Archive for Hockey
NHL Record Road Trip: Olympics Send the Canucks Packing
Posted by: | CommentsAs the good people organizing the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics put the finishing touches on venues and prepare to host the world, January 28 marked the day they gave the Vancouver Canucks the boot, sending them on what will be an NHL-record road trip. The 14-game excursion will be nearly twice the length of the previous team record for a road trip. The Canucks will have eight games in the 18 days prior to the Olympic break and another six games in the nine days after the break.
Going into the road trip, the Canucks have done well to position themselves for the grind. Currently sitting atop the Northwest Division (third in the conference) with 70 points through 54 games, they are four points clear (and more importantly 4 wins) of second-place Colorado. They have won the six games prior to the long road trip and, after a comeback on Saturday night against the struggling Toronto Maple Leafs, won their first game on the epic trip.
Taking a look at the seven remaining games before the Olympic break, there appear to be points available. The Canucks have games against struggling clubs like Montreal, Boston, and Columbus, winnable games against Tampa Bay, Florida, and Minnesota, and a key match-up against the only team currently on a winning streak longer then Vancouver, the Ottawa Senators. Management has to look at this first part of the trip thinking that 10-12 points are not out of the question. They will have to be sharp going into the break too; the back half of the road trip is much more daunting. They open up the back half of the trip with a winnable game in Columbus again before big conference matches against the Detroit Red Wings and fierce rivals, the Chicago Blackhawks. The trip finishes out against a few surprising clubs that will make the Canucks work for everything they get. The Nashville, Colorado, and Phoenix teams will give them all they can handle. Points might be hard to come by during the back stretch, making the front stretch all the more important.
Taking a deeper look at some of the numbers behind the trip:
15 – Total flights during the trip
3 – Time zones visited, none of which will be their own. (East, Central and Mountain)
300 – Sticks will be traveling with the team3 – Sets of back-to-back games, two of them after the break
42 – Total days away from home base (General Motors Place)
11 – Games is the previous longest trip, back in ’88 when Calgary hosted the Olympic Games
11-11-1 – Vancouver’s current road record after winning the opening game of the trip against the Toronto Maple Leafs
12,861 – total miles (20,737 kilometers for our friends in Canada) to be traveled over the course of the road trip
4,147 – The average length of time it would take a person in hours to walk the trip, more then six months of walking without rest.
26,958 – Amount (in Canadian dollars) it would cost to take a taxi from start to finish.
Taking a look at the Canucks roster, they have seven Olympians that will get to spend a bit of time back home in Vancouver over the break, but they certainly won’t be getting much rest and relaxation.
Roberto Luongo (Canada) and Daniel and Henrik Sedin (Sweden) figure to be involved late in the tournament with gold medal aspirations. Ryan Kesler (USA), Sami Salo (Finland), and Pavol Demitra (Slovakia) all hope that they can help keep their respective squads around as well once medals are presented. Christian Ehrhoff (Germany) is hoping to help put his national squad on the Olympic radar.
Another interesting plot will be tracking the offensive numbers of Henrik Sedin. Currently leading the NHL in points with 78 (four more then Alexander Ovechkin,) it will be interesting to see if he can maintain his torrid pace and hold onto the scoring lead over the course of the trip. His linemates, Alex Burrows and brother Daniel, have been scoring in bunches since Daniel returned from his broken foot. During the recent seven-game winning streak, Henrik has been unstoppable, putting up 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists and a plus 9 over the stretch) with five multi-point games. This line will be a key component on this stretch as they typically excel in the down-low cycle game and are able to wear down their opponents, creating scoring opportunities for themselves.
The Vancouver Canucks have also been getting a good amount of secondary scoring this year beyond the Sedin line and the attention they demand has given the Sedin’s a chance to showcase their skills that much more. Ryan Kesler leads the secondary scoring contingent with 48 points (with 13 goals), with Mason Raymond (20 goals, and 40 points) along with Mikael Samuelsson (18 goals with 36 points) both chipping in offensively as well. Van City has also been getting scoring and pressure from their back end with Christian Ehrhoff and Alexander Edler pushing the puck up to the forwards in the transition game as well. They have been playing a well-balanced game and have really seemed to simplify things recently which should lead them to playing smartly on the road.
The obvious key to the success of the Vancouver Canucks starts and ends in goal. Roberto Luongo has seen a lot of rubber recently and, as usual, has been playing exceptionally well. He did get shelled for three quick goals on eight shots against the Maple Leafs in the road trip opener, but the team rallied and were able to prevent Luongo from taking the loss. Expect Bobby Lou to get a night or two off on this road trip to try and keep him sharp. His Olympic playing time will also play a role in the second half of the trip as well. Team Canada has yet to name their starter in the nets, and with Marc-Andre Fleury and Martin Brodeur also on the roster, chances are they will simply fly with whoever is hottest at that time. Luongo is currently on pace for his second 40+ win season, and his play will ultimately determine how well the team does during this stretch.
A quick aside, the Vancouver Canucks will not be given any sympathy from the Vancouver Giants (a major junior team in the Western Hockey League,) who have also been orphaned and will not play on home ice in 62 days. They play six “home” games in suburban Langley, BC and 21 road contests while Vancouver plays host to the world.
Christopher Carmichael has been hockey fan of over 20 years. He has been an active member on various hobby related sites, most notably www.hobbyinsider.net, and www.cloutsnchara.com. Christopher is also a long time collector, with a focus on a few select player collections, and the occasional set projects.
Popularity: 70% [?]
Player Spotlight: Ilya Kovalchuk
Posted by: | CommentsAs NHL teams amp up for the Olympic break (playing three to four games a week), the Olympic roster freeze looms large. February 12th at midnight marks the start of the roster freeze, and Ilya Kovalchuk and his situation with the Atlanta Thrashers is making management and fans uneasy. Kovalchuk is set to become an unrestricted free agent at years’ end, and would certainly be the hottest commodity available. How Atlanta Thrasher management deals with this player will define them as a franchise. It will play a large role in Kovalchuk’s place in the hobby as well.
A quick look into the stats for Kovalchuk shows that he has 327 goals, much of which has been accomplished without a legitimate centre man. 219 of these goals have come since the lockout ended. He has won a Rocket Richard Trophy in 2003-04, played in three All-Star games, and is on pace to reach the 50 goal plateau for the third time in his career. He is seemingly the second most dynamic goal scorer in the game today behind only Alexander Ovechkin.
The Olympic roster freeze lasts until February 28, and then just a few days later on March 3, the NHL trade deadline comes. Ilya seems to be looking for big money, and a lot of years on the agreement. Does Atlanta have the $80-100 million that he is looking for, over the course of the next ten to twelve years? Not sure, but my guess is they don’t. In this case, the question becomes: “When is the right time to move him?”
Scenario One: Kovalchuk gets moved before the Olympic break.
I personally don’t see this happening at this stage, as prospective teams won’t want to pay him for a couple of weeks without them helping the team. Kovalchuk is one of the key components of a high-flying and dangerous Russian team at the Olympics in Vancouver; teams are not going to take the chance of acquiring a player that might very well get hurt in the games and not be able to help them down the stretch. The asking price will be quite high, and that is certainly not worth the risk.
Scenario Two: Kovalchuk gets moved before the Trade Deadline, but after the Olympic Break.
This seems to be the most logical decision if they cannot come to an agreement on a contract discussion. I personally can’t see a general manager leaving this to chance and potentially allowing a team to sign him without getting anything in return, but that scenario isn’t out of the question. The asking price will be high. Probably in the neighborhood of an NHL ready player, probably a young player with upside. Also on the want list will be blue chip prospects and a draft pick package that will have to include at least one first round pick. This seems to be a decent option if you can get exactly what you are looking for, but the main problem is this: none of these things are Ilya Kovalchuk.
Teams that seemingly are in the hunt for Kovalchuk’s services at this point appear to be the Los Angeles Kings (who have a long list of high level prospects and quality young players that might be necessary to swing a deal), and the Boston Bruins (who have assembled a good cast of draft picks, mostly from the Phil Kessel deal swung with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the offseason). The Vancouver Canucks, Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers are also interested. Don’t be surprised if you end up seeing the New York Rangers become a player as well. Kovalchuk playing in any of these markets would most certainly be a boon for his collectability in a much more prominent hockey market.
Scenario Three: Atlanta holds onto Kovalchuk in hopes of a playoff run, trade his rights before he officially hits the market on July 1.
As of today, Atlanta is in the thick of the playoff race with 54 points in 52 games. They are but a single point out of the last playoff spot. But the problem is this: parity. While they are but a single point out of 6th place (in the playoffs) they are also a point away from being in 13th place as well. A lot of teams are in the same boat, many of which will seemingly be buyers at the deadline looking to acquire talent. Will hanging onto Kovalchuk be enough to get them into the playoffs when other teams around them are looking to improve? If I had the answer to this, I would probably be collecting a paycheck from an NHL team. It would certainly be a gamble that the Atlanta Thrasher brain trust will have to weigh options on. Chances are good that if you wait until the end of June to trade Kovy’s rights, you won’t get the same return as you would if you move him before the trade deadline.
Scenario Four: Thrashers are able to re-sign Kovalchuck before the trade deadline.
At this point, this seems to be the least possible scenario. Kovalchuk and his representatives have given the Thrasher management a number they are looking for, and Thrasher management has given Kovalchuk’s camp a number they are looking for. These are seemingly miles apart, or else they would have already come to an agreement. At this point, this scenario is but a pipe dream, especially for Thrasher fans (who currently rank 28th of 30 teams in average attendance).
Scenario Five: Thrashers let Kovalchuk go to free agency and are able to re-sign him at that point.
At this point this might be the best chance (although very slim) at the Thrashers keeping Kovalchuk long term. I say that because you have to think that someone will give Kovalchuk the big money he wants; if not for the years he wants, at least the opportunity to make big money for a good chunk of years. Atlanta has to hope they have a better feel on the market then that of Kovalchuk and his handlers. If they do, they might be able to say to him, “As we have said all along, our offer is the best one you are going to get, and why don’t we just get this done now. You had your fun looking, but this is where you belong.” It would certainly be a gamble, not one I am sure would go over well with fans, and would take stones of steel from management. It could happen, though it’s unlikely.
What happens with Ilya Kovalchuk will have a direct impact on his hobby appeal as well. As one of the legitimate superstars in the league today, his pulls are still very attractive. If he were to move to a big market like Los Angeles or New York, you would expect to see much more activity on the secondary market for his cards. The same applies if he were to go to an original six team like Boston or Chicago: the fans would start to pick up his items at an alarming rate.
Where he goes is certain to have an impact on his collectibility. The process he goes through will have an impact as well: will he just be a rental player, will the team that trades for him be able to sign him long term, or will he hit the open market? For these reasons, over the next few weeks through the Olympic break, no NHL player will attract more attention.
Christopher Carmichael has been hockey fan of over 20 years. He has been an active member on various hobby related sites, most notably www.hobbyinsider.net, and www.cloutsnchara.com. Christopher is also a long time collector, with a focus on a few select player collections, and the occasional set projects.
Popularity: 66% [?]
Free Pack of Hockey Cards This Saturday in Canada!
Posted by: | CommentsAre you Canadian? Do you like hockey? Do I even need to ask that second question if the answer to the first one is “Yes”? Do you like free stuff?
Well, for our friends up north, we’ve got a great promotion going on this Saturday to celebrate your nation’s sport: National Hockey Card Day. Just show up to a local hobby shop or select mass retailer, and you’ll get a free pack of Upper Deck Hockey cards. That simple.
Click here to see more on this promotion, and check out the official website too!
Popularity: 55% [?]
Changing of the Guard: More Young Leaders in Today’s Game Than Ever
Posted by: | CommentsThe NHL rulebook (Rule 6.1) states, “One captain shall be appointed by each team and he alone shall have the privilege of discussing with the Referee any questions relating to interpretation of rules which may arise during the progress of a game.” It then continues, “Only the Captain, when invited to do so by the Referee, shall have the privilege of discussing any point relating to the interpretation of rules.” There are some other items in the NHL rules that discuss the captain, but in reality, this is their designation. At the highest level though, being a captain is so much more. In the locker room, as well as off the ice, the team captain serves as the team leader.
With 25 year old Eric Staal being named captain of the Carolina Hurricanes on January 20, 2010, Eric is the newest team captain, and one of many young captains currently in the league. The NHL seems to be going through a bit of a paradigm shift with younger leaders being identified early, and given prominent roles of leadership.
Current Pittsburgh Penguins superstar and team captain Sidney Crosby was named the youngest permanent captain in league history (19 years, 9 months, and 24 days). This action seemed to spark a change, with many teams now employing a young superstar as the captain. All one has to do to notice the shift is to take a quick look at all the current team captains to see that the league is getting younger, and many times it is the team’s best young star that is the face of the franchise.
With teams trying to lock up their good young talent earlier and for longer and longer contracts, it seems to make sense for these talented young players to get the leadership role at a younger age. Chicago Blackhawks 21 year old star Jonathan Toews is currently the youngest serving captain in the league. Other youngsters who carry the “C” are Mike Richards in Philadelphia and Dustin Brown in Los Angeles, among others.
Sometimes, there is concern that these players are being handed leadership roles too early. Most of the players who get to the NHL were probably captains of many of their teams growing up, and are now arguably their professional team’s best player. These players are all highly skilled and have been in big games their whole life. The older players seem to understand this as well, and are all about the team winning, which in the end is ALWAYS the goal.
Click here for a quick look at all current captains in the league.
Currently there are two NHL teams with no serving captain, and oddly enough, they are arguably the two most storied franchises in the league. The Toronto Maple Leafs have not had a team captain since Mats Sundin left town, and the Montreal Canadiens chose not to name a new one when former captain Saku Koivu left for Anaheim in the off-season. The fact that these two teams were not ready to name a captain reveals the pressures captains have to deal with, both on and off ice. It also shows that these long time rivals and storied franchises don’t seem to have the people in place at this stage to feel comfortable giving that responsibility to anyone on their current squad. Not having a team captain on my favorite team (Montreal) is a bit weird for me, but if you look back on history and review past captains, you’ll note the intense pressure the team leader is subject to in that market. This being the case, it is probably for the best to wait until a solid leader emerges.
While the youth movement seems to be in full effect across the league, there are still many teams who have grizzled veterans as their leaders. The first two that come to mind for me are Niklas Lidstrom for the Detroit Red Wings and Scott Neidermayer of the Anaheim Ducks. Both players are former multiple-time Stanley Cup winners, and seem to have won just about everything. Lidstrom (aged 39), and Neidermayer (aged 36) are among the oldest team captains in the league, but 40 year old San Jose Shark Rob Blake is currently the oldest serving captain. These three vets provide a stable environment for youngsters to come up, and provide upper and middle management the assurances that come with a steady influence. The fact that any player in the league would love to have assembled a career that matches theirs is icing on the cake.
Captains have a huge role on the ice, but an even bigger role removed from playing the game itself. They must be able to handle the pressures of media both before and after games, as well as providing community support for their market. The “face of the franchise” is not at all a far off reach. Many have their own charities that they raise funds for, and they are also generally counted on by management to be the focal point of the teams’ charities (not to mention outreach events and ticket drives). In the off-season, the captain can be counted on to help out with recruiting, often giving a call to perspective free agents or welcoming new additions to the area. Small things like this do not go unnoticed, and you usually hear about it when the press conference happens for the big free agent signings each summer.
In the hobby, it almost always seems that the team captain will get significant hobby love, at least at the regional level. Because a team often has their most prominent player or superstar in this position, they will get a great amount of hobby action worldwide. Some of today’s biggest hobby superstars are captains. Jarome Iginla (Calgary Flames), the previously mentioned Crosby and Toews, as well as Rick Nash (Columbus Blue Jackets), Ilya Kovalchuk (Atlanta Thrashers) are just some of the hobby heroes that act as team captain.
History has also shown that team captains do very well in the hobby. A laundry list of who’s who in the hobby and still get featured regularly all acted as team captains. Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Mario Lemieux, Mark Messier and Jean Beliveau are some of the most prominent hits that can come out of any product. These players were known for majority of their careers as team captains, and are also known as some of the greatest leaders of all time.
One of the more recent cardboard tributes to captains was in 2006/07, when Upper Deck released the Parkhurst brand. This had a “Salute to Captains” subset, as well as an autographed parallel to most of the greats. These gave the collectors new and old a bit of a history lesson in some of the game’s great past leaders. This set was done very well, and remains a highly collected: it’s one of my personal favorites releases of all time.
2009-10 also marks the return of long time Red Wings captain and hobby hero Steve Yzerman to Upper Deck products, and that should get collectors going crazy over the prospect of some amazing cards with heroes of today and yesteryear. One can only imagine the possibilities the Upper Deck creative staff will be able to come up with for him. Past Red Wings stars like Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay and Alex Delvecchio and current Red Wings captain Nick Lidstrom should provide some great combinations for multi player signatures in sets like SPA, Ultimate and The Cup to name a few. With many a rabid Detroit fans, as well as those who collect Hall of Famer autographs, Yzerman will be a welcome addition to the lineup. I for one am looking forward to it.
Christopher Carmichael has been hockey fan of over 20 years. He has been an active member on various hobby related sites, most notably www.hobbyinsider.net, and www.cloutsnchara.com. Christopher is also a long time collector, with a focus on a few select player collections, and the occasional set projects.
Popularity: 42% [?]
Packs to the People Enters a New Dimension!
Posted by: | CommentsAndrew Long is back with a new Upper Deck Packs to the People video! This time . . . well, it’s best to see it for yourself.
Popularity: 15% [?]
