Thursday, March 11, 2004
The Rachunek trade two days later
Well, it has come out that Karel Rachunek was unhappy in Ottawa and asked for a trade. If that's the case, I'm glad that John Muckler shipped Rachunek (and fellow unhappy camper Shane Hnidy) out of town. If he values his own needs over the chance to win the Cup, then to hell with him.
I still think that Muckler could have gotten more for him. He's young and being in a more positive situation could lead him to be a pretty damn good blueliner. But I don't know what the market was like.
Watching Greg DeVries tonight, he's better then I thought he was. He's come a long way since being considered nothing more then a fifth or sixth defenceman with average speed and little offensive upside five years ago.
I still think Rachunek will turn out to be the better player. But I think a happy DeVries will get the Sens closer to the Cup this year then an unhappy Rachunek. (0) comments
I still think that Muckler could have gotten more for him. He's young and being in a more positive situation could lead him to be a pretty damn good blueliner. But I don't know what the market was like.
Watching Greg DeVries tonight, he's better then I thought he was. He's come a long way since being considered nothing more then a fifth or sixth defenceman with average speed and little offensive upside five years ago.
I still think Rachunek will turn out to be the better player. But I think a happy DeVries will get the Sens closer to the Cup this year then an unhappy Rachunek. (0) comments
Who needs to clean up their act?
Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin today urged hockey to `clean up your act'.
Pretty hypocritical for someone who is the leader of a party that has numerous scandals in the public spotlight right now including the Adscam scandal that has cost Canadian taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
Martin should shut the hell up and be thankful that someone has driven his sorry party out of the headlines. (0) comments
Pretty hypocritical for someone who is the leader of a party that has numerous scandals in the public spotlight right now including the Adscam scandal that has cost Canadian taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
Martin should shut the hell up and be thankful that someone has driven his sorry party out of the headlines. (0) comments
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
Rachunek & Giroux for De Vries
Ottawa has traded Karel Rachunek and prospect Alexandre Giroux to the Rangers for Greg De Vries.
John Muckler overpaid to get De Vries. Giroux isn't a big loss considering he hasn't even received a callup to the big club yet. But Rachunek is a big loss considering his age, skills and salary.
Rachunek has been a convenient whipping boy for Senator fans but he's a strong, skilled, righthanded defenceman whose biggest problem has been the occasional mental lapse. And that is something that can be fixed with experience. He's been horribly underrated even in Ottawa.
De Vries might be better then Rachunek this year but I doubt he'll be better then Rachunek in two or three years time.
The caveat is if the Sens win the Cup this year, I'll never say anything bad about this trade. Otherwise, I'll continue to say that Muckler overpaid. (0) comments
John Muckler overpaid to get De Vries. Giroux isn't a big loss considering he hasn't even received a callup to the big club yet. But Rachunek is a big loss considering his age, skills and salary.
Rachunek has been a convenient whipping boy for Senator fans but he's a strong, skilled, righthanded defenceman whose biggest problem has been the occasional mental lapse. And that is something that can be fixed with experience. He's been horribly underrated even in Ottawa.
De Vries might be better then Rachunek this year but I doubt he'll be better then Rachunek in two or three years time.
The caveat is if the Sens win the Cup this year, I'll never say anything bad about this trade. Otherwise, I'll continue to say that Muckler overpaid. (0) comments
Bertuzzi's blunder
The worst part of Todd Bertuzzi's actions last night, aside from Steve Moore's health, was that it was absolutely pointless. What purpose does a star player injuring a fringe NHLer with a complete cheap shot serve?
Does it prevent rivals from targeting Naslund with cheap shots? No. In fact they're more likely to do so now since they now that they might be able to get Bertuzzi to do something stupid that will weaken the Canucks.
Does it make the Canucks a better team? No. How can they be since Bertuzzi will surely get a lengthy suspension?
Does it ease tensions between the two teams? No. The Avs are now going to want revenge for Bertuzzi's actions and there's just an endless escalation of violence between the two clubs.
If it had been a role player who attacked Moore there might have been a point to the action. Role players are replaceable but Bertuzzi is irreplaceable and his idiotic actions are going to affect his team and its fans a lot more then the Colorado Avalanche. (0) comments
Does it prevent rivals from targeting Naslund with cheap shots? No. In fact they're more likely to do so now since they now that they might be able to get Bertuzzi to do something stupid that will weaken the Canucks.
Does it make the Canucks a better team? No. How can they be since Bertuzzi will surely get a lengthy suspension?
Does it ease tensions between the two teams? No. The Avs are now going to want revenge for Bertuzzi's actions and there's just an endless escalation of violence between the two clubs.
If it had been a role player who attacked Moore there might have been a point to the action. Role players are replaceable but Bertuzzi is irreplaceable and his idiotic actions are going to affect his team and its fans a lot more then the Colorado Avalanche. (0) comments
Havlat vs Philly in hindsight
A lot of people were saying that Havlat should have dropped the gloves or participated in one of the brawls during last Friday's game against the Flyers. They said it would have cooled off the tensions between the two teams.
In hindsight, looking at the actions in last night's Vancouver-Colorado game would prove those people wrong. Steve Moore dropped the gloves but he was still targetted by the Canucks later in the blowout game.
Given that there's no guarantee that having Havlat fight a Flyer would get rid of the bad blood between the two teams, should the Senators risk an injury to one of the league's best offensive players in his first NHL fight ths close to the playoffs? (0) comments
In hindsight, looking at the actions in last night's Vancouver-Colorado game would prove those people wrong. Steve Moore dropped the gloves but he was still targetted by the Canucks later in the blowout game.
Given that there's no guarantee that having Havlat fight a Flyer would get rid of the bad blood between the two teams, should the Senators risk an injury to one of the league's best offensive players in his first NHL fight ths close to the playoffs? (0) comments
Monday, March 08, 2004
Sticking with one, giving up on another
John Muckler has steadfastly maintained that Patrick Lalime is the Senators #1 goalie and will be their goalie going into the playoffs (although Muckler might have softened his stance during the past day). It really does appear that Lalime, who has played well for the Sens in the past but has struggled considerably this year, will continue to be a Senator following the trade deadline.
However, it looks like Karel Rachunek, who has played well for the Sens in the past but has had some struggles this season, will probably be traded before the deadline tomorrow. Rachunek has been a scratch the past two games with a "back injury" but the Ottawa Citizen reported that he looked fine doing wind sprints Saturday.
Unless there is more the Rachunek situation then meets the eye, I don't understand why the Sens would give up on the younger player. Rachunek can be spotted in the lineup if the continues to struggle while Lalime cannot. If Rachunek stinks in the playoffs, he can see his icetime reduced with little effect on the Sens. If Lalime stinks in the playoffs, he'll probably cost his team victories. (0) comments
However, it looks like Karel Rachunek, who has played well for the Sens in the past but has had some struggles this season, will probably be traded before the deadline tomorrow. Rachunek has been a scratch the past two games with a "back injury" but the Ottawa Citizen reported that he looked fine doing wind sprints Saturday.
Unless there is more the Rachunek situation then meets the eye, I don't understand why the Sens would give up on the younger player. Rachunek can be spotted in the lineup if the continues to struggle while Lalime cannot. If Rachunek stinks in the playoffs, he can see his icetime reduced with little effect on the Sens. If Lalime stinks in the playoffs, he'll probably cost his team victories. (0) comments
TSN vs Sportsnet
Tomorrow is the NHL trade deadline and, in Canada, the sports networks will be battling for viewers. While The Score will also be covering the trade deadline, the real battle is between Rogers Sportsnet and TSN.
For me, the decision is easy. I'll be tuned to TSN for the most part. It's a simple decision for me since I'll take Bob McKenzie, Dave Hodge and Pierre McGuire over Sportsnet's trio of idiots in Nick Kypreos, Bill Watters and John Garrett. It seems like Sportsnet only hires buffoons as full time hockey analysts. Garrett is bad, Kypreos is worse and Watters is doing a good job of making the other two look smart.
On tonight's Hockey Central show on Sportsnet, Watters made yet another one of his moronic thoughts. He accused Marian Hossa of being a dirty player who likes to carry his stick high. Nevermind that Hossa has but one highsticking penalty this season. Watters then claimed that he still remembers Hossa highsticking Bryan Berard. Watters is clearly being petty about this because all but the dumbest Leaf fans knows that that was an isolated accident.
But if Watters wants to be petty, then I can be as well. Because of Bill Watters remarks I will never give one red cent to the Ottawa Renegades, the CFL team whose controlling owner is Bill's son, Brad Watters and Bill might be part of the group that owns the team.
Anyways, Sportsnet might report a trade 30 seconds before TSN because of Kypreos continual bootlicking of his fellow NHLPA members but TSN actually has people with integrity on its broadcast. (0) comments
For me, the decision is easy. I'll be tuned to TSN for the most part. It's a simple decision for me since I'll take Bob McKenzie, Dave Hodge and Pierre McGuire over Sportsnet's trio of idiots in Nick Kypreos, Bill Watters and John Garrett. It seems like Sportsnet only hires buffoons as full time hockey analysts. Garrett is bad, Kypreos is worse and Watters is doing a good job of making the other two look smart.
On tonight's Hockey Central show on Sportsnet, Watters made yet another one of his moronic thoughts. He accused Marian Hossa of being a dirty player who likes to carry his stick high. Nevermind that Hossa has but one highsticking penalty this season. Watters then claimed that he still remembers Hossa highsticking Bryan Berard. Watters is clearly being petty about this because all but the dumbest Leaf fans knows that that was an isolated accident.
But if Watters wants to be petty, then I can be as well. Because of Bill Watters remarks I will never give one red cent to the Ottawa Renegades, the CFL team whose controlling owner is Bill's son, Brad Watters and Bill might be part of the group that owns the team.
Anyways, Sportsnet might report a trade 30 seconds before TSN because of Kypreos continual bootlicking of his fellow NHLPA members but TSN actually has people with integrity on its broadcast. (0) comments
