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The only Canada-USA preview you need to read!

February 27th, 2010

The hockey world is buzzing in anticipation for an epic Gold Medal showdown between Team Canada and Team USA following what can only be described as two crazy Olympic Semi-Final hockey games on Friday.

Crazy because Team USA scored six goals in less than a period to blowout Finland to get to the Gold Medal game.
Crazy because Team Canada came within inches of blowing a three goal lead in the final eight minutes against Slovakia to get to the Gold Medal game.

The results from two very different Semi-Final games only add to the layers of intrigue going into tomorrow’s Canada-USA rematch. Much has been made of Canada’s refocused play, following the 5-3 loss to Team USA last week. Canada has been significantly better, with much of the credit going to Mike Babcock’s line juggling and Canada’s aggressive forecheck. But let’s not forget about Team USA and how well they’ve played as a team in a short tournament like this.

Let’s talk about Team Canada
One thing that hasn’t been talked about very much is the preparation and tailored game plans Canada has created for Germany, Russia and Slovakia. Each game has offered a different look and feel from the Canadians. Credit should go to Kevin Lowe and Ken Hitchcock for designing solid game plans and terrific advanced scouting. To me, this is where the real story begins for the Gold Medal game. What will Canada’s game plan be and how will they react to the American’s game plan? The Americans are a physical team – by far the most physical team Canada has played in this tournament. Do the Canadians fight aggression with aggression? The pressure will be on goalie Roberto Luongo, too. I don’t think I can recall a game where I’d consider Luongo the underdog against the opposing goaltender. Luongo hasn’t been tested too much since relieving Martin Brodeur. The other big question I have for Team Canada is if their defensemen – namely Chris Pronger – can handle the strong forecheck of Team USA. This will be something to watch as the game goes on.

Let’s talk about USA
It’s no secret a big part of Team USA’s win over Canada last Sunday was a result of turning Martin Brodeur’s puck handling strength into a weakness. The Americans were rewarded with two goals in the first period because of this. Two goals they might not have expected. It will be a different story on Sunday as Roberto Luongo will likely avoid over-playing pucks. This begs the question, what will USA’s game plan be? Team USA are no longer the underdogs Brian Burke has made them out to be for months. They haven’t been since taking out Canada in the preliminary round. And looking at the way Ryan Miller has been playing for Team USA, some might suggest the Americans are the Gold Medal favourites. Friday’s Semi-Final win for Team USA was big for a few reasons. Not only did the score grab all of Team Canada’s complete and undivided attention, but Patrick Kane enjoyed his best game of the tournament. It’s perfect timing for a player who really needs to continue that kind of play if Team USA want to win Gold. Kane makes their second line run, so if he’s on his game, it’s two strong forward lines for Team USA. If he’s not playing well, Canada only needs to worry about Zach Parise’s line. Team USA are pretty well rested too. They coasted through the majority of Friday’s game after jumping out to a big lead very early in the first period. Unlike Canada who fought to the dying seconds of their game to win.

If you breakdown each position between the two teams, here’s where I see the advantages:
Goaltending: USA
Defense: Canada
Forwards: ?

The forwards of each team will decide this team. While Canada may have a stronger group of forwards, Team USA’s seem to better understand their roles. It’s going to make  for a pretty interesting chess match. While this game may not have the appeal a Canada-Russia final may have had, it definitely has more intrigue. It also has a bit more edge as Canada will either make up for their previous loss or cement USA as the undisputed Olympic Champions. There’s a lot on the line for both teams… may the best team win.

Stay classy, Olympic Hockey.

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A fifth open letter to Marian Hossa

February 4th, 2010

Dear Mr. Hossa,

Wow. Long time eh? Well, not so much for you. But it’s been awhile for me. I mean, you still haven’t responded to any of my four letters that I wrote to you. You know the ones. The first one when I introduced you to the hockey gods, the second one when I told you to sign with Ottawa, the third when I questioned your decision to sign with Chicago, and the fourth when I informed you that you had essentially cursed Chicago from winning the Stanley Cup.

Anyways, as I said, I feel like we’ve sort of lost touch. I mean, you were out of the lineup for awhile there after that whole surgery thing. And now, with you in the Western Conference for a second season (and 12 friggin more seasons), I really don’t have the patience to stay up and watch your games. But, from what Burgundy tells me, your team is doing pretty good.

The reason for this letter though is to talk to you a bit about the Olympics. From what I gather, you’re going to be playing again. And while this may seem like a bit of a backward request for a number of reasons, can you please keep an eye on Patrick Kane?

First of all, he’s heading to Vancouver, which, as you may or may not know, has some pretty loose morals when it comes to inhibition inhibitors. I’m not sure what kind of effect this might have on the American Hockey Team, but it can’t be good. Now I’m not saying that I want the U.S. Hockey Team to do well, but it would be at least entertaining to watch them play Canada in the Gold Medal Game again (Lord knows I don’t want to play Russia or Sweden). I thought that since Slovakia probably won’t make it that far, you could at least keep Kane out of trouble. I speak to this more as a fan of hockey than a fan of the U.S. team. You understand right?

That brings me to my second point. I really don’t think the Olympics needs any bad press in Vancouver. I’m really hopeful that this is going to be a great Games for Vancouver, and more importantly, for Canada. Have you heard of Cindy Klassen? Don’t worry. You will. Bottom line, I’d rather the news be focused on how great Canada is, rather than the crazy adventures of the American Hockey team.

Anyways, I really hope you have a chance to enjoy Vancouver. This is your second Olympic appearance if memory serves me correctly, so take your time out there and enjoy the experience.

If you need anything from me in the meantime, I’d be more than happy to sit down and talk.

Best regards and remember to stay classy out there,

Tambland

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Friday afternoon hockey thoughts

January 29th, 2010

It’s Friday. You are tired, slightly irritable, and probably thinking ahead to the weekend if you aren’t there already. I don’t want to make you think or inconvenience you. In fact, what I really want to do is help you slack or distract you from whatever it is you were doing before you came to our site. So I’ve compiled a few random Friday afternoon hockey thoughts that you might enjoy!

  • Remember a few years ago when everyone praised the Calgary Flames system and how they spent big money on one great goalie, one great defenceman, and one great forward? Guess that set up didn’t really work out too well in the end.
  • A few Patrick Kane thoughts. Firstly, Kane isn’t very good at this whole media thing. Secondly, there’s something about him and vehicles that don’t get along. I can’t put my finger on it.
  • When will the Edmonton Oilers win next? Seriously. We should create a pool on how long their losing streak will go. As of this afternoon, it’s sitting at 12 games.
  • The Carolina Hurricanes should have given Eric Staal the captaincy at the start of the year. Since being named the team captain, Staal has scored 8 goals-1 assist, the team has gone 4-1, and have outscored opposition 29-9 in those 5 games.
  • Back in November, what did you think was more unlikely: the Ottawa Senators winning 8 straight games or the Calgary Flames losing 9 straight games?
  • Where did ViewFromMySeats.com pull these Stayclassy.net quotes from?
  • I love how Carey Price drew a happy face on his stick for Thursday morning’s Montreal Canadiens practice (following a stupid attempt by Montreal media to create drama- note: that’s a shot at general media, not TheCheckingLine.com). Price’s drawing was followed up by a big bear hug on Andrei Markov. That’s great.

Any other points I’m missing or worth discussing? Let me help you slack! Happy weekend readers!

Stay classy, random hockey thoughts.

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Olympic concern?

January 19th, 2010

In 2006, the top 4 Western Conference teams all lost in the first round of the playoffs. Of course, 2006 was the last time NHL players took 2 weeks off to play in the Winter Olympics in Turin. Also, 2006 was the last time the Edmonton Oilers made the playoffs… and went to the Stanley Cup finals as one of the biggest underdogs in recent memory.

With the 2010 Vancouver Olympics less than 2 months away, NHL GM’s might be wondering what kind of effects the games will have on their star players and their chances to compete for the Stanley Cup. The potential for burnouts, demotivation, and injuries is very real. And any of those scenarios could have a crippling effect on the top 4 Western teams (as well as other powerhouse Eastern Conference teams like the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins).

At the time of writing this article, the top 4 Western Conference teams are the Blackhawks, Sharks, Avalanche, and Predators. Here’s a closer look at the players each team have participating at the Olympics:

  • Chicago Blackhawks – Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook, Marian Hossa, Tomas Kopecky
  • San Jose Sharks – Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley, Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski, Dan Boyle, Evgeni Nabokov, Doug Murray
  • Colorado Avalanche – Kyle Quincey, Paul Statsny, Jonas Holos, Ruslan Salei, Peter Budaj
  • Nashville Predators – Shea Weber, Ryan Suter,  Martin Erat, Patric Hornqvist, Marcel Goc, Alexander Sulzer

It makes you wonder if a Western Conference playoff team with less Olympic-bound players will squeak through each series like the Oilers did in 2006. Perhaps a team like the Calgary Flames (who only have 3 players going – Jarome Iginla, Olli Jokinen, and Miikka Kiprusoff), or even the Phoenix Coyotes (who also have 3 players going – Zbynek Michalek, Sami Lepisto, and Ilya Bryzgalov) could have a better odds in the 2010 Playoffs because of this…

I’m not saying this will or won’t happen. It’s purely speculation. And I’m not suggesting that was the only reason the 2006 Oilers got all the way to the Stanley Cup finals, but it could be a partial explanation why the top 4 Western teams were defeated by lower seeded teams that year. If anything, this probably blurs the line that much more between the top and lower seeds in the West.

With the Western Conference being as tight as it is, the same questions can be asked about Detroit, Los Angeles, and Vancouver. These teams are sending a number of players to the Olympics as well.

While fans can’t wait for the Olympics hockey to get started, I’m sure GM’s across the league are dreading it. Or perhaps they are dreading the impact following the games. At any rate, it will be fascinating to see the effects these Olympics will have on these legitimate Western Conference powerhouse teams. And for a team like Chicago who’s Cup window is small to start with, that’s just another hurdle to climb through in order to meet expectations.

Stay classy, Olympic Western Conference stars.

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Kovalchuk to Chicago? Don’t bet on it. Or against it.

January 11th, 2010

Burgundy here. I’d like to introduce Stayclassy’s newest writer, Harken! Please give Harken a warm welcome and enjoy his first article – it’s a good one! What would you do with the Kovalchuk issue?

–

First, let me apologize to Atlanta Thrasher fans. Discussing this possible trade is sort of like viewing the body of a deceased family member of theirs— before they’re quite dead.

And, that said, there is a good chance the Thrashers will re-sign Ilya Kovalchuk.

I am not particularly close to the situation in Atlanta. But what I hear tells me the workings of a new contract might be troublesome. And the trade deadline is less than 60 days from now.

That aside, if the Thrashers should decide to trade Kovalchuk before then, it doesn’t have to be to the detriment of the franchise.

In fact, there are a number of scenarios by which the Thrashers could solve a number of problems through such a deal.

One of those scenarios, perhaps the most obvious, is dealing Kovalchuk to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Let’s pause for a moment, waiting for the echoes of laughter (or outrage) to die down. And now let’s address the “conventional wisdom” point-by-point.

“Chicago can’t afford that.”

Yes, they can, as a rental, in return for some of the salaried players they will have to lose before next season.

“Why would Chicago need him? They’re stacked.”

The Blackhawks’ window for winning the Stanley Cup will perhaps never be better than it is this year— next year’s team will, by necessity, be missing 3-4 key players off the current roster. But there is also no guarantee they will win it this year. To that end, they could benefit, like all teams could, from what Kovalchuk brings at even strength. And the Hawks, in particular, could benefit from adding a right-handed point shot on the power play— of which there are few better than Kovalchuk.

“Why would Atlanta deal with them?”

The Blackhawks need to lose exactly what Atlanta needs to gain in such a deal. The Blackhawks have 5 players, each making $3-4 million per season, who are good, young players with recognizable, marketable names that Don Waddell could plug in to his lineup tomorrow and help build his entire team right away: Cam Barker, Kris Versteeg, Patrick Sharp, Dave Bolland and/or Dustin Byfuglien. Plus, the Blackhawks have two good, NHL-experienced prospects at Rockford in the AHL who could help a team like the Thrashers, goalie Corey Crawford and RW Jack Skille (a former top ten pick). On top of all that, Atlanta Assistant GM Rick Dudley was instrumental in acquiring or developing all these players in Chicago.

“The dollars can’t work. And Chicago needs more than a rental for all those players.”

Untrue, and true. The dollars can work (a lot of different ways) and the Blackhawks can (and will) get more than a rental for all the players they need to deal.

Of the four players mentioned, any two could be dealt for Kovalchuk in an even salary swap. Or, two of those players and one of the high-end prospects just mentioned could be dealt for Kovalchuk with Atlanta absorbing the overage on their cap, or in the minors.

If, say, the package sent to Atlanta included Patrick Sharp and Barker, the Blackhawks might also be able to ask the Thrashers to include a draft pick or two. Further, the Blackhawks would still need to deal 2-3 more players after concluding a Kovalchuk deal, but before the beginning of play next season. And those deals could net futures, like draft picks or prospects.

“Kovalchuk doesn’t fit their defense-first system. He’s not a ‘Bowman’ player.”

Nonsense. Did Patrick Kane fit Chicago’ system last year when his name and ‘backchecking’ could not be included in the same sentence? Does Kris Versteeg, the walking antithesis of smart puck decisions fit Chicago’s system? Plus, Kovalchuk has represented Russia many times in international tournaments. He can adjust to Chicago’s system, about as quickly as Joel Quenneville can say: “Kovy, if you want max ice time, you gotta be on your guy up and down the ice.”

“Chicago can wait ‘til after the season. Why mess with a good thing?”

That depends on how you look at it. It can also be argued that waiting until the offseason to pare roughly $15 million in gross salary, sign free agents and fill out a roster that is sure to have holes, is not just foolish, it’s insanity; it’s too much work to do in a very short period of time.

To wit, the Blackhawks’ playoffs will likely conclude sometime in late May or June, depending on how far they advance. Free agency starts July 1, with the contracts of Nik Hjalmarsson, Andrew Ladd and Antti Niemi to address. Thus, the Blackhawks could benefit tremendously from significantly less payroll, and more clarity on their situation, before that point.

Finally, as mentioned before, the Blackhawks are close, but they are not guaranteed to win the Cup for the first time in 48 years. Acquiring a world-class rental like Kovalchuk in exchange for good players— but good players who are really part of their depth and not the core of Hossa, Toews, Kane, Seabrook, Keith and Campbell— could be the thing that really puts them over the top. Because Kovalchuk also fills at least one gap the Blackhawks have.

There you have it. A perfectly implausible trade scenario, or a perfect storm of factors indicating Ilya Kovalchuk wearing the Indianhead in March.

You tell me.

–

Harken – who’s real name is John Jaeckel – is well known for his work on HockeyBuzz.com. Follow John on Twitter or become a fan of Stayclassy.net on Facebook.

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A closer look at the NHL’s leading scorers

January 9th, 2010

When taking a closer look at the NHL’s leading scorers (after all Friday night games), there are a number of things that stick out for various reasons.

First and foremost, who could have predicted Henrik Sedin to be the first player this season to hit the 60 point mark? Or how about Nathan Horton being in the top 20 in league scoring? A lot of the NHL’s top scorer are the regular household names we know and love, but even mainstays like Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby reveal interesting mini-stories. Let’s take a closer look at some of the league’s top scorers.

Vancouver Canucks star Henrik Sedin leads the NHL in points this season, classy.

Vancouver Canucks star Henrik Sedin leads the NHL in points this season, classy.

Henrik Sedin: To all the geniuses who predicted Henrik Sedin would lead the NHL in points this season, did you think it could be done without Daniel Sedin? (Daniel missed 18 games after suffering a fractured foot back in October). What’s even more remarkable about Henrik Sedin’s 61 points is 45 of his points come from even-strength play. That’s approximately 10-15 more even-strength points than the majority of the other league leaders (many top scorers generate far more powerplay points than Henrik Sedin does).

Sidney Crosby: Love him or hate him, most hockey fans expect to see Sidney Crosby’s name at the top of league scoring every year. What’s interesting this season is the number of goals Crosby has (26). He’s known as a playmaker, but is shooting the puck far more regularly this year. In fact, Crosby is only two goals shy of the league lead (Marian Gaborik and Patrick Marleau have 28 goals each) and is on pace to crush his previous best of 39 goals from his rookie year.

Patrick Kane having a terrific NHL season... very classy.

Patrick Kane is having a terrific NHL season... very classy.

Patrick Kane: I’ve always liked the way Patrick Kane plays and although I’ve thought of him as a great player, I’ve never considered him a world class star. Until now. At this point in the season, Kane leads the Chicago Blackhawks in most offensive categories (goals, points, game winning goals, etc…) and is seventh in league scoring. The scary part about Kane is his age. Kane, who’s still developing/maturing, just turned 21 in November and is easily the youngest player in the league’s top 20 point scorers.

Tomas Plekanec: Here’s another player who’s producing at a rate far higher than any of his biggest fans could have imagined. Coming off an off year last season, Tomas Plekanec has returned on fire with 46 points already this season. He’s already surpassed last year’s total and is quickly approaching his career high from the 2007/2008 season. The most impressive part of Plekanec’s scoring this year is the fact he’s done so without Andrei Markov and Brian Gionta (both lost significant time due to injuries). Add in the inconsistent play of Scott Gomez and you have to admire Plekanec’s point-per-game scoring rate.

Nathan Horton: Along with Plekanec and Henrik Sedin, here’s another pleasant surprise. Nathan Horton is enjoying his best start to a season ever. He’s tied for 17th in league scoring and is only three points shy of his total from last season. What’s interesting about Horton’s point tally is the fact that the Florida Panthers only have one other player who’s scored more than 30 points (Stephen Weiss). The majority of Horton’s points are assists, yet no Panther has scored more than 18 goals and only four Panthers (including Horton) have 10 or more goals this season.

Alex Ovechkin: No list or write up of NHL scoring leaders can be considered complete without mentioning Alex Ovechkin in some shape or form. To the surprise of absolutely no one, Alex Ovechkin is right up there in total points and goals (of course). What’s interesting is Ovechkin’s production is coming at a rate far higher than any other elite point scorer. In some cases, Ovechkin has played as many as nine games less than other top scorers (due to injury and suspension), yet remains one goal back of the league lead in goals scored with Patrick Marleau and Marian Gaborik.  Ovechkin averages 1.51 points per game – an NHL best – when most of the top point scorers average approximately 1.10-1.20 points per game. Yes, Ovechkin plays on one of the league’s best teams, but it’s still pretty impressive.

Honourable mentions to Dustin Penner, Brad Richards, Maxim Afinogenov, Ryan Kesler, Duncan Keith, and Paul Statsny for breakout or comeback seasons to remember.

Stay classy, NHL point leaders.

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NHL Christmas Wish List

December 24th, 2009

It’s that time of year where kids all across the world have spent weeks perfecting their Christmas Wish Lists before sending them straight to the North Pole. Well, the NHL community is no different, as players, teams, and General Managers have been busy doing the exact same thing. At Stayclassy.net, we’ve obtained wish lists from some of hockey’s best and brightest. Enjoy!

  • Ilya Kovalchuk: To be traded
  • Montreal Canadians: Centennial Anniversary season mulligan
  • Ottawa Senators: Some powerplays
  • Jim Balsillie: Three-way cage match with Judge Redfield T. Baum & Gary Bettman
  • Stan Bowman/Chicago Blackhawks: A copy of the NHL’s CBA and a calculator to figure out remaining team cap space
  • Patrick Kane: Calculator to compute proper tips for future cab rides
  • Jason Spezza: Dany Heatley back
  • Alexander Ovechkin: Oven mitts to handle hot sticks
  • Stayclassy.net: More accurate Ottawa Senators Game Day predictions
  • Toronto Maple Leafs: No more games against Buffalo
  • John Tortorella: New GM, season-ending injury to Wade Redden, and for James Duthie to stop talking about him
  • Sean Avery: Congratulate Martin Brodeur with a handshake for his 104th career shutout
  • Ron Wilson: Howard Berger to get fired
  • Boston Bruins: Taylor Hall
  • Vesa Toskala: A bigger glove
  • Carey Price: A glove without a whole in it
  • Brian Elliott: Ditto for what Toskala and Price wanted
  • Bob Gainey: Players to stop asking me about their contracts before the summer
  • Craig MacTavish: For James Duthie to stop asking me about Dustin Penner
  • Phil Kessel: For Geico to stop hiring Kessel lookalikes in their caveman–themed TV commercials
  • Brian Burke: My 1st Round pick back
  • Phil Kessel: For Brian Burke to stop asking for his 1st Round pick back

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays hockey fans!

Your Reporter in the Field,

Fantana

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Are Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews worth $6 Million each?

November 18th, 2009

Various reports have suggested the Chicago Blackhawks are close to resigning pending restricted free agents Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Duncan Keith. The rumoured cap hit for both Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews is around $6 Million per season (for 4-5 years) while Duncan Keith’s could be lower but on a longer term.

It has been speculated the signing (and subsequent raises) of these three stars will cripple Chicago’s ability to resign depth players or keep existing ones. Players like Andrew Ladd, Niklas Hjalmarsson and Patrick Sharp could be gone after this season. (These players are purely speculation on my part).

Are Kane and Toews worth it?

I’m as big a fan of the Blackhawks as anyone, but I have to ask the question: Are Kane and Toews worth $6 Million per season? If ever there was a time to question paying for potential, here it is. I get Toews is the captain and from all accounts a terrific leader. I agree Kane is an electrifying player. But $6 Million each on a team that has already overpaid for Cristobal Huet and Brian Campbell? Yikes.

Let’s look at the breakdown for Kane and Toews:

Patrick Kane – 20 years old, 2007-2008 Rookie of the Year

While Kane is one of the best young dynamic stars in the league, his best career year saw him produce 72 points. He’s on pace to set career highs in goals and points this season; probably around 80-85 points. Kane has a Calder Trophy to his name and one strong playoff run from last season, but I’d still say he’s relatively unproven in the NHL.

Jonathan Toews – 21 years old, team captain

Toews has been billed as the next Steve Yzerman or Joe Sakic. His stats aren’t quite as good as Kane’s, averaging slightly less points per game. He also missed some games to injuries in his first and third NHL seasons. I like some of the intangibles Toews brings – he’s always in good position and plays well defensively. Despite a good playoff run with Chicago last season, I’d have to say Toews is unproven in the NHL, too.

Both Kane and Toews are excellent players, don’t get me wrong. $6 Million each seems steep for players with less than three full years of experience. A small part of me was hoping they’d resign for less than ‘open market value’ to help the Hawks with their cap issues and allow room for other signings/resignings. If these contracts don’t cripple Chicago, it’s awfully close.

Payroll Nightmares

The Chicago Blackhawks already have $43 Million committed to 14 players next season. $12 Million for Kane and Toews (if rumored reports are accurate) put the Hawks payroll to $55 Million… this year’s NHL cap is $56.8 Million. The 2010-2011 cap expected to stay at$56.8 Million or potentially drop. And Duncan Keith’s contract still isn’t in the picture. Neither are a few other key Hawks. $2 Million or less doesn’t go too far in the NHL these days.

If you didn’t think the rumoured Kane and Toews contracts were crippling before, do you now?

Stay classy, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.

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Restricted Free Agency In November?

November 3rd, 2009
Jonathan Toews is one of 3 Chicago Blackhawks that are RFA's this summer.

Jonathan Toews is one of 3 Chicago Blackhawks that are RFA's this summer.

Unrestricted free agents (UFA’s) are the most hyped free agents in the NHL but are they the best free agents? Last week, we looked at unrestricted free agents in October and today, we’ll look at restricted free agents in November.

Since the lockout, things have changed and the league has become a younger league. Top draft picks used to require a few years of ‘seasoning’ because they could crack the NHL, and even then, it would take a few more years before they became impact players. Yet in today’s league, we have 18 year olds that flat-out dominate men in their 30’s. The emergence of young talent across the league makes restricted free agents (RFA) a better deal that UFA’s. Here are some of next summer’s top RFA’s:

Bobby Ryan – Anaheim Ducks

Value of Contract on September 1st, 2009: $765,000/season
Value of Contract on November 1st, 2009: $3.5 Million/season

Fantana’s Thoughts: Bobby Ryan exploded into the NHL last season, his first full year in the league, where he scored 31 times and was a finalist for the Calder Trophy. With the likelihood of retirement looming for Teemu Selanne, Ryan becomes an even more critical component of Anaheim’s future. $3.5 Million per season might seem pretty rich for a guy who will only have 2.5 years of NHL experience under his belt, but if stretched over 4 or 5 years, could look like a steal.

Ondrej Pavelec – Atlanta Thrashers

Value of Contract on September 1st, 2009: $850,000/season
Value of Contract on November 1st, 2009: $3 Million/season

Fantana’s Thoughts: After watching Pavelac steal the show against the Sens on Halloween (he made 50 saves!), I’m convinced he’ll be Atlanta’s future starting goalie. During the game, CBC’s Garry Galley said that Pavelac was a few years away from becoming a star goalie in the NHL but I think it’ll happen sooner than that. This year looks like his breakthrough season and keeping Pavelac around long-term could help Atlanta keep Kovalchuk in the fold too. The key in resigning Pavelac won’t so much be about money, but rather, giving him the starting goaltender position next season.

Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith – Chicago Blackhawks

Value of Toews Contract on September 1st, 2009: $850,000/season
Value of Kane’s Contract on September 1st, 2009: $875,000/season
Value of Keith’s Contract on September 1st, 2009: $1.9 Million/season

Value of All 3’s Contracts on November 1st, 2009: $4.5 Million/season

Fantana’s Thoughts: Chicago have a big problem and the clock is ticking. Three of their best players are RFA’s and they’re all due for big raises next year. Chicago’s best bet is to try and negotiate with all three together to keep the core of their team in tact. Having said that, I think it’s clear that something, rather someone or some people, have to give. Names like Patrick Sharp and Kris Versteeg come to mind. And if the Hawks are really lucky, they’ll find a team willing to take Brian Campbell, but don’t count on it.

Kyle Quincey – Colorado Avalanche

Value of Contract on September 1st, 2009: $550,000/season
Value of Contract on November 1st, 2009: $3 Million/season

Fantana’s Thoughts: Quincey broke out last year with L.A. and looked great quarter-backing their powerplay, scoring 38 points. He’s one of the reasons why Colorado are off to such a torrid start too, scoring 8 points and being +4. Comparable salaries are Marek Zidlicky in Minnesota ($3.5 Million) and Joe Corvo ($2.75 Million), though I think Quincey is better defensively than Corvo and Zidlicky.

Josh Harding – Minnesota Wild

Value of Contract on September 1st, 2009: $1.1 Million/season
Value of Contract on November 1st, 2009: $2.75 Million/season

Fantana’s Thoughts: Minnesota are off to a slow start and as usual, it’s their offense that’s letting them down. Well, that and all their injuries. Either way, you have to wonder how long they’re going to hold on to Josh Harding, who happens to be their best trading chip to acquire another forward. I think Harding will get $2.75 Million next season, but it won’t be in Minnesota. Like Pavelac, the most important aspect of the negotiation will be whether Harding’s a starter next year or not.

Marc Staal – New York Rangers

Value of Contract on September 1st, 2009: $765,000/season
Value of Contract on November 1st, 2009: $3.5 Million/season

Fantana’s Thoughts: Marc Staal is probably one of the most underrated defensemen in the league, though that may change with his next contract next year, especially since he’s on pace to have a career season. When you watch the Rangers play, Staal is their go-to guy when it comes to shutting down the opponent. The only problem is that New York will be tight against the cap next year, and they’ve got Dan Girardi and Vinny Prospal, among others to resign.

Braydon Coburn – Philadelphia Flyers

Value of Contract on September 1st, 2009: $1.4 Million/season
Value of Contract on November 1st, 2009: $3 Million/season

Fantana’s Thoughts: I’m still amazed Atlanta traded Coburn for Alexei Zhitnik! Having said that, Philadelphia may have to trade Coburn themselves as they’ve already got $46 Million committed for next year including only 3 defensemen and no starting goalie. Coburn’s easily worth $3 Million a year, especially if that can be stretched out to 4+ years. The only way the Flyers can keep him is by trading one of their forwards – Scott Hartnell is most likely to go but the Flyers would like to move Daniel Briere first.

Kris Letang – Pittsburgh Penguins

Value of Contract on September 1st, 2009: $625,000/season
Value of Contract on November 1st, 2009: $3 Million/season

Fantana’s Thoughts: If the NHL goes to the Olympics in 2014 in Russia, I think Letang will be on this team. He seems to get better with every month and he didn’t look out of place last year when Ryan Whitney and Sergei Gonchar went down with big injuries. His 33 points last year, plus the 13 points he scored in the playoffs make him a value part of Pittsburgh’s future. The problem is money, and I can’t see Pittsburgh going much higher than $3 Million a year so I expect Letang to resign in Steeltown for only 2 or 3 years.

Devin Setoguchi – San Jose Sharks

Value of Contract on September 1st, 2009: $765,000/season
Value of Contract on November 1st, 2009: $3.5 Million/season

Fantana’s Thoughts: Playing alongside guys like Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton will certainly help you score some goals. Just ask Setoguchi, who scored 31 goals last year for San Jose. He’s in the same boat as Bobby Ryan in terms of experience and goal scoring and I think they’ll wind up with similar-sized contracts. Expect both to point to Phil Kessel’s deal in Toronto as a comparable for dollars and term.

Jonas Gustavsson – Toronto Maple Leafs

Value of Contract on September 1st, 2009: $810,000/season
Value of Contract on November 1st, 2009: $2.75 Million/season

Jonas Gustavsson will be an RFA this summer.

Jonas Gustavsson will be an RFA this summer.

Fantana’s Thoughts: The Monster has finally arrived in Toronto, having played well on the team’s road trip this past week. Notably, he scored the Leafs’ only victory of the year against Anaheim. If Gustavsson continues his strong play, it’s very likely he’ll become Toronto’s starting goaltender next season. I’m sure that won’t stop the ‘J.S. Giguere to Toronto’ rumour though.

Ryan Kesler – Vancouver Canucks

Value of Contract on September 1st, 2009: $1.75/season
Value of Contract on November 1st, 2009: $4.5 Million/season

Fantana’s Thoughts: Ryan Kesler is the straw that stirs the drink for the Canucks and Vancouver can’t afford to let him go. Dave Nonis will get him resigned, but I hear Kesler doesn’t want to take a ‘hometown discount’. Regardless, it’s hard to place a value on Kesler and consequently, Vancouver have no choice but to pay Kesler market value.

Nicklas Backstrom – Washington Capitals

Value of Contract on September 1st, 2009: $850,000/season
Value of Contract on November 1st, 2009: $5 Million/season

Fantana’s Thoughts: Backstrom is one of the elite playmakers in the NHL and I’d be shocked if Washington didn’t resign him. I’d also be surprised if he didn’t want to stay to play with guys like Alex Ovechkin and Mike Green. Based on Backstrom’s point-per-game average over his 2 season career thus far, I’m expecting Washington to sign him to a long-term deal, somewhere in the 5-8 year neighbourhood.

Alexander Semin – Washington Capitals

Value of Contract on September 1st, 2009: $5 Million/season
Value of Contract on November 1st, 2009: $6 Million/season

Fantana’s Thoughts: Apparently contract negotiations have already begun and they aren’t going very smoothly. There’s still plenty of time to get a deal done, but Semin has a reputation for tough bargaining – he did go and play in Russia rather than reporting to the Caps AHL team during the lockout season and it wouldn’t be a big surprise if he defected to Russia again. I’m sure the KHL will offer him a lot of money. If it comes down to it, I think Washington would keep Backstrom over Semin.

Your Reporter in the Field,

Fantana

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The spirit of Thanksgiving, Classy style

October 9th, 2009

As Canada gets ready to celebrate Thanksgiving this weekend, I thought it would be fitting to show thanks to a very selective group of individuals within the NHL community.

First of all, thanks to Bryan Murray for getting the Dany Heatley trade done prior to the start of the season. There. I said it and that’s all I’m going to say about it.

Thanks to the tandem of Brian Burke and Ron Wilson for their uncanny ability to generate memorable sound bites on what seems to be a daily basis. Some of my personal favourites include Wilson’s feud with Howard Berger:

And a Best of Brian Burke’s quotes video:

Ah, you can’t make this stuff up! Haha, long live this ‘new era’ for the Maple Leafs.

Thanks to Mats Sundin for actually making a decision on his NHL career before the season started. This decision came about 12 months too late, but I’m still thankful that we don’t have to spend another season discussing it. Better late than never, right Mats?

Thanks to Carey Price for stringing together a couple of good games to start the season. Honestly, with the tragic starts for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks, I’m not sure we could’ve handled another meltdown in La Belle Province if the Montreal Canadiens had stumbled out of the start gates.

Along those same lines, I think it’s safe to say that all hockey fans that don’t worship the Canadians are thankful that Montreal’s Centennial Season is officially over. That whole celebration was overly dramatic and completely over the top. And by no means does a 100th season entitle any team a Stanley Cup. That was ridiculous and I’m just glad all that nonsense is over.

Thanks to Patrick Kane, who spent part of his off-season beating up a cab driver. Since then, I’ve noticed the annoying and uber-useless small-talk that cab drivers frequently do to me has been vastly reduced. What a nice surprise!

Thanks to Kidkawartha, one of our loyal readers, for the hilarious Oilers/Sens/Maple Leafs joke you posted on a previous Leafs blog. I fully admit that I’ve used that one a couple times since reading it, and it’s killed everytime! It’s gold Kidkawartha. Gold!

And finally, while I wish this show had never aired in the first place, I’m thankful that CBC’s Battle of the Blades only has 7 weeks left before it’s over. I shamefully tuned in to the premiere on Sunday night but all I could do was shake my head. All I could think was that Bob Probert used to be cool. This show is worse than any of the dancing or singing reality shows out there because it makes tough-guy hockey players look like wimps and losers. Besides, players like Probert and Tie Domi weren’t very good skaters when they played in the NHL, so why are they on this show now? For shame, CBC.

Your Reporter in the Field,

Fantana

Follow Fantana on Twitter or be a fan of Stayclassy on Facebook.

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