Uncertainty definitely rules the day when it comes to NHL realignment. It seems that the league wants to move teams in the same time zone closer together, but the fact that there are 16 teams in the Eastern Time Zone significantly complicates matters. But this much we know: the upcoming season will keep the same six-division alignment, meaning Winnipeg will play in the Southeast.
However, a major overhaul is fairly likely for 2012-13 and one that could look like this (in no particular order, with the number of teams by division in parentheses):
East (8)
Boston Bruins
Buffalo Sabres
Montreal Canadiens
New York Rangers
Ottawa Senators
New York Islanders
New Jersey Devils
Toronto Maple Leafs
South (7)
Washington Capitals
Carolina Hurricanes
Nashville Predators
Florida Panthers
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Tampa Bay Lightning
Midwest (7)
Chicago Blackhawks
Colorado Avalanche
Columbus Blue Jackets
Dallas Stars
Detroit Red Wings
Minnesota Wild
St. Louis Blues
Pacific (8)
Anaheim Ducks
Calgary Flames
Edmonton Oilers
L.A. Kings
Phoenix Coyotes
San Jose Sharks
Vancouver Canucks
Winnipeg Jets
Although no system is perfect, the one above addresses many things:
Rivalries: The Patrick Division purists (myself included) will be somewhat appeased with the Caps being rejoined with the Penguins and Flyers, while the East and Pacific Divisions have too many feuds to name. The Midwest keeps Detroit and Chicago together and adds Colorado and St. Louis into the mix.
Travel: The above alignment makes the best of the South Division. Yes, Pittsburgh and Philly aren't in the South (Washington really isn't either), but you can't have a 10-team East Division and Pennsylvania is closer to Washington than New York, Boston or any of the Canadian cities.
Red Wings Factor: Detroit fans may not be entirely happy with this alignment, but there are too many factors preventing them from moving East. Yes, you can flop Detroit and Nashville in the above divisional alignment, but then the Wings are isolated from rivals and are misplaced in terms of geography. If the Midwest Division will be in what's now the Western Conference, then Detroit is pretty much stuck with a newer vision of the status quo. But I would argue that realignment will help them and reduce their travel, a legitimate gripe they've had for a very long time.
There is much time for the NHL to finalize the new alignment, but this provides a good starting point.
June 29, 2011
June 28, 2011
Laich Signs Six-Year Deal
The Washington Capitals announced this morning that all-everything Brooks Laich has signed a six-year, $27 million deal, meaning he will avoid free agency to remain with the club. Needless to say, this is a huge move for the Caps, as his future was somewhat uncertain.
However, with Laich and newly acquired Troy Brouwer under wraps, GM George McPhee is doing a good job of reinforcing a good combination of grit and skill in the lineup.
Unrestricted free agency starts July 1, and it seems the Caps are going to have a busy few weeks.
However, with Laich and newly acquired Troy Brouwer under wraps, GM George McPhee is doing a good job of reinforcing a good combination of grit and skill in the lineup.
Unrestricted free agency starts July 1, and it seems the Caps are going to have a busy few weeks.
Fanspeak Column: Summer Change for the Caps
This post originally appeared on fanspeak.com, where I pen a (mostly) weekly column. It's also part four of my off-season look at the Washington Capitals.
The wrestler Triple H used to be known as the "cerebral assassin," paying homage to his brain power and the element of surprise. One could argue that Washington Capitals General Manager George McPhee should be known by the same moniker. Over his tenure with the Caps, which began in 1997, nary a leaked rumor has escaped from his troops, often leading to surprising announcements of player movement.
That was reinforced leading into Friday's draft, when the Caps traded for Blackhawks winger Troy Brouwer -- a deal completed two days in advance but kept secret until the announcement. Brouwer is the perfect player for Coach Bruce Boudreau's system that was unveiled midway through last season, but one that didn't yield the desired results as the Caps were swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round of the playoffs.
Brouwer possesses so-called sandpaper, the ability to score 20 goals and kill penalties. If this sounds like Brooks Laich, it is, but that doesn't mean the popular player won't be returning to Washington. (More on that in a second.)
The only exception to McPhee's leak shutdown seems to be when players aren't going to return. The latest casualty purportedly is goalie Semyon Varlamov, who either will find another NHL job or head back to Russia. My bet is that Matt Bradley and Boyd Gordon won't be back, and neither will any of the players acquired last season (Scott Hannan, Marco Sturm and Jason Arnott). Dennis Wideman, who also joined the Caps last season, still has a year left on his contract.
Laich is too good, too influential in the locker room and, perhaps most importantly, too well-suited for the team's system to not return. He's not going to break the bank and wants to stay with the Caps. Besides, he earned a respectable amount of votes for the Selke Trophy (for defensive forward), something needed more on the team. McPhee will find a way to bring Laich back.
More and more, though, the player who sticks out like a sore thumb on the roster is Alex Semin. Granted, he's only signed for one more year, but with the acquisition of Brouwer, and more roster turnover coming in the next week or two (unrestricted free agency signings begin Friday), this is the time to deal Semin. If the Florida Panthers will take on Brian Campbell's inflated contract, somebody out there will be willing to pay Semin $6.7 million for the 2011-12 season.
Last February, I called for a major change of culture for the franchise. Although there haven't been sweeping changes in terms of personnel or coaches, the entire system was overhauled and things are turning around. Yes, their playoff fate was telling -- and was most likely the driving force behind what we're seeing now.
But hockey's "cerebral assassin" still has some moves up his sleeve -- and be sure that they will definitely help the Caps move closer to their stated goal: winning a Stanley Cup.
The wrestler Triple H used to be known as the "cerebral assassin," paying homage to his brain power and the element of surprise. One could argue that Washington Capitals General Manager George McPhee should be known by the same moniker. Over his tenure with the Caps, which began in 1997, nary a leaked rumor has escaped from his troops, often leading to surprising announcements of player movement.
That was reinforced leading into Friday's draft, when the Caps traded for Blackhawks winger Troy Brouwer -- a deal completed two days in advance but kept secret until the announcement. Brouwer is the perfect player for Coach Bruce Boudreau's system that was unveiled midway through last season, but one that didn't yield the desired results as the Caps were swept by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round of the playoffs.
Brouwer possesses so-called sandpaper, the ability to score 20 goals and kill penalties. If this sounds like Brooks Laich, it is, but that doesn't mean the popular player won't be returning to Washington. (More on that in a second.)
The only exception to McPhee's leak shutdown seems to be when players aren't going to return. The latest casualty purportedly is goalie Semyon Varlamov, who either will find another NHL job or head back to Russia. My bet is that Matt Bradley and Boyd Gordon won't be back, and neither will any of the players acquired last season (Scott Hannan, Marco Sturm and Jason Arnott). Dennis Wideman, who also joined the Caps last season, still has a year left on his contract.
Laich is too good, too influential in the locker room and, perhaps most importantly, too well-suited for the team's system to not return. He's not going to break the bank and wants to stay with the Caps. Besides, he earned a respectable amount of votes for the Selke Trophy (for defensive forward), something needed more on the team. McPhee will find a way to bring Laich back.
More and more, though, the player who sticks out like a sore thumb on the roster is Alex Semin. Granted, he's only signed for one more year, but with the acquisition of Brouwer, and more roster turnover coming in the next week or two (unrestricted free agency signings begin Friday), this is the time to deal Semin. If the Florida Panthers will take on Brian Campbell's inflated contract, somebody out there will be willing to pay Semin $6.7 million for the 2011-12 season.
Last February, I called for a major change of culture for the franchise. Although there haven't been sweeping changes in terms of personnel or coaches, the entire system was overhauled and things are turning around. Yes, their playoff fate was telling -- and was most likely the driving force behind what we're seeing now.
But hockey's "cerebral assassin" still has some moves up his sleeve -- and be sure that they will definitely help the Caps move closer to their stated goal: winning a Stanley Cup.
June 21, 2011
Caps Stay Quiet
Part three of my off-season look at the Washington Capitals.
The Washington Capitals haven't been up to much since the season ended with a sweep at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning in early May. So far, none of the team's free agents have been re-signed and only defenseman Patrick McNeill and goalie Dany Sabourin have been brought back -- and, most likely, both will play for the AHL's Hershey Bears next season.
That means the fates of Brooks Laich, Karl Alzner, Semyon Varlamov, Matt Bradley, Boyd Gordon, Jason Arnott, Marco Sturm, and Scott Hannan have yet to be determined. It also means that the team still has the same roster that hasn't gotten in done in the playoffs under Coach Bruce Boudreau.
Additionally, the team signed Swedish center Mattias Sjogren to a two-year entry-level contract and traded for left wing Taylor Stefishen from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a conditional draft pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. No word on whether either player will be part of the Caps next season or head to the Bears.
With the draft scheduled for this Friday and Saturday, and free agency beginning next Friday, July 1, there are a lot of decisions ahead for GM George McPhee. Among them are what to do with Alex Semin, the mercurial winger who has been the subject of many rumors and questions during his tenure in Washington. Currently, he's signed for next season at $6.7 million -- which McPhee essentially said is the most he'd give Semin. That could mean that this is the end of Semin's tenure in Washington or just McPhee speak.
Either way, the team needs more grit, a second-line center (although Marcus Johansson is growing into that role nicely) and, most importantly, determination that is present on Stanley Cup winners but lacking on this bunch.
It should be an interesting two weeks or so.
The Washington Capitals haven't been up to much since the season ended with a sweep at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning in early May. So far, none of the team's free agents have been re-signed and only defenseman Patrick McNeill and goalie Dany Sabourin have been brought back -- and, most likely, both will play for the AHL's Hershey Bears next season.
That means the fates of Brooks Laich, Karl Alzner, Semyon Varlamov, Matt Bradley, Boyd Gordon, Jason Arnott, Marco Sturm, and Scott Hannan have yet to be determined. It also means that the team still has the same roster that hasn't gotten in done in the playoffs under Coach Bruce Boudreau.
Additionally, the team signed Swedish center Mattias Sjogren to a two-year entry-level contract and traded for left wing Taylor Stefishen from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a conditional draft pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. No word on whether either player will be part of the Caps next season or head to the Bears.
With the draft scheduled for this Friday and Saturday, and free agency beginning next Friday, July 1, there are a lot of decisions ahead for GM George McPhee. Among them are what to do with Alex Semin, the mercurial winger who has been the subject of many rumors and questions during his tenure in Washington. Currently, he's signed for next season at $6.7 million -- which McPhee essentially said is the most he'd give Semin. That could mean that this is the end of Semin's tenure in Washington or just McPhee speak.
Either way, the team needs more grit, a second-line center (although Marcus Johansson is growing into that role nicely) and, most importantly, determination that is present on Stanley Cup winners but lacking on this bunch.
It should be an interesting two weeks or so.
June 15, 2011
Bruins Win the Stanley Cup
The Boston Bruins won the Stanley Cup tonight with a 4-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks in game seven. After losing the first two games of the series, the Bruins dominated the last five -- winning four of them and outscoring the Canucks, 21-4, along the way. The hit by Aaron Rome on Nathan Horton in game three turned out to be Boston's rallying cry -- and lead to increased hitting, scoring and motivation.
Boston's Tim Thomas won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, allowing just eight goals during the series and registering an other-worldly .940 save percentage for the entire postseason, when he made 798 saves (a new NHL record).
Finally, it's time to continue a tradition around these parts of picking the next champ a year in advance. Your 2012 Stanley Cup champions: the Philadelphia Flyers. (And, please, don't come looking for Mr. Cleowhen if it doesn't happen.)
Boston's Tim Thomas won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, allowing just eight goals during the series and registering an other-worldly .940 save percentage for the entire postseason, when he made 798 saves (a new NHL record).
Finally, it's time to continue a tradition around these parts of picking the next champ a year in advance. Your 2012 Stanley Cup champions: the Philadelphia Flyers. (And, please, don't come looking for Mr. Cleo
June 9, 2011
Why Rome's Hit Will Give Boston the Cup
In the early stages of game three between the Boston Bruins and Vancouver Canucks, Aaron Rome delivered a late hit on Nathan Horton that totally changed the tone of the 2011 Stanley Cup finals. Since then, the Bruins have outscored the Canucks, 12-1, and, nearly to a man, said that they want to do everything in Horton's honor. Horton will not play again because of the concussion he incurred and Rome will be out via suspension.
The growing divide goes further than that, though. The Canucks' vaunted power play has scored exactly once in the Stanley Cup final and they've only scored five times total through four games (three in game two). The Bruins have dominated play for large portions and the visitors looked lost at TD Garden over the last few days.
If Vancouver wants to avoid becoming the third Presidents' Trophy winner to lose in the Stanley Cup finals, they better hope that some home cooking in game five will change the tide. Otherwise, the Bruins will be skating the Cup on Monday night back home -- and they'll have a Canucks' defenseman to thank for giving them momentum to capture their first Stanley Cup since 1972.
The growing divide goes further than that, though. The Canucks' vaunted power play has scored exactly once in the Stanley Cup final and they've only scored five times total through four games (three in game two). The Bruins have dominated play for large portions and the visitors looked lost at TD Garden over the last few days.
If Vancouver wants to avoid becoming the third Presidents' Trophy winner to lose in the Stanley Cup finals, they better hope that some home cooking in game five will change the tide. Otherwise, the Bruins will be skating the Cup on Monday night back home -- and they'll have a Canucks' defenseman to thank for giving them momentum to capture their first Stanley Cup since 1972.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
