NHL Predictions

The NHL season kick off tomorrow, and because I did so well at predicting what would happen last season (note: I did not), I am back at it again. Like last year, these set of predictions will have nothing to do with the season preview and all to do with just going off the cuff. This time around, it's being posted here as opposed to just being on facebook, as I intend to go into detail as to why I think this way.

• I thought it would happen last year, and it didn't, but I am going to go with it once again and say Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will get traded. The Oilers are on the verge of salary cap hell, and Nugent-Hopkins' contract is the most logical one to get moved. Carolina has the prospects to offer and would appear to be the most logical choice. Nashville could be kicking the tires here, too, as their search for another center could lead them here. Plus, Nugent-Hopkins is under team control for four more years.
• Matt Duchene will remain in Colorado this season. The Avalanche have overplayed their hand on what they could get for Duchene and are more likely to either trade him after this season or watch him walk after next season. Either way, this is something that could make a bad situation in Colorado even worse. Oh, and Colorado still hasn't fixed their Titanic-sized holes on the blue line.
• Despite having the likes of Vancouver, Colorado, and Vegas breaking their fall in the standings, the Detroit Red Wings will win the draft lottery and like their baseball cousins in the Tigers, be able to expedite their rebuild with the first overall pick.
• Charlie McAvoy will win the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year. He's in a good spot with the Bruins having a still serviceable Zdeno Chara leading the way and an emerging Brandon Carlo taking the pressure off of McAvoy. His playoff cameo showed promise, and that promise will turn to production by season's end, particularly when Adam McQuaid goes down to his annual injury.
• Carolina will finally end the league's longest current playoff drought this season. They've been building a solid blue line and their offense is starting to show, with Jeff Skinner and Sebastian Aho being viable options. Scott Darling will likely struggle a little, but he will find his footing eventually and be the answer in goal that they've needed.
• The Philadelphia Flyers will be the first team to fire their head coach during the season, as Dave Hakstol was put on notice when the Flyers plucked Kris Knoblauch from Erie of the OHL to be an assistant coach. The Flyers have a lot of talent on paper, but far too few actually doing anything on the ice, namely Jakub Voracek and Cladue Giroux. That must change.
• The New York Rangers are the most likely team that made the playoffs last year to miss the playoffs, as other than Kevin Shattenkirk, they did very little to change their roster. Now, they're planning on having 2017 first round pick Filip Chytil start the season with the team. That will not go over well. Remember how the Rangers almost screwed up Manny Malhotra's career by playing him before he was ready?
• Nashville will be a far better team this season, as last year was about figuring out who to pair PK Subban with plus dealing with injuries. This year, they will still have injuries to deal with, but they are better prepared this time around with the depth having had playoff experience. Don't underestimate the importance of the Alexei Emelin trade, as he will be a presence in his own end. 
• This is going to be the Blackhawks' last stand, as they prepare to enter their own version of cap hell. Anything short of a deep playoff run, and Joel Quennville is most likely walking away instead of being fired. 
• The Stanley Cup Final will be the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Edmonton Oilers, and Edmonton takes home the Stanley Cup, with Connor McDavid being named the Conn Smythe winner.

CHL Import Draft

Every year, the three leagues that make up the Canadian Hockey League get together for an Import Draft.  Every team is allowed two players born outside of North America and not every team has to use their two picks in a given year.  This year's first overall pick was Pavel Zacha by the Sarnia Sting, and Zacha is one of the top-ranked European players in next year's draft.  Portland did not use a pick this year, as they are sticking with Oliver Bjorkstrand and Anton Cederholm.  Erie decided to use both picks, taking Anton Karlsson and Igor Vladykovskyi, meaning that Andre Burakovsky is likely heading to the pro level with the Washington Capitals system, as he is eligible to be in the AHL despite being under 20 years old, as he was with a Swedish league team when he was taken by the Capitals last year.

Hitmen Anniversary

With the Calgary Hitmen taking a rather unceremonious exit from the first round at the hands of the Kootenay Ice, it wrapped up a season that saw them fall short of rather lofty expectation.  However, that doesn't mean the Hitmen can't look forward to next season, and that means their 20th year in the WHL.  Named after legendary pro wrestler Bret "the Hitman" Hart, who was one of several people who had ownership stake in the Hitmen when they originally formed (the team is now owned by the Calgary Flames).  For their anniversary, the Hitmen have decided to bring back the original jerseys from the inaugural 1994-95 season...sort of.  As you can see in the picture, Hart is wearing the original jerseys that the Hitmen wore, complete with the pink and black colors that he made famous in his day.  The 20th anniversary jersey, as worn by Connor Rankin on the right, will replicate that on some level, with a couple of notable exceptions.

The right shoulder patch will feature the team's 20th anniversary logo, with the words "The Best There Ever Will Be" below the mask, another nod to Hart's trademark catch phrase, "The best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be."

The left shoulder patch features the actual logo used on the original Hitmen jerseys that first year, as there was some controversy surrounding the logo that the Hitmen now use in some variation.

The hanger effect that is becoming a trend with hockey jerseys today carries over to the WHL, as the Hitmen get in on the action with a rather simple "1995-2015," indicating the years of their existence to date (as of next season).

Overall, however, the Hitmen have done quite well with the 20th Anniversary jersey that pays tribute to their roots.  The only question is whether or not the Hitmen players will have to put on the Hitmen shades.

The Olympic Final Four

The men's hockey season is hitting the home stretch, and there are four teams that will be gunning for a berth in the gold medal game.  Sweden and Finland will square off in one semi-final while Canada and the United States will renew acquaintances in the other semi-final.  So, what will each country need to do to ensure that they will be playing for gold on Sunday?

SWEDEN: The best team in the Olympics so far (their top seeding in the medal rounds is proof of that), the team is backstopped by Henrik Lundqvist, who is playing as well as Sweden has hoped.  He is undoubtedly the key to any success the team will have, but will need a more consistent push on offense, as they let Slovenia hang around for most of the game in the quarterfinals.  That is where Erik Karlsson figures into the equation, as he is the best at jump starting the offense.

FINLAND: Despite not having a great deal of depth at center, largely due to injuries, the Finns are in contention for a medal once again.  Like Sweden, they rely heavily on their goaltending, in this case, Tuukka Rask, and they are also the most cohesive team left in the games.  They will need to continue to outwork teams if they wish to be contending for gold because they have the least amount of talent of the remaining teams.

CANADA: Against teams like Norway, Finland, and Latvia, Canada has struggled to score goals at the rate they're used to, and now, they will have to play the rest of the Olympics without John Tavares (the Islanders will also be missing him, as he is done for the season).  Offense has been an issue, and certainly, they need to figure out how to get around how teams are game planning for them because their defensemen are carrying the yeoman's work when it comes to scoring.  The good news?  Carey Price has played well, giving Canada a peace of mind in goal.

UNITED STATES: A team that is firing on all cylinders on offense, their defense is an often overlooked part of the game, and much of that begins with Jonathan Quick.  He allows the team to play their game, and none more than Phil Kessel has benefited from this.  The offense has also seen more than one player contribute, and for the U.S. to make the gold medal game, everyone will need to continue to contribute.

Olympic Men's Hockey: Day One

The first day of men's Olympic Hockey saw some exciting things happening.  Sweden jumped out to a 4-0 lead after a period and a half, but the Czech Republic would cut the lead to two after the second period.  However, the Czechs could muster no more, as Sweden held on for a 4-2 win, with Erik Karlsson providing two goals.  The Switzerland-Latvia game was way more exciting, with Simon Moser scoring the game winner for the Swiss side with 7.9 seconds left in regulation as Switzerland beat Latvia 1-0.

Crossing the Line

On the heels of finishing the Bobby Orr autobiography Orr: My Story, it seemingly only makes sense that the Derek Sanderson autobiography Crossing the Line: The Outrageous Story of a Hockey Original should have been the next read.  Well, I did get to reading the book, but not before reading two books before then.  It should be no surprise that Sanderson's book has more details than what Orr provided in his book, as Sanderson was the outspoken, fast living yin to Bobby Orr's soft-spoken yang.  Where Sanderson takes you in the book is what happened when he allowed a reputation of his own building to spiral out of control, and he lets it all out here.  From drugs to living as a homeless man in Central Park for a short time to squandering a fortune, he goes to every corner of his life to provide the reader with a view of life from someone who has pretty much seen it all.  Towards the end of the book, he also provides some life lessons and how he has used them to propel him into ventures such as public speaking and money management for future clients (the latter, undoubtedly something that he takes pride in, as he himself did not do great when he was playing in the NHL).  The writing style, particularly some of the short antecdotes he provides, is somewhat disjointed, as it goes into one thing and then suddenly shifts to another part.  Of course, perfect writing style isn't something one would expect of a self-described "third line center."

Crossing the Line is a definite must read for any hockey fan, and is a highly recommended that works best in tandem with Orr's autobiography.

A Season of Loss, A Lifetime of Forgiveness

A little more than ten years ago, the life of Dany Heatley was forever changed, and it had major consequences for not only him, but also the lives of Graham and LuAnn Snyder, parents of the deceased Dan Snyder, their friends and family, and the Atlanta Thrashers organization.  John Manasso documents the events pertaining to the crash in an Atlanta neighborhood on the evening of September 29, 2003 and how it has affected those who knew Snyder the best.

A Season of Loss, A Lifetime of Forgiveness focuses mainly on Snyder and how his family has found the ability to forgive Heatley all the while finding a way to hold him accountable in ways that the justice system couldn't do.  For the book, Manasso takes the time to talk to the Snyders, mainly Graham, LuAnn, and brother Jake, Dan Snyder's former teammates with the Orlando Solar Bears (Snyder won a championship with them in 2000) and the Chicago Wolves (the Thrashers' affiliate at the time), and those whose lives he had touched.  Manasso also makes note that while Heatley did not have a say in the book, it was not for trying, as he is careful to note that he did ask for an interview with both Dany and Murray Heatley, only to have the request never answered.  The book is not just about the struggles that the Snyders had in coping with the loss of a son, it's also about their ability to forgive, with a fair portion of it being due to their Mennonite upbringing, something that is mentioned in detail.  Towards the end, the trial of Heatley was also mentioned, and Manasso does a good job of recounting some of the events of the trial, as well as the evidence that may or may not have figured into the decision.  The lone flaw that I saw with the book was that there wasn't much mention of the Snyders' reaction to when Heatley requested and got a trade in 2005.

In all, A Season of Loss, a Lifetime of Forgiveness is a book that while it is hockey related, it is also one that I believe sends a positive message of forgiveness in the face of tragedy and is a fairly easy read for a 260 page book.

The US Olympian Squad

At the conclusion of the NHL Winter Classic (Toronto won in a shootout 3-2), the U.S. Men's Hockey team was announced.  With that in mind, I will run down the roster by position and talk about those that were left off the roster, with the idea that the roster can change due to injury up until the Olympics start in Sochi, Russia.

GOALTENDERS

Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings; Ryan Miller, Buffalo Sabres; Jonathan Quick, Los Angeles Kings

Had the roster been announced prior to the season, only Miller would have been seen as questionable due to his not-so sterling play in recent seasons.  However, both Quick and Howard are coming off of recent injuries and while Miller did indeed struggle early in the season, his play recently may have saved him a spot.  Currently, the starting goaltender's job is Quick's to lose, but don't discount Miller here, especially if he keeps playing well heading into Olympic break.

FORWARDS

David Backes, St. Louis Blues; Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings; Ryan Callahan, New York Rangers; Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks; Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks; Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs; T.J. Oshie, St. Louis Blues; Max Pacioretty, Montreal Canadiens; Zach Parise, Minnesota Wild; Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks; Paul Stastny, Colorado Avalanche; Derek Stepan, New York Rangers; James van Riemsdyk, Toronto Maple Leafs; Blake Wheeler, Winnipeg Jets

No surprise that the "leadership group" of Backes, Brown, Callahan, and Parise were all named to the team.  Kane and Kessel are the surest options for scoring on the wings, and solid two-way play is the order of the day for the likes of Oshie, Kesler, van Riemsdyk, and Pacioretty.  Pavelski is a player to watch, as he has put up solid offensive numbers despite being the third line center for San Jose.  I wouldn't be surprised if he emerges as a top option after Kane and Kessel.  Stepan is the youth option here, and Stastny's career revival this season proved to be enough to make the team.  Wheeler is a bit of a head scratcher, as he is a streaky player that doesn't always go for the dirty goals.

DEFENSEMEN

John Carlson, Washington Capitals; Justin Faulk, Carolina Hurricanes; Cam Fowler, Anaheim Ducks; Paul Martin, Pittsburgh Penguins; Ryan McDonagh, New York Rangers; Brooks Orpik, Pittsburgh Penguins; Kevin Shattenkirk, St. Louis Blues; Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild

Other than Suter, there is no true sure thing on the blue line.  Both Martin and Orpik could be paired together, since they are teammates and coach Dan Bylsma is familiar with both, having seen them on a daily basis.  That's the potential shutdown pair, with McDonagh and Carlson providing the best two-way options outside of Suter.  Shattenkirk, Faulk, and Fowler are offensive options who are also new to the Olympic experience.

SNUBS

Goaltending, Ben Bishop provided decidedly better numbers this season, but was left off due to the numbers game and the U.S. squad going with experience in pressure games in that category.  Craig Anderson's injury and splitting of time with Robin Lehner likely doomed his chances of making the team.

Forwards, Bobby Ryan is the most notable name left off the roster.  Despite being on the team in 2010 and the ability to provide offense, his speed and defense were seen as liabilities.  Jason Pominville and Kyle Okposo are two way solid players, but neither are known for speed, something that will matter on the larger ice surface in Sochi.  Also, they provide a similar skill set to the "leadership group," and having both would lessen the team's ability to play different styles as needed.

Defensively, the biggest snub was Jack Johnson.  Somewhat of a defensive liability, he played well in the 2010 Olympics and would have provided an element of offense and speed from the blue line.  He was most likely a victim of the team's commitment to go younger on the blue line.  Seth Jones, while he would have fit the youth profile, also hasn't had the rookie season he would have liked.  Dustin Byfuglien would have provided size and offense, but he also happens to be a liability in his own zone.  Ditto for Keith Yandle, minus the size.

Orr: My Story

It's been a long time coming, but Bobby Orr finally put out an autobiography that was one of the more hyped in recent memory.  Most folks know the Bobby Orr that scored the Cup winning goal in 1970, and certainly, the photo that immortalizes that is evidence of that.  However, Orr makes it clear that his life story is more than just that moment in time, and in the close to 300 pages that the book takes up, he takes the time to acknowledge those who helped him along the way and even the points in which he admittedly went astray.

In every chapter, Orr tells of how hockey, in some way, shape, or form, helped him out in life, yet he does not go out of his way to say that it was his life, only a part of it.  He even addresses two people who one way or another affected his life, whether it was good (Don Cherry) or bad (Alan Eagleson).  He pulls no punches on any subject that gets talked about, and after reading the book, it becomes clear that Orr is trying to get people to be more vigilant in their lives, and he sums that up with the two Rs: respect and responsibility.

Overall, while the bio may be a little on the short side, and certainly, there were other things that he could have talked about, Orr: My Story is worth a read.

Almost Time to Drop the Puck

With the KHL season starting in five days and the WHL training camps and pre-season starting up, that means the NHL season won't be far behind in getting in gear.  With that in mind, that means the 2013-14 season preview will be happening all through September, and despite the regular season beginning on October 1, the preview will happen as it always has, covering the month of September.  With Winterhawks and SKA Saint Petersburg also on the agenda, as well as some new jersey unveilings, that means September will be featuring plenty of hockey talk.

Post-Draft Ramblings.

So, the NHL Draft has come and gone, and there were a few surprises, the least of which was Cory Schneider going to New Jersey in a trade that indicates that Roberto Luongo is going to be the starter in Vancouver once again.  As for the Draft itself, there were some surprises, as you will see below.  Analysis of each pick, as well as who I had going (for comparison purposes) will be mentioned.  So, here goes:

1. Colorado-Nathan MacKinnon, Halifax Mooseheads

So, Joe Sakic wasn't sending any smoke signals when he said he was going to take a forward.  MacKinnon was the best of the bunch, and though the Avs need lots of help on the wing, MacKinnon did play a little on the wing, which will greatly help the Avs this year.

My pick: MacKinnon

2. Florida-Aleksander Barkov, Tappara (Fin.)

The Panthers took who they thought was the best player available in Barkov.  While Seth Jones was available, the Panthers felt comfortable enough with Dmitry Kulikov and Erik Gudbranson being their top defensemen to pick a likely second center behind Jonathan Huberdeau.  A shoulder injury is a concern, but his talent level is high, and will fortify the Panthers down the middle.

My pick: Seth Jones, Portland Winterhawks

3. Tampa Bay-Jonathan Drouin, Halifax Mooseheads

In light of the fact that Seth Jones was still on the board, the Lightning went with Drouin, who was the more dynamic player on the Mooseheads last year.  Some fans were calling for Steve Yzerman's head, but this was the right pick, as the Lightning had almost non-existent secondary scoring.  Drouin is expected to team with Steven Stamkos to provide a formidable one-two offensive punch, but in the immediate future, Drouin will have a chance to learn from Martin St. Louis on what it takes to stay in the NHL.

My pick: Drouin

4. Nashville-Seth Jones, Portland Winterhawks

Nashville needs scoring, but how do you pass up on a potential franchise defenseman here?  The Preds know a thing or two about franchise defensemen, and Jones will be learning from one of the premier players on the blue line in Shea Weber.  An already strong defensive team just got better, and Jones won't have the pressure to succeed right away, with both Weber and goaltender Pekka Rinne at the top of their respective games.

My pick: Aleksander Barkov, Tappara (Fin.)

5. Carolina-Elias Lindholm, Brynas (Swe.)

The Hurricanes were dreadful on defense, but they also didn't have much in the way of secondary scoring.  Lindholm will address the latter, and at the very least, start out as a third line center behind the Staals (that is, if they aren't on the same line).

My pick: Darnell Nurse, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

6. Calgary-Sean Monahan, Ottawa 67's

The Flames desperately needed a center and a new face of the franchise.  Monahan was very good on a bad 67's team and with his willingness to play through injury, it is possible the Flames have not only gotten their center of the future, but also the newest face of the franchise for years to come.

My pick: Monahan

7. Edmonton-Darnell Nurse, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

The Oilers desperately needed a top talent defenseman, and Nurse fits the description to a tee.  I had the Oilers taking a defenseman, but thought Nurse would be off the board to Carolina, as they too, have had problems on the blue line.  The Oilers were happy that the top-ranked defenseman not named Seth Jones fell to them here, as Nurse provides physicality and some offense.

My pick: Rasmus Ristolainen, TPS Turku (Fin.)

8. Buffalo-Rasmus Ristolainen, TPS Turku (Fin.)

Ristolainen wouldn't fall very far from where I had him.  Ristolainen provides the Sabres yet another physical defenseman who has the size and is great in his own end.  Obviously, this is a message being sent to Tyler Myers to pick up his game or else move.  But, that's not the only message being sent to Myers...

My pick: Valeri Nichushkin, Traktor Chelyabinsk

9. Vancouver (from New Jersey)-Bo Horvat, London Knights

Vancouver got this pick in a deal that sent Cory Schneider to New Jersey.  For a guy that played pretty well the last two years, the Canucks didn't get more out of the Devils here.  However, the Canucks would turn that pick into Bo Horvat, who played well with the London Knights and was clutch in the OHL playoffs.  Should be able to slide into the third center role with the Canucks this season if needed.

My pick: Max Domi, London Knights

10. Dallas-Valeri Nichushkin, Traktor Chelyabinsk

Dallas needed offense from their blue line, but Nichushkin falling to this spot was too good for them to pass up.  The best winger not named Jonathan Drouin will likely have the same questions that are asked of anyone from the KHL (see: Kuznetsov, Evgeny), but the Stars get another player that can score and take some of the pressure off of Jamie Benn and Loui Eriksson in due time.

My pick: Ryan Pulock, Brandon Wheat Kings

11. Philadelphia-Samuel Morin, Rimouski Oceanic

The Flyers need defensemen.  No one in their pipeline is top of the line, and the ones that are in the NHL are not quite young anymore, and with Chris Pronger likely to retire, and both Kimmo Timonen and newly acquired Mark Streit on the wrong side of 35, the Flyers need young, top-end talent here.  Morin is seen as more ready to contribute now than the player I had here in Nikita Zadorov.  Morin can also fight when needed, and given that the Flyers are more offensively oriented on the blue line, this is a welcome addition.

My pick: Nikita Zadorov, London Knights

12. Phoenix-Max Domi, London Knights

The Coyotes needed scoring, and get it with Domi.  He scores more than his father Tie, but he also has the same work ethic.  He's not big, but his hockey sense will help him out in the long run.

My pick: Anthony Mantha, Val D'Or Foreurs

13. Winnipeg-Josh Morrissey, Prince Albert Raiders

A bit of a surprise here, as Morrissey was expected to be picked at the end of the first round.  Morrisey does provide offense and is unafraid to mix it up, despite being small by NHL standards.  Likely to replace either Ron Hainsey, Mark Stuart, or both in the future.

My pick: Elias Lindholm, Brynas (Swe.)

14. Columbus-Alexander Wennberg, Djurgarden (Swe.)

The Blue Jackets needed forwards, and Wennberg was the first picked by the team.  General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen's European connections helped in the selection of Wennberg, as he saw a lot of him while running a team in Europe, and given his track record (he was responsible for TJ Oshie being picked in the first round in 2005), it's hard to doubt his abilities as a GM here.

My pick: Hunter Shinkaruk, Medicine Hat Tigers

15. NY Islanders-Ryan Pulock, Brandon Wheat Kings

Another defenseman drafted by the Islanders, Pulock does not have the upside that last year's first round pick Griffin Reinhart does, but Pulock does have a hard shot that will work well to jump start an offense that is already pretty good.

My pick: Frederik Gauthier, Rimouski Oceanic

16. Buffalo (from Minnesota)-Nikita Zadorov, London Knights

Part two of the message being sent to Tyler Myers, Zadorov is considered more of a long term project.  He has the size, but is also quite raw, but the potential is high and he may very well surpass fellow first rounder Rasmus Ristolainen.

My pick: Robert Hagg, Modo (Swe.)

17. Ottawa-Curtis Lazar, Edmonton Oil Kings

The Sens needed scoring, and with Lazar, they get that and more, as he is future captain material.  He is unafraid to stand up for teammates and has an upside of second line center, which isn't so bad with a team that has Jason Spezza and Kyle Turris there.

My pick: Alexander Wennberg, Djurgarden (Swe.)

18. San Jose (from Detroit)-Mirco Mueller, Everett Silvertips

The Sharks aren't getting any younger on the blue line, and the dearth of prospects there meant the Sharks needed someone new.  They traded up to pick up Mueller, who shined on a Silvertips team that didn't have Ryan Murray for much of the season due to injury.

My pick: Mueller

19. Columbus (from NY Rangers)-Kerby Rychel, Windsor Spitfires

The Blue Jackets needed someone that can bring toughness and scoring, and Rychel fills both needs.  While he won't likely score 40 goals like he has in the last two years at Windsor, he will at worst, be a tough player that opposing teams hate to face and 30 goals a year is realistic for his NHL prospects.

My pick: Rychel

20. Detroit (from San Jose)-Anthony Mantha, Val D'Or Foreurs

The Red Wings have been pushed around a lot lately, and with their best offensive stars on the wrong side of 30, the need for a power forward was inevitable.  Enter Mantha, who was one of only three players in the Canadian Hockey League to score 50 goals this season.  He will need to get to the rough areas more often to succeed as a scorer in the NHL, and given his size, it should be no problem if he wants it.

My pick: Shea Theodore, Seattle Thunderbirds

21. Toronto-Frederik Gauthier, Rimouski Oceanic

Center has been a sore spot for the Maple Leafs, and while Nazem Kadri has been good, the pipeline there is still woefully thin.  Gauthier doesn't figure to help right away, as the Leafs would later acquire Dave Bolland from Chicago, but when Gauthier does arrive, he will bring size and some offense.

My pick: Bo Horvat, London Knights

22. Calgary (from St. Louis)-Emile Poirier, Gatineau Olympiques

While Poirier put up great numbers on a decent Gatineau team, most did not project him to be a first round pick.  Given that the Flames needed defensemen and goaltenders, Poirier's selection makes even less sense, but like Mark Jankowski last year, Poirier is a gamble that could pay off in the long run.

My pick: Zachary Fucale, Halifax Mooseheads

23. Washington-Andre Burakovsky, Malmo (Swe.)

Surprise pick, as Burakovsky didn't put up good numbers, but he also didn't play much, either.  His upside is undeniable, and the Caps are willing to gamble on what may ultimately be a top end talent, something the Caps desperately need in their pipeline.

My pick: Valentin Zykov, Baie-Comeau Drakkar

24. Vancouver-Hunter Shinkaruk, Medicine Hat Tigers

The free-faller of the prospects this year, Shinkaruk can play both center and wing, and is a prolific goal scorer.  Injuries this past season cost him a little bit of time, but still, he managed to score 37 goals this season.  The Canucks needed top-end talent, and Shinkaruk is exactly what they asked for here.

My pick: Adam Erne, Quebec Remparts

25. Montreal-Michael McCarron, US U-18 Team

The Canadiens needed size, and that's what they get with McCarron.  They won't rush him to the big show, as he is likely headed to college (Western Michigan) or the OHL (London).  An obvious project, the Canadiens will welcome his size up front when he's ready to join.

My pick: Samuel Morin, Rimouski Oceanic

26. Anaheim-Shea Theodore, Seattle Thunderbirds

The Ducks needed secondary scoring up front, but believe that the likes of Peter Holland and Emerson Etem will fulfill expectations in time.  For this pick, the Ducks add youth to the blue line and Theodore was a pretty good player on a Thunderbirds team that was simply horrible on defense.  His own play does bear watching, but the upside is similar to Cam Fowler, who the Ducks took in 2010.

My pick: Curtis Lazar, Edmonton Oil Kings

27. Columbus (from Los Angeles)-Marko Dano, Bratislava (Slovakia)

The Blue Jackets had three first round picks to play with, and the third pick was made on a project with huge potential in Dano.  He isn't expected to come to the NHL in a few years, and with picks such as Rychel and possibly Wennberg having a chance to conrtibute sooner, the Blue Jackets can afford to wait on Dano's scoring talents to arrive.

My pick: Ian McCoshen, Waterloo Black Hawks

28. Calgary (from Pittsburgh)-Morgan Klimchuk, Regina Pats

Good player on an bad Pats team, Klimchuk got to show the world what he could do in international competition.  Similar in size to Sven Baertschi, Klimchuk is also tough, and that will work well for a Flames team that needs it.

My pick: Klimchuk

29. Dallas (from Boston)-Jason Dickinson, Guelph Storm

Dickinson had an up and down year offensively, yet the Stars saw enough of him in the post-OHL playoffs to draft him here.  Consistency is a must for Dickinson to make it with the Stars.

My pick: Ryan Hartman, Plymouth Whalers

30. Chicago-Ryan Hartman, Plymouth Whalers

With Dave Bolland and Michael Frolik both being sent out soon after this pick, Hartman will fill a void left by both players in due time.  The Blackhawks pick well when it comes to depth players (see: Saad, Brandon), and Hartman will be a fan favorite once he joins the Blackhawks.

My pick: Josh Morrissey, Prince Albert Raiders

The Evening before the Draft...

The NHL Draft is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, and with all of the rounds scheduled for that day, there will be much in the way of moves being made, as this year's draft is deep.  The teams to watch include the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets, both of whom have three picks in the first round, as well as the Boston Bruins, who would like to move back into the first round after losing their pick to Dallas by virtue of making the Stanley Cup Finals as part of the condition for acquiring Jaromir Jagr.  Pittsburgh does not make their first pick until number 77, which means the third round, and given that they were exposed by a tougher Boston team despite having the superior talent (the Canucks know that all too well), the Pens will need to either make do with what they do have or try to trade back into the top 45, which will be hard to so, since they don't have a lot other than defensemen.  The Pens need goaltending, and there is no guarantee that Eric Comrie will be around by the time they make their first pick (Zachary Fucale is a certainty to be off the board by the end of the first round), and goaltending isn't particularly a strong suit in this year's draft.

As for what else could happen, the Ottawa Senators are rumored to be moving up and the Edmonton Oilers are rumored to be wanting to move down.  I don't get into rumors, but if there's a player that the Senators covet (perhaps Elias Lindholm or Darnell Nurse, depending on who's available), the Sens do have considerable talent in the pipeline to move (I'm looking at either Mark Stone, Matt Puempel, or Stefan Noesen) and the Sens are better than people think, particularly in goal.

The NHL Draft this year is definitely going to be a wild ride, and with considerable talent coming in this year, next year, and in 2015 (Connor McDavid of the Erie Otters is a kid to watch), the NHL should be in good hands for the next few years in terms of overall talent.

NHL Draft

With the NHL Draft scheduled for June 30, this is a chance for teams to stock up on young players.  Here is the current draft order, with the final two spots to be determined after the Stanley Cup Finals.

1. Colorado
2. Florida
3. Tampa Bay
4. Nashville
5. Carolina
6. Calgary
7. Edmonton
8. Buffalo
9. New Jersey
10. Dallas
11. Philadelphia
12. Phoenix
13. Winnipeg
14. Columbus
15. NY Islanders
16. Buffalo (from Minnesota)
17. Ottawa
18. Detroit
19. Columbus (from NY Rangers)
20. San Jose
21. Toronto
22. Calgary (from St. Louis)
23. Washington
24. Vancouver
25. Montreal
26. Anaheim
27. Columbus (from Los Angeles)
28. Calgary (from Pittsburgh)
29. Dallas (from Boston)
30. Chicago

I will come up with my own predictions of who will be picking whom and why some time before the Draft.

Deadlines: Gotta Deal with Them...(Part II)

I've caught my breath, and am now ready for part two:

NASHVILLE PREDATORS: Aside from trading Scott Hannan, the only other big deal was trading a minor leaguer (Michael Latta) and a 20-goal scorer in Martin Erat for Fillip Forsberg, who could be a superstar.

NEW JERSEY DEVILS: Big deal was re-acquiring Steve Sullivan, who should be good for veteran leadership and offense while Ilya Kovalchuk recovers from injury.

NEW YORK ISLANDERS: Nothing to see here.

NEW YORK RANGERS: Traded away Marian Gaborik for Derrick Brassard, John Moore, and Derek Dorsett, and picked up Ryane Clowe from San Jose.

OTTAWA SENATORS: Traded Ben Bishop to Tampa Bay for Cory Conacher in a deal that works for both teams.

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS: Traded for Steve Mason, likely meaning they will use an amnesty clause on Ilya Bryzgalov after the season.

PHOENIX COYOTES: Traded away Steve Sullivan, Raffi Torres, and Matthew Lombardi.

PITTSBURGH PENGUINS: Brenden Morrow, Jarome Iginla, Douglas Murray, and Jussi Jokinen: in.  Joe Morrow and some lower end prospects and draft picks: out.

ST. LOUIS BLUES: Picked up Jordan Leopold and Jay Bouwmeester, but sent Wade Redden out.

SAN JOSE SHARKS: Picked up Scott Hannan and Raffi Torres for grit.  Lost Douglas Murray (who Hannan essentially replaces) and Ryane Clowe (who has fewer goals than Scott Gomez.  Ouch.)

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING: Gambling on another lightly proven goaltender in Ben Bishop, giving up Cory Conacher in the process.

TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS: Picked up Ryan O'Byrne from Colorado.

VANCOUVER CANUCKS: Derek Roy from Dallas for Kevin Connauton and a 2nd round pick.  Roy should fill in as the second center while Ryan Kesler recovers from injury.  And Roberto Luongo was not traded.

WASHINGTON CAPITALS: Martin Erat and Michael Latta for Fillip Forsberg: sure to draw vitriol from most Caps fans...if it hasn't already.

WINNIPEG JETS: Did nothing.

Deadlines: Can't Live with Them, Can't be without Them... (part I)

In the midst of the Kelowna-Seattle series that seems to be going on forever (it will end tonight, mercifully), the NHL had its deadline, and there were some fireworks this year in a season that has most teams still believing in their chances.  So, here's what all 30 teams did (more to come as they become official, so watch this space):

ANAHEIM DUCKS: Nothing of note here, except a trade for Matthew Lombardi (not confirmed by NHL.com yet).

BOSTON BRUINS: Picked up Jaromir Jagr and Wade Redden while maintaining their top prospects.  Losing out on both Brenden Morrow and Jarome Iginla stings, though.

BUFFALO SABRES: Out go Robyn Regehr and Jason Pominville, in comes prospects Johan Larsson and Matt Hackett, as well as some draft picks.

CALGARY FLAMES: Jarome Iginla for lower-end prospects and a first round pick and Jay Bouwmeester for lower-end prospects and a first round pick.  Yeah, the Flames waited too long to start rebuilding, and the Bouwmeester trade was actually better.  Also gone is Blake Comeau.

CAROLINA HURRICANES: Only one trade: Jussi Jokinen to Pittsburgh for a draft pick.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS: Added a third line center in Michal Handzus, who will help in the PK.

COLORADO AVALANCHE: Traded away Ryan O'Byrne and swapped prospects with Dallas (Cameron Gaunce for Tomas Vincour).

COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS: All in this time, as they landed Marian Gaborik for underperforming first round picks Derrick Brassard and John Moore, as well as sending Steve Mason to Philadelphia for Michael Leighton and a draft pick and landing Blake Comeau.

DALLAS STARS: Sent Derek Roy to Vancouver for Kevin Connauton and a draft pick, and traded Jaromir Jagr for prospects and a draft pick.  Also traded Brenden Morrow to Pittsburgh for prospect Joe Morrow.

DETROIT RED WINGS: Sent Kent Huskins to Philadelphia for a draft pick.

EDMONTON OILERS: Apart from picking up faceoff specialist Jerred Smithson, the only other moves were a swap of prospects and/or minor leaguers.

FLORIDA PANTHERS: Lone deal was trading Jerred Smithson to Edmonton.

LOS ANGELES KINGS: Robyn Regehr arrives as essentially a replacement for Matt Green and Willie Mitchell.

MINNESOTA WILD: Paid a hefty price to pry Jason Pominville from Buffalo, losing Matt Hackett and Johan Larsson.

MONTREAL CANADIENS: Nothing of note here.

Memorial Cup Burials

The first wave of teams to be eliminated from Memorial Cup contention began yesterday.  In the QMJHL, the Saint John Sea Dogs and Sherbrooke Phoenix were both swept out by the Halifax Mooseheads and Baie-Comeau Drakkar, respectively.  The remaining six series in that league continue tonight, with Acadie-Bathurst (against Blainville-Boisbriand), Rimouski (Gatineau), Chicoutimi (Quebec), Moncton (Victoriaville), and Drummondville (Rouyn-Noranda) all needing a win to live another day.  Val D'Or and Prince Edward Island are tied at two games a piece.

In the OHL, both Sarnia and Kingston saw their seasons end at the hands of the Plymouth Whalers and Barrie Colts, respectively.  Defending champions London Knights have a chance to close out Saginaw tonight and Kitchener (Guelph), Oshawa (Niagara), and Sudbury (Brampton) all have a chance to go up 3-1 in the series tonight. Both the Owen Sound and Sault Ste. Marie and the Belleville and Mississauga series are tied at two a piece.

The WHL sees the Saskatoon Blades and Prince Albert Raiders getting swept by the Medicine Hat Tigers and Red Deer Rebels, respectively, though the Blades will be playing in the Memorial Cup this year due to them being the host.  The Blades' exit was particulary shocking, as not many gave Medicine Hat a chance in this series while the Raiders' exit was expected, since they struggled late in the season.  Calgary has a chance to advance against Swift Current tonight, and Kamloops (Victoria) and Spokane (Tri-City) will look to go up 3-1 in their respective series.  Kelowna staved off elimination at the hands of Seattle last night and will look to extend their season at home while Edmonton looks to end Kootenay's season.  Portland resumes their series against Everett tomorrow with the intention of going up 3-1.

The Good Ol' Hockey Game

On Wednesday night, Stompin' Tom Connors died at his home in Ontario at the age of 77.  He was a country-folk singer who was well known in Canada, most notably for "The Hockey Song," a song that you undoubtedly hear at any hockey arena in Canada.  Connors carved out a pretty good career, but his legacy will forever be defined by a song that is synonymous with hockey.

And in case you have yet to hear "The Hockey Song," here you go:

Casting Call for Writers

With the WHL playoffs (and if I'm lucky, the OHL playoffs) looming, as well as the continuing education on the USHL, that has left me with little time to talk about the NHL in the last few weeks.  To solve this problem on some level, I am turning over the month of March to you, the people who may (or may not) be reading this blog.

All you have to do is write about anything hockey, whether is it complaining about your team's play this season, any thoughts on who you should get (as outrageous as it may be), trash talk the other teams, anything.  The only rule is that it has to pertain to hockey.  If you are interested, shoot an email over to doclindgren (at) gmail (dot) com, and be sure to list a date in March that you would like to contribute, so as to make things easier on me as playoff season in the Juniors approach.

Meet the Subbans

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, today's piece will focus on a set of brothers who are looking to make an impact on the NHL in the coming years.  The picture you see is of the Subbans: (from l to r) Jordan, Pernell Karl (P.K. to everyone in the know), and Malcolm, and they are the sons of parents who had moved to Canada from Jamaica (the father) and Montserrat (the mother).  P.K. is the oldest brother and is already making an impact in the NHL as a defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens (though he is currently sitting out while trying to hammer out a restricted free agency deal with the team).  Malcolm is the middle brother of the three, and is currently a goaltender for Belleville of the OHL.  He was drafted in the first round by the Boston Bruins in the 2012 Draft, which should make for an interesting family dinner between P.K. and Malcolm.  Jordan is the youngest of the three, and is a defenseman for Belleville.  He will be eligible for the NHL Draft in 2013.  P.K. is a rising star that is also known for being chirpy, something that players like Steve Ott, Jeremy Roenick, and Chris Chelios did (in Ott's case, is doing) in their careers.  P.K. isn't quite on the level of those three, but the ceiling for his talents is high, and in time, they will catch up to the rest of his game.  Malcolm will likely see time with Providence of the AHL, as the Bruins currently have Tuukka Rask as the starter, and depending on whether Tim Thomas comes back from his one year exile, that could mean Malcolm ends up in the minors to get some time as a starting goaltender.  Boston has decent depth in goal, and having the time to start somewhere is important in the development of a young goaltender.  Just ask Jacob Markstrom in Florida and Robin Lehner in Ottawa.  Jordan is a prospect for the NHL Draft this year, and there is considerable talent ahead of him (he was ranked 81 of the North American skaters), most notably from an African-American defenseman in Seth Jones, who himself is the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones.  Currently, his numbers are comparable to P.K.'s when P.K. was playing in Belleville, but height and weight are reasons for his ranking.

Straight Shootin' J.R.

Jeremy Roenick was known as a hard working, tough hockey player that didn't meet a microphone that he didn't like in his playing days, and certainly, there's no microphone that he won't turn down now that he's an analyst on NBC Sports' hockey shows.  So, it should be no surprise that he has an autobiography out in J.R.: My Life as the Most Outspoken, Fearless, and Hard Hitting Man in Hockey (published by Triumph Books in the U.S., and is under a different title and published by Harper Collins in Canada).  The autobiography, written with some help from USA Today columnist Kevin Allen, is an earnest look into the life of a player that either you loved or hated, and sometimes both at the same time.

Some of the highlights in the book include his insight into a locker room when he first started out, his often contentious relationships with his coaches, and addressing some of his comments from his current job as an analyst concerning Patrick Marleau and a hit on Kris Letang by Eric Nystrom last season.  Though there are instances where I think he could have gone further in depth such as his early childhood, there are some that he talks about in depth that define Roenick as a man, such as his relationship with his wife Tracy and how certain players have influenced his style such as Gordie Howe, Mark Messier, and Mike Modano.  The book also offers a different point of view on people such as Mike Keenan and Wayne Gretzky, both of whom Roenick as respect for, but as you read, wasn't always a 24/7 deal.

When reading the book, Roenick challenges you to think and to ask, in his words, "What the $%&* was Roenick thinking?"  There were plenty of instances of the latter, and certainly many of them will have you laughing along or shaking your head.  The autobiography is definitely a must-read if you're a fan of Roenick, want to know what was going on behind the scenes, or just want to have a good laugh.  Be warned, as Roenick pulls no punches here.