Prelude - The media have been waiting for this event for sometime now. The question was beyond, if, but rather when. Yesterday it happened. In hockey land, this IS the conversation everyone will be talking about today.
Sport - Hockey
Event - Toronto Maples Leafs fired their General Manager, John Ferguson Jr yesterday.
Issue
Coaches are usually the first to be blamed if a team isn't doing well. But if a team doesn't perform over a long period, then all eyes look to the General Manager.
In Toronto, all eyes have been on their General Manager John Ferguson Jr for some time now. The vision he brought to the team (young team) never happened and the product on the ice looks like there is no where to go but down. There needs to be a new plan now.
Point to say - "Did you hear that the Leafs fired their GM?"
Follow up point - "Will they trade Sundin?"
Get out of the conversation - "Think the Oscars will be cancelled?"
Backgrounder
General Managers in hockey is the job that looks after who will play on the team. Meaning they are the ones who make the trades, sign the players, and have the major say on who gets drafted. Based on who they put on the team, they control the kind of team that it will be. Therefore when the team's part don't produce, it is usually seen as their fault.
Mats Sundin is the best player on the Leafs. He's 36 and still has a few years yet at being a top producer in the league. So, the question now is, does Mats play out his career in Toronto or do they trade him for a high draft pick. This idea would be to try and land a high draft pick that might be used to get a player that might help them in the future. The key word being 'might'.
Draft picks don't really show up on an NHL team for at least 4 to 5 years after being drafted. So, for the Leafs, there are no quick fixes.
Links
Will they trade Sundin? Read more about this here.
Story about the event.
What did Ferguson do (or not do) to get fired? Find out here.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Which direction are the Sens heading?
Prelude - The two top teams, Ottawa and Detroit, played against each other this past Saturday night. Ottawa came out victorious. This should have led to Monday morning office talk indicating a) Sens are the best once again, or b) do the Sens still have a problem with Emery? But instead, the real news this weekend is something else about the Sens. Something that might just have Sens fans worried. Let's find out what is was.
Sport - Hockey
Event - Injuries to two thirds of the Sens top line happen this weekend.
Issue
In hockey playoffs you go as far as your goalie takes you. During the regular season, it's up to your top scoring line. On Saturday Heatly separated his shoulder and is now forcasted to be out for six weeks. On Sunday, Spezza got too hit hard at centre ice and left the game against the Islanders after the first period and didn't return.
The top scorer and player on the Sens is Daniel Alfredsson. But can he maintain the scoring without his line-mates?
Point to say - "Did you see the hit on Spezza?"
Follow up point - "What will Alfredsson do without his linemates?"
Get out of the conversation - "So, Juno didn't end up winning any Golden Globes eh?"
Backgrounder
Senators centre Jason Spezza left the game Sunday night following the first period after he was flattened by an open-ice hit by Islanders defenceman Freddy Meyer early in the game.
A team's first line, known as the 'Top line', account for a majority of the playing time. The reason? Principally it comes down to they are your best players, and in professional hockey you go with your best players whenever you can.
This year, Ottawa's top three scorers all have over 50 points each. The fourth player only has 33 points. That is a big drop off in scoring.
Links
Sens scoring stats.
Sport - Hockey
Event - Injuries to two thirds of the Sens top line happen this weekend.
Issue
In hockey playoffs you go as far as your goalie takes you. During the regular season, it's up to your top scoring line. On Saturday Heatly separated his shoulder and is now forcasted to be out for six weeks. On Sunday, Spezza got too hit hard at centre ice and left the game against the Islanders after the first period and didn't return.
The top scorer and player on the Sens is Daniel Alfredsson. But can he maintain the scoring without his line-mates?
Point to say - "Did you see the hit on Spezza?"
Follow up point - "What will Alfredsson do without his linemates?"
Get out of the conversation - "So, Juno didn't end up winning any Golden Globes eh?"
Backgrounder
Senators centre Jason Spezza left the game Sunday night following the first period after he was flattened by an open-ice hit by Islanders defenceman Freddy Meyer early in the game.
A team's first line, known as the 'Top line', account for a majority of the playing time. The reason? Principally it comes down to they are your best players, and in professional hockey you go with your best players whenever you can.
This year, Ottawa's top three scorers all have over 50 points each. The fourth player only has 33 points. That is a big drop off in scoring.
Links
Sens scoring stats.
Friday, January 11, 2008
The other side of hockey
Prelude - And so the big event begins. Superbowl already? No, the start of CBC television's new soap opera / hockey drama MVP. You'll remember reading about this back a few months ago here on Sports and the City. Well, here's a line to find out who else is ready to follow along with the all the happenings that really matter - off ice!
Sport - Hockey
Event - New series launched tonight at 9 pm on tv with hockey as the focal point.... or is it?
Issue
This might be one conversation you are likely to have with someone who is a fan of soap operas more than hockey.
TV and movies have always had a tough time recreating the action on ice to make it look real and not overall fake. So why bother? This show is based on the successful series from Britain Football Wives where the focus is off field. On the field (ice) bit is just the set as to why these particular people would be together in the first place with all this money.
Point to say - "Have you heard about the new series on CBC, called MVP?"
Follow up point - "The critics are really giving it good reviews."
Get out of the conversation - "Did you hear that the Golden Globes are cancelled?"
Backgrounder
MVP's one sexy, soapy exhibition game
CBC delivers four new series this week. The one that's really fun, fresh and frisky starts tonight.MVP (CBC, 9 p.m.) is fabulous populist entertainment for everybody - not just the female viewers that CBC seems to think are the core potential audience. It's kick-ass entertainment for everyone. It's about hockey, but not about the glory and goonery on the ice. It's about what happens in the bedrooms, bars and boardrooms. The deliciously fun part. - From the Globe and Mail January 11, 2008 edition.
Links
MVP show's web site.
Sport - Hockey
Event - New series launched tonight at 9 pm on tv with hockey as the focal point.... or is it?
Issue
This might be one conversation you are likely to have with someone who is a fan of soap operas more than hockey.
TV and movies have always had a tough time recreating the action on ice to make it look real and not overall fake. So why bother? This show is based on the successful series from Britain Football Wives where the focus is off field. On the field (ice) bit is just the set as to why these particular people would be together in the first place with all this money.
Point to say - "Have you heard about the new series on CBC, called MVP?"
Follow up point - "The critics are really giving it good reviews."
Get out of the conversation - "Did you hear that the Golden Globes are cancelled?"
Backgrounder
MVP's one sexy, soapy exhibition game
CBC delivers four new series this week. The one that's really fun, fresh and frisky starts tonight.MVP (CBC, 9 p.m.) is fabulous populist entertainment for everybody - not just the female viewers that CBC seems to think are the core potential audience. It's kick-ass entertainment for everyone. It's about hockey, but not about the glory and goonery on the ice. It's about what happens in the bedrooms, bars and boardrooms. The deliciously fun part. - From the Globe and Mail January 11, 2008 edition.
Links
MVP show's web site.
Monday, January 7, 2008
January = Football playoffs
Prelude - American football fans kick off the new year madly watching the many (27!) college football games. But, all these games are just a prelude to the big action: NFL playoffs. With the first round of these playoff games done, what is shaping up are two semi-finals that may be the most talked about in years! Let's find out why and what you can say.
Sport - Football
Event - NFL football playoffs.
Issue
American football teams play a schedule of 16 games. A team that wins 13 of those games did very well. To have four teams this year win 13 or more games (New England of course winning 16) is very rare.
This year, all four of these teams may reach the semi final and face off against each other. To have all four reach the semi finals means exciting top quality football.
Point to say - "There is going to be some good football this weekend!"
Follow up point - "Do you think New England can be defeated?"
Get out of the conversation - "Are you planning on watching the Super Bowl?"
Backgrounder
Patriots Remain THE story of the football year.
Analysis
Games this weekend are as follows (written as away vs home). The home teams are all the ones mentioned above as having had 13 wins or more this regular season.
Jacksonville vs New England
San Diego vs Indianapolis
New York Giants vs Dallas
Seattle vs Green Bay
Links
Sport - Football
Event - NFL football playoffs.
Issue
American football teams play a schedule of 16 games. A team that wins 13 of those games did very well. To have four teams this year win 13 or more games (New England of course winning 16) is very rare.
This year, all four of these teams may reach the semi final and face off against each other. To have all four reach the semi finals means exciting top quality football.
Point to say - "There is going to be some good football this weekend!"
Follow up point - "Do you think New England can be defeated?"
Get out of the conversation - "Are you planning on watching the Super Bowl?"
Backgrounder
Patriots Remain THE story of the football year.
Analysis
Games this weekend are as follows (written as away vs home). The home teams are all the ones mentioned above as having had 13 wins or more this regular season.
Jacksonville vs New England
San Diego vs Indianapolis
New York Giants vs Dallas
Seattle vs Green Bay
Links
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