New Hockey Operations Structure

I just got an email update from the Oilers with that tag line and it s on TSN's website now.

Kevin Lowe is now the President of the Edmonton Oilers. Gone is Laforge (I guess) since there is no mention of him in the announcement.

VP Kevin Prendergast is now the Assistant Manager.

We have a new GM folks: Steve Tambellini is now the man. He's been in the Canucks organization for years according to the email. I really don't know anything about him (didn't he do some work with Team Canada?).

I'm not sure what to think of this move. I really liked Lowe's moves this summer. He really redeemed himself after the past couple years of questionably deals. So just when I was enjoying his skillful moves this summer, he gets bumped upstairs and we have a new GM in town.

July 1 - Canada Day and Le Free Agent Frenzy

Happy Canada Day and happy free agent frenzy day as well. There has been a trade already involving our Oilers, even before the frenzy has begun.

Raffi Torres has been traded to Columbus for Gilbert Brule. This looks like a salary dump or they're clearing the decks for some free agent signings. According to Dan Barnes at the Journal, the Oilers plan to get into the Hossa sweepstakes big time and offer at least 9 million dollars a year. I'm torn on this since I truly believe Hossa is the type of player our Ales Hemsky needs to play with. But 9 million? I don't like that at all.

But with the trades of Stoll, Torres, Greene and of course Pitkanen will be gone soon, there might be cap room for a move like that. The bigger issue is does Hossa even want to come here? Even during Visnovsky's conference call yesterday, he mentioned the cold and winter of Edmonton. Maybe we should tell everyone that we're in a major heat wave right now?

Anyways, let the frenzy begin!!!

Update: Pitkanen is off to Carolina for winger Erik Cole (4 million cap hit who has one year left on his deal. I hope there is an extension coming too. One year of Cole against several of Pitkanen is NOT a good deal).

Welcome Lubomir...

I was just talking about the Oilers today and the possible trades they would make on Canada Day! Well they beat me to it but I thought Stoll and Greene would be gone.

And poof, they are outta here.

In return, the Oilers get Lubomir Visnovsky from the LA Kings. According to TSN, the Oilers also will be taking on his five-year, US$28-million contract extension he signed in July 2007.

I originally thought he was a Czech but nope, he's Slovakian. Cool, we have some Czechs and a Slovak now....Czechoslovakia baby!!!

I think this means Pitkanen is going to be gone on Canada Day. I can't see them signing him for the 5 million he wants if they just got Visnovsky. Pitkanen can snag the Oilers a top 6 forward. So that should be good news!!!

I'm thrilled that Greene is gone. Finally, I've been championing his departure for several years now. All I have to say: dreams do come true.

I feel bad for Stoll. I like him as a player, well not last year. He was a piece of crap. I thought he might bounce back this year, but that was a big maybe. He needed a change of scenery and plus, he's closer to his cougar-girlfriend Rachel Hunter. So it all works out for the best!

Welcome to Edmonton Lubomir Visnovsky!

Is it finally his time? (YES IT IS)!

Is it finally time for Glenn Anderson to enter the Hockey Hall of Fame? It damn well better be.....he's been eligible since 1999. 9 years of waiting is too long especially when he's been passed over for lesser players. Yes lesser players were chosen over Anderson. They include Neely, Lafontaine, Francis, MacInnis, Duff, Murphy, Gillies, Federko, Langway, Hawerchuk, Gartner, and the list goes on. All these players have made the Hall in years that Anderson was eligible. Anderson's numbers were superior to all of them, and more importantly, his pressense in the playoffs was off the charts.

Why he is not in the Hall? There are many reasons listed as a possiblity: he benefitted from a skilled Oilers team, he wasn't friendly with the media, he's a deadbeat dad, etc. I'm still confused why any of these reasons would ever be brought up. You don't need to be a good father to get into the Hall. It's based on your hockey career (or should be entirely) but people keep bringing up all these factors. His numbers alone should have gotten him into the Hall.

I can't see him being denied another year. His numbers along with his Stanley and Canada Cups should be enough to get him in. Check the list of eligible players and their stats. Anderson should get over the hump due to his Cups.

My favorite memories of Glenn was when he was flying down the ice, cutting into the middle, splitting the defense, crashing the net and shooting the puck into the net. I grew up in Manitoba where we didn't hear the rumours and information about his personal life. All I knew growing up was that he was a helleva hockey player. That is how he should be judged today.

Announcement will come at 3:30 (et) and his eight year wait should be over.

UPDATE: Welcome to the Hall of Fame Glenn Anderson!

ABOUT F'IN TIME!

CTV: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Just in, TSN/CTV has 'saved' the Hockey Theme Song. First, I didn't know the song needed saving. Second, this accounts for flat out thievery. The song didn't need to be saved. There was ongoing negotiations (or extortion) with the jingle writer Claman and CBC for the use of the song which has been in rotation for 40 years at the CBC. So with the extortion not going according to plan, Claman turns to CTV/TSN and extorts them.

CTV, big bad billionaire company, steals this song from public broadcaster CBC. Yes it's as bad as it sounds. I know CTV/TSN wants to pretend this was done to ensure the survival of the song but there wasn't much doubt that a deal would have occurred with the CBC. They would never let the song die but they sneak in, do a back-door deal and poof, it's been stolen.

According to CBC and how there was double-dealing going on:

We offered arbitration, mediation — we offered to meet their price. On Friday, when it came right down to it, we never got a response from them on our latest offer and find out, in the meantime, they appeared to be negotiating with CTV.....If that is the price CTV wants to pay, it won't be the first time nor will it be the last time, probably, that they outbid us for something. They have a lot more profits than we do...

I've become more disillusioned and disappointed with TSN over the past couple years, particularly when they started broadcasting NHL games. They've become big, fat, loud and obnoxious. They're shit as broadcasters now who depend on gossip instead of storytelling. They spend more time shelling out the rumour-de-jour instead of actually commenting on real stories. Ten years ago when I moved out on my own and got cable for the first time, I was most excited to get TSN. A sports network that was dedicated to good sports broadcasting. It simply is not anymore. Maybe because I still believe NHL hockey belongs on CBC and they put on a better broadcast. TSN is filled with loud and idiotic broadcasters (Pierre Maguire anyone?) who prefer the sound of their own voice to sport. They are not The Sports Network, they are The Toronto Network....it's all about the Leaves even when they don't make the playoffs. They are THE first story on Sportscentre and are discussed at the exclusion of everyone else. The broadcasters make Don Cherry look unbiased.

After the story broke earlier today, there were quite a few comments on TSN's website under the story and the majority of them were NOT supportive of this move. Well I just checked and many of those negative comments are no longer there. Mmm interesting TSN.

TSN/CTV should be ashamed of this underhanded and sneaky ploy. I still prefer my sports from CBC and I was heartbroken when CTV/TSN won the 2010 Olympics. They do a shit job at the Olympics. A plague on your house CTV/TSN. This was not saving the song, it was theft from the big bad rich company over a public broadcaster.

So go ahead, buy a song synonomous with the CBC. It will not reduce CBC's hockey viewership, not their better sports broadcasts. You basically will give them free advertising since this song will be associated with CBC forever. You can't destroy history. I tune into CBC for the hockey, not a song.

2008 Stanley Cup Final - zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

The playoffs of 2008 will go down as one of the most boring in recent years. I can't wait for it to be over. Don't worry folks, it will be over soon. This will not be a long series nor a good one. Sure, the NHL is loving having two "big" hockey markets in the final and happy that Canada has been shutout for the first time in three playoff years. They don't want any Canadian teams in the finals since they're still half-heartedly trying to woo the American market.

One question: why the hell did we have to wait 5 days before the finals started?? Last game of the third round was on Monday. The finals start Saturday. I still can't imagine what the reasoning behind this can possibly be. There is still a chance to have a Stanley Cup winner crowned in May (if the series goes only 4 games) but the NHL really didn't do themselves any favors by waiting so long. They could have hyped the finals big time; a guaranteed winner in May. How awesome would that have been?

Anyways, I am 9-5 thus far in the playoffs....

Detroit Red Wings vs Pittsburgh (Whiney Sid's) Penguins

Like I said before, this is going to be a very short and one-sided series. Everyone seems to be jumping on the Pens bandwagon and on their knees for Sid. It ain't happenin' folks. Wings will take it to the Penguins and this will be over quickly. Pens have no chance. They'll be lucky to win one game. Detroit will use their skill to overpower the young and mediocre defense of Pittsburgh all while shutting down the Pens quasi-big guns. This series is over before it starts. Pens got to the finals not by playing awesome but by playing teams who shot themselves in the foot again and again. Osgood has been very solid and he'll outplay Fleury easily. Wings in 5, falling short of winning the Cup in May.

It'll be over soon Oiler fans....it'll be draft time and free agency soon. Plus, voting for the Hall of Fame takes place very soon. Glenn Anderson will not be denied anymore and he'll finally get into the Hall this year. I can't see him being snubbed again. Lesser players have been chosen the past couple years ahead of him, won't happen again.

GOILERS!!!

Canada vs Russia

Surprisingly, this is the first time that Canada and Russia will face off in the World Championship gold medal game in 50 years. Yes, not since 1958 has there been a Canada-Russia final at the worlds (psst, Canada won that game and it wasn't exactly the gold medal game. It was the last game of the round robin). This is quite surprising but Russia has really sucked and hasn't won the worlds since 1993. So they will be super motivated for today's final. So will Canada, as they try to become the first team since 1986 to win the big game at home. This is going to be a killer game.

Russia is our hockey nemesis. Sorry US, it's not you. So this is the final everyone wanted to see. Too bad it's starting in the morning instead of being shown prime-time. They didn't want to compete with the Stanley Cup playoffs but you could at least put the gold medal game at a later time. It's one game. It's not like they're going head-to-head with the Stanley Cup Finals. The idiots at the IIHL need to get their heads examined for this decision. All of Canada's games during the tournament were also played during the afternoon. I guess they don't realize many of us have jobs and can't watch it. Good thing the final is on Sunday.

Anyways, this final will probably be one of the best ones in recent years. I'm excited!

Prediction: CANADA WINS of course by a score of 5-3. 2 goals from Heatley, 1 from Nash, 1 from Spezza and an empty netter for Getzlaf.

UPDATE: Dirty cheatin' Russians win. They score in OT on a penalty (bullshit call). Oh and our goalie sucked ass. Cam Ward: YOU SUCK! Seriously, Canada was up 4-2 heading into the third and he lets in 2 shit goals. Oh and Jovanovski....you also are full of suck.

Round 3

Is anyone still watching the playoffs? Yeah I agree. It's become quite boring. Round two killed my record. I started off at 7-1 and now I'm at 8-4. I blame the Rangers, Sharks and Habs for cocking it up. The Habs in particular dominated most of the games and yet lose. Some bad goal-tending and defensive play knocks them out when they really dominated the games. Too bad.
Round three predictions....even Fred and Barney are bored with this. But hey, we'll still watch (kinda) but these teams are bloody boring.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs Philadelphia Flyers

Neither team has impressed me that much. They're in the third round mostly due to the incompetence of their opponents. Maybe the Oilers will catch that kind of luck in next year's playoffs? That'd be sweet! Anyways, back to this year. Philly will finally give Sid the Whiney Kid and his Penguins a real challenge. Philly is tougher, grittier and more physical. Sid will need a pacifier when this series is done. Flyers in 6.

Detroit Red Wings vs Dallas Stars

Dallas is lucky to have made it this far. They barely got out of that San Jose series (even though being up 3-0 and were one shot from going to a 7th game) and let's face it, Detroit is rolling. They're going to roll over the Stars. Turco is only 2-10-5 against Detroit and has never won at the Joe. This will continue. Wings in 5.

There it is folks: Detroit vs Philadelphia in the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals. It hath been written!

2007-2008 Playoffs Round 2

Round Two starts tonight....anyone still care? Not really but since I went 7-1 in round one, let's give round two a go for predictions. I still don't like any of these teams (Ottawa was my number two team) but I'm vaguely cheering for the Habs. Why? Maybe because everyone thought they'd finish 13th or maybe because I'm still a big fan of Kovalev. I do enjoy those Russians. They're very unlike their European counterparts; they play a gritty and skilled game. Me likes!!!

Montreal Canadiens vs Philadelphia Flyers

The Habs almost crapped themselves in round one, letting the Bruins trap their way to a game seven. Their powerplay was anemic and Price was shakey for two games. However, I think this team rebounds nicely in round two, their powerplay comes alive and Price continues his performance from game seven. Habs in 6.

Pittsburgh Penguins vs New York Rangers

Whiney Sid will get an early exit this year. The first round against Ottawa was a cake-walk so they're coming into this series with too much rest and not enough game action. Henrik will out-play wee Fleury who will have a huge meltdown. Unfortunately, Avery will get into the third round. Damn. Rangers in 5.

San Jose Sharks vs Dallas Stars

San Jose got a huge wake-up call in the first round so I expect them to continue their good play and will take it to the Stars big time. We would all like to thank Dallas for bouncing Anaheim (thank you very much) but you're time is over. Texas rules but not this time. Dallas the TV show rocked but not the hockey team. See y'all. Sharks in 5.

Detroit Red Wings vs Colorado Avalanche

Colorado played a good series against the Wild (my only loss in the first round) and could continue their good play. They'll need a healthy Forsberg to stand a chance (update: not playing tonight due to his groin) and they might get the leg up on the Wings. Wings, similar to the Pens, had an easy series in round one and they sleep-walked through it. I don't think I saw one hit. Avs could take advantage but I still think the Wings prevail. Wings in 6.

Classy

"Everyone talks about how much class I don't have," Avery said after breaking a series-long silence. "Well it's the end of the series and men go to war against each other. I guess he forgot to shake my hand. I don't know if anyone saw that. Of course I was going to shake his hand."

Okay but you lost us at Fatso...

"Fatso there forgot to shake my hand"

Yes Avery, you still do not have class.