The Mangler On Sports

CFL Kick-off

2007-06-26T20:18:00.000-06:00

Now that a horrendous season of hockey is in the books, a hopefully glorious season of CFL football is about to begin. My season tickets aren't close enough for me to yell at Danny Maciocia, so he better get the job done this season.

The Eskimos should rebound this season. The biggest acquisition is offensive coordinator Jaques Chapdelaine, who's offense promises to be more creative, intelligent, and effective than Maciocia's was. Ricky Ray is the Esks starter, but Stefan LeFors and Steven Jyles should get some snaps to shake things up a little.

The biggest overhauls were at the receiver and defensive secondary positions. Veterans Ed Hervey and Mookie Mitchell are gone, so Jason Tucker becomes the undisputed number one. Kamau Peterson, TJ Acree, Trevor Gaylor, Pat Woodcock, and rookie Fred Stamps should provide a solid supporting cast. The defense has been improved with the signings of Omarr Morgan, Stanford Samuels, and Jason Goss, as well as the return of defensive end Rahim Abdullah. Along with Abdullah, Jabari Issa, Adam Braidwood, and Robert Brown should provide a solid defensive line. The linebacking core of Antico Dalton, Siddeeq Shabazz, Ray Perryman, and Marcus Winn looked good in pre-season.

The qustion marks look to be on the offensive line, a problem all of last season, and at running back, which featured an embarassingly high number of players last year. Most of them are now gone, so it looks like Ron McClendon's job to lose. Tyler Ebell should also see some action. If the O-line, mainly returnees from last year, is able to gell, the offense should be able to operate effectively.

The West division should be close. The biggest advantage that Edmonton has is that Ricky Ray is clearly a better QB than Henry Burris in Calgary, or Kerry Joseph in Saskatchewan. Dave Dickenson in BC is injury prone. But Ray will need his O-line to perform in order to return to his all-star status.

Prediction: The Eskimos will go 11-7, finishing in second place in the West.

Flames Continue OT Legacy

2007-04-23T15:37:00.000-06:00

Well, another spring and another early exit for the Flames. This is hardly surprising, but what's even less surprising is the fact that the Red Wings polished them off in overtime. Calgary has an esteemed tradition of failure when the game is on the line after 3 periods of play. Lets have a look back:

This tradition dates back all the way to the days of the Atlanta Flames, Calgary's predecessor. In their very first playoff appearance in 1973-74, the Flames were swept by the eventual Cup-champion Philadelphia Flyers. The decisive Game 4 ended 5:40 into OT on a goal by Dave "The Hammer" Schultz. It was one of 8 career playoff goals (in 73 games) for a man more well-known for fighting than scoring.

The Flames made the playoffs several more times while in the American south, but never managed to get out of the first round. Their final season saw them pitted against the New York Rangers in the opening round best-of-five. Game 1 went the Rangers way via a Steve Vickers marker just 33 seconds into the OT. The Flames went on to lose the series 3-1, then packed their bags for Calgary.

After going deep into the playoffs in their inaugural season in Calgary, the Flames had high hopes for the 1982 playoffs. But an opening round 3-0 sweep by the Vancouver Canucks ended things quickly. The Canucks won Game 2 in OT thanks to the heroics of Dave "Tiger" Williams. Williams ended his career with 12 goals in 83 playoffs games, none bigger than this one, as it was his only OT goal.

Next year, the Flames got revenge by taking out Vancouver in OT in the first round, but they were punished severely by the hockey gods for this, as Edmonton blasted them out of the second round, winning two of the games by the embarassing scores of 10-2 and then 9-1 in the season-ending Game 5.

The hard-luck Winnipeg Jets only won two playoff series' in their history, both of them against Calgary. The first of these was in 1985. The Jets' Brian Mullen got the party started in Game 1, beating the Flames in OT and giving the Jets a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

In 1986, the Flames reached the finals for the first time after defeating St. Louis in Game 7 of the semi-final. But they almost didn't get there after Doug Wickenheiser capped off a miraculous Blues comeback in Game 6. His fourth and final career playoff goal gave St. Louis a 6-5 win despite Calgary holding three-goal advantage in the third period. By reaching the finals, the Flames allowwed themselves to become the answer to a trivia question: Who scored the fastest OT goal in playoff history? The answer is Brian Skrudland, who's goal gave Montreal a 3-2 victory in Game 2 after just 9 seconds of extra time. Yvon Corriveau (Hartford) and Joe Sakic (Colorado) have scored goals 24 seconds into OT since, but nobody has come any closer to this record that may well stand the test of time.

By 1988 the Flames were considered a Stanley Cup contender. They faced the Oilers in the Smythe division final, and many expected them to knock off the defending champions from Edmonton. But Wayne Gretzky scored short-handed in OT in Game 2 to send the Oilers home with a 2-0 series lead, paving the way for a humiliating four game sweep.

The Flames finally won the Cup in 1989, but Ryan Walter scored for Montreal in double OT in Game 3 of the final to give the Habs a 2-1 series lead that Calgary needed to overcome.

And now things begin to get exciting or excruciating depending on wether or not you like the Flames. Until this point, failures in OT had been experienced, but nothing any worse than most other teams go through from time to time. But after winning a Stanley Cup, things took a turn for the worse.

The Flames defense of their '89 Cup was short-lived. They played Los Angeles in round one, and the series turned in Game 3, where Tony Gronato's OT tally gave the Kings a 2-1 series lead. The Flames were back in LA for Game 6, where former Oiler Mike Krushelnyski floated a shot over a sprawling Mike Vernon to eliminate Calgary.

1991 was the last time the Flames and Oilers met in the post-season, and is considered by many to be one of the best series ever played. Calgary forced a game 7 after Theo Fleury scored in OT in Game 6, but that was as much OT magic as Calgary was going to experience. In Game 7 the Flames gassed an early 3-0 lead before Al MacInnis scored to tie the game 4-4 and send it to OT. But Esa Tikkanen's hat-trick goal gave the Oilers the series 6:58 into the fourth period.

1994 would provide the pinnacle of OT playoff failure in Cowtown. The favoured Flames took a commanding 3-1 series lead on Vancouver, and looked poised to win their first series in 5 years. But ex-Oiler Geoff Courtnall, Trevor Linden, and Pavel Bure took turns burning the Flames in OT as Vancouver stormed back with three consecutive OT wins to take the series on Bure's breakaway goal in double OT in Game 7, leaving the Saddledome in stunned disbelief.

The Flames soldiered on into the spring of 1995 looking to finally shed the label of choker and do some damage in the playoffs. But San Jose's Ulf Dahlen struck in extra time in Game 2 to give the Sharks a 2-0 series lead heading to California. Over the next three games the Flames peppered the Sharks for a whopping 20 goals to grab a 3-2 lead in games. But Calgary blew their wad too early, and San Jose came back to force a Game 7. Again the final game was in Calgary, and again it went to double OT. And again the Flames lost. The hero this time was Edmonton native Ray Whitney.

By 1996, the Flames were a team in decline. The great regular season teams of the early 90's had performed shamefully, so little was expected this time around. And little was given, as the Chicago Blackhawks swept Calgary in four straight games. Still, as if their fans hadn't been punished enough, the Flames teased them in OT again in Game 4. The Flames hung on as the game dragged long into the night. Finally in triple OT ex-Oiler Joe Murphy did them in, marking the third consecutive year the Flames had been banished from the playoffs in OT on home ice.

Calgary took a long break from the post-season after this, not seeing the playoffs again until 2004. The Flames were looking to close out the Bertuzzi-less Canucks on home ice in game 6, but history struck again in the form of a Brendan Morrison triple OT goal. So it was back to Vancouver for Game 7, where in a single showing of mercy by the hockey gods, Calgary actually won the game in OT. They marched all the way to the Stanley Cup finals, and won game 5 in OT in Tampa Bay to come home with a chance to win the Cup on home ice. But in exchange for this brief repreive of OT disaster that the Flames enjoyed, they would pay dearly.

In perhaps the single most agonizing loss in team history, the Flames had their cup dreams dashed in double OT by Martin St. Louis of the Lightning, a player who was cut loose by the team just four years previous. Calgary couldn't recover and lost the Stanley Cup in Tampa Bay two nights later.

After the lockout, the Flames were back at it in 2006. Many expected them to walk all over the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, their first round opponent. They had a chance to take a 3-1 series lead in Game 4, but Sean O'Donnell (5 playoff goals in 65 games) scored in OT to tie up the series. Calgary was shut-out at home in Game 7 a few days later.

And finally we reach the final chapter of a seemingly endless saga. April 22, 2007: Despite being dominated by Detroit in almost every conceivable way, the Flames still found themselves at home for game 6 in OT, with a chance to force a Game 7 back in Detroit. But who was kidding who? An unheralded Swede by the name of Johan Franzen struck for Detroit a few minutes into double OT to send the Flames to the golf course for another year.

Western playoffs

2007-04-09T14:56:00.000-06:00

The West should prove to be a battle, with 7 teams earning over 100 points.

#1 Detroit vs #8 Calgary

History: The teams met in 2004, with the Flames upsetting Detroit 4-2 in the West semi-final.

Interesting Fact: You have to go all the way back to 2000 for the last time Detroit lost a playoff series where their opponent had home ice advantage. They've been favoured in every other series loss.

Outlook: Calgary got a great draw in the Red Wings. Despite finishing in first again, nobody will be surprised to see Detroit falter again. They are skilled, but woefully soft. Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, and the like are great regular season talents, but disappear time and again in the playoffs. Detroit has Hasek this year, but since Calgary has Kiprusoff in net, the goaltending advantage is nullified. The Flames will play the Red Wings physical, and Detroit will only have Chris Chelios and Todd Bertuzzi, who've been known to take a dumb penalty or two, to counter. Until the Wings prove otherwise, they are too soft to win in the playoffs, though I hope I'm wrong in this case.

Prediction: Flames in 6.

#2 Anaheim vs #7 Minnesota

History: The Ducks swept Minnesota in the conference final in 2003.

Interesting Fact: The Wild overcame two 3-1 series defecits in 2003, the only team to do so in the same year.

Outlook: Anaheim was early season favorites, and could certainly still win it all, but they are being discounted by some because Brian Burke failed to make any trade deadline upgrades. Toughness is crucial in the playoffs, and the Ducks have it in abundance, but this crew is a little too lunch-pail for me. If Jacques Lemaire's boys, the #1 dfensive team in the league, can shut down Teemu Selanne and Andy McDonald, the Ducks will be in trouble. Despite employing the trap, the Wild are still able to generate chances on the counter-attack, and Marian Gaborik was a beast with 17 points in 18 games four years ago. This is my big upset pick.

Prediction: Minnesota in 7.

#3 Vancouver vs #6 Dallas

History: The Canucks defeated Dallas in the 1994 Western semi-final.

Interesting Fact: Every regular season game between these two was 2-1 in favour of the home team.

Outlook: Dallas has gassed it early the last two years, while Vancouver has usually done the same thing. Marty Turco is really under the gun to perform well, and even though the Stars are underdogs (although that's debatable in itself), coach Dave Tippett's job could be on the line. The Canucks rely heavily on Roberto Luongo's heroics, and will need him to steal a couple of games for them in they're to advance. Both teams are quite low scoring, but Vancouver has all their eggs in one basket with Markus Naslund and the Sedin's, whereas the Stars' offense is much more spread out. Defensemen Sergei Zubov and Phillippe Boucher are two of Dallas' top point-producers, and it's strange to think your checking line might need to shut-down defensemen. Every year there's one series that should be close, expected to go 7 games, but is over early, and I think this will be the one in 2007.

Prediction: Stars in 5.

#4 Nashville vs #5 San Jose

History: They met last year in round one, with the #4 Preds losing 4-1 to the #5 Sharks.

Interesting Fact: This is the only rematch from last year's playoffs.

Outlook: The Predators are in a tough position. They pretty much have to win this series to save face after making the Forsberg trade and looking like the favorite to win the west for most of the year. But San Jose is very good, well-balanced team that looks like they have what it takes to win the Cup as well. In my opinion these are the two best teams in the conference, but one will be going home early. Nashville will miss Steve Sullivan badly, as he's been injured for two months and there's no clear date for his return. Forsberg is a playoff beast, and he'll have to be again for Nashville to win. Joe Thornton desperately needs a strong showing in order to shake the playoff choker label. This series should be a war of attrition. Whoever loses will have failed to live up to pre-season expectations, and whoever wins could have too much taken out of them to go much further.

Prediction: Nashville in 7.

Leafs suck, Habs suck, Eastern playoffs

2007-04-08T22:44:00.000-06:00

Just a week ago, it looked like almost certainly one of Montreal or Toronto would make the playoffs, and if things really went bad, both of them might get it. At that point I probably wouldn't have even bothered to watch the playoffs. But luckily, the New York Islanders came through to save the post-season after all. On Tuesday I went over the remaining league schedule, and figured out that 5 games had to go just right. The odds were long, but there is always hope. The Rangers came through by beating Montreal, 1/5. The Islanders kept the dream alive with a victory over Toronto, 2/5. The took care of more business by beating Philly on Saturday afternoon, 3/5. Things were looking good, but I knew it would likely come down to the evening's contest between Montreal and Toronto. The Leafs had to win to keep New York's hopes alive, and they did so in a wild back-and-forth game, also eliminating Montreal in the process, 4/5. So it all came down to the Islanders at the Devils. The Isles looked headed to the post-season, yet New Jersey somehow tied the game with less than a second remaining. Jubilant leaf fans lept up from Easter dinner to watch an OT and shoot-out that would decide their fate. The teams traded goals in the first round, but Viktor Kozlov gave the Isles the lead with a second round goal. Ryan Smyth had a chance to bury the game, but missed, putting all the pressure on rookie third-stringer Wade Dubielewicz. Dubie delivered with a poke-check save, and with that, the Leafs and Habs were headed to the golf course, 5/5. Crack out the champagne, because them both being out is my Stanley Cup. But there are in fact two months of playoff hockey ahead of us:

#1 Buffalo vs #8 NY Islanders

History: Not much when it comes to the playoffs. These teams last met in 1980.

Interesting Fact: Islanders coach Ted Nolan returns to face the team that fired him 10 years ago.

Outlook: The Isles celebration might be short-lived. Buffalo has a top-notch goaltender and incredible forward depth. The defence is the only possible weakness, but when you can score 6 goals with ease, that shouldn't matter. New York will be riding high, but it would be a big upset. But as we we've been shown the last few years, just get into the playoffs and anything can happen. You can bet that's what Ryan Smyth will be telling the boys in the locker room. Still, the Islanders may be spent after charging hard just to snare eighth place.

Prediction: Buffalo in 5.

#2 New Jersey vs #7 Tampa Bay

History: The Devils defeated Tampa in the 2003 Eastern semi-final.

Interesting Fact: The Devils won the Cup in 2000 after a late-season coaching change.

Outlook: These teams are polar opposites. The Devils are low-scoring and dependant on goalie Martin Brodeur to win games for them. The Lightning have 50-goal scorer Vinnie Lecavalier and former Hart Trophy winner Martin St. Louis, but their goaltending might be the worst of the 16 playoff teams. It's generally safer to bet on good goaltending over high scoring, but I've had the feeling New Jersey was cruising toward an upset for some time now. The coach firing wont save the Devils this time. Tampa Bay will be hungry after winning the Cup and losing early last year.

Prediction: Tampa Bay in 6.

#3 Atlanta vs #6 NY Rangers

History: None to speak of

Interesting Fact: The Thrashers are in the playoffs for the first time ever; New York hasn't won a playoff game since Gretzky and Messier led them in 1997.

Outlook: The Rangers are quietly on a roll heading in, without a lot of fan-fare. The team looks more mature after last year's post-season debacle against the Devils, and Brendan Shanahan's presence cannot be under-estimated. Atlanta is in a similar position to that of the Rangers last year. They struggled down the stretch and almost missed the playoffs entirely, but righted the ship just in time. The concern has to be the fact that they're led by Ilya Kovalchuk, Keith Tkachuk, both selfish individuals, and Marian Hossa, who has a history of choking with Ottawa. Atlanta is more skilled on paper, but the playoffs are a different animal.

Prediction: New York in 6.

#4 Ottawa vs # 5 Pittsburgh

History: They've never met in the playoffs.

Interesting Fact: Will the Ottawa playoff choke show carry on another season?

Outlook: This series has been highly anticipated, given the fact that it has been probable for about a month now. It's the same old story in Ottawa: will guys like Alfredsson, Spezza, Redden, and Heatley come through after great regular seasons? Sidney Crosby is good enough that he'll almost certianly deliver, but it will be interesting to see how other youngsters like Malkin and Staal handle the playoffs. The Penguins were not even expected to make the playoffs, so they've really got no pressure to speak of. Marc-Andre Fleury vs Ray Emery in goal may be the deciding factor in a series that is very tough to call, but you can't help but overlook the inexperience of Pittsburgh's blueline.

Prediction: Ottawa in 7.

Opening Day Part 2

2007-04-04T22:35:00.000-06:00

The National League is clearly the weak sister in the major leagues. It's very wide open because a .500 record might be good enough to make the playoffs in one or more divisions.

NL East

This is the only division where there's a clear favorite, that being the NY Mets. New York will be without injured Pedro Martinez for a while to start the season, but the rest of the staff is capable of picking up the slack. A star-studded roster with the likes of David Wright, and Carlos' Delgado and Beltran, the Mets should top the NL.

The Phillies will hope to push the Mets and return to the playoffs for the first time in over a decade. They will be without two of their top pitchers to start the season with Freddie Garcia and Jon Leiber both injured, so the hitters, led by MVP Ryan Howard will need to come through early on to keep them in contention.

The Braves should be in the mix as well with pitchers John Smoltz and Tim Hudson leading the way. They missed the playoffs for the first time in 15 years last season, but should at least have a chance at getting back to the dance this year.

The Florida Marlins stunned everyone last year by nearly making the playoffs after being pegged to lose over 100 games. They have not made any upgrades, and for some bizarre reason saw fit to fire their manager. They have a solid young duo of Dontrelle Willis and Annibal Sanchez on the mound, but it's doubtful they will over-achieve twice in a row.

The Washington Nationals looked bound for the basement with a no-name pitching rotation for the moment and nobody resembling an all-star out in the field. To top it off, injuries have already hit them fairly hard. The former Expos are definately contenders for the worst team in baseball right now.

AL Central

The Cardinals are coming off an unlikely World Series championship, and few are picking them for a repeat. They will still be favored in the Central with no other teams clearly ahead of them. Chris Carpenter leads the pitching staff, but it gets thin in a hurry after him. Jim Edmonds, Scott Rolen, and Albert Pujols will need big years to keep the Cards in the post-season.

If anybody can unseat the Cardinals, it's likely the Milwaukee Brewers. They boast a solid pitching rotation with Ben Sheets, Chris Capuano, and World Series MVP Jeff Suppan that should be able to win low scoring games. That will have to be the case since the Brew Crew is a little lacking in the hitting department.

The Astros look destined to slip back into mediocrity after losing Andy Pettitte to the Yankees and Roger Clemens to retirement (unless he comes back again in mid season). Still, their staff is good enough to win some ball games, especially with power hitters Lance Berkman and Carlos Lee in the line-up.

The beloved losers of Chicago, the Cubs, come into the season hoping to avoid the distinction of being the first major North American professional sports team to go 100 years without a championship, a record that the Toronto Maple Leafs are still 60 years away from breaking. Derrick Lee and Alfonso Soriano will give them the ability to score runs, but the pitching staff is once again shorthanded due to annual injuries to Kerry Wood and Mark Prior. History is in the making here.

The Cincinnati Reds surprised last year by nearly making the playoffs. In the wide-open central it may be possible to do so again, but they will need all hands on deck. Adam Dunn can belt the ball, and a healthy Ken Griffey Jr. would be a nice surprise. Pitchers Bronson Arroyo and Aaron Harang need to repeat strong seasons of last year.

The Pirates are hoping to avoid extending a horredndous 14-year streak of losing seasons. They will be hard-pressed to do so, but the outlook is a little better than in previous years. Jason Bay and Freddy Sanchez will need to repeat strong 2006 campaigns.

NL West

The Dodgers will be favoured ot prevail out west. Their pitching rotation as well as the batting order are both deep, even though they lack star power. Scoring by commitee and consistency from their hurlers could make them into NL pennant contenders.

The Padres have made the playoffs the past two seasons, but they have also been in baseball's weakest division. San Diego will rely heavily on their solid pitching staff, because their batting order isn't inspiring fear into enemy pitchers.

Randy Johnson returns to the desert of Arizona after a largely unsuccesful stint with the Yankees. He will compliment Brandon Webb and Livan Hernandez to form a pitching staff that will give the D-Backs a chance.

The Colorado Rockies might finally have a pitching rotation good enough to bring them back to respecability. Aaron Cook and Jeff Francis will give them a chance to win every time out, so as long as they continue to find offensive at the launch pad that is Coors Field, they could surprise a few people.

In following with the division trend, the San Fransico Giants also boast a deep pitching staff, headlined by free agent Barry Zito. Scoring runs might get a little problematic if oposing pitchers continue to work their way around Barry Bonds, however. Here's hoping that for baseball's sake the Giants flounder and Bonds suffers a career-ending injury.

NL Prediction:

New York, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, St. Louis with the wild card.

MLB Opening Day

2007-04-03T20:51:00.000-06:00

The snow is falling and the temperature is once again sub-zero, so that means it must be time for some b..b..b..baseball.

AL East:

The Blue Jays have beefed up again and look to finally make it back to the playoffs. With the addition of Frank Thomas to a line-up that already features Vernon Wells, Troy Glaus, Lyle Overbay, Alex Rios, and Reed Johnson, the Jays should have no trouble scoring runs. The key will be to keep their pitchers healthy. Last year they finished in 2nd place, 10 games back of the Yankees, but top-3 pitchers Roy Halladay, AJ Burnett, and Gustavo Chacin all missed significant time. If those three can stay healthy and pitch effectively, Toronto should be able to contend with New York and Boston for the division crown and a playoff spot.

The Yankees will smash the ball as always, but starting pitching is a question mark. Carl Pavano has missed a year and a half due to injury, while Mike Mussina is starting to get older. Chien-Ming Wang is still somewhat unproven after being New York's top pitcher last season. Still, the Yankees will be the team to beat in the AL East.

Boston will contend as well, but the batting order gets a little thin after David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, especially if free-agent JD Drew gets injured again. Their pitching is solid, but not spectacular with 40+ year old Curt Schilling as the ace. Japanese phenom Daisuke Matsuzaka could be excellent, but is unproven in North America.

In Baltimore, the Orioles have a respectable pitching staff and Miguel Tejada can put up huge offensive numbers, but the line-up might be a little thin to compete with the big three ahead of them.

The hapless Tampa Bay Devil Rays will need everyone to perform up to their capabilities to avoid 100 losses this year. You have to feel sorry for Carl Crawford who is an all-star talent stuck in a horribly run organization.

AL Central:

This division might be the best in baseball, possibly only rivalled by the AL East.

The Detroit Tigers come in as defending AL pennant winners, but might have over-achieved last year. They have great depth in the batting order as there is not a single easy out 1 through 9. The pitching staff is young and powerful. The Tigers should be able to win games 2-1 or 8-7 and they're definately a threat to get back into the playoffs.

Minnesota stoll the Tigers' division title on the final day of last year, but were swept in the playoffs. The Twins will be in tough this year with two pitchers gone. Fransico Liriano will miss the entire season after having surgery last year, and Brad Radke retired. But with Cy Young winner Johan Santana, MVP Justin Morneau, and catcher Joe Mauer all back in the fold the Twins will be a tough opponent.

Chicago missed the playoffs last year after winning the World Series, so they should have renewed hunger. They are a similar team to Detroit with a great balance of hitting and pitching. Hurler Mark Buehrle rebounding from a disappointing 12-13 season will be key for the White Sox.

The Cleveland Indians won 93 games two years ago, but were a big disappointment last year. They will look to return to form, but might be just a step below the aforementioned three teams. DH Travis Hafner can hit home runs with ease, but the Indians are devoid of any other stars in their batting order. They have good enough pitching to win low scoring games, however. But the playoffs might be a stretch in the Central.

Simply put, it sucks to be the KC Royals at this point. They have improved their squad over last season, and the pitching staff could surprise and be effective. But still it seems unlikely that they'll avoid the AL Central basement.

AL West

The West is the most wide open division in the AL heading into the season.

The Angles will compete as always with Vladimir Guererro putting up MVP-type numbers. The strength of the pitching staff might actually lay in the bull-pen. The starters are not as strong as in recent years, but decent enough that the Angels should be able to build leads and turn them over the releivers to nurse home.

Oakland lost another big free agent in Barry Zito, but they always find a way to be competitive. Pitchers Harden, Haren, and Blanton give them the best 1-2-3 punch in the division, while the batting order features a solid depth of players who can score runs by grinding out singles and doubles, even though they lack power.

The Rangers have taken the approach of loading up on long-ball hitters to win high-scoring games for years, and things look the same this year. The pitching staff is not at the level of the Angels or Athletics, but Mark Teixiera, Michael Young, and Hank Blalock will try to make up the difference with home runs. As always, they have a chance, but the all offense and limited pitching strategy has failed them repeatedly, so it could be another year of no playoffs.

The Mariners also have a chance this year. Adrian Beltre, Richie Sexson, and Ichiro should score some runs, and their pitching staff doesn't get much credit, but could actually be fairly decent. After a few 90+ win seasons, Seattle has struggled the last few years. Don't expect big things from them, but .500 isn't out of the question.

AL Prediction:

New York, Chicago, Oakland, and Toronto with the wild card.

Losing Skid Continues: Could The Unthinkable Happen?

2007-03-21T22:53:00.000-06:00

Could MacTavish possibly be fired? The Oilers have now dropped a dozen games consecutively and have looked awful in doing so most nights. Things don't show any signs of improvement after a woeful 5-1 loss vs Colorado on fan (un)appreciation night. (The good news: this helps Colorado in their attempt to hunt down Calgary for the final playoff spot. The "C" does stand for "Choke" afterall, so here's hoping that tradition continues.) It is painfully clear that the Oilers have quit on MacT; essentially they did last year. The only problem was that Vancouver quit on former coach Marc Crawford just a little bit more and edged the Oilers out for ninth spot. While this allowed for a miracle run to the finals, it also earned MacT a big contract when he was one game away from either resigning or being shown the door. When even the young guys, allegedly playing for jobs next year, are unmotivated you know there's a problem. If MacT is kept around, you can kiss goodbye to any chances of signing a big name offensive free-agent in the summer. Why would Daniel Briere want to come to Edmonton where he would be told to forget about scoring and focus on defense? It's to the point where one has to think that MacT would rather see the team lose 1-0 than win 6-5. The five mistakes made in the winning scenario would be too much for him to handle. The single mistake in the losing scenario would be much easier for him to handle.

Oilers Get Farm Team (Finally)

After two season's of ruining the development of their prospects, the Oilers have finally got their act together and gotten a farm team. The team will be based out of Springfield, Mass., a town with a rich minor league tradition. Don Cherry spent several years of his career in Springfield, and the team was owned and managed by Eddie Shore, infamous for his unorthodox training methods, and sometimes Stalin-esque treatment of his players.

Goaltenders Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers and Devan Dubnyk will benefit from this, since it will ensure them regular playing time. Players like Rob Schremp, Kyle Brodziak, and Tom Gilbert, plus potential college graduates like Andrew Cogliano and Taylor Chorney should also benefit since they won't have to compete with players from other organizations for first line minutes.

On a lighter note, since the team is now in Springfield the bad jokes can begin: Who will be the coach: Apu or Chief Wiggum? Will Calgary move their farm team to Shelbyville? Will Bart Simpson be our starting center? Stay tuned...

Hockey's Future Top 20 Oiler Prospects by Guy Flaming: http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/9517

Ref Hits Fan

2007-03-13T23:55:00.000-06:00

This video might be the funniest I've ever seen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JrsP0U4jTU

Hockey's Future Radio

2007-03-08T15:18:00.000-07:00

Listen in as I make my Hockey's Future Radio debut tonight at 7:00 mountain time to discuss my most recent article.

article: http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/9473

radio link: http://hockeysfutureradio.com/index.html

The broadcast is now archived on the site and can be heard at any time.

Igor Ulanov Appreciation Night

2007-03-04T23:50:00.001-07:00

This past Sunday night, I was honored to take part in Igor Ulanov Appreciation Night at
Room At The Top at the U of Alberta. That's right, an evening to honor the man for whom this blog is named! It was a splendid night of drinks, cake fashioned to resemble Russian flags, music, trivia, prizes, and of course a Mangler quiz and a video tribute for the man with the iron shins. People shared their favorite memories of Krasnokamsk's native son, and since the Oilers will not be playing meaningful games until next October, I found an event worthy of showcasing my #55 Ulanov jersey.

I'll share my favorite Uly moment here as well:

It was March of 2004, and the Oilers were in their usual mad-scramble mode to try to get into the playoffs, and were playing the Nashville Predators, who they were fighting with for the final playoff spot. It was a back-and-forth game, and appeared headed to OT with the score tied at 4 apiece and only a minute or so remaining. Coach MacTavish decided he needed his top defender on the ice for the crucial final moment and sent #55 over the boards. And then as I gazed on from the 14th row, a loose puck squirted to the Mangler in the high slot. He wound up, and boomed a shot towards the Predators net...and in it went! Ulanov had won yet another game for the Oilers, to keep them alive in the tight playoff race.

Here's a link to the Igor Ulanov Fan Club Website, put together by the fellow Ulanov lovers who made this night possible. It was one bright spot in an otherwise miserable season in Oil Country.

http://igorulanovfanclub.blogspot.com/

Trade Deadline/Smytty Memories

2007-03-01T13:11:00.000-07:00

Not as many trades as in other years, but still some pretty big deals.

The biggest of course, was Ryan Smyth being traded to the Islanders. Seems he simply priced himself out of a reasonable salary and was traded for assets. Kevin Lowe did a good job of GM-ing with his head and not his heart. In reality, the $5.4 million he offered would have been an overpayment, let alone the $6 million-ish that Smyth and agent Don Meehan were looking for. For $6 million, the Oilers can go out and acquire a franchise-type player who can put up over 80 points consistently. Smyth brought a lot to the table and will be missed, but he's simply not worth the kind of coin he was after (and will likely get in the summer). Take into consideration that Martin St. Louis, an Art Ross and Hart Trophy winner, who's second in league scoring is making $5.25 million.

Speaking of St. Louis, it's possible he could be dealt in the summer if Tampa Bay suffers another early playoff exit. The general feeling would be that having three players (along with Lecavalier and Richards) making big money, the Lightning cannot amass enough depth at other positions to be successful. Richards' $7.8 million price tag makes him untradable, and Lecavalier is several years younger than St. Louis.

Other Trades:

Todd Bertuzzi to Detroit from Florida for a prospect and conditional draft pick. This makes the Roberto Luongo trade with Vancouver down-right atrocious for the Panthers. Essentially, Luongo was traded for seven games worth of Bertuzzi. Florida would have been better off keeping Luongo and losing him as a free agent for nothing at the end of this season, at least they might have made the playoffs this year. As it stands, they have no goaltending, and no assests besides Jay Bouwmeester, who is not becoming the all-star everyone predicted (in Florida, who can blame him?), and Nathan Horton, who reportedly wants to be traded.

Florida did make another deal: trading Gary Roberts to Pittsburgh. Ottawa and Toronto were said to be likely destinations, but the Pens offered up defenseman Noah Welch, a pretty decent prospect. Florida GM Jaques Martin may have been reluctant to trade with the Senators (who fired him) or the Leafs (who were basically the reason he was fired). Rumour had it that the Leafs were willing to give up Matt Stajan for Ed Belfour. Grudge or not, Martin should be fired if he turned that offer down.

And when will the Leafs figure things out? They dealt prospect Brendan Bell and a 2nd rounder to Phoenix for free-agent-to-be Yanic Perreault, who they could have signed for dirt cheap in October. What is this trade supposed to do? Even if the Leafs did manage to make the playoffs (unlikely in my estimation), they would quite likely be disposed of easily by Buffalo or New Jersey. Upsets happen, but come on (Andrew Raycroft versus Martin Brodeur!?). John Ferguson Jr. is proving to be one of the most inept GMs in the league. At least Pat Quinn's teams made the playoffs, even if they weren't really a threat to win anything. But of course, Perreault, Belfour, and Gary Roberts would have been the final pieces to the puzzle...

Toronto's rivals from Ottawa and Montreal decided not to do anything at the deadline. Montreal GM Bob Gainey has watched his club slip from almost a lock to make the playoffs in January, to a 50/50 shot at best. He decided to sell off free agent d-man Craig Rivet for good return (1st rounder, decent prospect), but held onto Sheldon Souray who could have probably gotten double that. Ok fine, Souray's Montreal's top player at the moment, but why not bring in some help if you are still going to make a push for the playoffs? As it stands, expect Montreal to miss the playoffs, lose Souray for nothing, and endure a summer of the Hab faithful calling for Gainey's head.

Ottawa decided to stand pat, seemingly because the asking price for rentals was too high. The problem is the fans are not going to care very much about the future if this team fails again in the present. The fact is Ottawa is clearly not as good as Buffalo or New Jersey, and is hardly a sure thing to get past Tampa Bay or Pittsburgh. Where do they go? You can't just ice the same team with one change every year and hope it pans out.

Atlanta has practically sold the farm in an attempt to ensure a playoff spot. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rounders for Tkachuk is a deal that is at least reasonable if they get into the playoffs. Trading former 8th overall pick Braydon Coburn for Alexei Zhitnik is very questionable, but again worth it if Zhitnik can solidy the defense and get them into the playoffs. However, trading away last year's first round choice, Alex Bouret, for Pascal Dupuis who has all of 14 points this year is simply astounding. Dupuis was dumped by the Wild to the Rangers for Adam Hall, who also has 14 points this year. Glen Sather must have thought Atlanta GM Don Waddell was pulling his leg when he offered up Bouret. When you make a deal like that, forget just making the playoffs, Dupuis better score the winning goal in game 7 to get you to the second round.

Everyone expected Ducks GM Brian Burke to do something big, but he ended up looking like an idiot when things were all said and done. He traded rookie defenseman Shane O'Brien to Tampa for a 1st rounder, which he was expected to use to land somebody like Bill Guerin. Burke spoke of his "profanity-laced tirades" that were directed at other GMs who were apparently asking for the moon when he was attempting to deal for a rental (quite possibly Tkachuk). Makes you wonder if Blues President John Davidson had extra motivation to deal Bill Guerin to the Sharks, Anaheim's biggest divisional rival, for comparatively small return compared to what other guys were getting. Essentially Burke made his team worse by getting rid of a serviceable d-man for a first rounder. Fine and dandy, but the Ducks are trying to win this year, not in 5. As it stands now, they are clearly behind Nashville and San Jose as front runners in the west, and even Dallas improved themselves and could be a darkhorse this year if Marty Turco gets his act together in the playoffs. But you can't completely discredit Burke. Afterall, he did manage to bring in that old "sniper" Brad May from Colorado. Fighters have been nothing more than playoff bench-warmers for 20 years, let alone in today's game.

Which makes you wonder why Pittsburgh felt in neccessary to go get Georges Laraque, who apparently decided once again that he was a goal scorer, not a fighter and fell out of favour with the Coyotes. Pittsburgh is in for a big surprise when Crosby gets run through the boards and Big Georges enforces by trying to score a goal.

Some Smytty memories:

-First NHL goal, against the hated Flames to boot. If I remember right, it was a slapper from about 40 feet out that squeeked through Trevor Kidd's(?) five hole.

-1997 playoffs, game 5 versus Dallas. Smytty beats Andy Moog on a slapshot coming down the wing (this one I remember for sure) to give the Oilers a 1-0 double OT victory and a 3-2 lead in the series they won on Todd Marchant's famous goal.

-Scoring all three goals in 3-0 wins over Atlanta and St. Louis, the only player ever to do it twice.

-Getting his teeth knocked out by some bozo who used to wear number 44, and coming back set up Horcoff's game winner in triple OT versus San Jose that brought the Oilers back from a 2-0 series defecit.

-Scoring the winner with only a few minutes left in game 3 versus Carolina, in a game the Oilers needed to win to have any hope of winning the series. (And I was there!)

NCAA Article

2007-01-28T12:35:00.000-07:00

Here's an article I wrote about St. Louis' NCAA prospects. http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/9401

Article

2007-01-20T16:44:00.000-07:00

Here's a link to an article I wrote about the World Juniors for Hockey's Future. http://www.hockeysfuture.com/articles/9368

New Link

2006-11-24T17:34:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to an article I have just written for Hockey's Future. http://hockeysfuture.com/article.php?sid=9218&mode=threaded&order=0

Link

2006-10-10T10:50:00.000-06:00

Link to my most recent Hockey's Future article.

http://hockeysfuture.com/article.php?sid=9102&mode=threaded&order=0

Yankee$ Finished

2006-10-08T00:19:00.000-06:00

Well, my prediction that the Yankees would beat the Tigers was wrong, and I couldn't be happier. The biggest joke in professional sports just reached a new low this weekend, bowing out to the Tigers 3-1. After taking the opener, the Yankees "invincible" batting line-up scored only 6 more runs in the rest of the series, and three of those were meaningless tallies at the end of the deciding game. The approximately $45 million trio of Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi each had one hit in the opening game and were hitless the rest of the way. Gary Sheffield and Bobby Abreu were irrelevent, as was Johnny Damon who was pirated away from Boston after he burned the Yankees in the 2004 post-season. All those big bats proved useless, because Yankee GM Bryan Cashman somehow manages to spend double what his nearest competitor spends without acquiring any reliable pitching. The addage that "pitching wins championships" is reinforced year after year, but ignored by New York. Aside from veteran Mike Mussina and young Chien-Ming Wang, the Yanks were sending question marks to the mound. Looking back, it was fairly easy to see that the Tigers only needed to beat one of those two (Mussina, in game 2) to have a very good chance at winning the series. I figured that Detroit's pitchers, while clearly better than New York's, were tired and the Yankees would be able to slug their way past them. As I said, pitching wins championships, but hitting can often win in the earlier rounds. The Tigers were a sub-.400 ball club for the last six weeks of the season, and lost five in a row heading into the playoffs. The Yankees, meanwhile, had pummelled Boston in mid-August to take control of the division and never looked back. Even after several years of disappointment in the playoffs, this appeared to be a series that the Yankees just wouldn't let slip away. But lo and behold, almost everyone in their line-up slumped/choked at the same time and the Yankees went down with a wimper and all baseball fans of good conscience can rejoice.

$976 000 000: The amount of money the Yankees have spent on players over the last 6 years, nearly a billion dollars.

0: The number of World Series championships they have won in that same stretch.

3-10: The post-season win-loss record of the Yankees after they demolished Boston 19-8 in game 3 of the 2004 ALCS, which gave them an "insurmountable" 3-0 series advantage. Maybe the Curse of the Bambino has reversed itself.

Northwest Division

2006-10-04T20:39:00.000-06:00

Northwest Division Preview:

Edmonton - The Oilers have not finished atop their division since Wayne Gretzky was on the team, but they have a chance to do so this year. Despite the loss of Chris Pronger, the Oilers are an improved team from the one that nearly won the Stanley Cup. They will now be a force offensively after adding Joffrey Lupul and Petr Sykora who are both more than capable of 30- goal seasons. Ales Hemsky and Shawn Horcoff could both be point-per-game players while Ryan Smyth, Raffi Torres, Jaret Stoll, and others all add toughness and scoring ability. The Oilers defense definately took a big hit, but should still be adequate. Matt Greene enters the season as a top-6 defender for the first time and could have a breakout season after experience gained in the playoffs. The rest of the group is solid defensively, with only Marc-Andre Bergeron a scoring threat, but Oiler forwards will get enough goals that the blueline only needs to worry about keeping them out of their own net. That task will be made that much easier now that Dwayne Roloson gives the Oilers a quality starting goaltender, which alone cost the Oilers 10 points in the standings last year. Edmonton now has the momentum from the spring and as long as they avoid a let-down, they will be in the hunt again next spring.

Calgary - The Battle of Alberta should be at its best in 15 years now that both the Flames and Oilers are potent teams once again. Calgary takes exactly the opposite approach to Edmonton, however. The Flames will hope to ride Mikka Kiprusoff again this season and rely on their tough defense to keep opponents under control. Dion Phaneuf is a star in the making, and Robyn Regehr and Rhett Warrener solidify the defense corps. The Flames got some help for Jarome Iginla over the summer by trading for Alex Tanguay. Those two and Daymond Langkow should provide a scoring line that can also play physically. After that, the Flames are loaded with players who are strong defensively even if they lack scoring ability. As long as the top line produces as they should, Calgary should be able to grind out 2-0 and 3-1 games much like last year, though that lack of offense cost them in the playoffs. They hope Tanguay will help to prevent that from happening again. The battle between them and Edmonton should be fierce and come down to the wire.

Minnesota - The Wild had a big off-season, turning themselves from an also-ran into a team capable of winning their division. They are strong in goal with Manny Fernandez the clear cut starter now that Roloson is no longer sharing duties with him. The defense was improved with the signings of Kim Johnsson and Keith Carney, but the biggest improvment was definitely at forward. The days of the trap appear to be over for the moment now that the Wild suddenly boast two capable scoring lines after Mark Parrish and Pavol Demitra were signed to compliment Marian Gaborik, Pierre-Marc Bouchard, and Brian Rolston. Coach Jaques Lemaire's demand for defensive responsibility has been ground into many of the Wild players from previous years, so as a whole they should be a very good two-way team. Minnesota made the conference finals three years ago with a lesser team than they have now, so they should not be taken lightly. They should make it back to the playoffs, and could even be considered a dark-horse pick for the Stanley Cup.

Colorado - The Avalanche, now without the services of Rob Blake and Alex Tanguay seem to be in a gradual decline, and this could well be the year they fall out of the playoffs. They still have Joe Sakic, but even he can be expected to slow down one of these days. Milan Hejduk and Marek Svatos are both snipers, but after those three there is a big drop off in skilled forwards. The one position the Avalnche did upgrade was the blueline by acquiring Jordan Leopold, but at the expense of Tanguay. John-Michael Liles provides a good power play quarterback, and Karlis Skrastins, Brett Clark, and Ossi Vaananen's defensive abilities are under-rated. But perhaps most crucial to Colorado's success is the play of Jose Theodore. If he can rediscover the magic like another goalie named Patrick Roy did when he was traded 10 years ago, the Avs are definitely a playoff contender. But if he's the Theodore that got shipped out of Montreal after they eventually got fed up with his inconsistent play, Colorado is in trouble.

Vancouver - The Canucks are in a similar situation to the Avalanche. They have four good scoring forwards in Markus Naslund, Brendan Morrison, and the Sedin's, but after that the forward position has to be a cause for concern. While guys like Matt Cooke and Trever Linden might be good role players, the Canucks are going to need scoring from somewhere, and it wont be from their grinders. The previously solid defense is now no better than average after the departure of Ed Jovanovski. Mattias Ohlund, Willie Mitchell, and Sami Salo are a decent top-3, but if any of them get injured for an extended period of time the Canucks are in trouble. Roberto Luongo is a Vezina candidate in net, but he might not be as big of an upgrade is some people suspect. Dan Cloutier, for all the flack he took, was actually a pretty decent goaltender, at least in the regular season. As a whole, GM Dave Nonis has done a pretty fine job of turning the division winner that Brian Burke left him into a team that is unlikely to make the playoffs. The distraction that was Todd Bertuzzi will not be missed, but his points undoubtedly will be, as will Anson Carter's 30 goals. Unless Luongo records 15 shutouts, the Canucks will be golfing in April.

Top 8 in the West...................... Top 8 in the East

1. San Jose ................................1. Buffalo
2. Nashville ..............................2. Carolina
3. Edmonton ............................3. Philadelphia
4. Anaheim ..............................4. Ottawa
5. Calgary ................................5. Tampa Bay
6. Minnesota ...........................6. NY Rangers
7. Dallas ..................................7. New Jersey
8. Detroit ................................8. Boston

Stanley Cup: San Jose over Buffalo

Southeast Division

2006-10-04T20:36:00.000-06:00

Southeast Division Preview:

Carolina - As the defending champs, the Hurricanes can be expected to win their division but they might not be quite as good this time around after losing Matt Cullen, Aaron Ward, and Martin Gerber. The offense will be powerful with Eric Staal as a scoring title candidate as well as Erik Cole, Justin Williams, and Ray Whitney to contribute. Cory Stillman can be added to that list in the second half of the season when he returns from injury. Rod Brind'Amour and Scott Walker add toughness and scoring ability as well. The defense is devoid of any star power, but that didn't matter last year as defense by commitee led them to the Stanley Cup, though Frantisek Kaberle will miss the first three months with an injured shoulder. Cam Ward should be the number one goalie now that Martin Gerber is gone, but backup John Grahame should see some time as well. If the Hurricanes can stay the course with Ward in net, they will be a threat to repeat, especially when Stillman and Kaberle return.

Tampa Bay - The Lightning have completely flown under the radar after last season's pitiful attempt at defending the Cup. Few people are considering them a threat at all, but the Lightning could surprise. The most noticable change will be in goal. Marc Denis gives them a bonafide top-15 goaltender, unlike last year where John Grahame and Sean Burke were costing them games. The defense is not great, but should get the job done, and Dan Boyle and free agent Filip Kuba will provide ample offense. The forwards will be led by two excellent scoring lines. Brad Richards and Vincent Lecavalier are one of the best one-two punches at center in the league, and 2004 MVP Martin St. Louis could rebound after a disappointment last season. Even last year where a lot went wrong the Lightning still made the playoffs, and they should do the same this year, possibly challenging the Hurricanes for top spot.

Florida - The Panthers' biggest off-season move was obviously acquiring Todd Bertuzzi for Roberto Luongo, but they probably wont be that much better off. Alex Auld and Ed Belfour will split goaltending duties, but neither will be able to replace Luongo. The Panthers defense is unheralded, but Jay Bouwmeester could have a breakout year after a few years of slowly improving. Olli Jokinen and Bertuzzi should form a good top line that boasts great size, but after those two there are question marks. Nathan Horton could emerge in the same way Eric Staal did last year, but after himself and Steven Weiss who was having a good year
in 2005-06 until he got hurt, the Panthers are thin. Unless of course Joe Nieuwendyk, Gary Roberts, and Chris Gratton discover the fountain of youth. Florida was in the hunt for a playoff spot last year, but that was with Luongo stealing 1-0 games. They don't have that luxury this year, so the scorers need to step up if they have any hope of reaching the playoffs.

Atlanta - The Thrashers seem to take one step forward and two steps back. They were very close to the playoffs last year, missing out thanks to a bad start caused by all of their goaltenders getting hurt. So you'd think this year they'd take the final step, but they lost 97-point producer Marc Savard to free agency. Steve Rucchin will not replace him. Goalie Kari Lehtonen will have to stay healthy this year, and perform up to the capabilities that got him drafted in the first round a few years ago. The defense is not high scoring, but they can take care of their own zone, and traded for hard-hitting Vitaly Vishnevski from Anaheim. Up front it will be a two man show, the two being Ilya Kovalchuk and Marian Hossa. They are both capable of 100-point seasons, but aside from possibly Slava Kozlov, there are no other sure things at forward. Unless the Thrashers get a Vezina-candidate season out of Lehtonen, they will likely not have
enough scoring to get into the playoffs.

Washington - The Capitals were bad last season, but in reality they actually over-achieved. Unfortunately they did nothing to improve the team over the summer. Olaf Kolzig will be going at it alone again this year because the defense is still a crew that looks like it belongs in the AHL. There's potential in Mike Green, Steve Eminger, and Shaone Morrisonn, but they're certainly not ready to carry the load by themselves. Brian Pothier was signed away from Ottawa and appears to inherit the number one defenseman tag. At forward the situation is a little more promising with Alexander Ovechkin. At least Danius Zubrus, Alexander Semen, and Chris Clark might be able to impersonate first-liners playing with Ovechkin. There are also several young forwards capable of a break-out year. The Capitals had plenty of cap space available to try to improve the team, and the fact they they didn't do anyhting with it makes you question their commitment to winning. It will be another long year, but there's at least a little hope
that Ovechkin will score 200 goals and get the Caps to the playoffs.

MLB Playoffs

2006-10-02T19:44:00.000-06:00

October has finally arrived, and after 162 games baseball's playoffs are here. The Blue Jays came up short, but finished 2nd ahead of the Red Sox as opposed to 3rd place where they've been stuck for years. The Astros nearly overcome a seemingly insurmountable deficit in the final week, but the Cardinals held on for the NL Central, while the Tigers gassed the AL Central to Minnesota over the weekend but still got the wild card spot.

In the American League the Twins look good right now. They have the the best pitcher in the game right now in Johan Santana, plus batting champion Joe Mauer and MVP candidate Justin Morneau. After Santana the rest of the pitching staff is average, but they only need to keep the Twins in the game until their excellent bullpen can take over in later innings. If their other ace pitcher Francisco Liriano hadn't gone down for the season in August, they would be almost unbeatable.

The Athletics will take on Minnesota in the first round. They too have a great starting pitching staff with Barry Zito, Rich Harden, and company, but lack the lights-out ace that their opponent has in Santana. Their offense is also mediocre which puts extra pressure on the pitchers. In the past the A's have won their division repeatedly but failed to advance in the post-season, but with good pitching you always have a chance.

The Tigers will take on the Yankees after blowing their division on Sunday. Two months ago they looked headed to the World Series, but have slumped down the stretch and their pitching staff appears tired. It certainly doesn't help that they'll face the league's best offense and start on the road in Yankee Stadium. The Tigers need to hope their pitchers can find a second wind or it could be a short series. But the Yankees pitching staff, while respecable, is probably the worst out of the four AL teams. Somehow they again managed to spend $200 million on players while failing to build a pitching staff that can take them all the way. They might be able to home-run their way past Detroit, but Oakland or Minnesota would likely beat them in a best of 7. Here's hoping for and predicting another quiet October in the Bronx.

The National League is tougher to predict this year. The Braves are an option but...oh wait, they finally missed the playoffs. The Mets would be the front-runners, but ace pitcher Pedro Martinez is out with injury. That's good news for their division series opponents, the LA Dodgers. The Dodgers had a big second half to come from the basement into the playoffs and pitchers Derek Lowe, Brad Penny, and Greg Maddux give them a good starting rotation. They dont have the most explosive offense, but get timely hitting which is key. The Mets have clearly the most power from their bats, but Martinez being out leaves a huge hole in the rotation. It has been shown in the past that hitting can take you a round or even two in the playoffs, but at the end of the day pitching will always prevail.

The Cardinals limp into the playoffs and head to San Diego to battle the Padres. Last season the Cards swept the Padres in the opening round, but it could be a different story this year. San Diego is probably the most pitching-dependent team in the NL playoffs. Their offense is weak, but they only need to score a few runs with a staff that is deep throughout. St. Louis isn't bad on the mound but will need heavy hitters Albert Pujols, Jim Edmonds, and Scott Rolen to be in fine form to make up the deficit in the pitching department. It can't be ignored that the Cardinals are coming into the playoffs in a big slump either.

Predictions:

Yankees 3, Tigers 2
Twins 3, Athletics 1
Dodgers 3, Mets 2
Padres 3, Cardinals 1

The Twins will take the AL pennant and beat the NL pennant winners the Dodgers for the World Series.

Central Division

2006-10-01T15:47:00.000-06:00

Central Division Preview

Nashville - The Predators continue to improve every year and have become a legitimate Stanley Cup contender. Thomas Vokoun is one of the top five goalies in the league and if he hadn't got injured late last year the Predators could have made some noise in the playoffs. He should be a Vezina candidate this season. Nashville is very deep at all forward positions with three very capable scoring lines after signing Jason Arnott and JP Dumont in the off-season. Paul Kariya and Steve Sullivan fit in well to the style of the NHL right now and can produce at point-per-game clips. The defense is clearly the weakest part of the team. Marek Zidlicky and Kimmo Timonen are servicable but are not exactly studs back there. There is a lot of potential in Ryan Suter, Dan Hamhuis, and Shea Weber but sometimes too many green defensemen causes problems. There is little depth in case of injury as well. The Predators should win their division because of their scoring ability, but GM David Poile will need to pick up another blueliner heading into the playoffs.

Detroit - The glory days officially ended this spring when the Oilers sent the Wings packing in the first round. That would be the last time Steve Yzerman and Brenden Shanahan would play for Detroit. This years Wings come in completely devoid of any toughness what-so-ever, but have enough skill players that they should still make the playoffs. Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, and Robert Lang should provide a good offensive attack while Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby form a good checking tandem. The defense still has Nicklas Lidstrom and other recognizable names, but is definately long in the tooth as a whole. If Lidstrom ever slowed down the defense could become problematic, but for now he's able to carry them. In goal the Red Wings might have made a big mistake in replacing Manny Legace with Dominik Hasek. It is only a question of when, not if, he will get injured. Chirs Osgood is a very good back-up, but he's also nearing the end of his career. The Wings should be back in the post-season 16th consecutive year, but they are no doubt the NHL's softest team and a first round exit will be imminent.

Columbus - The Blue Jackets continue to plod along in mediocrity and patience is begining the wear thin amongst the fan base. They need to step up this year and become competitive. With Rick Nash there is that possibility, but as a whole their forward crop doesn't scare anyone. Sergei Fedorov's best days are behind him, and No. 2 center Gilbert Brule is a raw rookie. Anson Carter, David Vyborny, and Fredrik Modin will provide some support, but the key might be the play of Nikolai Zherdev who could become a star this year. The defense is adequate with Adam Foote to play defense and Bryan Berard to score points, but is not overly deep. In net the Blue Jackets need to hope Pascal Leclaire comes through on the potential that allowed Columbus to trade away Marc Denis. Overall, Columbus has what it takes to be competitive but the playoff drought will probably continue.

Chicago - The Blackhawks are looking to rebound from a horrible year near the bottom of the league just when it looked like they might have turned the corner. In net they have Nikolai Khabibulin who needs to remember how to play goal after a brutal 2005-06 season. If he does, the Hawks have one of the best in the league. The defense is thin, but if Adrain Aucoin returns to form and Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook build off of excellent rookie seasons, they shouldn't cost Chicago any number of games. At forward new acquisitions Martin Havlat and Michal Handzus need to produce. Tuomo Ruutu is a dangerous player if he could ever stay healthy, but that doesn't generally happen. Rene Bourque was a pleasant rookie surprise last year and needs to avoid the sophomore jinx. It appears as though Eric Daze is going to retire due to recurring back problems which leaves some production to be replaced. Even if everybody lives up to expectations the Hawks probably still aren't going to be competing for a playoff spot and will maintain their spot near the bottom of the conference.

St. Louis - Apparently the Blues forgot they were rebuilding in the summer and went out and signed up several 30+ year olds, including Doug Weight and Bill Guerin. Those two, along with Keith Tkachuk are probably more concerned with having a good time than winning at this point, and it remains unclear as to what the Blues saw in Radek Dvorak and Martin Rucinsky that they couldn't get out of a younger player with some upside. The defense is under-rated and is the Blues' strength if Eric Brewer and Barrett Jackman stay healthy. In goal Manny Legace is a solid but not spectacualr starter, but he'll need to be good on most nights to give the Blues a chance to win. After witnessing the Penguins performance of last year, there's no reason to believe that the Blues' veteran experiment wont blow up in their faces and land them back in the basement of the Western conference.

Northeast Division

2006-09-26T12:26:00.000-06:00

Northeast Division preview

Buffalo - The Sabres might be the most well-balanced team in the league which should allow them to battle Ottawa for the division title. There are no stars on their defense, but it is solid one through six, and also possesses a good blend of scoring touch and defensive play. Brian Campbell could quietly put up 50 points this year. In goal, Ryan Miller appears to be the starter, but Martin Biron is behind him should he falter, at least until Buffalo finds a team to trade him to. Up front it is much the same as on the blueline, four capable lines, all of whom can put the puck in the net. The only notable omission is JP Dumont, but Thomas Vanek is in his second year now and should pick up the slack. Daniel Briere also missed half of the regular season injured, so if he's healthy all year he should be good for 80 points. After the experience gained during last year's post season run, where the Sabres nearly knocked off Carolina while greatly depleted by injuries, this Sabres team looks to be Buffalo's best chance in a long time to win their first Stanley Cup.

Ottawa - The Senators once again come into a season with their eyes set on finally winning the Stanley Cup. They may have let their best chance slip away last year, as Zdeno Chara signed with Boston and Martin Havlat and Bryan Smolinski were traded. Ottawa still has a dynamic scoring line with Heatley-Spezza-Alfredsson, but the supporting cast is younger and less dangerous than in past years. On defense it is a similar story with Wade Redden and Chris Phillips providing a solid top pairing. The rest of the defense has tons of potential, but having four other players with three or fewer NHL seasons could backfire at times. The one area that Ottawa has improved is goaltending. Martin Gerber was signed as a free agent after leading Carolina to a division title. The only problem is that he imploded in the playoffs before Cam Ward took over, though it is said that he was suffering from the flu. Ottawa is still a contender but usually teams win when they're at their peak, and Ottawa appears to be past that peak.

Boston - The Bruins could be a darkhorse pick this year after being rebuilt in the off season. The biggest acquisition was that of defenseman Zdeno Chara which instantly solidifies the back end. Brad Stuart and Paul Mara will provide support, so the Bruins just need to hope that their other young defensemen can play adequately. Up front the Bruins should be more offensive minded with Patrice Bergeron and another free agent, Marc Savard. Wingers like Brad Boyes, who quietly had a breakout season with 70 points in his first full NHL year, Glen Murray, and rookie Phil Kessel should make Boston back into the higher scoring team they were before Joe Thornton was traded. The only question mark is in goal. The Bruins seem ready to go with Hannu Toivonen as the starter after he had a respectable rookie season last year. Tim Thomas, who came out of nowhere last season and got Boston back into the playoff hunt will be a good plan B as long as last year wasn't a fluke. The Bruins should be in the fight for a playoff position this year.

Montreal - The Canadiens could enter this season without captain Saku Koivu as he is pondering retirement after a high stick to the eye knocked him out of last year's playoffs. They still have other players capable of scoring, but Koivu would be a tough loss. Alexei Kovalev, Sergei Samsonov, and Mike Ribeiro cna put up points, but as a whole the forward crop is a very soft bunch and is susceptable to being puched around by bigger, tougher opponents, though that is less of a problem in the current NHL than in years past. On defense Montreal needs a rebound year from Sheldon Souray and continued offensive production from Andrei Markov. After those two is a collection of workmanlike defenders who should be capable of holding the fort if they play consistently. The Habs also hope for Cristobal Huet to show that last season wasn't a fluke. If he had played all of last season as the starter, he would have been a Vezina candidate. David Aebischer is behind him in case he falters. Like Boston, expect Montreal to be fighing for one of the final playoff spots.

Toronto - The Leafs might have addressed their problematic defense by overpaying free agents Pavel Kubina and Hal Gill, and with McCabe and Kaberle they should have a high scoring blueline, but the unit could still be lacking in their own zone. That means they will probably need to be bailed out by Andrew Raycroft, acquired from Boston. If he returns to his Calder-trophy form of 2003-04 he should be capable of that, but if his plays like last year the Leafs will be in trouble. Up front the Leafs still have some big names, but Mats Sundin, Mike Peca, and Jeff O'Neill are all on the downside of their careers and the latter two are coming off terrible seasons. That leaves Darcy Tucker and sophomores Alex Steen and Kyle Wellwood with a burden that's probably larger than they can handle. If the Leafs get big seasons out of a few guys and Raycroft plays well thay might have a chance at the playoffs, but all of that happening at once seems unlikely and they will probably be drafting in the top 10.

Atlantic Division Preview

2006-09-23T01:39:00.000-06:00

Preview for the NHL's Atlantic Division:

Philadelphia - The Flyers traditionally rely on grit as much as skill, and they appear to have taken the same approach this year. The top line of Peter Forsberg, Simon Gagne, and Mike Knuble is a good blend of skill and toughness, though Forsberg typically misses a month or two injured. Keith Primeau's retirement left a hole at center, but Mike Richards and Petr Nedved should be able to pick up some of the slack. The defense lacks firepower after Joni Pitkanen, but Mike Rathje, Denis Gauthier, and Derian Hatcher are usually reliable in their own end. As usual, there is a goaltending controversy in the Flyer net, with both Robert Esche and Antero Niitymaki battling for the starters job. The Flyers should be a threat to win the division as usual, but after 31 years, the fans want to see the Cup drought end.

NY Rangers - It looks like GM Glen Sather realised that his team was too soft after, as could be predicted, his Euros led by Jaromir Jagr were swept in the opening round of last season's playoffs. He signed Brendan Shanahan, Matt Cullen, and Aaron Ward. All Stanley Cup winners who add some grit and toughness as well as skill. With Jagr, Straka, and young Petr Prucha to supply offense, the Rangers should not have a problem scoring goals. The defense isn't flashy, but under-rated Marek Malik, Michal Rozsival, and company get the job done. (However, it remains to be seen if power play quarter-back Tom Poti's 3 goals will be missed) As long as Henrik Lundqvist avoids the sophomore jinx, the Rangers' goaltending will be fine and they will battle Philadelphia for the division title.

New Jersey - As it stands right now, the Devils might actually the best team in the Atlantic Division, but due to salary cap problems they will be forced to trade away a couple of good players for draft picks. One of, or possibly even two of Scott Gomez, Brian Gionta, John Madden, Colin White, and Bryan Rafalski will have to be dumped unless GM Lou Lamoriello can find takers for Alex Mogilny and Dan McGillis who are making several million dollars a year to play in the minors. But as long as they have Martin Brodeur in the nets they have a chance. Patrik Elias will be fully healthy to start the season this year, and guys like Jamie Langenbrunner and Sergei Brylin lead an abundance of quality second and third liners. Paul Martin and David Hale should be fixtures on the blueline for years to come, and are both coming into their own to compliment Rafalski and White. Regardless of who gets traded, the Devils should still have a good chance at making the playoffs.

Pittsburgh - Sidney Crosby and the Penguins could surprise some people this year. With Corsby they have a legitimate Art Ross candidate, and if he lives up to all the hype, Evgeni Malkin should be the front runner for the Calder Trophy. Other young players like Erik Christensen, Colby Armstrong, and Ryan Malone have the potential to put up decent numbers. Veterans John LeClair and Mark Recchi are on their last legs, but can still provide leadership to the rookies. On defense Sergei Gonchar, for all of his shortcomings, can still put up 60 points. The younf trio of Brooks Orpik, Ryan Whitney, and Noah Welch should be good down the road if not already, and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has consistenly improved. The Penguins might not quite have what it takes to make the playoffs, but dont be surprised if they give some teams a run for their money.

NY Islanders - After a few steps in the right direction, the duo of owner Charles Wang and GM/President or whatever title you want to give Mike Milbury has run the franchise back into the ground. The hiring of Neil Smith as GM was a good decision, but unfortunately he was unwilling to be Milbury's puppet and was replaced by Garth Snow, who quickly signed goaltender Rick DiPietro to an assanine 15 year contract. Now that ensures that the Islanders will be solid in the nets this year, but if DiPietro falters they're stuck with him. Speaking of huge contracts, Alexei Yashin is now half way through his 10 year deal and has yet to put up numbers similar to his time in Ottawa. Mike York, Jason Blake, Trent Hunter, and Miro Satan can score as well, but overall they lack firepower upfront (unless Yashin and Satan actually show up to play, which generally isn't the case). The defense was a sore spot last year but has been improved with the acquisitions of free agents Brendan Witt and Tom Poti. There are some bright spots, but as a whole things seem to be once again going down the toilet on the island.

NHL Previews

2006-09-21T20:28:00.000-06:00

Hockey season is almost upon us again. After last year's surprises (Edmonton, Anaheim, Carolina, and Buffalo comprising the final four) it is tough to speculate on who's going to do well this year. For all anybody knows it could be Pittsburgh and Cloumbus playing for the Cup in June. Nonetheless, I'll give my predictions for each team, and probably wonder what I was thinking by Christmas.

Pacific Division:

San Jose - The Sharks might have won this division last season if they had Joe Thornton to begin the season. The Hart Trophy winner will team with Rocket Richard winner Jonathan Cheechoo and newcomer Mark Bell to form one of hockey's top lines. Patrick Marleau should be good for 80 points as the second line center, and he'll be flanked by emerging Steve Bernier and Milan Michalek. Goaltending is solid whether it's Vesa Toskola or Evgeni Nabokov, and one of them could be traded to improve other areas of the roster. The only potential concern could be the defence, which will have four players with 105 or fewer NHL games, leaving Scott Hannan and Kyle McLaren as the veterans. The Sharks can definately ride the Thornton-Cheechoo combination to the top of the division, and possibly make a run at the Stanley Cup, unless somebody's checking line can figure out how to neutralize them.

Anaheim - Last year the Ducks were similar to San Jose, in the fact that they started slow and got on a roll later in the season which ended up in lengthy playoff drive. JS Giguere and Ilya Brzgalov will provide a great 1-2 punch in net until one of them (most likely Giguere) gets dealt, which Brian Burke will probably do to makle improvements up front. The Ducks are deep at center with under-rated Andy McDonald leading the way, and they have a good collection of young wingers that started coming into their own last year. The question is whether or not Teemu Selanne will remain a top scorer after last year's surprise season. But Anaheim's strength is no doubt on defence where they can have one of Scott Niedermayer or Chris Pronger on the ice at all times, if they choose to play them separately. It is almost unprecendented for one team to have arguably the two best defenders in the game at the same time. This makes the Ducks a legitimate Stanley Cup threat.

Dallas - The Stars won the division last year, but almost everything went right for them, until the playoffs of course, where the Avalanche embarassed them in a 5-game upset. Expect a setback this year. The Stars will still battle for a playoff spot, but Marty Turco will need another strong season. Mike Modano and Eric Lindros could provide a great 1-2 punch at center, but Modano is 36 and Lindros will almost certainly get injured. Brenden Morrow, Jere Lehtinen, and others provide decent depth on the wings. The defence is workmanlike, with an abudance of solid defensive d-men to compliment offensive-minded Sergei Zubov who had 71 points last season, but is also 36 years old and could slow down. Overall the Stars are well rounded, but having to battle the Sharks and Ducks eight times a piece could leave them on the playoff bubble.

Phoenix - Gretz's boys should be better than last season, but will still be in tough to make the playoffs. The defence is solid with free agent Ed Jovanovski, Derek Morris, and Nick Boynton as the top three. Up front they will rely on Shane Doan and, if he can stay healthy, Ladislav Nagy to turn in 80 point seasons. Steve Reinprecht and Mike Comrie will offer support, but old timers Owen Nolan and Jeremy Roenick are definately gambles. In goal Curtis Joseph had a rebound season in 05-06, but at 39 years old, it's hard to say if he can carry it over into this year. If the old boys can all have renaisance campaigns, a playoff spot is within reach. But when it's all said and done, Wayne and the boys will probably be hitting golf balls come April.

Los Angeles - The Kings are interesting in the sense that they appear to be in rebuilding mode with youngsters Patrick O'Sullivan and Anze Kopitar set to jump into the NHL, as well as Alexander Frolov, Mike Cammalleri, and Dustin Brown in the under 25 crop. They also brought in a new coach (Mark Crawford) and new GM (Dean Lombardi) and traded away Pavol Demitra. But they also signed Rob Blake on defense and brought in goalie Dan Cloutier, aparently set to abandon the platoon system between youngsters Mathieu Garon and Jason LaBarbera. They also inexplicably brought back disruptor Sean Avery after kicking him off the team last April. The Kings have some pieces in place, but scoring could be a problem with Craig Conroy and Eric Belanger as the top two pivots. The defense should be a decent group, especially if Lubomir Visnovsky can duplicate his 67 points. But like the Coyotes, the Kings probably need too much to go right for them to end up in the post-season.

Eskimos Playoff Drive

2006-09-16T14:06:00.000-06:00

The Eskimos enter the final two months of the CFL season in unfamiliar territory. They are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs, something that has not occured since the early 1970s. While all other teams in the league have come to expect their clubs to miss out on the post season at least once in a while, such is not the case in Edmonton.

A lot of people are suggesting that "well, you know they ought to miss after all this time, that's OK." But in reality, it's not OK. Acceptance of failure only fosters a tradition of losing. The fact that there is such a high level of accountability in Edmonton has contributed to the great streak of success. There should be no rebuilding seasons in a league where 6 out of 8 make the playoffs, retooling is what the offseason is for. When the fans allow years of patience for a team to get its act together the result is enevitably a situation like that in Saskatchewan. Several years of last place finishes followed by slow improvements that yielded a competitive team, but one which has yet to reach the Grey Cup. When a .500 record is repeatedly met with approval, there's no pressure to improve the team into a Grey Cup champion. Why mess with a team that the fans will show up and see even if they have little hope of winning the Grey Cup?

If Edmonton fails to mount a charge into the playoffs, you can be sure there will be changes within the organization. The most obvious will be the dismissal of coach Danny Maciocia. It doesn't matter that his team won the Grey Cup last year, the fact is that him and his players have bumbled to a 4-7 record, and the coach should take the fall with them, especially considering that he is largely responsible for a pair of last-second defeats. In any other market Maciocia would have likely earned himself a mulligan or two by winning it all, but in Edmonton it comes back to the accountability factor, and the unwillingness to accept failure, even for one season. Tom Higgins was gassed after winning the Grey Cup and then being bounced from the playoffs early on the next year. Of course, there is still a resonable chance for the Eskimos to find themselves on the field in November. A pair of games with the Tiger-Cats is forthcoming, and that should yield a pair of victories, which would pull the team close to Saskatchewan. They also play the Roughriders twice more, meaning that they still control their own destiny, so all hope should not be lost.

Link

2006-09-16T14:03:00.000-06:00

Here's a link to my most recent Hockey's Future article. It focusses on St. Louis Blues training camp. http://hockeysfuture.com/article.php?sid=9029&mode=threaded&order=0

NFC West

2006-09-02T18:08:00.000-06:00

NFC West Preview

Seattle: Last year's Super Bowl runner-up should be almost a lock to win their division for a third straight year. Most of the key players are back, while WR Nate Burleson improves an already solid corps. QB Matt Hasselbeck is in his prime, as is Shaun Alexander who should rush for between 1500 and 2000 yards. Darrell Jackson shold be Hasselbeck's go-to target. The defense is also very well rounded, with lineman Grant Wistrom, LB Lofa Tatupu and a deep and skilled secondary. The biggest challenge for the Seahawks will be to stay focussed and avoid the curse of being the Super Bowl loser who has had a disastrous follow-up campaign in recent years. Curse or not, Seattle should be able to win their division with ease. 12-4

Arizona: Their may finally be light at the end of the tunnel for Arizona after several losing seasons. Coach Dennis Green has built up a solid defense while also compiling a worthy offense. Oddly enough Arizona ranked in the top ten in both total ofense and defense, yet somehow managed to finish 5-11 by finding ways to lose games. Veteran QB Kurt Warner will start the season and provide tutilege to first round pick QB Matt Leinart. The running game was greatly improved with the signing of Edgerrin James, but the O-line could be a concern. WRs Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald provide a dangerous combo. If Arizona performs up to expectations they have a decent shot at the playoffs, especially with a forgiving schedule. 9-7

St. Louis: Once a force in the NFC, the Rams fell to 6-10 last yearand replaced head coach Mike Martz with Scott Linehan. The Rams always based their gameplan around an explosive offense, and should still score plenty of points. Underrated QB Marc Bulger should provide receivers Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce with plenty of TD passes. Young RB Steven Jackson could have a big year now that he's the undisputed number one back with veteran Marshall Faulk aleady out for the season with a knee injury, his great career probably over. The defense will be the main concern. It was far from great last season, and has only gotten worse. The Rams offense still makes them tough at home on their artificial turf, but on the road they could struggle mightily. 6-10

San Francisco: The once proud 49ers will probably find themselves in the basement again this year. Unofrtunately for them, this year could be even worse than last year's 4-12 campaign. Young QB Alex Smith, first overall pick in 2005, will have the reigns for the first time, but the cast around him will make his development difficult. RB Kevan Barlow is gone, and while he is far from great, he was still the best San Francisco had to offer. Untested Frank Gore is now the main man in teh backfield. This year's first round pick, TE Vernon Davis will likely be Smith's go-to target. The defense was lousy last season, and again there appears to be no noticable improvment. The fact that they will be kept on the field often while the offense struggles will not help. 3-13

NFC East

2006-09-02T17:17:00.000-06:00

NFC East Preview

New York: An excellent performance by Eli Manning last year, his first as teh Giants' starting QB, spurred them on to a division title, but they quickly came apart in the playoffs in an embarassing shut-out loss at home to Carolina. The opportunity might be now for the Giants however, as RB Tiki Barber had an MVP-type campaign last year, but is over 30 years old, meaning he could lose a step very quickly. The pass and catch combo of Manning to Plaxico Burress was one of the NFL's best last year, while Amonte Toomer and Jeremy Shockey provide depth. The defensive secondary was a weakness last year, but New York hopes they've improved it by bringing is veterans R.W. McQuarters and Sam Madison. The defenseive end combo of Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora should be feared by all opposing offenses. 10-6

Philadelphia: Now that the mess of Terrell Owens and last season is behind them, a healthy Donovan McNabb should be able to lead the Eagles back into the playoff hunt. The Eagles recently acquired Donte Stallworth to improve the receiving corps, but fellow WR Todd Pinkston has been released after requesting a trade. That leaves the Eagles thin at receiver, while RB Bryan Westbrook is only average. On defense the Eagles are good, with a great secondary and DE Javon Kearse. That should provide a counter-balance for a sub-par offense and give the Eagles a chance at the post season. 8-8

Washington: The Redskins made it back to the post-season last year, and should be competitive again this season. The defense was top-10 in the league and should be solid again this year. Shawn Springs and Adam Archuleta will anchor the secondary. The offense could be more of a concern however. QB Mark Brunell had a career-high 23 TD passes last year, with his go-to receiver Santana Moss having a career year of his own. But at 35 and with a history of injuries a repeat performance from Brunell might not be in the cards. RB Clinton Portis is one of the NFL's best and a repeat 1500 yard season is certainly attainable, but the question is whether or not it will be enough to carry the offense. 8-8

Dallas: After acquring WR Terrell Owens, hopes are high for the Cowboys. The team that went 9-7 last year remains largely intact. The defense should remain decent and take some heat off of Drew Bledsoe and the rest of the offense. RBs Julius Jones and Marion Barber provide a good ground attack. But naturally the focus is going to be on Owens. He's arguably the league's best receiver, put is with his third team in four years thanks to his poor attitude. He was the main reason behind his former team Philadelphia's poor showing last year, and has already caused disruptions in Cowboys training camp and been fined $10 000 by the team. Expect a strong start by Dallas, but QB Bledsoe has always been mistake prone, and by mid-season T.O. will probably be fed up with him or somebody else and quit on the team. 7-9

NFC South

2006-09-02T16:47:00.000-06:00

NFC South preview

Carolina: The Panthers will be tested by the other teams in a tough NFC South division, but are the favorite to come out on top, and many people are suggesting they may represent the NFC at the Super Bowl in February. They are anchored by one of the league's top defensive units, boasting a suberb line led by Julius Peppers, as well as strong linebacking and pass coverage units. On offense, Steve Smith and free-agent signee Keyshawn Johnson should be a great one-two punch. The running game should also be reliable with incumbent DeShaun Foster and first round draft pick DeAngelo Williams. The only area of uncertainty could be at QB. Jake Delhomme has shown that he can be spectacular one week, but dreadful the next. When he's playing up to his capabilities, this years Panthers may be nearly unstoppable. 12-4

Tampa Bay: The Buccaneers surprised many by jumping up and winning the division last year. Coach John Gruden's teams always play hard-nosed football, and this year's Bucs team will be no different. The defense is tough, which at least gives Tampa Bay a chance to win most games. DE Simeon Rice is one of the best in the business, and leads a solid front seven. On offense, expect second year RB Cadillac Williams to see plenty of action. A strong year from him could take some pressure off QB Chris Simms, who established himself as the starter last year, but is young and still has ups and downs. Receivers Michael Clayton and Joey Galloway also need to turn in strong performances. 9-7

Atlanta: The Falcons surprisingly missed the playoffs last year, edged out by Carolina and the resurgent Buccaneers. They have made upgrades though, especially on defense where John Abraham and Lawyer Milloy expected to bolster a defense that wasn't all that bad to begin with. RB Warrick Dunn should have more touches this year after TJ Duckett was dealt for receiver Ashley Lelie. Vick will also have TE Algie Crumpler as a target, as well as Brian Finneran once he ruturns from a pre-season injury. But the Falcons success will be a direct result of what Vick can do with the cast around him. He's an increbible athlete, quite possibly the NFL's faster runner, but he has continuously struggled with the passing game. 8-8

New Orleans: The Saints will at least start out with a chance at a successful season this year, as opposed to last when a Hurricane esentially forced them to play the entire season on the road. They drafted RB Reggie Bush, who has tremendous game-breaking ability, to team with Deuce MacAllister in the backfield. The Saints also improved themselves at QB by bringing in Drew Brees. With Joe Horn at receiver, the offense should be respectable, but they'll need to be excellent on most days for the Saints to win, thanks to a defense that could be picked apart by opponents. A winning record is unlikely, but the Saints have put some building blocks in piece for the future. 5-11

NFC North

2006-09-02T16:20:00.000-06:00

NFC North preview

Chicago: The Bears are easily the class of the division. They have arguably the NFL's best defense, meaning they can grind out lots of low scoring wins. Linebacker Brian Urlacher is the leader of the defense, and is a run-stopping force out on the field. The offense will probably be commanded by QB Rex Grossman, who was injured for most of last year but returned at the end of the season. His performance was questionable as the Bears lost their only playoff game. Muhsin Muhammad is Chicago's only noteworthy receiver, but the Bears do boast a good running attack with Cedric Benson and Thomas Jones sharing duties. 11-5

Detroit: Many people thought that the Lions would turn the corner last year and have a winning season, but instead they tanked it and coach Steve Mariucci got fired while QB Joey Harrington was cut loose. They brought in former Rams coach Mike Martz as offensive co-ordinator and journeyman QB Jon Kitna in hopes of righting the ship. The defense is suspect, so the Lions will need the offense to step up, and that means some better than average performances from key players. 7-9

Minnesota: The Vikings come into 2006 with a new look team. QB Brad Johnson, who started most of last year after former QB Daunte Culpepper was injured, will be in charge from the get-go, while the Vikings also have a new coach in Brad Childress. Johnson managed to get Minnesota back into the playoff hunt last year, but he is in his late 30's so it's uncertain how much gas he has left in teh tank. RB Chester Taylor is also a newcomer and needs to have a breakout season if the offense is going to succeed, due to a hopelessly thin receiving corps. The defense is solid thanks to their ability to intercept so many passes, but that wont be enough to make up for what could be a lacklustre offense. 6-10

Green Bay: Aging QB Brett Favre has decided to come back for one last kick at the can, but he may regret that decision by mid season when Green Bay is out of the playoff picture. The Packer defense has a few name players, but as a whole is not overly impressive. But the fact that the other three teams in their division look like they'll have lousy offenses could be a saving grace. RB Ahman Green should start the year healthy and is capable of big numbers, but fumbles far too frequently. With WRs Donald Driver and Robert Ferguson and tight end Bubba Franks, Favre should at least have a few reliable targets, but in recent years he has begun to throw more and more costly interceptions. 4-12

AFC West Preview

2006-08-31T20:57:00.000-06:00

AFC West:

Denver: The AFC West could be the most competitive and entertaining division in football this year. But the Broncos always find away to come out on top, and there's no reason they can't do the same this year. The Denver defense struggled mightily against the pass last year, but have made some improvements in that area. On offense QB Jake Plummer will have Rod Smith and Javon Walker to throw to, in what could become a dangerous one-two punch. It is unclear who the feature RB will be, but whether it's Mike Bell, Tatum Bell, or Ron Dayne, the Broncos will find a way to get 1000 yards out of him. The Broncos are nearly unbeatable at Mile High Stadium (9-0 last year until Pittsburgh dismantled them in the AFC title game), which always makes them a contender. 11-5

San Diego: The Chargers narrowly missed the post-season last year, and will be hungry to get back there this season. The defense is a bit of a question mark, but LB Shawn Mirriman could terrorize opposing quarterbacks with his pass rushing abilities. The biggest off-season change was definately replacing pro-bowl QB Drew Brees with untested Philip Rivers. Rivers has loads of potential, might not be able to replace Brees' abilities this year. LaDainian Toimlinson, who could be the NFL's top rusher this season, and is great at catching passes out of the backfield as well, will be the Charger's main offensive weapon, and will give them a chance at victory every Sunday. 10-6

Kansas City: The Chiefs come into this season much like they have the last few: as one of the NFL's enigmas. The offense is one of the best in the league. RB Priest Holmes could be facing retirement after a neck injury suffered last year, but Larry Johnson is a more than adequate replacement, and barring injury he should crack 1500 yards rushing with 20+ touchdowns. QB Trent Green quietly goes out and passes for over 4000 yards every season. Kick returner Dante Hall is the league's best as well. This should make the Chiefs a formidable foe, but they've missed the playoffs each of the last two years thanks to a lousy defense. The D will be benefitted by newcomer Ty Law at cornerback, but will still hold the Chiefs back. 9-7

Oakland: New coach Art Shell, who coached the Raiders in the early 90s, replaces Norv Turner. He has a difficult task ahead of him. The Raiders defense is average at best, which doesn't bode well considering they must face the fearsome offensive attacks of their three division rival twice apiece. The offense boasts a great receiving corps with Randy Moss, Doug Gabriel, and Ronald Curry. (Joey Porter's status is uncertain after he requested a trade). RB LaMont Jordan is also talented, but the key question is whether or not the offensive line can open up holes for him, or protect new QB Aaron Brooks well enough to enable him to utilize his receivers. 5-11

AFC East Preview

2006-08-31T20:55:00.000-06:00

AFC East:

New England: Business as usual for the Patriots. They could be challenged this year by a rebuilt Miami squad, but should still take the division. Much like those around him, QB Tom Brady isn't usually flashy but just goes out an wins football games. The New England defense should remain one of the top units in the league, giving the workmanlike offense a chance to win every game. Brady will see a thinner receiving corps this season, but has never had problems spreading the ball around before. His go-to back will be Cory Dillon, who is getting older but can still put up decent numbers. 11-5

Miami: The Dolphins ended last season on a roll, and look to be returning to their winning ways after some lean years. New QB Daunte Culpepper was acquired in a trade with Minnesota and gives Miami a first-rate pivot if he can rebound from a serious knee injury. Second year running back Ronnie Brown will look to build on last year's strong rookie campaign and wont have to contend with the distraction that was Ricky Williams. The Dolphin's defense isn't great, but should be good enough that they can win if the offense carries its weight. A potential darkhorse team. 9-7

Buffalo: After a disastrous 2005 season, the Bills have hired coach Dick Jauron and 80-year old Marv Levy as GM to try to turn around the franchise. The Bills defense is formidable when they are on top of their game, but scoring points will be a major concern. RB Willis McGahee will provide a good ground attack, but young JP Losman will be lining up under centre and will need to mature in a hurry if the Bills are to have a chance, and having Peerless Price, a second tier receiver as his number one target will hardly help his cause. 6-10

New York Jets: In similar fashion to Buffalo, the Jets went into last season with high expectations only to fall on their faces, and now enter this campaign just hoping to avoid the basement. QB Chad Pennington is back to lead the offense after some suggested he could be cut loose by the Jets after suffering a serious shoulder injury last year. The running attack took a blow when Curtis Martin was placed on the physically unable to perform list, meaning he'll be out until at least mid-season. The defense had their struggles last year, but might be better this time around. The coaching staff was also overhauled, with many young coaches brought in who should bring some fresh ideas. 5-11

AFC South Preview

2006-08-31T12:14:00.000-06:00

AFC South:

Indianapolis: The Colts come into the season once again trying to get over the hump and make it to the Super Bowl. Last year Pittsburgh upset them in the divisional playoff, taking away what was probably their best chance at glory. They will still be contenders with all-pro QB Peyton Manning and his go-to receiver Marvin Harrison leading one of the NFL's top offenses. Defensive end Dwight Freeney leads a solid defense. The only weak spot may be the running game with Edgerin James leaving for Arizona. 12-4

Jacksonville: The Jaguars are a team on the rise, and will be more experienced this year after making the playoffs last season. QB Byron Leftwich is coming into his own, and the running game is great when Fred Taylor is healthy, though he tends to get injured frequently. The defense is one of the best in the game, and showed last year that they are capable of at least keeping Indianapolis' offense somewhat contained. If things go right they could move up and take the division title away from the Colts. 11-5

Houston: After steady growth in their first three seasons as an expansion team, the Texans regressed greatly last year, finishing last in the NFL. With their top pick in the draft they surprisingly to defenseive end Mario Williams instead of USC star running back Reggie Bush. That will no doubt improve the defense, but not nearly enough to make them a consideration for the playoffs. The offense will likely struggle as well with QB David Carr who has not lived up to expectations, a dreadful offensive line, and the possibility of RB Domanick Davis, a lone bright spot, being unable to play because of a nagging knee injury that doesn't seem to be healing properly. 4-12

Tennessee: The Steve McNair era is over for the Titans, who will go with Billy Volek at QB to start the season, but first round pick Vince Young could assume that role later in the season. The Titans appear to be lacking at most positions. RBs Chris Brown and Travis Henry are reliable but unspectacular, and the same goes for receivers Drew Bennett and David Givens. The denfense is pretty much in the same boat. Four games against the Colts and Jaguars mean that it could be another long year in Tennessee. 4-12

NFL Preview

2006-08-29T12:32:00.000-06:00

Preview for the upcoming NFL season. Here's the AFC North preview, in order of predicted finish.

AFC North:

Pittsburgh: The Steelers are defending champs and could win what should be a very competitive division. QB Ben Roethlisberger's career record as a starter is an incredible 30-6, and the Steeler's running game should remain solid with last year's rookie surprise Willie Parker in the backfield. Jerome Bettis retired, so it will be up to Parker and Duce Staley, back from injury, to carry the brick. Hines Ward will be Big Ben's go-to receiver. Pittsburgh traditionally has solid defense and this year should be no different. 12-4

Cincinnati: After more than a decade of losing the Bengals turned the corner last year. They should continue that this year with another playoff appearance. It will be interesting to see how well QB Carson Palmer returns from major knee surgery. Palmer, along with receiver Chad Johnson and running back Rudi Johnson lead a formidable offense that should score plenty of points. Their defense however, is mediocre and might hold them back from winning the division. 11-5

Baltimore: The Ravens should be better than last year with QB Steve McNair brought in to improve a woeful offense. Their defense is always in the top-10, so there should be no problem on that side of the ball. The key may be the play of RB Jamal Lewis. One of the NFL's top rushers in previous years, he struggled last year, and while it's unlikely he will be a 1500+ yard rusher again, he might rebound to form a good tandem with newcomer Mike Anderson. Tight end Todd Heap could have a good year with McNair throwing him the ball instead of Kyle Boller. 8-8

Cleveland: Coach Romeo Crenel did an admirable job last year with the Browns, going 6-10 which is actually a lot better than most had expected. The Browns offense will be led by QB Charlie Frye, a sophomore pivot who has been given the starters job this year. He'll have a solid set of receivers with Braylon Edwards, Joe Jurevicius, and Kellen Winslow, back after missing all of last season injured. Coach Crenel was defensive co-ordinator of the Patriot's Super Bowl teams before coming to Cleveland, so his defensive philosophies should help the Browns keep opponents in check somewhat, but it might not be enough for them to think about the playoffs yet. 6-10

Link

2006-08-15T13:12:00.000-06:00

Here's a link to my latest Hockey's Future article on the St. Louis Blues. http://hockeysfuture.com/article.php?sid=8985&mode=threaded&order=0

From Around the CFL

2006-07-23T22:17:00.000-06:00

I hadn't realised that "The Longest Yard", a movie about a prison football team, was based on the Saskatchewan Roughriders. But apparently 'Riders GM Roy Shivers has been doing his recruiting at the local penatentiary. Last year he turned a blind eye to the actions of HIV-carrying linebacker Trevis Smith, not only deciding to keep his situation a secret from other teams' medical staffs, but also allowing him carouse about the town. Only police custody was able to remove him from the active roster. Now this year running back Kenton Keith has been charged with assault. Most everybody assumed he would be suspended by the team until his trial is concluded, but Shivers had other plans. The fact that this is seen as an organizational embarassment, as well as the lacklustre onfield performance from the team over Shivers' entire tenure as GM would normally be enough to get him fired, but apparently not in Regina. Is it any wonder why this team hasn't cracked the top half of the standings since the 1970s?

Speaking of criminals, howabout Ricky Williams? We were all told about how this NFL star would rampage through CFL defenses, but he has been a complete bust, and now has a broken arm. Only 231 yards up until his injury, and it looks good on Toronto. Let players who've been suspended for numerous NFL drug violations stay off the field. Combine Williams with John Avery and you have a pair of useless RBs making about half a million dollars between them.

How long before Dany Maciocia gets fired? The Eskimos have looked listless and unprepared on offense for every game to date. Their 2-3 record is flattering, yet it could easily be an above .500 3-2. The Esks almost stumbled to victory over Winnipeg, but an unbelieveable 100 yard hail mary pass on the last play of the game gave them a deserved loss. Maciocia seemed unable to explain why they chose to blitz when they could have simply lined up 9 men at midfield and the Blue Bombers wouldn't have had any hope of finding the end zone.

Looks like business as usual for Montreal. The Alouettes are undeafeated through five games, in what is becoming a formality. But despite nearly a decade of jumping out to fantastic starts, the Als have only once captured the Grey Cup and often finish the season the season with a good, but unremarkable record. Will it be the same story this year?

Some Thoughts and World Cup Wrap-Up

2006-07-14T17:40:00.000-06:00

The MLB All-Star Game was played on Tuesday. Nobody cares about all-star games in any league anymore. Yet this decides home field advantage for the World Series. The NL side that makes it there needs all the help they can get, but due to the superiority of the AL they always win the all-star giving them even more of an advantage in the fall. It's high time to do away with all these mid-season breaks that do little more than waste time.

The Oilers trade of Chris Pronger for Joffrey Lupul, a good prospect Ladislav Smid, and high draft picks is disappointing in the sense that Edmonton lost on of the games biggest stars. But looking back, Eric Brewer was what Kevin Lowe gave up for Pronger, so Brewer for the afforementioned players and a trip to the Stanley Cup final doesn't look too shabby.

Eskimos coach Dany Maciocia made a couple of surprising cuts in training camp and early in the season in Joe Montford and Donny Brady. Montford is now back and after witnessing the struggles of the secondary Brady's return shouldn't be ruled out of the question. Not exactly looking like a genius, eh Maciocia?

Speaking of the all-star break, it was held in Pittsburgh. Steeltown was a great baseball city for over a century, but after 15 years of losing even the most loyal fans have their patience tested. Of course their struggles are due mainly to the fact that they are a farm team for the likes of New York and Boston. With much of the talk focusing on how the salary system has allowed the Pirates and several other teams to rot, maybe some of the owners will wise up a figure out some sort of system for salary restraint. Major league baseball is on a fast track to destruction with the way things are now, because the sport begins to die when it ceases to be any sort of competition other than who has the biggest wallet.

It's very easy for mild mannered people who've never been in the heat of the action to call Zinedine Zidane a disgrace for his headbutt in the World Cup final. Even though his play was god-like for many years, he is still human at the end of the day. A magnificent career will not be tarnished by one moment of losing control. And seeing as Marco Materazzi is one of the world dirtiest players, not to many people were sad to see him on the ground, even if he was embelishing the incident.

On the topic of diving and embelishment, this World Cup might have hit rock bottom. FIFA should and will have serious discussions as to how to change the direction the game is going. Perhaps a review by officials of questionable fouls after the game to check for fakers would help the problem, with hefty suspensions being handed out to the actors. I dont think it's outrageous to propose certain nations with reputations for diving be banned from competition until they clean up their act. All teams have at least one or two divers, but the theatrics display from some countries (Portugal and the world champions themselves to name a couple) disgrace the entire competition.

And personally, I thought this years edition of the World Cup was quite devoid of great moments or games that will go down as classics. France-Italy was not a bad final, but for most of the second half and extra time Italy sat back and allowed France to attack, but without allowing many great scoring opportunities. From my point of view France controlled most of the game, but was the loser in the end, an outcome that seemed unavoidable after their talisman Zidane was expelled. There were numerous other games as well where one team appeared to be the better, but still lost, sometimes in a shootout or after a questionable call from the official to make matters worse.

The Brazil squad that was supposed to be the team to beat played a grand total of 45 minutes of soccer. They spent the remaining time coasting around the field, though their raw talent still saw them through to the quarter-final after they defeated a much more deserving Ghana.

England managed to stumble their way into the quarter-final as well. They didn't play great, but were still the better team on the field in all of their games. So in typical English fasion they played heroically in a losing cause versus Portugal. Wayne Rooney was sent off controversially but the Brits remianed to better side even with ten men. But they couldn't score for 120 minutes so off to a shoot-out where again no Englishmen found the mark. Their only scorer was Owen Hargreaves...a Canadian. But was their really any doubt they would lose on penalties, their trademark method of exiting tournaments?

So it's onward to 2010 in South Africa. While it is a world cup, maybe it needs to be re-examined on how the continental berths are distributed. Is it reallt necessary to have competitive teams from Europe and South America (Uruguay, Ireland, Denmark to name a few) sitting at home because of the high level of comeptition for qualifying on those two continents, while the likes of Costa Rica, Togo, and Suadi Arabia are only present because somebody else had to qualify from North America, Africa, and Asia? Their are some quality teams in those regions, and they all qualify easily, so why not leave the pretenders at home? In the North American group, the USA and Mexico almost qualify by default due to the huge gap between them and anyone else, while two other teams with little hope of advancing any distance also find themselves in the World Cup. But over in Europe it is often a dogfight for even the best to make it to the last 32, while secondary countries that are still better than the 3rd/4th teams from N. America and Asia have little hope.

World Cup Final

2006-07-06T18:27:00.000-06:00

After nearly a full month of soccer games, France and Italy have emerged as the last two standing and will play for the World Cup.

Italy was one of the pre-tournament favorites, so their participation is not surprising. The Italians have used great goalkeeping from Gianluigi Buffon, solid defense, and timely (and controversial) scoring to reach the final match. The Azzurri drew a tough opening group, but made it through with two wins and a draw. Curiously, the team that troubled them the most was the weakest they faced, the United States. That 1-1 tie was the only game in which the Italians conceded a goal (an own-goal in fact), and is the lone blemish on an otherwise perfect record. Things actually got easier for Italy as they went along, as Australia and Ukraine were their foes for the round of sixteen and the quarter finals. No knock on either of those sides, but they had both gone as far as they could realistically hope. But despite that, Italy needed a late goal to beat the Aussies 1-0; a goal that was the end product of a very questionable penalty call, which was a tough break for Australia who had generated the majority of the chances up until that point. Ukraine put up a fight, but in the end it was a convincing 3-0 victory. That set the stage for a match with the home team Germany. By this point it appeared as though the aura that seems to surround the host at every tournament was going to take Germany to glory, but a goal in final minute of extra time Italy spoiled the party.

France is a much different story. After a weak qualifying campaign, the French were written off by most as too old and slow to win this time around. A pair of disappointing draws to start had their advancement in doubt, but they managed a nervous victory over Togo to squeak through to the elimination round. Their first match-up was against a Spanish team that had breezed through their group with three wins and a goal margin of +7. But like so many times in the past, the Spaniards gassed a game they were heavily favoured to win. They took a 1-0 lead, but rising star Frank Ribery tied the game late in the first half, before Patrick Viera popped the winner in the 82nd minute. Next up was Brazil. The South Americans were expected to win the World Cup yet again, but to this point had played very inconsistent and sloppy. They could only coast for so long, succumbing to France 1-0 and going out with a pathetic wimper. The semi-final opponent would be Portugal, hated by many for the dirty tactics and diving that allowed them to pick up undeserved victories against the Netherlands and England. This time the refs wouldn't fall for the Portuguese play acting, and Zinedine Zidane was the hero with the winner in a 1-0 victory, ironically scored on a border-line penalty call.

So now one of these two undefeated teams will have to lose. For the first time since 1978 (Argentina verses Netherlands) the final will not feature either Brazil or Germany. Italy is looking for their fourth world title and last won it all in 1982. France is in the final for the second time, their previous appearance of course being the win at home eight years ago. These two neighbours played for the European championship in 2000, with France emerging as the winner in extra time. In World Cup '98 France also knocked Italy out in the quarter-final in a shoot-out, so the Mediterranian country has a chance for revenge. Italy will be favoured, but France has had a much tougher road to the final. The Italians have played it pretty consistent from start to finish, while the French seem to be peaking at the right moment after a shaky start. Italy has a clear advantage in goal with Buffon. France's 'keeper Fabian Barthez has only been beaten twice, but has been fighting the ball and messing up easy plays throughout the tournament. If not goaltending, the x-factor in this match could be the midfield play of old Zidane, who still has some magic left in his weary legs, versus that of Italian midfielder Francesco Totti. He has been solid, but not quite what you would expect out of a man reputed as one of the world's best, though of course one game could change all that. Both teams' stingy defense should mean a low-scoring affair. France seems to be the team of destiny right now, so I predict a 1-0 French victory to complete an unlikely triumph. Allez Les Bleus!

Free Agent Follies

2006-07-05T22:04:00.000-06:00

In the world of the NHL, July 1st and the days following have provided plenty of absurd and sometimes downright laughable contracts handed out to free agents. Like in the past, many players, especially defensemen have been grossly overpaid by eager GMs. The good news is, with a salary cap in place many of these foolish teams will use up all of their cap room and get little return. They will only punish themselves instead of the small markets that can't pay up to the same extent.

Most Overpaid:

Ed Jovanovski, Phoenix, $6.5 million. So Ed has gone to the desert where he will earn more per season than Chris Pronger. When he's healthy he's a good point producer, but far from a rock defensively (minus 8 in 44 games last season). Certainly not worth franchise player type money.

Pavel Kubina, Toronto, $5 million. Did anybody else even notice that this guy, who has never cracked the 40-point barrier, was a free agent? If five goals and a -12 rating get you five million, fellow Leaf teammate Tomas Kaberle didn't get the memo, because he signed for less after a 67 point campaign. Apparently John Ferguson Jr thinks the Leafs need another defensive liability on the back end, and this one's not even all that high scoring.

Willie Mitchell, Vancouver, $3.5 million. I still chuckle to myself. Mitchell is a good defensive blueliner, but he's no Larry Robinson, despite what his price tag may suggest.

Karel Rachunek, NY Rangers, $1.8 million. It cost how much to lure this guy out of northern Russia? (He played last year in Yaroslavl)

Joe Corvo, Ottawa, $2.5 million. Caught fire for one season playing the point on the powerplay with Lubomir Visnovsky in LA. Ottawa reportedly wouldn't budge on their $6 million per season offer to Chara, but turned around and gave a relative no-name half of that.

Jay McKee, St. Louis, $4 million. See Willie Mitchell. Though at least McKee had a good playoff run on his resume.

And to think, those are just the defensemen. The worst in terms of vision for the future has to be St. Louis GM Larry Pleau. He goes out a re-acquires Doug Weight at the assanine sum of $3.5 million a year. If there needed to be any more proof at all that Weight, only a third liner at this point, plays hockey solely for the money and nothing more, it has got to be this. So who joins him? His good buddy Bill Guerin, who has never once made a team he played for any better than they were before. Keep in mind that Keith Tkachuk is still there. These three amigos should create a nice circus in Missouri this season. Oh yeah, and of course there's McKee, a good player but way overpaid. Last place teams tend to get younger and faster, the Blues decided to get older and slower. At least Pleau should have Ferguson to join him in the unemployment line by Christmas. In addition to Kubina's idiotic contract, JFJ also handed goalie Andrew Raycroft a three year, $6 million deal. The same Raycroft who was unwanted on the lowly Bruins and was picked up for the pricely sum of a draft pick. Just how many more agents are going to pull a con-job on this Mike Milbury impersonator?

Some Musings...

2006-06-28T17:55:00.000-06:00

-So Chris Pronger is heading out of Edmonton. Naturally, Toronto is rumored destination. But this time the supposed offer was Pronger for Kaberle and Steen, which wouldn't be too bad of a deal for the Oilers (they can probably get more though). A nice change from the usual Leaf rumored trades, I suspected we'd be hearing about how Lowe was about to acquire Aki Berg and Nik Antropov for Pronger, but the Oilers might have to throw in Ryan Smyth to close things out.

-Interleague play in MLB is really becoming a sham. The American League has now pummelled the National League for two weeks. For proof, look no further than the standings. In the AL, the Red Sox have won ten straight, the top three teams in the Central Division are all 9-1 in their last ten games, and even bottom feeder Kansas City has somehow won eight of ten. Over in the senior circuit, almost every team is mired in a slump. The Pirates have lost 12 in a row, tying a franchise record that dates back to 1890, while even the mighty Cardinals, arguably the NL's best team has lost eight consecutively. Instead of using the all-star game to determine home-field advantage for the World Series, just give it to the NL in hopes that we might avoid a third consecutive WS sweep for the AL team.

-So far it has been a bit of a strange World Cup. Most of the usual suspects are into the quarter-finals, but how they got there is the odd part. Ukraine knocked off the Swiss in a shoot-out after a 0-0 draw. That meant that, incredibly, Switzerland were eliminated without having conceded a single goal in the entire tournament (the goals against them in the shoot-out dont count statistically). Switzerland recorded a pair of 2-0 wins and a scoreless draw in the group stage. Not surprisingly, this is a tournament first. France will play Brazil in a rematch of the 1998 Final. The French got their by defeating favoured Spain 3-1. Once again the Spanish breezed through the preliminary round only to be inexplicably dismissed, this time by a French team that looked old, slow and out of sorts up until their match with their European rivals. Brazil meanwhile, has hardly been impressive. Their 3-0 win over Ghana to reach the final eight was more than flattering. If Ghana had shown some more finish around the Brazilian net, the South Americans could easily be on their way home. As could the Italians, set to play Ukraine, who were thoroughly outplayed by Australia. But the Aussies just couldn't bury any of their chances and that allowed the Azzuri to steal victory with a controversial penalty kick in the final minute. England will take on Portugal looking for revenge from Euro 2004 quarter-final where the Brits lost in a shoot-out. The Portuguese will come in minus at least a couple regulars due to suspensions and injuries accrued in their violent match against Holland, which set a WC record for most red and yellow cards. The English must be licking their chops, but keep in mind that they have stumbled their way into the quarters. They have yet to be outplayed by any opponents, but that is in no way due to strong play on their part. And that leaves Germany versus Argentina. This is the clearly the only match-up where both teams have been firing on all cylinders since their opening games. But ironically, one of them is going home earlier than they would have liked just because of the way the match-ups have worked out.

-The arms race is well underway in the Northwest Division, even before free agency begins. Vancouver unloaded problematic Todd Bertuzzi for Roberto Luongo. At first this may appear to be a steal for the Canucks, but keep in mind that Luongo may only be on the wet coast for one year, since he is unrestricted after the upcoming season, and has already acknowledged he will test the market. Perhaps the mountain air in Denver is getting to Pierre Lacroix. It was inevitable that he would have to trade somebody to stay under the salary cap, but you have to question his decision to deal away Alex Tanguay, who will be a star for many years to come. Furthermore, in doing so he strengthened division rival Calgary. Shocking news out of Minnesota: The Wild may actually spend above the minimum possible payroll after acquiring Pavol Demitra from the Kings. The fans in Minny have packed the building every night for five years, and it looks like they were finally repayed by ownership. Not a great time for the Oilers to be forced to trade their best player, but at least Pronger's value is extremely high after an exceptional season and playoffs.

Game 7

2006-06-18T19:57:00.000-06:00

In all of sport there may be nothing more exciting "Game 7", no matter what sport it is. But it's made that much better when the series could go down as an all-time classic. Edmonton and Carolina have provided just that. There was the thrilling 3-0 comeback by the Hurricanes in game one, capped off by an unlikely goal in the final minute. The Oilers lost their starting goaltender in that game, and I've been unable to discover an instace in which a team's MVP goalie has gone down permanently in the final. Chris Pronger of all people, scored the first penalty shot goal in finals history in that game as well. Things looked grim for the replacement Markkanen after a 5-0 shellacking in game 2, but he has rebounded nicely. Game 3 saw Ryan Smyth give the Oilers hope with the winner in a 2-1 nailbiter, but that hope was all but lost after his side fell by that same score next time out. But Edmonton wouldn't give in. After Raffi Torres put both Aaron Ward and Doug Weight out of the game with big body checks, the Hurricanes had a chance to win the Cup in OT after they were given a questionable power play, but the hockey gods wouldn't let the Cup be decided in that manner. Fernando Pisani scored the first short-handed OT goal in finals history to breathe new life into his team. Game 6 proved to be a dominant Edmonton win, with Pisani again netting the winner in a 4-0 victory. Now it all comes down to one thrilling game. Can unheralded Pisani do a "Paul Henderson" and score the winner in three consecutive elimination games to lift his team to glory?

This is the third consecutive season the finals have come down to the seventh game. Last year saw Tampa Bay edge Calgary 2-1. That game was nerve-wracking to say the least, though in actuality was a very dull afair. But Nik Khabibulin's extraordinary save with around five minutes to go will forever be etched into my memory. For a brief second I thought Calgary was about to tie the game and send it to OT, but the Lightning goaltender just managed to get his pad or blocker (maybe both) in front of the puck at the last second. A Flames penalty in the final minute (though it was quickly followed up with a make-up call on the Lightning) made the final minute a little anti-climactic. In 2003 the Divils dispatched the Ducks 3-0, but this game saw few scoring chances for either team. Back in 2001 Colorado triumphed over those same Devils, but took the lead early and New Jersey never really was in the game. So we're due for a more thrilling game 7 this time around, and with two upbeat teams there's a good chance for that to happen.

The pressure surely has shifted to Carolina now. They were up 3-1 in the series, but now find themselves facing elimination. No team has ever blown an outright 3-1 lead in the final. In 1942 Detroit was up 3-0 on Toronto and lost, so technically they also had a 3-1 lead. But they lost game four, so unlike Carolina, thier opponent actually had the momentum going into the fifth game. The last team to force game 7 after being down 3-1 was the 1994 Canucks who eventually lost to the Rangers. The home team in 11-2 all time in Game 7, the 1971 Canadiens winning in Chicago and the 1945 Maple Leafs taking the Cup in Detroit being the lone exceptions. If your suspersticious you might read something into this: After 1945, five game 7's occured in the final and the home team won them all, until 1971. Since 1971, there have been five game 7's, again the home team has won them all, so this year...

Interesting Facts:

-Cranbrook is a small town in southern BC, of less than 20,000 people. But amazingly, for every year starting in 1994-95, somebody who was either born in, or grew up in Cranbrook has won the Stanley Cup. But that streak will end this year, as neither Edmonton nor Carolina has a player who fits the description. Jarret Stoll played junior in Cranbrook, and Shawn Horcoff, Mark Recchi, and Andrew Ladd hail from Trail, Kamloops, and Maple Ridge, BC respectively, but that's as close as it gets.

- No Finnish goaltender has ever won the Cup. Jussi Markkanen will try to accomplish what Mikka Kiprusoff couldn't do last season.

- No team with a European captain has ever won the Cup. Smith and Brind'Amour will keep that streak intact. Maybe somebody should have told that to Cup- favorite Ottawa (Swede Daniel Alfredsson captains the Senators).

- If the Oilers win, every single member of the team will be a first time winner. (Jason Smith was with the Devils in 1995, but played only 2 regular season games and none in the playoffs, so he is not considered to have won the Cup) The last occurence of such a thing was in 1979-80 when every member of the Islanders was a first timer.

- Game 7 has almost always been a tight, low scoring affair. Detroit 4, New York 3 in 1950 was the highest ever score. Aside from that, there has never even been more than five goals in the deciding game, and no team has ever surpassed four goals. There have been three shut-outs recorded, Toronto and Montreal both winning 4-0 in 1964 and '65, and New Jersey 3-0 in 2003.

- Every player dreams of scoring the winning goal in OT of game 7, but only two have ever done it, they being Red Wings Pete Babando (1950) and Tony Leswick (1954).

- The last time the Cup was won in OT was in 2000, when ex-Oiler Jason Arnott beat Ed Belfour to give New Jersey the Cup in game 6. That was also the last time Stanley was won on the road.

- Every team that goes to the finals has one guy who has caught fire and unexpectedly scored big goals. But Fernando Pisani's run is becoming remarkable. He leads the playoffs in both goals (13) and game-winners (5). The only Oilers to score more in one playoff are legends Gretzky, Messier, Kurri, and Anderson, plus Craig Simpson. Rod Brind'Amour (12) is the only player with a realistic chance to catch Pisani. If he retains the lead, he might be the most unlikely playoff goal-scoring leader ever, perhaps rivalled by Boston's Bobby Schmautz who led with 11 in 1977.

- Carolina can become the 16th different NHL team to win the Cup.

- Edmonton would move alone into fourth place in the Stanley Cup standings with six Cups if they win. (No team has won more than four in the time span since the Oilers joined the league)

- The last team to trail 2-0 in games in two best-of-seven series and still rally to win the Cup? Never happened, the Oilers would be the first. (down 2-0 against both San Jose and Carolina)

Final Prediction:

As I stated in my finals preview, this has been a strange year in the NHL, so I will stick with my original prediction of Oilers in 7, meaning the road team wins game 7 and overcomes the 3-1 series deficit. They have the momentum and Carolina looks out of gas.

Oilers Rebound

2006-06-10T22:40:00.000-06:00

The Oilers defeated Carolina 2-1 on Saturday night, which cut the Hurricanes' lead to two games to one in the series. I had the great fortune to be in attendance there, so I can say I've experienced the bedlam first hand. Going to a Stanley Cup finals game hopefully won't be , but certainly could be a once in a lifetime experience, so I tried to take it all in.

5:00, about an hour before puck drop. On the LRT heading to Rexall Place. Most of the people on board are wearing Oiler jersies and on their way to the game. Still fairly calm, everybody getting "in the zone" for the upcoming game.

5:20, waiting outside Oiler locker room for the team to emerge. After 15 minutes the team still hasn't come out, and we're starting to get restless. Chants of "Lets Go Oilers!" start up each time the dressing room door opens, but in each case it's just been a tease, as only rink attendents and the like have come through the doors. Then a cheer goes out, but it isn't the team, it's CBC's Ron MacLean wading through the crowd on his way to ice level.

5:40, finally the Oilers take to the ice for the warmup to the cheers of many already in their seats. We leave the dressing room area to go to our seats.

6:00, still ten minutes until gametime, but almost everybody is already seated and cheering. The score clock ticks down the minutes. With 5:00 minutes to go, a notice appears that we are about to be broadcast live around the world. The crowd goes wild, pom-poms waving. The clock continues to tick down, all the way to zero, but the crowd never dies down, everyone shouting at the top of their lungs for the entire 5 minutes.

6:10, the crowd belts out both the Canadian and American national anthems and prepares for the opening face-off.

6:15, everybody is abuzz and more relaxed than you'd expect considering the Oilers are essentially facing elimination. No nervous silence here, the boys need us tonight. Suddenly, early on, the Oilers score. As you can expect, the crowd goes wild. But by my judgement, everyone was still a little fatigued from the 10 minute non-stop roar leading up to the game, so oddly it was probably no louder for the goal than it was for the intro.

6:20, it becomes evident that Doug Weight is public enemy number one. Every time he touches the puck he is greeted by myself and thousands of others booing at the top of our lungs. When number 39 takes a penalty early on we're all delighted.

7:15-8:00, second period, approximately. The Oilers enjoy several good scoring chances, and even have a goal waved off. The crowd has been re-energized with beer and popcorn at the intermission and the anticipation of another score is starting to build. Chants of "Jus-si! Jus-si! break out everytime the Oilers stopper makes a big save. But the period ends without another tally.

8:05, second intermission. I go to the bathroom, where even the toilet is emulating the crowd by bubbling, getting ready to start spewing like a volcanbo before it erupts. I get out of there before I need to go to the souvenir stand for new clothes. Upon returing to my seat I spot Igor Ulanov, that's right The Mangler himself, up on the cat walk with the other players not dressed. I know I have to cheer as loud as I can if we're going to win this game and hopefully go on and get Uly his Stanley Cup.

8:10, approx. After the Oilers once again nearly go up two goals, Rod Brind'Amour scores to tie the game up. We're all disappointed, but we have to pick the boys up again. Another Lets Go Oilers! chant starts up.

8:30, the game is getting late, OT is looming. As the teams trade chances tension starts to build. Finally some nervousness begins to show itself in the stands whenever Carolina crosses the Edmonton blueline, with the realization being that if the 'Canes score one now, our Cup dream is likely over. But 2 minutes before OT a hero emerges. The longest serving Oiler, Ryan Smyth scores in the Cup final, when his team needs it most. As the goal is reviewed just to make sure it was legit, the crowd begins to razz rookie goaltender Cam Ward. His family seated directly behind him in row one behind the net can only look on.

8:35, the Oilers close out the victory as the crowd reaches its crescendo. The celebration continues as we all file outside into the stromy evening. As I wait for the LRT to pick us up I realize that my ears are still ringing. Incredible. The pro-Oiler rallying cries continue until we board the train, when the fans finally rest their tired vocal chords.

9:00, driving home. Despite the pouring rain, a few brave kids still take to the streets with "honk for Oilers" signs. Even the fans are wearing their hearts on their sleeves tonight. What an experience.

World Cup Preview: Group H

2006-06-06T19:32:00.000-06:00

Teams: Spain, Ukraine, Tunisia, Suadi Arabia

History: Spain is the most experienced of the group by a mile, as this will be their 12th World Cup. But despite often sending extremely skilled teams with big expectations, Spain has always come up short. They've never played in a final, and only once even reached the semis, back in 1950. The have usually made it out of their group, but self-destruct in the knock-out round, like in 2002 when bizzare officiating cost them their quarter-final game against South Korea. The other European team, Ukraine, has qualified for the first time. Saudi Arabia has been to the last three World Cups, reaching the knock-out round in 1994. In 2002 they were blown out in the group stage, outscored 12-0. Tunisia has made it to the previous two tournaments, but you have to go back to 1978 to find their only ever win.

Spain: The Spanish come to this World Cup with a very talented club, who has been able to score at will, like they did against Slovakia in a playoff to qualify. Fernando Torres and David Villa are two young, dynamic forwards who should have no problem finding the net against their first round opponents. And of course there is the all-time great Raul up front as well, plus Liverpool's Luis Garcia, so this is clearly where Spain's strength lies. But they are also well rounded in the midfield with a good blend of experience and youth with 2002 returnees David Albelda and Xavi Hernandez, who will be joined by newcomers Andres Iniesta, Jose Antonio Reyes, and Cesc Fabregas. The defense, headlined by Carles Puyol, may not be quite as strong as the other two areas, but is by no means a weakness. 'Keeper Iker Casillas will provide able goaltending. So once again Spain has a team that should easily win the group and compete for the championship. But few people are mentioning them as possible contenders, simply due to the fact that they have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory so many times.

Ukraine: The eastern Europeans were the first team to qualify for Germany 2006, in a very tough qualifying group no less, so they have had plenty of time to make adjustments to their squad in hopes that they will find the winning combination. Almost every one of Ukraine's players hail from the domestic league, several of them from Dynamo Kiev, so chemistry and familiarity should not be a concern. One man who does not play locally is all-world striker Andriy Shevchenko formerly of AC Milan (he's transferred to Chelsea recently). Ukraine plays solid defense, led by young Andriy Rusol, and likes to use the counter-attack to generate goals. The midfield is workmanlike with Ruslan Rotan and Oleg Husev, but it is at forward where Ukraine's tournament will be made or broken. Shevchenko is one of the world's top marksmen, and his play will be very indicative of how well Ukraine does. But the magnificent forward injured his knee in May, and his fitness for the tournament is uncertain. Ukraine will surely need him if they are to go any distance in the tournament.

Tunisia: Former Team France manager Roger Lemerre leads the conservative, technically sound Tunisians into the tournament. The two most dangerous players on the squad will be forwards Francileudo Dos Santos, a native Brazilian, and Ziad Jaziri who is excellent one-on-one. As you would expect the defense is reliable but not flashy, though Hatem Trabelsi will join the attack on occasion. The midfield is the key to Tunisia's chances. Lead by Riadh Bouazizi, they play an aggressive style and play strong positionally. Tunisia has been criticized is the past for their boring style, but that style gives them a chance to advance. If Shevchenko is injured, Tunisia should be able to contain Ukraine, who they will likely battle with for second spot. A spot in the second round is not out of reach for the North Africans.

Saudi Arabia: You'd think that in appearing in their fourth consecutive World Cup, the Saudis would come more experienced and prepared to finally compete. But in fact, they seem to have gotten weaker each time out. They qualified strongly, but then inexplicably fired the coach who had gotten them to Germnay. Lately, Saudi Arabia has been slumping, having won only two of 13 international matches in 2006, those wins coming against "powerful" Yemen and Togo, though the latter is at least in the tournament. Almost all of thier roster has been drawn from domestic club teams Al-Ittihad and Al-Hilal, so the players should at least be used to each other. The lone star on the team will be defender Hamad Al-Montashari, the 2005 Asian Footballer of the Year. The forward pairing will consist of greybeard Sami Al-Jaber, in his fourth World Cup, and the young Yasser Al-Qahtani. This team might be stronger than the one that was crushed 8-0 by Germany in 2002, but will have to play much better if they are to avoid the same fate against Spain and have any hope of advancing.

Match to Watch: Spain v Ukraine, June 14. Undoubtedly the two best teams in this group. Should be an entertaining match, with the winner likely to take top spot in the group.

Prediction: 1) Spain, 2) Ukraine, 3) Tunisia, 4) Saudi Arabia. If Spain can't finish in the top half of this group they might as well quit the sport entirely. With Shevchenko in the line-up, Ukraine should be a safe bet to advance as well, but if he's out Tunisia could jump up and steal their spot. The Saudis look disorganized, but should improve on their 2002 performance (could it have been worse?).

Final Thoughts

This concludes the group previews for the World Cup. I have predicted strongly in favour of European teams, as the teams from the hosting continent usually fare quite well. I predict that the pre-tournament favourites Brazil will not reach the final this time around. After three straight finals appearances, they surely must be due for a slip-up somewhere along the way. You'll also notice that I have not predicted any African teams to advance this time. Usually one team from that continent is good for a surprise run, but unfortunately for them, it appears as though their two best teams, Ghana and Ivory Coast, have been put into the two hardest groups. Since the tournament is in Europe, I will predict a European side to lift the trophy on July 9th. I will go against the warnings history has laid out, and select...Spain as my champion. They have an easy group draw, and will likely play either France or Switzerland in the round of 16, two very beatable opponents. Predicting on into the quarter-final can be dicey, but a match with Brazil looms at that stage. Like I said, Brazil is due for a loss. For the record, I have the Spaniards facing Italy in the title game. But hey, even if Spain finds a way to lose yet again, I can take comfort in knowing that I wasn't the first person, nor will I be the last, to incorrectly call them the winners.

World Cup Preview: Group G

2006-06-05T21:24:00.000-06:00

Teams: France, Switzerland, South Korea, Togo

History: France is the only former champion in this group, winning at home in 1998. It has been either feast or famine for the French throughout history, as they have made it as far as the semi-final on three other occasions as well, but aside from those it has mainly been group stage elimination or non quaification. They were favourites in 2002, but went home stunned and embarassed after failing to score a single goal. Switzerland had moderate success early in the tournament's history, but have only qualified once since 1970, that being in 1994. South Korea's only success came on home soil in 2002 when they made it all the way to the semi-final. They have never won a game besides in that tournament despite quaifying several times. Like most of the other African nations, Togo is playing in their first World Cup.

France: Out of all the "giant" nations, France appears to be the most vulnerable. This was expected to be a new generation of French players, but when they struggled early in qualifying, the old gaurd had to come in to save the day. Zinedine Zidane, Lillian Thuram, and Claude Makelele all came out of retirement after hanging up their boots after Euro 2004. This team certainly has the talent to compete, but it must be somewhat unsettling to French fans that this is mainly the same team that flamed out so spectacularly in 2002, and was sent home early at Euro 2004. The defense looks more than capable with veterans Thuram, William Gallas, Mikael Silvestre, and Willy Sagnol, and 'keeper Fabian Barthez is still reliable. Up front they boast David Trezeguet and Thierry Henry, one of the world's top strikers, though he has fared poorly in important games. The midfield is the clear weakness. Zidane, Makelele and Patrick Viera were stallions in their day, but they are in the twilight of great careers. Young Franck Ribery could inject energy if coach Raymond Domenech decides to use him. France may dream of legendary Zidane going out with a second world title, but realistically a quarter-final berth may be all that's left in the tank.

Switzerland: This is a team on the rise, and this World Cup should be a good setup for 2008, when the Swiss co-host the European championship. The more experienced Alexander Frei will lead a troop of young stars that could surprise in Germany. 13 of the 23 men on the roster are under 25 years of age, and are highlighted by 21 year old Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos, Tranquillo Barnetta in the midfeild, also 21, and forward Johann Vonlanthen who is even younger. Other key players will be Johann Vogel and Raphael Wicky in the midfield. The Swiss won rather infrequently in quaifying, but didn't lose often either. Importantly, two of the numerous tie games they played came against France. Switzerland should have plenty of confidence and youthful exuberance, and don't be too surprised if they even top the group.

South Korea: The Korean's come into Germany with the momentum of their surprise run the the semi-final in 2002, but also the knowledge that they've never won a tournament game on foreign soil. They have several returnees from the last time around, including quality goalkeeper Jae-Woon Lee. Veteran Jin-Cheul Choi will anchor the defense, and will be surounded mostly by younger players at the back. In the midfield will be Manchester United's versatile Ji-Sung Park, who is probably the best player South Korea will send to the tournament. Dong-Gook Lee is out injured, so the go-to forward will likely be Jung-Hwan Ahn, a goalscoring hero from 2002, but also a player that has seen limited action with his club team recently. The second round is a realistic goal for the Koreans, but recent friendly results, a 3-1 loss to Ghana, and a 0-0 draw with Norway, leave reason for concern.

Togo: Togo comes into the tournament as one of the great unknowns. They were surprise qualifyers, ahead of Senegal, but then fared horrendously at the African Nations Cup, going 0-5. Many of their players toil in the third and fourth divisions on European club teams. The lone recognizable figure is Arsenal forward Emmanuel Adebayor, only 22, but by far and away the best Togo has to offer. In net is the only other position of relative strength with Kossi Agassa, though he has only recently returned from injury and might not be in top form. The squad as a whole will be patchwork, and will need to hope they gel together quickly. If recent exhibition matches are any indicator, things appear grim after only managing a 1-0 victory over lowly Liechtenstein. But remember that in 2002 another unknown African team shocked the world by ousting France, they being the very same Senegal team that Togo knocked out in qualifying, so anything is possible.

Match to Watch: France v Switzerland, June 13. It will be very interesting to see how the aging favorite France deals with the upstart Swiss. The winner of this game almost certainly goes through to round 2, but a loss or even a draw could mean a pressure packed final two matches, especially for France.

Prediction: 1) France, 2) Switzerland, 3) South Korea, 4) Togo. It is very tempting to take Switzerland first. But I'll predict they draw with France and the French top them on the goal differntial tie-breaker beacuse if he's up to it, Henry could have a field day against Togo. South Korea will compete but wont have the home crowd to give them the extra boost. Togo appears to be a mess and hopefully wont embarass themelves.

Stanley Cup Final Preview

2006-06-04T14:05:00.000-06:00

The Edmonton Oilers and the Carolina Hurricanes start the final series for the Stanley Cup on Monday. It should be a very closely contested series between two unlikely combatants. Carolina was picked by many to finish out of the playoffs, and while the Oilers were expected to be a decent club, few could have envisioned them gettiing this far.

Past Series: Carolina was the #2 seed in the East, drawing Montreal in round one. They dispatched the Habs in six games, and then needed only five games beat out the New Jersey Devils. Buffalo was their stiffest opponent, pushing Carolina to the brink. But in the end the Sabres were too depleted by injury and fell in game 7. The Hurricanes' record sits at 12-6. They are 7-3 at home, and are 5-3 on the road. In overtime games they are 4-2. Edmonton is the first eighth place team to reach the finals. They upset the Red Wings in six games, and did likewise to San Jose. Despite the flu bug hitting them, they managed a five game victory over Anaheim. On home ice the Oilers 6-2, and they are 6-3 on the road for a 12-5 record overall. They've only been to extra time on three occasions, but all of those went into double or triple OT. Their record is two wins, one loss.

History: These two teams have never met in the NHL playoffs, but did see each other in the postseason back in their WHA days. This marks the first time that two former WHA teams have played each other for the Cup. The NHL playoffs have been much kinder to Edmonton. They are in the final series for the seventh time, and have won five Stanley Cups. Thier all-time record is 20 wins, 10 losses. This is Carolina's second trip to the final, they lost the previous one to Detroit in 2002, four games to one.

Forwards: Both teams are deep at all forward positions. They rely on all four lines contributing to win games. Carolina boasts more star power with the likes of Rod Brind'Amour and Eric Staal, and has several players who have been to the finals before. The Oilers have a more rough and tumble approach with Ryan Smyth, Ethan Moreau and Mike Peca amongst others who can play physical. Give the Hurricanes a slight advantage.

Defense: The Oilers are clearly superior on the back end. Chris Pronger will easily be the best d-man out there. After Pronger, the two bluelines looks fairly equal to each other with a good blend of skill a toughness, but having the Conn Smythe candidate back there to eat up 30 minutes is a difference that Carolina cannot make up.

Goaltending: Cam Ward was spectacular early on, but looked average against Buffalo, opening the door for Martin Gerber to get a start. Ward came back to win games five and seven for Carolina, but has not been at the same level that he showed against Montreal early on. In the Edmonton crease Dwayne Roloson has gotten better with each passing series, so he should be in peak form for the finals.

Intangibles:

-Both teams have faced adversity to get here. Carolina went down 2-0 to Montreal, but Eric Staal saved them with an OT winner in game three after the 'Canes tied the game in the third period. The Oilers were in the hole 2-0 against the Sharks, but in eerily similar fashion, scored a third period goal in game three to force OT. Roloson then made the save of the playoffs off Jonathan Cheechoo to allow Shawn Horcoff to bag the winner later on.

-Carolina has still never looked fully comfortable in these playoffs. Oddly enough, their best game may well have been a blowout loss in the very first game against Montreal. They dominated the entire game, but Gerber's horrid netminding and Cristobal Huet's suberb outing resulted in a lopsided defeat. They have squeeked out numerous close games along the way, and even the Sabres with their top four d-men injured very nearly stole the series from them. Not to say they haven't been impressive, but I haven't yet seen them fire on all cylinders.

-Edmonton is not a typical cinderella team. Mainly, their pitiful goaltending and also the inability to beat bottom feeder teams is the only reason they didn't win their division. They have not greatly altered their style of play either, maintaining a more offensive posture most of the time. Other surprise finalists often played highly conservative defensive games in hopes that they could grind out a goal or two and rely on a goaltender to steal games for them. Roloson has been terrific and won his fair share of games for the Oilers, but is not the sole reason for them being where they are.

-Carolina has more veteran players who have had long careers without winning a Cup. This could well be the last chance for Glen Wesley, in his fourth finals, and Rod Brind'Amour, in his third, to finally lift the Cup. Doug Weight is also looking for his first ring, as are Ray Whitney and Bret Hedican who's been to the finals twice with no success. Edmonton has 37 year old Roloson and Igor Ulanov, and while they do have some Cup-less vets like Pronger and Peca, the first two are the only ones where this is almost certainly their last shot.

Prediction: This will be one of the most exciting and closest finals we have seen in a while. The old addage that defense and hot goaltending win championships shouldn't be ignored. This gives Edmonton the advantage, but it should also be pointed out that the road team has not won the final series since the 1997 Red Wings. Yet history sides with Edmonton, because they have started on the road in three of their five Stanley Cup wins. (1984 and 85 were played in a 2-3-2 format, 1990 in the current 2-2-1-1-1). Conventional wisdom says picking Edmonton in 7 would be foolish, since the home team has only ever lost game 7 of the finals twice. Both times were somewhat questionable circumstances as well. In 1971 Chicago led Montreal 2-0, and after Bobby Hull rang the would-be 3-0 goal off the post, Henri Richard miraculously scored from center ice to bring the Canadiens back for a 3-2 win. In 1945 Toronto beat Detroit, but the Leafs had led the series 3-0 before the Wings stormed back to tie it up, only to lose game 7 at home. The lowest seeded team to win the Stanley Cup under the current conference format was the 5th seeded 1995 Devils, and again, the shortened 48 game season puts a question mark beside that, so Carolina has that advantage. But in this season of strange happenings, there might be room for one more, so I will take the Oilers and Roloson in 7 games.

World Cup Preview: Group F

2006-06-04T11:53:00.000-06:00

Teams: Brazil, Croatia, Australia, Japan

History: There's no denying that the Brazilians are the most successful team in World Cup history. They have brought home five titles in total (1958, 62, 70, 94, 2002) and are the defending champions. They have appeared in the final each of the last three tournaments, their only loss coming to France in 1998. You have to go all the way back to 1966 to find the last time they were eliminated in the group stage, and they are the only nation to have appeared in every World Cup ever played. Croatia burst onto the scene with a surprising third place finish in 1998, but were knocked out in the group stage four years ago. Australia's only other trip to the World Cup was in 1974, where they failed to score a goal. Like Croatia, Japan has only appeared in the last two tournaments. They made it to the second round at home in 2002.

Brazil: Once again Brazil is the pre-tournament favorite, and with good reason. The Brazilians have no weaknesses at any position. The defense is experienced and as steady as it goes with all-time greats Cafu and Roberto Carlos who will be complimented by Bayern Munich's star defender Lucio. Reliable Dida will keep net behind them. The midfield will be anchored defensively by Emerson and will provide offense in the form of Ronaldinho, who might be the best player in the world right now. Brazil plays an attacking style, so Ronaldo and Adriano should score buckets of goals up front. Three scores would make Ronaldo the all-time leading scoring at the World Cup. It has been suggested that this squad could be even better than the one that was victorious in 2002, so Brazil fully expects to be playing in the final on July 9.

Croatia: The Croatians come to Germany full of confidence after an excellent qualifying campaign. They have never been intimidated by more glorified opponents, and will not back down even against tournament favorites Brazil. The team is built around their big, stingy defenders, most noteably Robert Kovac and the imposing Igor Tudor. Their goaltending is not spectacular, but the back line should keep quality scoring chances to a minimum. Darijo Srna will provide goalscoring from the midfield, which also features veteran Niko Kovac. Rangers forward Dado Prso has not been up to his usual standard lately, but is a certain starter. He'll need to provide some offense, but Croatia plays defensively, so that should take some of the pressure off. Expectations are high after two disappointing results at World Cup 2002 and Euro 2004.

Australia: The "Socceroos" are back in the World Cup for the first time in 32 years after edging out Uruguay for the final berth in the tournament. They come in as a relative unknown, so it is tough to know what to expect. Most of the Aussie players play in European leagues, and will be coached by Dutchman Guus Hiddink who's teams have made it to the semi-finals in both 1998 and 2002. Goaltending will not be a problem with Mark Schwarzer, but after Craig Moore, who has been injured recently the defense is thin in the middle, though stronger on the wings. The midfield is solid with Vince Grella and Marco Bresciano, who can score goals. Australia's most well known players will play a forward, they beeing Liverpool striker Harry Kewell and fellow Premiership players Tim Cahill and Mark Viduka. Coach Hiddink has shown he can get more than expected out of his teams, but this will be his toughest test.

Japan: Japan comes to Germany having won three of the last four Asian Cups, so they have experienced succes on the international stage. In 2002 they made it to the round of 16, though they drew a weak group and were the home team. Nonetheless, it is expected that Brazilian coach Zico will be able to take the team back to the knock-out stage, but they are in tough against Brazil and Croatia. The strong point of Japan's entry is in the midfield. Celtic's Shunsuke Nakamura will be joined by Hidetoshi Nakata and their performances will be crucial to Japan's success. Goaltending and defense are solid if unspectacular, but the Japanese's real problem will be scoring goals. Thier top two forwards, Tatsuhiko Kubo and Atsushi Yanagisawa, have both been injured and there status remains questionable. Japan needs a strong showing to continue to build off a decade of success.

Match to Watch: Brazil v Croatia, June 13. The two group favorites square off in each team's first match. How Croatia performs could be an indicator of how good of a tournament they will have.

Prediction: 1) Brazil, 2) Croatia, 3) Australia, 4) Japan. Brazil in first place is a no-brainer, though Croatia should provide a worthy opponent. The Croatians will use their physicality to overpower Japan and get by Australia. Aussie's put up a fight, but there's no miracle run for Hiddink this time.

CFL Preview: West Division

2006-06-03T19:22:00.000-06:00

Here's a look at this year's Western Division in the CFL

BC Lions: The Lions looked well on their way to the Grey Cup last September, but then the wheels suddenly fell of and they lost 7 of thier final 8, including the western final to Edmonton. This year the QB controversy has been solved. The Lions will go to Dave Dickenson full time since Casey Printers has left for the NFL. On defense the Leos lost LB Barrin Simpson, but Korey Banks, who led the league in interceptions in 2005, was drafted from Ottawa. On the offensive side of the ball the Lions said goodbye to a pair of veteran O-linemen. That could be the Lions' Achilles heel if adequate replacements aren't found. That's because Dave Dickenson might be the best QB in the league, but he's also the most injury prone (except for Nealon Greene). If Dickenson goes down there will not be Printers to hand the ball to, only last year's third stringer Buck Pierce, who did see some limited playing time.

Calgary Stampeders: The Stampeders had a resurgent 2005 season under coach of the year Tom Higgins (say it without giggling to yourself). Both the "D" and the "O" were solid but unspectacular. The Stamps have added WR Elijah Thurmon and WR Darnell McDonald is back in the fold, so QB Henry Burris should have more targets this year. RB Joffrey Reynolds had a great first half of last season, but faded badly down the stretch. George White is already out for the season with a torn Achilles, so the defense takes a hit there. Calgary's pass defense was their downfall last year, but it doesn't look to be much better. Against the potentially explosive passing games of BC and Edmonton, the Stamps could find themselves reeling. After a few years of disappointing teams, Calgary looks to be back on track and could contend for the Grey Cup.

Edmonton Eskimos: The defending Grey Cup champions enter the season with a few question marks, but one question that has been resolved was the QB controversy. Jason Maas was dealt to Hamilton, so it's Ricky Ray's team all the way. The offensive line could be a trouble spot with the retirements of Kevin Lefsrud, Bruce Beaton, and Chris Morris, but people should remember that the latter two struggled last season anyway, so their replacements shouldn't fare any worse. RB Troy Davis will be here for the entire season, so the running game wont be the revolving door that it was in 2005. The Eskimos biggest strength will be the passing game, as Ray should not have any signs of rust this year, plus has a supremely deep receiving corps to throw to. The #1 ranked defense was largely kept intact as everyone who left, most noteably Joe Montford and Rashad Jeanty, had their spot filled by an adequate replacement.

Saskatchewan Roughriders: The Riders enter 2005 surprisingly similar to the team that finished a disappointing fourth in the west last year. Roy Shivers and Danny Barrett were expected to be handed their walking papers, but are instead back for another season. Call this year 7 of the "5 year plan". The biggest upgrade was at quarterback, with Kerry Joseph replacing inconsistent Nealon Greene. The Riders also added WR Jason Armstead, but in the process gave up last year's MVP candidate Corey Holmes. Also, Calgary signed away last year's receiving leader Elijah Thurmon, and veteran Travis Moore is gone, so the upgrade at receiver is minimul if at all. The defense was Saskatchewan's strength last year, and most key personel are returning so that is a bright spot. The player the Riders may miss the most is K/P Paul McCallum, who signed with BC. Often a target of the fans, the kicker was at least reliable, and decent Canadian kickers have been very hard to find lately.

Predictions:

1) Edmonton, 11-7. Ricky Ray will be settled in and ready to go this year, and will be supported by a solid running game. The defense is a year older, but shouldn't slip too badly. There are no noticeable weak spots aside from the O-line, but it was weak last year and the Eskimos still won the Grey Cup. Edmonton has the personel to win the west, as long as Danny Maciocia makes some better decicions this season.

2) Calgary, 10-8. The Stampeders may have over achieved a little last year, but they will be more mature and should maintain last season's second place standing. Henry Burris has not yet shown he's capable of taking a team to the next level, so this year will be a big test for him, because Calgary has a team capable of competing for the Grey Cup.

3) BC, 9-9. Personel wise the Lions look as good as anybody else in the league, but may still have the cloud of last season's disaster of a finish hanging over their heads. If Dave Dickenson stays healthy BC is a championship calibre team, but he's due to take another pounding with poor pass protection. My thinking is he will miss at least a few starts and Casey Printers wont be there to cover for him.

4) Saskatchewan, 8-10. Despite the upgrade at QB, it should still be noted that Kerry Joseph is still at best the third rated QB in the division. With no clear improvements anywhere else on the field, there's no reason to think the Riders will be any better than last year. So another season will pass with no playoff game at Taylor Field, but Shivers and Barrett will still be lauded as heroes for all there glorious successes in Regina. Keep in mind that the cross-over rule has been eliminated, so even if the Riders have a better record than 3rd place in the east, they still miss the playoffs.

Grey Cup: This will be one of the closest races in years with no apparent doormats or powerhouses. Since no clear favorite has yet emerged, I'll stay with the incumbent and pick Edmonton to return to the big game from the west. Hamilton looks to be the class of the east, so my prediction is that Ricky Ray and Jason Maas will go head-to-head for the Grey Cup that they both won last year.

CFL Preview: East Division

2006-06-02T20:50:00.000-06:00

CFL season is just around the corner, as teams are kicking off the pre-season as we speak. In this wacky and wonderful league we were again witness to a bizarre off-season. The Ottawa Renegades suspended operations in April, meaning we're back to an eight team circuit. Of course the fly-by-night Glieberman's who owned the team decided to shell out big bucks to mediocre players in the months leading up to the team folding, so it's little wonder they wont be participating this year. The CFL introduced a salary cap (at least one that will actually be enforced), but a few months later the governors voted "No" to a cap, leaving commissioner Tom Wright's future in doubt. Events like these would create headlines for most other leagues, but in the good ol' CFL we have come to expect things like this. Here is my preview of the upcoming campaign.

Toronto Argonauts: Last season was probably Toronto's best since the Flutie era, but they failed to defend their Grey Cup title, being upset in the Eastern Final by the Alouettes. This year, Damon Allen returns for yet another year as QB (what's this, his fourth "last hurrah"?). Amazingly, last season was one of Allen's best, so there's no use saying that this will be the year he slows down, because that prediction has failed to come true for the better part of a decade. He will have more help on offense this year with dynamic returner/receiver Keith Stokes and the newly imported RB Ricky Williams, if he isn't arrested for possession of drugs at some point. The only major change on defense is the retirment of CB Adrion Smith. That's both a good and bad scenario. The good is that the pass defense was top ranked in 2005, the bad is that the run defense was ranked last. Overall, the Argos didn't do anything too major aside from Ricky Williams, who will take time to adjust to the bigger field and reduced role.

Montreal Alouettes: Last year Montreal made thier way to the Grey Cup despite a woeful defense. They rellied heavily on Anthony Calvillo's arm and their top notch receiving corps instead. But last year the Als had Ottawa and Hamilton to beat up on, a luxury they wont be afforded this season. That porous defense appears to have lost more than it gained in the off-season, which will be a huge problem, especially against the re-vamped Tiger-Cats. Calvillo has been used heavily year after year, but my prediction is that his age will begin to show and this will be the year the Alouettes drop off. Of course, the x-factor is Don Mathews. He has been able to recruit new talent wherever he goes, though history says he is due to wear out his welcome in Montreal.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats: The team that made the most strides during the off-season is without a doubt the Ti-Cats. QB Jason Maas replaces Danny Oldmanus while RB Josh Ranek was brought over from Ottawa. Corey Holmes, one of the most versatile offensive talents in the league, was picked up from Saskatchewan for a high pick in the dispersal draft (Jason Armstead). Servicable receivers Terry Vaugh and Kwame Cavil will boost a thin receiving corps. This should all make the offense, last ranked in 2005, far more effective. That will in turn keep the mediocre defense off the field, which increases their usefulness as well. After years of fielding both sub-par and down-right awful teams, the future finally looks bright for coach Greg Marshall and the Tiger-Cats.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Winnipeg hosts the Grey Cup this year, but are a long shot to appear in it. The Bombers were lousy on both sides of the ball in 2005. The defence looks better with the addition of linebacker Barrin Simpson amongst others, and the offensive line has been bolstered somewhat. Receiver Milt Stegall has returned for another year, but how much he has left in the tank remains to be seen. Charles Roberts is one of the premier RBs in the CFL, and the Bombers should go as he does. But the fact remains that Winnipeg was 5-13 last year, so even moderate improvement is unlikely to turn them into anything more than a 3rd place club. That being said, Winnipeg did show signs of life later last season and has brought in a new coaching staff, so a turnaround similar to Calgary's last year isn't out of the question.

Predictions:

1st: Hamilton, 11-7. New look offense will have a field day against the weak defenses of Montreal and Winnipeg, and the Ranek/Holmes combo could run roughshod. The average defense and lack of a game breaking receiver will keep them from being a truly great team, but 11-7 will still be good enough for first in the East.

2nd: Toronto, 9-9. Pretty similar to last years team, but a year older. John Avery and Ricky Williams should be spectacular, but probably won't be. Grandpa Allen will put in another respecable campaign, but he wont equal last year's MVP calibre performance, so .500 seems about right.

3rd: Montreal, 7-11. Don Mathews will be able to find adequate replacements for those that departed, but in reality Montreal went a lot further last year than their defense should have allowed them. Expect the winds of change to blow through Montreal after this season, which will be their worst in years.

4th: Winnipeg, 7-11. The Bombers will be more competitive than last year, but will come up just short of the playoffs. It will be important to try to build for the future, but two key players are Charles Roberts and Milt Stegall, no spring chickens. That means Winnipeg must develope some younger talent and at the same time rely on their vets to lift them to credibility in a season where they should try to at least give the fans a glimmer of hope of appearing in their own Grey Cup.

World Cup Preview: Group E

2006-06-02T19:08:00.000-06:00

Teams: Italy, Czech Republic, USA, Ghana

History: Italy is the most succesful historically out of this group. They have won three World Cups in total. The first two were back-to-back in 1934 and 38, and the most recent came at Spain '82. They have advanced deep into the tournament numerous times, and lost to Brazil in the final in 1994. At the most recent tournament they were upset in the round of 16 by the co-host South Koreans. The Czech's are in their first tournament since 1990, when they were Czechoslovakia. They were beaten finalists in both 1934 (against fellow group member Italy) and in 1962. Since that finals appearance there has been little success to speak of aside from a quarter-final appearance in 1990. The United States' claim to fame was a shocking upset win over England in 1950. After that they endured a long stretch in which they didn't qualify, but have appeared in the last four World Cups. They reched the second round at home in 1994, and had their best showing ever in 2002, a quarter-final loss the Germany. Ghana is playing in their first World Cup after beating out favoured South Africa in qualifying.

Italy: Recent results have been very disappointing for this storied nation. After a controversial loss to South Korea in '02, and group stage elimination at Euro 2004, the pressure is tremendous to put on a good showing. For Italy, a good showing means semi-final or better, lest their plane be pelted with tomatos upon its arrival home. Italy will need a big performance out of Francesco Totti who has disgraced himself at the last two tournaments with his on field behavior. It was feared his World Cup was over when he injured his ankle in domestic league play, but he has recovered in time. The Italians have a wealth of skill at all positions which makes them a contender. Center forward Alberto Gilardino can score goals, while midfield is of no concern with Andrea Pirlo and Totti (who usually plays in between midfield and forward). Captain Alessandro Nesta leads a veteran defense, and goaltender Gianluigi Buffon is one on the world's best. But recently, scandal has broke out in Serie A, the top Italian league, and Buffon has been alleged to have gambled illegally. The team will have to deal with this distraction as they try to win a fourth world title.

Czech Republic: This is a tremendously skilled, but aging, Czech squad. They should still be a force in Germany, but may have missed their big shot a glory in Euro 2004. The strength of the team lies up front and in the midfield. 34 year olds Pavel Nedved and Karol Poborsky are back for one last shot, as is giant forward Jan Koller. The Czech's do have some younger talent in the form of Milan Baros and Tomas Rosicky. The main objective will be to out-gun the opponent with their suberb offense, because the Czech defense is clearly the team's weakness. They are thin after Italian leaguers Tomas Ujfalusi and Marek Jankulovski so somebody will need to step up. Petr Cech is a superb keeper, and will have to be at his best is Nedved and Co. are to advance from a tough group. This will be the first and last World Cup for all of those veterans, so they'd best make it a good one.

USA: The States are out to prove that 2002 was not a fluke, but will be tested early with matchups against Italy and Czech Republic. It will be crucial to take points from one or both of those teams to give themselves a hope of advancing going into the finale versus Ghana. This team has plenty of experience, so they shouldn't be fazed by the pomp of bright lights of the World Cup. Goaltender Kasey Keller was first on the team way back in 1990, and will look for his best performance yet in his fourth World Cup. Key members of the team four years ago, Bryan McBride, Landon Donovan, and DaMarcus Beasley are again the go-to guys. Youngsters Eddie Johnson (forward) and Oguchi Onyewu (defense) will look for a breakout tournaments as well. American sports teams in general perform well as underdogs, so that bodes well in their attempt to prove to the world that they really are a soccer power.

Ghana: These Africans have always been one of the best teams on their own continent, and have now finally made it to the World Cup. Many of the players are realtive unknowns, but several ply their trade in Germany so they should already be used to the un-African climate of northern Europe. Ghana rellies on total team defense to win games, as their weakness at the forward position would suggest. AS Roma's Samuel Kuffour is their most solid defender, while Sammy Adjei provides decent netminding. Ghana's most recognizable player is Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien who plays a superb all-around game. If the Ghanians play error-free defense they will give themselves hope against powerful opponents, but coming out of this group will be a mighty task.

Match to Watch: Czech Republic v Italy, June 22. Two highly skilled opponents clash in the Group E finale. There is certainly a chance that USA or Ghana will have taken points from at least one of these teams, so this could be a do-or-die game for a couple of highly touted squads.

Prediction: 1) Italy, 2) Czech Republic, 3) Ghana, 4) USA. Italy are notouriously slow starters, so it favours them to play Ghana and USA before the Czechs. Those Czechs have the offensive weapons to crack Ghana's tough defense and overcome the Americans. USA and Ghana are two worthy teams, but are not quite up to the task against the top ranked opponents they will face.

World Cup Preview: Group D

2006-05-30T18:19:00.000-06:00

Teams: Mexico, Portugal, Iran, Angola.

History: First round exits were all that Mexico had to their name until reaching the quarter-finals in 1970 and 1986, both as the host nation. The Mexicans have fared a little better in recent tournaments, as they have reached the second round the last three go-arounds. But they have lost all three of those elimination games, including a bitter loss the USA in 2002. Thought of by many as power in world soccer, Portugal has actually only qualified for the World Cup three times. They finished third in 1966, and lost in the group stage in 1986 and recently in 2002. Iran has participated twice, with their lone win coming against the USA in 1998. They failed to qualify for 2002, as did Angola who is in the tournament for the first time.

Mexico: The Mexicans are strong from the net out, with goalkeeper Oswaldo Sanchez and a stout defense which will be anchored by Rafael Marquez. This team often employs the 3-5-2 (defense-midfield-forward) line-up, so they are fully capable of filling the opponents net. There are some question marks in the midfield. Salvador Carmona would normally be the go-to guy, but he will not be present since he has been banned for doping. So the task of moving the ball up to the forwards likely falls to Gonzalo Pineda or possibly the young Mexican-league star Andres Guardado. At forward Jared Borgetti will look to add to his all-time national team scoring lead. There are high expectations for Mexico, especially after drawing an easy group, so the pressure is definately on.

Portugal: Portugal comes to the tournament boasting great balance at all three positions. On the back end they will have Paulo Ferriera and his team-mate from Chelsea, Ricardo Carvalho who is world class. In the midfield they have Costinha to help out the defense and Maniche and Deco to set up the forwards. The Portuguese attack is one of the best at the tournament. Led by Cristiano Ronaldo, Pauleta, and Luis Figo who is still going strong at 33 years old, they scored the most goals in European qualifying. Even back-ups like Nuno Gomes and Helder Postiga are to be respected. The "golden generation" has mostly been replaced, but this team looks as strong as any previous edition, and is a good bet to make it out of the group stage for the first time in 40 years.

Iran: Due to the political landscape right now, some people have called for Iran to be kicked out of the tournament entirely. They wont be, but the hostility could prove to be a distraction that they definately do not need if they are to challenge Portugal and Mexico. Iran's biggest advantage is familiarity. Many of their players play professionally in the German Bundesliga and should feel right at home. One of those players is midfielder Ali Karimi, the Iranians most talented weapon. They are also strong in goal, but the defense could be their downfall with only Yahya Golmohammadi being a veteran fixture. Iran will be in tough to make the knock-out round, but the two favoured teams would be foolish to overlook them.

Angola: This team qualified out of Africa after upsetting Nigeria. They are a rag-tag bunch, with most of their players coming from the Portuguese second division. This is a team devoid of any big-name players. Instead they rely on all eleven men putting in a good effort to achieve victory. Angola beat the odds by simply making it to Germany, but will look to at least be competitve. Expect thier best effort to come in the opener against Portugal. Of course, Angola was once a Portuguese colony, which has fuelled a rivalry between the two. A not-so-friendly once had to be called off in the second half after several Angolans were red carded for vicious tackles.

Match to Watch: Portugal v Mexico, June 21. This could be anticlimactic if both sides have already secured spots in the next round, but it is clearly the match that should see the most talent and excitment generated in what could be a dull group.

Prediction: 1) Portugal, 2) Mexico, 3) Iran, 4) Angola. Portugal and Mexico strikers will light up the suspect defenses that they face on Iran and Angola. Iran could be capable of the upset, but the top two will be determined to make up for disappointing finishes in past tournaments. Whoever advances has to play the Group C qualifiers in the next round, so their joy might be short-lived.

Upsets in the Final

2006-05-29T21:46:00.000-06:00

With the Stanley Cup Final almost upon us, I thought I'd have a look at some of the biggest upsets to occur in the final round. As it turns out, upsets are few and far between when it comes down to the last series, but there are still a few to speak of.

1995: New Jersey 4, Detroit 0. After years of good regular seasons followed by early playoff exits, Steve Yzerman’s Red Wings finally got over the hump and reached the final. Their opponents were the trapping New Jersey Devils. Detroit had breezed their way through both the regular season (33-11-4) and the playoffs, with only two losses after the first three rounds. Paul Coffey, Sergei Fedorov, Dino Ciccarella, Keith Primeau, and Ray Sheppard all had suberb seasons, while Yzerman was below his usual standard, but still bagged 38 points in 47 games. The Devils meanwhile, had a pedestrian regular season and only finished 5th in the East. They upset Pittsburgh and Philadelphia to reach the final where it was expected their run would come to an end. But that was certainly not the case as the Devils blasted Detroit, outscoring them 16-7 in the sweep, forcing long-suffering Wings fans to wait another two years for the Stanley Cup.

1938: Chicago 3, Toronto 1. This year’s edition of the Blackhawks remains the “worst” team ever to capture the Cup. They slogged through the regular season, winning only 14 out of 48 games, yet their 14-25-9 record was good enough for a playoff berth. The head-scratching playoff format saw them play the Canadiens, themselves only one game above .500, in round one. Chicago dropped game one of the best of three, but fought back to win the series 2-1 on an overtime goal in the decisive match. Round two pitted them against the New York Americans, also only a single game above .500 for the year. The Blackhawks again lost game one, but won the series 2-1. The final was a best of five affair and saw Chicago take on the Maple Leafs, who had lost in the final in both 1935 and 1936. The Leafs must have thought they could easily break the jinx against such an easy opponent, but it was not to be. Chicago took the opener 3-1, though Toronto rebounded with a 5-1 victory to tie the series heading to the Windy City. In Chicago, goaltender Mike Karakas held Leafs snipers Syl Apps and Gordie Drillon at bay to lead the Blackhawks to the Stanley Cup after 2-1 and 4-1 triumphs.

1930: Montreal 2, Boston 0. In what turned out to be an ominous foreshadowing of the decades to come, the Canadiens stunned the Bruins in the best-of-three final, in which is surely the biggest upset the final has ever witnessed. The Bruins had arguably the greatest regular season in history, going 38-5-1 to finish in first place by an astounding margin. Led by Tiny Thompson's goaltending, Eddie Shore's defense, and 40 goal outputs (in just 44 games) by both Cooney Weiland and Dit Clapper the Bruins allowed the fewest goals and scored far more than anybody else. Montreal was a respectable club at 21-14-9 with all-star Howie Morenz, but nowhere near the level of their American rivals. The playoff format in 1930 was rather strange. Boston defeated the other Montreal team, the Maroons, 3 games to 1 to reach the final directly. The Canadiens needed two rounds to reach the last stage, but went 4-0 en route to the final. Heavily favoured they were, but nonetheless Boston dropped two quick games 3-0 and 4-3 to lose the Cup.

Oilers Return to Final

2006-05-28T22:44:00.000-06:00

For the first time since 1990 the Edmonton Oilers have advanced to the Stanley Cup final. They defeated the Mighty Ducks in five games {somebody predicted such...see previous articles :)} and will play either Buffalo or Carolina for the Stanley Cup. At times throughout the series the Oilers were under the seige of Ducks attackers, but in the end the superb goalkeeping of Dwayne Roloson and the opportunism of Oiler scorers was enough to pull out the win.

With the victory the Oilers become the first #8 seed to make it to the final, though this can't exactly be described as a fluke like we've witnessed in past years. Most other "cinderella" teams rellied on stifling defensive systems to grind out games 2-1 and hoped their goaltender stole the series for them. The Oilers have implemented defensive systems, and Roloson has been Conn Smythe worthy, but they have generally managed to play the same type of game that they used in the regular season. Scoring depth has been a catalyst for success, as Edmonton usually "plays to win" by outscoring the opponent, unlike recent finialists Calgary ('04), and Anaheim ('03), who played "not to lose" by implementing the trap.

That being said, I'm not one of the people who complains about teams using the trap to win and about the fact that they're not being entertained. The coaches job is to win games, not entertain the other team's fans. His own fans are entertained by winning, not losing 6-5. The bottom line is win however possible. But the neutral observer should at least be pleased by the fact that Edmonton plays a more exciting brand of hockey.

Speaking of those past finalists, the '02 Red Wings were the last team seeded higher than #6 to represent the west in the final. Home ice advantage seems to have become far less important than it used to be. Anaheim in'03 as the #7 seed went 6-1 on the road to get to the final, while #6 seed Calgary went 8-2 in their three conference rounds. Edmonton went 6-3 as the visitor.

World Cup Preview: Group C

2006-05-26T20:55:00.000-06:00

Group C: Argentina, Netherlands, Serbia & Montenegro, Ivory Coast

History: The Diego Maradona era was clearly Argentina's best. They were champions in their own country in 1978 (sans Maradona, a late cut) and again in Mexico '86. They nearly won for a third time in four tries in 1990, but lost the final to West Germany in a re-match of 1986 on Andreas Brehme's '85 minute penalty conversion. They have had several other respecable showings, and lost the first ever World Cup final to Uruguay in 1930. 2002 saw Argentina upset in the group stage. Surprisingly, the Netherlands have qualified for the tournament very few times in their history. But they have made good on their limited appearances, reaching back-to-back finals in 1974 and 1978, though they lost them both. After climbing the ladder in the 1990s, capped by a 4th place finish at France '98, they failed to qualify for 2002. Serbia & Montenegro is making thier first appearance (they were part of Yugoslavia in previous World Cups), as is the Ivory Coast.

Argentina: This perenial powerhouse will be looking to make up for a group stage ouster at Korea/Japan 2002. They drew a tough group then, and have done the same again, but expectations are sky-high nonetheless. The defense is solid with Roberto Ayala as it's anchor, along with captain Juan Sorin. The midfield is home to superb playmaker Juan Riquelme, who will need to perform well if Argentina is to be successful. Up front they have 18 year old sensation Lionel Messi who burst onto the scene this year with Barcelona. The one glaring weakness might be between the sticks, where Argentina has turned to Boca Juniors keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri to keep balls out of the net. The pressure is on, for another first round exit would be a national embarassment.

Netherlands: New coach Marco van Basten has greatly revamped the squad that went out in the semi-final of Euro 2004. Mainstays like Kluivert, Seedorf, and Davids have been replaced by younger, more team-oriented players. The Dutch are loaded at forward with Ruud van Nistelrooij and Arjen Robben. Dirk Kuijt and Robin van Persie provide more than adequate support. The midfield also appears capable with veteran Philip Cocu to provide leadership. The defense is largely untested, with only Giovanni von Bronckhorst having significant experience, but they only conceded three goals in qualifying. That though, is largely due to the all-world goaltending of the ageless Edwin van der Sar, who at 35 is still one of the top keepers in the world. If they continue their strong team play, the Dutch will be a force to be reckoned with.

Serbia & Montenegro: This is a team built around thier world class defense. They recorded shutouts in nine of ten qualifiers to finish atop a group that included Spain. The "Big 4" backs, the most notable being Manchester United's Nimanja Vidic, only drawback is thier on the edge style that sometimes gets them booked to often. In fact, Vidic will sit out the opener after being sent off in the final qualifying match. Inter Milan's Dejan Stankovic will lead a workmanlike midfield, while Mateja Kezman and Savo Milosevic will be counted on up front. This defense-first squad is similar to the Greek team that won Euro 2004, and might very well be the darkhorse of this tournament.

Ivory Coast: The group draw was most unkind to the Ivory Coast, probably Africa's strongest entrant. If they were to switch places with fellow African squads such as Angola (Group D), or Togo (Group G) they would have a decent shot at advancing . As it stands they are underdogs, but that will not deter them. Any success will likely start and end with Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, one of the world's best. There is talent in the midfield, but chemistry has been an issue. Defense is also a question mark with only Kolo Toure considered a world class man-marker. In the net Jean-Jacques Tizie provides a reliable backstop. Ivory Coast looked to be the African team with the best chance at making a deep run in the tournament like Senegal in 2002, but they could be in over thier heads in this group.

Match to Watch: Argentina v Netherlands, June 21. Two highly skilled teams do battle in the last group match. Though they are the favorites, they have two other quality opponents in thier pool, so dont be surprised if the loser of this match is going home tremendously disappointed.

Prediction: 1) Netherlands, 2) Serbia and Montenegro, 3) Argentina, 4) Ivory Coast. That's right, I've picked Argentina to again be upset. Netherlands' superior forwards and goaltending will put them atop the group, followed by my darkhorse pick of the tournament Serbia and Montenegro. Ivory Coast is easily the best 4th place team at the tournament, but that is little consolation after their hard fought effort comes up short.

World Cup Preview: Group B

2006-05-25T21:35:00.000-06:00

Group B: England, Sweden, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago

History: Since winning the championship at home in 1966, England has had little to celebrate. Mainly, they have been the victims of numerous quarter-final and second round exits. They nearly made it back to the final in 1990, but lost to long-time nemesis (West) Germany in a penalty shootout in the semi-final. In 2002 the English were dismissed by Brazil in the quarter-final. Sweden fielded quality squads in the earlier half of the century, making it all the way to the final when they played host in 1958, where Brazil defeated them. Successes were few from that time on until a third place finish in 1994. The most recent World Cup was going smoothly for the Swedes until a 2nd round upset at the hands of Senegal, when Henri Camara scored a golden goal. Paraguay has advanced to the second round in each of the last two tournaments, losing 1-0 to both France in 1998, and Germany in 2002. Apart from that, Paraguay has failed to qualify for the final tournament the majority of the time. Trinidad & Tobago will participate in their first World Cup, perhaps the most surprising of all the qualifiers.

England: The English have many times arrived at the World Cup full of hope and expectations, only to bow out early. They hoped that it would all change this year with striker Wayne Rooney leading the way. But Rooney injured his foot late in the Premiership season, and it was feared his World Cup, and England's chance for victory, may have been ended. But he appears to be recuperating faster than expected, and could even be on the field June 10th when England plays their first match. He will surely have to be present later if not sooner, if England hopes to go far in the tournament. England is stacked in the midfield with the world class Steven Gerrard in top form, accompanied by Frank Lampard and David Beckham who is looking to finally perform as he is capable on the world stage. Chelsea man John Terry will anchor the back four for Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad. The pieces are in place for a deep run in Germany, but only if Rooney can quickly regain his form.

Sweden: This is a team that comes to Germany solid at all positions, and has the ability to go as far as their "big three", they being Henrik Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovich up front and Fredrik Ljunberg in the midfield, will take them. Sweden has consistently performed better and better since not qualifying for France '98, and this could be their best opportunity to make it back to the semi-final, where they lost in 1994. Sweden typically plays an attack-oriented style, meaning scoring machine Ibrahimovich could run wild if opponents give him the opportunity. The defense may not be as strong as manager Lars Langerback would prefer, but it will still be servicable with veterans Olof Mellberg and Teddy Lucic. This will surely be Larsson's last World Cup; he would love to go out the way he came in back at USA '94.

Paraguay: Many people will concede this group to England and Sweden, but Paraguay should not be overlooked. The South Americans have quietly made it out of the group stage in the last two World Cups, and there is no reason to expect them to not provide stiff competition this time around. Their squad represents a nice mix of veterans, like Denis Caniza and Carlos Gamarra on defence, and Jose Cardozo up front. In total, eleven players named to the team have been to at least one World Cup. Bayern Munich attacker Roque Santa Cruz should feel at home in Germany, and will be called upon to provide scoring for Paraguay. Underdogs they may be, but dont be surprised if Paraguay unseats England or Sweden to advance.

Trinidad & Tobago: These guys will be the biggest long-shot in the entire tournament, but coach Leo Beenhakker doesn't expect his squad to just roll over and die. T & T scored a victory over Mexico in qualifiers, so they are capable beating one of the big boys if they play flawless football. The most noteworthy playmaker is 37 year old Dwight Yorke. If T & T's defenders all bring their "A" game to the pitch they have the ability to subdue attackers and keep games close, but that is a big "if". We've seen upsets in the past, but T & T advancing to the elimination round would truly be the biggest of them all.

Match to Watch: England v Sweden, June 20th. Sweden has had England's number whenever these two sides meet up, unbeaten in their last ten fixtures against them. If all goes according to plan, the winner of this game should win the group. But should Paraguay gain a result against either squad leading up to this final group-stage match, implications could be much greater.

Prediction: 1) England, 2) Sweden, 3) Paraguay, 4) Trinidad & Tobago. Games will be played tightly with England coming out a narrow winner. Paraguay comes close, but Sweden just barely edges them out for second spot. The fact that the tournament is taking place in Europe gives the European teams the advantage. T & T scores a goal and the tiny country goes wild.

World Cup Preview: Group A

2006-05-22T18:35:00.000-06:00

In the coming two weeks leading up to the World Cup, the world's largest sporting event, I will preview the tournament with a look at each group, "A" through "H". This is the first installment.

The World Cup will kick-off on June 9th in Germany with 32 teams fighting for the right to be crowned as the world champions. This year, like in many others, the squad from Brazil will be the team to beat. As usual they will have plenty of stiff competition from the likes of South American rival Argentina, as well as traditional European powers like Italy, Spain, France, England, Germany, and the Netherlands. Not to mention the usual dark-horse teams, and there are several that are more than capable of an upset.

For the most part, the usual European suspects were able to qualify. Euro 2004 Champion Greece, as well as 2002 3rd place finishers Turkey, and Denmark, were the most notable ommisions. Incidently, all three of those nations were in the same qualification group, which was won by Ukraine who is making their first appearance at the World Cup. It was pretty much business as usual in Asia as well. In South America, Uruguay was edged out in a play-off with Oceania winner Australia. Most of the upsets occured in Africa. 2002 upset specialists Senegal missed out, 2010 host South Africa didn't make it, nor did traditional African powers Nigeria and Cameroon. In place of them, we have Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Angola all making their first appearances, while three-time participant Tunisia rounds out the African squads. Perhaps the biggest underdog in the entire tournament will be Trinidad and Tobago, who has made it to the final 32 for the first time.

Group A: Germany, Poland, Costa Rica, Ecuador

History: The host Germans have won the tournament three times (1954, 1974, 1990). They have made it to the final game four other times, including the last time around in 2002. Not since 1938 has Germany failed to advance out of the first stage. Poland has managed a pair of 3rd place finishes (1974, 1982), and were eliminated in the group stage in 2002. Costa Rica's best showing was a 2nd round defeat in 1990; their only appearance besides a group stage elimination in 2002. Ecuador is in their second World Cup, the first being four years ago where they managed one victory in the opening round.

Germany: The traditionally strong Germans will send one of their weakest squads ever to the World Cup, but the fact that it is being played on home soil means they can never be counted out. In the 2002 tournament they rode hot goalkeeper Oliver Kahn all the way to an unlikely appearance in the final, afterall. It will be Jens Lehmann between the sticks this time around with Kahn his back-up. On the back-line it will mainly be up to Per Mertesacker and Christoph Metzelder to hold the fort, while up front the Germans will hope Miroslav Klose rediscovers his scoring touch from 2002. But it is the midfield that will be the key, with fiery Michael Ballack, one of the world's best, leading the way. The pressure will be on for a team with many question marks. Anything less than a quarter-final appearance on home field has to be considered a disaster.

Poland: The Poles enjoyed a strong qualifying campaign, which brings hopes that they will make up for a quick exit it 2002 with a stronger perforamance. This Polish squad lacks any big name stars, and will rely on Wolverhampton's Tomasz Frankowski and Maciej Zurawski of Scottish champion Celtic to score goals, just like they did in quaification. Not an overly strong squad, at least not compared to the legendary Polish teams of the 1970s, the group draw was kind to them, and thus they have a good chance to advance to the round of 16.

Costa Rica: If this was the Costa Rican team that nearly stunned Turkey at the last World Cup, they would have a legitimate chance to advance from this group. But unfortunately, four years have passed and many of their key players are on the back end of their careers. What this does give them is experience in the form of defender Luis Marin, midfielder Mauricio Solis, and one time goal scoring maching Paulo Wanchope. They open the tournament against the host team, and a result in that match would give them a big jolt of momentum.

Ecuador: This tiny South American nation continues to impress, qualifying ahead of the likes of Uruguay, Colombia, and Peru, though many credit their success to the high altitude of their country, which gives them a greater advantage over visiting squads. Like Costa Rica, they will be underdogs, but are an experienced bunch. Agustin Delgado is the most recognizable name as he is Ecuador's all time leading goal scorer. This team did knock off favorites Argentina and Brazil in qualifying, so take them lightly at your own risk.

Match to Watch: Poland v Ecuador, June 9th. Played on the opening day, this might be the make-or-break game for each side. Poland will be favoured, but not so much that an Ecuador win would be any great surprise. The winner will be well on their way to qualifying for the knock-out stage, while the loser will likely be faced with the prospect of needing a win over Germany to advance.

Prediction: 1) Germany, 2) Poland, 3) Ecuador, 4) Costa Rica. Despite their short-comings, Germany will not be upset on home soil, especially in one of the weaker groups. Ecuador will give Poland a scare, but the European side will hold them off and advance.

King Dethroned in Game 7

2006-05-22T18:15:00.000-06:00

"King James" as LeBron is often refered to by Cleveland Cavalier fans, will have to wait at least one more season for his team to become lords of the basketball world. The two-time defending Eastern Conference champion Detroit Pistons smothered the Cavaliers and their young all-star in game 7 on Sunday, holding the visitors to just 61 points in a 78-61 victory. Cleveland had two chances to upset the Pistons after taking a 3-2 lead in games, but maybe the Michael Jordan-LeBron James comparisons were just a little too early. But that is not to say James was the reason for Cleveland coming up short, as some have suggested. He still managed nearly half of his team's meagre point total, racking up a game-leading 27, while recording eight rebounds, second only to the Pistons' Ben Wallace. In fact, Larry Hughes was the only one of James' team-mates to even show up. No other Cleveland starter even managed a single assist, while combining for a pathetic 16 points overall. In fact, if it were not for James' strong play, Cleveland would have been embarassed much worse. So anybody who criticizes the MVP candidate for his team gassing a chance to put away the top seeded Pistons needs to wake up and be grateful that James carried the over-matched Cavaliers as far as he did. As they say in sport, just wait until next year.

Conference Finals Preview

2006-05-18T20:06:00.001-06:00

The Eastern and Western Conference finals are about to begin, with Edmonton and Anaheim dropping the puck on Friday, while Buffalo and Carolina get together on Saturday. Nobody could have predicted that these four teams, who all missed the playoffs in 2003-04, would be meeting for the right to play for the Stanley Cup. This is a strong sign that the league is perhaps as competitive as it has ever been and that any club has a chance to win it all in any given year.

Carolina vs Buffalo

Past history: These old Adams division rivals (going back to Carolina's days as the Hartford Whalers) have surprisingly never met each other in the playoffs. The Hurricanes have only made it as far as round three once in thier 26 seasons in the NHL, in 2002 when they defeated Toronto four games to two before losing the Detroit in the final. Buffalo has made it to the semi-final/conference final four times, winning twice. The most recent was a victory in 1999, also over the Maple Leafs. They would lose to Dallas in the final on Brett Hull's infamous "foot in the crease" goal.

Up front: The Sabres have gotten this far based on their ability to roll four lines consistently. Buffalo has gotten big goals from many different forwards all through the playoffs. All four of Buffalo's centermen have at least ten points, so it will be difficult for the Hurricanes checkers to key on one line. Carolina is also deep at the forward position, but have rellied a little more heavily on Eric Staal and Rod Brind'Amour (who also doubles as a superb checking center) to carry the offensive load.

Defensively: Two unheralded defense corps, who some beleived would be these two teams' undoings, go up against each other. As they have in the past, Carolina may elect to dress seven d-men, Oleg Tverdovsky being the seventh, in an effort to spread minutes around. There is no single stud defenseman, but rather a dependable group of veterns. Buffalo's blueline is also devoid of any stars, but like the Hurricanes, depends on consistent play from all six members. The Sabres do boast a little more offensive punch in the form of Henrik Tallinder, and Brian Campbell, though the latter has been a little quiet on the scoresheet to this point.

In net: Cam Ward rescued the 'Canes in round one, and aside from one bad outing against the Devils, has performed soundly, as his 8-1 record as a starter would suggest. Ryan Miller shut down Ottawa's big guns and comes into the series playing his best hockey yet.

Prediction: An extremely close call, but Carolina's game-breaker (Staal) and veteran savvy might just be enough for them to squeek past a determined Sabres squad. Hurricanes in 7. (Interesting fact: The Hurricanes/Whalers franchise has never won a game 7. They are 0-3 all-time is such contests, the last being a loss to Montreal in 1992)

Anaheim vs Edmonton

Past history: These two clubs are meeting for the first time in post-season play. The Ducks' only appearance in the conference final was in 2003 when they swept Minnesota before losing to New Jersey in a seven game final. Edmonton has ventured this deep into the playoffs eight times, but not since 1992, when they lost to Chicago.

Up front: In what is becoming a theme in these playoffs, both teams can comfortably play four lines. Youngsters Joffrey Lupul, Chris Kunitz, and Dustin Penner have performed admirably in their first playoff run, while Teemu Selanne has continued his resurgent play, and shut-down pivot Todd Marchant is a +10 while chipping in eight points. On the Edmonton side, Shawn Horcoff and Ryan Smyth are averaging over a point per game, but like the Ducks, the Oilers have been able to score by commitee, including a seven goal output by unsung Fernando Pisani.

Defensively: A head-to-head battle between Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer looms. Both reargaurds have anchored thier teams' bluelines both in their own end and offensively. The Oiler's have gotten more offence from their defense as a whole, while also keeping the puck out of thier own net. They are also tremendous shot blockers. While Anaheim's sturdy defenders are certainly no slouches, this may be the lone area where one team has a noticeable advantage.

Goaltending: Ilya Bryzgalov took over for the injured J.S. Giguere in round one and only proceded to post three consecutive shutouts. He is on fire, playing very similar to the way Giguere did in Anaheim's '03 run. If he should suddenly falter, he has a Conn Smythe winner backing him up as insurance. In the Oilers cage, Dwayne Roloson is playing the best hockey of his career at precisely the right time, giving his team the goaltending they lacked all year until his mid-March arrival.

Prediction: The Oilers come in with momentum, and while the Ducks have won six straight contests, they have not played for a week and may show rust. The Oilers are in the unfamiliar position of having more key veteran leaders than their opponent, plus the Stanley Cup rings possesed by their coaching staff. That, along with a more well rounded defense will give them the advantage. Oilers in 5. (Interesting fact: The Oilers swept the Ducks 4-0 in the season series, and you have to go back to 1998 to find the last time Anaheim won in Edmonton)

Pack your bags, Senators

2006-05-15T19:15:00.000-06:00

Your golf bags that is. With the Buffalo Sabres' 3-2 overtime victory on Saturday night, the Ottawa Senators will be hitting the links prematurely yet again. This year more than ever seemed like it would be the year the team in Canada's capital city would finally face down the demons of springs past and at least play for, if not win, the Stanley Cup. After breezing through a regular season that saw them score the most goals and allow the fewest against, one in which they boasted an incredible starting five of Heatley, Spezza, Alfredsson, Redden, and Chara, their cup dream came crashing down in just the second round. This leaves everyone wondering just what went wrong, and this time around the answer might be above the ice, rather than on it.

Like past years, many people are pointing between the pipes. Patrick Lalime was dumped in favor of Dominik Hasek during the summer of 2004. After the lockout, Hasek had played a grand total of 14 NHL games in the three years following his Stanley Cup triumph with Detroit in 2002. He was now in his 40s and he had always been prone to injury. But Ottawa GM John Muckler took a gamble on his former Buffalo stopper, a gamble which looked like it just might pay off until the Olympic break.Hasek injured a muscle while playing for the Czech Republic entry, in what very well could have been his last game, period. This left goaltending duties to untested Ray Emery, who played good enough to give Ottawa a chance, but only if they continued to score at an above average rate. They didn't. After a six goal outburst in a losing cause in game one, the Sens only managed seven in the following four contests, three of those one-goal losses. Strike one, Muckler.

Some observers will also look at Muckler's choice of coach. Bryan Murray was brought in to replace the robotic defensive guru Jacques Martin. This was hailed as a great move all through the land, but did anybody stop to take a look at Murray's past history? Much like Ottawa, the mid to late 80s version of the Bryan Murray-coached Washington Capitals put together strong regular seasons with Mike Gartner and Scott Stevens leading the way, only to come up short in the post-season time and again. While goaltending woes were certainly a contributing factor to many early exits, it can't be ignored that the Caps only finally made it past the second round the same year Murray was replaced by his brother, Terry. After their worst regular season in several years, oddly enough. So it was on to Detroit for Murray where his teams again wasted 40+ win regular seasons with early round upsettings. A coach with a track record of choking in the playoffs matched up with a team of similar reputation was hardly a formula for finally getting over the hump. Strike two, Muckler.

If Ottawa did have any weakness, it was at the center position. Mike Fisher is one of the best third line centers in the game, but the problem is he was plugged into the number two role, sometimes platooning with Bryan Smolinski. With the dynamic, but green Jason Spezza as the number one pivot, Ottawa lacked the one-two punch at center that most championship teams traditionally have. Muckler's answer to this problem was to go get Tyler Arnason. The fact that the wouful Blackhawks couldn't have been happier to get rid of him speaks volumes. Sure enough, the troubled Arnason was a healthy scratch for Ottawa's final two games. While the crop of available help upfront wasn't great, Doug Weight was available for a price; a price that many Senators fans would gladly pay now.

Strike three, Muckler. You're out.

Spring surprises on the Diamond

2006-05-12T21:36:00.000-06:00

Well, we're now a month and a half into baseball season, and as usual there is an early season surprise team. You know, that team that everyone expects to stink, but they explode out of the gate and hold first place for a month or two or even three, but then fade off into oblivion (see last year's Orioles). Or the opposite, that high priced squad that hits the skids in April, but inevitably claws back into contention (see last year's Yankees). This year, however, there seems to be an unusually large number of these teams, lending hope to the possibility that maybe, just maybe one of these clubs (almost always a small-market team) can hold it together, or continue to struggle.

In the American League, the Detroit Tigers seem to have a new and improved attitude under new skipper Jim Leyland. It has been reflected to this point in their 22-13 record. Losing no longer seems to be an accepted practice in Motown. Kenny Rogers has lead the solid start of an unheralded pitching staff, while largely unknown Chris Shelton has belted out ten dingers. (He had eighteen all of last year)

Staying in the AL Central we have witnessed the early struggles of the Cleveland Indians, a team some people were picking for the World Series. Starting pitcher C.C. Sabathia hurt himself in the season opener and has only recently returned to the rotation. The rest of the staff has been very mediocre and is the main reason why the Indians' record is just that.

Heading west, we see the Angels, another pre-season favorite sitting at 15-20 and not showing any signs of improvement. A couple good weeks could easily have them back on top of the division, but Vladimir Guerrero is eventually going to need some help if the Angels are going to turn it around.

Switching over to the senior circuit, we see the Cincinnati Reds, tagged for last place by many, sitting atop a very competitive NL Central. The Reds were expected to be hampered by their unimpressive pitching, but the two guys expected to be the bright spots have been all that and more. Aaron Harang and pre-season pick-up Bronson Arroyo are a combined 10-2, averaging around 6 strike-outs per start. Arroyo even has a pair of homeruns to boot. The continued fortunes of Cincinnati look to rest upon their arms.

Everyone expected the NL west to be close because none of its teams were/are all that great. What people didn't expect to see was the Colorado Rockies sitting atop this turtle derby. The Rockies have six regulars batting over .300, while their patch-work rotation has largely kept things under control at the launch pad that is Coors Field. Closer Brian Fuentes has converted eight of nine save opportunities. It probably isn't going to take any more than 85 wins to capture this division, so it wouldn't be inconceivable to say the Rockies only need to keep up their slightly above average pace to plod their way to first place.

It's still early on, but here's hoping that at least one of these teams makes a serious run so we can start talking about something other than Barry Bonds' tainted chase of Babe Ruth's homerun total.

Second Round, Second Chance?

2006-05-11T20:49:00.000-06:00

The second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs was expected to be an interesting, entertaining, and exciting two weeks. But while most individual games have been just that, results have been one sided on the final scoreboard. In the Eastern Conference seeds one through four advanced, while five through eight did so in the west, bringing on predictions of closely contested, down-to-the-wire series'. However, the Sabres stunned Ottawa by jumping to a 3-0 series lead before dropping game four tonight in Buffalo. New Jersey's 15 game winning streak is but a distant memory as they find themselves in the hole 3-0 versus Carolina. Ilya Bryzgalov shut down the Avalanche in games one and two, while Joffrey Lupul's four goal outburst put the Ducks up 3-0 as well. At least Shawn Horcoff's goal for the Oilers in triple OT made their series interesting, as the Sharks only hold a 2-1 advantage.

So why all the lopsided standings? Well, it's an old cliche, but the answer can largely be attributed to who's getting the bounces at crucial times. Looking at the Sens-Sabres matchup, we see that all four games have been decided by one goal. Buffalo twice had to tie game one in the final two minutes to win in OT, while game 3 was also decided in extra time. After Carolina blasted the Devils in the opener, they came up with a pair of 3-2 victories. Though the 'Canes dominated the better part of game 2, they need a last-second marker to get to OT after the Devils thought they had stolen the game with a late goal of their own. All games in the Edmonton- San Jose series have been one goal affairs. Anaheim took advantage of a Colorado defensive breakdown to grab a 3-0 lead with their OT win in Denver.

You can always use "what-ifs?" to show how something could have ended differently, but in this year's conference semi-finals you seem to be able to apply them more than ever. But we all know that luck and momentum are prone to changing sides at any time, which begs the question: Is there any chance we could see a team rebound from 3-0 down to steal a series?

Ottawa got off on the right foot with a narrow victory in Buffalo after the Sabres missed two glorious chances to tie the game late (two chances we saw them bury in game one). The Sens are, afterall, the number one seed, and would have two if the final three games at home should they stage a comeback. We saw three close games go Buffalo's way, so there's no reason to believe the same thing can't happen the other way around.

The Devils were rolling along, while Carolina never quite seemed comfortable in the first round, despite winning their last four games against Montreal. Now the opposite is true, but if Carolina falls asleep again and Jersey turns it back on we could have a series on our hands.

In the first round Colorado got some unlikely goals and fortuitous game-winners against the Stars, but have not been so lucky against Anaheim. But as always, chance is subject to change.

So will we see any historic comebacks this time next week? History says no (only the '42 Maple Leafs and '75 Islanders have managed the feat), but like the Red Sox showed us in 2004, it can be done, so don't take anything for granted just yet, especially with all the suprises we've seen this season.

Welcome

2006-05-10T21:03:00.000-06:00

Hi everybody! This blog has been created as a place to discuss all aspects of the sporting world. New articles will appear frequenty, as there's never a shortage of things to discuss. This is a place where everyone can get their daily dose of sports talk and voice thier own opinions as well.