2009-09-20
2009-09-18
Chiming In on Phil Kessel
As everyone's already told you, Philip Joseph Kessel, Jr. is now a Toronto Maple Leaf, with the Boston Bruins receiving the Leafs' first- and second-round draft picks in 2010 and their first-rounder in 2011 as a fee. And there are a whole lot of people out there who believe that Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli made off like a bandit, while Leafs GM Brian Burke got hosed. Well, I don't think that's true, and here's why.
On Maple Leafs Hot Stove, Alex Tran wrote a well-thought-out piece on the value of a high first-round draft pick, and why Kessel is more valuable than two of them. Now, I do disagree with parts of his logic - he reasons that there is roughly a 5% chance of taking two players better than Kessel with two top-ten draft picks, but I don't think you would necessarily need two better players, as long as you get two very good players (ie. top-6 forwards) to make it worthwhile. But his point is well taken, and I was impressed by the time he spent devising his formula.
The key thing to remember, though, is that the picks Alex uses as examples are top-ten draft picks. In the last two years, Toronto has made two such selections: Luke Schenn (#5 in 2008) and Nazem Kadri (#7 in 2009). But what are the chances that Toronto selects in the top ten this year? If they make the playoffs, they won't even go in the top 14. Now, serviceable players are certainly still selected that late in the first round, but other than late-round diamonds in the rough, the game-breakers are gone by that point. And Phil Kessel - a #5 pick himself - is a game breaker. Leafs fans can look at it this way: if Toronto had owned 14th and 16th picks in the 2008 draft, and had the opportunity to deal them (along with your second-rounder) and get Luke Schenn at #5 in return, would you do it? I'm sure you would. That's essentially what happened here, although the draft picks are spread across two years.
Does that mean I think that Chiarelli lost this deal? Not at all. As has been well-documented, there was no way Kessel was returning to Boston, and the Bruins GM was already in a tough position, with salary cap issues to think about; matching an offer sheet would have been nothing but trouble, and he couldn't have traded Kessel for a year afterwards (as per the CBA). Instead, Chiarelli translated a player who wasn't coming back into three very high draft picks, which also allowed him to avoid any cap headaches.
I think this trade was good for both teams involved. And sure, there's nothing hip or edgy about being agreeable on the Internet; as everyone knows, the Internet was invented by ARPA in the 1960s to allow people to ignore common decency and verbally bludgeon each other on a daily basis. But come on, can't we just all be winners? Because the Bruins, the Leafs and Phil Kessel all are.
On Maple Leafs Hot Stove, Alex Tran wrote a well-thought-out piece on the value of a high first-round draft pick, and why Kessel is more valuable than two of them. Now, I do disagree with parts of his logic - he reasons that there is roughly a 5% chance of taking two players better than Kessel with two top-ten draft picks, but I don't think you would necessarily need two better players, as long as you get two very good players (ie. top-6 forwards) to make it worthwhile. But his point is well taken, and I was impressed by the time he spent devising his formula.
The key thing to remember, though, is that the picks Alex uses as examples are top-ten draft picks. In the last two years, Toronto has made two such selections: Luke Schenn (#5 in 2008) and Nazem Kadri (#7 in 2009). But what are the chances that Toronto selects in the top ten this year? If they make the playoffs, they won't even go in the top 14. Now, serviceable players are certainly still selected that late in the first round, but other than late-round diamonds in the rough, the game-breakers are gone by that point. And Phil Kessel - a #5 pick himself - is a game breaker. Leafs fans can look at it this way: if Toronto had owned 14th and 16th picks in the 2008 draft, and had the opportunity to deal them (along with your second-rounder) and get Luke Schenn at #5 in return, would you do it? I'm sure you would. That's essentially what happened here, although the draft picks are spread across two years.
Does that mean I think that Chiarelli lost this deal? Not at all. As has been well-documented, there was no way Kessel was returning to Boston, and the Bruins GM was already in a tough position, with salary cap issues to think about; matching an offer sheet would have been nothing but trouble, and he couldn't have traded Kessel for a year afterwards (as per the CBA). Instead, Chiarelli translated a player who wasn't coming back into three very high draft picks, which also allowed him to avoid any cap headaches.
I think this trade was good for both teams involved. And sure, there's nothing hip or edgy about being agreeable on the Internet; as everyone knows, the Internet was invented by ARPA in the 1960s to allow people to ignore common decency and verbally bludgeon each other on a daily basis. But come on, can't we just all be winners? Because the Bruins, the Leafs and Phil Kessel all are.
Making a Comeback: Theoren Fleury
While Jason Allison is known for being a slow-as-molasses-running-uphill-in-January skater, at the other end of the spectrum is diminutive Flames right-winger Theoren Fleury. At least, he was at the other end of the spectrum in his first NHL go-around.
Like Allison, Fleury has spent a few years away from the NHL game. Unlike Allison, Fleury stayed away at the league's insistence. In 2003, after struggling with alcohol abuse issues, the then-Blackhawk found himself on the outside looking in - a shocking development, considering his hero status in Calgary, where he helped the Flames win the 1989 Stanley Cup.
After his fall from grace, Fleury spent a season playing senior league hockey in Alberta, and another playing pro for the Belfast Giants. For a player of his stature (no pun intended), neither one would be worth including on a resume. Sure, his stats with Belfast were great - 74 points in 34 games (along with 270 minutes in the box) - but let's face it, despite the fact that the Giants play in the Elite Ice Hockey League, there is nothing "elite" about it. Any NHLer who should be capable of holding down a job as a top-nine forward should not be playing in a league where they need to specify that their brand of hockey is played on ice.
Theo Fleury, however, says he has been clean and sober for four years now, and he's been devoting his time to working out and getting back into game shape. The NHL reinstated him into the league, and the Flames deemed him worthy of a training camp invitation. Looks like things have turned around, right?
Well, maybe not. At age 41, Fleury is no spring chicken, and he doesn't have the legs he used to. Do the fans in Calgary still love him? You'd better believe it. In his first exhibition game last night, he scored the shootout winner in front of a euphoric Saddledome crowd, and every fan's voice was certainly hoarse this morning. The rest of his 11 minutes of icetime, however, left something to be desired; his lightning speed wasn't there, his feistiness was lacking, and he took a lazy hooking penalty that led to the Islanders' fourth goal. Coach Brent Sutter's assessment: "I thought he played OK." Not exactly a glowing review, is it?
Now, after the game, Fleury told the media, "It's been a long road. I'm extremely proud of myself." And you know what? He should be. So maybe that's what fans should focus on, whether he makes it back to the NHL or not. He beat his alcoholism, he earned himself a tryout in the best hockey league in the world, and while he may not be the Theo Fleury of 1989, he's still got some game.
Calgary's brass will want to see more of him before they make a final decision on whether to keep him around, but if he does stick, it's hard to know who will be happier: Fleury, or his legions of fans.
Like Allison, Fleury has spent a few years away from the NHL game. Unlike Allison, Fleury stayed away at the league's insistence. In 2003, after struggling with alcohol abuse issues, the then-Blackhawk found himself on the outside looking in - a shocking development, considering his hero status in Calgary, where he helped the Flames win the 1989 Stanley Cup.
After his fall from grace, Fleury spent a season playing senior league hockey in Alberta, and another playing pro for the Belfast Giants. For a player of his stature (no pun intended), neither one would be worth including on a resume. Sure, his stats with Belfast were great - 74 points in 34 games (along with 270 minutes in the box) - but let's face it, despite the fact that the Giants play in the Elite Ice Hockey League, there is nothing "elite" about it. Any NHLer who should be capable of holding down a job as a top-nine forward should not be playing in a league where they need to specify that their brand of hockey is played on ice.
Theo Fleury, however, says he has been clean and sober for four years now, and he's been devoting his time to working out and getting back into game shape. The NHL reinstated him into the league, and the Flames deemed him worthy of a training camp invitation. Looks like things have turned around, right?
Well, maybe not. At age 41, Fleury is no spring chicken, and he doesn't have the legs he used to. Do the fans in Calgary still love him? You'd better believe it. In his first exhibition game last night, he scored the shootout winner in front of a euphoric Saddledome crowd, and every fan's voice was certainly hoarse this morning. The rest of his 11 minutes of icetime, however, left something to be desired; his lightning speed wasn't there, his feistiness was lacking, and he took a lazy hooking penalty that led to the Islanders' fourth goal. Coach Brent Sutter's assessment: "I thought he played OK." Not exactly a glowing review, is it?
Now, after the game, Fleury told the media, "It's been a long road. I'm extremely proud of myself." And you know what? He should be. So maybe that's what fans should focus on, whether he makes it back to the NHL or not. He beat his alcoholism, he earned himself a tryout in the best hockey league in the world, and while he may not be the Theo Fleury of 1989, he's still got some game.
Calgary's brass will want to see more of him before they make a final decision on whether to keep him around, but if he does stick, it's hard to know who will be happier: Fleury, or his legions of fans.
2009-09-17
Making a Comeback: Jason Allison
I'm not the only one getting back to business: Jason Allison, in case you haven't heard, was invited to training camp by the Toronto Maple Leafs. This was a bit of a surprising move on Brian Burke's part, given how deadset he is on acquiring players with heart. Allison has taken the last three years off from the game; when John Ferguson, Jr. opted not to re-sign him, the slow-footed-but-smooth-passing centre decided to spend some time with his family. Now, while there is of course nothing wrong with wanting to spend time with one's wife and kids - especially when your job keeps you on the road so much - it does raise the question of whether his commitment to hockey has waned a little too far.
In 2005-06, Allison's lone year with the Leafs, he chipped in 60 points in an injury-shortened 66-game season, so there's solid evidence that he can help out in the offensive zone. At the same time, however, his plus/minus rating was an abysmal -18. With many players, one could simply hope that Leafs coach Ron Wilson would work on the guy's defence, but Allison might be a lost cause. Why? Well, in order to play defence, a forward has to skate back to his own zone. When Jason Allison takes it upon himself to high-tail it back to his own zone, though, you just hope that he gets there by next Tuesday.
Okay, maybe that was a little harsh. But here's a fact: in the Leafs' first pre-season game of 2009, a 3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night, Jason Allison was dropped to last-line duty midway through the game. The word "ineffective" doesn't describe the game he had; Allison was a defensive liability in the offensive zone, coughing up the puck multiple times - much as he did everywhere else on the ice. His trademark passing just wasn't there, and he certainly didn't try to overcome his lack of footspeed with a swell of effort - often he would simply take a stride or two and then coast, seemingly stuck in neutral. Simply put, he's not showing the giddyup or the skill that Ron Wilson and Brian Burke want to see in their top 6 forwards.
Jason Allison, if you really do want to make the most of this try-out opportunity and make the Leafs - or even the Marlies - it's time to put some heart in it.
In 2005-06, Allison's lone year with the Leafs, he chipped in 60 points in an injury-shortened 66-game season, so there's solid evidence that he can help out in the offensive zone. At the same time, however, his plus/minus rating was an abysmal -18. With many players, one could simply hope that Leafs coach Ron Wilson would work on the guy's defence, but Allison might be a lost cause. Why? Well, in order to play defence, a forward has to skate back to his own zone. When Jason Allison takes it upon himself to high-tail it back to his own zone, though, you just hope that he gets there by next Tuesday.
Okay, maybe that was a little harsh. But here's a fact: in the Leafs' first pre-season game of 2009, a 3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night, Jason Allison was dropped to last-line duty midway through the game. The word "ineffective" doesn't describe the game he had; Allison was a defensive liability in the offensive zone, coughing up the puck multiple times - much as he did everywhere else on the ice. His trademark passing just wasn't there, and he certainly didn't try to overcome his lack of footspeed with a swell of effort - often he would simply take a stride or two and then coast, seemingly stuck in neutral. Simply put, he's not showing the giddyup or the skill that Ron Wilson and Brian Burke want to see in their top 6 forwards.
Jason Allison, if you really do want to make the most of this try-out opportunity and make the Leafs - or even the Marlies - it's time to put some heart in it.
Making a Comeback
Maybe you've seen this blog before. Perhaps you're reading it for the first time. Either way, I have to apologize: I've been taking some time off. Almost three years, in fact. Oh, it wasn't the stress of the workload, or the lack of things to post about; it was simply that other things were happening, and it's hard to stay up-to-date on hockey when you're in Australia. But I did what I could.
Either way, welcome! What you'll read at The Good Old Hockey Game is exactly what the name implies: commentary on hockey, hockey and more hockey. If you agree with my thoughts, let me know. If you think I've been wearing my helmet too tight, tell me about that too. Either way, I'll try to be as entertaining and insightful as I possibly can.
Enjoy. Again.
Either way, welcome! What you'll read at The Good Old Hockey Game is exactly what the name implies: commentary on hockey, hockey and more hockey. If you agree with my thoughts, let me know. If you think I've been wearing my helmet too tight, tell me about that too. Either way, I'll try to be as entertaining and insightful as I possibly can.
Enjoy. Again.
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