The Rise of Anaheim and the Fall of Minnesota

After an 2-11 November here is the Anaheim Ducks' record after the first two months of the season: 6-13-4, 16 points: Second to last in the West.

On that same day the Minnesota Wild sat at 14-7-3, 31 points: First in the West.

On Sunday, both teams were in action, with the Ducks defeating the Blackhawks and the Wild defeating the Sharks:

ANA 3 CHI 1
MIN 4 SJ 3

Now, three months later, Anaheim sits at 27-25-10, 64 points; 13th in the West, and Minnesota has fallen to 28-25-9, 65 points; 12th in the West.

Analyzing each squad's roster shows that each team were early surprises, with Anaheim's lackluster start and Minnesota's stunning rise to the top of a historically talented and deep Western Conference.

Taking a look at the roster of the Anaheim Ducks, they have some pretty recognizable names:

C Andrew Cogliano
C Saku Koivu
C Ryan Getzlaf
LW Bobby Ryan
RW Corey Perry
RW Teemu Selanne
D Cam Fowler
D Lubomir Visnovsky
G Jonas Hiller

With all the prominent names on offense like Selanne, Getzlaf, Perry, and Ryan, in the beginning of the year defense was the problem with the Ducks, allowing over three goals per game.  Additionally in the first two months of the season, Anaheim allowed four or more goals in a game ten times.

Anaheim has now won seven of their last ten, with two of those losses in shootouts, and in those ten games that Ducks have allowed two goals or fewer in nine of those ten.  Coincidence? I think not.

Taking a look at Minnesota, they almost have the complete opposite story: quality defense and goaltending, but a week offense.  Through 27 games on December tenth, the Wild had only given up four or more goals five times and sat alone at the top of the Western Conference.

After 4-1 victory against the Coyotes on the tenth, the Wild would proceed to lose their next 15 of 17, scoring a combined 20 goals in those 15 losses.

Now the prognosticators can sit pretty as both teams, whose first two months were unexpected, on opposite ends of the spectrum at that, and now both teams are closer to where they were expected to be at the beginning of the season.

Thats the NHL for you, in a league that when compared to the other three major sports more lower seeded teams in the playoffs have upset higher seeded teams in the playoffs.  Hockey is chaos and the Ducks and Wild have showed that this season.

Jeff Carter Heading to the City of Angels

Well Rick Nash may be staying put after.

Disgruntled Blue Jackets forward Jeff Carter has been traded to the Los Angeles Kings for Defenseman Jack Johnson and a conditional first round pick in the 2012 and 2013 Draft. 

With Johnson, GM Scott Howson acquires a player that is young, talented, and established in the League, and the first round pick satisfies the draft pick desire that he would've wanted from a potential Nash trade.

Carter had been a overall disappointment for Columbus, recording 15 goals, 10 assists, and 25 points while have a -11 plus/minus rating in only 39 games due to various injuries.  At the onset of his arrival in Columbus Carter was vocal in his lack of a desire to play for the franchise that has been historically underachieving and appeared to be stuck in a state of mediocrity.  Prior to his half a season with the Blue Jackets, Carter was a three-time 30 goal scorer with Philadelphia which prompted them to sign the 27-year-old to an eleven year deal through the 2021-2022 season.  However, following the Conference Semifinal loss last season to the Boston Bruins, the Flyers upper management decided to make significant roster changes, shipping Carter to Columbus and captain Mike Richards to the Kings.

Now in L-A Richards and Carter will be reunited to help an offense that has averaged a league low 2.05 goals per game, but the Kings roster certainly does not lack the talent.  The Kings top six forwards will now include:

Jeff Carter
Mike Richards
Anze Kopitar
Simon Gagne (when healthy)
Dustin Brown
Dustin Penner

Now thats not a bad top two lines if you ask me.  What LA now will need to prove, assuming Carter does improve the struggling offense, is if the defense can play well enough to get them in the playoffs.  Goaltender Jonathan Quick was an all star this season, and now former top-five pick Drew Doughty and veteran Rob Scuderi will be asked to anchor the back line for LA.

But for a quick moment lets take a glimpse at how this trade affects Carter's former teammate Rick Nash.  Howson now will the need the perfect offer, and I mean perfect, to trade his two most talented players within days of eachother.  That's from the upper management's perspective.  Now if I'm Rick Nash, that trade sends me a very specific message: this team (Columbus) is still rebuilding, still unsure of the direction they want to go in.

If I'm Mr. Nash, and I'm approached by Howson with an offer to go to a playoff team, I give him a hug, say thank you, and get the hell out of Columbus.

Nash Sweepstakes Update

News broke last night of the San Jose Sharks possibly being an interested party for the services of Rick Nash.

GM Scott Howson reportedly asked for last season's Calder Trophy winner for Rookie of the Year, Logan Couture, but that was immediately shut down by Sharks GM Doug Wilson.

Rick Nash does have a no trade clause, so ultimately he will have to agree to any deal that Howson agrees too.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/blogpost.htm?id=6736

Here's TSN's trade rumor update as of this morning:
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=388513

NHL Trade Deadline Approaching

The NHL trade deadline can lead teams to championships.

See the play of Rich Peverley and Chris Kelly for the Bruins during last years Stanley Cup run.

But its not too often were a marquee talent gets shopped around so publicly, and this year we have that with the apparent departure of Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets.  The Blue Jackets have been mired in mediocrity since their inception to the league in 2000.  In 2003 the Blue Jackets traded up to the first overall pick to select Nash, who has been far and away the franchises best player recording 278 goals, 250 assists, and 528 points.

Historically Nash has not had the best talent to play around, his best teammates including Sergei Fedorov, RJ Umberger, and Antoine Vermette.  The Blue Jackets have only made the playoffs once in their twelve year existence, finishing in eighth place in the Western Conference, but they lost to the top-seeded Detroit Red Wings in the first round 4-0.  That season the club was led by rookie goaltender Steve Mason who provided the squad with a 2.29 GAA (goals against average), yet since the season the netminder has never had his GAA finish below 3.00.  Nash finished that year with career highs in assists and points.

Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson was active this offseason in trading Jakub Voracek to the Philadelphia Flyers, along with a couple draft picks for all star forward Jeff Carter, but the move has not paid off, leading to Nash's name being floated around to multiple teams.  The expected contenders for the power forward's services include the New York Rangers, LA Kings, and the aforementioned Flyers, and Howson is asking for one primary roster player, two prospects, and a high draft pick in return for Nash.  Here's what each of those teams have to offer:

Rangers: Michael Del Zotto; The third year defenseman has an offensive fair to his game with thirty points and has a fantastic plus/minus at +28.

Kings: Jack Johnson; In terms of need the Kings may have the most need for Nash, falling out of the top eight spots in the West, including having been shut out in their past two games.  However the Kings may have the least to offer, but Johnson is a proven young top-line defenseman in this league who would join a club who historically has never had a great defenseman in his prime.

Flyers: James Van Riemsdyk, Sean Couturier, Sergei Bobrovsky; The Flyers may have the most to offer with three, young, talented players and also have been rumored of including a first round pick in this package.

If the Flyers are willing to give up that much, and Howson has the confidence to pull the trigger on a deal that may bring negative fan reaction, then Philly clearly leads the way.  Anything can happen in a week's time though, and that's the great excitement of the NHL trade deadline.

BC 3- BU 2 OT INSTANT CLASSIC

Having trouble uploading this video directly here but check out the full highlights from BC's 3-2 victory over BU in overtime.  Simply put, a classic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6Q1h5AMmBI&feature=player_embedded

Credit to Hockey East Online for the great video

2012 Beanpot

Sports fans in Boston always have the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, or Celtics to root for.  However, for two weeks in February, the professional sports teams take a backseat to one of the most storied college athletic championships of all time.

Thats right.  I'm talking about the Beanpot.

In one of the most underrated and under appreciated College Athletic events outside of New England, the Beanpot is a tournament between Boston College, Boston University, Harvard, and Northeastern that is played over a two week period with week one being the semifinal games and week two consisting of the consolation game and championship game.

Now in recent years the tandem of Boston College and Boston University have dominated not only the Division One Hockey landscape, acting as the LSU's and Alabama's of their sport.  Additionally Northeastern and Harvard have never met in the Beanpot final.  Either BC or BU has always advanced to the final round.  Take a look at the most recent victory for each school:

BC: 2011
BU: 2009
Harvard: 1993
Northeastern: 1988

As has become the norm the eighth ranked Eagles and the fourth ranked Terriers once again meet in the championship game.  Regardless of how the tournament has become skewed in terms of competition, this tournament must never, and in my opinion will never, lose the grace that it carries because it connects directly with the city of Boston and the faithful Bostonians.

Growing up in Boston, and in a hockey family, I remember always watching these games with mt father and other family and its a memory than many Massachusetts children hold with them.  Unfortunately the Beanpot has lost some of its national shine that it had in its early days, and I wish that more people would appreciate its history, importance, and pure competitive spirit that it brings on of each collegiate athlete that play for the four participating schools.  Hockey players choose of of these four institutions simply to have an opportunity to play in the Beanpot.

Now if that doesn't attract you to the game of hockey, or sports in general, I don't know what will.


Here's some related links for everyone to check out:
http://insidecollegehockey.com/5Polls/1112/polls_1020.htm


http://www.beanpothockey.com/

Photo credit:
http://www.nutmeghockey.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/beanpot-2011.jpg

The next Winter Classic will be held at the football stadium at Michigan University, "The Big House," on January 1, 2013 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings.

The Red Wings and Maple Leafs are two Original Six Teams, and it is the first Classic that will include two of the NHL's first six teams.

Check out these links for more information:
http://www.blogger.com/goog_807008709


http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/14549/nhl-dreaming-big-for-2013-winter-classic