Flyers will face Blackhawks in Stanley Cup Finals
Greeting from the beaches of Florida. Well, for me it’s really from “poolside”…the Divine Mrs. R is more of a beach-goer.
Anywhoo…given that I am “technically” away on vacation, I’ll keep this short and sweet.
The Flyers ended Montreal’s wild playoff ride by downing the Canadian’s 4-2 Monday night and winning the series 4 games to 1. They will now face the Western Conference champion Chicago Blackhawks, who did away with the San Jose Sharks in a four-game sweep.
With the win, Michael Leighton is now 6-1 in the playoffs since taking over for Brian Boucher and has a .948 SV% and 1.45 GAA with 3 shutouts. Chicago’s Antti Niemi is 12-4 with a .921 SV%, 2.33 GAA and 2 SO.
Jonathan Toews leads all skaters in postseason with 26 overall points, (7 goals and 19 assists), while Philadelphia’s Mike Richards has 6 goals and 15 assists for 21 points. In third is Patrick Kane and his 7 goals and 13 assists for 20 overall points.
Montreal’s Mike Cammalleri’s 13 goals are still the most scored by anyone in the playoffs so far.
Who wins the Stanley Cup Finals?
- Chicago Blackhawks (63%, 89 Votes)
- Philadelphia Flyers (37%, 52 Votes)
Total Voters: 141
Loading ...The two faced off once during the regular season with the Flyers taking a 3-2 decision in Philadelphia on March 13.
In making it to the SCF, Philly has now made it three years out of three that a team participating in the Winter Classic on New Year’s Day has then gone on to advance to the Finals. In 2008, Pittsburgh defeated Buffalo and then lost to the Red Wings in the Finals. In 2009 it was Detroit downing Chicago on January 1, then losing to Pittsburgh in the SCF.
Last New Years as you’ll recall…Philly lost to the Bruins 2-1 in overtime in the game played at Fenway Park.
So the big question is…”who do you pick to skate the Cup”?
When the playoffs began, I picked Chicago to lose to Washington in the Finals. But I will now take the Hawks to win it all in six tough, phisical hard-fought, fun-to-watch games over Philly.
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169 comments Add your comment
Red Light
May 26th, 2010
11:30 am
TOP SHELF:
How difficult was it to turn down the multiyear deal Atlanta deal?
MALHOTRA reportedly turned down a four-year deal for $2 million per season last summer with Atlanta. Here’s a transcript of an interview from last Sept.
Q: How difficult was it to turn down the offer from Atlanta?
Malhotra: After being a part of Columbus and growing with the organization to where we got to a playoff spot, having that feeling, that taste in your mouth of being successful, getting to the post-season, having the opportunity to win, you never want to step back from that standpoint.
Obviously, the Sharks are a team that perennially have a good shot to be in the playoffs, to be successful. to make a run at the Cup. So it was a pretty easy decision on my part. I want to win right now.
Obviously, all the pieces are in place to a successful team. Talking to guys who have played here and are here, they had nothing but good things to say about this organization, the way the guys are treated, the guys in the room…
And then, I had really good talks with both Todd and Doug. And the team philosophy here is what you want to hear as a player, where there’s a definite focus, a definite attention to detail that, as a player, you want to be part of.
Smoothie
May 26th, 2010
11:34 am
R/L – now that would add some intrigue to the coaching rivalries in the SE Division. May be Duds will bring back his old bud John Tortorella if McCrimmon gets the job in Tampa. Speaking of McCrimmons, his brother Terry did a nice job with Brandon Wheat Kings of Memorial Cup hosting-fame this past week. Ran into a Windsor buzzsaw though.
GVH – would not mind Etem at all if we can’t get either Johansen or Nino. However, would you rather have Etem or Skinner if the other two are gone? Connolly will be in the mix too but I’m not sure I trust his hip…we need a guy who can contribute within a year or so. Etem is an interesting proposition and perhaps the right choice if mgmt is convinced that Antro and Pevs are the top 2 C for years to come.
Smoothie
May 26th, 2010
11:54 am
Oooops! I mean Kelly McCrimmon.
World Be Free
May 26th, 2010
12:02 pm
r-l/thanks I don’t know why he’s on my UFA listing. Marty and Manny ciuld be interchangable.
JB-you are correct, Manny did turn us down last year, but maybe things will be different this year. Maybe or maybe not.
Red Light
May 26th, 2010
12:04 pm
• Thrashers own the 6th overall choice of the 15 Eastern Conference teams
• Thrashers own the 4th overall pick of the 5 Southeast Division teams
• Bruins and Coyotes also have 2 first-round picks
• Boston has No. 2 and No. 15, much better than Atlanta’s combo of No. 8 and No. 24 as leverage to make a deal
Uneasy feeling?
GaVaHokie
May 26th, 2010
12:24 pm
Red Light… not too worried since most of the SE teams need Defense. If Carolina and Tampa don’t take Defense, they’re stupid.
Florida can arguably take the Best Available Player.
GaVaHokie
May 26th, 2010
12:26 pm
J.B. and Red Light… I was using Malhotra as an example of the “type” of player we need for 3rd and 4th line. I’m fully aware of that issue last summer. Malhotra is probably not an actual candidate.
Brendan
May 26th, 2010
1:40 pm
Ranallo10, a hearty welcome back. And glad to hear everything is in fine working order. If you can, don’t be a stranger on these message boards. There have been times, over the months, when I’d read a poster’s comments and think, “If Ranallo10 were here, he’d be jumping all over this post.”
Post when you can.
Brendan
May 26th, 2010
1:46 pm
I credit Malhotra for making the right choice. Instead of his season ending in April, in Atlanta, he got the Conference Finals with a contender. Manny might just stay right where he is. But that’s the beauty of being an unrestricted free agent. He’ll get to find out who’s interested in him, and for how much. Then he’ll pick where he wants to play.
In the Atlanta Spirit, LLC’s mindset, the player doesn’t pick where he wants to play; he plays where he gets paid the most. That’s not really the case. No amount of money kept Hossa or Kovalchuk here. Campbell turned down more ‘guaranteed’ money than what Chicago offered for his services. One day, perhaps they’ll understand the dynamics of the NHL and free agency. Hopefully, Dudley will sit them down and explain it to them. Dudley, being a former NHL player himself, can speak to the mindset of NHL players. The question is, “Will the Spirit even listen?”
Old Time Hockey
May 26th, 2010
1:51 pm
I make Slater my captain. Great effort every shift. Understands the game and has improved drastically over the last 2 years. Captain does not have to be the superstar…just a leader.
Tony C.
May 26th, 2010
2:05 pm
Plekanec? here? Sorry, just don’t see it happening. I mean, although everybody and their mom seems to have him walking out of MTL., I think they try and move Gomez instead… although that’s an ugly contract. Smoothie Etem does look good, but I think Dudley’s going to go with the bigger guy if it’s apples-to-apples talent wise.
Tony C.
May 26th, 2010
2:06 pm
I also see Slater as having what it takes to be our Captain (providing he continues to work the way he did to get back into the lineup). He’s also very well thought of in the room (he’s the NHLPA team-rep, you don’t get to be that guy unless the boys like you-a lot).
Joe Friday
May 26th, 2010
2:26 pm
“There have been times, over the months, when I’d read Joe Friday’s comments and think, “If Ranallo10 were here, he’d be jumping all over this post.”
I fixed your typo, Brendan.
I’d be ok with Slater as captain, has all the qualities. Shows up every night now, drops the gloves when needed, tool box guy.
glovesave29
May 26th, 2010
2:31 pm
Where’s this love for Slater coming from? I got lambasted here last summer for suggesting we keep Jim. I’ve always liked the guy…gives 100% effort on every shift, and as I said previously – he can fly and speed never slumps. I know a lot think we should get more return for a first round pick…but it’s not Slaters fault he was picked that high.
I cannot make a comment on his ability to make a good captain. He certainly shows hustle on the ice, but he might be a quiet guy in the locker room for all we know. I cannot recall seeing him yap and cheer on the bench. Sure, as Tony says he’s the team rep, but does that translate into leadership?
MB
May 26th, 2010
3:00 pm
Brendan, before we go too far on the rags-to-riches story of the Flyers, let’s not forget that they started the season as one of the favorites to either win the Cup or make it to the finals. More like a riches-to-rags-to-riches story. Or a Laviolette to the rescue story. He’s done a tremendous job getting his very talented team to play like it should have all season. They’ve shown great resilience and toughness, no doubt, but this isn’t exactly an under-manned team slogging through on nothing but heart and fortitude. Then again, I can’t stand the Flyers, so maybe I’ve blinded myself to their charms this post-season.
RL, I know some (including several players) thought McCrimmon deserved a shot at the head coach position, but I never saw evidence of him improving our defensive or PK play while he was here. Seemed like a more popular version of Steve Weekes. To me, his firing was for lack of performance as opposed to throwing him under the bus, but maybe I’m missing something.
Red Light
May 26th, 2010
3:05 pm
When looking for a captain, a proven winner and veteran of five or more seasons (preferably from Canada or the U.S.) is my first choice. Few Thrashers fit that bill.
The only current Thrashers players that won anything is Bryan Little who won the AHL championship with Chicago in ‘08.
So much for my theory!
World Be Free
May 26th, 2010
3:08 pm
Tony C-just trying to get some what if conversations going on players to get a feel for how otherd feel. I try and stay away from the statements “he’ll never come here” cause I am hoping this is going to change. All of a sudden, the SE Conference probably has the best group of GMs in the game. This may change the way players feel about coming to the sunny south and playing some hockey. But then again, maybe it won’t.
No way anyone would be dumb enough to take Gomez’s contract, that’s a real bad one.
Red Light
May 26th, 2010
3:15 pm
MB, you are missing something. In 2003-04, the vaunted defensive corps included Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre, Chris Tamer, Garnet Exelby, Yannick Tremblay, Ivan Majesky, Daniel Tjarnqvist, Andy Sutton and Frantisek Kaberle. In 2005-06, they upgraded the corps with Havelid, deVries and Modry. Then came McCarthy, Zhitnik, Vishnevsky followed the next year with Enstrom, Klee, Kwiatkowski and the like. Of all those guys I listed, how many of them are still in the league? Try three of them and it’s not just because they got too old. A pretty sorry group except for a few notable exceptions.
Red Light
May 26th, 2010
3:18 pm
Of course, I forgot Zhitnik! What was I thinking?
TableHockey
May 26th, 2010
3:44 pm
Chris Viv is reporting that we have extended a one year contract to Max Afinogenov. Good to see Duds moving on our UFAs
MB
May 26th, 2010
3:57 pm
Unfortunately, RL, I didn’t miss the experience of watching that parade of defensive stalwarts come through the organization. No doubt McCrimmon was dealt less than a winning hand, but let’s just say he never seemed to be able to make chicken salad out of…um, those guys. In addition to being under-talented, that stable of blueliners rarely seemed to know what was going on…where they should be positioned, where they could expect their partner to be. Let’s face it, a lot of the time they looked like the Keystone Cops out there.
If we could claim that they were usually in the right position but just got beaten by better players that would be one thing (and would indicate solid coaching of weak talent), but most the time they just looked lost out there. Responsibility for that has to fall, at least to some degree, on McCrimmon.
World Be Free
May 26th, 2010
4:59 pm
Red Light, we need a stud defenseman
Smoothie
May 26th, 2010
5:10 pm
Very peculiar that we are only offering 1 year to Finny. Perhaps it is just a starting point to give the agent an idea of what they are willing to spend after his rebound year.
More interesting tweets from Russia via Genadi Boguslavski of sovsport.ru:
Today – “According to Kovalchuk Russian agent Yiuri Nikolaev,two KHL team Salavat and SKA offered him 3 years deal of 30 million dollars value total”
5/19 – “SKA Peterbourgh continues to negotiate w Kovalchuk & Frolov. They seriously consider this offer. Final answer will be given after Worlds”
5/17 – “Martin Gerber will return to NHL. He spent last season in KHL. According to Gerber he ready to be even back up goalie in NHL team.”
5/17 – “Slava Kozlov close to signing a contract with CSKA Moscow”
Red Light
May 26th, 2010
5:34 pm
World Be Free
Agree, but who? I like Martin. Is he a stud? Probably not. Reliable? Absolutely! The cards are stacked against the Thrashers in free agency. Development is the key but then you have to be able to keep them. Can Dudley do it? Maybe. Can Dudley and a new management team do it? Chances are much stronger.
World Be Free
May 26th, 2010
8:07 pm
Smoothie-hope it is just a starting point, but they are moving forward slowly and it’s 1 month to UFA open season.
Colby-Meehan probably asked for 4 yrs $4M/year and Duds wisely said “have at it on the open market”. Nobody is surprised and nobody is crying that’s for sure.
Red Light-a stud is what we need and there are none in the UFA market, but I still like Siedenberg as a dark horse. He played extremely well this year and i don’t think Boston has the $$$ to sign him. How about getting one via trade? Not sure with who, but we do agree we need a big body on the backline that can log minutes. I like Martin, your description is very accurate.
Smoothie
May 26th, 2010
9:59 pm
WBF – I say yes to Colonel Seidenberg!! To heck with Kubina. I love Pasha, but he probably wants 3 or 4 years and I’m not sure we can afford to stunt the growth of Zach Bogosian. We drafted him 3rd overall and with the idea of him becoming a fixture on our Top 2 pairing for years to come. I think Seids would be a perfect short-term complement for him in the meantime so he can continue to develop into the stud we expect him to be. Just make sure he gets his fair share of PP time as QB along with Ronald and Tobes. If we were to sign Dennis S. to a 2 or 3 year deal, that gives Kulda and Postma time to become NHL ready and assume more time in the event one or more of Hainsey, Oduya and Seidenberg moves on.
2010-2012: 1a) Oduya / Tobes 1b) Hainsey / Kulda 2) Bogo / Seids….7th man) Boris & Schubes?
2013 & beyond: 1) Bogo / Kulda 2) Hainsey / Tobes 3) Postma / Boris….7th man) Z. Redmond / or Cody Sol??
More importantly we could probably get Dennis to sign a 2 or 3 year deal worth $3.25 – 3.5 M / year and then have more money to either go after a top tier C or wing or leave room to absorb the salary of Patrick Sharp or Versteeg and Ben Eager. How do y’all feel about Plekanec centering our top line so Antro can slide back over to RW? Bergie / Plekanec / Antro & Kane / Pevs / Little?
World Be Free
May 26th, 2010
10:20 pm
Smoothie – I think alot will depend on what Kubina and his agnet “value” his services. He could be smart and get a good deal from Atlanta, better than what he will get on the open market but still fairly reasonable. If that’s the case, I believe Kubina will resign in Atlanta. If Pavel pulls and Colby and asks for the sky, then Siedenberg comes back into the picture. We both seem to believe Siedenberg is a better defenseman than Kubina, so the decision is which do we focus on. Kubina may have the edge, in the sense that Dudley may want to have more players under contract by the draft, prior to July 1. Siedenberg will be a good/affordable defenseman, so other teams will be in the mix. Should be interesting.
Brendan
May 26th, 2010
11:07 pm
Joe Friday, I stand corrected. There is a topic which I do recall us all discussing with much passion and vigor, you … me … Ranallo10. Remember when we weighed in on “making Kovalchuk Captain” in an effort to make him stay. I’m willing to admit I was wrong, and Ranallo10 was right. I believe it was Ranallo’s stance that making Kovy Captain wouldn’t, in and of itself, make him re-sign here. Obviously, that was true.
It was my stance that not even offering him the Captaincy would just add to the list of reasons why he’d leave the organization. In the end, Ranallo was right. The ownership is the biggest obstacle. Even in making a GM change, they still left Waddell in charge of making the decision. So, Waddell named three (3) Head Coaches, four including himself, and one (1) GM. I think Kovalchuk very privately laughs at the way the team is run. And really, I don’t blame him.
Tom
May 26th, 2010
11:52 pm
Does anyone know about this Stephen Rollins guy who wants to buy the Thrashers. According to the AP article
http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-thrashers/filmmaker-rollins-has-interest-536264.html
he is as much a fan of the team as we are. That would be a great turn of events.
He is referenced as a film maker but his resume is a bit sparse.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1087297/
Here is his bio page from his website
http://www.lightningpicturesllc.com/Executive_Roster.html
Tom
May 26th, 2010
11:53 pm
Help free my comment, the delightful and wonderful Ms Trixie!
TableHockey
May 27th, 2010
7:33 am
Wow – I wake up this morning to news that there is a potential buyer for the Thrashers that is a native Atlantan and LOVES hockey. Interested in majority ownership only.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=5224553
This could be the best news for hockey in Atlanta in a long, long time.
Tom
May 27th, 2010
8:32 am
TableHockey
I have a post of links that is stuck in moderation but my research into this guy does not make me think he will have the resources to do the deal. That is, unless he has inherited a fortune to pay for it.
His record in Hollywood is mostly in the Independent films and bit parts. It all may be a big publicity stunt.
R. Stroz
May 27th, 2010
8:35 am
TableHockey – My thoughts, thank you GOD!
R. Stroz
May 27th, 2010
8:36 am
Tom – At least he loves hockey and knows the history of hockey in Atlanta.
Red Light
May 27th, 2010
8:37 am
One item that could end up being a problem in the whole deal is whether or not to retain certain personnel from the current organization. I’m told that Rollins would only buy the team if ‘Thrash” agrees to perform in the arena without his two bodyguards. Apparently, it’s a cost cutting measure.
DWTOO
May 27th, 2010
8:39 am
Best news I’ve heard regarding this team in quite some time. Just what we need – a hockey fan from Atlanta interested in owning the team. No more Octo Cluster. Hope this goes thru.
DWTOO
May 27th, 2010
8:40 am
R/L – Maybe you volunteer to escort Thrash? That’d save a couple of bucks.
TableHockey
May 27th, 2010
8:40 am
Interesting Tom – I guess until we hear more I can at least hope that he inherited a fortune to fund it. Waited a long time for an owner that actually cares about hockey…
ranallo10 (in AT)
May 27th, 2010
8:51 am
Brendan — That’s a humbling post, no need to eat so much crow. I will be wrong with my guess of a July 1 re-signing in Atlanta.
Speaking of past conversations, how are your feelings on Gaborik after this past season of his in New York? Any changes on that front?
Joe Friday — Someone around here has to challenge you on occasion … it just seems I’m the only one who enjoyed it
Smoothie
May 27th, 2010
9:35 am
On the subject of Rollins: sounds like he is mega-passionate about hockey in ATL (what a refreshing breath of fresh air!) and if he can find the loot, then bring it on. However, we better hope he’s a trust-fund baby cuz there isn’t any evidence to support his success as a movie producer as documented by our friends over at the Chronicle: http://bluelandchronicle.blogspot.com/2010/05/asg-has-suitor.html
Joe Friday
May 27th, 2010
9:45 am
“I have a post of links that is stuck in moderation but my research into this guy does not make me think he will have the resources to do the deal. That is, unless he has inherited a fortune to pay for it.”
Did you check out the guy’s web site: http://www.lightningpicturesllc.com/Home_Page.html
To call it low budget would be insulting to the word low. Hockey fan from Atlanta would be awesome to have as an owner, but if he can’t even afford to build a web site, and he’s a media guy!?!, not sure that’s who we need.
“Someone around here has to challenge you on occasion … it just seems I’m the only one who enjoyed it”
I figured you as a glutton for punishment
) I’m glad doing a shoutout for you brought you out of the woodwork. I was truly worried that something bad happened to you. After all those novels you wrote defending Waddell, it’s good to see you come back and face the music.
Seeing the big splash we’re making with our impending UFAs is a gasp, 1 year contract!!! offered to Afinogenov makes it seem that the more things change, the more they’re staying the same. Anyone care to guess why they only are offering 1 year to him? Starting point? Nah. More like, take it or leave it, we’re staying cheap until we sell the club. That one year contract offer reeks of Don Waddell’s hands all over it.
Smoothie
May 27th, 2010
10:03 am
Joe F – true that! His website sucks, the movie trailer for American Identity was insultingly bad and I think this guy is nothing but a poser. Goodness gracious, I appreciate his passion for hockey, but I hope to hell he has some business ventures behind the scenes, so to speak, to make him a quasi-legitimate player. I don’t know.
And thank you for stepping up and saying what I was feeling about the 1 year contract offer to Max. Again, bush league, amateur hour kind of negotiating tactics. The guy played his butt off for you for basically league minimum and you can’t even offer him a 2 year deal??? And if you are using the 1 year salary as a “starting point”, why bother reporting it as an offer “on the table” that is being reviewed? Makes it sound more like a final offer. Why not just say “negotiations have begun in earnest” and ask his agent to not disclose any terms yet?? Weird.
ranallo10 (in AT)
May 27th, 2010
10:15 am
My girlfriend would probably agree that “glutton for punishment” is a fine assessment.
Cliff Fletcher
May 27th, 2010
10:30 am
Don’t get your hopes us folks-I ain’t buying anything about this guy.
glovesave29
May 27th, 2010
11:23 am
Seems like others here did the same research I did. I cannot see how an independent film producer can afford to get into the high cash world of pro sports ownership. Love that he has a passion for the team and for the city…but this is biting off waaaaaay more than he can chew. To me, this would be means to an end – the end being the team being sold and moved out of town when he comes to the realization that he’s in over his head and he needs to get out ASAP.
JLH
May 27th, 2010
11:58 am
I wonder if Rollins is the grandson of Wayne Rollins, of Rollins Inc……. Atlanta based multi-millionaires, Orkin, etc….. Emory School of Public Health named after him…….
Malcolm Forbes
May 27th, 2010
12:03 pm
Well, who wouldn’t want to buy a team with ticket revenues of $600,000 per game, an average of 18,400 television viewers per game (8,000 households multiplied by 2.3 viewers/household), virtually non-existent merchandise sales, a track record of inability to re-sign players, a president who has made every personnel decision during the past 11 years, a scouting staff with one guy who has ever played the game at the professional level, a season ticket holder base just into four digits, a lease agreement with an arena 20 miles away from the geographic heart of its fan base, a flagship radio station that can barely be heard outside of that 20-mile radius, 15 other radio station affiliates and one major media outlet that covers nearly all of its games?
World Be Free
May 27th, 2010
12:06 pm
It would be cool if it were Henry Rollins; a grundge/metalhead rocker owner with a few tattoos. This other Rollins sounds too far fetched to have the jack to be an owner.
Schroeder
May 27th, 2010
12:43 pm
Back to Rawhide’s stick,christian bros and sher-wood,Nah,preferred KOHO or CANADIEN,Lighter, a little less whip.I found alittle more control and easier for quick wrister.Sorry to digress.Don’t think Mr Rollins has the scratch to pull that kind of trigger.Hope I’m wrong,sure would be nice to have a fan as an owner,instead of a bunch of dorky mindless cheapskates.
World Be Free
May 27th, 2010
12:47 pm
Schroeder, I liked Canadians too but I was never a fan of Koho; had most of my success with PMPs, real siff, never whippy. I like Jofas when they came out with the fiberglass reinforced inside the blade. They were tough to break, but they got real whippy after awhile.