A look back on the week that was in the National Hockey League...
Nash
As a fan of the Rangers, I'm actually glad that the team didn't end up having to break the bank and dismantle the roster to get Rick Nash to Broadway. Sure, it would've been nice to have that guy - as good a player as there is in the entire NHL - wearing a Blueshirt, but not at the expense of what Columbus were asking. The Blue Jackets wanted Brandon Dubinsky plus Derek Stepan or Carl Hagelin and Ryan McDonagh or Michael Del Zotto, as well as highly-prized forward prospect Chris Krieder (currently at Boston College) and, stunningly, a first round pick. That's insane! Honestly, who does GM Scott Howson think he is trying to deal? Wayne Gretzky? Better to sacrifice Nash for team continuity and for keeping the core of the roster together.
Rangers vs. Devils
Teriffic game between old rivals at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. That was about as good as hockey gets. There were big hits, great defensive plays and a few scraps. Unfortunately, David Clarkson showed his lack of class, leaving his feet to hit Brandon Dubinsky. Dubi did the right thing and, despite being well out of his league, dropped the gloves. You'd want to think that Clarkson will be fined or suspended for that blatantly illegal hit. The game doesn't need that.
Devils vs. Bruins
Probably the best game I watched this week. It ended 4-3 in OT, and the game winner was David Krejci's third of the contest. Nothing like a hat-trick to win in the extra period. The Devils looked good. The Bruins looked good. Both goalies were on song making great saves, there was brilliant end-to-end skating, a great (and long) fight between heavyweights Shawn Thornton and Eric Boulton, a little nastiness, and some extra hockey after regulation. Basically, the game featured everything that makes hockey great. And the Bruins fans went home happy, after tossing their hats on the ice.
The Devils resurgence this season has been incredible. They are going to be a team to be reckoned with come the playoffs. Amazing that earlier in the season - late last year - experts all over were questioning whether Martin Brodeur was still an elite goalie. Pretty sure he is, based on recent evidence. On another note entirely, I have a feeling that the Atlantic Division will contribute 50% of the Eastern Conference playoff teams. The Rangers, Flyers, Penguins and Devils all seem to be locks now.
Washington
Maybe it wasn't Bruce Boudreau? I mean, the Washington Capitals have been just as bad and then some since the very popular coach was releived in favour of franchise legend Dale Hunter. Alex Semin is under performing as usual - a more on-off player in the league, there isn't - they can't sort out their goaltending, secondary scoring is nonexistent and, apparently, Alex Ovechkin is more interested in being a rock star. They were thumped by New Jersey on Friday and the only other reasonable team they've played in the last week, Ottawa, beat them 5-2.
Something needs to change, clearly. It could be a long off-season clean-out inside the Beltway.
Washington
Maybe it wasn't Bruce Boudreau? I mean, the Washington Capitals have been just as bad and then some since the very popular coach was releived in favour of franchise legend Dale Hunter. Alex Semin is under performing as usual - a more on-off player in the league, there isn't - they can't sort out their goaltending, secondary scoring is nonexistent and, apparently, Alex Ovechkin is more interested in being a rock star. They were thumped by New Jersey on Friday and the only other reasonable team they've played in the last week, Ottawa, beat them 5-2.
Something needs to change, clearly. It could be a long off-season clean-out inside the Beltway.
Wilson out in Toronto
Well, I had a feeling that Ron Wilson wouldn't be in Toronto when the 2012-13 season started, but I expected that Leafs General Manager Brian Burke would relieve the most recent Team USA Olympic coach after the season was done. Instead, Burke pulled the trigger on Wilson on a Friday night at about 8.00pm. That's a strange move, given the timing, especially given that Toronto were in Montreal for a game vs. the lowly Canadiens on Saturday night.
At the exact moment that word of Wilson's dismissal leaked out via TSN's Darren Dreger, Toronto were theoretically still there or thereabouts in terms of a playoff berth. They sat in 11th in the East, just 5 points away from Winnipeg, who're 8th and currently holding down the last entry spot. A far cry from seeming like certainties to break their long playoff drought, as they looked in December and January. It was the 1-9-1 skid that started on February 7 that finally sealed Wilson's fate. You wonder if he'll ever coach in the NHL again.
It's been a giant fall. As bad as the Maple Leafs have been of late, they still are somewhat in contention - the entire conference is, aside from Montreal and the Islanders, for mine - and with enough hockey still to be played if they're good enough. It's admittedly unlikely, but still possible, with a few wins and a few other results falling the right way. Perhaps that's what Burke wanted; fire the coach to shake things up when the Leafs need badly to be shaken up and play solid hockey down the stretch.
Brian Burke quickly hired Randy Carlyle, ousted from Anaheim earlier in the season. You get the feeling - at least, I do - that this might be Brian Burke's last chance to succeed in Toronto. As for Carlyle, he's gone from having a good, under performing roster in Anaheim to having a not-as-good and under performing roster in Toronto. And a very rabid fan base.
It's been a giant fall. As bad as the Maple Leafs have been of late, they still are somewhat in contention - the entire conference is, aside from Montreal and the Islanders, for mine - and with enough hockey still to be played if they're good enough. It's admittedly unlikely, but still possible, with a few wins and a few other results falling the right way. Perhaps that's what Burke wanted; fire the coach to shake things up when the Leafs need badly to be shaken up and play solid hockey down the stretch.
Brian Burke quickly hired Randy Carlyle, ousted from Anaheim earlier in the season. You get the feeling - at least, I do - that this might be Brian Burke's last chance to succeed in Toronto. As for Carlyle, he's gone from having a good, under performing roster in Anaheim to having a not-as-good and under performing roster in Toronto. And a very rabid fan base.
Devin Setoguchi
The Minnesota Wild needed Devin Setoguchi to score to keep their chances of picking up the extra point in Montreal alive. This is what happened:
Oh man. That is nightmarish stuff!
And that ends the week! Thanks for reading!!
And that ends the week! Thanks for reading!!
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