NHL
As the Montreal Canadiens look ahead to the 2008/2009 season, they have high aspirations. This is the Habs 100th year in the league. They have many big events planned for this upcoming year. But what would make things so much sweeter for the faithful Habs fans is a Stanley Cup. Every year, fans in Montreal expect their team to be a cup contender.
This year, sports fans are witnessing (or if they aren’t, they should be…) the most exciting playoff season that the National Hockey League has seen since the 2001 season that saw Ray Bourque finally win Lord Stanley’s Cup. This is the time that all fans, be they the traditional fan base of the original six and of ageless wonders such as Chris Chelios or fans of the “next generation” and superstars such as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Alexander Ovechkin should rejoice and unite as this is the year that their beloved sport can wake up from its long hibernation and win the hearts of millions of sports fans. The post-lockout era of the NHL has much to look forward to, and this post-season has seen every storyline that both the owners and the NHLPA have longed to see. This is the time to be proud to be a hockey fan.
Playoffs? Who cares about the playoffs in Edmonton? Heck their season ended a month ago when they were 14th in the Western Conference. Why are they so excited? Don’t they know they’re seven points back of the eighth spot entering play on Tuesday? Don’t they know that the team is on pace to break the NHL record for man games lost due to injury? Don’t they have any brains, these Oilers players? Are they taking the crack? Why are they playing hockey right now when they should be watching Seinfeld reruns?
For those who have never been to Rexall Place, I am happy to offer you this free, once-in-a lifetime tour of one of Edmonton’s greatest legacies.
I’m sorry, you’re sorry, everyone’s sorry. It’s the same problem that has plagued this sport pretty much since the NHA days. Yes, it’s back to the old headhunting issue. This time, everyone is sorry. Randy Jones is sorry for his hit that gave Patrice Bergeron a broken nose and a concussion. Steve Downie is sorry for almost ending Dean MacAmmond’s career in the preseason. Todd Bertuzzi is still sorry for ending Steve Moore’s career a few years back, and of course, Marty McSorley is sorry for nearly decapitating Donald Brashier in 2000.
Week three marks the unveiling of the NHL power rankings here at Sportscolumn.com This week, we see the Sens take the top spot, while the Flyers and Wild hot on their heels. Where did your team finish?
For whatever reason, the NHL won’t make good decisions. It needs to win back the trust of sports fans by making wise and strategic moves. But it hasn’t done it, and the latest deed proves it won’t any time soon. Here’s my thoughts on the latest move by professional hockey.
The NHL returned, albeit quietly, from its locked out 2005 season. But its playoffs — exciting, powerful, addictive — remained lodged in oblivion.
The last two playoffs? Imposters. Unwanted guests that have paralyzed a once-great yearly occasion.
This season’s NHL playoffs scored record-low American television ratings, especially during the Stanley Cup Finals — supposedly the most exciting playoff round. NBC, in one instance, interrupted a game with the Preakness’ pre-race coverage. Game 3 of the Finals had NBC’s worst rating since a “The West Wing” rerun several years ago.
Sad, so sad.
On Sunday, while at work, I was frantically looking for news on where impending NHL free agents had signed and was hoping to hear something like “the Oilers have signed Chris Drury” or something resembling that.I didn’t, but I heard Oilers news of a different kind. “The Edmonton Oilers have traded Jason Smith and Joffrey Lupul to the Philedalphia Flyers for defenseman Joni Pittkanen and forward Goeff Sanderson, plus a 2009 3rd round draft choice,” was what the announcer on TSN was reporting. At first I was angry about my team trading away its captain and perhaps the toughest guy in the league for an unproven defender, who was -22 last season. But after composing my thoughts, and my tears, it wasn’t that bad. Kevin Lowe and Paul Holmgren have pulled off, in my mind, one of the most even trades in modern NHL history.
Miss Japan vs. The Anaheim Ducks. Miss Japan wins the title of Miss Universe on NBC, better ratings and a pretty nifty crown. The Ducks win Game One of the Stanley Cup Finals on Versus (formerly OLN) and approval from such “celebrities” as Sasha Cohen, Cuba Cooding, Jr and some dude from “Heroes.” Ding ding, Round I goes to Miss Japan.