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Is Jordan Staal A Bust?

1 Nov

By: Riley McGuire

With 207 points in 381 games Jordan Staal has already made quite a name for himself in the NHL.  He has been to the cup finals twice and even has his name on Lord Stanley’s ultimate prize.

Staal currently has a career high of 49 points (in 08-09, 09-10).  On paper all of these statistics and accomplishments sound wonderful, but I believe it is safe to say, Jordan Staal has been one of the biggest disappointments in the 2006 NHL Draft.

Coming into the 2006 NHL draft, Staal was projected to be a very similar player to his brother Eric, with a slightly less offensive touch and a better defensive prowess.  With Pittsburgh loaded at center (with a developing Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin) Staal was relegated to third line duties and had an extremely successful with 29 goals including 7 shorthanded markers.

With major hype surrounding Jordan Staal in his sophomore season he fell extremely flat scoring a grand total of 28 points which is a monumental failure of a season.  When comparing his rookie year and sophomore season,  Staal scored more goals in his first year than points in his second.

via NHLSnipers.com

With almost identical seasons in year three and four (49 points),  Staal hadn’t ballooned into his start of his prime, at least as fast as his brother Eric did.  In his 5th season Jordan had a decent start (30 points in 42 games) but injuries knocked him out for the rest of the year.  This season Jordan has been playing very good (compared to his previous statistics) and has 9 points, which includes six goals but is already battling injury problems.

Drafted second overall, I thought it would be fun to compare Jordan to those who, in my opinion have been more successful in his draft class;

  1. Niklas Backstrom – 89 goals, 335 points in 332 games.
  2. Johnathan Toews – 119 goals, 274 points in 313 games.
  3. Erik Johnson – 23 goals, 107 points in 236 games.
  4. Phil Kessel – 138 points, 263 points in 385 games.
  5. Claude Giroux – 57 goals, 165 points in 219 games.
  6. Milan Lucic – 67 goals, 158 points in 288 games.
  7. Jordan Staal – 101 goals, 207 points in 381 games.

There are also other players that can be argued to be in above or the same class as Staal such as Nikolai Kulemin, Chris Stewart and Steve Mason.

All in all, considering his incredible inconsistency and not having a breakthrough year Staal has been (at least in a position) somewhat a bust.

Sean Avery Getting Called Up To The Rangers?

31 Oct

TSN.ca is reporting that Sean Avery will be placed on re-entry waivers with the hopes that he will unclaimed and will be able to play on Thursday when the New York Rangers play the Anaheim Ducks.

Are The Edmonton Oilers For Real?

30 Oct

One of the questions that has frequently been asked in the first month of the NHL regular season is; are the Edmonton Oilers for real?

With the worst record in the NHL over the past 2 season, this years Oilers squad is proving more and more with each game that this won’t be the case for the third straight year.

Edmonton is currently sitting third in the West with a very impressive 6-2-2 start with a game tonight against the St Louis Blues.  A lot of people would immediately give the credit for the fast start to the ‘young kids’ of the team. While, Eberle, Hall and Nugent-Hopkins have by no means hurt the team, they are not the only source of success for the team.

Everyone knows the Oilers can score goals, but one thing they have not had in years is a proven goaltender who is going to win you those tight games when you need it. Before the season began, it looked as though it would be a battle in the crease all year between Nikolai Khabibulin and Devan Dubnyk. Dubnyk started the season off by playing in the Oilers season opener, and while he was solid in a 2-1 win against the Penguins, Khabibulin got the next start against the Wild. Edmonton lost that game 2-1 in the shootout, but Khabibulin was very impressive in the loss. Once Dubnyk stumbled in a loss to Vancouver (Nugent-Hopkins with a hat trick in the game), Khabibulin took control of the crease and has not looked back since. In 6 games this year, Nikolai Khabibulin has yet to lose in regulation, posting a 4-0-2 record with a .964%, and 0.97 Gaa, which are both good for first in the league. It’s still very early, but the Oilers are getting something from Khabibulin, that they haven’t seen since they acquired him from the Blackhawks in 09.

Not to just single out the goaltending of the Oilers, but that’s the area of their game that everyone figured was once again going to be terrible and lose them a lot of games because of it.

The offence has also been a huge part of their success, with Hall, Eberle, Nugent- Hopkins, Horcoff  and the newly acquired Smyth all playing to their expectations and more. With Gagner and Hemsky set to return at anytime now, the Oilers are looking real solid heading into November and beyond. It’s not fair to say the goaltending has to continue to be the best in NHL for Edmonton to make the playoffs, but it has to continue to keep them in the game at all situations, and the offence will take care of themselves. But the question will continue to go on, until the Oilers get back into the playoffs were they once controlled in their heyday.

The question is… Are they for Real?

Ranking the 2012 NHL Prospects: 46-50

10 Oct

Riley McGuire will be ranking the top 50 prospects in the 2012 NHL draft through the coming weeks, without further adieu:
46. Name: Chandler Stephenson
Position: Left wing
Team: Regina Pats
League: WHL
NHL Comparison: Michael Cammalleri

All though extremely raw, Chandler Stephenson has potential to be a top player in this draft. his hockey I.Q is off the charts, and he possesses a very unique skill set. He’s not the biggest player in the world, but he isn’t scared to get rough. He came up flat in his first year with the Pats (7 goals in 60 games) but is off to a nice start this season with 5 points in 6 games. Any team looking for a project forward who could be a top six forward, Stephenson would be an excellent selection.

47. Name: Brandon Magee
Position: Center
Team: Victoria Royals
League: WHL
NHL Comparison: Brian Gionta

With a lot of small players, Heart is a term that is constantly thrown around. Magee is pure heart. The scrappy 5’7 center isn’t scared to fight and has a nice offensive touch. All though he can be physically outmatched Magee will never give up. He’s a very good glue guy, a lot of teams could use him.

48. Name: Cody Ceci
Position: Defense
Team: Ottawa 67′s
League: OHL
NHL Comparison: Anton Babchuck

A solid two way defenseman, Cody Ceci is off to a blazing start this year. In 7 games with the 67′s Ceci has 2 goals and six assists. Ceci is slowly developing into an extremely reliable defenseman, and has become an excellent penalty killer. The only thing missing from Ceci’s game is physical play, if he can incorporate that into his game, he could end up being a diamond in the rough.

49. Name: Marek Langhamer
Position: Goaltender
Team: HC ČSOB Pojišťovna Pardubice
League: Czech Extraliga
NHL Comparison: Johan Hedberg

Lagenhamer was a lone bright spot for the 2011 Under-17 World Championships Czech Republic team, going 1-2 with a 2.80 GAA and a .900 SV%. All though he’s very athletic; a big criticism of Lagenhamer is his slight build, weighing in at a small 165 pounds for his 6’2 frame. If he can add some weight he may be able to slip into the first round.

50. Name: Michael Matheson
Position: Defense
Team: Dubuque Fighting Saints
League: USHL
NHL Comparison: James Wisniewski

Smooth skating defenseman Michael Matheson has taken a unsual root to the USHL. Rumored to be the number one pick in the QMJHL Matheson opted to play one year with the Dubuque Fighting Saints. All though offensively gifted, Matherson has a lot to learn defensively. Through 38 games last year with the Lac St-Louis Lions (LHMAAAQ) Matheson has 14 goals and 24 assists. Matheson has committed to Boston College in 2012.

Cammalleri Reportedly Out Two Weeks

9 Oct

Montreal Canadiens forward Mike Cammalleri will reportedly be out for the next two weeks with leg lacerations from an injury that he received in tonight’s game against the Winnipeg Jets reports Dave Stubbs of the Montreal Gazette via Twitter.

Pierre-Marc Bouchard Suspended

9 Oct

Pierre-Marc Bouchard was suspended for two games for high-sticking Columbus Blue Jackets forward Matt Calvert according to Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet via Twitter, here is video of the high-stick:

The Beasts of the NHL East:

6 Oct

The Eastern Conference that could be making some noise in the upcoming season due to many transactions or lack there of:

The Favorites

Boston Bruins- It is never easy to repeat a championship. But if anybody can do it, it’s the Bruins. The Bruins are led by their Fish-out-of-water mentality goaltender and reigning Vezina winner Tim Thomas. Minus the deadline acquisition Tomas Kaberle and add in streaky power forward Benoit Pouliot and defenseman Joe Corvo and this is the team that will try to repeat the feat. The Bruins will be hoping for breakout years from second overall pick Tyler Seguin and hardnosed Brad Marchand who both shined in the playoffs. If Tim Thomas has one more trick up his sleeve, Zdeno Chara can continue to torture the NHL and the offense led by Lucic, Krejci and Horton there could be no stopping a repeat.

Washington Capitals- If there is anybody with a chip on their shoulder this year it is Alexander Ovechkin and his Washington Capitals. The Capitals have become the new San Jose Sharks of the NHL. The Capitals had a great regular season (finishing 1st in the east) but then having a quick exit from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Another impact player who could be playing for a lot more is Alexander Semin, after being called out by multiple former teammates. Some big arrivals should help their chances signings of veteran defenseman Roman Hamrlik, 2 way grinder Joel Ward and the biggest name goaltender on the free agent market Tomas Vokoun. They lost notables such as Scott Hannah and Eric Fehr. The Capitals are looking even scarier, if Backstrom, Oveckhin, Semin can deliver, Vokoun can hold the fort, and defensive studs Green and Carlson can be a threat from the blue line there the cup could be finding its way to the white house.

The Surprise

Buffalo Sabres- the surprise team from the east is the Buffalo Sabres. With All Star Ryan Miller, Myers signed being the cornerstones of this franchise and a new owner who doesn’t seem to be afraid to pay to be competitive. Expect big things to come of the small market Sabres, huge pickups in breakout player Ville Leino and offensive minded defenseman Christian Ehrhoff add to an already gritty hardworking team. This team could turn heads this year, if Miller stays healthy and Myers can returns to his rookie campaign numbers. There could be a lot to cheer about in Buffalo.

Dark Horse

Tampa Bay Lightning- The dark horse team is the Tampa Bay Lightning, who gained plenty of experience in last year’s playoffs. They were within one game of going to the Cup finals, and now the Tampa Bay Lightning seemed to be poised to take their success to the next level. They have one of the brightest superstars in Steven Stamkos firing on all cylinders, along with veterans Martin St. Louis and Vincent Lecavalier.  There was not much off season action in Tampa, notable signings of Bruno Gervais and Matt Gilroy to help the back end, while Mathieu Garon will share the workload with aging veteran Dwayne Roloson. Out of the picture are Sean Bergenheim, Simon Gagne and Mike Smith.  Yzerman has put together a great team with many important pieces can add to their success. If Stamkos can continue his pace, Lecavalier and St. Louis can defy their aging bodies, Victor Hedman can be the player that can hit, score and kill penalties and some solid goaltending. The sunshine state could be very happy.

The Retooler

Philadelphia Flyers- The times have changed in the city of brotherly love. The bright lights of Philly decided to say goodbye to long time fan favorites Mike Richards and Jeff Carter, they acquired an equally potent players in return including Jakub Voracek, Wayne Simmonds, highly regarded prospect Brayden Schenn and Columbus’s first round pick which turned out to be Sean Couterieur.  Other notable departures were Ville Leino, Kris Versteeg and Nikolav Zherdev. The moves for the Flyers did not stop there they also went out and got two huge free agents in Ilya Bryzgalov and the return of Jaromir Jagr. This new look Flyers team is will now be led by ageless, fearless and newly appointed captain Chris Pronger. The defensive back end is strong with solid Braydon Coburn, Andrej Meszaros. The offense will be run by the two new superstars Claude Giroux and James Van Riemsdyk. Both players are coming off career years and are looking to take their game to the next level. If the Flyers can count on a good season from veterans Jagr, Pronger and Brierre, along with scoring from from Simmonds, Hartnell, Voracek, Giroux and Van Riemsdyk and if Bryzgalov is the savior in net that the Flyers have needed since the days of John Vanbiesbrouck, the Liberty Bell could be ringing in celebration of a Stanley Cup win.

The Disappointment

New Jersey Devils- from first to worst, a tale of the New Jersey Devils, we didn’t know how much Martin Brodeur meant to the Devils until it was too late. When he went down with injury last year, so did the any hopes of the Devils making a strong playoff push. Last year was a huge year for the devils signing Ilya Koalchuk to a huge 15 year contract that in stride changed the rules of the NHL bargaining system. Sadly, he did disappoint last year only amassing 60 points over 81 games. Other than the hiring of new bench boss Peter DeBoer, the Devils did not make many moves this summer, hoping that last year was just a small stepping stone in the great things that the Ilya-Era will do. Zach Parise will also be back after missing all but 13 games of last year’s schedule. One notable pickup for the future was getting 2nd ranked Swedish Adam Larsson who has made the opening day roster for the Devils and could be an offensive stud. If the Devils can stay healthy this year they could have a solid year but if age and injury has its way they will be drafting high again next year.

Nugent-Hopkins Makes Oilers Team

3 Oct

First overall pick Ryan Nugent-Hopkins made the Edmonton Oilers out of training camp reports TSN.ca more details to follow.

Eric Nystrom: Going Wild

11 Sep

Growing up Eric Nystrom was always used to having Hall Of Fame type talent around him.

“I’ve met pretty much all of the Islander greats.  Potvin, Gillies, Smith, Arbour, Bossy, etc.  I am very fortunate to have met them all.  They are truly champions!

The Minnesota Wild forward says that despite growing up in the household of a legend, his dad Islanders great Bob Nystrom, he wasn’t forced to play hockey.

“He let me find my own way, but was always there to give me great advice.”

Watching his father, Eric eventually grew more in love with the game; he cheered for the Islanders growing up.

“I loved the Islanders. Pierre Turgeon, Ziggy Palffy, Pat Lafontaine were all my favourite players. My biggest influences for me, aside from my dad, were Bob Mancini and Mike Eaves at the US National Team Development Program as well as red Berenson at the University of Michigan.

While his dad didn’t necessarily push him towards hockey, he was always a big influence for Eric.

“He [Bob Nystrom] was a huge influence.  He taught me a lot about the game and what the words “hard work” means.”

After the Syosset New York native played in the USDP, he completed four successful years at the University of Michigan. Nystrom recognized that it was vital to graduate from University.

“It was very important [to graduate] because I realize that there is life after hockey.”

After his four years at Michigan, Nystrom was eventually drafted by the Calgary Flames tenth overall in the 2002 NHL entry draft. He went on to play three seasons with the Flames.

“It was an amazing experience; I had no idea where I was going to end up.  I am so happy I had an opportunity to play in Calgary. It was truly a great hockey city.”

NHL.com

Nystrom recalls that the best moment in the Flames organization was getting to play in front of the “C of Red,” while a low point was missing the playoffs during 2009-2010 season.

After playing in arguably Canada’s most crazed hockey market, Nystrom signed a three-year deal with one of America’s most hockey crazy markets, the Minnesota Wild.

“I’m so lucky to have been given the opportunity to play in two amazing hockey markets.  Minnesota fans are extremely knowledgeable and passionate, just like Calgary!”

Nystrom says that the teams interest in him was vital to him signing with the club.

“They just expressed a very strong interest in me as a player that was actually quite flattering.  They really made one of the toughest decisions in my life fairly easy.”

Nystrom, despite just scoring four goals in eighty-two games last year expects big things from the team. The Wild made big trades, such as acquiring Dany Heatley, and have also hired former Houston Aeros  coach Mike Yeo.

“I expect it to be a great season, with some new faces and an energized squad.  Coach Yeo is going to be excellent for us as well.”

We wish you luck Eric.

Wade Belak Found Dead

31 Aug

Tim Baines of the Ottawa Sun has reported that Former Leafs enforcer Wade Belak has been found dead in a downtown Toronto condo. He is the third NHL tough guy to pass this summer, joining Derek Boogaard and Rick Rypien.

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