Team Preview: Colorado

Next up in my previews of Northwest Division teams is the Colorado Avalanche. Colorado made a big splash in the free agent market signing mulletboy Ryan Smyth to a huge ass contract, but it's my opinion that this really didn't address their needs. Colorado can score in bunches, that's not the problem. The problem is on the back line and sometimes in the goal. On defense it's pretty much John Michael-Liles and little else(*). Goaltender Peter Budaj can be spectacular at times, but often gets barraged by far too many shots for a good goalie to handle. And on top of all that, Joe Sakic's a year older and is bound to wear down at some point also, at least Wild fans can hope.

Overall, I don't think the Avs have improved significantly, so I project them to finish anywhere from 8th to 12th in the conference.

(*) And no, I didn't forget Jordan Leopold.

Team Preview: Calgary

With the regular season quickly approaching (well, ok, not fast enough for me), I thought it'd be a good idea to run a preview of the other teams in the Northwest Division. In today's entry I tackle the Calgary Flames.

Calgary really didn't make any significant moves in the offseason other than replacing their coach with the prick pictured above. Keenan should bring some discipline to Calgary, but how the players react to that remains to be seen. I love Jarome Iginla as a player, but I wonder how he'll react the first time Keenan rips him a new butthole. In goal, Mikka Kipprosoff is a top-tier goalie, but this is the last year of his contract and I think that will have a negative impact on his game. Defensively they're going to struggle. I've always thought Dion Phaneuf is overrated and there really isn't anyone else back there to help him out.

Overall, I don't see the Flames going very far this year. Look for them to battle for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and finish anywhere from 8th to 12th.

Too Early To Get Depressed

Is it too early to get concerned about the team in light of last night's 6-1 drubbing at the hands of the Red Wings? Absolutely. Now, if they lose again tomorrow night by a similar margin I'll become mildly concerned.

You'll see a new poll on the right. I'm running out of pertinent topics, so I got a bit crazy with this one. If DR, Mike Russo and Sid Hartman were placed in a 20 foot by 20 foot steel cage and told to battle to the death, who would survive? It's these kid of hard-hitting questions that you won't find on regular blogs.

He Had a Nice Run

Gopher Hockey Manifesto

This entry isn't going to make me many friends in the local hockey community, but I was recently asked why it was that I dislike the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities hockey program to the degree I do. In response to that question, I offer these reasons:

(1) BACKGROUND. I am an alumnus of the University of Minnesota-Duluth, home of an often-ignored Division 1 hockey program. It is ethically impossible to be a fan of both teams, ala the Red Sox and the Yankees. Of course you'd get the argument that the UMD-UMTC series really isn't a rivalry because the Bulldogs have not lived up to expectations recently, but to that I say hogwash. Just because a particular team sucks doesn't mean it can't be a rival. UMD hockey sucks because of the UMTC, and that leads me right into my next point.

(2) EXPOSURE. I lived in Duluth until I was 22 years old, and stunningly enough, I am sure I watched twice as much Gopher hockey than Bulldog hockey. Every single UMTC game is televised throughout the entire state. Every single bleeping game. Hockey fans in Northeastern Minnesota should grow up Bulldog fans based on geography alone, but on cold Winter nights they are forced to watch the only games on TV, which happen to originate from Minneapolis. It's now even gotten to the point where UMD hockey isn't even going to be televised locallly at all this season, save public access TV.

(3) RECRUITS. Everyone knows the Gophers are the Yankees of college hockey. They get all the best in-state recruits every year. Why is that? Well, let's see. Let's say I'm a 14 year old hockey phenom from Hibbing. Being a phenom you could probably assume I watch a lot of hockey. Who's on TV? Oh yeah, that's right, the Gophers, even though there are 3 other NCAA Division 1 schools in the state. Never mind that, they're the frickin' Gophers.

(4) THE WOOGER. TV analyst and former coach Doug Woog drives me crazy. Whenever the UMTC plays another team with a good Minnesotan on the roster he is sure to declare during the broadcast "why isn't he playing for the Gophers?" His arrogance alone is reason enough to turn the channel. For those of you not familiar with the Wooger, when he coached he wouldn't allow any non-Minnesotans on the team. None. What sense did that make? That's why it was completely ironic that once he left the team (and they started recruiting non-Minnesotans) that they won their national championships; a North Dakota native scored the title-winning goal.

Granted, some of the reasons I raised here are those of a beaten down, humiliated Bulldog fan, but I truly think there's some truth here.

Update 9/18: I've got some venom built up over the "better facilities" argument also. Mariucci may be the finest hockey rink I've ever seen a game in. It's a first class facility and does nothing but help recruit better players to the UMTC. Duluth needs a new rink, and when they asked the State for funding, they were told that if they wanted a new rink they should pass a referendum approving an increase in the local sales tax. The city's residents voted, approved an increase, but the State legislature didn't act. Everyone's trying their hardest to keep the program down.

All Apologies

First off, sorry about the long time between posts. Work for me has gotten busy and my kids' sports schedules have been crazy lately. I promise a more regular posting schedule once the season gets going again in less than 3 weeks.

Training camp starts today and it sounds like 2 roster spots are available for the youngsters. Look for James Sheppard, Benny Pouliot, Petr Kalus and former Gopher (*) Danny Irmen to battle for the spots. Personally I'm hoping Kalus and Sheppard make it, but with Lemaire anything is possible.

(*) I'm trying real hard not to let this cloud my judgment. Those new to this blog will come to realize that I'm not the biggest fan of the UM-Twin Cities team.

James Boomer Gordon Hogwash

Ok, here they are, and as you can see, no significant changes, but they've now got the NHL logo on the collar like all of the other teams. I'm not so sure I like the idea of going to red at home full time. I really liked the old green jerseys and thought they presented a unique look for the team, no other NHL teams wear green on a regular basis, do they? Well, none come to mind at least.

Warning: sudden topic change coming.

I listen to XM Home Ice every day on the way home from work. It's a good way to hear about the league from the Canadian perspective and they've got some really entertaining and knowledgeable people on there. Yesterday I was listening to James "Boomer" Gordon spout off about how the NHL should have a season-opening celebration like the NFL does. He said they should get a band like the Bare Naked Ladies and have them play at MSG or in Toronto to open the season. My response to Boomer: what the NFL does is idiotic...skip the Faith Hill and John Mellancamp songs and just get to the game. Bringing in a band like BNL would do nothing more then let the national media take another dig at the game we all love. The NHL doesn't need an opening celebration; just drop the puck and let us diehards enjoy the games. I couldn't give a rat's behind if this game is popular, I still love it all the same.

Which brings me to another quick rant: the idea that the NHL is a better place when the Rangers are good. H-O-G-W-A-S-H. It'd be a better place for Ranger's fans, but not for me. I hate it when the national hockey media reports over and over again about the Rangers or the Leafs. There are 30 teams in this league that need to be covered and I'm not even thinking about buying the new Rangers' sweater anytime soon.

Now I feel better; I hear an ice-cold Summit Pale Ale calling.

Hitting the Post

Wild blogs are in short supply, so whenever one gets going I like to point it out and invite everyone to check it out. This one's hosted by NickInNY, a frequent commentor at Russo's Rants. He's off to a great start.

Hitting the Post