Great Hockey Quotes
Vancouver Canucks Op Ed’s Thursday Quote Sheet was actually posted this Tuesday because they were busy switching from Blogger to their own domain so be sure to check them out at their new “home.” Since I really don’t have time for much else, here are some funny/interesting hockey quotes posted on a forum topic at Lets Go Wings including my personal favorites…
Apology
I would like to apologize to any Behind the Jersey readers who have seen a blog with little updates over the past couple of weeks. I mentioned a few posts back that I had a second oral surgery. Well, the pain is just the same as it was two days after surgery so I’m on heavy pain medications and two antibiotics. Plus, I have a ton of work this week so I can enjoy my birthday on Thursday where I will be attending the Wings game (vs. the Canucks) and sitting on the glass behind the net where the Wings shoot twice. My dad, an excellent digital photographer, will be taking as nice of a camera as allowed and I will post these pictures following the game.
Again, I’d like to apologize for the lack of posts. I hope to resume normal activity within at least two weeks when my mouth is hopefully feeling better and I’ve completed my first paper and major exam of the semester. In my Sociology of Sport class, the professor wants us to take notes on our readings. I decided to do this in form of a blog that is part sport ramblings, part thoughts on readings, part just plain notes on readings/discussion in class, etc. It will be updated whenever there is a reading or discussion worth noting or if I have some extra free time. If you want to check it out, feel free to do so at Beyond Sport. Thanks for your understanding. For the latest news on the Wings, check out On the Wings, Kukla’s Korner, and Abel to Yzerman.
Behind the Blog: Red and Black Hockey
Today’s Behind the Blog features David Lee, who runs Red and Black Hockey. This Carolina Hurricanes fan blog has game reviews and other unique features and hosted the most recent Carnival of the NHL.
Q.1 – Why did you create Red and Black Hockey? What do you hope to achieve over the next few years?
Like a lot of folks, I started Red and Black Hockey as a “mistress” blog. I was spending an awful lot of time writing about hockey on my other blog, and I realized that although the readers of that blog don’t care for hockey, I could find an audience that does. The end of the lockout and the onset of the free agent frenzy made it really easy to get started. Over the next few years, I hope that I can become a better photographer, learn some programming code, and design my own site instead of using a pre-fab. The narcissist in me hopes that one day I’ll meet someone, and in mid conversation, they’ll exclaim “No way! You’re the guy who writes Red and Black Hockey?!”
Q.2 – Why do you have that Wayne Gretzky quote on the top of your blog? Is it a favorite quote or something?
To be completely honest, I don’t know why I put it up there. It’s just a quote that I like a lot. I guess it’s one of those things that anybody can use as their motto. It can apply to any walk of life. Hard work is more important than raw talent. Just ask Pavel Brendl, because he’s a great example of someone who doesn’t use that as his motto.
Q.3 - You first started blogging on July 17, 2005 for Red and Black Hockey. How did you get the word out about your blog and when did you realize that it had become popular?
I plugged Red and Black Hockey on my other blog. At first, I got a little bit of cross-over readership from folks who were curious about my passion for hockey, but after about a week, I had exactly one regular reader. I didn’t really do anything to promote myself, but the more I wrote, people gradually started coming around. I wouldn’t say that it’s become “popular” but I was featured in the Carnival #4, which really helped. At that point, I didn’t even know that the Carnival existed until I got a random e-mail telling me that I had been included. After that, my hits went way up. I saw another spike in readership when the blog was mentioned in the Toronto Star.
Q.4 – After winning the bet between you and Jes Golbez, is there anything you’d like to say?
Not really. It was just for funsies, and I don’t see the point in gloating about it. I’m actually kind of sad that Hutchinson reached eight points so soon. I hoped it would have been a little more dramatic.
Q.5 – Where do you see the Carolina Hurricanes finishing this season (ie. what seed in the conference, making it to the Stanley Cup finals, etc.)?
I see them finishing atop the Southeast division and probably getting the second seed in the Eastern Conference. I see a Carolina-Ottawa battle for the Prince of Wales, and I see it going to seven games, with Ottawa prevailing. I hope I’m wrong about that last part, though.
Q.6 – Which Hurricane players, if any, will win one of the NHL awards at the end of the season like the Selke or Hart?
Barring a freak accident involving power tools, Rod Brind’Amour should take the Selke. Although he’s in a slump right now, Eric Staal has a realistic chance of getting the Rocket Richard. And don’t look now, but if Cory Stillman keeps playing the way he is, he could be an Art Ross contender. Those last two are sort of dark horses, but I’d put money on Brindy for Selke at this point.
Q.7 – How long have you been a Hurricane fan and where do you see the organization going over the next 5 years?
When the team moved to North Carolina, in 1997, they played in Greensboro (where I live) for the first two years. I followed them from day one, but I only got serious about it during the 2001-02 season. I’ve lived in North Carolina my whole life, and we never got much exposure to the NHL, so I never had a team before the Canes moved down here.
In the next five years, I think the team will grow in popularity both locally and otherwise. It’s really hard to compete with college basketball around here, but continued success on the ice will beget more support.
Q.8 – When did you attend your first hockey game and who was playing?
That’s hard to say. It must have been some time in 1995. There used to be an ECHL team here in Greensboro. I have no idea who they were playing, but I do remember that Kevin Weekes was in goal for Greensboro. My first NHL game was on November 29, 1997. The Hurricanes were hosting the Avs. I remember being somewhat awestruck by Patrick Roy.
Q.9 – What did you do to pass the time during the lockout?
My other passion is Scrabble. I’ve been playing competitively for a few years now, and I started to get really serious about it during the lockout. I’m a much better player now than I was pre-lockout.
Q.10 – Who is your favorite hockey player? Why?
This is tough. I’m tempted to say Rod Brind’Amour, and I could give half a million reasons why. However, I keep coming back to Ronnie Franchise. It’s hard to argue with 549 goals and 1249 assists. Throughout it all, he never craved the spotlight, and he always put the team first. Even when praise was due, he would find a way to deflect it to his teammates. He was always the epitome of class and the prototypical team leader. His impact on the game extends way beyond his goals and assists. In his last season, I really enjoyed watching the way he tutored Eric Staal. Oh, and he scored that game winner in game 1 of the Finals in ‘02.
Current players, I’d have to say Brindy. He works amazingly hard. He’s always the first to show up for practice and the last to leave. His fitness level and training techniques are the stuff of legends. He excels on both ends of the ice, and is playing like he’s ten years younger. He’s done an outstanding job slipping into the role of captain.
Q.11 – Any thoughts on what went on during the World Junior Championship tournament, especially when a Hurricane prospect, Jack Johnson, made a lot of news?
If you’re referring to the booing, I’m not as bent out of shape about it as some people are. It might have been a little, um, zealous, and a lot misdirected, but I think the media and the bloggers took it more to heart than the players did. There are a lot of theories about where the booing came from. Softwood lumber dispute and George W. Bush are the leading vote-getters. Obviously, these kids have nothing to do with either one of those issues. They just happen to be from the United States. I have proposed that part of the hostilities arose because USA has emerged as a more powerful force in the international hockey arena, and some fans felt threatened by that. Of course those are just the rantings of a disordered mind, but I honestly think there’s something to that.
As far as Jack Johnson goes, he made a stupid mistake with the elbow. He deserved to be booed for that, but they were already booing anyway because of the softwood lumber dispute, or perhaps because Americans refuse to revere Barenaked Ladies as a good band. I don’t know. Anyway, he played very well in the tournament, and I’m really excited about his future with the Canes.
Q. 12 – What player do you think has had the biggest impact on the Hurricanes this season?
Wow! Another really tough one. I wish you would have asked which newcomer has made the biggest impact. The answer there is, hands down, Cory Stillman. He sees the ice so well and makes some really incredible passes to create plays that we simply wouldn’t have been able to make last season. Brindy and Aaron Ward have both found the fountain of youth, and Eric Staal is perhaps the NHL’s most improved player, so they’re also good candidates.
If you force me to pick one, I’ll go with Stillman. We’ve not really had a guy like him who can create plays so well. He’s been a really good fit here, and he’s thrilled to be somewhere where he’s wanted. From the get-go, he looked like he’d been playing with the guys forever. He may not be the flashiest player out there, but he’s making it happen on a nightly basis.
Q.13 – What advice would you give to hockey bloggers, especially the newcomers?
I’d give this advice to anyone who writes any kind of blog: carry pen and paper at all times; take notes. Sometimes you’re not near a computer, but you get inspired anyway. This helps tremendously. If you go to a game in person, or watch one on tv, take notes. You might want to write about it in your blog.
If you’re going to do game recaps, provide something that TSN or NHL.com doesn’t: a personal angle. We can get a box score anywhere. Give your opinions, no matter how harsh they may be.
Read. Read. Read. You should be a voracious reader of other blogs and even official sites. These should be your friends and your sources of inspiration. Also, be an active commenter to other blogs. This will help you to establish a name for yourself.
Link, but don’t overlink. Nobody wants to read a post that’s nothing but links to other articles. People want to know what you think.
Probably most important: SPELL CHECK IS YOUR AMIGO. Use it. This may be informal, but you come off like a dolt if your post is riddled with misspellings.
Q. 14 – If you could change one thing about the NHL, what would it be?
I’ve always been a proponent of eliminating some of the rules that protect the goalkeeper. I’d like to see the day when it’s legal to check a goalie who goes outside the crease to play the puck.
Q. 15 – Is there a hockey blog or website that you look up to for inspiration?
Sure. To name just a few: Jes Golbez, James Mirtle, Hockey Country, Sabre Rattling, Tom Benjamin. Oh, and I can’t forget [so.very.obsessed]. That’s where I got the inspiration to incorporate my photos in the page design.
Any additional comments?
This was a lot of fun. Thanks for the interest.
Book Review: Lance Armstrong’s War
For the past few years, I have religiously followed Lance Armstrong during July’s Tour de France. Aside from reading Armstrong’s two autobiographies, It’s Not About the Bike and Every Second Counts, I also read articles about him whether it’s in the magazine Bicycling, Sports Illustrated, or online. After his sixth Tour win, I wrote about Armstrong for my Behind the Jersey column which you can view by clicking on the Behind the Jersey tab.
“War” uncovered the side of Lance Armstrong you don’t hear about in the news. The media tends to glorify Armstrong’s victory over cancer (and his consequent cycling success and cancer work) or attack his character and that he uses steroids. This book shows Armstrong in a very different light. In detail, author Daniel Coyle covers the sport, Armstrong’s rivals, Sheryl Crow, and training for his sixth Tour de France. Even though I’ve watched the tour (and practically every stage) over the past few years, I learned so much more about the sport in general between training practices, how important weight loss/control is, etc. It truly is one of the most challenging athletic events in the world and the book reflects that. You also see the side of Armstrong that you won’t find in his autobiographies.
Here are a couple of excerpts from a couple of editorial reviews courtesy of Amazon.com:
Publisher’s Weekly: The journalist [Daniel Coyle] moved to Armstrong’s training base in Spain to cover the months leading up to the cyclist’s sixth Tour de France victory in 2004, and the resulting comfort level of Coyle with his subject is palpable. Armstrong emerges from these pages as neither the cancer-surviving saint his American fans admire, nor the soulless, imperialist machine his European detractors hate. Instead, he comes across as a preternaturally gifted athlete barely removed from the death-defying hellion he was as a teenager, fanatically disciplined, gregarious and generous but with a legendarily icy temper. Coyle sweeps over the basics of Armstrong’s Texas childhood and fight with cancer, concentrating on his obsessive training—this is a sport where results are measured in ounces and microseconds. He’s sometimes too loose with his writing, digressing as though he had all the time in the world, but he tightens up for the grand finale: the Tour. This work is honest, personal and passionate, with plenty to chew on for fans and novices alike.
Booklist: If Linda Armstrong Kelly’s No Mountain High Enough (2005) revealed the impetus for son Lance’s drive to succeed (anger at absent dad, support from overachieving mom), and Lance’s own It’s Not about the Bike (2000) revealed the medical odds he has courageously overcome, Coyle’s excellent portrait of the six-time (and counting) Tour de France winner places Armstrong fully in his own element: the road to his victory in the 2004 Tour…Fueled by superb reporting and the built-in suspense of the 2004 Tour, Lance Armstrong’s War is the equal of its distinguished and very complicated subject. And it’s just in time for Armstrong’s final Tour de France this July.
67 Amazon.com customers gave this book an average of 4.5 stars out of 5. You can learn more about the book at this website including copies of 15 different book reviews.
I’ll also give Lance Armstrong’s War a 4.0 out of 5 stars.
Wings 4, Rangers 3
Yesterday afternoon, the Detroit Red Wings defeated the New York Rangers in Detroit during NBC’s premiere NHL broadcast. I wasn’t able to watch the entire game as a result of feeling crappy from my oral surgery on Friday evening. I missed the intermissions so I didn’t catch some of the special features that NBC introduced. I don’t know if it was my TV, but I thought the NBC broadcast seemed a lot sharper/crisp. I definitely enjoyed the viewing experienced much more than I do the FSN broadcasts. I’ve yet to catch an OLN game.
Since I was under the influence of Percocet, my opinion on the game probably won’t stack up to some others’ game summaries and comments. So I’ve collected various thoughts on the game from both Rangers’ and Wings’ fans!
On the Wings‘ Matt Saler has a lengthy and informative game summary including some thoughts on the NBC broadcast.
I enjoyed the NBC broadcast much more than the OLN versions, though I still prefer FSN. Bill Clement and Ray Ferraro were the studio crew, with Mark Messier joining them in the intermissions. Mike Emrick and John Davidson were in the booth but Pierre McGuire was between the benches and provided insights throughout the game. NBC kept track of the ice time of Brendan Shanahan and Jaromir Jagr, keeping a special clock under the scoreboard whenever either of the two were on the ice. I can’t say I paid much attention to it, though.
Iwocpo at Abel to Yzerman has a very thorough game summary including numerous thoughts on the NHL broadcast.
NBC’s first weekend of hockey was so much better than OLN you can’t even compare the two networks. Graphically, talent wise, creativity…everything about NBC looked polished today.
The Inside the Glass feature is outstanding and will only get better as the reporters–Pierre McGuire in our game–and players get used to it.
I like the shift cam. It appears NBC will select an impact player from each team and track how long each of their shifts last. Cool idea.
The studio deal was cheesy as most are, and predictable with “hockey’s greatest captain†on the set. But Clement seemed much more at ease than he is on OLN. Ferraro’s not bad.
Paul at Kukla’s Korner has some thoughts on the NBC broadcast during the Wings vs. Rangers’ game (rather than the actual team performances). I’ve linked to the comments page because the second comment was pretty interesting as well.
HockeyRodent covers the game with five photos and descriptions along with additional comments.
My guess is that the Rangers are the NHL’s elite in throwing together a great mix of dedicated, hustling and talented players who don’t play formation hockey. But the Senators and Red Wings are that much better because they do.
At HockeyBird, some comments on the game are given as well as links to other Rangers’ commentary on yesterday’s game.
The Detroit News‘ Bob Wojnowski was impressed by both Chris Chelios and Brendan Shanahan’s performances in Saturday’s afternoon game.
Rangers’ fans, Shari Frost and David Goldburd, of Blueshirts on Broadway have reactions from the game.
Blueshirt Bulletin has found some silver lining in the Rangers’ loss to the Wings in Detroit.
Here’s the good news. You know the bad news already, that the Rangers did not play anywhere near close to their best in dropping a 4-3 contest to the Red Wings yesterday, but that’s as much as we’re going to delve into that here. The good news is, even on an off day against the team with the most points in the NHL, the Rangers came within one goal and a handful of untimely mistakes of pulling out at least a point, maybe two. Just a few weeks ago, they were happy to measure up to the better teams in the league by hanging in there with them and giving themselves a chance to win, even on good nights like those against Vancouver and Colorado. Now, that’s no longer good enough, they want to win.
Don’t forget to read postgame thoughts at Ranger Pundit.
Detroit became the first team to reach the 30 game victory mark this season, which Dallas quickly tied after beating Boston yesterday.
Update
Sorry for the lack of updates lately. On my first day of winter break, I had my wisdom teeth removed. I ended up getting dry sockets and a bad infection in 3 of the 4 sites. Well, it’s been almost a month since they were removed and an infection in 1 site won’t go away so later today they’re going to cut my gum to clean it up. Basically, I’ve been in a lot of pain with my mouth (and previous knee condition) plus the draining from the infection has given me a sore throat worse than strep throat (in my opinion) so I’m just trying to make it through my classes right now. I’m sorry.
Last night, Detroit beat Philly, 6-3. I was only able to watch the first two periods so I only saw one goal before I had to leave for a meeting. I was totally bummed that I missed all the scoring, but I was happy to learn that Detroit beat a good team like Philly after the disappointing loss (and poor game performance) to Carolina.
Behind the Blog: Vancouver Canucks Op Ed
This week’s Behind the Blog features the always amusing Vancouver Canucks Op Ed. When Jeff and Alanah Downie aren’t busy with their bookstore, they entertain hockey fans with their blogging. They are very opinionated and have plenty of humor, which is easy to see at Vancouver Canucks Op Ed. Their blog is one of my favorite reads because I catch up on the latest Canucks action, usually get a good laugh, and look forward to their weekly Thursday Quote Sheet.
I’m sending out some email interviews tonight for the next batch of Behind the Blog. If you’re interested in participating, drop me an email!
Q.1 - Vancouver Canucks Op Ed was started in October of 2003. What made you create this hockey blog?
Alanah: Frustration. One day in October 2003 I read this subject header on the Canucks board: “Is Todd Bertuzzi Finished?” This was in October 2003, and seemed like an idiotic question on its face. Furthermore, the consensus seemed to be that he was finished. I disagreed and responded to the poster of that topic, then got slammed with a ton of psycho responses. So I created Vancouver Canucks Op Ed so I could vent my opinions in relative peace. It just naturally evolved into a blog for both Jeff and I since we’re both pretty passionate about the team.
Q.2 - When did you realize that you had a popular hockey blog on your hands?
It started slow, but we were still surprised that somehow there were a couple dozen daily readers stumbling onto the site in November 2003. Slowly but surely it just increased from there.
But our greater awareness - of both popularity and impact - came when we learned how much we actually affected people. In March 2004, we wrote a piece about Todd Bertuzzi, the same night that he punched Steve Moore. Like many people, we were emotional and upset about the incident. That piece was linked by so many websites, and we received thousands upon thousands of visitors within days. All were affected by Bertuzzi’s actions, and, very surprising to us, many were affected by our comments as well.
One of the results was a whole lot of emails from people. Some of those writers to our site were people we knew from the hockey world, including some players and other well-known types. All were deeply upset by the events of that night, and further incited by our comments. The response was overwhelmingly positive, but some people were angry with us as well.
It was a very quick, powerful lesson about how our impressions could affect others.
Q.3 - How long have you been a Vancouver Canucks fan? What made you become one in the first place?
Jeff: Since about 1983. As a kid, my parents and I had moved to Vancouver from Toronto. I was a Leafs fan, but Stan Smyl changed that. He was a guy with a lot of heart on a team that worked very hard. They made you care about them.
Alanah: Since the mid-1990s. I was raised surrounded by Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens fans. I eventually came to my senses and abandoned those Dynasties for the nearly perpetual disappointment of being a Canucks fan.
Q.4 - Where do you see the Canucks in 5 years? NHL?
Former GM Brian Burke’s philosophy to build an exciting team game has benefitted the Canucks in recent years, and hopefully for the long run. While many have complained that the Canucks never seem ready to win the Stanley Cup, we’ve been mostly happy to see a good product on the ice, game in and game out. That being said, we’re still hopefull about that damn Cup. But Burke’s legacy might at least mean the Canucks remain an entertaining, competitive team in the coming years. We’ll have to see where Dave Nonis takes it from here.
Regarding the NHL, our guess is that the next five years will see a couple teams contract, while maybe adding one in a new city. Just a guess and we have no idea where it will all go.
Q.5 - Do you find it challenging to balance work (your bookstore) and your website?
Not at all. The website takes some time, but it’s all just fun. Hockey is a hobby, not life support. Work, on the other hand, equals “mortgage payment” and “groceries”. Since we’re fond of both food and shelter, we find it pretty easy to prioritze the book store.
On the other hand, it would be very hard to give up Vancouver Canucks Op Ed.
Q.6 - Which team has surprised you the most by their performance thus far? Disappointed you?
Biggest Surprise: Buffalo. What the heck is going on there? And how long till they screw it up?
Biggest Disappointment: Pittsburgh. Not that we were expecting them to blow everyone out, but the team made things looks so optimistic for Pens fans. Is it a chemistry problem? A coaching problem? It’s a mysterious disaster, what’s happening over there.
Q.7 - Who is your favorite all time NHL player? Why?
Jeff: Darryl Sittler. My dad had season tickets to the Leafs in the 70s, and Sittler was the best.
Alanah: Wayne Gretzky.
Q.8 - Which NHL player annoys you the most and why?
Neither of us are annoyed much by hockey players. Different personalities, even ones you don’t like, are found everywhere, so whatever. We just try to find amusement in their antics. But one non-player that we don’t like much would be Colorado Avalanche GM Pierre Lacroix. Admittedly, he’s got a great eye for talent and team building, but a capacity for sleeze, too. Maybe he’s the nicest guy in person, how would we know? But we’re not fans, and we’ll leave it at that.
Q.9 - When did you first start doing the Thursday Quote Sheet and what made you do so?
We started the Quote Sheet in 2003. It arose from our interest in some of the intelligent, foolish, contradictory and often entertaining things that hockey players say. Since no one else had created a weekly list for us to go to and read, we figured we might as well do it ourselves.
An interesting side note is that the Thursday Quote Sheet started its life under a different header - it was called “From the Horses’ Mouths”. What an idiotic name. Who wants to call NHL players “horses” every week? Finally, due to an astounding lack of originality, we renamed it the “Thursday Quote Sheet”.
Q.10 - What do you hope to accomplish over the next couple of years with Vancouver Canucks Op Ed?
Financial freedom. (Hah!) Seriously, a site re-design is in the works, and we hope that makes it more functional and attractive. Perhaps other changes too, but who knows where we’ll end up. What won’t change is our vision, which is just to provide a light-hearted and informative site for NHL and Canucks fans. If it ever stops being fun, we’ll stop writing it.
Q.11 - What are your thoughts on the US Olympic roster picks? Team Canada’s roster picks?
Team USA: Mostly good, but leaving off Jeremy Roenick seemed like a knee jerk response to his personality, and maybe not smart. It’s not his stats that matter most with a guy like this, it’s his “intangibles” that are worth bringing. He’s a player who loves to show everyone else up in the big games. Wouldn’t you want that kind of player on your team in the biggest hockey ego match there is, the Olympics? No Brett Hull, no Jeremy Roenick… a boring day for US hockey.
Team Canada: We like the picks, and even the omissions. Sidney Crosby may have been great on the team, but it’s hard to imagine his experience would have been better than any of the other forwards that did get named. His time will come. Basically, there are a lot of good players both on and off Canada’s roster, and we can accept Hockey Canada’s vision pretty easily. Tough choices.
Q.12 - What advice would you give to fellow hockey bloggers, especially new ones?
New hockey bloggers should follow their own path and completely ignore (and even contradict) what everyone else is doing. If you behave professionally and you’re doing something different and interesting, plenty of people will find your site over time.
Whatever you do, don’t try and conform to other people’s ideas of a ‘good’ hockey blog. You can’t please everyone, and most readers and other bloggers will be very supportive and helpful.
Q.13 - What did you do to pass the time during the lockout?
Jeff: Golf
Alanah: Alcohol
Just check our blog archives - we were AWOL for nearly the entire year in emotional self-defense. To this day, the acronym C.B.A. can cause us to break out in hives.
Q.14 - If you could change one thing about the NHL, what would it be?
Sorry, it’s two things. Penalty calls (please, NHL, figure this crap out!) and scheduling. The schedule was meant to create regional rivalries, which wasn’t a horrible idea, but not every team needed the help. New teams in newer markets have possibly benefitted, but established teams didn’t need the nurturing of this kind of schedule.
For example, we once hated the Colorado Avs. Now they’re just boring us to death.
Q.15 - Is there a hockey blog or website that you look up to for inspiration?
Our all time favourite blog belongs to Tom Benjamin. His comments are always astute and interesting, and we learn something from every post. He’s never mean-spirited, but he’s always critical of what he sees. Joe Tasca, now at Off Wing, is also a superb commentator of all things NHL. Ourselves, we have neither the interest (nor the skills) to be anything like these guys. Our blog is more frivolous by far. But we appreciate how much work they do, and we really enjoy reading their respective sites.
Regarding other blogs, we should say that we would never have found readers two years ago if it wasn’t for blogs like Tom Benjamin’s, Eric McErlain’s Off Wing, PJ at Sharkspage, and Chuqui at Teal Sunglasses. They all played a big part in linking their readers to us. We’re very grateful.
Any additional comments?
Thanks for the memories, Christy. That was fun!
Midseason NHL Awards
Martin at HockeyDirt asked hockey bloggers to take part in a midseason NHL awards survey. The results have been posted. You can see how the 31 hockey bloggers, myself included, out of around 45 responded here at HockeyDirt.
Like Jes Golbez and Eric McErlain, I wanted to give my picks. However, I forgot to jot down my picks while filling out the survey so I’ll do my best to correctly recall my choices. I also have put in italics below my pick who the majority of those polled chose and my comments on the poll results.
I wrote this on January 2nd and waited until the results were posted to upload this entry so some players’ stats may have changed over the past 4 days. I also want to add that since I live in a dorm at college and thus have no choice in cable options, I’m extremely limited in watching other NHL teams aside from the Detroit Red Wings. The only time I can catch any other hockey club’s game is when I come home where I have Center Ice. So if my picks seem a bit off, well I haven’t been able to catch that many games so I based it off stats or from what I’ve read from my fellow hockey bloggers’ sites.
Hart Memorial Trophy (MVP)
Jaromir Jagr, New York Rangers
I chose Jagr because he’s not only leading the NHL in points with 61 (third overall in goals and assists), but I believe that he is the most valuable member to his respective team. And the Rangers are second in the Atlantic Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference in part thanks to Jagr’s offensive success.
Poll Says: Jaromir Jagr 48% & Daniel Alfredsson 19%
I’m not surprised by those two choices. Like Eric McErlain said in his post, if you were to pick a top player from the top team to be MVP then Alfredsson would be an easy pick. But if you were to pick the MVP based on how valuable a player is to the team then you’d probably look elsewhere.
James Norris Memorial Trophy (Top Defenseman)
Wade Redden, Ottawa Senators
I was trying not to be biased and pick the Wings’ Nicklas Lidstrom, because Lidstrom is so important to the Wings’ success. While Redden may have been injured and has only played 26 games this season, he has 30 points, +25 rating (third highest on the team), and 34 PIM.
Poll Says: Wade Redden 45% & Zdeno Chara 29%
Eric McErlain: I thought Chara should have won it in 2003-04, and he’s only gotten better since then. As for many of the others, I don’t think we ought to put as much weight on scoring when it comes to this award, as the proliferation of power play goals has distorted those figures so much this season (sorry Mr. McCabe). The only serious competition for Chara here is Redden, but I’d still give the trophy to Z.Â
Calder Memorial Trophy (Top Rookie)
Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Senators
Ovechkin is my choice because of his team leading 46 points (24 goals, 22 assists), which is 11th in the league. Sidney Crosby is 22nd with 42 points (19 goals, 23 assists). Ovechkin seems to have more of a physical prescence than Crosby and when the Capitals played Detroit, Ovechkin earned the Check of the Game in a hit on Andreas Lilja at center ice. Henrik Lundqvist has also been pretty impressive in net for the New York Rangers so it’s a tough choice to make.
Poll Says: Alexander Ovechkin 71% & Henrick Lundqvist 13%
I’m a tad surprised that Lundqvist didn’t get a higher percentage. However, I figured most bloggers believe Ovechkin is a better all around player and that certainly showed in the poll where Sidney Crosby earned 3% of the poll’s vote.
Vezina Trophy (Top Goalie)
Dominik Hasek, Ottawa Senators
To be honest, I didn’t know who to pick. It’s a close call between Hasek, Manny Fernandez (Minnesota Wild), and Henrik Lundqvist (New York Rangers). Since I couldn’t make my mind up, I went to the stats page at NHL.com and found that Hasek was one of the top three in the four goaltending categories. Hasek is second in GAA (2.10), save percentage (.929), wins (19), and shutouts (3). Fernandez was first in GAA and save percentage with Lundqvist third in those two categories as well.
Poll Says: Dominic Hasek 48% & Tomas Vokoun 23%
Vokoun is certainly a goaltender to be reckoned with. If he plays well, Nashville usually has a great game. He’s a key reason why I’m so scared for the 8 games that Detroit has to play against Nashville starting tonight. I was unsure if Hasek was going to be the clear victor, but not that surprised.
Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (Sportmanship)
Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
In the poll, I picked someone else but I’m totally blanking on who it was. Thus, I’m going with my next pick of the Wings’ Datsyuk who has 43 points and only 6 PIM.
Poll Says: Brad Richards 29% & Pavel Datsyuk 25%
Well, I didn’t pick Richards so looking at the other choices, I want to say that I picked Patrick Marleau (14%) but I can’t say for certain.
Frank J. Selke Trophy (Best Defensive Forward)
Rod Brind’amour, Carolina Hurricanes
The Selke Trophy should be awarded to the player who excels at the defensive aspects of the game as a forward. This player should have a strong +/- rating, high face-off winning percentage, and an important member of the penalty kill. A strong offensive showing doesn’t hurt either. Admittedly, I based this on Kris Draper’s performance in 2003-2004. While Draper remains key to Detroit’s penalty kill, I don’t find him as deserving of this award. Thus, I picked Rod Brind’amour who has 34 points in 35 games along with 11 power play goals and 8 power play assists.
Poll Says: Rod Brind’amour 35% & Jere Lehtinen 26%
After “researching,” Lehtinen would’ve been my second pick so neither came as a surprise.
Jack Adams Award (Coach of the Year)
Mike Babcock, Detroit Red Wings
I picked Babcock because he has made a positive change in how the Wings work, has helped to revive Brendan Shanahan’s game, and seems to be just what the Wings needed. I’m not going to deny the fact that I feel incapable to determine which coach is the best at this point in the season when I don’t follow any other team as close as the Wings, much less their coach. I probably should’ve picked either Carolina’s or Buffalo’s coach because both teams have made a tremendous jump in the standings. In 2003-2004, Carolina was 22nd overall and Buffalo was 18th at the end of the regular season. At this point in the midseason, Carolina is fourth and Buffalo is fifth.
Poll Says: Lindy Ruff (Buffalo Sabres) 23% & Peter Laviolette (Carolina Hurricanes) 16%
Comeback Player of the Year
Dominik Hasek, Ottawa Senators
After causing the dramatic goaltender situation in Detroit in 2003-2004, Hasek has recovered from his ongoing groin injury and is an important factor in Ottawa’s success this season.
Poll Says: Dominic Hasek 42% & Curtis Joseph 22%
It’s amusing to me that both were the Wings’ goalies in 2003-2004 causing the crazy goalie circus. Both are doing much better for their new teams, Hasek because he’s healthy and actually wants to do well. Joseph is doing better because a coach, team, and the fans are all behind him. I’m happy to see both doing so well with their respective teams.
Jerk of the Year
Sean Avery, Los Angeles Kings
Enough said.
Poll Says: Sean Avery 54% & Jeremy Roenick 10% (write in votes) & Darcy Tucker 10% (write in votes)
Flop of the Year
Sergei Federov, Columbus Blue Jackets
I would’ve picked Nikolai Khabibulin (Chicago Blackhawks), but he doesn’t have a strong team like Tampa Bay in front of him anymore. However, Federov wasn’t doing well with Anaheim or even leading the team in scoring for Columbus (only 8 points), yes that’s right - Columbus.
Poll Says: Sergei Federov 32% & Nikolai Khabibulin 29%
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I’d like to address the other awards that weren’t in the survey because these are based on statistics. Again, these statistics are from January 2nd so they may have changed over the past 4 days.
Art Ross Trophy (Most Points)
Jaromir Jagr, New York Rangers
With 61 points, Jagr is the best in the NHL offensively.
Maurice Richard Trophy (Most Goals)
Simon Gagne, Philadelphia Flyers
Gagne has 27 goals placing him at the top of the league.
President’s Trophy (Best Record)
Ottawa Senators
The Senators are two points ahead of the Detroit Red Wings making them the team with the best record (27-6-3) at 57 points.
William M. Jennings Trophy (Best GAA)
Manny Fernandez, Minnesota Wild
Fernandez has a 2.05 GAA, the best in the league, and slightly above Dominik Hasek and Henrik Lundqvist.
Behind the Blog: Jes Golbez’s Hockey Rants
I’m happy to say that today’s Behind the Blog is featuring the always humorous, passionate and entertaining Jes Golbez at Hockey Rants. His hockey blog has always been one of my favorites since I entered the hockey blogosphere. Next week’s BtB will feature Jeff and Alanah Downie at Vancouver Canucks Op Ed.
Q.1 – Your first posts date back to May 16, 2004. What made you create a hockey blog and why did you name it Jes Golbez’s Hockey Rants?
I had been reading baseball blogs (my other favourite sport) for quite some time and thought that I had many good things to write about, only about hockey. I had visited message boards for years, but the conversations were often childish and anything I wrote of significant length would just get lost in the shuttle. So, I basically thought that since I always wanted to do blog where I could just spout out off on whatever I want. Why don’t I create a site and see where it goes? As for the title, it just fit since I rant a great deal and I’m not the most original title maker.
Q.2 – When did you realize that you had finally established Hockey Rants as one of the premiere hockey blogs?
Well, since I write it, it’s always been the best ;). Really, I always think there is lots of room for improvement in my site and my writing. It’s not-for-profit, so I’m not sure how I can measure success.
Actually, I probably ‘arrived’ when I got emails from a couple of new blogs telling me that my site was the inspiration for them to get started. That was quite flattering.
Q.3 – Aside from Hockey Rants, you also run a blog entitled The Sidney Crosby Show and write a monthly team report for FantasyHockey.com. What made you take on these additional projects?
I have done quite a lot of writing, although not as much as I used to, for various sites and even a few publications over the past few years. Since I’ve been into fantasy hockey for many years, it just seemed natural to write for FantasyHockey.com and report about the St. Louis Blues. Writing also keeps me motivated to not be the usual lazy sloth that I am.
The Sidney Crosby Show is sort of a social experiment and a way to track the phenomenon that Sidney has created. No other player, not even Eric Lindros, has created so much hype. Sidney has the advantage of once-in-a-generation skillset combined with the explosion of multimedia reporting that Lindros, Lemieux, and Gretzky never enjoyed. I figured that there should be a one-stop shop for Sidney news plus it would be an interesting social study.
Q.4 – What advice would you give to other bloggers, especially to the newcomers?
1. Be prepared. Blogging can take more time than you first imagine. It may seem easy, but there are times when your mind is blank and/or you just don’t feel like writing.
2. Update often. This keeps your site generating more visitors and keeps your mind active. It’s like working out…once you stop; it’s hard to get started again.
3. Incorporate images into your blog.
4. Be yourself. Yeah, this sounds like the garbage your mom used to tell you after getting rejected for the 1,000 time on a date request, but the best bloggers are the ones that inject their own personality into their sights.
Q.5 – Do you find it challenging to balance work and your blogging?
Well, I follow and read so much hockey news and write quickly that I don’t find it hard at all. Most of my writing tends to be ‘natural’ and spur-of-the-moment. It also helps that on long SkyTrain (our public overland subway of sorts) rides that I can sort of daydream about posts and other material that I write.
Q.6 – You closely follow the Vancouver Canucks and St. Louis Blues. But which team would you pick as your favorite team? Why?
In a death match, it would have to be the hometown Canucks. I have truly lived and died with them more than the faraway Blues. It also helps that the Blues let my favourite player, Pavol Demitra, walk to LA.
Q.7 – Where do you see the NHL in 10 years? Why?
Well, I expect the US economy to implode on itself thanks to an unretainable level of personal, government, and trade debt combined with an over-reliance on insurance… oh wait, this isn’t Political Rants :). Honestly, I see the NHL in the USA as the regional sport that it is now and that it will be the same fabric-of-the-nation sport in Canada that is has always been. I hope to see the NHL flourish better in some of the new markets, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see one or two of the weaker markets lose their teams and perhaps head to Winnipeg (crosses fingers) or Houston. Florida, especially, looks to be a franchise that will never flourish. If the Devils owner wasn’t so tight with Bettman and the BoG, I could see them losing their club to a better market.
Q.8 – What did you think of the New Jersey Devils head coach, Larry Robinson, stepping down from his position?
I was shocked, but I don’t follow the Devils closely so that was part of the reason. I wouldn’t be shocked, though, if he was rehired by the Devils some time in the future. Fat Lou runs the team like a bit of a cult.
Q.9 – What are your thoughts on the US Olympic team roster picks?
Let me answer that when I stop laughing.
…
there!
The main surprise, to me, was that they included the ancient and slowed-down Chris Chelios. If they were leaving the past behind by leaving off Leetch, Amonte, and Roenick, why take Chelios? In a tournament against the world’s best players, I feel Chelios will be an awful liability for the US club. The goaltending is incredibly weak and none of the 3 goalies picked would leave me with a lot of confidence.
I wouldn’t totally underestimate the US squad, but they will have a tough time keeping strong opponents off of the scoreboard.
Q.10 – If you had to predict two teams that will be in the Stanley Cup finals, who would you pick?
Ottawa versus Calgary. Ottawa is the cream of the East and Hasek is back to his old self. Calgary has a very well put together roster and Kiprusoff is proving to be the real deal. Vancouver doesn’t have the defensive depth to make the finals, but anything can happen…we’re crossing our fingers.
Q.11 – When did you attend your first hockey game and who was playing?
When I moved to Vancouver from Cranbrook. I was 8 and it was against the Nordiques. The Nords weren’t very good at this time, and the Canucks won. I forget the score, but it was something like 7-4: a typical 80’s high scoring game. It was the first live NHL game that I had ever been to, and it was quite an experience. Cranbrook had very low level junior hockey, with crowds of a few hundred at most. Attending a game with over 15,000 screaming people caused my eardrums to nearly explode. I loved every minute, however.
Q.12 – What team do you find to be the most exciting to watch this year?
Our hometown Canucks have been one of the most attack-minded teams in the NHL for a few years and they are fun to watch. As for an opposing team, this year’s Ottawa Senators are very fun to watch. It’s too bad that the Leafs are always on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada and not the superior Senators. I also enjoy the offensive aggressiveness of Tampa Bay.
Q.13 – If you could change one thing about the NHL, what would it be?
Off Ice - Fire Gary Bettman.
On Ice - Scrap the shootout. I can live with every other rule change except this one. It’s silly!
Q.14 – Is there a hockey blog or website that you look up to for inspiration?
I had read baseball blogs long before I read any hockey blogs. When I looked around for hockey blogs, there were so few! The ones I found were Off Wing Opinion, Confessions of a Hockey Fan, Hockey Pundits, and Sharkspage.com. Those 4 sites gave me my first taste of the hockey blog sphere and I felt I should jump in.
Nowadays, I enjoy the statistical analysis I find on The Puck Stops Here and HockeyAnalysis.com. I always wanted to do more metric studies for hockey, but I don’t really have the time. It’s good to see others are taking charge.
Q.15 - Any additional comments?
The blogosphere really exploded after the lockout ended. Before and during the lockout, there were only a handful of us. Now, there are too many blogs to keep up with! I try to visit them all when I can, especially since they give good links to relevant news and discussion you won’t find in the mainstream media.
I’ve also been blessed to gain new friends and opportunities through Hockey Rants. I’ve met PJ of Sharkspage down in San Francisco and have talked numerous times online with Michael the Hockey Fanatic and the Acid Queen. Meeting new contacts and people through blogging is another inspiration to keep going. I even met my girlfriend though my site (long story for another day).
Blogroll
I’ve updated my blogroll adding two new blogs, The Upper Bowl and Abel to Yzerman. Both blogs are written by Michigan natives who reside in Tennessee. The Upper Bowl covers the local Nashville Predators, while Abel to Yzerman covers the Detroit Red Wings. Be sure to check out these new blogs and happy new year!