The Sin Bin

Since there are a good amount of us puck fans on here, I thought a thread that isn't just for our teams would be prudent so that we can enjoy some open banter about the wide world of puck.

So... to get things started here's two topics to feast on.



* I'm not a book guy... love reading the news everyday and keeping in tune with this crazy world but books in general just don't do it for me..... that is untill I got my hands on the Theo Fleury bio. This is easily the best book any hockey or sport fan could read... I downed this sucker in two days and I'm about to go through it again for a second time. I don't think a player could be more open and truthful then Theo was, in short this book is simply epic.



Second topic... a sad one. Rick Jeanneret is probably in his last or second to last season calling Sabers games. Some may say Lange in Pittsburgh is the best but in the end no one can hold a candle to Ricky J. A true gentleman on and off the ice, Rick brings a honest enthusiasm to the game that will never be duplicated. If anyone gets a chance to flip on a Sabers game, give your ears and soul the opportunity to digest a true legend of the game.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEfbyrKnKc0"]YouTube- top 10 Rick Jeanneret Calls[/ame]


Talk about the above or bring your own topic into the sin bin for 5 minutes. Rejoice fellow fans of the puck, this has been one of the best seasons we've had in a long time and the Olympics are going to make it better.

 

Alright another week of puck is over and which means another week of the Sin Bin.

A lot of news and action to bring to the box this week but with only five mintues on the clock I'll go with picking another two topics to touch on.



Finally, finally, finally..... the debacle that is the Coyotes is over.... for now.

Ice Edge, the dark horses of the summer are now about to become the proud owners of the most financially inept hockey team in North America. For those you who have been around these hockey waste lands here on BigSoccer will remember me making the issue that hockey in Sask can work... a lot of you laughed at the idea at pro hockey in Sask but now Ice Edge has put that exact thought into motion. Next season should see a handful of games up in praire country and folks should expect a madhouse inside the small midlands arena... not only will the experience be similar to a playoff game but it's also going to show the rest of North America that the city of Winnepeg can pull off hosting NHL games night in and out. If anyone wants to question the validity of NHL hockey in the prairies, make sure you check out the Coyotes in Sask next year and you'll see that Winnepeg should be dialed in as the new home of the 'Yotes. If you can't wait till next season then make sure you check out the World Juniors which will be housed in Sask this year.... should be a dandy of a tournament with Canada or USA looking to be the odds on favorites to lift the cup. And just for kicks, isn't it a little ironic that the largest bank account in the Ice Edge group belongs to an ex employee of RIM/Blackberry.... looks like Jim's money was good enough to purchase the 'Yotes afterall.




Often overlooked and ignored by most fans of the puck is one of the oldest hockey competitions on planet earth, the Spengler Cup. With the World Juniors always taking place around the same time, even those who call the Red Leaf as their own often overlook this tournament and it's a shame as the Spengler produces some high flying action that would satisfy even the most ardent fan.

Last season Canada brought in Cujo to mind the pipes and this season brings about a few more names and a healthy dose of curiosity. Back in the day most people wouldn't of batted an eye to the thought of Alexander Daigle leading the red and white's into battle but saying his name now a days brings about laughter and feelings of what could or should of been for the OHL wonderkid.... well, the Spengler brings about one more chance for Daigle to grab some respect with the chance of leading Canada to a victory. With a roster full of "I thought you finally got a job at McDonald's / Canadian Tire" , Daigle will have his hands full trying bring together a group of players who's standouts consist of himself and the likes of Yannick Tremblay & Jamie Rivers. With the other participating teams being KHL expansion teams waiting in the wings, the 2009 edition of the Spengler should be one of the most exciting editions to date. You lucky hosers up in Canada can check all of the action out on Rogers...lucky bastards : ) .

.... and just to sneak one more topic into the mix. Seriously, if you haven't been watching the KHL as of yet, you're missing out. Not only is there a ton of youthful talent yet to hit the OHL,AHL,NHL stage but the journeymen who call the "K" as home, help to add to the interest and fun factor that is the KHL. No $$ has been spared in trying to get this thing going and part of the $$ spent has been on getting these games on tv and the internet, make sure you visit the official league website to watch some live action. Yesterday afternoon had my head spinning as 51yrold Fetisov hit the ice for CSKA against Mr. Hipcheck Darius Kasparatis with old skooler Sergei Nemchinov running the bench for CSKA, great stuff.... gotta give props to Fetisov, he played pretty well. Seriously, check out the KHL while the $$ is still being spent ( a lot of owners will go broke soon ).

My time is up and the 5 for fighting is over, back to the ice. As always, speak on the above or something that's on your mind, it's your 5 and you can spend it anyway you like.

 

2 years tops... if this team doesn't make the playoffs in those two years then you can bank on the Micheal Ryder trucks moving over to Glendale.

Biggest part of this deal that is being worked over by the NHL f.o. ..... the preset conditions of where this team can move when that time comes. For a group of individuals hellbent on keeping the puck in Phoenix, it says a lot that there are taking so much time and thought into the relocation process. As of now it's said that Winnipeg, Quebec City, Kansas City and Seattle will be the four preapproved cities this team can move to....... if only Hartford was on that list.

 

Yes, the Q... my bad, I always think that he played for London.

He wasn't terrible but he never even came close to matching the hype that he had, plus he was really soft. He didn't do well when things turned physical and he just went further and further down hill as each year went by. I can see why he is doing better in Europe now, the extra room on the ice and softer style of play suits him well.

Who would of thought that in 2009, almost 2010 that Alexander would only be now leading a Canadian National Team.... considering the amount of hype he had coming into the league as rookie.

 

Ok.... short one this week.... only two minutes in the box this time.

If you haven't checked it out or tuned it in.... World Juniors just kicked off and it's already startin' to sizzle.




http://www.tsn.ca/world_jrs/

My money is on the USA to pull off a major upset and take gold

 

Being a soccer fan I've felt the same way but really it's all the same... now the overtime mess with pts for this and that , now that seriously has to go.

 

normal pts for win in 5 min overtime - no pts for loss. 1pt for winner of s/o but no other pts awarded, 1pt or nothing.

This would push teams to play for the winner in overtime...I'd also bring it back to 5v5.

Also... keep your eye on the juniors, out of the top ten prospects in the tounry four are in the Isles system

 

Alright, another 5 minutes in the box this week.

In week full of news on and off the ice this week it's a tough job to select just two topics but we'll start off with the Winter Classic and see where it takes us.....



The Winter Classic was a downright good time for even most ardent fan of the puck. Fenway turned out to be the just what the NHL Dr. ordered, old time hockey inside one of North America's oldest and most respected stadiums.

With every reporter under the sun covering the up's and down's of the actual event, I'll spare you the details you've probably heard already. Flat out, this one was success and if anyone thought the Classic might go the way of the World Cup of Hockey this weekend proved that the Classic is here to stay and only that pesky 4th liner global warming can make this one go away.

So, with the success that is the Winter Classic, Mr. Bettman and the knights of the round table that are the NHL owners want to bring about a second game. Overkill ? Perhaps not ....and if this is done with the same attention to detail that the now normal Classic is, then a second outdoor game could help to elevate our hockey senses even further. First off, the NHL needs to stick with the outdoor game inside a big venue but with a small twist... Game 1 of the classic should continue to hit the open highway in various cities across North America but let's see some non NHL cities host this thing, give a taste to the folks in Washington or let the world see how hockey mad a native of North Dakota is. The second twist to this game I'd like to see is throughing the 2pts out the door and bring in the all-star game. All-Star games are straight up stale and lifeless, if it wasn't for skills competitions the All-Star game would be on life support. Let's bring the best stars out of the skies and onto the ice and the under the very heavens these players have ascended from... talk about creating buzz, let's see the guys who we all worship skating around like children and just enjoying themselves. Dont' tell me Owen Nolan's top shelf'er on Hasek wouldn't of been even sweeter if it happened under a full moon inside the open aired PGE Park in Portland (or insert your city here). What a sight it would be.

The second game of the classic should be the sweetest twist of them all. An homage to every hockey player who ever grabbed his skates and just headed down to the local lake or river for some pick up or quality one on one time. Let's see two teams match up in the middle of no where on a picture perfect frozen lake up in hallows of northern Quebec or a nice oversized lake in the Banff,Alberta. Imagine a lake lit up with the sun falling in the distance with only mountains in the background acting as the local fans. Camera's pushed off to one side of the rink with the telecast following along two NHL teams going at it with mother nature center ice for the entire 3 periods... and a little o/t if we're lucky. No one in sports has been brave enough to show anything like this... no fans, no ads on the ice... just a puck, two goals, mother nature and two hungry teams ready to put on a show of a lifetime. How sweet it could be... personally I'd like to this become the All-Star game but with no ticket sales I just can't see the owners letting this semi-cash cow walk out the door. At the end of the day if there is a sport that can make simple sexy, it's hockey.



Ok, a lot to take in with the above so I'll make the second topic short and sweet as my 5 minutes are just about up. Another season is about to hit the 50% mark and it's time to start getting ready to say goodbye to another personality from the wide world of puck. This week it's time to stop and stare and watch the master of control do his thing one final time.. Referee and hair care expert Kerry "V-05" Fraser is about the call it a night at the end of this season. Kerry's been apart of the some the biggest and best games over the past 15 plus years and he's done with it authority, grace and hair that could break a cement cinderblock. Kerry certainly hasn't been as perfect as his hair has been but when you boil it all down he's one of the best to every through on the footlocker jersey. Next time you flip on a game, take a look and see if Kerry's apart of the game day crew and watch him work his magic.... he's been a great ambassador of the game and will be sorely missed.

Kerry's not that bad.....

 

House money is on Ovechkin and the Caps travelling north to destination unknown against who ever hosts it in 2011... While most think Yankee stadium is up next... the success of Fenway and the potential $$$ to be made has me thinking 2011 is going to be up in Canada... perhaps Quebec.

And count me in for wanting Minnesota to host this game... the folks from the lake state would set the bar higher then anyone could imagine.

 

Molson Memorial is a great set up... home of the CFL.


Olympic Stadium would be great if the roof still opened and it wasn't falling apart piece by piece.

The only other option would be peps stadium up in Q-City, it's not the massive structure the NHL would probably want but you could through in some stands to raise the attendance level.


All in all, I think we'll see Molson Memorial in line for a game or it's going to be the Sky Dome in Toronto, Sinclair in Ottawa or the McMahon in Calgary.... Victoria might get a look since Vancouver can't do much of anything... Edmonton hosted already, I don't think Bettman has the pair to put the game in the prairies... right now I think we are going to see each owner, especially the Canadian ones scream for their chance to wrangle in this cash cow. At the moment it makes sense for the league to give to Calgary as they need the help the most or Ottawa. I think we will probably see two games hit the masses next year, Ottawa and Minnesota is my two guesses... NYC would be great but I can't see it happening considering Buffalo and Boston have already hosted it.

Just to keep the idea of putting a small but great twist to this game.... send out a committe to search the US/Can border.... find a river or a lake that divides the two countries and play a border wars type of of game. I'm telling you, hockey can send the sports world on it's head if it go's after this nature aspect and set up a game in the middle of no where. Just imagine hearing the guys voices chirping away, the sound of ice cracking under their skates, snow capped mountains in the near distance and the simplicity of it all that beckon's the childhood memories in all us who hit up a lake or river as a kid.... seriously, it would truly be the biggest and best thing EVER in hockey history.... take the sport right back to it's very roots.

 

I have enough topics to go on about to warrant a game misconduct but I'm just going to take 2 for roughing this week.

After watching more games then I'd like to admit to, I've become seriously irked at a reoccuring problem that seemingly gets no notice.

Composite Sticks.... if I see one more slapper or breakout pass get killed off because of a broken stick, I swear I'm going to Jim Shoenfeld/Koharski on someone or something.

Why isn't the NHL or even team owners going bonkers over spending a fortune on brand new sticks only for them to effect games with a negative impact. Owners lose out on win's and the league loses out on the action, not to mention the players who can't perform their work duties the best of their abilities because of poor supplies.

Call me old skool if you like but I want to see the lumber make a comback. Put the tree huggers who cry afoul of using mass produced lumber infront of tv for one week's worth of NHL action and they'll be handing you a Huscavarna.

The NHL has done a great job to fix what was a growing problem of poorly laid / maintained ice throughout the league now they need to move on to the sticks. The lighter, faster, better angles have to stop somewhere and it should start with the sticks. This lighter faster image/thinking of the NHL and hockey in general is what is leading to bigger issues like the over discussed head shot problems. Put a little weight back in the players hands and little more responsability at the feet.

NHL 2010 slogan ? Give Me Wood !