The Puck Stops Here http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/ en y2kfhl@hotmail.com Copyright 2009 2009-11-20T16:30:00-05:00 http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/http://www.kuklaskorner.com/images/uploads/kklogobox.gifKukla's Korner AHL Scoring Leader http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/ahl_scoring_leader/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/ahl_scoring_leader/ Corey Locke of the Hartford Wolf Pack (NY Rangers AHL affiliate) is running away with the AHL scoring lead.  His totals of 11 goals, 18 assists and 29 points all are league leading totals.  He currently has a seven point lead over Charles Linglet of the Springfield Falcons (Edmonton Oilers affiliate).  Probably Locke`s biggest challenges for the AHL scoring title come from Alexandre Giroux of the Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals affiliate) and Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau of Hartford.  These players have point per game scoring rates similar to Locke, but have both been limited to thirteen games played due to NHL call ups (Parenteau is currently on the New York Rangers roster). Corey Locke is a 25 year old who has not had much of an NHL shot, due to his small size.  He is listed at 5`9” 168 pounds.  That would make him one of the smallest players in the NHL.  Locke was drafted in 2003 by the Montreal Canadiens.  He played his one NHL game with them in the 2007/08 season before being traded to the Minnesota Wild.  Last summer, he signed as a free agent in New York.  Like many AHL stars, he is well travelled and has never had a legitimate NHL shot (probably for reasons outside his control - his size). Corey Locke of the Hartford Wolf Pack (NY Rangers AHL affiliate) is running away with the AHL scoring lead.  His totals of 11 goals, 18 assists and 29 points all are league leading totals.  He currently has a seven point lead over Charles Linglet of the Springfield Falcons (Edmonton Oilers affiliate).  Probably Locke`s biggest challenges for the AHL scoring title come from Alexandre Giroux of the Hershey Bears (Washington Capitals affiliate) and Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau of Hartford.  These players have point per game scoring rates similar to Locke, but have both been limited to thirteen games played due to NHL call ups (Parenteau is currently on the New York Rangers roster).

Corey Locke is a 25 year old who has not had much of an NHL shot, due to his small size.  He is listed at 5`9” 168 pounds.  That would make him one of the smallest players in the NHL.  Locke was drafted in 2003 by the Montreal Canadiens.  He played his one NHL game with them in the 2007/08 season before being traded to the Minnesota Wild.  Last summer, he signed as a free agent in New York.  Like many AHL stars, he is well travelled and has never had a legitimate NHL shot (probably for reasons outside his control - his size).

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]]> 2009-11-20T16:30:00-05:00 PuckStopsHere The Flip Side To Best Teams Pre-Lockout http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/the_flip_side_to_best_teams_pre_lockout/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/the_flip_side_to_best_teams_pre_lockout/ A couple weeks ago I wrote that the best teams of the past decade all occurred before the lockout.  This was according to a ranking by Puck Daddy.  I argue that the decline in the quality of elite teams is caused mostly by two factors:  over-expansion of the NHL and the salary cap and current CBA which prevents teams from keeping good teams together.  I argue that this is not a good thing for the NHL.  It reduces the quality of Stanley cup final series (which should be matchups of two elite teams).  I also argue that this is not some equalization procedure to keep big markets from dominating the NHL (afterall the New York Rangers with the biggest payroll in the league missed the playoffs for the final seven seasons of the last CBA).  There is a flip side to this.  If the best teams are not as good, then the worst teams are not as bad.  This is shown by further Puck Daddy analysis. A couple weeks ago I wrote that the best teams of the past decade all occurred before the lockout.  This was according to a ranking by Puck Daddy.  I argue that the decline in the quality of elite teams is caused mostly by two factors:  over-expansion of the NHL and the salary cap and current CBA which prevents teams from keeping good teams together.  I argue that this is not a good thing for the NHL.  It reduces the quality of Stanley cup final series (which should be matchups of two elite teams).  I also argue that this is not some equalization procedure to keep big markets from dominating the NHL (afterall the New York Rangers with the biggest payroll in the league missed the playoffs for the final seven seasons of the last CBA).  There is a flip side to this.  If the best teams are not as good, then the worst teams are not as bad.  This is shown by further Puck Daddy analysis.

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]]> 2009-11-19T16:56:03-05:00 PuckStopsHere Future Hall Of Famer Brendan Shanahan Retires http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/future_hall_of_famer_brendan_shanahan_retires/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/future_hall_of_famer_brendan_shanahan_retires/ I like to write a career retrospective when any future Hall of Fame player retires.  Yesterday, Brendan Shanahan announced his retirement, so here is his career retrospective. Brendan Shanahan was born on January 23rd, 1969 in Mimico, Ontario (which became a part of Toronto as Toronto expanded).  Shanahan grew up playing hockey in the Metro Toronto hockey system.  It was as a 16 year old he was first seriously noticed by NHL scouts.  Shanahan joined the London Knights of the OHL to play his junior career.  Shanahan was a star in junior.  He scored at better than point per game rate in his rookie year and added 92 points in 56 games in his second junior season.  He was immediately seen as a leader and ran some Knights practices when the coach was unavailable.  As a 17 year old, Shanahan starred for Team Canada in the World Junior Hockey Championships.  He scored seven points in six games/ This was the year that a bench clearing brawl between Canada and the Soviet Union left both teams disqualified, so Shanahan did not play for a World Junior medal.  Shanahan was chosen second in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils (Pierre Turgeon was selected first overall).  I like to write a career retrospective when any future Hall of Fame player retires.  Yesterday, Brendan Shanahan announced his retirement, so here is his career retrospective.

Brendan Shanahan was born on January 23rd, 1969 in Mimico, Ontario (which became a part of Toronto as Toronto expanded).  Shanahan grew up playing hockey in the Metro Toronto hockey system.  It was as a 16 year old he was first seriously noticed by NHL scouts.  Shanahan joined the London Knights of the OHL to play his junior career.  Shanahan was a star in junior.  He scored at better than point per game rate in his rookie year and added 92 points in 56 games in his second junior season.  He was immediately seen as a leader and ran some Knights practices when the coach was unavailable.  As a 17 year old, Shanahan starred for Team Canada in the World Junior Hockey Championships.  He scored seven points in six games/ This was the year that a bench clearing brawl between Canada and the Soviet Union left both teams disqualified, so Shanahan did not play for a World Junior medal.  Shanahan was chosen second in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils (Pierre Turgeon was selected first overall). 

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]]> 2009-11-18T16:16:01-05:00 PuckStopsHere Worst Player So Far This Year http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/worst_player_so_far_this_year/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/worst_player_so_far_this_year/ I try to track the player who is the worst player who is playing a regular shift in the NHL.  It is interesting to see what kind of player will continue to be played despite playing poorly.  Early in the season it is usually a better known player, who was expected to produce and is failing.  Earlier this season I picked Vesa Toskala as the worst player in the league.  At that point he had a horrid 5.56 GAA and an .812 saves percentage.  Those numbers are clearly well below NHL calibre.  From that point, Toskala has not played much.  He suffered a knee injury and gave up the Toronto goaltending job to rookie Jonas Gustavsson.  Gustavsson has done a pretty solid job with a .903 saves percentage and a 3.06 GAA, though he was pulled very early in a poor outing versus Calgary in his last game.  Toskala has had three further appearances since I picked him as the worst player in the league and he is doing better.  Toskala’s season numbers are still bad, but they are significantly improved to a .853 saves percentage and a 4.44 GAA.  That drops him from the worst player position because he is not playing as regularly and because he is playing better. My current selection for the worst regular in the NHL is Brad Richardson of the Los Angeles Kings. I try to track the player who is the worst player who is playing a regular shift in the NHL.  It is interesting to see what kind of player will continue to be played despite playing poorly.  Early in the season it is usually a better known player, who was expected to produce and is failing.  Earlier this season I picked Vesa Toskala as the worst player in the league.  At that point he had a horrid 5.56 GAA and an .812 saves percentage.  Those numbers are clearly well below NHL calibre.  From that point, Toskala has not played much.  He suffered a knee injury and gave up the Toronto goaltending job to rookie Jonas Gustavsson.  Gustavsson has done a pretty solid job with a .903 saves percentage and a 3.06 GAA, though he was pulled very early in a poor outing versus Calgary in his last game.  Toskala has had three further appearances since I picked him as the worst player in the league and he is doing better.  Toskala’s season numbers are still bad, but they are significantly improved to a .853 saves percentage and a 4.44 GAA.  That drops him from the worst player position because he is not playing as regularly and because he is playing better.

My current selection for the worst regular in the NHL is Brad Richardson of the Los Angeles Kings.

Continue reading "Worst Player So Far This Year"

]]> 2009-11-17T16:48:04-05:00 PuckStopsHere Injuries And Short Summers http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/injuries_and_short_summers/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/injuries_and_short_summers/ One problem that can derail a team is injuries.  When several core players get hurt simultaneously, it is very hard for a team to continue to compete at their expected level.  Predictably, some of the more injured teams this season have been the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings.  These are the two teams that have competed in the Stanley Cup finals in each of the last two years and have thus had the shortest summers.  Short summers lead to less time to recover from the long NHL season and less time for recurring injuries to get better. Detroit started off the season with a rash of injuries.  Johan Franzen had knee surgery very early in the season.  Valtteri Filppula has a broken wrist.  Andreas Lilja has missed the entire season so far recovering from a concussion suffered last year.  To make matters worse, free agent signee Jason Williams has a broken leg.  In October, Detroit seemed to be the team most affected by injuries, though they have recovered from a relatively slow start.  Detroit has won seven of their last ten games (including three straight) and currently hold down sixth seed in the West Conference. One problem that can derail a team is injuries.  When several core players get hurt simultaneously, it is very hard for a team to continue to compete at their expected level.  Predictably, some of the more injured teams this season have been the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Detroit Red Wings.  These are the two teams that have competed in the Stanley Cup finals in each of the last two years and have thus had the shortest summers.  Short summers lead to less time to recover from the long NHL season and less time for recurring injuries to get better.

Detroit started off the season with a rash of injuries.  Johan Franzen had knee surgery very early in the season.  Valtteri Filppula has a broken wrist.  Andreas Lilja has missed the entire season so far recovering from a concussion suffered last year.  To make matters worse, free agent signee Jason Williams has a broken leg.  In October, Detroit seemed to be the team most affected by injuries, though they have recovered from a relatively slow start.  Detroit has won seven of their last ten games (including three straight) and currently hold down sixth seed in the West Conference.

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]]> 2009-11-16T15:52:18-05:00 PuckStopsHere Early Season Top Coach http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/early_season_top_coach/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/early_season_top_coach/ As usual, Jacques Lemaire is doing a great job coaching.  This happens every season and is usually overlooked.  It required some first class coaching to keep the Minnesota Wild in the playoff race as long as they were last year.  Last year, the Minnesota Wild finished ninth in the West Conference.  They were two points back of a playoff berth despite having played without star forward Marian Gaborik most of the season.  This year roughly the same Wild team exists (Gaborik is now a New York Ranger) and they are sitting last in the West Conference.  That is one way to measure the Jacques Lemaire effect on the Wild.  Notice how far they have dropped without him. Lemaire has come to New Jersey where he is doing his usual great job.  The New Jersey Devils are first in the East Conference with a 14-4 record.  Lemaire teams are always defensively responsible.  This year the Devils have the top defence in the NHL - with a 2.06 GAA.  As usual, Jacques Lemaire is doing a great job coaching.  This happens every season and is usually overlooked.  It required some first class coaching to keep the Minnesota Wild in the playoff race as long as they were last year.  Last year, the Minnesota Wild finished ninth in the West Conference.  They were two points back of a playoff berth despite having played without star forward Marian Gaborik most of the season.  This year roughly the same Wild team exists (Gaborik is now a New York Ranger) and they are sitting last in the West Conference.  That is one way to measure the Jacques Lemaire effect on the Wild.  Notice how far they have dropped without him.

Lemaire has come to New Jersey where he is doing his usual great job.  The New Jersey Devils are first in the East Conference with a 14-4 record.  Lemaire teams are always defensively responsible.  This year the Devils have the top defence in the NHL - with a 2.06 GAA. 

Continue reading "Early Season Top Coach"

]]> 2009-11-15T17:23:10-05:00 PuckStopsHere Potential Florida Panther Sale Kept Out Of Mainstream Media http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/potential_florida_panther_sale_kept_out_of_mainstream_media/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/potential_florida_panther_sale_kept_out_of_mainstream_media/ Alan Cohen led a group of Florida businessmen in purchasing the Florida Panthers from Wayne Huizenga of Blockbuster Video fame in 2001.  Since that point, the Panthers have been one of the have not teams.  They have failed to make the playoffs during Cohen’s ownership.  According to Forbes Magazine the Florida Panthers have the fifth least value in the NHL and faced the second largest operating losses last year (beaten only by the Phoenix Coyotes).  As a result, Alan Cohen decided he wanted out.  Over the summer, Cohen agreed to sell the team to Sports Properties Acquisition Group.  This is a publicly traded company set up with the purpose of buying a sports franchise.  Should they fall to do so by the end of the year (which appears likely), they will be dissolved and money will be returned to shareholders.  The sale was to be for $240 million and included the Panthers franchise, the BankAtlantic Center where they play and some surrounding real estate. Alan Cohen led a group of Florida businessmen in purchasing the Florida Panthers from Wayne Huizenga of Blockbuster Video fame in 2001.  Since that point, the Panthers have been one of the have not teams.  They have failed to make the playoffs during Cohen’s ownership.  According to Forbes Magazine the Florida Panthers have the fifth least value in the NHL and faced the second largest operating losses last year (beaten only by the Phoenix Coyotes).  As a result, Alan Cohen decided he wanted out. 

Over the summer, Cohen agreed to sell the team to Sports Properties Acquisition Group.  This is a publicly traded company set up with the purpose of buying a sports franchise.  Should they fall to do so by the end of the year (which appears likely), they will be dissolved and money will be returned to shareholders.  The sale was to be for $240 million and included the Panthers franchise, the BankAtlantic Center where they play and some surrounding real estate.

Continue reading "Potential Florida Panther Sale Kept Out Of Mainstream Media"

]]> 2009-11-14T16:57:37-05:00 PuckStopsHere Early Season MVP http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/early_season_mvp2/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/early_season_mvp2/ In October, I picked Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals as the early season MVP.  He has fallen from the race since suffering a shoulder injury on November 1st.  In the meantime, two candidates have emerged as the MVP leaders.  There is Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings, who has 30 points to lead the NHL and top goalie Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres, who leads the NHL with a .938 saves percentage and a 1.82 GAA.  I think the current MVP is Ryan Miller, but it is not by a large margin.  The main difference comes from the relative values of different positions.  A goaltender is the most important player to a team when he plays well.  He is on the ice the entire game and has a better ability to singlehandedly keep a team in the game.  That is not to say that a position player cannot be MVP (in fact the MVP usually is a position player), but in event of a close race between a goalie and a non-goalie, I tend to favor the goalie. In October, I picked Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals as the early season MVP.  He has fallen from the race since suffering a shoulder injury on November 1st.  In the meantime, two candidates have emerged as the MVP leaders.  There is Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings, who has 30 points to lead the NHL and top goalie Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres, who leads the NHL with a .938 saves percentage and a 1.82 GAA. 

I think the current MVP is Ryan Miller, but it is not by a large margin.  The main difference comes from the relative values of different positions.  A goaltender is the most important player to a team when he plays well.  He is on the ice the entire game and has a better ability to singlehandedly keep a team in the game.  That is not to say that a position player cannot be MVP (in fact the MVP usually is a position player), but in event of a close race between a goalie and a non-goalie, I tend to favor the goalie.

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]]> 2009-11-13T15:30:28-05:00 PuckStopsHere H1N1 And The NHL http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/h1n1_and_the_nhl/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/h1n1_and_the_nhl/ It isn’t clear how badly the H1N1 flu will affect North America as we enter the traditional winter flu season.  Nobody knows how many people will be affected.  There is a precedent in hockey for flu causing disruption.  In 1919, there was no Stanley Cup winner as both finalists - the Montreal Canadiens and the Seattle Metropolitans - were hit hard by the flu and the finals were cancelled.  At a time, the entire Montreal Canadiens team was hospitalized and defenceman Joe Hall died of the flu.  This was the famous Spanish influenza epidemic.  Returning soldiers from World War I brought back a new strain of the flu and it killed an estimated 50 million people (about 3% of the world’s population).  This was the second wave of the Spanish Flu, as World War I had ended in 1918. Hopefully medicine is better equipped to deal with a major flu pandemic today than it was in 1919, but we never can know for sure. However, with the invention of vaccination, there is a new weapon to fight a flu pandemic. It isn’t clear how badly the H1N1 flu will affect North America as we enter the traditional winter flu season.  Nobody knows how many people will be affected.  There is a precedent in hockey for flu causing disruption.  In 1919, there was no Stanley Cup winner as both finalists - the Montreal Canadiens and the Seattle Metropolitans - were hit hard by the flu and the finals were cancelled.  At a time, the entire Montreal Canadiens team was hospitalized and defenceman Joe Hall died of the flu.  This was the famous Spanish influenza epidemic.  Returning soldiers from World War I brought back a new strain of the flu and it killed an estimated 50 million people (about 3% of the world’s population).  This was the second wave of the Spanish Flu, as World War I had ended in 1918.

Hopefully medicine is better equipped to deal with a major flu pandemic today than it was in 1919, but we never can know for sure. However, with the invention of vaccination, there is a new weapon to fight a flu pandemic.

Continue reading "H1N1 And The NHL"

]]> 2009-11-12T21:50:44-05:00 PuckStopsHere Best Defenceman So Far This Season http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/best_defenceman_so_far_this_season/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/best_defenceman_so_far_this_season/ At the end of October, I picked Alex Goligoski as the top defenceman in the NHL so far this season.  I think this was a good selection at the time, although some commenters disagreed.  I think the main complaint was that they did not understand that I was picking the top defenceman so far in a month old season and not the top defenceman in hockey.  Lindas1st understood the difference when he said So what you’re basically saying is that Goligoski is the defenseman of the month for October in the NHL.  Obviously when October is the only month of play so far, the best player in the season so far would be the player of the month for October. Not surprisingly, Goligoski did not stay on a Norris Trophy pace for a long time.  That would be an awful lot to ask from a second year defenceman in his first full season of NHL play.  He has been surpassed by Chris Pronger. At the end of October, I picked Alex Goligoski as the top defenceman in the NHL so far this season.  I think this was a good selection at the time, although some commenters disagreed.  I think the main complaint was that they did not understand that I was picking the top defenceman so far in a month old season and not the top defenceman in hockey.  Lindas1st understood the difference when he said So what you’re basically saying is that Goligoski is the defenseman of the month for October in the NHL.  Obviously when October is the only month of play so far, the best player in the season so far would be the player of the month for October.

Not surprisingly, Goligoski did not stay on a Norris Trophy pace for a long time.  That would be an awful lot to ask from a second year defenceman in his first full season of NHL play.  He has been surpassed by Chris Pronger.

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]]> 2009-11-11T17:17:59-05:00 PuckStopsHere A Lack Of Self-Discipline http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/a_lack_of_self_discipline/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/a_lack_of_self_discipline/ It is obvious that Sidney Crosby is one of the most talented players in the NHL.  He has the ability to become the player who dominates a generation.  He won the 2007 Hart Trophy as a 19 year old and seemed to be well on his way to a significant period as the standard bearer for the NHL.  This is yet to happen.  He was not a Hart Trophy nominee in either of the last two seasons.  His team won the 2009 Stanley Cup, but he was not chosen as the Conn Smythe Trophy winner.  Crosby remains one of the best players in the NHL, but he is unable to make the jump to be the best player in the game.  I think one reason for this is immaturity and a lack of self-discipline.  One clear symptom of this is his penalty total.  Crosby has 31 penalty minutes so far this season.  That puts him second on his Pittsburgh Penguins team (behind Jay McKee).  He leads the NHL in minor penalties (with 13 - tied with Hal Gill of Montreal).  There is no reason Sidney Crosby should lead the league in minor penalties. It is obvious that Sidney Crosby is one of the most talented players in the NHL.  He has the ability to become the player who dominates a generation.  He won the 2007 Hart Trophy as a 19 year old and seemed to be well on his way to a significant period as the standard bearer for the NHL.  This is yet to happen.  He was not a Hart Trophy nominee in either of the last two seasons.  His team won the 2009 Stanley Cup, but he was not chosen as the Conn Smythe Trophy winner.  Crosby remains one of the best players in the NHL, but he is unable to make the jump to be the best player in the game.  I think one reason for this is immaturity and a lack of self-discipline.  One clear symptom of this is his penalty total.  Crosby has 31 penalty minutes so far this season.  That puts him second on his Pittsburgh Penguins team (behind Jay McKee).  He leads the NHL in minor penalties (with 13 - tied with Hal Gill of Montreal).  There is no reason Sidney Crosby should lead the league in minor penalties.

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]]> 2009-11-10T19:50:44-05:00 PuckStopsHere Top Goalie So Far This Season http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/top_goalie_so_far_this_season/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/top_goalie_so_far_this_season/ In late October, I picked Craig Anderson of the Colorado Avalanche as the top goalie so far this season.  He is having a very good season (so far), but has given way to Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres.  When I picked Anderson, it was clear that the race was between him and Miller.  Miller had a slightly higher saves percentage, with fewer games played and fewer shots faced.  In the meantime, Anderson`s numbers have dropped a bit, while Miller has done a better job of maintaining his level of play.  Miller has a 1.89 GAA and a .936 saves percentage.  Miller is a big part of the reason that the Buffalo Sabres lead the Northeast Division. In late October, I picked Craig Anderson of the Colorado Avalanche as the top goalie so far this season.  He is having a very good season (so far), but has given way to Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres.  When I picked Anderson, it was clear that the race was between him and Miller.  Miller had a slightly higher saves percentage, with fewer games played and fewer shots faced.  In the meantime, Anderson`s numbers have dropped a bit, while Miller has done a better job of maintaining his level of play.  Miller has a 1.89 GAA and a .936 saves percentage.  Miller is a big part of the reason that the Buffalo Sabres lead the Northeast Division.

Continue reading "Top Goalie So Far This Season"

]]> 2009-11-09T15:29:29-05:00 PuckStopsHere Some Surprising Goalies http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/some_surprising_goalies/ http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/some_surprising_goalies/ Goaltending is a position that can have a tremendous effect on a team.  A team with a top goalie can significantly exceed expectations.  Likewise, a team with poor goaltending will fail to live up to expectation.  Short term predictions based on goaltending are hard because it is a very streaky position.  It is not uncommon for a goalie who has not had much recent success to suddenly have a very hot streak and become nearly unbeatable and it is not uncommon for a top goalie to have a cold streak. Two goalies who were largely overlooked in the free agent market who are off to good starts this year are Antero Niittymaki of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Andrew Raycroft of the Vancouver Canucks.  Goaltending is a position that can have a tremendous effect on a team.  A team with a top goalie can significantly exceed expectations.  Likewise, a team with poor goaltending will fail to live up to expectation.  Short term predictions based on goaltending are hard because it is a very streaky position.  It is not uncommon for a goalie who has not had much recent success to suddenly have a very hot streak and become nearly unbeatable and it is not uncommon for a top goalie to have a cold streak.

Two goalies who were largely overlooked in the free agent market who are off to good starts this year are Antero Niittymaki of the Tampa Bay Lightning and Andrew Raycroft of the Vancouver Canucks. 

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]]> 2009-11-08T16:47:34-05:00 PuckStopsHere 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.

Continue reading "Best Team Defence"

]]> 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?

Continue reading "Tearing Up The AHL"

]]> 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.

Continue reading "NHL`s Opportunistic Fight With The NHLPA"

]]> 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.

Continue reading "A Sophomore Jinx?"

]]> 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