. Martin Erat (31 points in 43 games) is on pace for another "Martin Erat Season", which means about 60 points. The greatest disappointment is David Legwand, who has 23 points in 46 games for about 4.5 million dollars a season.
(INTERRUPTION: IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THE BLACKHAWKS AND PREDATORS HAVE GAMES TONIGHT. STATS FROM TONIGHT'S GAMES WILL NOT BE INCLUDED)
However, there is hope for the offense. Steve Sullivan has completed his comeback from some back problems, and he was a point per game player in a Nashville uniform in the past. 2 points in 5 games isn't much, but it's a start.
This team has a pretty underrated defensive unit. Finally, though, "Stuff With Brett Approved" defenseman Shea Weber is getting the recognition he deserves. Weber ranks second on the team in points (32 in 45), and his blast from the point (leads the league in defenseman goals with 14) results in both goals and opportunities up close. Not only that, but Weber can be one tough customer:
Ryan Suter (24 in 45) is still maturing, but I like him too and he may still have room to grow as a player. Dan Hamhuis (12 in 46) isn't playing his best hockey, but he can still be an effective defensive defenseman.
The goaltending situation in Nashville since Tomas Vokoun was sent to Florida hasn't been stable. The belief is, to put it simply: "Win and stay in". Dan Ellis was superb last season and was a key reason the Predators made the playoffs, but a 2.92 GAA and .899 Sv% doesn't quite cut it. Rookie Pekka Rinne has been better (2.33 GAA, .916 Sv%), and his 4 shutouts are crucial to a Predators team that has trouble scoring.
FINAL GRADE: B-. It's like there's a permanent cloud stuck over this franchise. The fact that they're doing this well is surprising enough. If they can make the playoffs, hand most of the credit to coach Barry Trotz and make that grade an A+ for a resilient group of players.
5. St. Louis Blues (15th) -I guess things can go downhill quickly, considering this team came out of the gate with an 8-3-1 record. But two things set in rather quickly: injuries and reality.
The Blues have been bombarded with injuries. Top line center Andy McDonald and his 18 points in 16 games didn't last very long (thankfully, though, he should be back soon). Paul Kariya and his 15 in 11? Out for the season. Defenseman Eric Brewer has missed time due to injury as well. I wonder if the sole reason the Blues traded Lee Stempniak to the Toronto Maple Leafs in return for Carlo Colaiacovo and Alex Steen was so they could have more healthy players. Erik Johnson, the defenseman who, well, was, y'know...picked first overall in 2006...is out for the season because he got injured on a golf cart. I'll get to a Manny Legace injury later.
Don't get me wrong, they might not be much better off with all these guys healthy. But it doesn't help when they're all gone. One of the biggest surprises is David Backes (25 points in 46 games). I hate Backes with a passion (don't ask me why, I don't know), but he might actually be able to hit the 30 goal mark. Brad Boyes is still scoring after his breakout season (37 points in 46 goals), but his -22 rating definitely makes that stat line look a little ugly. Keith Tkachuk is showing he can still play (31 in 44), while young guys like Patrik Berglund (30 in 41) and David Perron (30 in 45) are stepping up. Hey, they deserve some credit: that powerplay is 5th in the league.
You may recall me mentioning how I'd like to see Cody Mcleod of the Colorado Avalanche score 20 goals this year. Same for B.J. Crombeen on the Blues. Crombeen's on pace to fall short, but it's still within his grasp. Of course, that's not Crombeen's typical routine:
There isn't much to say for this defense. Barret Jackman leads them in scoring (14 in 46), but he a) isn't that good, and b) is disliked by me. The guy you should be paying more attention is to the aforementioned Carlo Colaiacovo. Since coming in from Toronto, he has 12 points in 27 games as a blue. It's not eye-popping by any means, but it's not bad for a guy who has never topped 20 points in a season. Probably doesn't help that the most games he's ever played in a season in 48. Though, to be fair, he did spend 5 games in the minors that season.
I said earlier I'd mention Manny Legace's injury. Here's a clip first:
Yes, that was Legace who tripped on Palin's carpet and hurt himself. Legace is usually fragile, and if you seem him listed with an injury, there's no need to be surprised. Injured or healthy, a 3.12 GAA and .888 Sv% isn't good enough. Chris Mason (2.99 GAA, .904 Sv%) hasn't been much better. But Manny isn't all to blame: he's 5'10" and 200 pounds, which doesn't help when the NHL just changed goalie pad regulations and made them proportional. Legace has been better in the past, but it's just not showing right now.
FINAL GRADE: C-. It was a rebuilding season from the start. I'm just hoping that injury to Johnson doesn't stunt his growth as a player in any way. All hope for the playoffs seems miserably lost if you look at their place, but...look at the points. The Blues aren't too far out of a spot, and they won't go away just yet.
STUFF: The Wings won this season's division title before the season even started. Chicago should be a lock for the playoffs and Columbus can make the cut too, but neither of them can match Detroit. It's doubtful St. Louis and Nashville will make it.
Finally, we can move onto the Western Conference. In case you didn't know, the West is typically stronger than the East. The best evidence I can provide you with is that they have collectively compiled a 92-56-17 record against them.
So, needless to say, the competition in the West is a little tougher. Oh, look at that: I said it anyway.
(We've been a little bogged down lately, so all apologies for the delay)
(NOTE: ALL STATISTICS ARE TAKEN FROM PRIOR TO THE ALL-STAR BREAK)
1. Calgary Flames (3rd) -The Flames have assumed their rightful place atop the division. My only problem with the team? Goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff. Ever since capturing the Vezina Trophy in 2006 as the best goalie in the league, his stats have declined at a steady rate. This year, he finds himself with a 2.82 GAA and .903 Sv%. Not incredibly atrocious numbers, by any means, but make no mistake: the main reason he owns the league lead in wins is the fact that he also leads the league in games played. The Flames need a backup goalie who can win a few games for them as well. Nevertheless...
...the fact that they have the 6th best offense in the league (3.15 goals per game) helps. And as usual, captain Jarome Iginla is leading the way (53 points in 46 games). He likes to drop the gloves from time to time as well:
The guy can throw rockets.
After losing Kristian Huselius and trading away Alex Tanguay during the offseason, the offense looked a little empty. Not anymore. Let me introduce you to...The Other Guys. (Template: Goals-Assists-Points).
Mike Cammalleri (C)-acquired from Los Angeles on the day of the draft. Leads the team with 22 goals. Good on the powerplay as well. (22-22-44)
Daymond Langkow (C)-enjoying his time on Iginla's line. Interestingly enough, actually drafted 6 spots ahead of Iginla. (16-21-37)
Rene Bourque (L)-offseason signing has a powerful shot and likes to get his hands dirty, as evidenced by his 62 PIM. (16-15-31)
Todd Bertuzzi (R)-while still having trouble escaping his history, Berty's showing he can still play. (11-20-31)
Fortunately for Kiprusoff, the defense in front of him is pretty solid. Dion Phaneuf can score (30 points in 46 games), but he can also dish out the pain (when he's not taking a tumble). Robyn Regehr and Cory Sarich are quality defensive defensemen, while Adrian Aucoin (6-15-21) and Mark Giordano (2-15-17) can be a little more offensive-minded and help round out the group.
FINAL GRADE: A-. Last season, the biggest obstacle for this team was consistency. It hasn't gone away completely, but if Kiprusoff can manage to dig in, it will go a long way.
2. Edmonton Oilers (6th) -I'll be honest, I didn't even think these guys would make the playoffs, but that was probably just my bias. There they are, sitting smack dab in the middle of the playoff race. Maybe Oilers coach Craig MacTavish will be able to save his job yet again, though his poor track record makes me wish they would fire him already. Sure, he took them to the finals once. It just so happened to be the year that right wing Fernando Pisani, he of 136 points in 340 career games, had 18 points (14 of them goals) during their 24 game playoff run.
People often point to MacT as the reason Ales Hemsky has yet to reach his potential. Either way, Hemsky's 41 points in 36 games this season satisfies me. Elsewhere, the forwards have been underwhelming. Guys like Andrew Cogliano and Sam Gagner, after promising rookie seasons, have failed to up their production. Dustin Penner (23 points in 44 games) has also continued to disappoint in Edmonton, as he's on pace for another 40 or so point season. Same for Erik Cole (21 points in 46 games).
When the forwards have floundered, the defense has stepped up. Sheldon Souray (31 points in 45 games), whose durability I enjoy comparing to the house of cards I make when I get really bored (has only played more than 80 games once in 10 seasons, and my house is never sturdy), has shown just how effective he can be when healthy. Prior to Hemsky's return to the lineup, Souray led the team in goals. This guy has a rocket of a shot. Fellow blueliner Lubomir Visnovsky, acquired from Los Angeles over the summer, has been impressive as well (29 points in 46 games). Meanwhile, Tom Gilbert (24 in 46) and Denis Grebeshkov (21 in 43) are both on pace for about 40 points. Four defenseman hitting 40 points? No guarantee, but if it happens, that's pretty impressive.
Oh, and Souray doesn't get involved often, but when he does, he makes sure to enjoy himself:
Prior to shipping Mathieu Garon to Pittsburgh, the Oilers had quite a mess in net. However, Dwayne Roloson has put up decent numbers (2.73 GAA, .913 Sv%) to pry the job away from Garon and Jeff Deslauriers.
FINAL GRADE: B. They've been trending upward since December. If the young guys can pick up their play, pencil these boys into a playoff spot.
3. Vancouver Canucks (7th) -Right behind the Oilers, the Canucks are in a much less favorable spot. They only have 2 wins in their past 10 games. Mats Sundin and his massive contract have been good enough for 3 points in 7 games, while Roberto Luongo has let up 11 goals in the 3 games since his return from injury.
While Sundin still has the potential to improve his play, this offense still centers around Swedish twins Daniel (48 points in 48 games) and Henrik (44 points in 48 games) Sedin, with Henrik playing set-up man and Daniel pulling the trigger. Pavol Demitra (25 points in 37) games has been electrifying at times and extremely disappointing at others. Meanwhile, Alex Burrows and Ryan Kesler do a quality job of shutting down opponents' top players. They can even help out on offense every once in a while (combined 49 points through 48 games).
The defense is without a superstar, but nobody is below average. Kevin Bieksa leads them offensively with 24 points through 39 games, while Willie Mitchell, Matthias Ohlund, and Alexander Edler have provided quality defensive play. Shane O'Brien and his bruising hits has been helpful as well. Acquired from Tampa Bay early on in the season for Lukas Krajicek, O'Brien has the honor of leading the NHL in penalty minutes with 130.
During Luongo's time spent on the injury reserve, Jason LaBarbera, acquired from Los Angeles for a 7th round pick, put up decent numbers (3.07 GAA, .907 Sv%) while handling most of the games. Original backup Curtis Sanford (2.59 GAA, .906 Sv%) has been sent to the minors despite cool suggestions for his helmet design:
(If you don't get it, the top one is former Canuck goalie Dan Cloutier, who wasn't particularly good, while the bottom one is starting goalie Roberto Luongo's face. Isn't it funnier when you understand it?)
FINAL GRADE: B-. And they were playing so well out of the gate. But they need to improve fast if they want to stay in the playoff race.
4. Minnesota Wild (9th) -Oh, Marian Gaborik. You are so talented, but you are the epitome of fragile. You scored 5 goals in one game once! Then again, you're out for the season, and you have an unresolved contract dispute with the organization. Good for both of you. Now they'll probably lose you for nothing and you'll get less money than you wanted.
When healthy, Gaborik is a weapon and the heart of this offense. However, that's rare, and this season it finally seems as though he's done in Minnesota. Meanwhile, the Wild's first round draft pick in 2001, Mikko Koivu, has taken over. He's on pace for 82 points, and on a team that ranks 27th in the league in scoring (2.47 goals per game), every point counts. Pierre-Marc Bouchard is showing just how badly he needs Gaborik with his 23 points in 43 games. Still, props to Antti Miettinen, who has 30 points through 46 games despite having a career high of 34. And as for you, Owen Nolan, you just keep on chugging; your 19 points through 28 games shows you're fragile, but you're a warrior. Nolan's 11 goals are sorely needed on a team without any big name scorers.
However, let's not forget that a lot of this is due to coach Jacques Lemaire's suffocating brand of defensive hockey. The Wild rank second in the league with 2.30 goals against per game. Defenseman Marek Zidlicky, acquired from Nashville during the offseason, has 25 points through 41 games. This guy can engineer an offense, and Lemaire has handed him the keys to the powerplay. Brent Burns (19 in 42) and Marc-Andre Bergeron (17 in 36) can both help out as well, but Kim Johnsson and Nick Schultz are the ones impress defensively. While Schultz doesn't dazzle offensively (5 points through 46 games), his plus 2 rating seems even higher, given his low offensive output.
Niklas Backstrom has been terrific in net (2.22 GAA and .926 Sv%), and he needs to be. For Lemaire it's not fun unless they win the game 2-1.
FINAL GRADE: B+. If this team makes the playoffs, I tip my hat to Lemaire. It may be boring to watch, but it works.
5. Colorado Avalanche (12th) -The fact that the Avalanche are this close to a playoff spot is mind-boggling to me. Okay, maybe it's not that surprising, but when I look at this team I don't feel too good about them.
After debating retirement, center Joe Sakic decided to sign a one year contract with the team. He promptly got injured 15 games into the season, then hurt himself again in a snowblower accident. Don't get me wrong, Sakic is one of the greatest of all time (1,641 points in 1,378 career games). If anything, he deserves better than that; it shouldn't be the way he has to go out. I hope he doesn't retire yet. In the wake of his injury as well as the loss of Paul Stastny, left wing Ryan Smyth leads the team with 36 points in 47 games. Not bad, but that's less than I'd like to see in return for 7.5 million. Right behind him is Milan Hejduk with 34 points in 47 games. He hasn't looked the same since his heyday either.
However, Colorado has a funny way of blending the old with the new. Wojtek Wolski has 9 points in his last 8 games since shifting to center. T.J. Hensick continues to show potential with 15 points in 34 games, and John-Michael Liles has 23 points in 45 games to lead Colorado defensemen. Hard-hitting Adam Foote is also on his way back from injury, and will provide a much-needed boost to an ailing club. And here's to hoping Cody Mcleod can hit the 20 goal mark. Feel free to start a website to support his journey.
The Avs haven't enjoyed quality goaltending since Patrick Roy, and I'll bet they miss his occasional fight. Andrew Raycroft (2.77 GAA, .901 Sv%) and Peter Budaj (2.91 GAA, .899 Sv%) have both played excellent for stretches, but just as it seems they are about to pull away with the starting job, they play a terrible game.
FINAL GRADE: C-. I don't know if this team needs all-out rebuilding, but the veterans are fading quick. Peter Forsberg may make another comeback later in the season. Either way, this team needs some fixing.
FINAL STUFF -Calgary wins the division while the Oilers and Wild tag along for the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Canucks get pissed at themselves for blowing all that money on Sundin, fire their coach, and enjoy golf during the spring with the Avalanche.
I don't know how well-informed about world news everyone here is, but I am going to go ahead and talk about a current event that I have become very interested in: the crisis in the Gaza Strip.
First, a brief background: Gaza in a Palestinian region in southwestern Israel that is independent of Israeli rule. The Gazans have elected Hamas to be their government, which is the cause of much tension because Hamas is both a legitimate organization and a terrorist group. Hamas and Israel had a ceasefire, which expired about a month ago. When Hamas did not ask to renew it and rockets were lobbed over the border, Israel responded with an arial
bombardment and invasion of Gaza. A week ago a new ceasefire was written. However, today more rockets were launched from Gaza and Israel responded with more bombings.
This, of course, is only the recent events--the full story goes back all the way to 1948 with Israel's War of Independence (known as "the Catastrophe" to Palestinians) and the establishment of Israel as a nation. The US government has been allied with Israel since the beginning, probably because they are a Western nation in a sea of Islamic ones. The US media is often very biased towards Israel; I have found that if you look closely you will find that no one plays fair. Hamas does direct terror cells to fire rockets at Israel, but Israel sends settlers into regions to provoke conflict or use it to show the UN that that area is "Israeli" even if it really isn't. And so on and so forth. The result was "Operation Cast Lead" as it is called in Israel, or the Israeli attacks left a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
I would also like to mention Israel's use of white phosphorous in their airstrikes. WP was outlawed by the Geneva Convention in urban warfare, since it cause much collateral damage and leaves a lingering poisonous dust. In fact, in 2004 there was controversy when the US used it against insurgents in Iraq. So, the question I want to ask is this: should Israel be allowed to use this weapon? Or: to what extent are the Israelis allowed to go after Hamas terrorists? Should they be allowed to kill civilians if necessary? (This is not a hypothetical question--thousands of civilians have been killed in the invasion and in the airstrikes.)
Also, what do you think should be done about this crisis? I have suggested that the UN intervene as they have done in other places, but their stance thus far has suggested that they are just all talk in this case.
If you are interested in becoming more in-tune to world news, I recommend reading the BBC News. The BBC is considered to be the most objective news organization in the world, and I find their extensive coverage of world affairs fascinating.
Hello all. For those of you who don't know me I am Bill. I have my own blog, on which I discuss current events and philosophical topics, but Brett wanted me to join in on this one as well.
I hope to add a new and interesting perspective to this blog. I'm not going to talk about hockey (that's Brett's job) but I will discuss current events and whatever else I find interesting. I will try to avoid being long-winded and overly philosophical (like my blog is) but I will not hesitate to discuss social issues or whatever else crosses my mind. I like comments (a lot) so always write what you think about what I have to say.
As a break between my incessant obsession over hockey, I'd like all of you to give a band called "The Hold Steady" a listen. Be open minded, and listen to a few different songs off of a few different albums. I will most likely try to discuss them in the future, and it will be more enjoyable if you've familiarized yourself somewhat with their music.
Last one's was a little lengthy again. I figured I would just highlight the important stuff this time around, but I can't really figure out how to do that. So we'll learn to deal with it one way or another.
Let me preface the whole post just by saying that the Southeast Division...lacks the quality of play most other divisions have.
1. Washington Capitals (2nd) -The Washington Capitals made huge strides last year, going from last in the league at one point to division champions. This year they're enjoying the same spot again.
Let's start with the offense. Left winger Alex Ovechkin is extremely talented, both at goal scoring and in ordering food to Sidney Crosby's room. Last year, he led the NHL in points. He's picked up his play after a slow start (5 points in first 9 games), and currently leads the league in goals with 31. The greater surprise at the start of the season was Alex Semin, who came sprinting out of the gate with 27 points in 16 games. The party ended shortly after he remembered he remembered how injury prone he was (The NHL regular season has 82 games: Semin has yet to hit 80, and has played more than 70 games only once in four seasons). Sophomore center Nicklas Backstrom seems to be enjoying his role as Ovechkin's center with 48 points in 48 games. He's got talent, but playing with a weapon like Ovechkin always helps.
I may as well tack on defenseman Mike Green to the offense, considering his fantastic 33 points in 35 games, 12 of which you can find in the goal column. However, his fighting skills could be better:
Despite Washington's prolific offense (7th in the league), their defense is their downfall (14th in the league). It's not terrible, but if it's going to take a better defense if they plan on making a deep run into the playoffs. The penalty kill needs to be better as well (79%, 24th in the league). Flaws like that show in the playoffs, and the addition of a punishing defenseman at the trade deadline wouldn't hurt.
Along with problems on defense comes goaltending troubles. Jose Theodore has enjoyed a roller coaster of a career, going from league MVP to playing poorly to playing well to getting sick/hurt and playing poorly in last year's playoffs to, well...playing poorly. His 2.81 GAA and .898 Sv% need to improve, though he's been better as of late. Backup Brent Johnson has played well at points, but injuries have hobbled him, and it's likely they'll continue to do so. I just don't understand why they haven't gone with Brett Leonhardt full time yet. Would've been nice for him to actually play.
FINAL GRADE: B+. This offense can light it up, but the back end needs to be stronger.
2. Carolina Hurricanes (8th) -I challenge you to find a more mediocre team than the Hurricanes. Not only are they right in the middle of the Eastern Conference standings, but their atrocious 2.50 goals per game puts them 25th in the league, and their goals against per game isn't much better (2.90). Eric Staal, a man who has previously notched 100 points in a season, only has 35 points in 48 games. Rod "Rod the Bod" Brind'Amour, once renowned for his skills as a defensive forward, has only 27 points in 48 games and -29 +/- rating that just makes me want to vomit. Defensemen Joe Corvo and Joni Pitkanen each have 21 points a piece, and neither has managed to beat out the other as the go to guy on the powerplay. Right wing Justin Williams spent the start of the season hurt and has only managed 9 points in 23 games.
And now, I will give credit where credit is due. Ray Whitney, at 36 years old, currently leads the team in points with 39 in 48 games. Whitney has never been a particularly dynamic scorer, but he's a relatively consistent 60-70 point guy. He's chugging right along at his normal pace. So don't you pay those other players any mind, Ray Whitney; just keep doing your thing.
People often look at goaltender Cam Ward and are critical of his numbers (2.57 GAA, .911 Sv%) after considering the fact that he helped take the Hurricanes to the Cup back in 2006. However, it's possible that was just a case of him being hot at the time. Ward, a first round draft pick back in 2002, is only 24. So let's cut him a little slack; plenty of goalies aren't able to shoulder a starting job until their late 20's or early 30's. He's played fantastic as of late, and backup Michael Leighton no longer seems to be a threat to usurp the starting job.
FINAL GRADE: C-. These guys look heartless when they play. If you've noticed, there's a pattern here: the worse teams, as well as the teams I tend to criticize more, seem to play without any interest in the game before them. It's a problem.
3. Florida Panthers (9th) -Congratulations to the Panthers, who refuse to go down without a fight. That's not sarcastic, folks. This team is enjoyable to watch, and I'd love to see them make the playoffs.
After shipping center Olli Jokinen to Phoenix for defensemen Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton, most of the questions about this team were about the offense. However, they've been able to handle the load thanks to a few young players. For quite some time, it was expected that big bad Nathan Horton could be the star of the future:
However, his 26 points in 37 games isn't good enough. He's put up back-to-back 62 point seasons, but he has yet to truly break out. Instead, it seems as though left winger David Booth (31 points in 39 games) could be taking his place at the top of the totem pole.
Props to the defense as well. They currently rank 9th in the league with 2.74 goals against per game. A squad of Jay Bouwmeester, Bryan McCabe, and Karlis Skrastins to go along with Ballard and Boynton isn't exactly sublime, but it's not a bad unit by any means. Couple that with quality play from Tomas Vokoun (2.68 GAA, .916 Sv%) and Craig Anderson (2.47 GAA, .930 Sv%), and we've got ourselves a pretty good defensive unit.
The case of Bouwmeester is an interesting one. He leads Panthers defensemen with 26 points in 46 games, but only signed a 1 year contract this past summer. It's doubtful he'll resign, so it's probable he'll be shipped at the trade deadline. They can choose to keep him for a playoff run, but then they'd be forced to lose him to free agency for nothing. My opinion? Expect him to find a new home as the deadline gets closer.
FINAL GRADE: B. Not only are they playing good hockey, but it's fun to watch. Here's to a playoff berth.
4. Tampa Bay Lightning (12th) -I will admit, I am a moderate Tampa Bay Lightning fan. But at the start of the year, the team they put on the ice was one with almost no chemistry and no heart. The choice of Barry Melrose as coach didn't help much, and they stumbled early on and found themselves behind in the standings. Therefore, interim head coach Rick Tocchet, I give you my virtual handshake of approval. You've taken a car crash of a team and turned them around as best you could. Tampa is still in place to make a playoff run, and they're no longer sad to watch.
Vincent Lecavalier and Martin St. Louis have picked up their play after slow starts, and both will be participating in the All-Star Game in Montreal. The "picked up their play" part applies to everyone on the team, offense and defense alike. The first overall pick from last year's draft, Steven Stamkos, has alternated between games and new conditioning routines as of late. Whatever it is, it's working; he has 4 points in his last 5 games.
Monster Evgeny Artyukhin (6'5", 254) happens to be incredibly fun to watch as well:
The defense is patchwork, but ever since they shipped Dan Boyle to San Jose, there's been no offensive leader. Recent waiver wire acquisition Cory Murphy could be the solution. He recorded 3 points in his first 2 games with Tampa, and while it's doubtful he'll keep up the pace, the offense needs somebody who can start a rush and engineer a powerplay.
It's goaltender Mike Smith's first year as a starter, and his 2.50 GAA and .919 Sv% look even better considering the type of defense his playing behind. He's still young (26), and he certainly fills the net (6'4", 218). Let's see if he can keep it up for a full season.
Final Grade: C+. This could hit B range if they make the playoffs.
I won't bother discussing the numerous trades in which he has been robbed. That's for another time. However, this could be the second straight year in which Waddell is forced to ship a star player. Last year, it was right winger Marian Hossa. This year, it could be left winger Ilya Kovalchuk, who currently leads the team with 49 points in 48 games. Kovalchuk is a gifted sniper: his career goal totals from his rookie season to last season read 29, 38, 41, 52, 42, 52. He won't be a free agent this summer, but he will be after next season. The Thrashers have only made the playoffs once during his tenure there, and they were swept in the first round. The organization has tried to convince him to stay by naming him captain. If they don't come to terms with him on an extension soon, they may be forced to ship him.
Meanwhile, Todd White (44 points in 48 games) and Vyacheslav Kozlov (42 points in 48 games) have rebounded from down years. Rookie Brian Little was the offensive leader at the start of the season (34 points in 45 games) until Kovalchuk finally started to heat up. Meanwhile, center Rich Peverley, claimed off of waivers from Nashville, has 8 points in 5 games as a Thrasher. Defenseman Ron Hainsey is producing with 25 points in 48 games, and the Thrashers' powerplay is humming along at 12th in the NHL (20%).
As with many other teams, the problems can be seen in the goaltender's numbers. Remember, though, that goalie statistics are both reflective of the goaltender's play and the team's play. With that being said, Kari Lehtonen has a 3.19 GAA and a .904 Sv%. You can't really find any positives in that.
FINAL GRADE: D+. Please, let Don Waddell be fired.
OTHER STUFF -Washington is essentially a lock. It's all about who else makes the cut with them.
I'm trying to pump these out quick, but I have a lot to say, so it's tough. Plus, there's a lot of pressure. But it's all good.
Last one's was rather lengthy, no? I'll try to cut this a little shorter. No guarantees.
(mind you, these standings could change tonight: however,I'm not counting on the rangers beating the ducks. but I could be wrong!)
I'll do my best to remove my Flyer bias.
STUFF
1. New Jersey Devils (3rd) -I never give this team any credit, because in the past, they haven't really deserved it. Every time it seems as though they screw up, don't score enough, then rely on Martin Brodeur to save them. See for yourself:
If that isn't enough, familiarize yourself with these facts: 1. Brodeur most likely would have surpassed numerous goalie records this season (had he not gotten hurt). 2. The Devils don't score often. 3. The Devils do not have a particularly good defense.
But like I said. He's hurt. And let's give the Devils some credit. The defense is without any stars, but somehow coach Brent Sutter makes it work.
And the offense? Patrik Elias is looking like his old self again. He's putting up great numbers. Perhaps even better is that it appears Zach Parise is finally breaking out. After putting up around 60 points for the past two seasons, he has seems as though he's ready to smash his career highs (he's firmly on pace for 94). Elias is right behind him, aiming for about 92 points. While we're doling out some credit, winger Brian Gionta is on pace for his best offensive season since 05-06, while center Travis Zajac will most likely set several new career highs.
How about that Scotty Clemmensen? After serving as Brodeur's backup for several seasons, he finally got bored on the bench (Brodeur usually eats up most of the starts...when healthy) and spent a season in Toronto, where he was fantastically average. Fast forward...not too much...to now. Clemmensen's GAA rests at a respectable 2.30 while he's maintained a sparkling .922 Sv%. Brodeur's backup in Clemmensen's absence, Kevin Weekes, has also managed to put up decent numbers (2.58 GAA, .914 Sv%).
Final Grade: A. I don't like the Devils. Don't fool yourself, though: Clemmensen and Weekes are playing good hockey, but the real credit goes to the rest of this team. Maybe they finally panicked after losing their star goalie long term. Whatever it was, they're playing incredibly as a group. Right on.
2. New York Rangers (5th) -Half of me doesn't want to talk about the Rangers, while the other half of me doesn't really want to either. This team disgusts me when I watch them. Don't get me wrong, sometimes they come out and completely take over a game. But that's rare. Most nights they seem to be playing without any heart. To put it simply, they have no spark.
Now, some credit to goaltender Henrik Lundqvist. He's had a few rough outings so far this year, but he's shown up to most of the games. Sure, that 2.54 GAA and .913 Sv% may not be great, but the numbers don't always tell the story.
Now, as for the rest of these guys...the signing of defensemen Wade Redden and Michal Rozsival to ludicrous contracts (they have cap hits of 6.5 and 7 million, respectively) is, well...ludicrous. The Rangers lead the league in shorthanded goals against, which typically occur when a defenseman mishandles the puck at the blue line on a powerplay. In other words, these two men are primarily to blame. Please, take a moment, and join me in pointing the finger at them.
I will continue to make fun of the Rangers and their complete ignorance of the salary cap. Centers Scott Gomez and Chris Drury both have cap hits of just over 7 million. Both of them have about 30 points. Sure, Gomez missed a few games with an injury, but it's not excusable. Offseason acquisition Nikolai Zherdev leads the team in scoring with 38 points in 47 games. Apparently nobody on Zherdev's old team (the Columbus Blue Jackets) told the Rangers he was absurdly streaky.
You may have noticed I didn't mention the actual statistics of Redden and Rozsival. That's because, while they're not terrible...they're not good, and not as good as they should be.
Final Grade: D. This team will drop in the standings. Badly. Expect it to be a close cut for the playoffs.
3. Philadelphia Flyers (6th) -At the start of the season, they were terrible. Every game was a shootout (that they managed to lose). The Flyers were the last team to win a game. So this is a nice turn around.
Jeff Carter is finally showing why the Flyers made him a first round pick back in 2003, sitting pretty at second in the league in goal-scoring. Captain Mike Richards has shown last year was not a fluke, and he's looking at an 80+ point season. Lastly, Simon Gagne has made a successful return from a concussion filled season, posting 43 points in 42 games. Meanwhile, center Daniel Briere has spent most of the season being injured/figuring out how to get injured again.
The defense isn't so pretty. Kimmo Timonen has rebounded from his slow start to post 28 points in 44 games. Braydon Coburn's season has been slightly disappointing after last year's success (only 18 points in 45 games so far), but some credit must be given to this unit as a whole. Despite several injuries to depth defensemen such as Ryan Parent, Randy Jones, and Derian Hatcher, they have somehow managed 19th in the league in Goals Against per Game. This group needs a little fine tuning come next offseason. Though it isn't all their fault...
...considering how sub-par goaltenders Martin Biron (2.88 GAA, .908 Sv%) and Antero Niittymaki (2.57 GAA, .915 Sv%) have been. Philadelphia hasn't seen a true number one goaltender for quite some time, and they don't exactly have any stud prospects in the minor leagues.
Final Grade: B-. This team needs to be better defensively if they want to make a legitimate run at the Cup. They've hit a few bumps in the road lately; here's to hoping they can right the ship.
4. Pittsburgh Penguins (9th) -I planned on starting off this one by being hateful, but let's face it, I hate every team in this division that's not the Flyers. Except the Islanders (most of the time). More on that later.
Okay, the Penguins lost their top defensive pairing of Ryan Whitney and Sergei Gonchar before the season, but...come on! The fact that they're out of a playoff spot is, well, terrible. They've been in a funk as of late, though it's possible they snapped it in their 4-2 win against the Flyers in Philly. It certainly carried over to their 3-0 win over the Rangers a few nights later, where a returningish Marc-Andre Fleury posted his second shutout of the season. Though he was rather nice to the Flyers in that Philly game:
His other nickname is...can you guess it?...Cindy Crosby. But let's face some facts: Crosby, along with teammate Evgeni Malkin, lead the league in scoring (Malkin sits at the top with 69 points, while Crosby is tied with Alex Ovechkin at 59). Of course, the usual situation has arisen. Crosby and Malkin have posted great totals, and the rest of the team suffers from a lack of depth/skill at the winger position. Miroslav Satan seemed to be the answer at the start of the season (18 points through October and November), but has slowed down as of late (only 12 points in his last 24 games).
Whitney is back on defense, so the powerplay improved somewhat. However, I don't really care about "the great job everybody did on defense while Whitney and Gonchar were gone". Because, quite frankly, most of them have stopped overachieving and realized who they really were. Don't get me wrong, they're not as bad as their play lately might suggest: it's just that they were lucky to start off as well as they did.
Ah, now for the goaltending! Fleury hasn't been too good for most the season (2.84 GAA, .908 Sv%). While Fleury was out, backup Dany Sabourin showed just how incapable he could be at handling back-to-back starts, putting up a 2.85 GAA and .898 Sv%. However, he was shipped to Edmonton in exchange for Mathieu Garon, who, despite having a down year (3.17 GAA, .895 Sv%) is usually a quality backup. A change of scenery may do him good, and Fleury has responded well with the added pressure.
Final Grade: C+. This is a playoff team. They need to be in a playoff spot. They made the Stanley Cup Finals last year! C'mon!
5. New York Islanders (15th) -For those of you unaware of how NHL standings work, there are 30 teams in the league. 15 in each conference. The Islanders have the dual honor of ranking both last in their conference and the whole league.
Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro is signed through the 2019-2020 season. Bad call. DiPietro is one of the most injury-prone goalies out there. He played intermittently this year until finally calling it a day (season) recently. What might be my best example of how his love for injuries is how he hurt himself last year...in the All-Star Game. My bad, it wasn't in the actual game. It was in the skills competition. Get the idea?
Career backup Joey MacDonald did as well as one could ask. Same for Yann Danis, considering MacDonald recently went down with an injury. The concept of bringing back Wade Dubielewicz was stopped during the process when Dubie was picked up on waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets. They Isles are left with the incredible duo of Yann Danis and Peter Mannino.
On paper, the Islanders defensive corps doesn't look to bad. Key words: On paper. They sit second to last in Goals Against per Game. Mark Streit deserves credit for managing to rev up the power play (sort of), and for leading the team in points (it's rare for a defenseman to manage that, though the Isles are just bad enough for him to pull it off). Brendan Witt can dish out the pain, but his -27 is unacceptable. Chris Campoli has been underachieving, while injuries to depth defenseman such as (let's face it, all of them are depth defenseman) Andy Sutton, Radek Martinek, and Freddy Meyer haven't made life easier.
Meanwhile, the offense has been full of surprises (other than Streit). Bill Guerin is rebounding from an off year with 32 points in 46 games. Doug Weight has experienced a similar revival with 32 in 37. Assume every player I mention has a +/- in the negative. The only person above 0 is Sutton, with a paltry +3. And like I mentioned earlier, he's missed time with injury.
The organization must be thrilled! Weight, Guerin, and center Mike Comrie are all having decent/quality years! And for a team sitting in last place, this makes all of them fantastic trade bait for some draft picks and prospects. Expect at least one Islander to be shipped as the deadline gets closer.
Grade: D-. It'd be an F, but there were no expectations prior to this season, so I'll deal with it. Oh well, another year of reconstruction in the books.
OVERVIEW The Rangers just won. But they won't hold onto the division lead. Expect it to go to the Devils or Flyers. The Rangers will drop, the Penguins will rise, and the Islanders will enjoy watching the league from the basement window.
I'm curious to hear everyone's opinions on the matter. The study makes sense to me, but it is troubling. Does this mean I should never get married and stay single forever? If not, then according to this study I'll be in poor marriage. Interesting stuff. Post your thoughts in the form of comments.
This isn't my review. Instead, I will provide you with two facts.
1. The majority of the United States is educated. What does educated mean? They're literate, and have a basic understanding of what I can only describe as "things".
2. Here is a live tracker of Bush's approval rating. Last I checked it, it read 23%.
I know...nobody cares...but I do...and I'll feel better just making this.
So get over yourselves and care about a sport that deserves it. I mean, what else are you going to do once football is over? The Nets suck, and no other team in the MLB has enough players to participate in the upcoming season, considering the Yankees already paid everybody to play for them.
We'll do it in order of the current standings.
Template is as follows...
(Divisonal Rank). Team (Conference Rank) -stuff
LET'S GO!
1. Boston Bruins (1st) -You can not give this team enough credit. They rank third in goals for per game (3.51) and first in goals against per game (2.09). Their powerplay and penalty kill both rank in the top 10. Top-line center Marc Savard not only ranks 5th in the league in points but 1st in +/-.
Perhaps the most surprising thing is their youth. Just look at the tables I've created for some of their younger players below:
If you can't tell, just about every one of those players is either on pace to obliterate last season's numbers or already has. Factor in rookie Blake Wheeler (28 points in 45 games) and a resurgent Michael Ryder (32 points in 45 games), and that's a pretty fearsome offense.
That's not to knock on the defense or anything. Skating tower Zdeno Chara (6'9", 255) is moving right along at his usual pace (26 points in 45 games), while the goaltending tandem of Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez have maintained fantastic numbers (combined .932 save percentage and 2.04 goals against average).
Final grade? A+
2. Montreal Canadiens (4th) -You won't see many flashy tables for this team because right now they don't deserve them. Virtually every player has been underachieving so far and it disgusts me. The only people I'm not mad at are defenseman Andrei Markov (35 points in 44 games) and goalie Carey Price (.921 save percentage, 2.30 goals against average). Since I'm nice, throw in center Saku Koivu (22 points in 28 games), who was moving along at his usual pace until he got injured. The next closest player to point per game pace is center Robert Lang (36 points in 44 games). Sure, Koivu and Alex Tanguay are hurt, but...come on. Then again, it's not like they can call this guy up from the minors:
Don't get me wrong, I'm not expecting everybody to score 100 goals. But I was hoping for a little better than this. Regardless, there is hope. Guys like Tomas Plekanec and Andrei Kostitsyn are starting to heat up. This forward corps has the potential to be a machine; once they get it going, expect them to become a force. It's probable they'll make a blockbuster deal or two at the trade deadline. After all, it is the team's 100th anniversary; expect them to go all out to ensure the Cup finds a home in Montreal.
Oh, and Mike Komisarek is a starter at the All-Star game. Don't get me wrong, he's a great shutdown defenseman. But last year's All-Star game had a final score of 8-7. It's just not his place.
Then again, this year's game is in Montreal, so hometown favoritism all the way!
Grade: B-. Better become at least an A- by the end of the year.
3. Buffalo Sabres (7th) -First off, I'd like to give a quick shout to Sabres goalie Ryan Miller. His Goals Against Average, which I will now refer to as GAA, has gone down from last season (2.64 to 2.50) while his Save Percentage, which I will now refer to as Sv% has gone up (.906 to .918). Prior to this season, there were a decent amount of questions as to just how good this guy really is. We knew he could react quickly: this year, he's stealing games too.
Now for the bad. There is no punishing defenseman on this blue line. The closest it gets is captain Craig Rivet, who has already missed a chunk of time with an injury. After shipping Brian Campbell at the trade deadline last year, there has been no major offensive threat. Sure, Jaroslav Spacek is putting up numbers (22 points in 45 games), but that puts him on pace for 40 points this season. Campbell is on pace for 57. Factor in that Spacek doesn't usually like to play a full season (has only played 70 games or more 4 times over 9 seasons), and you can see there's quite a dropoff.
The offense isn't much better. It's deep, but in the bad way; most of the players will put up similar numbers, and they won't be dazzling. Expect right wing Jason Pominville and center Derek Roy to heat up after the All-Star Break. Just look at last year: they put up 42 and 44 points in 34 games, respectively. Left wing Thomas Vanek is on pace for a career high of about 50 goals, and former 1st round pick Drew Stafford is heating up as of late. Otherwise...one can only hope everybody picks up their play in the second half. This isn't an offense fueled by one superstar: it's a communal effort. At the moment, though, I'm not impressed (18th in the league with 2.76 goals per game).
Grade: C+. If this team is going to make the postseason, they'll need another team that was a "lock" to, well...not be a lock anymore.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs (11th) -Let's give the Leafs some credit. This is a season for reconstruction. Their best player, Mats Sundin, left them so he could go do poker advertisements/sign an obnoxiously large contract with the Vancouver Canucks halfway through the season. However, they've shown one of the most important signings you can make is the one that puts someone behind the bench. Not including this season, Ron Wilson has a career coaching record of 1089-518-426-101 (wins-losses-ties-overtime losses). His postseason record isn't so great, but the Leafs aren't preparing for that just yet. Add that to the hiring of Brian Burke as the general manager, and this team is clearly looking for an overhaul.
Regardless this was a lost season from the start. It's likely right wing Nik Antropov will be shipped at the deadline, considering a) Burke doesn't exactly love Russians on his team, and b) he's only decent, and could be a useful addition to a team looking for size. Goalie Vesa Toskala has, to put it nicely, underperformed (3.34 GAA and .883 Sv%). Occasionally, the team excels with Wilson's system, as evidenced by their 3-2 win over the defending Stanley Cup Champions the Detroit Red Wings in the season opener. Most of the time, however, this team lives up to the billing. And it's not good.
Grade: B+. This isn't a season where they expect to make the playoffs. If I was Brian Burke, I'd host a fire sale and tank the season so I could go for a higher pick. Either way, this team had it's expectations set low, so let's give them a round of applause.
5. Ottawa Senators (13th) -I will start positive. Defenseman Filip Kuba, acquired in the offseason (along with Alexandre Picard and a first round draft pick) in exchange for Andrej Meszaros, has 24 points in 35 games. That's pretty impressive for a guy with a career high of 37: he's on pace for about 50.
Now for the bad. This team has been in a slide since last season, and they can't shake it. If you told me they made the Stanley Cup Finals two seasons ago, I wouldn't believe you. This was a team that used to be known for its offense: this year they rank 28th in goals per game. Last year they were labeled as a "one line offense", with the focus being on Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza, and Daniel Alfredsson. They're not even that this year. The past 3 years, Heatley has scored 50 goals twice and 41 once more. This year he will most likely not eclipse 40. Alfredsson, the team captain, is slumping in a similar fashion.
And center Jason Spezza? One of the most frustrating players to watch. He's been inconsistent at best, and has tried too hard this season to make the difficult/pretty plays. The word that best describes his play, along with the rest of the team, is probably "disinterested".
The goaltending isn't much better. Martin Gerber came into the season as the supposed starter, but that didn't last very long. Next, he was outplayed by Alex Auld, of all people. Of course, it wasn't too long until he came back to earth. Now youngster Brian Elliot currently has the job, and he hasn't been playing too bad. It's just that the team in front of him can't score.
Grade: F-. That becomes a D if they can manage to shed salary and ship a few contracts. Talk about a disappointment. Redemption for this team will not come this season.
FINAL STUFF
Don't expect these standings to change much. Each team is playing on completely different levels. Thankfully, there are some prettyintenserivalries that stillexist.
and please, people, and least click the Brian Burke link.
