A Guy Like Me

It had been a long, strange year for John Howard Scott, who was suddenly thrusted into the spotlight around this time last year, when he was voted into the NHL All-Star game by fans, only to be traded a few days later and the subsequent chain of  events that followed that would ultimately see him be in the All-Star Game that year and win the game's MVP honors. His autobiography, A Guy Like Me, written with the help of Brian Cazeneuve, tells of a big kid at heart who simply wanted to enjoy the game he loved.

From his early days to his struggle with being the tall guy in pee-wee hockey, he tells of a guy who truly is like any other person, right down to their struggles. His time at Michigan Tech, which had obstacles both on the ice (the team was never any good while he was there) and off the ice (he served time for DWI), is documented, as well as how his relationship with his now-wife evolved from the awkward beginnings to where it is now, are covered. Also included is his relationship with former teammate Derek Boogaard and how he had wished he could have done more, coaches who he loved playing for, and of course, the drama leading up to his All-Star turn. Scott may be retired now, as he announced it a couple months ago, but the mark he left on the game, however small it may be ultimately, won't soon be forgotten.

One of things that makes A Guy Like Me a great read is that everything you read is truly from the heart of Scott. Despite never being comfortable in the spotlight, the reader always got the sense that no matter the situation, he manages to get through, and throughout the book, he gives thanks to his wife. Another positive of the book is that he offers a side of some of hockey's more notorious villains (that does depend on which team or teams you root for) that most fans never get to see, and while he doesn't completely throw a few people under the bus, he does address a few of those critics in a respectful manner. The book may not be as detailed as some would like, but it is one of the most honest autobiographies one will read.

Brightening Up for Hollywood

The NHL All-Star weekend in Los Angeles is right around the corner, and with the announcement of the full rosters for each division, as well as what the teams will wear, it's time to examine each aspect.

Beginning with the uniforms, the idea that each division will get their own color scheme for the game was a major step up from last year, when there were just two uniform sets. Each uniform set is representative of the host Los Angeles Kings' color schemes over the years, with gold, purple, silver, and black all being represented. The stars around the waist mark the NHL Centennial, as there are ten around while the numbering takes its cues from the NHL All-Star logo for this year's event, as the design within the numbers mirrors that of the logo while the lettering resembles the famous HOLLYWOOD facade. Like last year's event, the NHL logo on the front has reflective elements. Where things do become a bit of a problem is the assigned uniforms, as the Atlantic will have the gold, the Metropolitan will have the white, the Central will have the purple, and the Pacific will have the black. The Central/Pacific matchup will especially be a potential issue, as it is purple and black, though the shoulders are different enough to possibly offset the problem.

As for rosters, the idea of every team having an all-star player will once again be at the firing line, as at least four teams truthfully didn't deserve to have a player representing them. Detroit (Frans Nielsen), Colorado (Nathan MacKinnon), Carolina (Justin Faulk), and Arizona (Mike Smith) would be fair game for this rule. As for those who should have been there and who should not have, one could make the case for Mark Schiefele being there, replacing Jonathan Toews in the Central. You could also make a case for Henrik Lundqvist being there, but it would be impossible to kick either Braden Holtby or Sergei Bobrovsky off. While Smith was a rather questionable pick, seeing as Oliver Ekman-Larsson would have been a better pick if they were going with a Coyote, presuming that Ekman-Larsson would have kicked Cam Fowler off, a case could be made for either Peter Budaj or Cam Talbot, with smart money being on Budaj, especially since he started in the AHL this season, but has kept the Kings within striking distance of a playoff spot in the absence of Jonathan Quick. It would have worked twice as much if there was a John Scott-like angle to be found.

Golden Opportunity Gone to Waste

Today, the NHL All-Star rosters, as well as the jerseys, were revealed. While there are bound to be questions about the choices of the rosters, that happens every year, and some are warranted. As for what the players will be wearing, well, you're seeing it in the picture above.  According to the press release:

Each All-Star jersey features the official NHL Shield infused with the Predators' gold in the crest. For the on-ice version of the All-Star jersey, the crest has been constructed with reflective material which glimmers in certain light as a salute to Nashville's vibrant night-life scene. The black and white color scheme in each jersey shares the colors of the keys on a piano to celebrate the city of Nashville's "Music City" nickname.

The All-Star jerseys will feature numbers and letters designed as modern interpretations of traditional country music poster lettering, which has been a defining aesthetic of Nashville. The numbers for the on-ice versions of the All-Star jerseys also will have the same reflective material as the crest. The tri-star mark, which appears in the neck gusset as well as on the pant, is a tribute to the Tennessee state flag and the Predators and a symbol of the elite athletes participating in the 2016 Honda NHL® All-Star festivities. Each All-Star jersey will feature two full-color shoulder patches – the player's home team logo and the NHL All-Star logo.

 Now, for my analysis. The most obvious thing to notice is the fact that the game will feature black and white jerseys, and I feel the analogy to piano keys is far-fetched. Here, the league had an opportunity to go with gold and navy blue jerseys to give it the distinction that it is Nashville's year for the All-Star game. Instead, it is a missed opportunity. The crest on the front, while it could be better, is as good as it's going to get, given that two different teams will be wearing the respective home and away jerseys for the game.  Name and numbering has not been officially been revealed for public view as of this time, so judgement will be held off until then.  However, the neck gusset is where it actually hits on the mark, as it is same tri-star mark found on Predators gear, as well as the Tennessee state flag.  Overall, the All-Star jerseys for Nashville will be remembered as opportunities missed to create an identity for the game and year.

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One of These Things is Not Like the Others...

This screen grab is not made up: it has actually happened.  That's right, John Scott, he of one assist in 25 games this season for Arizona, was voted into the All-Star Game as captain of the Pacific Division as part of the NHL's revamping of its format.  He will join Patrick Kane (Central), Jaromir Jagr (Atlantic), and Alex Ovechkin (Metropolitan) in Nashville at the end of the month.

Now, if you thought All-Star Weekend in any sport was a joke before, with the farce of fan voting, it's hit the fan here in the NHL.  As you may remember, Scott is on his sixth team in his NHL career, amassing five goals, five assists, and 517 PIM since he joined in the 2008-09 season.  The former Michigan Tech grad has also been suspended three times and his career high in games played was 56 in 2013-14 with Buffalo.  He does nothing of note on the ice other than be a physical presence, as he's 6'8" and 270 lbs., but given that it IS the All-Star weekend, where things should be light-hearted, he's a true breath of fresh air, and that should count for something, at least, as evidenced here when he was a member of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Time to Shine!

Tonight is the MLB All-Star Game, which will wrap up a weekend (plus Monday and Tuesday) of All-Star festivities in Kansas City.  Tonight's game will be in every sense of the word, a changing of the guard.  Chipper Jones is playing his last season and is in the game tonight.  Fun fact for you, courtesy of a local little birdie: until last night, Jones had never stepped foot in Kauffman Stadium.  Jones has been in every stadium except the Royals' home field.  Representing the new generation?  Bryce Harper (pictured) and Mike Trout, both of whom are teen phenoms and both of whom are making their first appearances in the Midsummer Classic.  Both are riding shotgun on their respective teams, with Harper sharing the spotlight in Washington with Stephen Strasburg (expected to play tonight) and Trout playing alongside Albert Pujols and Mark Trumbo (the latter putting on an impressive show in the Home Run Derby last night).  Yet, both are already making their marks in the Majors this early in their respective careers, and Harper is already a household name while Trout may very well be a household name by season's end.

MLB FanFest

Earlier in the week, I said I was going to talk about baseball, being that the MLB All-Star Game is in town this Tuesday and the festivities are ongoing as we speak.  I am finally getting around to talk about baseball, as the free-agency period has hit a lull after the big July 4 announcement.

The All-Star Weekend festivities will have a Celebrity All-Star and Futures Game on Sunday, and if you're like me and are not rich enough to attend the All-Star Game itself (or even the Home Run Derby on Monday), there is always the MLB FanFest.  That would be your cheapest option (though at $30 to get in, the term "cheap" is relative) and features exhibits from the Negro Leagues (pictured, and if you want to see all of the Negro League artifacts, visit the Negro League Museum if you're in town), the Women's baseball league of the 1930's and 1940's, and interactive displays where you can try your hitting, fielding, and pitching skills, and even try to steal a base.  Collectors, the FanFest even has something for you, with vendors carrying baseball cards, pins, patches, balls, game worn gloves and jerseys, and even batting helmets, and yes, you can trade your baseball cards there.  The baseball lifer in me enjoyed it yesterday, though there was great temptation to spend beyond the means, as there was even an MLB shop for jerseys, caps, shirts, and various things with the All-Star label attached.  If you have a lot of money to blow and want to get your baseball fix without spending ludicrous amounts for tickets to the actual All-Star game, FanFest is for you, but it only runs until Tuesday.

Almost Time for Baseball (All-Star Edition)

No, you will not see this mascot at any Major League ball park, but this mascot (Orbitz of the Albuquerque Isotopes) segues nicely into today's topic.  With the Major League Baseball All-Star Game less than two weeks away, I figure to devote some time in the coming days to the Midsummer Classic that will be held in Kansas City, MO.  If you've followed this blog at all, you will remember that this hack of a writer calls the city home (for now), and since baseball has been on the back burner since the beginning (this blog was going to cover baseball in addition to hockey), I figure to make up for it somewhat by going through some of baseball's best moments from the All-Star Games of the past.

AHL Madness

The All-Star Weekend wasn't necessarily limited to the NHL, as its minor league system American Hockey League had its All-Star weekend festivities in Atlantic City, NJ.  The West swept both the Skills Competition and the game itself, with the latter going into a shootout.  The weekend also saw four new inductees into the AHL Hall of Fame: coach Joe Crozier, Jack Gordon, who excelled as a player, coach, and manager, John Stevens, who also excelled as a player and coach, and is currently on the Los Angeles Kings coaching staff, and Zellio Toppazzini, a great player in the league for a long time.  As for players participating in the AHL All-Star Weekend, it was a mix of players on their way up and those who for one reason or another, never stuck in the NHL.  Whether it is former first rounders who needed refining such as Thomas Hickey and Zack Kassian, or AHL lifers such as Darren Haydar, or players who could never stick in the NHL such as Krys Kolanos and Yann Danis, the AHL All-Star Weekend provides a nice mix for fans and even team scouts who just might be at the game to see who could get the next call-up.  While it's not nearly the glamorous spectacle that its NHL big brother is, but the AHL All-Star weekend is definitely a nice compliment to the NHL version and provided that you can get the game on television, something to satisfy the hockey void until the next regular season NHL game.

No-Vi? No Problem.

All-Star Weekend wrapped up with Team Chara taking the game 12-9, and Marian Gaborik was named the MVP of the game.  The weekend certainly didn't miss Alexander Ovechkin, who opted out of the festivities, citing his three game suspension for leaving his feet for a hit on Zbynek Michalek a week ago.  The Breakaway Challenge saw Patrick Kane pull a Superman impersonation, Corey Perry almost pull a Ned Braden, and Carey Price play goaltender with his back turned to the shooter and "Tebowing," though not both at once.  The weekend was obviously about one player: Daniel Alfredsson, who managed to be the third hardest shot in the competition (Zdeno Chara and Shea Weber are not getting dethroned anytime soon), and even net a couple of goals in the All-Star Game.  How much did the weekend mean to fans?  Well, all of the Senators got standing ovations, with Alfredsson getting the loudest cheers, anyone wearing a Maple Leafs sweater got booed mercilessly, and Zdeno Chara, Marian Hossa, and Brian Elliott, all former Senators, got cheers that equaled those of the current Senators.  The 2013 game will be in Columbus, and given the state of the Blue Jackets, the city will have a lot of ground to make up if it even wants to have the success that Ottawa did.

Got Skills?

With the All-Star Game today, yesterday was a nice time for all of the participants in the game, as well as the rookies chosen to participate in skills competition.  A quick rundown of the results sees Carl Hagelin of the New York Rangers win the Fastest Skater competition, Patrick Kane win the Breakaway competition, Jamie Benn win the Accurate Shooter competition, Zdeno Chara break a record en route to winning the Hardest Shot competition (though no plexiglass was broken), and Steven Stamkos win the Breakaway Elimination challenge.  Team Alfredsson took the overall competition, but will the same hold for today's game?

Let's Get it On!

Last night, Zdeno Chara and Daniel Alfredsson picked their teams, and to the surprise of no one, all of the Senators are on one side and all of the Maple Leafs are on another (care to guess who's on what side?)  There were a few shockers in the draft, such as Pavel Datsyuk being the first guy picked, but it is hard to argue with success, which was what Chara went with.  Chara did pick Evgeni Malkin, who I thought should have been the first player picked, right after Datsyuk and Tim Thomas (big shock).  Alfredsson's first three picks?  Erik Karlsson, Jason Spezza, and Jonathan Quick.  The first two were practical no-brainers, and Quick has been the best goaltender in the Western Conference.  Chara already had Joffrey Lupul on his team as an alternate captain, so to complete the Leafs, he picked Phil Kessel (8th) and Dion Phaneuf (13th).  Milan Michalek completed the Senators contigent with Alfredsson's 12th pick.  This year's fat kid that got picked last?  Logan Couture of the San Jose Sharks, and like Kessel last year, Couture got a nice haul, as in money for charity and a new car.  Maybe we get more of this from him:

All-Star Weekend

The time has finally come for the All-Star Weekend festivities in Ottawa.  Voting in the first six players had a bit of an Ontario feel (more specifically, a hometown feel), and some selections raised some eyebrows.  Tonight, the fantasy draft begins, as captains Daniel Alfredsson and Zdeno Chara, with help from alternate captains Henrik Lundqvist and Joffrey Lupul, will pick their teams.  The rookies that are participating in the festivities will be divided into two teams of six, and one of the rookies will decide who goes where after round 15.  All goaltenders have to have been picked by round 10 (sorry folks, Carey Price is not going to be the last one picked, despite the fact that it would be well deserved), and defensemen by round 15.  So, who will be picked last?  I'm going on a limb and will say Dennis Wideman.

Meet Your Captains

The man you see to your left is Daniel Alfredsson and the man you see on your right is Zdeno Chara.  In the old format (both play in the Eastern Conference), both of them would have been candidates for the captaincy of one side.  In the new format for the All-Star Game instituted last year, both can lay claim to that role, as they were named to those roles for the game in Ottawa.  Who the alternate captains will be for those teams won't be answered for another day or two, but the captain dynamic presents some interesting calls for when they do pick their teams.

• Chara is a former Senator, and Brian Elliott and Marian Hossa are also going to be playing in the game.  Throw in Dany Heatley, who could be in the game as an injury replacement (likely, since Minnesota Wild teammate Mikko Koivu will miss the game) and it could be one side with all of the ex-Senators.
• Just because Dion Phaneuf or Phil Kessel were not named captain does not mean Chara won't have an opportunity to pick either one or Joffrey Lupul, or even all three.
• Alfredsson is one of four current Senators on the roster.  What will  happen should any of those four have to face one another?
• Does Chara pick any of the Vancouver Canucks players?  You know, for what happened in the Stanley Cup Finals last year...
• Since a coin flip will determine who picks first, could it be possible that Tim Thomas plays for Alfredsson's side?  What about Jason Spezza on Chara's team?
• Carey Price is in the pool (well, someone HAS to be there for Montreal this year), so what are the odds Chara picks him?
• Who will be Mr. Irrelevant this year?

The NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft is a week from today, and while I won't be watching it (heavy metal night in the form of Testament, Anthrax, and Death Angel), it will be interesting to see what happens.

What We Learned from Raleigh

The All-Star Game wrapped up, with Team Lidstrom taking the game 11-10 in what was an offensive bonanza.  What did we learn?  Well, if this format doesn't happen next year, I won't be happy.  Having the two captains pick their teams with the help of the alternate captains was a big success.  Next year will obviously have two different captains, so it will be interesting to see just who will be picking the teams.  Also, the SuperSkills intros didn't go perfectly, as apparently the Buffalo Sabres didn't have a represntative, according to the PA Announcer (Tyler Ennis was announced as a Florida Panther) and in the "smoke curtain" the players went through mistakenly had Patrick Sharp as a Blue Jacket.  Also, the star of the SuperSkills competition was Marc-Andre Fleury, who had a few tricks up his sleeve, from doing jumping jacks to the 360s while trying to look for the PK Subban shot in the Breakaway event.  One person who was happy about seeing the record for the Fastest Skater remain was Mike Gartner, who holds that record.  The fastest skater went to Michael Grabner, whose fastest time was still 7/10 slower than Gartner.  Incidentally, I wish Grabner all the luck in the world...except when his Isles have to play the Canucks.  Oh, and I'm so glad that I am not a goalie, as the task of facing a Zdeno Chara slapshot is enough to contemplate retirement on the spot.  105.9:  That's the highest that he registered, beating his own mark from a few years ago.  Imagine having Chara and Al MacInnis or Al Iafrate firing pucks at you:  I pity the goalie that has to stare any of those guys down.  And speaking of goalies, more goalie races, please.  Thank you.

All Star Rosters Set

Last night was the NHL All-Star Game Draft, where the captains had to pick their teams, and both of the full rosters, including the rookies that will be participating in the SuperSkills competition, can be found here.  Now, for the things from last night that bring the intrigue:

*It's not much of a surprise that Team Staal took Cam Ward with the first pick.  Ward's having a great year, and as his teammate, Staal does owe him something for keeping Carolina in the playoff hunt.

*Henrik vs. Daniel:  Need I say more?

*Since the alternate captains could announce the picks, too, it was "The Waiting Game" for the likes of Jonathan Toews and Marc Staal.  Eventually, they would be picked by Team Lidstrom and Team Staal, respectively.

*You know Team Staal is going to have the home ice advantage, with Staal, Ward, and Jeff Skinner all on the same team.

*Those who are last, are first.  Just ask Phil Kessel.  The last guy picked, he also got a new car out of the deal.  Why can't all pick-up game selections end this way?

*And the rookies were divided into two teams, which were determined by the flip of a puck.  Team Staal will have Logan Couture, Tyler Ennis, Michael Grabner, Jamie McBain (there's that Carolina connection, again), Tyler Seguin, and PK Subban.  Team Lidstrom will have Taylor Hall, Evgeny Dadonov, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Cam Fowler, Derek Stepan, and Kevin Shattenkirk.

Let the fun begin.

Almost Here!

Today is the day that the world at large will know who will be playing for whom this weekend.  Team captains Eric Staal and Nicklas Lidstrom will be picking from a pool of players that include Steven Stamkos, Cam Ward, and Patrick Kane for the Sunday game.  Also in the weekend festivities will be the SuperSkills competition, which will include a group of rookies such as Logan Couture and Taylor Hall.  One player of note is Jeff Skinner, who was originally slated to participate with the rookies on Saturday, but will now be in the All Star Game itself.  This time last year, Skinner was playing in the Ontario Hockey League, playing against the likes of Hall and Tyler Seguin, both of whom were taken ahead of him in the 2010 Draft and will also be a part of the festivities this weekend.  Saturday promises to be the most fun, but the Game itself has a lot of intrigue, such as the possibility of the Sedins playing against one another and teammates playing against each other.

The Mid-Term Report

Today has been a task in trying to figure out what to put here that would relate to the All-Star theme week.  Since the All-Star break started today, there really isn't much to talk about in the world of hockey today...except for the mid-term grades for each team.  So, with that in mind, besides each team name will be a grade and a summation of the team's season so far in five words.  Without further ado, here we go:

Anaheim Ducks: B Hiller stands on his head.

Atlanta Thrashers: C+ Byfuglien surprises, but now what?

Boston Bruins: A Thomas resurgence, Bruins have purpose

Buffalo Sabres: D+ Miller ordinary, subpar team offense

Calgary Flames: C- Left for dead, still breathing

Carolina Hurricanes: C+ Kids, Staal carrying the day

Chicago Blackhawks: C Cap can't kill this team.

Colorado Avalanche: B- Still growing, Duchene real deal

Columbus Blue Jackets: F Will trade for good goaltending

Dallas Stars: A+ Richards leading a surprise resurgence

Detroit Red Wings: B+ Are you expecting anything different?

Edmonton Oilers: D+ Growing pains there, have faith

Florida Panthers: D+ Will they ever find offense?

Los Angeles Kings: C- One step back, two forward?

Minnesota Wild: C+ Goaltending duo keeping things good

Montreal Canadiens: B- The Price has been right

Nashville Predators: A+ Never count this team out

New Jersey Devils: F Cap woes, underachievers equal doom

New York Islanders: D- All that can go wrong...

New York Rangers: B  Lundqvist the man, now Gaborik...

Ottawa Senators: F The mutiny in Canada's capital

Philadelphia Flyers: A+ "Bob" taking control in goal

Phoenix Coyotes: B Will make playoffs for fans

Pittsburgh Penguins: B+ Need Crosby back real soon

St. Louis Blues: D+ Halak can't do it alone

San Jose Sharks: D Where's the offense and Niemi?

Tampa Bay Lightning: A Stamkos, St. Louis dynamic duo

Toronto Maple Leafs: D+ Fans need reason for hope

Vancouver Canucks: A High expectations, don't stop now...

Washington Capitals: C- Career lows for superstar players

All Star Updates

So, the All-Star Game is this weekend (But you already knew that), and the replacements have already been named.  Not making the All-Star Game this weekend are Jarome Iginla, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Ales Hemsky, and Tobias Enstrom.  Two of those players have already had replacements named, and they are Martin Havlat and Keith Yandle.  Havlat has put up numbers closer to his standards this year, which is to say about a point a game, and there is some justice for Yandle, as I thought he deserved a spot ahead of someone like Mike Green, who is having a sub-par year by his standards.  Now, the additions are good, but I never like to see them come at the expense of someone getting hurt.  After all, many of those players have earned that right to be called an All-Star.

Speaking of All-Stars, there are rumors of Peter Forsberg wanting to make a return to the NHL.  He never officially retired, so calling it a comeback would be the wrong thing to say.  However, he's 37, and there's no telling how much he actually has left in the tank, since his last game in the NHL was 2008.  Sure, there have been the Olympic Game stints with Sweden and the Swedish League games, but no one truly knows what he can still do.  If he does make a return to the NHL, logic dictates that the Colorado Avalanche would be the team of choice, since he recently had a tryout with the team.  As for what I do know what he can provide, veteran leadership and the winning pedigree are sure things, and those are things that Colorado could use with their youthful locker room.  No, the Avs' glory days of the late 90's and early 2000's are not going to be relived, but having that winner's attitude in the locker room could be as beneficial to the current team as playing the games on the NHL level and learning on the job.

Update:  Jeff Skinner of the Carolina Hurricanes was named one of the replacements in the All-Star Game.  Skinner had previously been included on the rookies contingent that will be participating in the SuperSkills challenge on Saturday.

NHL All Star Jerseys 1992

Today's jersey in the All-Star Week theme is from the 1992 All-Star Game that was held in Philadelphia.  The jerseys you see here are the ones worn from that game and according to the NHL Uniforms database, were a replica of the original jerseys worn from the first All-Star Game, being that this was the 75th anniversary of the formation of the NHL.  For more historical context, the red, white, and blue of the jerseys were the same colors for the ones worn during the first official All-Star Game in 1947, which obviously doesn't count the benefit games for Ace Bailey (1934), Howie Morenz (1937), and Babe Siebert (1939).  This design was a one year only deal, as the teams went back to the black and orange All-Star Jerseys the following year.

All-Star Jerseys 2009

This weekend will be the gathering of the NHL's best in Raleigh for the All-Star weekend, which will begin with the fantasy draft, as picked by captains Eric Staal and Nicklas Lidstrom on Friday.  Saturday is the Superskills competition and Sunday is the All-Star Game itself.  So, what is this blog doing in preparation for this event?  Why, talk about some of the jerseys of the past All-Star Games.  This week will be all about the best (remembered) jerseys used in the game itself.

Today goes back to the last All-Star Game, which was held in Montreal in 2009.  Last season had no All-Star Game, due to the Olympics and the agreement that players would have that instead of the All-Star Game itself in the years that the Olympics take place.  The looks for the last All-Star Game?  Look for yourself at the picture included with the piece.  The jerseys are red for the East and white for the West, with the years that the All-Star Game were held in Montreal on one sleeve of each jersey.  The design itself, like many All-Star jerseys in any sport, are specific to that game and no other game, save for the mid-90's design that eventually became a template for the Dallas Stars' alternate jersey (which became their home and away jerseys until 2007).  The reason why I like this jersey is the same reason why I like the Islanders' fisherman jerseys: it's unique and grabs my attention right away.