NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told Reutersnews agency on Tuesday that he doubts the NHL will go to the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. Bettman stated that going so far away would put pressure on the players, the schedule and the fans.
It appears to us that Bettman is using the Olympics as a bargaining chip in an effort to get the Russians to agree to a player transfer agreement between the Russian Hockey Federation and the NHL. The lack of an agreement, which would give both sides an agreed upon amount when a player leaves Russia to play in the NHL, has halted the Russian pipeline to a trickle. The Russians are the only country in Europe that has not signed an agreement with the National Hockey League and it is preventing some stars such as Alexei Cherepanov (who should have been a top five pick in the 2007 Entry Draft and fell to 17th, one reason being the uncertainty of a transfer agreement) from entering the NHL.
It will be interesting to see how quickly the NHL agrees to go to the 2014 Olympics once a transfer agreement is in place with the Russians.

Posted by Michael Finewax at 03:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As the NHL passes the quarter mark of the season, Atlanta and Washington have already changed coaches and Dallas has fired its General Manager.

It appears that the next team in line to change its management is the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs have not made the playoffs since before the NHL lockout of 2004/05 and despite being the highest valued franchise in the league, they won't make it again this year.

GM John Ferguson Jr. seems to be the one on the hot seat. The Maple Leafs refuse to rebuild their team with good young talent; they would rather spend big money on off-season deals that give them veterans that they do not need or whose best years are already behind them. The Maple Leafs have Mats Sundin and a bunch of third and fourth line players at best, while their defense, where they have spent a lot of money (Bryan McCabe, Tomas Kaberle, Pavel Kubina and Todd Gill) are weak and have a lot of trouble getting the puck out of their own end, never mind defending it. Their goaltending is also in shambles, as any fantasy player knows.

The Toronto Maple Leafs need to blow up their team like the Philadelphia Flyers did last season. They may have to wait closer to the trade deadline, but then they must trade Mats Sundin to a Stanley Cup contender and get a very good prospect or two and a first round pick. Then consider trading Darcy Tucker because he has value, and if possible, Bryan McCabe, although he does have a no-movement clause.

John Ferguson Jr. must be fired and then an interim GM put in to start putting this plan in place. They probably can't turn it around as quickly as the Flyers have, but you have to start somewhere.

Posted by Michael Finewax at 09:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A month ago I wrote that fantasy players should be patient when it comes to their players and poor starts, especially their best players. I used the example of the Experts Hockey Draft and the first round had produced eight players off to okay to very good starts and seven players that were struggling. Here were their stats as at October 17.

Continue reading "Patience pays off" »

Posted by Michael Finewax at 07:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The 20-year-old Setoguchi has scored seven goals so far this season, six of which were assisted by Joe Thornton. The former WHL scoring star has meshed beautifully with Thornton and is blossoming in much the same way Cheechoo did a few seasons ago. If you think Setoguchi is a flash in the pan, take a look at his scoring totals in the WHL. In two seasons with Saskatoon and one with Prince George, Setoguchi scored 105 goals in 189 games, or .56 goals per game. He’s the real deal. You better claim him before its too late.

Posted by Brian Rosenbaum at 11:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I was just wondering what Erik Cole has to do to score a goal. In his last three games, he has fired 25 shots at the enemy net, including 10 so far tonight against the Panthers, without scoring once.

At the other end of the spectrum, Jiri Hudler has taken only 11 shots on goal in the Red Wings' last six games, and has scored four goals.

Sooner or later this will even out, but it just goes to show you that in the short term, hockey is a funny game.

That is why we at Rotoworld usually preach patience and discourage rash roster moves involving proven veterans and untested rookies.

Posted by Brian Rosenbaum at 09:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Saturday is the Hall of Fame game in Toronto and Monday is the induction of Mark Messier, Ron Francis, Scott Stevens, Al MacInnis and Jim Gregory to the Hall. That is all well and nice but I still cannot believe that the Hockey Hall of Fame has not put Team Canada 1972 and the 1980 United States Olympic hockey teams in the Hall of Fame. There was no greater moment in Canadian sports history than Team Canada’s triumph over the Soviet Union in 1972, and the same goes in 1980 for the United States when a bunch of college kids wearing the American jersey, beat the vaunted Soviet team, 4-3, almost two weeks after losing to the same squad 10-3 in an exhibition game at Madison Square Gardens. Both Game 8 of the 1972 series and the penultimate game of the 1980 Olympics have gone down as the greatest games ever in hockey history. The Basketball Hall of Fame got it right this year as the 1966 Texas Western team was voted into their Hall of Fame. Texas Western won the NCAA title (and was really made famous by the movie “Glory Road”) under head coach Don Haskins, who had the courage to start five blacks, at a time when playing more than two was considered something you just didn’t do in the Deep South. If basketball is smart enough to recognize the accomplishments and the importance of Texas Western’s season as a team, then surely hockey should be as smart as both victories brought their respective nations closer together. Hockey legends were created in both years and Paul Henderson and Mike Eruzione deserve to be in the Hall, along with all their teammates.

We are now at a time when hockey can use as much publicity as possible. Can you imagine if both teams went in together how much interest there would be in the United States. The NHL could have both teams play an exhibition game against each other and I know that Canadian and American television would definitely play it up big.

Come on Hall of Fame. Get it right.

Posted by Michael Finewax at 09:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Going into fantasy hockey drafts this season, there were three players who were teetering on retirement (or had actually announced their retirement), but fantasy players were still choosing them in their pools. The three players were: Teemu Selanne, Scott Niedermayer and Peter Forsberg.

Selanne and Niedermayer were contemplating retirement shortly after winning the Stanley Cup in June. Neither player has yet to make a decision on whether or not they will return. Both players were taken late in the middle rounds of fantasy drafts where it seemed like a good place to take a chance.

Forsberg was a different story in that he had been injury-prone for years and wanted to make sure that he was healthy enough to return before selecting an NHL team to play for. He was selected in most pools behind Niedermayer, but ahead of Selanne.

It's now a bit more than a month into the season and Peter Forsberg appears to be the first one to make his decision. He left the ice on Monday in Sweden after re-injuring his foot and it looks like his Hall of Fame career will be over. I'm sure he won't announce his retirement immediately, but he does not want to take an NHL's team money while he is hurt so it is doubtful that he will sign this season.

Niedermayer and Selanne should make their decision by the beginning of the New Year. I would think that if the Ducks are struggling, both players would not be interested in returning as they both want a shot at another Stanley Cup if they do return. However, if the Ducks turn their season around, look for both Niedermayer and Selanne to return, a la Roger Clemens.

Right now it appears that the Forsberg selection will be a wasted one, but Niedermayer and Selanne could still return, making their late selections a possible late season gold mine for fantasy owners.

Posted by Michael Finewax at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I try not to be reactionary when a player is either slumping or playing above his head. However, I must tell you I am a little concerned about two veteran stars who may be nearing the end of their productive years as NHL players. Doug Weight and Mike Modano have for many seasons been offensive leaders on their respective teams. This season it seems that Father Time has caught up to both of them.

Despite the fact that Modano is chasing Phil Housley's American-born player scoring record, the pivot seems to have lost his swagger. The deterioration of his skills is evident.

Weight is even in worse shape. Without a record to chase, he looks lost with and without the puck. He is centering the Blues' second line because he can't be trusted to play anywhere else.

I hope I am wrong. I hope that Modano and Weight are just taking a bit longer than usual to warm up.

I just want to put those of you who are certain that they will recover on notice.

Please don't hold your breath waiting!

Posted by Brian Rosenbaum at 11:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)