It's been getting easier in the past 10-15 years to hear direct influences of Pearl Jam's newer songs, from the b-side Down sounding like a less-distorted version of AC/DC's You Shook Me (All Night Long); many people hear a Talking Heads influence in their latest video out today, Dance Of The Clairvoyants, but if you keep in mind The Heads have also influenced modern bands like Arcade Fire, you might also detect an eerie similarity to the Montréal band's own Reflektor:
Don't get me wrong, I'd rather they wear their influences on their sleeve and be true to it in their hearts, it's just that the Rock And Roll Hall Of Famers are clearly on a path where they are a lot less ahead of the curve than when they led the rock world.
Sure, with Gigaton, a record that dives head-first into political messaging and the urgency of global warming, their message is still on point, but the the edge no longer cuts.
Director Ryan Cory does a good job of merging the band's energy (and the track's dance-ability) with images of the earth's beauty and strength. Notice how guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament - essentially the band's founders and co-conspirators since the mid-1980s in Green River, then Malfunkshun and Mother Love Bone - have switched instruments, with Gossard playing (and having come up with) the bass parts and Ament carrying his axe like a rockabilly twanger.
They're no longer reinventing rock, but at least they're reinventing themselves. And the song's pretty good, too!
Friday, February 7, 2020
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
The Best Meteorologist In Canada
Poor judgement? Probably.
Poor taste? Possibly.
Hilarious? Not quite, but almost. (or, as proven in the video, yes, if you know the guy):
Unicorns are people, too.
Poor taste? Possibly.
Hilarious? Not quite, but almost. (or, as proven in the video, yes, if you know the guy):
Unicorns are people, too.
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
NHL Preview 2019-20: Calgary Flames
(This year again, I will twin-post with my Collectibles Blog and write
about a player who is related to my Preview post here. Today, it's Winnipeg Jets star forward Johnny Gaudreau).
GM: Brad Treliving (since 2014). 6/10
Coach: Bill Peters (since 2018). 7/10
2018-19 record: 50-25-7, 107 points (1st in Pacific Division, 1st in Western Conference).
Playoffs: Lost in the first round to Colorado in five games.
Departures: James Neal (G), Curtis Lazar (C), Mike Smith (G).
Arrivals: Milan Lucic (LW), Brandon Davidson (D), Cam Talbot (G).
Top forwards: Johnny Gaudreau (80-105 points), Sean Monahan (70-85 points), Elias Lindholm (65-80 points), Mathew Tkachuk (50-70 points), Mikael Backlund (40-55 points), Michael Frolik (35-45 points), Sam Bennett (40-50 points), Derek Ryan (30-35 points), Milan Lucic (15-20 goals, 30 points).
Must-improve forwards: Lucic has been a highly-paid ghost for two season; Bennett can remain in the middle-six with a 40-point production.
Top defensemen: Mark Giordano (40-50 points, captain), Noah Hanifin (30-35 points), T.J. Brodie (30-45 points), Travis Hamonic (25-30 points), Rasmus Andersson (20-35 points), Michael Stone (10-15 points).
Goalies: David Rittich (83/100), Cam Talbot (78/100).
Top prospects: Jusso Valimaki (21 years old, D, 2017 first-round pick), Jakob Pelletier (18, LW, 2019 first-round pick), Martin Pospisil (19, RW), Dmitri Zavgorodny (19, C), Dillon Dubé (21, C).
Analysis:
The Flames are a tremendous hockey team, and while I'm not sold on their coach (see last year's playoffs for when strategy and/or psychological help could have helped pure talent overcome a harder-working opponent that wasn't nearly as deep), I'm willing to give him anotehr season before throwing him under the bus.
But the Flames have a very strong defense, top-5 in the league, and a lot of very good forwards, led by the 99-point Gaudreau. You can't afford to squander too many of these star players' prime years on poor coaching and semi-solid goaltending - ask Jarome Iginla, who only got to one Stanley Cup Final despite having the best goalie in the world on his team for five straight years.
Prediction: 2nd in the Pacific Division, 4th in the NHL.
Coach: Bill Peters (since 2018). 7/10
2018-19 record: 50-25-7, 107 points (1st in Pacific Division, 1st in Western Conference).
Playoffs: Lost in the first round to Colorado in five games.
Departures: James Neal (G), Curtis Lazar (C), Mike Smith (G).
Arrivals: Milan Lucic (LW), Brandon Davidson (D), Cam Talbot (G).
Top forwards: Johnny Gaudreau (80-105 points), Sean Monahan (70-85 points), Elias Lindholm (65-80 points), Mathew Tkachuk (50-70 points), Mikael Backlund (40-55 points), Michael Frolik (35-45 points), Sam Bennett (40-50 points), Derek Ryan (30-35 points), Milan Lucic (15-20 goals, 30 points).
Must-improve forwards: Lucic has been a highly-paid ghost for two season; Bennett can remain in the middle-six with a 40-point production.
Top defensemen: Mark Giordano (40-50 points, captain), Noah Hanifin (30-35 points), T.J. Brodie (30-45 points), Travis Hamonic (25-30 points), Rasmus Andersson (20-35 points), Michael Stone (10-15 points).
Goalies: David Rittich (83/100), Cam Talbot (78/100).
Top prospects: Jusso Valimaki (21 years old, D, 2017 first-round pick), Jakob Pelletier (18, LW, 2019 first-round pick), Martin Pospisil (19, RW), Dmitri Zavgorodny (19, C), Dillon Dubé (21, C).
Analysis:
The Flames are a tremendous hockey team, and while I'm not sold on their coach (see last year's playoffs for when strategy and/or psychological help could have helped pure talent overcome a harder-working opponent that wasn't nearly as deep), I'm willing to give him anotehr season before throwing him under the bus.
But the Flames have a very strong defense, top-5 in the league, and a lot of very good forwards, led by the 99-point Gaudreau. You can't afford to squander too many of these star players' prime years on poor coaching and semi-solid goaltending - ask Jarome Iginla, who only got to one Stanley Cup Final despite having the best goalie in the world on his team for five straight years.
Prediction: 2nd in the Pacific Division, 4th in the NHL.
Monday, September 30, 2019
NHL Preview 2019-20: Winnipeg Jets
(This year again, I will twin-post with my Collectibles Blog and write
about a player who is related to my Preview post here. Today, it's Winnipeg Jets star defender Dustin Byfuglien).
GM: Kevin Cheveldayoff (since 2011). 7.5/10
Coach: Paul Maurice (since 2014). 7.5/10
2018-19 record: 47-30-5, 99 points (2nd in the Central Division, T-4th in the Western Conference).
Playoffs: Eliminated in Round 1 by the St. Louis Blues in six games.
Departures: Jacob Trouba (D), Kevin Hayes (C), Tyler Myers (D), Ben Chiarot (D), Matt Hendricks (C), Marko Dano (LW), Nic Kerdiles (LW), Brandon Tanev (RW), Joe Morrow (D), Par Lindholm (LW), Bogdan Kiselevich (D).
Arrivals: Gabriel Bourque (RW), Neal Pionk (D), Mark Letestu (C), Anthony Bitetto (D).
Top forwards: Mark Schiefele (80-85 points), Blake Wheeler (75-90 points), Patrik Laine (65-75 points, 40+ goals, hopefully), Kyle Connor (55-70 points), Nikolaj Ehlers (60-65 points), Bryan Little (40-50 points), Mathieu Perreault (45-50 points), Jack Roslovic (35-45 points), Adam Lowry (25-35 points), Andrew Copp (20-30 points).
Must-improve forward: used to be regarded as a potential second-liner, but now, on his fifth team, he mans the fourth and plays around 13 minutes per game.
Top defensemen: Dustin Byfluglien (50-55 points if he plays), Josh Morrissey (35-45 points), Dmitry Kulikov (20-35 points), Nathan Beaulieu (20-30 points), Neal Pionk (20-30 points), Ville Heinola (20-25 points), Tucker Poolman (10 points), Anthony Bitetto (5-10 points).
Goalies: Connor Hellebuyck (89/100), Laurent Brossoit (80/100).
Top prospects: Ville Heinola (18, D, 2019 first-round draft pick), Kristian Vesalainen (20, LW/RW), Logan Stanley (21, D, 2016 first-round draft pick), Andrei Chibisov (26, LW/RW), Leon Gawanke (20, D), Sami Niku (22, D), Luke Green (21, D).
Analysis:
What team can overcome losing two-thirds of its regulars on the blue line and three left wingers? The answer should be "none", but the Jets have the resources to try, with elite forwards like captain Wheeler, Scheifele and Connor, elite-to-be sniper Laine, and one of the best supporting casts on forward in the game. Unfortunately for them, all but one (Tampa Bay Lightning) of those deep-at-forward teams play in the West: Vegas Golden Knights, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators.
The Jets also have a Vezina-worthy goalie in net to help alleviate losing the likes of Trouba, Myers and Chiarot, but no one in the NHL can replace a Byfuglien should he choose to retire. That is one roster move that will certainly hurt Winnipeg's chances of advancing in the playoffs, and could even be big enough to have them miss the post-season dance altogether.
Needless to say, I came up with these in late August when Big Buff was still slated to be at his usual position on the back end:
Prediction: 5th in the Central Division, second Wild Card in the West, 15th overall.
Coach: Paul Maurice (since 2014). 7.5/10
2018-19 record: 47-30-5, 99 points (2nd in the Central Division, T-4th in the Western Conference).
Playoffs: Eliminated in Round 1 by the St. Louis Blues in six games.
Departures: Jacob Trouba (D), Kevin Hayes (C), Tyler Myers (D), Ben Chiarot (D), Matt Hendricks (C), Marko Dano (LW), Nic Kerdiles (LW), Brandon Tanev (RW), Joe Morrow (D), Par Lindholm (LW), Bogdan Kiselevich (D).
Arrivals: Gabriel Bourque (RW), Neal Pionk (D), Mark Letestu (C), Anthony Bitetto (D).
Top forwards: Mark Schiefele (80-85 points), Blake Wheeler (75-90 points), Patrik Laine (65-75 points, 40+ goals, hopefully), Kyle Connor (55-70 points), Nikolaj Ehlers (60-65 points), Bryan Little (40-50 points), Mathieu Perreault (45-50 points), Jack Roslovic (35-45 points), Adam Lowry (25-35 points), Andrew Copp (20-30 points).
Must-improve forward: used to be regarded as a potential second-liner, but now, on his fifth team, he mans the fourth and plays around 13 minutes per game.
Top defensemen: Dustin Byfluglien (50-55 points if he plays), Josh Morrissey (35-45 points), Dmitry Kulikov (20-35 points), Nathan Beaulieu (20-30 points), Neal Pionk (20-30 points), Ville Heinola (20-25 points), Tucker Poolman (10 points), Anthony Bitetto (5-10 points).
Goalies: Connor Hellebuyck (89/100), Laurent Brossoit (80/100).
Top prospects: Ville Heinola (18, D, 2019 first-round draft pick), Kristian Vesalainen (20, LW/RW), Logan Stanley (21, D, 2016 first-round draft pick), Andrei Chibisov (26, LW/RW), Leon Gawanke (20, D), Sami Niku (22, D), Luke Green (21, D).
Analysis:
What team can overcome losing two-thirds of its regulars on the blue line and three left wingers? The answer should be "none", but the Jets have the resources to try, with elite forwards like captain Wheeler, Scheifele and Connor, elite-to-be sniper Laine, and one of the best supporting casts on forward in the game. Unfortunately for them, all but one (Tampa Bay Lightning) of those deep-at-forward teams play in the West: Vegas Golden Knights, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators.
The Jets also have a Vezina-worthy goalie in net to help alleviate losing the likes of Trouba, Myers and Chiarot, but no one in the NHL can replace a Byfuglien should he choose to retire. That is one roster move that will certainly hurt Winnipeg's chances of advancing in the playoffs, and could even be big enough to have them miss the post-season dance altogether.
Needless to say, I came up with these in late August when Big Buff was still slated to be at his usual position on the back end:
Prediction: 5th in the Central Division, second Wild Card in the West, 15th overall.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
NHL Preview 2019-20: Chicago Blackhawks
(This year again, I will twin-post with my Collectibles Blog and write
about a player who is related to my Preview post here. Today, it's Chicago Blackhawks turn-of-the-millennium power forward Éric Dazé).
GM: Stan Bowman (since 2009). 9/10
Coach: Jeremy Colliton (since 2018). 7/10
2018-19 record: 36-34-12, 84 points (6th in the Central Division, 10th in the Western Conference).
Playoffs: Did not qualify.
Departures: Dominik Kahun (RW), Cam Ward (G), Anton Forsberg (G), John Hayden (RW), Marcus Kruger (C), Chris Kunitz (LW), Gustav Forsling (D), Henri Jokiharju (D), Artem Anisimov (C).
Arrivals: John Quenneville (LW), Andrew Shaw (RW), Olli Maata (D), Calvin De Haan (D), Robin Lehner (G), Alex Nylander (RW), Zack Smith (LW/C).
Top forwards: Patrick Kane (80-95 points), Alex DeBrincat (60-80 points), Jonathan Toews (60-75 points), Brandon Saad (45-60 points), Andrew Shaw (30-45 points), Dylan Strome (35-50 points), Zack Smith (30-35 points), Drake Caggiula (30-35 points), Alex Nylander (30-35 points), Brendan Perlini (25-35 points).
Must-improve forward: Nylander was once thought of as a high-lever prospect, like his brother in Toronto. The Buffalo Sabres finally gave up on him and the Hawks paid a hefty price to acquire him, so he needs to realize he won't get much of a better shot anywhere else if ever.
Top defensemen: Duncan Keith (45-55 points), Calvin De Haan (30-35 points), Brent Seabrook (25-30 points), Erik Gustafsson (25-30 points), Slater Koekkoek (15-20 points), Olli Maata (15-20 points).
Goalies: Corey Crawford (92/100 when healthy), Robin Lehner (91/100).
Top prospects: Kirby Dach (18 years old, C, third-overall pick in 2019 draft), Reese Johnson (21, RW), Philipp Kurashev (19, C/LW), Nicolas Beaudin (19, D), Adam Boqvist (19, D), Chad Krys (21, D).
Analysis:
Yes, I have them finishing sixth in the Central, but they'll still likely be ahead of the fourth team in the Pacific; it's just that the Central is so powerful, with the ever-stacked Nashville Predators, the still-great-without-a-defense Winnipeg Jets, the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues, the Cup-contending Dallas Stars and the surging Colorado Avalanche that it's borderline unfair (this year).
The extra year's experience to young cats DeBrincat and Strome will benefit them greatly, and the Hawks improved their back end tremendously with the additions of Lehner, Maata (if he can stay healthy) and De Haan. Now if they could only get rid of Seabrook's contract so they don't have to protect him over more-deserving younger options for the expansion draft...
GM Bowman made a very questionable move in acquiring Nylander. You do not want to recycle Buffalo's garbage (they haven't made the playoffs in eight straight seasons for a reason), it's never a clean deal, and it's worse when you overpay. Unless he plans to make a move on the Edmonton Oilers' grumpy prospect Jesse Puljujarvi. After all, the Caggiula deal turned out ok for Chicago, so maybe there's something in the tundra that a bit of wind can help cleanse.
Prediction: 6th in the Central Division, 20th overall.
Coach: Jeremy Colliton (since 2018). 7/10
2018-19 record: 36-34-12, 84 points (6th in the Central Division, 10th in the Western Conference).
Playoffs: Did not qualify.
Departures: Dominik Kahun (RW), Cam Ward (G), Anton Forsberg (G), John Hayden (RW), Marcus Kruger (C), Chris Kunitz (LW), Gustav Forsling (D), Henri Jokiharju (D), Artem Anisimov (C).
Arrivals: John Quenneville (LW), Andrew Shaw (RW), Olli Maata (D), Calvin De Haan (D), Robin Lehner (G), Alex Nylander (RW), Zack Smith (LW/C).
Top forwards: Patrick Kane (80-95 points), Alex DeBrincat (60-80 points), Jonathan Toews (60-75 points), Brandon Saad (45-60 points), Andrew Shaw (30-45 points), Dylan Strome (35-50 points), Zack Smith (30-35 points), Drake Caggiula (30-35 points), Alex Nylander (30-35 points), Brendan Perlini (25-35 points).
Must-improve forward: Nylander was once thought of as a high-lever prospect, like his brother in Toronto. The Buffalo Sabres finally gave up on him and the Hawks paid a hefty price to acquire him, so he needs to realize he won't get much of a better shot anywhere else if ever.
Top defensemen: Duncan Keith (45-55 points), Calvin De Haan (30-35 points), Brent Seabrook (25-30 points), Erik Gustafsson (25-30 points), Slater Koekkoek (15-20 points), Olli Maata (15-20 points).
Goalies: Corey Crawford (92/100 when healthy), Robin Lehner (91/100).
Top prospects: Kirby Dach (18 years old, C, third-overall pick in 2019 draft), Reese Johnson (21, RW), Philipp Kurashev (19, C/LW), Nicolas Beaudin (19, D), Adam Boqvist (19, D), Chad Krys (21, D).
Analysis:
Yes, I have them finishing sixth in the Central, but they'll still likely be ahead of the fourth team in the Pacific; it's just that the Central is so powerful, with the ever-stacked Nashville Predators, the still-great-without-a-defense Winnipeg Jets, the Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues, the Cup-contending Dallas Stars and the surging Colorado Avalanche that it's borderline unfair (this year).
The extra year's experience to young cats DeBrincat and Strome will benefit them greatly, and the Hawks improved their back end tremendously with the additions of Lehner, Maata (if he can stay healthy) and De Haan. Now if they could only get rid of Seabrook's contract so they don't have to protect him over more-deserving younger options for the expansion draft...
GM Bowman made a very questionable move in acquiring Nylander. You do not want to recycle Buffalo's garbage (they haven't made the playoffs in eight straight seasons for a reason), it's never a clean deal, and it's worse when you overpay. Unless he plans to make a move on the Edmonton Oilers' grumpy prospect Jesse Puljujarvi. After all, the Caggiula deal turned out ok for Chicago, so maybe there's something in the tundra that a bit of wind can help cleanse.
Prediction: 6th in the Central Division, 20th overall.
Saturday, September 28, 2019
NHL Preview 2019-20: Colorado Avalanche
(This year again, I will twin-post with my Collectibles Blog and write
about a player who is related to my Preview post here. Today, it's Colorado Avalanche summer-long RFA stress-inducing star forward Mikko Rantanen).
GM: Joe Sakic (since 2014). 8/10
Coach: Jared Bednar (since 2016). 5.5/10
2018-19 record: 38-30-14, 90 pts. (5th in the Central Division, 8th in the Western Conference).
Playoffs: Lost in seven games to the San Jose Sharks in Round 2
Departures: Semyon Varlamov (G), Tyson Barrie (D), Carl Soderbergh (C), Alex Kerfoot (C), Sven Andrighetto (RW), Patrik Nemeth (D), Gabriel Bourque (RW).
Arrivals: Nazem Kadri (C), André Burakovsky (LW), Kevin Connauton (D) Pierre-Édouard Bellemare (C), Joonas Donskoi (RW).
Top forwards: Nathan MacKinnon (80-105 points), Mikko Rantanen (75-85 points), Gabriel Landeskog (65-70 points), Nazem Kadri (45-60 points), Joonas Donskoi (30-40 points), Tyson Jost (30-45 points), J.T. Compher (35-40 points), André Burakovsky (30-45 points), Colin Wilson (25-35 points).
Must-improve forward: There was a time when the Washington Capitals had two prized prospects: Evgeny Kuznetsov and André Burakovsky. One became a top-line forward, the other one is on a one-year "show-me" deal with the Avs that spells out "if this doesn't work out, there is always the KHL".
Top defensemen: Cale Makar (35-45 points), Samuel Girard (35-40 points), Erik Johnson (20-40 points), Nikita Zadorov (20-30 points), Mark Barberio (10-15 points), Ian Cole (10-15 points).
Goalies: Philipp Grubauer (83/100), Pavel Francouz (74/100).
Top prospects: Bowen Byram (18 years old, D, fourth-overall draft pick in 2019), Josh Anderson (21, D), Josh Dickinson (21, C), Nicholas Henry (20, RW), A.J. Greer (22, LW), Connor Timmins (21, D).
Analysis:
Sakic's been doing a great job building the team he wants to see on the ice, imposing it to head coach Bednar, and just watching them play.
There's a wealth of talented youth on defense with Makar, Girard and Byrm - enough so that the GM was comfortable enough to trade his #1 guy in Barrie.
The offense will once again be the motor of this team, and now with added depth, we may not just be talking about a Wild Card team anymore, at least not for the next few years.
Prediction: 2nd in the Central Division, 7th in the NHL.
Coach: Jared Bednar (since 2016). 5.5/10
2018-19 record: 38-30-14, 90 pts. (5th in the Central Division, 8th in the Western Conference).
Playoffs: Lost in seven games to the San Jose Sharks in Round 2
Departures: Semyon Varlamov (G), Tyson Barrie (D), Carl Soderbergh (C), Alex Kerfoot (C), Sven Andrighetto (RW), Patrik Nemeth (D), Gabriel Bourque (RW).
Arrivals: Nazem Kadri (C), André Burakovsky (LW), Kevin Connauton (D) Pierre-Édouard Bellemare (C), Joonas Donskoi (RW).
Top forwards: Nathan MacKinnon (80-105 points), Mikko Rantanen (75-85 points), Gabriel Landeskog (65-70 points), Nazem Kadri (45-60 points), Joonas Donskoi (30-40 points), Tyson Jost (30-45 points), J.T. Compher (35-40 points), André Burakovsky (30-45 points), Colin Wilson (25-35 points).
Must-improve forward: There was a time when the Washington Capitals had two prized prospects: Evgeny Kuznetsov and André Burakovsky. One became a top-line forward, the other one is on a one-year "show-me" deal with the Avs that spells out "if this doesn't work out, there is always the KHL".
Top defensemen: Cale Makar (35-45 points), Samuel Girard (35-40 points), Erik Johnson (20-40 points), Nikita Zadorov (20-30 points), Mark Barberio (10-15 points), Ian Cole (10-15 points).
Goalies: Philipp Grubauer (83/100), Pavel Francouz (74/100).
Top prospects: Bowen Byram (18 years old, D, fourth-overall draft pick in 2019), Josh Anderson (21, D), Josh Dickinson (21, C), Nicholas Henry (20, RW), A.J. Greer (22, LW), Connor Timmins (21, D).
Analysis:
Sakic's been doing a great job building the team he wants to see on the ice, imposing it to head coach Bednar, and just watching them play.
There's a wealth of talented youth on defense with Makar, Girard and Byrm - enough so that the GM was comfortable enough to trade his #1 guy in Barrie.
The offense will once again be the motor of this team, and now with added depth, we may not just be talking about a Wild Card team anymore, at least not for the next few years.
Prediction: 2nd in the Central Division, 7th in the NHL.
Friday, September 27, 2019
NHL Preview 2019-20: Montréal Canadiens
(This year again, I will twin-post with my Collectibles Blog and write
about a player who is related to my Preview post here. Today, it's Montréal Canadiens young forward Artturi Lehkonen).
GM: Marc Bergevin (since 2012). 6.5/10
Coach: Claude Julien (second stint, since 2017). 6.5/10
2018-19 record: 44-30-8, 96 points (4th in Atlantic Division, 9th in Eastern Conference).
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Departures: Andrew Shaw (RW), Jordie Benn (D), Antti Niemi (G) Nicolas Deslauriers (LW).
Arrivals: Ben Chiarot (D), Nick Cousins (C), Keith Kincaid (G).
Top forwards: Brendan Gallagher (60-65 points), Jonathan Drouin (55-65 points), Max Domi (55-65 points), Phillip Danault (50-55 points), Tomas Tatar (50-55 points), Artturi Lehkonen (25-35 points), Paul Byron (35-45 points), Jesperi Kotkaniemi (25-40 points), Joel Armia (20-30 points).
Must-improve forwards: Drouin tied a career-high with 53 points, a mark that is made even more astonishing considering he registered only a handful of points in the final 20 games of the season. I say "astonishing" because that seems like current market value at $5.5M on the cap, but also because a lot more was expected of the third-overall pick in 2013, the player many thought was the one feeding teammate Nathan MacKinnon the quality passes he needed to score. At this point, Drouin should have been a 60-65-point player. He's not that far off, and he was certainly on pace to achieve that last year for two-thirds of the season, but his creativity is not something head coach Julien promotes, so unless he actually does get his name on the score sheet every game, he'd better be "good without the puck" and ready to grind it out on a fourth line, because his career is in stasis unless he gets a fresh start.
Top defensemen: Shea Weber (30 points), Jeff Petry (30-35 points), Mike Reilly (30 points), Brett Kulak (10-15 points), Ben Chiarot (20 points), Victor Mete (15-25 points).
Goalies: Carey Price (84/100), Charlie Lindgren (79), Antti Niemi (75/100).
Top rookies: Noah Juulsen (22 years old, D, 2015 first-round draft pick, concussion issues), Cayden Primeau (20, G), Cale Fleury (20, D), Nick Suzuki (20, C, first-round pick in 2017), Ryan Poehling (20, C, first-round pick in 2017), Joël Teasdale (20, C), Jake Evans (23, C).
Analysis:
We touched upon the Drouin situation earlier. Other players on tight leashes include depth defenseman Xavier Ouellet, would-be middle-six winger Charles Hudon, and grizzled veteran Alex Belzile. All three are francophones, so expect them to play for the AHL's Laval Rocket for most of the season.
Also, we're entering Year 13 of the "The Cup Comes Through Price Or Not At All" era, and - you guessed it - it won't be for this year either. Mr. "14% of the team's cap hit" is clearly on a down slope after his lone excellent post-heavy season from 2014-15, and Primeau will take over his job in the next three years.
Will it be as close as last year, missing the playoffs by just a coupel of points? Probably. But it's a "no" all the same.
Prediction: 5th in the Atlantic Division, 18th in the NHL.
Coach: Claude Julien (second stint, since 2017). 6.5/10
2018-19 record: 44-30-8, 96 points (4th in Atlantic Division, 9th in Eastern Conference).
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Departures: Andrew Shaw (RW), Jordie Benn (D), Antti Niemi (G) Nicolas Deslauriers (LW).
Arrivals: Ben Chiarot (D), Nick Cousins (C), Keith Kincaid (G).
Top forwards: Brendan Gallagher (60-65 points), Jonathan Drouin (55-65 points), Max Domi (55-65 points), Phillip Danault (50-55 points), Tomas Tatar (50-55 points), Artturi Lehkonen (25-35 points), Paul Byron (35-45 points), Jesperi Kotkaniemi (25-40 points), Joel Armia (20-30 points).
Must-improve forwards: Drouin tied a career-high with 53 points, a mark that is made even more astonishing considering he registered only a handful of points in the final 20 games of the season. I say "astonishing" because that seems like current market value at $5.5M on the cap, but also because a lot more was expected of the third-overall pick in 2013, the player many thought was the one feeding teammate Nathan MacKinnon the quality passes he needed to score. At this point, Drouin should have been a 60-65-point player. He's not that far off, and he was certainly on pace to achieve that last year for two-thirds of the season, but his creativity is not something head coach Julien promotes, so unless he actually does get his name on the score sheet every game, he'd better be "good without the puck" and ready to grind it out on a fourth line, because his career is in stasis unless he gets a fresh start.
Top defensemen: Shea Weber (30 points), Jeff Petry (30-35 points), Mike Reilly (30 points), Brett Kulak (10-15 points), Ben Chiarot (20 points), Victor Mete (15-25 points).
Goalies: Carey Price (84/100), Charlie Lindgren (79), Antti Niemi (75/100).
Top rookies: Noah Juulsen (22 years old, D, 2015 first-round draft pick, concussion issues), Cayden Primeau (20, G), Cale Fleury (20, D), Nick Suzuki (20, C, first-round pick in 2017), Ryan Poehling (20, C, first-round pick in 2017), Joël Teasdale (20, C), Jake Evans (23, C).
Analysis:
We touched upon the Drouin situation earlier. Other players on tight leashes include depth defenseman Xavier Ouellet, would-be middle-six winger Charles Hudon, and grizzled veteran Alex Belzile. All three are francophones, so expect them to play for the AHL's Laval Rocket for most of the season.
Also, we're entering Year 13 of the "The Cup Comes Through Price Or Not At All" era, and - you guessed it - it won't be for this year either. Mr. "14% of the team's cap hit" is clearly on a down slope after his lone excellent post-heavy season from 2014-15, and Primeau will take over his job in the next three years.
Will it be as close as last year, missing the playoffs by just a coupel of points? Probably. But it's a "no" all the same.
Prediction: 5th in the Atlantic Division, 18th in the NHL.
Thursday, September 26, 2019
NHL Preview 2019-20: Vegas Golden Knights
(This year again, I will twin-post with my Collectibles Blog and write
about a player who is related to my Preview post here. Today, it's Vegas Golden Knights top-line winger Jonathan Marchessault).
GM: Kelly McCrimmon (since 2019). 8/10
Coach: Gerard Gallant (since 2017). 8.5/10
2018-19 record: 43-32-7, 93 points (3rd in the Pacific Division, 7th in the Western Conference).
Playoffs: Lost in Game 7 of Round 1 against the San Jose Sharks.
Departures: Nikita Gusev (LW), Colin Miller (D), Erik Haula (C), Ryan Carpenter (C), Pierre-Édouard Bellemare (RW), Maxime Lagacé (G).
Arrivals: Jaycob Megna (D), Garret Sparks (G).
Top forwards: Mark Stone (50-70 points), Alex Tuch (50-60 points), Paul Stastny (50-60 points), Jonathan Marchessault (50-60 points), Reilly Smith (45-55 points), Max Pacioretty (35 goals, 50 points), William Karlsson (50-55 points), Tomas Nosek (25-30 points), Brandon Pirri (20-30 points), Valentin Zykov (20-40 points), William Carrier (10-20 points).
Must-improve forward: Pirri, but just because I kind of have to put someone in here. With how stacked the top-six is, other players aren't going to get enough ice time to join in on the point-producing cart.
Top defensemen: Shea Theodore (30-40 points), Nate Schmidt (25-30 points), Nick Holden (10-15 points), Brayden McNabb (10 points), Jon Merrill (5-10 points).
Goalies: Marc-André Fleury (93/100), Malcolm Subban (77/100).
Top prospects: Cody Glass (20 years old, C, 6th-overall pick at the 2017 draft), Marcus Kallionkieli (18, C), Paul Cotter (19, C), Dylan Coghlan (21, D), Brayden Pachal (20, D), Jake Leschyshyn (20, C).
Analysis:
In just two seasons, the Golden Knights went from having a terrific balanced roster with former 40-goal scorers (James Neal) and plenty of youth, with an average age below 25 to one with two full 1B lines (including possibly the best one in hockey, comprised of Stone, Stastny and Pacioretty) and an average age closer to 30.
The defense remains a no-name brand (apart from Theodore and Schmidt), but they have proven that they can get the job done for two straight seasons (as long as Fleury's healthy in net).
For now, the only prospect that could make a serious dent in the line-up is Glass, who turn professional by force this year.
The team traded away a lot of its high-priced depth this year in an attempt to sign Gusev. They may have done better to trade Pacioretty and retained more bodies, because they may have a good, balanced offense, one of the best coaching staffs in the game and one of the five best goalies of the past three years (in each season, not just combined), they're two injuries away from needing to seriously hustle to get their playoff spot ahead of the lowly (but surging) Edmonton Oilers.
As it stands, however, no one in the Pacific can touch them, even if the Calgary Flames may come close at times during the regular season.
Prediction: 1st in the Pacific Division, 2nd in the NHL.
Coach: Gerard Gallant (since 2017). 8.5/10
2018-19 record: 43-32-7, 93 points (3rd in the Pacific Division, 7th in the Western Conference).
Playoffs: Lost in Game 7 of Round 1 against the San Jose Sharks.
Departures: Nikita Gusev (LW), Colin Miller (D), Erik Haula (C), Ryan Carpenter (C), Pierre-Édouard Bellemare (RW), Maxime Lagacé (G).
Arrivals: Jaycob Megna (D), Garret Sparks (G).
Top forwards: Mark Stone (50-70 points), Alex Tuch (50-60 points), Paul Stastny (50-60 points), Jonathan Marchessault (50-60 points), Reilly Smith (45-55 points), Max Pacioretty (35 goals, 50 points), William Karlsson (50-55 points), Tomas Nosek (25-30 points), Brandon Pirri (20-30 points), Valentin Zykov (20-40 points), William Carrier (10-20 points).
Must-improve forward: Pirri, but just because I kind of have to put someone in here. With how stacked the top-six is, other players aren't going to get enough ice time to join in on the point-producing cart.
Top defensemen: Shea Theodore (30-40 points), Nate Schmidt (25-30 points), Nick Holden (10-15 points), Brayden McNabb (10 points), Jon Merrill (5-10 points).
Goalies: Marc-André Fleury (93/100), Malcolm Subban (77/100).
Top prospects: Cody Glass (20 years old, C, 6th-overall pick at the 2017 draft), Marcus Kallionkieli (18, C), Paul Cotter (19, C), Dylan Coghlan (21, D), Brayden Pachal (20, D), Jake Leschyshyn (20, C).
Analysis:
In just two seasons, the Golden Knights went from having a terrific balanced roster with former 40-goal scorers (James Neal) and plenty of youth, with an average age below 25 to one with two full 1B lines (including possibly the best one in hockey, comprised of Stone, Stastny and Pacioretty) and an average age closer to 30.
The defense remains a no-name brand (apart from Theodore and Schmidt), but they have proven that they can get the job done for two straight seasons (as long as Fleury's healthy in net).
For now, the only prospect that could make a serious dent in the line-up is Glass, who turn professional by force this year.
The team traded away a lot of its high-priced depth this year in an attempt to sign Gusev. They may have done better to trade Pacioretty and retained more bodies, because they may have a good, balanced offense, one of the best coaching staffs in the game and one of the five best goalies of the past three years (in each season, not just combined), they're two injuries away from needing to seriously hustle to get their playoff spot ahead of the lowly (but surging) Edmonton Oilers.
As it stands, however, no one in the Pacific can touch them, even if the Calgary Flames may come close at times during the regular season.
Prediction: 1st in the Pacific Division, 2nd in the NHL.
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
NHL Preview 2019-20: Pittsburgh Penguins
(This year again, I will twin-post with my Collectibles Blog and write
about a player who is related to my Preview post here. Today, it's Pittsburgh Penguins superstar defenseman Kris Letang).
GM: Jim Rutherford (since 2015). 8/10
Coach: Mike Sullivan (since 2015). 8/10
2018-19 record: 44-26-12, 100 points (3rd in the Metropolitan Division, sixth in the Eastern Conference).
Playoffs: Swept in four games by the New York Islanders in the first round.
Departures: Phil Kessel (RW), Matt Cullen (C), Nick Bonino (C), Olli Maata (D).
Arrivals: Pierre-Olivier Joseph (D), Alex Galchenyuk (C/LW), Dominik Kahun (RW), Brandon Tanev (LW/RW).
Top forwards: Sidney Crosby (80-95 points), Evgeni Malkin (80-90 points), Jake Guentzel (60-70 points), Alex Galchenyuk (50-60 points), Nick Bjugstad (35-40 points), Patric Hornqvist (35-40 points), Bryan Rust (25-30 points), Brandon Tanev (25-30 points), Jared McCann (25-30 points).
Must-improve forwards: Hornqvist may have slowed down due to injury (mostly a huge concussion), so that's not his fault and likely cannot be repaired. Bjugstad, however, could stand to become the 50-60-point producer he was made out to be when the Florida Panthers drafted him. And it's as good a time as any for Galchenyuk to hit the 30-goal mark again, what with likely lining up with Malkin and reaching free agency in the summer.
Top defensemen: Kristopher Letang (55-70 points), Justin Schultz (30-35 points), Erik Gudbranson (20-25 points), Brian Dumoulin (20-25 points), Jack Johnson (15-20 points).
Goalies: Matt Murray (92/100), Casey DeSmith (76/100), Tristan Jarry (75/100).
Top prospects: Pierre-Olivier Joseph (20 years old, D), Emil Larmi (23, G), Nathan Légaré (18, RW), Calen Addison (19, D), Kasper Bjorkqvist (22, RW), Samuel Poulin (18, W), Jordy Bellerive (20, C).
Analysis:
I'm one of those who sees value in having a rough, no-nonsense guy like Gudbranson on a shut-down defensive pairing, so I won't hold that against GM Rutherford, the fact that more than a third of his team's cap hit ($28M) is allocated to ten (!!) defensemen. Back when they were winning Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017, their defense was a joke, now it can at least defend.
Schultz is proving that his 51-point season in 2016-17 was an outlier and that we should expect some 30-35 points on his part if he plays the 60-65 games the injuries will let him suit up for, and no more than 40 if he goes a full season. And that's where having good defenders comes in handy.
Up front, Crosby can turn any player who can keep up with him into a 35-40-goal player, and the winger "du jour" is Guentzel, so good for him. Now Malkin can do the same with Galchenyuk. It really was a regrettable luxury to have to put a star like Kessel on the third line because he didn't get along with 87 or 71 - he still put up upwards of 80 points with plugs and defensively-minded players, but you can't have that in the cap era.
So, yeah, the Pens are aging, they haven't made any significant improvements and most of the other teams in their division have gotten much better. The window is closing, slowly but surely, yet with big-game players like Malkin, Letang, Murray and even Crosby (I don't buy into his narrative as much, if you can't tell, I'm more of the opinion that while he's very good, a lot of the hype was created by the media), said window remains open as long as they can carry the team on their shoulders.
Prediction: 3rd in the Metropolitan Division, 14th in the NHL.Unless the Columbus Blue Jackets get themselves an NHL #1 goalie before the Holidays, then they leapfrog five teams including the Pens.
Coach: Mike Sullivan (since 2015). 8/10
2018-19 record: 44-26-12, 100 points (3rd in the Metropolitan Division, sixth in the Eastern Conference).
Playoffs: Swept in four games by the New York Islanders in the first round.
Departures: Phil Kessel (RW), Matt Cullen (C), Nick Bonino (C), Olli Maata (D).
Arrivals: Pierre-Olivier Joseph (D), Alex Galchenyuk (C/LW), Dominik Kahun (RW), Brandon Tanev (LW/RW).
Top forwards: Sidney Crosby (80-95 points), Evgeni Malkin (80-90 points), Jake Guentzel (60-70 points), Alex Galchenyuk (50-60 points), Nick Bjugstad (35-40 points), Patric Hornqvist (35-40 points), Bryan Rust (25-30 points), Brandon Tanev (25-30 points), Jared McCann (25-30 points).
Must-improve forwards: Hornqvist may have slowed down due to injury (mostly a huge concussion), so that's not his fault and likely cannot be repaired. Bjugstad, however, could stand to become the 50-60-point producer he was made out to be when the Florida Panthers drafted him. And it's as good a time as any for Galchenyuk to hit the 30-goal mark again, what with likely lining up with Malkin and reaching free agency in the summer.
Top defensemen: Kristopher Letang (55-70 points), Justin Schultz (30-35 points), Erik Gudbranson (20-25 points), Brian Dumoulin (20-25 points), Jack Johnson (15-20 points).
Goalies: Matt Murray (92/100), Casey DeSmith (76/100), Tristan Jarry (75/100).
Top prospects: Pierre-Olivier Joseph (20 years old, D), Emil Larmi (23, G), Nathan Légaré (18, RW), Calen Addison (19, D), Kasper Bjorkqvist (22, RW), Samuel Poulin (18, W), Jordy Bellerive (20, C).
Analysis:
I'm one of those who sees value in having a rough, no-nonsense guy like Gudbranson on a shut-down defensive pairing, so I won't hold that against GM Rutherford, the fact that more than a third of his team's cap hit ($28M) is allocated to ten (!!) defensemen. Back when they were winning Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017, their defense was a joke, now it can at least defend.
Schultz is proving that his 51-point season in 2016-17 was an outlier and that we should expect some 30-35 points on his part if he plays the 60-65 games the injuries will let him suit up for, and no more than 40 if he goes a full season. And that's where having good defenders comes in handy.
Up front, Crosby can turn any player who can keep up with him into a 35-40-goal player, and the winger "du jour" is Guentzel, so good for him. Now Malkin can do the same with Galchenyuk. It really was a regrettable luxury to have to put a star like Kessel on the third line because he didn't get along with 87 or 71 - he still put up upwards of 80 points with plugs and defensively-minded players, but you can't have that in the cap era.
So, yeah, the Pens are aging, they haven't made any significant improvements and most of the other teams in their division have gotten much better. The window is closing, slowly but surely, yet with big-game players like Malkin, Letang, Murray and even Crosby (I don't buy into his narrative as much, if you can't tell, I'm more of the opinion that while he's very good, a lot of the hype was created by the media), said window remains open as long as they can carry the team on their shoulders.
Prediction: 3rd in the Metropolitan Division, 14th in the NHL.Unless the Columbus Blue Jackets get themselves an NHL #1 goalie before the Holidays, then they leapfrog five teams including the Pens.
Tuesday, September 24, 2019
NHL Preview 2019-20: Edmonton Oilers
(This year again, I will twin-post with my Collectibles Blog and write
about a player who is related to my Preview post here. Today, it's Edmonton Oilers defenseman Oscar Klefbom).
GM: Ken Holland (since 2019). 7.5/10
Coach: Dave Tippett (since 2019). 7/10
2018-19 record: 35-38-9, 79 points (7th in Pacific Division, 14th in Western Conference).
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Departures: Andrej Sekera (D), Cam Talbot (G), Milan Lucic (LW), Tobias Rieder (LW), Ty Rattie (RW), Anthony Stolarz (G), Al Montoya (G).
Arrivals: Mike Smith (G), James Neal (LW), Markus Granlund (LW) Tomas Jurco (LW), Josh Archibald (RW), Ken Holland (GM), Dave Tippett (head coach).
Top forwards: Connor McDavid (95-110 points), Leon Draisaitl (85-95 points), James Neal (30 goals, 50 points), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (45-65 points), Sam Gagner (40-50 points), Alex Chiasson (35-45 points), Zack Kassian (25-35 points), Markus Granlund (25-40 points) Tomas Jurco (20-30 points).
Must-improve forward: James Neal had an abyssal year with the Calgary Flames, after starting his career with ten-straight 20-goal seasons, most of them close to 30 (and a high of 40 in 2011-12). He will bounce back. Even if he disapponts, he'll get 20.I expect he'll be given a chance to play with at least one of McDavid, Draisaitl and RNH - possibly even two at a time - and will score 30.
Top defensemen: Oscar Klefbom (25-45 points, depending on injury status), Darnell Nurse (35-50 points), Evan Bouchard (25-30 points), Ethan Bear (15-20 points), Adam Larsson (15-20 points), Matt Benning (15-20 points), Kris Russell (15 points).
Goalies: Mike Smith (81/100), Mikko Koskinen (79/100).
Top prospects: Evan Bouchard (19 years old, D, 2018 first-round pick), Caleb Jones (22, D, point-per-game defenseman in the WHL), Ethan Bear (22, D), Tyler Benson (19, LW), Kailer Yamamoto (20, RW, 2017 first-round draft pick), Ryan McLeod (20, C), Kirill Maksimov (20, RW).
Analysis:
The revolving staff door is closed with Holland taking the GM position hostage until he retires. At least he'll have a singular vision that he'll see through, whether it works or not. As far as his first head coach pick, Tippett, I was never really sold on him, he never brought a fringe team to the playoffs (save for that one year in Phoenix where Mike Smith played like a Vezina winner). But I spoke to players who had him in Dallas and Phoenix, and they all had good things to say about his being a "players' coach". Unfortunately, the Oilers need an "Xs and Os" guy, but maybe someone who will have their backs when things start to go sour will help.
I've read a lot about Holland not doing much this summer and how the Oilers were essentially in stasis, but he bought out Sekera, let a few UFAs leave and did the unthinkable: traded the so-called "worst contract in hockey" (Milan Lucic) for a perennial 20-goal scorer who can still hot 30 (Neal). That's a miracle in itself.
Of Holland's time in Detroit, Oilers fans need to be made aware of a few facts: he inherited the team that won the 1997 and 1998 Stanley Cups, but the 2008 one followed by a Cup Final in 2009 was all his doing, with his guys. The reason why the Wings extended their consecutive playoff series to 26 seasons was because he made it happen. That's the good.
He also created the prolonged rebuild process by handing out lucrative contracts to aging veterans he wanted to reward, because he is loyal to a fault. To a fault. To. A. Fault. He needs to take a page out of the, well, Oilers playbook, like his successor Steve Yzerman is currently doing in Motown: hand out fair contracts, asure the player he will keep on getting compensated well with a front-office job when retirement comes, even if it's a year early like it did a few weeks ago with Niklas Kronwall.
Prediction: 4th in the Pacific Division, 21st in the NHL. Out of the playoffs by a couple of points.
 |
| unfortunately, no, that middle one is not a joke |
Coach: Dave Tippett (since 2019). 7/10
2018-19 record: 35-38-9, 79 points (7th in Pacific Division, 14th in Western Conference).
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Departures: Andrej Sekera (D), Cam Talbot (G), Milan Lucic (LW), Tobias Rieder (LW), Ty Rattie (RW), Anthony Stolarz (G), Al Montoya (G).
Arrivals: Mike Smith (G), James Neal (LW), Markus Granlund (LW) Tomas Jurco (LW), Josh Archibald (RW), Ken Holland (GM), Dave Tippett (head coach).
Top forwards: Connor McDavid (95-110 points), Leon Draisaitl (85-95 points), James Neal (30 goals, 50 points), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (45-65 points), Sam Gagner (40-50 points), Alex Chiasson (35-45 points), Zack Kassian (25-35 points), Markus Granlund (25-40 points) Tomas Jurco (20-30 points).
Must-improve forward: James Neal had an abyssal year with the Calgary Flames, after starting his career with ten-straight 20-goal seasons, most of them close to 30 (and a high of 40 in 2011-12). He will bounce back. Even if he disapponts, he'll get 20.I expect he'll be given a chance to play with at least one of McDavid, Draisaitl and RNH - possibly even two at a time - and will score 30.
Top defensemen: Oscar Klefbom (25-45 points, depending on injury status), Darnell Nurse (35-50 points), Evan Bouchard (25-30 points), Ethan Bear (15-20 points), Adam Larsson (15-20 points), Matt Benning (15-20 points), Kris Russell (15 points).
Goalies: Mike Smith (81/100), Mikko Koskinen (79/100).
Top prospects: Evan Bouchard (19 years old, D, 2018 first-round pick), Caleb Jones (22, D, point-per-game defenseman in the WHL), Ethan Bear (22, D), Tyler Benson (19, LW), Kailer Yamamoto (20, RW, 2017 first-round draft pick), Ryan McLeod (20, C), Kirill Maksimov (20, RW).
Analysis:
The revolving staff door is closed with Holland taking the GM position hostage until he retires. At least he'll have a singular vision that he'll see through, whether it works or not. As far as his first head coach pick, Tippett, I was never really sold on him, he never brought a fringe team to the playoffs (save for that one year in Phoenix where Mike Smith played like a Vezina winner). But I spoke to players who had him in Dallas and Phoenix, and they all had good things to say about his being a "players' coach". Unfortunately, the Oilers need an "Xs and Os" guy, but maybe someone who will have their backs when things start to go sour will help.
I've read a lot about Holland not doing much this summer and how the Oilers were essentially in stasis, but he bought out Sekera, let a few UFAs leave and did the unthinkable: traded the so-called "worst contract in hockey" (Milan Lucic) for a perennial 20-goal scorer who can still hot 30 (Neal). That's a miracle in itself.
Of Holland's time in Detroit, Oilers fans need to be made aware of a few facts: he inherited the team that won the 1997 and 1998 Stanley Cups, but the 2008 one followed by a Cup Final in 2009 was all his doing, with his guys. The reason why the Wings extended their consecutive playoff series to 26 seasons was because he made it happen. That's the good.
He also created the prolonged rebuild process by handing out lucrative contracts to aging veterans he wanted to reward, because he is loyal to a fault. To a fault. To. A. Fault. He needs to take a page out of the, well, Oilers playbook, like his successor Steve Yzerman is currently doing in Motown: hand out fair contracts, asure the player he will keep on getting compensated well with a front-office job when retirement comes, even if it's a year early like it did a few weeks ago with Niklas Kronwall.
Prediction: 4th in the Pacific Division, 21st in the NHL. Out of the playoffs by a couple of points.
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