The Puck Stops Here http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/ en y2kfhl@hotmail.com Copyright 2009 2009-11-07T17:57:18-05:00 http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/http://www.kuklaskorner.com/images/uploads/kklogobox.gifKukla's Korner I NOW Consider Joe Thornton A Hall Of Famer http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/i_now_consider_joe_thornton_a_hall_of_famer/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/i_now_consider_joe_thornton_a_hall_of_famer/ I like to try to pinpoint the time in a player’s career when he cements himself as Hall of Fame player.  This is the point where his Hall of Fame credentials are strong enough that anything that does or does not happen in the remainder of his career cannot threaten his value as a Hall of Famer.  Today, I believe that Joe Thornton has made it to this level. With the year 2010 less than two months away, it is natural to start looking at the results over the decade 2000-2009 (some might chose decades as 2001-2010 or to correspond with the start and end of NHL seasons but the results remain about the same).  It is clear that Joe Thornton will be the highest scorer in the NHL over the 2000-2009 decade.  He has 783 regular season points so far.  This puts him ahead of a Jarome Iginla and Daniel Alfredsson tie for second place with 712 points.  Jaromir Jagr is fourth with 671 points and is no longer playing in the NHL.  It is clear that Thornton will be the top scorer in this (2000-2009) decade and extremely likely that he will be the top scorer in the 2001-2010 decade (he currently has an 80 point lead). I like to try to pinpoint the time in a player’s career when he cements himself as Hall of Fame player.  This is the point where his Hall of Fame credentials are strong enough that anything that does or does not happen in the remainder of his career cannot threaten his value as a Hall of Famer.  Today, I believe that Joe Thornton has made it to this level.

With the year 2010 less than two months away, it is natural to start looking at the results over the decade 2000-2009 (some might chose decades as 2001-2010 or to correspond with the start and end of NHL seasons but the results remain about the same).  It is clear that Joe Thornton will be the highest scorer in the NHL over the 2000-2009 decade.  He has 783 regular season points so far.  This puts him ahead of a Jarome Iginla and Daniel Alfredsson tie for second place with 712 points.  Jaromir Jagr is fourth with 671 points and is no longer playing in the NHL.  It is clear that Thornton will be the top scorer in this (2000-2009) decade and extremely likely that he will be the top scorer in the 2001-2010 decade (he currently has an 80 point lead).

Continue reading "I NOW Consider Joe Thornton A Hall Of Famer"

]]> 2009-11-07T17:57:18-05:00 PuckStopsHere Best Team Defence http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/best_team_defence/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/best_team_defence/ I think we are far enough into the season to conclude that the Chicago Blackhawks have the best team defence.  Chicago has held opposition to an amazing 22.7 shots per game so far.  This is 3.5 shots per game better than any other team (Los Angeles is second).  The Blackhawks have a solid 8-6 record (with one regulation tie) but have not been able to capitalize on this top defence so far because of lacklustre goaltending.  Cristobal Huet has put up a .895 saves percentage and a 2.36 goals against average.  The GAA looks acceptable, but when you consider how few shots he has faced, it is not so good.  So far rookie Antii Niemi has done a little better that Huet in goal, but he is largely untested.  His first of four starts was a shutout against Florida and that one start alone (which may be a bit of a fluke) makes up the difference between Huet and his numbers. I think we are far enough into the season to conclude that the Chicago Blackhawks have the best team defence.  Chicago has held opposition to an amazing 22.7 shots per game so far.  This is 3.5 shots per game better than any other team (Los Angeles is second).  The Blackhawks have a solid 8-6 record (with one regulation tie) but have not been able to capitalize on this top defence so far because of lacklustre goaltending.  Cristobal Huet has put up a .895 saves percentage and a 2.36 goals against average.  The GAA looks acceptable, but when you consider how few shots he has faced, it is not so good.  So far rookie Antii Niemi has done a little better that Huet in goal, but he is largely untested.  His first of four starts was a shutout against Florida and that one start alone (which may be a bit of a fluke) makes up the difference between Huet and his numbers.

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]]> 2009-11-06T16:04:18-05:00 PuckStopsHere Tearing Up The AHL http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/tearing_up_the_ahl/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/tearing_up_the_ahl/ There is an incredible offensive performance underway in the AHL.  Alexandre Giroux of the Hershey Bears (the Washington Capitals affiliate) is tied for the league lead in scoring with 17 points.  He is tied with Corey Locke of the Hartford Wolf Pack (the New York Rangers affiliate).  Giroux’s performance so far is impressive because he has done it in only eight games played.  He has scored more than two points per game in the AHL so far this season.  By comparison, Locke has 12 games played.  Giroux was called up to the NHL for a short time.  He played three games with the Washington Capitals scoring a goal.  This has limited his AHL games played. Giroux is no stranger to being an AHL top scorer.  Last year he won the John B Sollenberger Trophy as the top scorer in the league as well as the Les Cunningham Award for MVP.  Giroux is an AHL superstar and he appears to be getting even better as time passes.  So why is he not an NHLer? There is an incredible offensive performance underway in the AHL.  Alexandre Giroux of the Hershey Bears (the Washington Capitals affiliate) is tied for the league lead in scoring with 17 points.  He is tied with Corey Locke of the Hartford Wolf Pack (the New York Rangers affiliate).  Giroux’s performance so far is impressive because he has done it in only eight games played.  He has scored more than two points per game in the AHL so far this season.  By comparison, Locke has 12 games played.  Giroux was called up to the NHL for a short time.  He played three games with the Washington Capitals scoring a goal.  This has limited his AHL games played.

Giroux is no stranger to being an AHL top scorer.  Last year he won the John B Sollenberger Trophy as the top scorer in the league as well as the Les Cunningham Award for MVP.  Giroux is an AHL superstar and he appears to be getting even better as time passes.  So why is he not an NHLer?

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]]> 2009-11-05T17:08:53-05:00 PuckStopsHere NHL`s Opportunistic Fight With The NHLPA http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/nhls_opportunistic_fight_with_the_nhlpa/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/nhls_opportunistic_fight_with_the_nhlpa/ The NHLPA is in a shambles.  The NHL is using this weakness to launch an attack on the NHLPA, as the NHLPA is not in a position to defend itself well.  This summer, Dany Heatley, then an Ottawa Senator, demanded a trade.  Heatley then declined to be traded to the Edmonton Oilers, as he had a no movement clause in his contract.  This allowed him to deny any trades (despite the fact he requested one).  Ottawa spent most of the summer dealing with the Heatley drama until they finally traded him to the San Jose Sharks.  Heatley and a fifth round pick were traded to San Jose in exchange for Milan Michalek, Jonathan Cheechoo and a second round pick.  So far, this trade has favored San Jose as Heatley has 17 points by himself and Michalek and Cheechoo have combined for ten points in Ottawa. The NHLPA is in a shambles.  The NHL is using this weakness to launch an attack on the NHLPA, as the NHLPA is not in a position to defend itself well.  This summer, Dany Heatley, then an Ottawa Senator, demanded a trade.  Heatley then declined to be traded to the Edmonton Oilers, as he had a no movement clause in his contract.  This allowed him to deny any trades (despite the fact he requested one).  Ottawa spent most of the summer dealing with the Heatley drama until they finally traded him to the San Jose Sharks.  Heatley and a fifth round pick were traded to San Jose in exchange for Milan Michalek, Jonathan Cheechoo and a second round pick.  So far, this trade has favored San Jose as Heatley has 17 points by himself and Michalek and Cheechoo have combined for ten points in Ottawa.

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]]> 2009-11-04T15:48:16-05:00 PuckStopsHere Puck Daddy:  Best Teams Were Pre-Lockout http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/puck_daddy_best_teams_were_pre_lockout/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/puck_daddy_best_teams_were_pre_lockout/ One of my biggest concerns with the NHL of today is that is hard (impossible?) to build a team that is as good as used to win Stanley Cups.  This is a direct consequence of the salary cap and rapid expansion.  A team cannot afford to hold onto all of the talent it produces if it drafts well and there are more other teams to gobble it up when it comes available on the open market.  Teams cannot get as strong as they did in the past.  For the most part, we do not see any more elite teams.  Puck Daddy began their retrospective of the decade today by listing the nine best teams of the decade.  This is a ranking of all of the nine teams that won Stanley Cups in the years 2000-2009.  This is an unscientific listing, where the criteria to rank teams is unclear.  That said, the results of their rankings more or less agree with my opinions (and likely those of most impartial observers).  The top three teams are the 2002 Detroit Red Wings, 2001 Colorado Avalanche and the 2000 New Jersey Devils.  The top teams are pre-lockout. One of my biggest concerns with the NHL of today is that is hard (impossible?) to build a team that is as good as used to win Stanley Cups.  This is a direct consequence of the salary cap and rapid expansion.  A team cannot afford to hold onto all of the talent it produces if it drafts well and there are more other teams to gobble it up when it comes available on the open market.  Teams cannot get as strong as they did in the past.  For the most part, we do not see any more elite teams. 

Puck Daddy began their retrospective of the decade today by listing the nine best teams of the decade.  This is a ranking of all of the nine teams that won Stanley Cups in the years 2000-2009.  This is an unscientific listing, where the criteria to rank teams is unclear.  That said, the results of their rankings more or less agree with my opinions (and likely those of most impartial observers).  The top three teams are the 2002 Detroit Red Wings, 2001 Colorado Avalanche and the 2000 New Jersey Devils.  The top teams are pre-lockout.

Continue reading "Puck Daddy:  Best Teams Were Pre-Lockout"

]]> 2009-11-03T16:38:32-05:00 PuckStopsHere A Sophomore Jinx? http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/a_sophomore_jinx/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/a_sophomore_jinx/ Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets won the Calder trophy as the best rookie in the NHL last season.  He finished second in the Vezina voting for best goaltender (behind Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins).  He looked like an NHL star in the making.  He was invited to the Canadian Olympic Team summer camp.  However, this season has not gone nearly as well so far.  Mason currently has a .882 saves percentage - which is the worst of any goalie who has been a clear number one with his team.  He has a 3.53 goals against average and six wins in 11 starts.  These are not the numbers of a future star. Last season, Mason did not have a consistent season.  He joined the Blue Jackets in early November.  For about six weeks in December and January he played some spectacular hockey.  This is a large part of what secured his awards.  By the end of January, Mason missed time with mononucleosis and did not look like the same goalie when he returned.  From the beginning of February to the end of the season, Mason posted a .899 saves percentage.  Given that he posted a .916 saves percentage over the whole season, this was a noticeable drop. Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets won the Calder trophy as the best rookie in the NHL last season.  He finished second in the Vezina voting for best goaltender (behind Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins).  He looked like an NHL star in the making.  He was invited to the Canadian Olympic Team summer camp.  However, this season has not gone nearly as well so far.  Mason currently has a .882 saves percentage - which is the worst of any goalie who has been a clear number one with his team.  He has a 3.53 goals against average and six wins in 11 starts.  These are not the numbers of a future star.

Last season, Mason did not have a consistent season.  He joined the Blue Jackets in early November.  For about six weeks in December and January he played some spectacular hockey.  This is a large part of what secured his awards.  By the end of January, Mason missed time with mononucleosis and did not look like the same goalie when he returned.  From the beginning of February to the end of the season, Mason posted a .899 saves percentage.  Given that he posted a .916 saves percentage over the whole season, this was a noticeable drop.

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]]> 2009-11-02T16:39:35-05:00 PuckStopsHere Hurricanes Struggle http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/hurricanes_struggle/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/hurricanes_struggle/ After making the semi-finals in the 2009 playoffs, it appeared that the Carolina Hurricanes would have a strong 2009/10 season.  So far that hasn’t been the case.  The Hurricanes had a solid start winning two of their first four games, including a 7-2 victory over the Florida Panthers, but they haven’t won any games since.  This gives Carolina a league leading eight game losing streak.  That has dropped them into 29th place in a 30 team league with a 2-10 record (three losses count as overtime ties).  Carolina has scored fewer goals than any other team in the NHL - with 27 goals scored.  No player on the team has more than eight points right now (Ray Whitney and Jussi Jokinen are tied for the team lead with eight points). Offensive stars Eric Staal and Ray Whitney should be counted upon to have significantly more points than this.  Staal has only five points so far this year. After making the semi-finals in the 2009 playoffs, it appeared that the Carolina Hurricanes would have a strong 2009/10 season.  So far that hasn’t been the case.  The Hurricanes had a solid start winning two of their first four games, including a 7-2 victory over the Florida Panthers, but they haven’t won any games since.  This gives Carolina a league leading eight game losing streak.  That has dropped them into 29th place in a 30 team league with a 2-10 record (three losses count as overtime ties). 

Carolina has scored fewer goals than any other team in the NHL - with 27 goals scored.  No player on the team has more than eight points right now (Ray Whitney and Jussi Jokinen are tied for the team lead with eight points). Offensive stars Eric Staal and Ray Whitney should be counted upon to have significantly more points than this.  Staal has only five points so far this year.

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]]> 2009-11-01T16:32:01-05:00 PuckStopsHere Early Season Top Defenceman http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/early_season_top_defenceman/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/early_season_top_defenceman/ Early in the season it is not uncommon that a surprise player gets off to a good start and becomes the early leader for a major NHL award.  Most of the time as the season progresses, the player slips back into the pack and the winner is a more usual suspect.  Sometimes, especially when it is a young player with significant upside, they may stay in the race or even win the award.  At this early point in the season, Alex Goligoski of the Pittsburgh Penguins has been the best defenceman in the NHL.  Goligoski has 12 points, which places him third among defencemen in the NHL.  He has a +13 +/- rating which is good for first place in the league.  On a Pittsburgh team that suffered a blow to their defence when Sergei Gonchar suffered a broken wrist, Goligoski has done a wonderful job.  The Penguins struggled without Gonchar last year, but with Goligoski in his place have not missed a beat this year. Early in the season it is not uncommon that a surprise player gets off to a good start and becomes the early leader for a major NHL award.  Most of the time as the season progresses, the player slips back into the pack and the winner is a more usual suspect.  Sometimes, especially when it is a young player with significant upside, they may stay in the race or even win the award. 

At this early point in the season, Alex Goligoski of the Pittsburgh Penguins has been the best defenceman in the NHL.  Goligoski has 12 points, which places him third among defencemen in the NHL.  He has a +13 +/- rating which is good for first place in the league.  On a Pittsburgh team that suffered a blow to their defence when Sergei Gonchar suffered a broken wrist, Goligoski has done a wonderful job.  The Penguins struggled without Gonchar last year, but with Goligoski in his place have not missed a beat this year.

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]]> 2009-10-31T16:12:55-05:00 PuckStopsHere NHLPA Stumbling Along As Usual http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/nhlpa_stumbling_along_as_usual/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/nhlpa_stumbling_along_as_usual/ The NHLPA is in bad shape.  Is that even news anymore?  Over the years I have written posts entitled NHLPA in bad shape, NHLPA problems, NHLPA in shambles, NHLPA shoots itself in the foot and others.  The continuing story is that the NHLPA is always in bad shape.  It is never strong.  It doesn’t seem that the players are capable of creating a strong NHLPA. Just when it looked like things were on the upswing under Paul Kelly, the players inexplicably fired him.  No reasonable cause has been released for his firing.  It doesn’t seem that one exists. The players don’t even seem to know what happened.  This is shown by the four player committee set up to investigate what happened. EDIT:  A couple hours after this post, Ian Penny resigned from his NHLPA post.  It is yet another case of somebody who did wrong being subtracted, but when there seems to be an unending group of such people, can it really be sited as yet another point where the NHLPA is trying to right itself? The NHLPA is in bad shape.  Is that even news anymore?  Over the years I have written posts entitled NHLPA in bad shape, NHLPA problems, NHLPA in shambles, NHLPA shoots itself in the foot and others.  The continuing story is that the NHLPA is always in bad shape.  It is never strong.  It doesn’t seem that the players are capable of creating a strong NHLPA.

Just when it looked like things were on the upswing under Paul Kelly, the players inexplicably fired him.  No reasonable cause has been released for his firing.  It doesn’t seem that one exists. The players don’t even seem to know what happened.  This is shown by the four player committee set up to investigate what happened.

EDIT:  A couple hours after this post, Ian Penny resigned from his NHLPA post.  It is yet another case of somebody who did wrong being subtracted, but when there seems to be an unending group of such people, can it really be sited as yet another point where the NHLPA is trying to right itself?

Continue reading "NHLPA Stumbling Along As Usual"

]]> 2009-10-30T17:43:18-05:00 PuckStopsHere New Early Season Top Goalie http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/new_early_season_top_goalie/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/new_early_season_top_goalie/ Earlier this season I picked Ilya Bryzgalov of the Phoenix Coyotes as the best goalie in the early season.  Bryzgalov is continuing to play well, although his numbers are regressing a bit from his incredible start.  There is another goalie who is continuing his incredible start further into the season.  Craig Anderson of the Colorado Avalanche has been the top goalie in the season so far.  Anderson is a big reason the Colorado Avalanche are in first place in the NHL.  Anderson sports a .940 saves percentage and a 1.97 GAA.  These are very strong numbers.  These numbers have been posted when Anderson is facing over 35 shots per 60 minutes of play (which is a very high number). Anderson had posted some good numbers as the Florida Panthers backup goalie (but always in limited starts).  It is on the strength of those numbers that Anderson has been given a chance to start with the Colorado Avalanche.  It is unclear how well he will handle the increased workload and the increased attention scouts give to his game. Earlier this season I picked Ilya Bryzgalov of the Phoenix Coyotes as the best goalie in the early season.  Bryzgalov is continuing to play well, although his numbers are regressing a bit from his incredible start.  There is another goalie who is continuing his incredible start further into the season.  Craig Anderson of the Colorado Avalanche has been the top goalie in the season so far.  Anderson is a big reason the Colorado Avalanche are in first place in the NHL.  Anderson sports a .940 saves percentage and a 1.97 GAA.  These are very strong numbers.  These numbers have been posted when Anderson is facing over 35 shots per 60 minutes of play (which is a very high number).

Anderson had posted some good numbers as the Florida Panthers backup goalie (but always in limited starts).  It is on the strength of those numbers that Anderson has been given a chance to start with the Colorado Avalanche.  It is unclear how well he will handle the increased workload and the increased attention scouts give to his game.

Continue reading "New Early Season Top Goalie"

]]> 2009-10-29T15:36:20-05:00 PuckStopsHere Colorado In First Place http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/colorado_in_first_place/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/colorado_in_first_place/ I would never have predicted that twelve games into the 2009/10 season, the Colorado Avalanche would be in first place in the NHL.  I picked the Avs to finish second last in the West Conference and my prediction was not out of line with most common opinions. Colorado has a 9-3 record (with 2 losses counted as overtime ties).  That is a very good record, but it is the overtime ties that propel Colorado into first.  Without them, they would be near the top, but below Pittsburgh in the standings. For the most part, Colorado has been outshot pretty badly while winning.  They average 26.6 shots per game and allow 33.2.  This almost seven shot per game deficit is more typical of a weaker team (for example Anaheim has three wins in ten games and has an eight shot per game deficit).  Colorado has won largely due to goaltending.  Craig Anderson has been outstanding. I would never have predicted that twelve games into the 2009/10 season, the Colorado Avalanche would be in first place in the NHL.  I picked the Avs to finish second last in the West Conference and my prediction was not out of line with most common opinions.

Colorado has a 9-3 record (with 2 losses counted as overtime ties).  That is a very good record, but it is the overtime ties that propel Colorado into first.  Without them, they would be near the top, but below Pittsburgh in the standings.

For the most part, Colorado has been outshot pretty badly while winning.  They average 26.6 shots per game and allow 33.2.  This almost seven shot per game deficit is more typical of a weaker team (for example Anaheim has three wins in ten games and has an eight shot per game deficit).  Colorado has won largely due to goaltending.  Craig Anderson has been outstanding.

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]]> 2009-10-28T16:03:24-05:00 PuckStopsHere A Sale Solves Nothing http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/a_sale_solves_nothing/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/a_sale_solves_nothing/ Bankrupt Phoenix Coyote owner Jerry Moyes has agreed to sell his team to the NHL.  This is after the Phoenix market has been basically destroyed due to a summer of litigation and bankruptcy.  Moyes would accept the NHL‘s $140 million offer.  This offer would pay nearly $80 million to SOF Investment (the Coyotes largest secured creditor - who had provided the team with a line of credit).  It would pay the NHL back $37 million for funding the team since last fall (that‘s right some of the money in the $140 quote paid by the NHL is paid to the NHL).  It pays about $13 million to other Coyote creditors.  This leaves about $10 million for Moyes (and possibly Wayne Gretzky who has a $22.5 million claim in the bankruptcy case).  Basically, this offer has Moyes losing his shirt.  He accepted it because the NHL would continue to deduct the operating costs of running the team from their offer, if it ran into the future.  Jerry Moyes had no other options.  Wayne Gretzky has not agreed to this offer. Bankrupt Phoenix Coyote owner Jerry Moyes has agreed to sell his team to the NHL.  This is after the Phoenix market has been basically destroyed due to a summer of litigation and bankruptcy.  Moyes would accept the NHL‘s $140 million offer.  This offer would pay nearly $80 million to SOF Investment (the Coyotes largest secured creditor - who had provided the team with a line of credit).  It would pay the NHL back $37 million for funding the team since last fall (that‘s right some of the money in the $140 quote paid by the NHL is paid to the NHL).  It pays about $13 million to other Coyote creditors.  This leaves about $10 million for Moyes (and possibly Wayne Gretzky who has a $22.5 million claim in the bankruptcy case). 

Basically, this offer has Moyes losing his shirt.  He accepted it because the NHL would continue to deduct the operating costs of running the team from their offer, if it ran into the future.  Jerry Moyes had no other options.  Wayne Gretzky has not agreed to this offer.

Continue reading "A Sale Solves Nothing"

]]> 2009-10-27T22:08:33-05:00 PuckStopsHere New AHL Leader http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/new_ahl_leader/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/new_ahl_leader/ Last week I wrote about the San Antonio Rampage (the Phoenix Coyotes affiliate) taking the lead in the AHL.  Their lead was short-lived.  The Rochester Americans have now taken over top spot in the league.  Rochester is the Florida Panthers affiliate and is enjoying a seven game winning streak.  This gives them an 8-1-1 record (one overtime loss).  Rochester has a balanced attack (ten players have five or more points) led by Michal Repik’s 11 points. Repik is the Panthers 2007 second round draft pick and a solid prospect.  Rochester’s biggest strength has been goaltending.  Alexander Salak has put up tremendous numbers.  He has a 1.60 GAA and a .947 saves percentage.  These are numbers that will have to get him NHL notice if he can keep them up.  Salak has had a short NHL trial.  He played less than a period in the early part of this season without much success (two goals allowed on seven shots), but he is playing very well in the AHL.  He is an undrafted 22 year old who put up strong numbers in Finland last season and looks like a good contender to challenge for an NHL spot in the future.  Last week I wrote about the San Antonio Rampage (the Phoenix Coyotes affiliate) taking the lead in the AHL.  Their lead was short-lived.  The Rochester Americans have now taken over top spot in the league.  Rochester is the Florida Panthers affiliate and is enjoying a seven game winning streak.  This gives them an 8-1-1 record (one overtime loss).  Rochester has a balanced attack (ten players have five or more points) led by Michal Repik’s 11 points. Repik is the Panthers 2007 second round draft pick and a solid prospect.  Rochester’s biggest strength has been goaltending.  Alexander Salak has put up tremendous numbers.  He has a 1.60 GAA and a .947 saves percentage.  These are numbers that will have to get him NHL notice if he can keep them up.  Salak has had a short NHL trial.  He played less than a period in the early part of this season without much success (two goals allowed on seven shots), but he is playing very well in the AHL.  He is an undrafted 22 year old who put up strong numbers in Finland last season and looks like a good contender to challenge for an NHL spot in the future. 

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]]> 2009-10-26T15:19:03-05:00 PuckStopsHere Early Season Top Rookie http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/early_season_top_rookie/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/early_season_top_rookie/ We are far enough into the season to determine that there is a good crop of rookies this year.  A surprisingly large number of 18 and 19 year olds are on NHL rosters and playing pretty well.  There are John Tavares of the New York lslanders, Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Matt Duchene and Ryan O’Reilly of the Colorado Avalanche and Evander Kane of the Atlanta Thrashers who are all 18 year olds playing with NHL clubs and making an impact so far.  The list of 19 year olds include Steve Stamkos in Tampa Bay, Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings, Zach Bogosian of the Atlanta Thrashers, Tyler Myers of the Buffalo Sabres and Michael Del Zotto of the New York Rangers.  Some of the nineteen year olds were rookies last year, but it bodes well for the future of the NHL. The surprising leader of the rookie class is Michael Del Zotto of the Rangers.  He is the highest scorer among defencemen in the NHL, with 10 points so far.  He is the second highest scorer among the NHL’s teenagers (Stamkos has 11 points).  We are far enough into the season to determine that there is a good crop of rookies this year.  A surprisingly large number of 18 and 19 year olds are on NHL rosters and playing pretty well.  There are John Tavares of the New York lslanders, Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Matt Duchene and Ryan O’Reilly of the Colorado Avalanche and Evander Kane of the Atlanta Thrashers who are all 18 year olds playing with NHL clubs and making an impact so far.  The list of 19 year olds include Steve Stamkos in Tampa Bay, Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings, Zach Bogosian of the Atlanta Thrashers, Tyler Myers of the Buffalo Sabres and Michael Del Zotto of the New York Rangers.  Some of the nineteen year olds were rookies last year, but it bodes well for the future of the NHL.

The surprising leader of the rookie class is Michael Del Zotto of the Rangers.  He is the highest scorer among defencemen in the NHL, with 10 points so far.  He is the second highest scorer among the NHL’s teenagers (Stamkos has 11 points). 

Continue reading "Early Season Top Rookie"

]]> 2009-10-25T15:54:57-05:00 PuckStopsHere Ovechkin and Artyukhin’s Slew Foots http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/ovechin_and_artyukhins_slew_foots/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/ovechin_and_artyukhins_slew_foots/ On Thursday, the NHL suspended Evgeni Artyukhin of the Anaheim Ducks for three games for his slew footing of Matt Niskanen of the Dallas Stars.  Niskanen injured his head (probably a concussion) on the play.  He has not played since the Wednesday 4-2 Dallas victory where the incident occurred and is not expected to play tonight vs. St Louis.  On the night of the three game suspension, Alexander Ovechkin slew footed Rich Peverley of the Atlanta Thrashers.  This happened in the final minute of the Capitals 5-4 victory.  Peverley was not injured on the play, but it still looked like something that merits a suspension from the NHL.  Artyukhin was suspended for three games and forfeits almost $35,000 in salary for his transgression.  Ovechkin was not suspended to his.  He was fined an undisclosed amount by the NHL (which under the current CBA is limited to $2500).  On Thursday, the NHL suspended Evgeni Artyukhin of the Anaheim Ducks for three games for his slew footing of Matt Niskanen of the Dallas Stars.  Niskanen injured his head (probably a concussion) on the play.  He has not played since the Wednesday 4-2 Dallas victory where the incident occurred and is not expected to play tonight vs. St Louis.  On the night of the three game suspension, Alexander Ovechkin slew footed Rich Peverley of the Atlanta Thrashers.  This happened in the final minute of the Capitals 5-4 victory.  Peverley was not injured on the play, but it still looked like something that merits a suspension from the NHL. 

Artyukhin was suspended for three games and forfeits almost $35,000 in salary for his transgression.  Ovechkin was not suspended to his.  He was fined an undisclosed amount by the NHL (which under the current CBA is limited to $2500). 

Continue reading "Ovechkin and Artyukhin’s Slew Foots"

]]> 2009-10-24T18:25:01-05:00 PuckStopsHere How To Offload An Unwanted Salary http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/how_to_offload_an_unwanted_salary/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/how_to_offload_an_unwanted_salary/ Michael Nylander has one of the larger contracts on the Washington Capitals.  He has a salary cap hit of $4.875 million and is signed through the end of the 2010/11 season.  This makes him the third highest paid player on the Capitals (behind Alexander Ovechkin and Mike Green).  However, he has fallen out of favor with his Capitals team.  He only scored nine goals last season and that had the Capitals reconsidering his contract.  The Capitals tried to get Nylander signed in the KHL last summer and failed.  So far this season, they have yet to play Nylander in a game and have sent him to the AHL in Grand Rapids (the Detroit Red Wings affiliate - not their own affiliate) for a conditioning stint.  Conditioning stints can last up to two weeks.  Many expect that Washington does not want him back and hope to have found him a KHL suitor by the end of that period. The salary cap loophole of sending unwanted players to Russia is not new.  It has been exploited in the past, but it shows the NHL’s hypocrisy.  The NHL screams bloody murder when Alexander Radulov is signed by the league, while at the same time trying to send players to the KHL to hide their salary cap hits. Michael Nylander has one of the larger contracts on the Washington Capitals.  He has a salary cap hit of $4.875 million and is signed through the end of the 2010/11 season.  This makes him the third highest paid player on the Capitals (behind Alexander Ovechkin and Mike Green).  However, he has fallen out of favor with his Capitals team.  He only scored nine goals last season and that had the Capitals reconsidering his contract.  The Capitals tried to get Nylander signed in the KHL last summer and failed.  So far this season, they have yet to play Nylander in a game and have sent him to the AHL in Grand Rapids (the Detroit Red Wings affiliate - not their own affiliate) for a conditioning stint.  Conditioning stints can last up to two weeks.  Many expect that Washington does not want him back and hope to have found him a KHL suitor by the end of that period.

The salary cap loophole of sending unwanted players to Russia is not new.  It has been exploited in the past, but it shows the NHL’s hypocrisy.  The NHL screams bloody murder when Alexander Radulov is signed by the league, while at the same time trying to send players to the KHL to hide their salary cap hits.

Continue reading "How To Offload An Unwanted Salary"

]]> 2009-10-23T16:33:28-05:00 PuckStopsHere The Frolov Benching http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/the_frolov_benching/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/the_frolov_benching/ The Los Angeles Kings are off to a pretty good start.  They have a 5-4 record through nine games.  They created some controversy when coach Terry Murray did not dress Alexander Frolov for their last game, which was Monday versus the Dallas Stars.  Frolov is one of the more talented players on the Kings.  Last season his 59 points placed him second in team scoring (behind Anze Kopitar).  This season he has five points in his eight games played so far.  The problem with Frolov is he has a style that appears as though he isn’t trying.  When everything works he looks very slick.  He is in the right place to exploit offensive openings and lead the Kings attack.  When things don’t work he doesn’t find those openings and often is invisible.  It is a style of play issue that makes him appear to be not trying.  The language and culture barrier with Frolov since he is Russian is also an issue.  He is not as easy for a Canadian coach like Terry Murray to understand and to motivate, since they have very different backgrounds.  As a result, Murray is unhappy with Frolov when there isn’t a strong case for problems. The Los Angeles Kings are off to a pretty good start.  They have a 5-4 record through nine games.  They created some controversy when coach Terry Murray did not dress Alexander Frolov for their last game, which was Monday versus the Dallas Stars.  Frolov is one of the more talented players on the Kings.  Last season his 59 points placed him second in team scoring (behind Anze Kopitar).  This season he has five points in his eight games played so far. 

The problem with Frolov is he has a style that appears as though he isn’t trying.  When everything works he looks very slick.  He is in the right place to exploit offensive openings and lead the Kings attack.  When things don’t work he doesn’t find those openings and often is invisible.  It is a style of play issue that makes him appear to be not trying.  The language and culture barrier with Frolov since he is Russian is also an issue.  He is not as easy for a Canadian coach like Terry Murray to understand and to motivate, since they have very different backgrounds.  As a result, Murray is unhappy with Frolov when there isn’t a strong case for problems.

Continue reading "The Frolov Benching"

]]> 2009-10-22T17:36:10-05:00 PuckStopsHere Penguins Early Team To Beat http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/penguins_early_team_to_beat/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/penguins_early_team_to_beat/ With an 8-1 record and a six game winning streak, the Pittsburgh Penguins have established themselves as the early leader in the NHL standings.  The defending Stanley Cup champions have 33 goals scored to only 19 allowed.  Offensively their attack has been led by Evgeni Malkin with 11 points and the more well-rounded skills of Sidney Crosby (who has contributed 8 points).  Tyler Kennedy’s five goals make him the team’s leader in goals scored.  On defence, Sergei Gonchar leads the way offensively with eight points.  He is followed closely by Alex Goligoski, with seven points and a +9 +/- rating.  Jay McKee has been a useful addition for his stay home play.  In goal, Marc-Andre Fleury won all eight games and sports a .926 saves percentage and a 1.96 GAA.  The Pittsburgh Penguins have been a team that is performing at the top of their ability throughout the early season.  They look like a championship team.  However, it is not uncommon that October’s championship team is nowhere to be seen come the Stanley Cup finals.  The true test of the 2009/10 Pittsburgh Penguins is not how they look a few weeks into October.  It is how they will look when they run into some problems in the stretch.  Will they recover quickly or will they fall back into the pack? With an 8-1 record and a six game winning streak, the Pittsburgh Penguins have established themselves as the early leader in the NHL standings.  The defending Stanley Cup champions have 33 goals scored to only 19 allowed.  Offensively their attack has been led by Evgeni Malkin with 11 points and the more well-rounded skills of Sidney Crosby (who has contributed 8 points).  Tyler Kennedy’s five goals make him the team’s leader in goals scored.  On defence, Sergei Gonchar leads the way offensively with eight points.  He is followed closely by Alex Goligoski, with seven points and a +9 +/- rating.  Jay McKee has been a useful addition for his stay home play.  In goal, Marc-Andre Fleury won all eight games and sports a .926 saves percentage and a 1.96 GAA.  The Pittsburgh Penguins have been a team that is performing at the top of their ability throughout the early season.  They look like a championship team.  However, it is not uncommon that October’s championship team is nowhere to be seen come the Stanley Cup finals.  The true test of the 2009/10 Pittsburgh Penguins is not how they look a few weeks into October.  It is how they will look when they run into some problems in the stretch.  Will they recover quickly or will they fall back into the pack?

]]> 2009-10-21T15:44:53-05:00 PuckStopsHere Dave Staples Annual Anti-Stats Rant http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/dave_staples_annual_anti_stats_rant/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/dave_staples_annual_anti_stats_rant/ The Edmonton Oilers blogs include some of the better sabermetrics blogs out there. There is mudcrutch hockey, irreverent Oiler fans, copper n blue and battle of Alberta.  Each have a strong interest in sabermetrics and have written some interesting posts on the subjects.  With the high quality of the Oiler blogosphere it is hard for the mainstream media to keep up.  However, Dave Staples at Cult of Hockey does a good job.  He writes many interesting pieces about the Edmonton Oilers and hockey in general.  These are not just the leftover articles that do not get published in the newspaper (as some weaker media blogs tend to do).  He regularly publishes some very good information on the internet.  However, one of his recurring themes (that seems to be in protest to the independent Oiler bloggers with strong sabermetric backgrounds) is that hockey statistics are not very useful.  This is a case he frequently overstates in his posts.  Last year he wrote Why Plus/Minus is a rotten, useless, misleading and irrelevant stat for NHL players.  The Edmonton Oilers blogs include some of the better sabermetrics blogs out there. There is mudcrutch hockey, irreverent Oiler fans, copper n blue and battle of Alberta.  Each have a strong interest in sabermetrics and have written some interesting posts on the subjects.  With the high quality of the Oiler blogosphere it is hard for the mainstream media to keep up.  However, Dave Staples at Cult of Hockey does a good job.  He writes many interesting pieces about the Edmonton Oilers and hockey in general.  These are not just the leftover articles that do not get published in the newspaper (as some weaker media blogs tend to do).  He regularly publishes some very good information on the internet. 

However, one of his recurring themes (that seems to be in protest to the independent Oiler bloggers with strong sabermetric backgrounds) is that hockey statistics are not very useful.  This is a case he frequently overstates in his posts.  Last year he wrote Why Plus/Minus is a rotten, useless, misleading and irrelevant stat for NHL players. 

Continue reading "Dave Staples Annual Anti-Stats Rant"

]]> 2009-10-20T16:33:50-05:00 PuckStopsHere First Look At The AHL http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/first_look_at_the_ahl/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/first_look_at_the_ahl/ Like the NHL season, the AHL season is also underway.  The AHL is a high quality league that often produces depth players (and sometimes stars) for the NHL.  It is a high level hockey league and is important to watch to see the next wave of NHL players before they arrive in the NHL.  The early season leader in the AHL is the San Antonio Rampage.  They are the farm club of the Phoenix Coyotes.  They have a 6-1-1 record (one overtime loss) which puts them in first place in the AHL.  They have been the highest scoring team in the league.  Four of the top twelve scorers in the AHL are San Antonio players.  Sean Sullivan leads the way with 10 points.  He is 25 and looks like he may be ready for his NHL debut.  He is a Boston University graduate, who has been rapidly improving in his AHL tenure.  One point behind is Kyle Turris.  Turris is a highly regarded prospect who was the third overall pick in 2007.  He spent last year in the NHL, but did not appear ready for that level of competition.  He may be a future NHL star and is learning to play at a high level against adult competition.  Kevin Porter is the third highest scorer in San Antonio.  He spent last year shuttling between the AHL and NHL and may soon be ready to grad an NHL job permanently.  The final of the four top scorers from San Antonio is Brett MacLean.  He was the Coyotes 2nd round pick in 2007 and has a good chance at a significant NHL career.  The Phoenix Coyotes have a good pipeline of young players in their system.  This makes their AHL affiliate in San Antonio a top team.  This makes their future look promising, assuming competent ownership takes over the team.  The Coyotes have the talent that they could be a good team for years into the future, but uncertainty in ownership could derail it all before it begins. Like the NHL season, the AHL season is also underway.  The AHL is a high quality league that often produces depth players (and sometimes stars) for the NHL.  It is a high level hockey league and is important to watch to see the next wave of NHL players before they arrive in the NHL.  The early season leader in the AHL is the San Antonio Rampage.  They are the farm club of the Phoenix Coyotes.  They have a 6-1-1 record (one overtime loss) which puts them in first place in the AHL.  They have been the highest scoring team in the league.  Four of the top twelve scorers in the AHL are San Antonio players.  Sean Sullivan leads the way with 10 points.  He is 25 and looks like he may be ready for his NHL debut.  He is a Boston University graduate, who has been rapidly improving in his AHL tenure.  One point behind is Kyle Turris.  Turris is a highly regarded prospect who was the third overall pick in 2007.  He spent last year in the NHL, but did not appear ready for that level of competition.  He may be a future NHL star and is learning to play at a high level against adult competition.  Kevin Porter is the third highest scorer in San Antonio.  He spent last year shuttling between the AHL and NHL and may soon be ready to grad an NHL job permanently.  The final of the four top scorers from San Antonio is Brett MacLean.  He was the Coyotes 2nd round pick in 2007 and has a good chance at a significant NHL career. 

The Phoenix Coyotes have a good pipeline of young players in their system.  This makes their AHL affiliate in San Antonio a top team.  This makes their future look promising, assuming competent ownership takes over the team.  The Coyotes have the talent that they could be a good team for years into the future, but uncertainty in ownership could derail it all before it begins.

]]> 2009-10-19T15:22:58-05:00 PuckStopsHere