Being radio voice of the Thrashers is an ‘honor’ for Dan Kamal
From the fall of 1999 to the final match of this past 2010-11 campaign, Dan Kamal has been in the radio broadcast booth helping to give voice to Atlanta Thrashers hockey. I recently had the pleasure of chatting with The Grand Kamlian about the team, coach Ramsay, what he remembers most from this past season as well as a few other things.
Not surprisingly, he tends to accentuate the positives.
“From the broadcast booth, I had one of my most enjoyable seasons ever, primarily because of the style of play the Thrashers employed under coach Ramsay and the effort with which they played”, he said. “The pace was up-tempo and often end-to-end, and even when they couldn’t find ways to win close games in the second half of the season, the effort and intensity were almost always beyond reproach.”
“It was a very fun team to watch on a game-by-game basis.”
Dan then pointed to the first two games after New Years…a 4-3 overtime win in Montreal followed by a 3-2 win in Florida…as the most memorable time during the season for him.
“To me the ‘high-point’ came in the first two games in January”, the native of Lawrence, Massachusetts recalled. “Following the theme of the first half, Dustin Byfuglien scored the game-winning OT goal in Montreal on the afternoon of January 2nd. After the game, the team flew immediately to south Florida for a couple of days of R & R before facing the Panthers on January 5th. The Thrashers won that game as well, 3-2 in regulation”.
The reason he considers this as the “high-point” had to do not only with where the team found itself in the standings, 22-15-6 for 50 points after 43 games played, but also because of how they had handled themselves during a very tough stretch in the schedule. At the time things looked very promising for Thrasherville.
“To me, the most grueling part of the schedule was done, and the team was proving to be one of the biggest surprises in the NHL”.
“Unfortunately, injuries were starting to take their toll, and the team didn’t seem to have enough depth to withstand them. Atlanta lost 11 of the next 13 and never really recovered long enough to go on the kind of winning streak needed to stay among the playoff-bound teams”.
But as I stated above, Kamal prefers to keep his focus on the positive, and he’s excited about what can be built upon the foundation that was set last season. One of the reasons for this optimism is because of Craig Ramsay. He gives him high marks for the job he did as a first-year head coach, especially given the turnover in on-ice personnel last summer.
“With so many new faces in the locker room, a new GM, and a new coaching staff implementing a new system, coach Ramsay and his staff were able to quickly meld this team into one of the league’s most productive through the season’s first half. When you consider he and his staff will go into next training camp with so much more familiarity with everything about the franchise – and likely some new roster pieces that address depth issues – it should bode well for more consistent results next season.”
“Hopefully, that will translate into Atlanta’s second playoff appearance”.
As for his plans between now and the next time he takes to the airwaves to broadcast the next Thrashers game in Philips Arena, this summer’s activities will be quite similar to the previous eleven before it in Atlanta.
“My plans for the off-season are pretty much the same as always. Whenever my schedule allows, I’ll be attending events and meetings on behalf of our sales staff, community relations staff, and the radio network. I usually get a chance to emcee at a number of fun events every summer, and that’s something I really enjoy.”
He also looks forward to spending time with his son Chris, a goalie at the University of Alaska Anchorage. And as any proud father would, he’s always more than willing to provide updates on his play and progress.
“He’s coming off a very solid freshman season, during which he started 15 games, compiling a record of 9-5-1. In his final 10 starts, he went 8-2-0 with three shutouts – all on the road – two against the University of Minnesota and the other at Minnesota-Mankato”.
In fact, Chris Kamal won WCHA Rookie of the Week honors last winter for the 1-0 victory over the Golden Gophers.
Also, as father Dan points out, “His UAA team made the WCHA Final Five tournament for only the second time in school history”.
Finally…as for the fans back here in Atlanta, Dan Kamal has always enjoyed the support he gets from Thrashers fans and being able to interact with them after games and events. He looks forward to continuing this relationship for years to come.
“I’d just like to say thanks to our fans. I truly believe in this city as a hockey market, and it’s my interaction with fans that serves as the foundation of that belief. In my 12 years with the organization, I have found Thrashers fans to be particularly knowledgeable and passionate and especially gracious to me”.
“It’s been an honor to have met and spoken to so many of them”.
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112 comments Add your comment
ron
April 30th, 2011
6:40 am
maybe he will consider moving to winnipeg when the thrashers move here next year…..you will love the city and people
don
April 30th, 2011
6:55 am
How many days have you been waiting for this to happen, Ron? Don says you ain’t gettin’ crap. Other than the crap that makes the city of Winnipeg what it is today. How many people shot overnight in this safe city?
World Be Free
April 30th, 2011
6:57 am
Dan is a great guy and a fine representative for the team. “Voices” are paid to be optimistic. Seems like he agrees with our contention that the team lacks NHL depth; we talked about that at the beginning and during the season. I hope he is part of the team’s future.
Last night’s playoff games were not that exciting for me, maybe it was the distraction of the NFL draft. Or maybe it was just not believing the stupidity of Lowe and McDowell for the Braves!
Mat"T"
April 30th, 2011
7:45 am
Can’t wait for next season to start!!! Dan has been a great constant in the turmoil of the last ten years. Always have enjoyed his highlight calls! Part play by play, part analyst.
Sonic
April 30th, 2011
8:00 am
I figured some random imbecile from the Great Blight North would chime in soon after Rawhide’s uplifting post and sure enough, that was the case. When Atlanta and Phoenix are each listed 82 times on next season’s schedule, seeing the fallout from that glorified village as its trolls spin their wheels will be the height of comedy and entertainment.
Go Thrash & ‘Yotes!
Glenn
April 30th, 2011
9:26 am
Sonic: I can totally understand you guys want to hold onto your team, but it is unnecessary and retarded to diss a country or city ( as you describe village) because of a few that just want to post to get you all riled up. They succeed every time. Suggestion: Ignore or at the very least respond to the indvidual and not attack where he is from. A good portion of your team are proud Canadians.
Portage and Main
April 30th, 2011
9:31 am
i heard the balkan is flying out of wpg!
Hoof Arted
April 30th, 2011
9:41 am
Glenn, sage advice. Good to have you along.
Portage & Main, you obviously heard incorrectly.
ZAvalanche
April 30th, 2011
10:48 am
I don’t have a problem with Canada, ‘Peg and about 99.9% of Canadians. I just don’t want you to have our teams. If you really had as much influence on the game you would have been able to pick a commish that wouldn’t have gone for the southern expansion. It has worked, mostly. Both Florida teams have had success, Carolina as well, now Phoenix too. Dallas had some very solid teams and you might be able to consider Colorado in that mess. Atlanta is doing better and making some strides – I hope. Yeah, they didn’t meet expectations but it must say something when top-flight players resign for multiple years.
ZAvalanche
April 30th, 2011
10:50 am
Oops, forgot Nashville as well.
Portage and Main
April 30th, 2011
11:08 am
ZAva… southern expansion has worked? ATL has lost over 150 million over 5 years, PHX just got a nice 25 million bill (to be paid monday) for losses worth 37 million, FLO (do i even need to go there) and the rest of the teams (maybe not so much NSH) have HEAVY freebies and poor revenue. Even with Tampa winning cup and doing well this year they are having financial problems.
ZAvalanche
April 30th, 2011
11:16 am
The problems with Atl and Phoenix are not defined by where they are. They are defined by either the initial contracts or the current owners.
Alan R.
April 30th, 2011
12:20 pm
ZAvs, don’t bother with these clowns. They’re not going to listen to the facts when it comes to “what went wrong,” all they want is a team. We know what went wrong, but when these folks are presented with facts, all they do is say “We’d support our team, no matter what!” Not with these guys as owners, you wouldn’t. I guarantee it.
R. Stroz
April 30th, 2011
12:26 pm
Since many of us take in a game at TJ’s every now and then, I thoughtsome of you might be interested in the link below:
http://www.groupon.com/deals/tjs-sports-bar-and-grill?c=dnb&p=2
Tom
April 30th, 2011
1:14 pm
I think that Elton John needs to head back into the city and re-record his song as “Winnipegian Dreaming” after reading the comments that keep showing up on this blog.
Tom
April 30th, 2011
1:18 pm
Portage – And Winnipeg had a team once. The commissioner begged someone in your city to buy the team. THERE WAS NOBODY WHO COULD OR WOULD! You guys lost it.
Now that there is someone you think having a team come back is your birthright? What happens when the 1 buyer possible decides he has to sell? The team will head back to an area that has capital available or they will shut it down.,,
Jason
April 30th, 2011
1:21 pm
I thought Kamal did color the first year and someone else did PBP? Scott Ferrall maybe?
Tom
April 30th, 2011
1:22 pm
Alan, great points. Pittsburgh did not support their team when they were down. Boston, New Jersey, and Buffalo did not either.
It was not until they became competitive did the fans come out. Atlanta will be the same way. This year the stands filled up in December when the team looked like it was a winner. There were people sitting all around us coming to see “their first game” because we were winning.
That is what happens. When people know that getting a ticket to the game will be difficult they pony up for season or partial season ticket packages. Just in case… When seats are always open it does not make sense to buy into a package.
All Atlanta needs is an ownership group that will step up and provide the payroll to seed a good team. The fans will do the rest when this happens…
Tom
April 30th, 2011
1:23 pm
Jason you were right, Ferrall was in the first year or two’s broadcast. Talk about an odd couple…
Rawhide
April 30th, 2011
1:55 pm
Jason – Yes…Kamal did do color in the first season and did some PxP when SF was out. He has done strictly PxP from second season on.
Sage of Bluesland
April 30th, 2011
2:09 pm
Completely overrated. I listen to less and less each year on the radio. I usually have to wait until period-end to find out basic things such as score. Also, the cute little ‘trill’ added to some names is amateurish–and that’s being kind.
However, all things considered, I’d say Kamal and the Atlanta Thrashers’ organization fit each other perfectly, indeed.
(Think about it)
Sage of Bluesland
April 30th, 2011
2:10 pm
….oh, and I am sorry to remember the heady-days of when Ferrell had anything to do with the broadcast….I’d rather listen to screeching cats…
Cornbread
April 30th, 2011
2:50 pm
More like this please:
“As for his plans between now and the next time he takes to the airwaves to broadcast the next Thrashers game in Philips Arena, this summer’s activities will be quite similar to the previous eleven before it in Atlanta.”
Keep rubbing the delusional relocators’ noses in it Rawhide. Oh Canada, No Team For You!
ZAvalanche
April 30th, 2011
3:37 pm
Pronger – stupid, stupid slash. This is the playoffs, get a hold of yourself man. Keep your temper and you could be up a man for 2 right now…..
ron
April 30th, 2011
3:47 pm
sorry, i never meant to rile anyone. please don’t say negative comments about a city you never have visited. it is a gorgeous place and lakes and forests so close by for fantastic summers. home of Neil Young, who loves the city too. we also getting a world class museum that will be the next Eifel Tower. Most parks within the city limits of any city in North America, etc. etc. And the winters and definitely not that bad….great 4 seasons!
Anyway, I was just following the strong rumours that the Thrashers are coming here and I just stated that the natural thing would be for the play by play guy to come along….so with the chances at 50/50 or even more they are coming why get so riled!?!
I don’t wish this to happen…..I just think the chances are good. But, best of luck to all you Thrasher fans in keeping them there….now just go to the darn games and pay the proper price and then profits will make them stay!
ZAvalanche
April 30th, 2011
4:02 pm
Nicely stated Ron. Never been to ‘Peg, but I am sure it is very pretty. Spent a lot of time in the Canadian Rockies, mostly Banff, Glacier-Waterston and the ‘Couve, and loved the people and the scenery. I hope you do get a team again some day, I just don’t want it to be one of mine
Thank you for not being an Uncle Milty…….
ron
April 30th, 2011
5:42 pm
this whole thing bugs me actually. That Bettman is a total wiesel. He is singlehandedly putting U.S. against Canada. He is also had this grand plan of putting all these teams way down south, into some areas where they do not belong. Atlanta is a good choice, I still think, but 3 California teams? If anything, Ontario should have 3 teams. I mean, this whole thing bugs me. Hockey is a winter sport and people are always saying Winnipeg is a deep freeze. Even if we are, don’t you think that if hockey should be anywhere it should be here. Come in the winter and see all the outdoor rinks and you will see that hockey is deep in our blood, much like baseball in the states. It just does not make sense that Florida has 2 teams and Quebec has 1???
Anyway, I had to vent a bit about how ridiculous this whole thing and the NHL is.
Alan R.
April 30th, 2011
5:54 pm
I have a friend who lives in Winnipeg. He sends me all kinds of photos of the city and surrounding areas. It’s really a beautiful city.
Some of the vultur…err… people there can get bent, but the place is really nice.
Brian west palm beach
April 30th, 2011
6:01 pm
Ron you do know we southerners hate neil young and his yank a?@ go post in the winny press.
hockeygoon79
April 30th, 2011
7:19 pm
I like Dan, he’s a real good guy. He can make an icing play sound exciting. He really has a passion for the game and it comes through in his work. We’re fortunate to have him.
So Portage and Main, how did that whole “Winnipeg taking Friday off to celebrate the big announcement” thing work out for ya? I bet you were one of the morons actually buying that sack-o-sh!t lies, weren’t you?
alex
April 30th, 2011
7:24 pm
simple true is: with asg in charge even relocation to suberia better, but new committed owners and atlanta pretty nice place for nhl team. will see.
ZAvalanche
April 30th, 2011
7:29 pm
Ron, I would argue that hockey is just as deep in my blood as any Canadian. I spend countless $$ on league fees, watch EVERY game I can (without being ejected) and during the Avs 2000-2001 season, I seriously watched or listened to every single game, all of them. I live and breathe hockey, and you are highly suspect if you think that Americans don’t like it as much as Canadians. So we tell the Japanese or Cubans or Dominicans that they don’t like Base Ball as much as we do? Nope, because it is good for the sport. Face it, if it weren’t for hockey in the US you wouldn’t be seeing it on tv. Before the new revenue sharing contract in the CBA a few years back every one of Canada’s teams were facing serious financial crisis. So spare me that hockey doesn’t belong in the south. Oh, and by the way, California can afford 3 teams – it has, by itself, the 5th largest GDP of any other country in the world. The NHL expanded to where the money was = smart business.
You wanna talk hockey, fine, I love talking hockey with my friends from the North, but don’t tell me we don’t deserve it.
ZAvalanche
April 30th, 2011
7:32 pm
On another note – that was a crazy game this afternoon. Didn’t see that coming at all. Turning point, in my mind, was Pronger’s slash – yeah, I know they scored on the 4-4, but they could have really made some more momentum out of a PP in that instance.
hockeygoon79
April 30th, 2011
7:42 pm
ZAvalanche, I actually thought the turning point in the game was when Philly skated Brian “Bobby” Boucher out on the ice to play in goal. 5 goals allowed on 23 shots, he was a train wreck.
In fairness, he’s been the better of the 3 goalies they have, but that just highlights the problems the Flyers have there. Boston will win this series if for no other reason than they have Thomas in the nets and Philadelphia has problems in the net.
ron
April 30th, 2011
7:49 pm
I never said the south do not deserve hockey…..especially Colorado! I said that it is absolutely ridiculous that Florida, Texas, California, Arizona etc have most of the teams…while Seattle, Portland, and some Canadian cities do not. The tickets “sold’ for those southern teams are pretty much giveaways after the 6-7000 attendance mark…and if not, they are sold for $20.00 or so. And those in attendance probably for the most part are Canadian snowbirds.
I know there are supremely knowledgable hockey fans in the States.
My point is, why does sport have to be all business? All about making more and more money and skyrocketing the salaries? Things were ok with our Canadian Broadcasting tv revenue and lower salaries. When there were way less teams and less of a milked down product….basically when the Colorado Rockies existed…that time period.
Why expand so much and see this type of team failures and dismal attendance to show the American public that hockey is the joke they should not be. ….where stands are empty and girl’s lacross gets better tv ratings in the southern states.
Nate
April 30th, 2011
8:49 pm
Ron – This statement is where you lose all credibility with me and most everyone else here, “where stands are empty and girl’s lacross gets better tv ratings in the southern states.”
That statement is moronic and has no basis in fact. It also doesn’t account for fans in any city (outside of Toronto) would be boycotting games too if they had to deal with the cheapness and lousy product delivered by the ownerships (particularly the Atlanta Spirit) of the southern teams. Only an idiot would throw his money away to see a piss poor hockey team on a regular basis. Would you really shell out $100 for a family of four on a regular basis to see a team lose???
glovesave29
April 30th, 2011
8:50 pm
Sorry Ron…not buying the apologetic tone of your latter postings. You came to our blog to gloat under the false presumption that you would take our team…and that we were all hockey novices and would not be able to make any salient points with regards to the greatest sport out there. Well you, like every other Winnipeg troll has found out quite the opposite. We have a very educated group down here. We know our hockey, and you were caught unawares and are now backtracking.
I have watched trolls first attack Penguins fans…then the Preds…now it is us and the Coyotes. Your fellow Jets fans have made quite a bit of noise…and do not think for a second the league and its players are not aware of this. I find it funny that you can trash every city in the south, yet when we fight back – or NHL players state they do not want to play in Winnipeg…the tears start falling. I HAVE been to Winnipeg. I was there to listen to fans at a bantam level game boo our national anthem. I saw fans throw coins on the ice when we were beating the pants off of you.
I usually ignore our trolls, but I am getting tired of this. You have the Winnipeg Free Press. Go to their blogs and leave us be.
ron
April 30th, 2011
9:28 pm
The tone of you people is pretty harsh,,,,”moronic” “idiotic” “trolls”. This is actually the first time I have written on an American blog or paper site.
I do know alot of American hockey fans are quite educated,,,,and I apologize for the behavior of the fans here.
And Nate….maybe I was taking it too far by saying girl’s lacross, I meant girl’s basketball….and that is a fact, that sports like that and dirtbiking are higher rated in the states than hockey. And you made my point that the product is too milked down and too many teams and that is why alot of people in deep south are not excited and the product of NHL not taking off and why $20.00 tickets are selling in places like Phoenix…probably why I am not too excited about having the NHL in Winnipeg.
ZAvalanche
April 30th, 2011
9:30 pm
Ron, I know you have gotten a bit of a beating from our regulars, and I understand why. I agree that the expansion happened a bit too quickly and totally agree on Seattle and Portland, off hand, wouldn’t a Seattle – Vancouver rivalry be awesome?
But……..You did intone that hockey didn’t belong in the south. I know Quebec City HATES Colorado for taking their team but we put out a better product, same as Cleveland HATES Baltimore for taking their football team. Kansas City hated it when their Scouts moved to Colorado to become the Rockies, and CO hated NJ when the Rockies moved to NJ. It is the way sports go – gotta have the $$ to make the team and if that isn’t working and there is no revenue then the team will move – because after all, it is a business. I wish it could all be about the game but that, frankly, will never happen again in North American sports.
ron
April 30th, 2011
9:50 pm
south meaning Florida, Arizona, California…..not Colorado, Cleveland, etc.
glovesave29
April 30th, 2011
10:00 pm
Doesn’t seem like the offer TOO MANY $20 seats to me…
http://coyotes.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=32965
You are offended by “troll”?…really? That’s a pretty common term for a fan of one team who posts on another teams site.
ron
April 30th, 2011
10:21 pm
shows how much I do these things….anyway, scalpers and restaurants, etc. were giving away tickets….and I think in the end the club just tried to fill Coyote arena by selling the tickets way less than the ticket site postings. I know so many people got their tickets for next to nothing.
hockeygoon79
April 30th, 2011
10:30 pm
“You are offended by “troll”?…really? That’s a pretty common term for a fan of one team who posts on another teams site.”
True, glovesave29. And the term is even more appropriate here when the troll is from an AHL market doing so on the site based an NHL market.
They won’t be around this summer when the schedule comes out and it shows the Thrashers still playing 41 home games in Philips Arena. But next winter they’ll return with new “rumors” from “unnamed sources” of an “impending relocation” and “day of celebration” that “certain to actually happen this time”.
It’s an annual ritual we go through.
But as was mentioned previoulsy, these trolls are really only here to rile people up. They are attention starved, sad, pathetic little creatures. They really deserve our pity.
Unfortunately though they have successfully managed to highjack what was a really good piece by the blogmaster on Dan Kamal. I know I appreciated it being posted for us. I think even Sage of Bluesland would agree on that point, even if he doesn’t care for Kamal’s call of the games.
Plus we are spending time “dancing with trolls” rather than discussing playoffs games and the Thrashers needs during the offseason.
ZAvalanche
April 30th, 2011
10:37 pm
Ron, I just call that good advertising. As I have said many time before give away free vouchers, especially to young people, and get them hooked. Restaurants giving away tickets makes it win-win-win for everybody. Fan gets to see the game, restaurant gets sales, team gets $$ from people buying concessions and they get a person that will return with a fully purchased ticket.
And as for hockey in the South, come visit and take a poll on who is originally a southerner, maybe 1 in 20. Most are from traditional hockey markets.
On another note, for some reason this Versus feed has a lot of issues for me.
ZAvalanche
April 30th, 2011
10:40 pm
hockeygoon – good point and I am guilty of being pulled away by the trolls. Blog Master – your post was fantastic, as always and I respect your work and I feel proud to have had the distinct pleasure to share a pint with you over the Thrashers-Ranges serious a few years back. You could teach a lot of other bloggers a thing or two about style.
ZAvalanche
April 30th, 2011
10:46 pm
In addition, I will say that I will protect my Thrasher Nation, even though it means messing with the trolls!
ZAvalanche
April 30th, 2011
11:09 pm
OMG, the first 5 mins of this 3rd period of the Nash-Van game is at a torrid pace!
ron
May 1st, 2011
12:02 am
noticed I have not been saying bad things about you but now another new set of words “sad, pathetic”. Also I thought you all believe in freedom of speach. Why am I not allowed to say things here? I think it brought good discussion.
I think the one thing we can agree on: Bettman’s experiment is a failure. We can also agree, I am sure, that Florida, Phoenix, maybe one or two other teams, should not be in business and that one more Ontario team (would be hugely successful) and one in Quebec(would be hugely successful) and Winnipeg are required, if only to help prop up the weaker teams that would be left that need the revenue sharing like maybe an Atlanta, or Aneheim. The Canadian teams are now propping up all the really weak teams now.
ZAvalanche
May 1st, 2011
12:20 am
Ron – I never called you “sad” or “pathetic”. And I disagree with the Canadian teams “propping” up the weaker teams. Out of 32 teams the Canadians have 5. I would surmise that the “monster” markets are pulling most of the weight and while the 5 Canadian teams pull good attendance , I doubt they are carrying the weaker teams by themselves.
Phoenix pulls very solid attendance but that isn’t their problem, it is the way the contract was set up. Florida I really don’t know much about so I don’t want to sound like an idiot saying something I don’t know. Perhaps our resident stat master, RL, can give us some #s on profit sharing.
Besides that, Nashville is playing the best game of their season. Rinne has been OUTSTANDING! This is the best game I have seen in the playoffs.
ZAvalanche
May 1st, 2011
12:44 am
Comment: Vancouver’s system is VERY well coached. There are other teams that you can argue have the same level of talent, but they rock it. I suppose the casual hockey person doesn’t notice the coaching effects, but those of you who know the game definitely recognize it. This is exactly why I am so impressed with Nash right now, they are hanging in there with a bad a$$ team. And guess who is at the front of Nash – Rinne. He is killing it tonight. Simply amazing. Glovesave = you gotta be loving this match.
jim
May 1st, 2011
1:00 am
How can anyone say Bettman’s “experiment” has been a failure? 30 teams,$2.9 billion in revenue,$2 billion TV deal,$350 million sponsorship deal with Molson Coors,record attendance the past few years.Yeah, Phoenix and Atlanta are trouble spots for now but what league doesn’t have clubs struggling at one time or another? Too much is made out of a couple of problem franchises by the overly negative Canadian media.A few years ago Nashville,Carolina,Tampa and Florida were struggling and look at them now.No reason the Atlanta Thrashers can’t be a sucess story once again.
jim
May 1st, 2011
1:02 am
“success story!”
R. Stroz
May 1st, 2011
1:11 am
Smashville Wins!
ZAvalanche
May 1st, 2011
1:48 am
Stroz – that was one of the best games I have ever seen.
Cornbread
May 1st, 2011
2:42 am
ron = Ignorant Bigot
Ignorant because you don’t understand economics nor business. Hockey moved from the minor league Peg to the Major League USA for one reason, money. Not just now but even more in the future. Hockey deep in the USA means growth and money. Hockey moving away from World Class American cities and back to the Peg – which most people in the World have never heard of – would be regression and a major failure of the game itself.
A Bigot because you feel that your people are more entitled or have more rights than others. You’re just like the “too cool for school” crowd who want the world to know how great their favorite music and band is until everybody does. Once other people start to take notice of the game, you want it back all to yourself or suggest that others aren’t cool or good enough to have a team.
Get over it dude. You have lots of hockey up there in your small cities (as you reminded us) to keep you occupied till the end of time. It’s time for others to discover this great game by moving to places where outdoor ice is not a necessity to play the game.
Red Light
May 1st, 2011
8:48 am
Day three of the conference semi-finals was punctuated by great goaltending and will to win (Rinne, Suter, et al.). Great game to watch and Vancouver had a ton of odd-man opportunities, but Nashville persisted throughout the game. Face-off dominance by the Canucks in Game 1 was turned around in Game 2, and that was very important enabling the Preds to attack all night. Great forechecking throughout the game.
A Philadelphia goalie never fails to throw in a clunker during the past two playoff seasons, but there was simply no excuse for getting outworked at home, and the Flyers most certainly did get outworked. The Marchand kid for Boston has been great and Kreci was a huge factor yesterday.
Tonight we’ll know whether or not the Caps will collapse again under playoff pressure. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if Tampa wins Game 2 and takes a 2-0 lead with them back home. And, I expect that if the Sharks go in the tank after winning Game One as expected that this will be a long series versus the Wings. But, it would be sweet for them going back to Detroit with a 2-0 lead. Detroit either blows them out or the Sharks win another thriller.
Red Light
May 1st, 2011
9:21 am
Get this…Rinne was the 30th goalie drafted in the 2004 Entry Draft (8th round, 258th overall) and the 2nd picked by the Preds that year.
Kulda suspended three games at World Championships
BRATISLAVA – On Saturday, in the Czech Republic-Latvia game, Latvian defenceman Arturs Kulda delivered a tough check on Czech defenceman Radek Martinek in the first period. Martinek fell to the ice and stayed there motionless until the medical staff carried him off on a stretcher.
The IIHF Disciplinary Panel reviewed the situation and decided to hand Kulda a three-game suspension on Sunday.
“The video showed Arturs Kulda jumping into the situation, hitting Martinek’s head and neck area,” said Jan-Ake Edvinsson, Chairman of the Disciplinary Panel.
Radinek was taken to a hospital where he was diagnosed with a severe concussion.
“The player has suffered a severe concussion and a severe bruise (hematoma),” said said Beat Villiger, the IIHF Medical Supervisor. “The CT scan showed no further injuries, but there is very little chance that he can play in the championship.”
Norway beats Sweden 5-4 in shootout; first win ever in 61 years.
Germans beat Russians for first time in 33 tries at World Championships.
World Be Free
May 1st, 2011
9:28 am
Here we are, one day removed from great hockey in Europe and North America. Rawhide pens yet another great article and he have to deal with some idiot troll from wherever north of the border. You guys are supposed to hte such great hockey fans.
Trolls-get this. This is a hockey blog, we (as suppposedly uneducated hockey fans) come here and talk hockey, share our passions for the sport 12 mos of the year, our dedication is unending. We don’t dump on anyone because we were mostly raised better than that. So I am not questioning you I an questionsing the integrity of your parents for raising you trolls to be such “ay” holes.
Come back, talk hockey and you will be welcome. But if you want to pollute the air go to Hamilton, Ontario where pollution is commonplace.
World Be Free
May 1st, 2011
9:32 am
Back to hockey, what an incredible game between Vancouver and Nashville. The Preds poured it on in the 3rd period, showing the kind of effort that come to be expected from the Preds. Barry Trotz is the most underrated coach in the game, there are no weak players on Nashville. This is the ultimated NHL team, backed by the best kept secret in hockey in Pekke Rinne. What a game, too bad I fell asleep late in OT! Too many beers last night, I guess.
Red Light, I think the Flyers emptied the tank against Buffalo. Broones are pretty healthy, have two backstops that are better than Philly 3 put together.
LAC
May 1st, 2011
10:05 am
I love how these “canada” fans, always go after teams in The South. New Jersey has poor attendence, as does NYI and lots and lots of empty seats in Detroit the past two or three seasons.
Why not go after them ? Who needs three teams in New York area anyhow ??? Boston was near THE bottom of the NHL recently in attendence… So you canada fans can STFU !.
You idiots DO NOT own the game of hockey, can you people even understand thqat ???????
Oh, a good number of empty seats in Calgary & Edmonton a number of times this past season as well ! So get off the issue. It is NOT lack of fan support, it is the STUPID LYING,
owners we are stuck with. That, is THE problem. Where are replacement owners who want to keep the team here and grow it into a winner. Tampa & Buffalo had no issues finding a new OWNER ???
So what is the problem here.
Lastly I have been to winnipeg, NEVER want to go back, city is fair at best, small and in the middle of NOWHERE !!!!!…. and I mean NOWHERE !
Great game by Nashville, a GOOD SOUTHEAST TEAM, beating that vancouver team last night, loved the moaning after the Winning Goal, Hope they get rid of vancouver and The Cup Stays in The U.S.A. where it Belongs !!!!!!!
ron
May 1st, 2011
10:09 am
now I am an “idiot and a bigot”. I was trying to have a good discussion here. I have never said anything bad to you and I have never indicated this is the Canada versus U.S. Just take it easy.
A non hockey point: too much of the world and people here and down in the States talk like life is the Supranos or some disgusting Reality TV show. Lets talk nice. I wanted to solve this situation and make the NHL a success.
The fact is that there are teams that are losing loads of money and they need help. I am the first to admit that I am leary of Winnipeg getting a team because of he crowds before….but the new potential owner is extremely smart and he has the backing of a 4 billionaire. There is the very strong dollar and the other complexes built around the outskirts that will draw revenue. Also he owns the building and all concession revenue to go along with it. None of this was there before. So times have changed.
Maybe some of these aspects are missing from the financially troubled franchises in the States. Maybe this is where Hulsizer could turn it around in Phoenix. I hope so.
I am not a bigot…believe me. If you knew me I have the utmost respect for Americans and people around the world (most anyway). Do not say things that are so attacking. Borders mean nothing. We are all one people…white, black, American, Canadian….
Anyway, as far as Bettman, yes he did well with the TV contract, I have to admit. Big reason why he is fighting for Phoenix to stay in….I think part of the deal.
I still think though that some franchises desperately need fixing and are for the most part, I read through US and Canadian media, are getting propped up for the most part by the successful Canadian franchises. That was different a decade or so ago. I don’t have the link to the stats but I think that it has to do with the TV revenue in Canada and the attendance revenue. There are full price admissions for all Canadian teams and no giveaways, for the most part.
Now for Phoenix, as an example, the attendance is not a disaster, but the ticket revenue is…..all due to the team just wanting to have a warm body in the stands. It can be good for marketing but it has not caught on. According to someone that wrote about this, he could not find anyone that paid more than $35.00 a ticket….and I think this was the playoff games. So this has to get fixed or there is no way that the team can turn a profit.
I think this is going on in Atlanta too….correct me if I am wrong. Maybe past a certain point: 8-10,000, the revenue plummets because of the low revenue per customer. Can this be fixed? I think so. I think the idea here is to charge less for the lesser known or desirable teams and charge more for a Toronto, Detroit, etc. Do you guys do that there now?
Basically, I want to fix all this and keep as much teams alive in the States as possible while creating a few more teams here.
Big point: but then there is a risk of watering down the product or keeping the watered down product: is this smart? It looks so far that it is part of the reason that some teams are failing….the lack of a few superstars on the team as apposed to one or two max. Everyone loves a few superstars….I think, especially in the States. To get the TV audience and fans out more.
Also, we have to not pay these bums so much money and the to such long term contracts. Maybe have a system like NFL football, where the contracts are not totally out of hand.
So anyway, I hope Atlanta can solve things and get in the profit situation and hopefully too, Winnipeg gets a team, although I am not too confident (some days I am too confident as you could tell by my first stupid post) Do I regret posting that first one?…in some ways yes, but it sure stirred up discussion and I met some nice friendly people
ZAvalanche
May 1st, 2011
10:23 am
WBF and RL – I really think that was the best game, and goal tending performance, I have seen all season. Whoever comes out of the East is going to have a handful, in my opinion. And I think Vancouver is very scary but Smashville impressed me a lot last night. I couldn’t tear myself away from the tv. Iwas bummed it was over, but then …….. wait! USA vs Austria! Lord I am tired!
RL – I think the reason Rinne was drafted so late is because the NHL scouts probably didn’t have a ton of access to him – but correct me if I am wrong on that idea. He was amazing last night. funny how even amazing teams feel like they can sit back when they are up. Nashville came out like a bull in a china shop, way out shooting Vancouver. Gotta give it to Luongo though, he played lights out as well and I bet he is sore as hell today.
Seriously the best game I have seen since the Gold Medal game.
As I said before, I have a hard time picking the SJ series, but I am still betting on the Big Red Borg.
Caps looks very vulnerable and confused in game 1. This will go one of two ways (obviously). Either the Caps will come out pissed off and rock it, or it is going to be very, very tight.
Brendan
May 1st, 2011
10:33 am
Trying to get the blog refocused from its tangent and back on to the topic of the Grand Kamalian, I don’t mind this voice at all. There are plenty of times when I’m still getting home from work … and have to turn on the radio to hear the 1st period. Kamal calls an exciting game. That’s for sure.
Now, not to be nit-picky, but when I do get home and review the broadcast … to relive the magnificent call by Kamal, the scoring chance wasn’t NEARLY as close as Kamal had called it. Does the Grand Kamalian “exaggerate” scoring chances? Yes. Yes, he does. But, it’s radio. It’s his job to be entertaining. Overall, I think he does a good job.
Switching gears, I admit it. I fell asleep. Vancouver was leading, 1-0, with 9 or so minutes left in regulation. I missed out on the double OT masterpiece that was the Predators big win. Yes!!! Series tied, 1-1. Love it. Go Preds! Just think, folks, one day … this could be us. Each win, from here on out, sets a franchise postseason record for Nashville.
Last, the Tampa Bay Lightning? Could we, should we, be talking about them as a possible Stanley Cup Finals entrant? I wouldn’t have thought so, back in preseason. I had the TBL and MTL battling it out for the 8th and final spot in the playoffs. I think I gave it to the Lightning. Okay, I goofed. TBL was a strong contender to win the SE Division, right up until the last three weeks, or so, of the season. Stamkos was drafted 1st overall in 2008. If we apply the “3 year rule,” to teams finishing DEAD LAST, then winning the Cup, TBL is in that mold to be a potential Cup Winner. They did it before, finishing DEAD LAST in 2001, winning the Cup in 2004. ‘Canes finished LAST in 2003, won the Cup in 2006. Chicago finished 2nd to last, won the Draft Lottery over Philly in 2007, then won the Cup 3 years later over Phlly in 2010. This is just how quickly a franchise can be turned around. I took the Capitals in this one. The Capitals are out of excuses, for not winning the East, or the Stanley Cup, with the roster, Coach, and GM that they do have. They have a ‘committed’ owner, too. Think about it. The conditions for Washington’s ascendancy to the SCF will never be BETTER than it is right now, with no Crosby, no Malkin, no Cinderalla ‘Canes or Habs… to ruin it for them.
ZAvalanche
May 1st, 2011
10:41 am
Ron – I agree that the contracts are a bit high. The arithmetic mean for the NFL contract is roughly 1.4 million, the NHL is roughly 1.9 million. But at the same time an NFL team has more than twice the number of players on payroll than the NHL does. But yeah, it is exaggerated in my opinion.
For any sport the attendance is mostly dependent on performance. It is up to the owners and GM to put a product on the ice. But this horse has been beaten badly already on this post, probably just a pile of meat at this point. We know the problems, we know the solutions and it is just a matter of getting it done.
Despite what some posters say, Thrashy isn’t a bad product. you don’t just “get lucky” and have a first half run like they did in this league. If they sucked as bad as many think they wouldn’t have had that run. Same with Colorado. Their seasons are mirror images.
As stated before, I hope you get a team, just not ours. Also, I don’t think the NHL is diluted talent wise. Watching these games proves that to me every time. People bash the 4th liners but honestly, can anybody tell me what they would do to you in your local league?
ZAvalanche
May 1st, 2011
10:45 am
Brendan – sorry you missed the rest of the game, it was a gem. And yes, I think TB is in consideration for a Cup finalist. As previously stated, they have one of the best first lines in all of hockey and it is showing. I wish them luck today and hope they roll Ovy (I think he is really arrogant).
Brendan
May 1st, 2011
10:47 am
Preds fans, teams that win Game Two go on to win the series moreso than the winners of ANY OTHER Game, between Games One and Six. Quite obviously, all Game Seven winners win their series, too. The Game Two winner’s series winning percentage always chances slightly, as the series are actually being played, but prior to the 2011 playoffs, it was 82.3 percent of the time Game Two winners go on to take the series. Last round? Game Two winners went 5-3. It would have been 4-4, but the Lightning came back from 3-1, to take the series over Pittsburgh, as a Game Two winner, to tip the balance to 5-3, for Game Two winners this year.
Brendan
May 1st, 2011
10:50 am
Pekka Rinne, what a game!!! Maybe the goaltending performance of the playoffs. Maybe.
ZAvalanche
May 1st, 2011
10:52 am
I agree, it was lights-out amazing. Roy-esque – perhaps
World Be Free
May 1st, 2011
11:01 am
ron-your first comment on this blog was similar to some of the other posts we have received from “fans” north of the border. What happens to this team is out of our control; it is a non-hockey issue so for the most part, I stay away from the subject.
Come here and talk hockey and you are welcome anytime.
Piss in our Cherrios and you are not welcome.
World Be Free
May 1st, 2011
11:09 am
It is a beautiful day in Atlanta, but I have to tell you guys, I am really looking forward to the Sharks/Red Wings game today. We finally get to see the Sharks in EST without having to worry about falling asleep during the game! This series is Joe Thornton’s big chance to show he is elite player. Big Joe has all the skills, but he has yet to show them in big post-season games on a consistent basis.
ZAvs and Brendan-what I like about Rinne is his ability to give and take in key situations. He gives you a corner then takes it away just as the shooter is going for paydirt. Big guy, moves well, has Vezina written all over him. The Canucks are getting a feel or what Luongo can do to other teams-get inside their heads! I watched Hasek do it for years in Buffalo, truly the sign of an elite goaltender. Good for Nashville, what a GREAT organization.
Finally-let’s go back to last summer. I chirped about Matthew Lomabrdi-looks like the Preds have been able to do it all along without him!
Also, I owe Marty St. Louis a huge apology. Last summer I chided the Bolts for giving him an extension, believing he was past his prime and not worthy of the extension. He has proved me totally wrong this season, stilll keeps ticking. Good for him.
ZAvalanche
May 1st, 2011
11:16 am
WBF – so true, Rinne is akin to a magician, such a tease. Can’t wait for the game today. And BTW, Hasek was amazing in Buffalo, I don’t think the Sabers would have beat the Stars in 7, but Brett Hull’s goal should have been discounted.
Brendan
May 1st, 2011
11:19 am
WBF, exactly right. On all counts. I want to get Glovesave29’s critique of both Luongo and Rinne in this series.
Hockey Central on Versus gave the goaltending edge to the Red Wings’ Jimmy Howard over the Sharks’ Niemi, who had a GAA of 4.0, coming in. Jimmy Howard has quietly impressed me. I never quite believed he was the heir apparent to Hasek, but … he has delivered for Detroit. No doubt about that. He’s not the Vezina talks, however.
World Be Free
May 1st, 2011
11:25 am
Brendan-I think Howard and Niemi are really good goalies, capable of winning games. But they are not the elite goaltenders that Rinne and Luongo are at this point. I still think in my gut that Ryan Miller will make his way to Detroit in 2 seasons to finish his career was a REd Wing, if the Sabres do not show improvement towards a Stanley Cup. Howard still does not have the full confidence of Red Wing management, in my opinion. Niemi is an upgrade over Nabakov, especially from a mental standpoint.
Zavs-Hasek was incredible in Buffalo. I remember one night he shut out of of Pat Quinn’s teams, winning a game on his own. Quinn later lamented “I knew we were in trouble from the outset because Hasek would not let anyone score on him in warmups”.
ZAvalanche
May 1st, 2011
11:27 am
I am going to preempt glovesave’s reply, the tending was amazing and Luongo should have had that last one.
ZAvalanche
May 1st, 2011
11:30 am
WBF, that is a good line! Hasek could steal a game any day of the week. He is no Roy, but definitely top 5 of all time. I lamented when Dallas won in the Finals, he played his a$$ off against a better team.
Amazing to see a keeper so big that can move like that. Roman Turek didn’t have it.
World Be Free
May 1st, 2011
11:42 am
Zavs-you wonder how many Cups Hasek could have won if he played in front of Roy’s teams. Roy is a jerk as a person too, Dom was a pretty nice guy especially to the kids. Not taking away from Roy’s accomplishments or greatness as a goaltender, but he’s not a guy you would sit down and have a beer with at a bar. I always hated that Statue of Liberty crap he pulled, save that for the NFL or NBA has no place in hockey. He could win Cups though!
Seeing all this great goaltending remonds me of maybe the greatest playoff golatender I ever saw-Bernie Parent. As good as those Fylyer teams were, there were no Stanley Cups in Philly in the 1970’s without Bernie. He was that good in front of a decent Flyers’ defense. They were not a great defense back then but Bernie made them great! Can’t forget Billy Smith too.
Joe McGrath
May 1st, 2011
12:10 pm
Something Ron isn’t considering is that hockey IS growing in the south evidenced by the likes of Tyler Myers (Houston) Blake Geoffrione (Nashville, and his two brothers, also Nashville youth hockey products are now playing NCAA division I hockey at U of Alabama-Huntsville) Jared Ross (Huntsville, Ala.) Vinnie Sapanori (Atlanta), etc. More players from youth programs in the south are making it to the top levels of hockey. I’m 45, and I believe by the time I’m 75 we’ll see many, many more NHL from the south.
World Be Free
May 1st, 2011
1:02 pm
Joe,part of ron’s problem (like other from Winnipeg) is that they have been brainwashed by the media that we know nothing about hockey, period. So there are no thoughts of the south having any upside when it comes to hockey.
This is all tough for me to say becuase I have friends (on this blog) and family from Canada. I think they would agree with me there though.
lemon drop the gloves
May 1st, 2011
1:08 pm
kulda hit did not look that bad. looked like he hit him shoulder to shoulder. he was probably disciplined for leaving his feet a bit and player being seriously injured.
Red Light
May 1st, 2011
3:44 pm
Like long home runs? Check this one out by the Mets Ike Davis…
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=14091437&topic_id=11493214&c_id=mlb
Cornbread
May 1st, 2011
4:11 pm
ron
April 30th, 2011
5:42 pm
“this whole thing bugs me actually. That Bettman is a total wiesel. He is singlehandedly putting U.S. against Canada. He is also had this grand plan of putting all these teams way down south, into some areas where they do not belong. Atlanta is a good choice, I still think, but 3 California teams? If anything, Ontario should have 3 teams. I mean, this whole thing bugs me. Hockey is a winter sport and people are always saying Winnipeg is a deep freeze. Even if we are, don’t you think that if hockey should be anywhere it should be here. Come in the winter and see all the outdoor rinks and you will see that hockey is deep in our blood, much like baseball in the states. It just does not make sense that Florida has 2 teams and Quebec has 1???”
You are an ignorant bigot.
World Be Free
May 1st, 2011
4:33 pm
Red Light-what a blast the “Pepsi Porch”-must be New York.
ron-it’s not Bettman pitting Canada against the U.S. The issue of expansion in the U.S. goes way back before Bettman, goes back to 1967 with Clarence Campbell. Bettman is just an easy target for the Candian media, who is the real culprit in the divide between the U.S. and Canadian hockey markets.
Remember, expansions have to be approved by the majority of wners, which includes Canadian owners. I have not seen any of the current Candian NHL owners balking at U.S. expansion.
Ontario deserves 3 teams-maybe, but not in Hamilton which is not a major league city. The Leafs will not allow a 2nd team in the Tronna market-is that Bettman’s fault?
Quebec City had an NHL and was given every opportunity to retain it and lost the Nordiques. Is that Bettman’s fault? Again, no. Don Cherry blames Bettman for EVERYTHING and you clowns just go along and agree with him.
Do you think NBC/Comcast would sign a billion dollar deal with the NHL depending on games between Winnipeg, Regina, Hamilton or Quebec City?
World Be Free
May 1st, 2011
4:37 pm
Ben Eager does it again!!!!!
ron
May 1st, 2011
4:55 pm
World- I never said anything like what you are saying (that people in the south know nothing about hockey). There is no doubt there are many people that know alot about hockey anywhere in North America. In the deep south, like the hotter climate States, I am not so sure there are enough of the knowledgable people to keep the teams alive. Like in Florida or Phoenix. A goos chunk of the crowds are transplanted Canadians, I would suspect. And once again, people in those States would rather watch women’s basketball or monster trucks or something like that, then hockey. That is proven….that the hockey ratings are way down the list and has not changed in those areas since the teams started. I wish they would.
Cornbread – why do you say I am a bigot? I said nothing to deserve that. I an quite the opposite if you knew me. I was just saying that another team in Quebec City (which would get 18,000 a night sellouts guaranteed) and another in Ontario (and yes Hamilton would get 22,000 a night guaranteed) would be a good move. Then take away Florida and Phoenix. You would have a much stronger league.
DWTOO
May 1st, 2011
5:23 pm
At least Uncle Milty posted and went away. ron’s like a boil on your posterior.
And remember WBF – “Only The Lord Saves More Than Bernie Parent”.
World Be Free
May 1st, 2011
5:26 pm
ron-a good portion of the people that live in the south are transplated Americans and Canadians. Add to this a sizeable number people Southern born and bred citizens that are excellent hockey fans. They have a passion for hockey, especially in Atlanta where we were screwed out of the Flames 30 years ago. People in Atlanta will come out when we have a team with a direction and long term plan. That has been missing here.
Can every southern city support their team? Probably not, but I am not certain what city would be the right destination for any relocated team. You have yet to address my repeated charges about the Canadian media, whose sole purpose is to brainwash Canadians into thinking this is all Bettman’s doing. CBC is notoriously anti-American in sports and politics.
“People in the states would rather watch woman’s basketball or monster trucks.” Really, ever see how many people watch woman’s basketball? Do we have Monster truck leagues? Pretty ignorant statement Ron. Ever check out the minor league attendance figures for hockey accross the US.? Toss in college hockey too.
Hamilton would get 22,000/night? Only if people from Tronna would embrace the team and that will not happen in Leaf Country. And what makes Hamilton an NHL town? Because they built that White Elephant, the Copps Coliseum 25 years ago without a commitment from anyone for an NHL team? Put the team west of Tronna and I would agreee but not in Hamilton.
Hamilton is a scum town.
Brendan
May 1st, 2011
5:48 pm
SJS now up, 2-0, on Red Wings. Howard should have stopped that one. Howard made up for it on a tremendous save on a 2-on-1 attempt. Dany Heatley just hit the goalpost. Sharks haven’t given up a goal in quite a while. SJ, with a win, would go up, 2-0, headed to Hockeytown. Home teams haven’t had a lot of success in these playoffs.
With road teams winning so much of the time, you might think that six of eight (6/8) lower seeds advanced. But, that’s not the case. Six of eight (6/8) higher seeds advanced. In both conferences, the # 5 seed advanced (TBL, Nashville).
World Be Free
May 1st, 2011
6:05 pm
Brendan-what’s the deal with Partick Marleau?
World Be Free
May 1st, 2011
6:10 pm
San Jose/Detroit
No reason to explain why the NHL is so much better than any sport! What a game, these teams keep going after each other!
Brendan
May 1st, 2011
6:20 pm
Not sure what you mean, WBF?
San Jose Sharks now lead series, 2-0, with a 2-1 win, to hold serve, at home. I suppose can look to stats to tell us what the winning percentage is of teams that go up, 2-0, in series. But I defer to the playoff rule. Which is? Doesn’t matter what the series score is … you must keep winning. No ‘pity points’ in the playoffs. Ask the Vancouver Canucks, who SURVIVED overtime of Game 7, after squandering a 3-0 series lead. You must … keep … winning. SJ has to be feeling good about themselves right now. But they’ve clearly won nothing yet.
Brendan
May 1st, 2011
6:25 pm
WBF, Marleau’s always had attitude, if that’s what you mean. If I’m Ron Wilson, the former Head Coach of the Sharks, and the Sharks take this Stanley Cup, then I do look at myself in the mirror and start to believe that there’s just something wrong with me. The Sharks are, essentially, the same team that he had, when he coached. Different goalies, perhaps. Boyle was there. Setoguchi was there. Thornton, Marleau, and Heatley were there. Clowe. Goc. The difference is coaching and goaltending.
That said, I’d hire Ron Wilson is two seconds flat, if I owned a lack luster hockey club, that’d never won a playoff game before. Ron Wilson has proved, umpteen times, that he can resurrect the dead of the NHL. Trouble is, he can’t take them to the promsed land. Something always goes wrong.
Nate
May 1st, 2011
6:29 pm
Ron – Sadly, you just don’t get it. Disappointing to say the least. You need to do lots more fact checking before you take offense to being called ignorant. It’s not an insult. It means you don’t know what you are talking about because the statements you are making have no facts to back them up. That’s the definition of an ignorant person.
World Be Free
May 1st, 2011
7:15 pm
Brendan-just talking about the series, how great the 2 games have been so far. I expect a great finish to this series. any combination of the 4 remaining teams in the west will make a great Western Conference final. Too bad I cannot stay up late and catch all the western games udring the week. Marleau just does not have the intensity to contribute during the playoffs. As for the team, the Sharks are older with a little more sense of urgency. Ron Wilson went pretty far with the Caps in the late 1990’s too but came up short. He and Lindy Ruff are not friends as a result of that series.
Nate-ron’s gets all his facts from the Canadian media. Scary
Brendan
May 1st, 2011
8:27 pm
Marleau hasn’t completely disappeared, WBF. He’ll be back. He’s the Captain, isn’t he? Or is that Thornton? Anywho … folks … Rawhide took the trouble to write a very nice blog on Dan Kamal. And roughly 50-percent of the posts have been about deflected conversation, if you follow. At what point, are we going to evolve as a blog, to ignore trolls and firebombers? When you engage them, you sink to their level. Don’t forget that. If someone calls you a lambchop, you ignore it, rather than defend yourself, vehemently, from the ridiculousness of the premise. Simple rules, really.
Now, we all divert conversations. This blog topic wasn’t about Vancouver vs. Nashville or Detroit vs. SJS, but it’s kind of understood that conversation about the playoffs will take place during all playoff blogs. Try to imagine that Dan Kamal is reading this blog, if it helps. Here’s your chance to praise him, tell him how much you’ve appreciated his work, chide him, or offer constructive criticism.
If ya want, talk about the CBA, the proposed cap for next year, or something hockey-related. If you let ‘outside parties, with agendas’ dominate the blog, we might as well bring Brian back. You know what to do. This blog is the best around. The more people learn how to handle these situations, the better it’ll become.
Brendan
May 1st, 2011
8:30 pm
Trixie, a little help? And by the way, that French maid outfit is extra filly today! I like it!!
Brendan
May 1st, 2011
8:31 pm
frilly, even.
R. Stroz
May 1st, 2011
8:33 pm
ZAvs – I agree, that was an awesome game. Go Smashville.
Michael Uggs The Beast
May 1st, 2011
9:56 pm
Just for the record, I loved the Thrashers and watched pretty much every game for the past 8 years or so..up until the point where Kovy got traded..the wow players have all been traded and for what to show for it? I say move the damn team outta here, so we can spend all our money on the hawks..born and raised in Atlanta and I want to see a freakin championship, no more of this bologna crap trashers
ZAvalanche
May 1st, 2011
9:58 pm
Tampa!!!!!!
Tom Lysiak
May 1st, 2011
10:05 pm
I wouldn’t spend a flipping dime on the Hawks whether the Thrash stay or move to Timbuktu. Watch them get swept by the Bulls. Hope so for the owners sake…..
Tom Lysiak
May 1st, 2011
10:13 pm
So the Devils are going to hire Ken Hitchcock? That seems like a marriage made in heaven……old Grumpy and #17.
Brendan
May 1st, 2011
10:41 pm
Vinny Lecavalier wins it for the Lightning, who nearly choked it away, with 1:07 left. Ovechkin, with the goalie pulled, evened it up. Washington didn’t deserve to win this game. TBL had a weird carom goal, off a defender, for their 1st goal. But still, you gotta bury your opponent. Not let them hang around all game. What did Washington do … to deserve to win? They barely scored, at all.
So, now here’s the deal. There are five games left in this series, with 3 of them in Tampa, with the Bolts only needing two more wins, home or away, to take this series. If the Caps lose this series, it really, truly marks significant failure for their franchise.
In 2008, the Capitals trailed the Flyers, 3-1, I believe. The Capitals rallied all the way to overtime of Game 7, but Mike Knuble won it for the Flyers. The camera panned to the owner, Ted Leonsis, who didn’t look too happy. In 2009, the Capitals found themselves in the position that they are in now, trailing 2-0, after two home losses, to the NY Rangers. Caps split the next two games in NYC. But then, the Capitals rallied to take the series, 4-3. In the next round, Ovechkin faced Crosby and Co, and it appeared to be headed for a sweep. Up 2-0, Game Three went into overtime. Kris Letang won it for Pittsburgh, to avoid going down, 3-0, to the Capitals. Penguins won the next two games, and the Capitals salvaged Game Six in overimte, but lost Game Seven, convincingly. Ouch. Up, 2-0, the Capitals didn’t close. Game Three was right there for the taking. Silver lining? The Penguins did win the Cup. In hindsight, that makes the failure slightly more bearable.
So, that brings us to last year. Capitals got up, 3-1, on the Montreal Canadiens, but failed to close. The only saving grace? The Habs knocked out the Penguins, too.
What’s it all mean? Capitals better win. It’s all fine-n-good to win division titles. But that’s not what it’s all about. Ask Braves fans, too. Winning the SE Division 4 years in-a-row doesn’t mean squat, when your teams is built for a Championship, with back-to-back # 1 seeds, and a President’s Trophy, too. Someone has to answer for that. Boudreau? Probably. GM McPhee? Probably saves his job for another year, perhaps. Ted Leonsis, the owner, expects to win a Cup. Me, personally, I wouldn’t fire Boudreau or McPhee. But there needs to be an internal statement that this is the last year for no consequences for failure to reach the Finals. I always say, ‘try, try again’ if you’ve really got the horses to get it done. Build that window of opportunity. But really, the Tampa Bay Lightning has not been anywhere near the contender that the Capitals have been, for the past 3 seasons.
It’s about accountability. This series isn’t over yet. But for Washington’s season to end with handshakes in the CSF … is pretty disappointing for their club, and their owner, who has spent good coin for a winner. He shelled out $124 million for Ovechkin. I don’t think he wanted Southeast Division Title banners for the rink.
Tom Lysiak
May 1st, 2011
11:20 pm
I guess my earlier post was put im timeout. I’ll try again:
I see New Jersey is hiring Ken Hitchcock. Looks like a marriage made in heaven…..old Grumpy and #17.
Red Light
May 1st, 2011
11:31 pm
I think the Caps are finished. Soft as Charmin between the ears.
World Be Free
May 2nd, 2011
5:28 am
Michael the Atlanta troll-you can spend your money where YOU want to; commit to the Hawks? Brendan, you are correct about the lack of attention to subject and Dab Kamal sure deserves the commitment from us. Trolls like Michael are just cowards anyhow, no guts.
I agree with Red Light, Caps are finished. The truth of the matter is they just do not have alotta past Ovie’s line, at least not the kind of talent to get to the Stanley Cup Final. R/L has pointed out the play of the Bolts’ third line, which may be the best 3rd line of the remaining playoff teams. Washington’s defense has not played that well either while Victor Hedman is maturing before or eyes. Eric Brewer is fitting in nicely in Tampa; will be interesting to see if he resigns after the season.
Red Light
May 2nd, 2011
7:51 am
IF Tampa Bay wins this series and goes on to beat Boston or Philadelphia in the conference finals, they would be the first team to miss the playoffs the prior season and then advance to the Stanley Cup Finals since both Carolina and Edmonton did it in 2006. They finished 12th overall in the Eastern Conference last season, and thus would qualify as the team with the biggest one season turnaround in the standings since 1990 to appear in the Finals.
The new owner Vinik took over March 3, 2010, and Yzerman was hired May 25, 2010. His assistant GM for the Norfolk Admirals, Julien BriseBois, was hired July 16, 2010. His director of pro scouting, Pat Verbeek, was hired in June 2010, as was head coach Guy Boucher. The two assistants, Lacroix and Raymond, not until July.
So, basically in the span of four months, they re-tooled the entire front office, hockey operations and coaching staff, and signed free agents Kubina, Clark, Thompson, Bergenheim, Gagne and Moore, and then acquired Bergeron, Roloson and Brewer during the season. Not a single “new” player was offered a contract longer than two years.
So, my question for the panel is:
If the Lightning go to the Stanley Cup Finals, or even just advance to the conference finals, is this one of the greatest turnaround seasons by any franchise that you can remember since you began following the sport?
sisu
May 2nd, 2011
8:05 am
how sad it is to hear all this “water downed” product of the NHL, I guess it is so because many players come from Europe and Russia? I mean really, the population goes up each year, more kids play hockey now than ever before so why could it not be enough for talent? We are seeing the 2 to 3 minute players disappear who used to only be able to fight, now they have to contribute by chipping in on a goals and better skill. I think the NHL is just fine talent wise, not all teams can win all the games right?
World Be Free
May 2nd, 2011
8:06 am
Red Light-maybe the biggest turnaround and proof that smart UFA pickups can compliment a team that already had some good talent as a base. The Bolts made long term commitments to their players; the fact they came back so quickly is proof that it can be done with the right management. Whoever decided to sign Bergenheim should be given a raise. Stamkos’ fast track development has been pretty important too.
Sonic
May 2nd, 2011
9:15 am
Will you look at that, another weekend goes by and the Thrash have yet to leave ATL under the cloak of darkness to congregate with the morons from Manitobleh. What a shock.
Good point about the Bolts, Red Light. For the first time since the Torts years, they have an identity again and it starts at the very top and permeates the entire organization, in Tampa and in Norfolk. That overall commitment to excellence is obviously what’s lacking with the Thrash. Everything starts with that and, as we’re seeing down there, the fruits of that labor can be seen in pretty short order.
Boucher was the man that I really wanted to coach the Thrash and I had a sneaking suspicion at the time of his hiring in Tampa that we were going to regret passing on him. Sure enough, not only did the Bolts sweep the season series this year, but they’ll be a force to be reckoned with in the Southeast for years to come.
Hopefully, ATL gets its act together and soon.
Rawhide
May 2nd, 2011
11:20 am
This is your official 10-minute Ranallo warning. New blog to be posted at 11:30 am.
ZAvalanche
May 2nd, 2011
11:55 am
I believe Washington is going the way of Osama Bin Laden…………..
Moe
May 4th, 2011
9:13 am
The worst thing for Washington now is that Boudreau is actually considering sticking in Varlamov in Game 4. Neuvirth is not the issue, its Backstrom, Backstrom, Backstrom. If he sticks Varlamov in cold, the series will be over in 4.