Archive for May, 2003

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Wings Update
There is a cool article in today’s DetNews by Ted Kulfan about the Wings and their drafting of European players. Just more proof that the Red Wings organization is one of the smartest, if not the smartest, organizations in the NHL, if not all pro-sports.

Terry Green says the Wings should not be broken up, unless we all want another 42 year wait for the Cup. He makes some good points and I agree with him. The Wings should not rebuld now and should make one more run at the Cup while they still can. Leave rebuilding to the year after this coming season. I think Holland’s smart enough to know that and I think Illitch is willing to keep the team competitive and not give up after a set back like this year’s playoffs were.

5/27 Playoff Update

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Tonight the Stanley Cup Finals begin at 8 ET in New Jersey. I’m picking the Ducks because I really think they can win this series, as long as Giguere plays like he has and as long as he gets the defensive support he’s been getting. I think the Ducks have a slight offensive edge because they are slightly more offensive than the Devils. The Devils are great defensively so it will be tough for the Ducks to score but they scored against the Wings and Stars so they should be able to get 1-2 goals a game against New Jersey. That’ll be all they’ll need if Giguere plays like he has all postseason. Brodeur has played great too but the Ducks seem to be a team of destiny this year and are getting every break. It’d be a shame if that all ended now. Anaheim has had 10 days off but the Devils played on Friday and will be a lot more tired. The time-off, though, might not be a good thing for the Ducks. Sometimes too much time off causes rusty-ness and loss of focus. I’m not too worried about that with the Ducks because they’ve had a lot of time off these playoffs and haven’t missed a beat. There won’t be much scoring and it will be a long and boring series but I think the Ducks will pull out and raise the Cup on or before June 9th. I’m not sure that I like the fact that the Cup will have the words “Mighty Ducks of Anaheim” engraved on it if the Ducks win but it’s better than “New Jersey Devils” for the 3rd time, in my opinion. Plus, it makes it easier for me, as a Red Wings fan, to justify the Early Exit if the Ducks win the Cup. Even if no one else around the league will believe that argument……

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Some big news around the league today: A report is saying that Patrick Roy will announce his retirement in a news conference @ 4 ET on Wednesday. The source is one from the team and of course gave the information on a condition of anonymity. The Avalance later said that Roy will make a “special announcement” regarding his career during the conference. If this report is true, it is very good news for us Wings fans. In my opinion, Roy’s retirement would instantly drop the Avs out of contention and make them much less of a threat in the West. They’ll still be a good team but they can’t win without a #1 goalie and there are no real #1 goalies available. None nearly as good as Roy, at least.

ESPN Sportsnation playoff poll

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ESPN’s Sportsnation has a new playoffs poll. Here are the results so far:

1) Anaheim vs. New Jersey in the Stanley Cup finals is …
85.2% Good for hockey … I’m sick of seeing the same teams each year
14.8% Bad for hockey … Gimme Detroit-Colorado any day

2) How many games will go into overtime?
43.6% 2
31.0% 3
13.3% 1
8.0% 4
1.9% 5
1.2% 6
1.1% 7

3) Who will win the Conn Smythe Trophy?
55.8% Jean-Sebastien Giguere, G, Anaheim
28.1% Martin Brodeur, G, New Jersey
5.0% Jamie Langenbrunner, RW, New Jersey
4.4% John Madden, C, New Jersey
3.0% Scott Stevens, D, New Jersey
2.5% Paul Kariya, Anaheim
0.6% Keith Carney, D, Anaheim
0.5% Steve Rucchin, Anaheim

4) How should the Devils go about trying to score on Jean-Sebastian Giguere?
58.4% Crowd the crease lurking for rebounds
21.5% Bribery
16.6% Top shelf
3.5% Five hole

5) Who will win the Stanley Cup?
32.3% Anaheim in 6
28.4% New Jersey in 6
12.7% New Jersey in 5
9.3% Anaheim in 5
7.2% Anaheim in 7
5.9% New Jersey in 7
2.4% Anaheim in 4
1.8% New Jersey in 4

Total Votes: 18,501

I’m surprised at how many people think this series will be good for hockey. I guess not many knowledgeable fans must have voted. The trap is not good for hockey and a series showcasing it exclusively is a not either. Like watching paint dry…..

5/24 Notes

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Wings Update
Igor Grigorenko appears to no longer be in danger of dying from his injuries, according to the Free Press. The story builds on the news from yesterday and says that Igor’s leg injuries should not keep him from playing in the NHL but there still could be other damage that would prevent him from playing again. His lungs and brain might have permanent damage from the fat embolism and from the coma. Right now he’s heavily sedated and the doctors have to wait until he is off the ventilator, talking and moving around before they can tell just how much damage was done. He’s been doing things like sticking his toungue out when the doctors ask him so he is able to understand what’s going on. Keep it up, Igor!

Playoff Update
Once again, the Devils are going to the Finals. Thanks to a defensive screw up from Wade Redden and Karel Rachunek, Jeff Friesen scored the game winner with 2:14 left in the game, just when it looked like the Sens would overwhelm the Devils. There was sort of a two-on-one break into the Senators zone and Redden went to close down on Grant Marshall and pin him to the boards. Rachunek, coming from behind, also went over to pin Marshall. That left Friesen wide open in the middle and after a pass through Redden’s legs by Marshall, Friesen beat Lalime, who had no chance. Redden broke his stick on the glass. I’d put the blame more on Rachunek but I wonder if something along the lines of what Shanahan said last year (after he missed all those chances in Game 3) was going through Wade’s head: “If I’d had a knife, I would have cut my throat” (paraphrase). The Senators had been keeping everyone out of their seats for the previous 5 minutes or so and looked like they would finally break the Devils down before Friesen scored. After that, they never got anything really dangerous going. Hossa had a couple of awesome chances and may have arguably lost the series when he froze and didn’t shoot on one of those chances at the side of the net. He might have been waiting for Brodeur to drop (wishful thinking Marian) but he should have shot the puck. Anyway, my hatred for the Devils is now undying. I’m not sure what normally happens but to me, wearing your Conference Championship hats when going through the hand-shaking line is a little unsportsmanlike. And then posing with the Prince of Wales Trophy? I’m sorry if I’m having a selective memory here but that just made me sick. Go Ducks Go Ducks GO Ducks! I want to see another sweep by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. Giguere, this is where you show how good you really are. Hardline hockey fans, get ready for the Stanley Trap Finals because there sure won’t be anyone else watching the games except die hards. I feel bad for the Sens fans. So many years of frustration. At least they have the class to cheer their team as they left the ice, unlike some “fans.” (*cough * Avs fans *cough*)