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ScottM

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  1. ScottM

    Al Arbour

    From the album: Annals of the Ice

  2. ScottM

    Hall of Snubs

    Pavelski was certainly a diamond in the rough, being taken in the 7th round, but he's not eligible for this particular list since he was chosen in the draft.
  3. The rarest of all diamonds in the rough: undrafted players who have reached the Hall of Fame. https://t.co/8ig04RIPdr #hockeyhistory #hhof

  4. The rarest of all diamonds in the rough: undrafted players who have reached the Hall of Fame. https://t.co/8ig04RIPdr #hockeyhistory #hhof

  5. All fans love to see their favorite teams find a diamond in the rough. Sometimes, it happens in the form of a guy who was chosen in a late round of the draft and then defies all projections to become a star. Other times, a guy who went undrafted leaves us all to scratch our heads as to how he was overlooked when he strings together a long, respectable career. In this post, I want to look at the rarest of these players -- those who went from undrafted free agent to Hall of Famer. First, some ground rules. If a guy was not draft eligible, then he is not eligible for this list. Therefore, players who entered the NHL before the creation of the NHL Amateur Draft are not eligible for this list. Likewise, Wayne Gretzky is not eligible for the list because he was ineligible for the NHL draft due to his signing with the Oilers when they were in the WHA and the terms of the merger. So then, ground rules established, let's dive into the list. Borje Salming It is somewhat understandable that Salming was undrafted, since Europeans in the NHL were virtually unheard of at the time. They were generally thought of as soft at best, and were often persona non grata. Even so, Salming's spot on this list could be considered earned since when he was discovered by the Maple Leafs' Gerry McNamara, the scout was actually targeting his teammate, Inge Hammarstrom. The gritty Salming signed with Toronto in 1973 and proved to be the total antithesis of the European stereotype. Salming proved to be one of the top defensemen of his era as a two-time first team all-star and two-time Norris runner-up. In fact, he is widely considered to be one of the best defensemen never to win the Norris. He retired with 787 points and 1,344 penalty minutes in 1,148 regular season games. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996. Peter Stastny Again, one could understand why Stastny went undrafted. As a native of Czechoslovakia, the Iron Curtain stood in the way of his freedom to move to North America to play. But, as with Salming, one could say his spot on this list is deserved since those factors did not prevent his younger brother Anton from being drafted. Truth be told, had Anton not been drafted, we might not have the dramatic story of the defections of the three Stastny brothers to play with the Quebec Nordiques. Of the three brothers, there can be no doubt that Peter was the best of the bunch. Other than Wayne Gretzky, no one scored more points in the 1980s than Peter did. He won the Calder in 1981, and managed to post six 100+ point seasons despite not reaching the NHL until he was 24 years old. His 1,239 points in 977 career games averages out to a highly impressive 1.27 points per game. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1998. Joe Mullen Let it never be said that Joe Mullen had a charmed childhood. He grew up in the then appropriately named Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan. Many of his acquaintances died at young ages because of drug and gang involvement. Mullen's story is not one of merely being undrafted. He also started his college career as a walk-on. He earned a scholarship in his first college season, but even after a successful college career, he was considered too small to play in the NHL. Mullen overcame his size to become one of only four American-born players to score at least 500 career goals. He was a first team all-star in 1989, and won the Lady Byng in 1987 and 1989, as well as posting the league's best plus/minus rating in 1988-89. Over the course of his career, he ammassed 502 goals and 1,063 points in 1,062 games. Those stats earned him a Hall of Fame selection in 2000. Dino Ciccarelli Injuries no doubt played a role in Dino Ciccarelli's not being drafted. In his final pre-draft eligibility season in the OMJHL, he played in just 30 regular season games, managing a mere 19 points. He signed with the Minnesota North Stars in 1979, and had a rebound season in juniors immediately following. In his first full NHL season, the 1981-82 campaign, there was no doubt left as to the level of talent the North Stars had signed when he put up 106 points in 75 games. Ciccarelli was often a source of controversy, but the numbers are impressive. His 608 goals make him one of just 18 players to ever reach the 600 tally milestone, and are the most of any draft eligible player that went unchosen. In 1,235 regular season games, he earned 1,200 points and 1,425 penalty minutes. He received the sport's highest honor in 2010 when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame. Adam Oates Adam Oates was a high school dropout and a self-described "punk." It seems likely that those facts hurt his draft stock, but the final nail in the coffin was his speed. Most scouts simply believed that Oates was too slow to play in the NHL despite numbers in junior and college level play that suggested his now well-known playmaking ability. Finally realizing their mistake after his junior season in college, NHL teams began courting Oates and he signed with the Red Wings in 1985, becoming the NHL's highest paid rookie. The numbers prove the scouts wrong. Oates led the league in assists three times and posted an incredible 142-point season in 1992-93. His passes helped turn Brett Hull into the 70 and 80 goal scorer that he was in the early 1990s. When he retired, Oates had 1,420 points in 1,337 games. He took his place in the Hall of Fame in 2012. Ed Belfour Despite helping lead the University of North Dakota to a national championship in 1987, Eddie "The Eagle" Belfour went undrafted by NHL teams. It took him a while to make his breakout, but as a 25-year-old in the 1990-91 season, he won the Vezina, leading the league in wins, save percentage, and goals against average. All-in-all, he led the league in wins once, save percentage twice, goals against average twice, and shutouts four times. Belfour's career numbers are astounding. Despite becoming a regular netminder at a relatively late age, he is third in all-time wins with 484. He won two Vezinas and was a finalist on two other occassions. In his breakout season, he was even a Hart Trophy finalist. In 1999, he backstopped the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup. He was given his due in the form of a Hall of Fame election in 2011. Players like the guys listed above are truly rare, but theirs are stories of perseverance that inspire many both in the world of hockey and outside. If there is ever a reminder that the seemingly impossible can be done, they serve such a role. These members of the Hall of Snubs are the greatest of all diamonds in rough.
  6. Very nice summary. It's that move from tragedy to triumph that made me decide to tell his story. People get so caught up in their difficulties and sometimes decide to give up. Malarchuk proved that while it may be tough, it is possible to fight through. He's trying to help others see that now, and I think he deserves to have that known.
  7. We all know that hockey can be a dangerous game. Anyone who has watched the sport for any significant amount of time has no doubt witnessed at least one fairly significant injury. Those injuries can sideline a player for weeks or months, and can sometimes even end a career. In 1989, an injury nearly cost Clint Malarchuk his life. This is his story and the story of the miracle workers that saved his life. Malarchuk was a new member of the Sabres, having been traded from the Washington Capitals barely two weeks earlier. Malarchuk was never a superstar, but he was more than solid, finishing in the top 10 of Vezina Trophy voting twice and leading the league in shutouts in 1988-89. The sample size is small, but the numbers show that he was playing the best hockey of his career for the Sabres that season, as he put up a .908 save percentage and a 2.39 goals against average – outstanding numbers for that era – in seven appearances. The Sabres had plenty of reason to be excited about their new acquisition. Then, it all nearly ended in tragedy. Malarchuk’s teammate Uwe Krupp and Steve Tuttle of the visiting St. Louis Blues collided in from of the Sabres’ net. During the collision, one of Tuttle’s skate blades went up and made a six inch gash in the right side of Malarchuk’s neck, cutting his carotid artery and jugular. I will not post a link to the video here, but suffice it to say, the result was gruesome. I will give a warning to those that decide to search that it is not for the faint of heart. Reports are that eleven fans fainted, two more had heart attacks, and three players vomited on the ice after witnessing the event. Malarchuk’s first thought was that he had to get off of the ice. “My mother was watching the game on TV, and I didn't want her to see me die.” Once he was helped from the rink, he asked an equipment manager to call his mother and tell her that he loved her, and asked for a priest. Malarchuk was convinced he was dying, and if not for a couple of breaks, he would have. Had the cut been merely one-quarter of an inch deeper, he would have died instantly. Had the team’s trainer been anyone other than Jim Pizzutelli, he likely would have died as well. Pizzutelli had served as an Army medic in Vietnam, which allowed him to keep his composure and prepared him to deal with Malarchuk’s injury. “I was in Vietnam. I`ve seen blood before.” Once Malarchuk was in the locker room, which Pizzutelli said took just seconds because of the goalie’s incredible composure throughout the incident, the trainer applied his full body weight to the Malarchuk’s collarbone by kneeling on him to restrict the blood flow to the injury. When Malarchuk needed a breath, Pizzutelli would release the pressure just long enough to allow Malarchuk to breath, and then reapply it. The quick thinking and knowhow of Pizzutelli stabilized Malarchuk until he could be taken to the hospital for surgery. In the ambulance, Malarchuk asked the paramedics if they could get him back to the arena in time for the third period. It took over 300 stitches to seal the wound, and Malarchuk lost 1.5 litres of blood, but that was only the beginning of his struggles. He had long struggled with obsessive compulsive disorder, and the injury amplified that. He battled alcoholism and nightmares, and his play declined, leading him to retire from the NHL. He continued playing in the IHL and started coaching once he retired from play. Sadly, the ghosts of the incident resurfaced years later in 2008, when Richard Zednik suffered a similar, though somewhat less severe, injury to Malarchuk’s. The former goalie initially refused to watch the footage of Zednik’s injury, but eventually did watch it, leading him to seek treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder later that year. That October, Malarchuk suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound that was initially described as an accident while hunting rabbits. When paramedics arrived, they reported Malarchuk to be uncooperative. Later, he and his wife Joan both admitted that the incident was a suicide attempt and that contrary to the drug instructions, he was using alcohol while taking his OCD medications. Following treatment for his injuries, Malarchuk spent six months in rehab for OCD, PTSD, and alcoholism. Today, Malarchuk uses his personal experiences to reach out to others suffering from the afflictions he has battled. He wrote an autobiography that goes by the titles “The Crazy Game” and “A Matter of Inches.” The book deals with the problems that he has dealt with since the skate blade incident, and he and Joan have become public speakers to help others dealing with the same problems. Life has a way of throwing curveballs, and as Clint Malarchuk can tell you, some of them can be extremely difficult to battle. But his life also shows that even the most difficult of circumstances can be overcome, and can be used to help others. That is something far bigger than hockey. Clint Malarchuk might not have ever laced up his skates in an All-Star game, and he may not be in the Hall of Fame, but he is a winner. Anyone who overcomes the troubles he did and uses it to reach out to others is pure winner.
  8. This week we have a couple of teams making huge surges to crack the top ten. We have some teams holding on to high rankings because of others around them falling or because of gaps in the standings. Are we starting to see a shakeup taking place? #30 Carolina Hurricanes (Last Week: 25; -5) The Hurricanes have lost their last three games, losing two of them by three or four goals. They are in a four-way tie for the fewest points in the standings, and they are the coldest of those four teams, guaranteeing them the bottom spot. #29 Edmonton Oilers (Last Week: 30; +1) From 1984-1990, the Oilers won five Stanley Cups in seven years. If their luck with injuries this season does not change, they could get the number one draft choice five times in seven years. That is a dynasty of a different sort, and one no one wants. #28 Calgary Flames (Last Week: 24; -4) This Flames team really does not make a lot of sense. Last season, they had a strong season despite injuries. This season, they have been relatively healthy, but cannot get things going. I give up on trying to understand what is happening in Calgary. #27 Toronto Maple Leafs (Last Week: 23; -4) Toronto has been struggling lately, but you cannot pin that on James Reimer. The 1-0 loss last night clearly explains the problem: the Leafs cannot score. If they want to make another charge, they need to start lighting the lamps. #26 Buffalo Sabres (Last Week: 29; +3) After a bad slide, the Sabres are on the right track again, earning twin 4-1 wins over the Hurricanes and Predators and a shootout loss to the Red Wings. There is plenty of reason to believe this is not their year, but it may come soon. #25 Columbus Blue Jackets (Last Week: 20; -5) Three straight losses means that there is once again little to celebrate in Columbus. Guys like Justin Faulk and Victor Rask give hope for the future, but the present looks quite dim. #24 Anaheim Ducks (Last Week: 21; -3) Would someone be so kind as to explain the Ducks to me? There have been a few occasions in which they seemed to have righted the ship, and then they collapse again. They should be faring much better. I just do not get it. #23 Vancouver Canucks (Last Week: 19; -4) Okay, this looks more like where the eye test would put the Canucks than their six spot rise last week did. Outside of the Sedin twins, there are few players carrying their wait. Ryan Miller certainly is not. #22 Colorado Avalanche (Last Week: 26; +4) No one scored more goals in the month of November than Matt Duchene. The strong offense has begun to overpower the lack of defense. Then again, the Avs have allowed just one goal in each of their last two games. Right now, they look like a pretty good hockey team. #21 Winnipeg Jets (Last Week: 22; +1) The Jets’ last outing, a 6-1 win over the Maple Leafs was quite impressive. Blake Wheeler and Bryan Little are leading a decent offensive attack, but only one team has allowed more goals. I think it would be wise to give Connor Hellebucyk an extended look. #20 Philadelphia Flyers (Last Week: 28; +8) The Flyers still have the league’s fewest goals, but they have won three straight, and they have done it against some quality teams. Philly fans may not be able to breathe easy yet, but things look much better than they did a week ago. #19 Arizona Coyotes (Last Week: 17; -2) I expected Max Domi to have a good season, and I predicted him to be a Calder finalist, but what he has done is nothing short of incredible. He is leading the team in scoring with 21 points and is a +5 so far. He is a big reason that the Coyotes are still in playoff position. #18 Tampa Bay Lightning (Last Week: 14; -4) Even though the Lightning have not played up to expectations this year, we know they have their coach, as Jon Cooper just signed a contract extension. No such deal has yet been reached with Steven Stamkos. I will leave it to you to decide what that means. #17 Chicago Blackhawks (Last Week: 9; -8) The Hawks lost to the Senators last night but it was not Patrick Kane’s fault. His three-point game has him tied with Bobby Hull for the longest point streak in Chicago history. He is on a pace for 129 points. MVP, anyone? #16 New Jersey Devils (Last Week: 18; +2) The Devils have been treading at around .500 for a while, but they are still on the edge of a playoff spot. I know I talk about Cory Schneider a lot, but he deserves it. He has been one of the best goalies in the NHL. #15 Nashville Predators (Last Week: 10; -5) Things have been rough lately in Smashville. As good as Pekka Rinne had been, his numbers have taken a tumble. I still like the looks of the defensive unit, but Rinne’s play has been very uninspired lately. #14 Pittsburgh Penguins (Last Week: 11; -3) Could we get a round of applause for Evgeni Malkin? He deserves it, but Sidney Crosby and Phil Kessel certainly do not. Can we put to rest the idea that playing in Pittsburgh will make Kessell a 40 or 50 goal scorer? And yes, Crosby is looking better, but there still appears to be something wrong. #13 Minnesota Wild (Last Week: 13; nc) Devan Dubnyk now looks more like he did after the trade last season. He earned his fourth shutout of the season last night. He has also been a workhorse, appearing in 22 of Minnesota’s 25 games. #12 Florida Panthers (Last week: 27; +15) Four straight wins can do amazing things in a crowded field. Aleksandr Barkov is back, and the drama of Jagr’s chase for goal-scoring history has not been a distraction. There is some great hockey being played in Sunshine right now. #11 Boston Bruins (Last Week: 8; -3) The six-game winning streak was nice, but a loss to the Oilers to snap it hurt. Even so, the Bruins would make the playoffs as things stand now, and that looked highly unlikely before the season began. #10 St. Louis Blues (Last Week: 7; -3) The Blues have alternated losses and wins in their last nine games, and that is simply not enough to keep them among the elite teams in the league. St. Louis will need to right the ship quickly if they want to stay in the thick of the Central Division race. #9 San Jose Sharks (Last Week: 6; -3) The Sharks drop a bit because of a couple of big losses, but do not be fooled. This is a good team. I was not too sure about Martin Jones as a starter, but he has earned his keep. He looks like a good one. #8 Los Angeles Kings (Last Week: 12; +4) Jonathan Quick has not been bad, but he is not the primary reason for his team’s allowing the fewest goals in the league. If Drew Doughty is not a Norris finalist this year, either something went horribly wrong, or the voters had a brain cramp. #7 Detroit Red Wings (Last Week: 16; +9) The Red Wings have continued the trend that cause me to say that they had stabilized last week. Righting the ship has turned into an upswing. With all of the pieces back in place in Detroit, this should continue to be a highly competitive team. #6 Ottawa Senators (Last Week: 5; -1) The Senators would have fallen more, but other teams around them stumbled as well, allowing them to minimize the drop. Right now, Erik Karlsson looks like a lock for the Norris, and he looks like a strong Hart contender as well. Oh yeah, Bobby Ryan and Mike Hoffman are on fire as well. #5 New York Islanders (Last Week: 15; +10) Four wins in five games have helped the Islanders climb, and they are doing it as a well-balanced team. They have not always been consistent, but there are not many weaknesses on this team. #4 New York Rangers (Last Week: 3; -1) The only think keeping the Rangers afloat now is a gap in the standings. This team is ice cold, and if there were not five points between them and the next team in the standings, they might be much lower. If their recent trend continues, expect to see that next week. #3 Montreal Canadiens (Last Week: 2; -1) The Habs have lost two out of three, causing them to fall a bit. Mike Condon has been okay in net, but I cannot help but feel that Carey Price might have made the difference in some of the recent close games. PK Subban’s play has fallen off lately too. A resurgence by him would be nice for Montreal. #2 Washington Capitals (Last Week: 4; +2) The red-hot Capitals have won six straight games. They are doing just about everything right. Braden Holtby has worked his way into the thick of the Vezina conversation, and nine guys have double-digit points. #1 Dallas Stars (Last Week: 1; nc) The Stars manage to hold on to the top spot for at least one more week. John Klingberg’s offense has declined a little, but Tyler Seguin and Jamie Been each have 35 points. To beat this team, you have to bury them in goals.
  9. What would make Erik Karlsson the greatest Senator ever? https://t.co/7S86wziJSF #ottawasenators #nhl

  10. ScottM

    Have a Hart

    @ruxpin You absolutely picked up on the point to my post. I'll build on it a bit more, though. After I finished typing it and looked back over it, something struck me. In the last two examples I gave, the two guys that I said I think should have been finalists were teammates with the winners, which makes me wonder even more what role a forward bias might have played. Did the fact that Trottier was so good in 1979 push votes away from Potvin or Lafleur from Robinson? I don't really know if there's a way to prove or disprove the idea, but on the surface, it doesn't appear that being teammates with an MVP-caliber forward is any kind of help at all to a defenseman in a Hart race.
  11. ScottM

    Have a Hart

    I won't fuss too much with that. Hasek had a great season, no doubt. I guess for me it all goes back to my ideas about when a goalie should win the Hart. Hasek was clearly the best goalie that season, but there were plenty of worthy candidates among skaters making it a little harder for me there. But yeah, Lindros had a great season, and it's not like I think his win was a travesty or anything like that. Btw, though, Chris Osgood and Jocelyn Thibeault tied for second in save percentage that year with a .917. Anyway, I'll stop there, because that's all another discussion.
  12. A few defensemen I believe were worthy of a bit more Hart Trophy consideration. https://t.co/RQCALP8H6M #hockeyhistory #harttrophy #nhl

  13. ScottM

    Have a Hart

    It is rare that a defenseman is nominated as a Hart Trophy finalist, and even rarer that the trophy is awarded to a blueliner. Chris Pronger was the last d-man to win the Hart, and before that, you have to go back to Bobby Orr. Before that, you have to go all the way back to Babe Pratt in 1944, 11 years before the introduction of the Norris trophy. That was not always the case. Nine of the first 21 Hart Trophies were awarded to defensemen. It is not as though we have a recent dearth of talent at the position either. Since Orr’s era of dominance, we have seen greats such as Denis Potvin, Larry Robinson, Rod Langway, Paul Coffey, Ray Bourque, Chris Chelios, and Nicklas Lidstrom go through their primes, just to name a few. There can be no doubt that is a “who’s who” list. Why then, is it so rare for a defenseman to get any love in MVP balloting? I believe the answer can be found in the fact that a defenseman’s contributions are not entirely (or sometimes primarily) found on the stat sheet, whereas that is generally not the case for forwards. From 2003-2014, the Hart Trophy winner led the league in scoring, goals, or both. A change in the mentality and approach of voters makes it much more difficult for a defender to have success. With that in mind, I want to look back and honor some defensemen whom I believe worthy of a nomination or a win. 2015: Erik Karlsson It does not have to be Karlsson, it could be any of the finalists, but I think he is the obvious choice because he won the Norris. I am not going to argue that Carey Price should not have won the Hart, because I think he was the correct choice. However, when the Art Ross Trophy winner finished with only 87 points, it was obviously not a banner year for forwards. So, why not give some love to a defenseman who managed 66 points? I would replace Tavares with Karlsson in 2015. 2006: Nicklas Lidstrom Lidstrom finished higher in the balloting in 2008, but I am going to offer him as a candidate in 2006 instead, because it might have been his best season ever. The thing is, Lidstrom’s usefulness was quite obvious on the score sheet in 2005-06, because he managed to post an 80 point season. The top two vote getters were Joe Thornton and Jaromir Jagr, who scored 125 and 123 points respectively. But consider this: whose defensive play would be superior? I think it is quite clear that the answer is Lidstrom by a mile. Lidstrom should have been a finalist at the very least, and at the risk of being thought of as nuts, I would have considered him strongly as my winner. Replace Miikka Kiprusoff as a finalist, and possibly Joe Thornton as the winner. 1995: Paul Coffey I will admit that I have been quite critical of Coffey’s defensive play, and that I do not rate him as highly among defensemen as most, but he had a whale of a season in 1994-94. The season was shortened by a lockout, meaning the league’s point leaders, Jaromir Jagr and Eric Lindros had only 70 points. Coffey had 58, and had the most point shares of any skater that season according to hockey-reference.com. I would nominate Coffey instead of Dominik Hasek, and I would be hard pressed not to give him the win. 1990: Ray Bourque I almost mentioned Bourque in 1994 as a potential nominee, but chose not to because I knew I would want to do this. Bourque was runner-up in 1990, losing to Mark Messier. The two had the same number of first place votes, and Bourque had more second place votes. Mess won the award on third place selections believe it or not. With the type of season that Bourque had that season, it baffles me that he was left off of any ballots. Messier had an incredible season, but considering the impressive two-way play of Bourque, I would have to vote for him. 1979: Denis Potvin Potvin just barely missed out on being in the top three in 1979. The finalists were Bryan Trottier, Guy Lafleur, and Marcel Dionne who had 134, 129, and 130 points respectively. Too bad Potvin could manage only 101, right? No disrespect to any of the finalists. They all had outstanding seasons, and are all-time greats, but I have absolutely no problem in saying that I would have cast my vote for Potvin. Despite his 59 goals, I think I would replace Dionne since the other two were better defensively, but I think Potvin should have been a finalist and that year’s winner. 1977: Larry Robinson I know that a plus/minus rating has to be taken with a grain of salt, but when a guy puts up a +120 rating, he is obviously doing something right. I will not go so far as to dethrone Guy Lafleur as that season’s winner, because he had a truly remarkable line of stats, but I certainly think Robinson should have been among the top three. I would put Robinson in Rogie Vachon’s place, and honestly, he probably would have been second on my ballot. There you have it. I am not saying that those guys are the only ones worthy of recognition, but I think those cases are among the strongest of the last 40 years. I do not think it is right that defensemen are so frequently overlooked, and this has been my attempt at paying homage to some of their greatest performance.
  14. This week we see the collapse of a surprise team, and a surprising surge into the top five. Plus, we see the early season's worst team continue a fairly impressive climb. Read on to find out who is at the top of the list and who made the biggest moves! #30 Edmonton Oilers (Last Week: 30; nc) The gap is not as large as it was last week, but the Oilers have not gained quite enough ground to move out of the cellar. Just like last week, they have lost five of six. That makes it very difficult to rise. #29 Buffalo Sabres (Last Week: 20; -9) The Sabres are the reason that the gap has closed for the Oilers. Buffalo has lost six straight, and quite frankly is looking much like last season’s Sabres. I do not think this will last, but it probably shows that the early results were too good to be true for their fans. #28 Philadelphia Flyers (Last Week: 28; -1) The Flyers just cannot seem to buy goals. One would think that the recently improved play of Giroux and Voracek would help the situation, but so far, it has not. Philly is dead last in the league in goals scored. #27 Florida Panthers (Last Week: 19; -8) Last week, I spoke of the lack of consistency that the Panthers show. This week’s rankings show why. After a nice gain last week, they gave it all back and then some. On the bright side, we get a Jagr update. He now sits at 730 for his career. His next one will tie Marcel Dionne on the all-time list. #26 Colorado Avalanche (Last Week: 27; +1) There is too much young talent on this team for them to be so bad, and yet, here they are. Ironically, despite Patrick Roy’s being the coach, the goaltending bears much of the blame. Semyon Varlomov has not been up to par, and Reto Berra’s hot start seems to have worn off as well. #25 Carolina Hurricanes (Last Week: 29; +4) This team has excellent possession metric ratings, yet, they are -16 in goal differential. Of course, their poor shot percentage of 6.8% and their poor save percentage of .890 has a lot to do with that. If the Hurricanes get those numbers more in line with the league average, they will be dangerous. #24 Calgary Flames (Last Week: 26; +2) The Flames were oh, so close to snapping their losing streak in Anaheim before the wheels fell off. Still, they have won two of the three games they played since last week’s rankings, moving them up a little. Even so, this has still been a highly disappointing season for Calgary. #23 Toronto Maple Leafs (Last Week: 22; -1) The Leafs have cooled off, losing their last two, but both were to Boston, one of the hottest teams in the league. Despite the recent setback, Toronto fans have to be much happier than they were two weeks ago. I suspect they will get back on track. #22 Winnipeg Jets (Last Week: 21; -1) As recently as November 4, the Jets had three more wins than losses. They now have three more losses than wins, and some of those losses have been thumpings. What looked like a great chance to develop the franchise is beginning to look like a disaster. #21 Anaheim Ducks (Last Week: 23; +2) The Ducks still are not quite where everyone thinks they should be, but conditions are improving. Goal scoring is still not where it needs to be, but it is improving. If that continues, and Frederick Andersen holds his own, Anaheim should climb in the standings soon. #20 Columbus Blue Jackets (Last Week: 24; +4) The Blue Jackets’ position in the standings do not suggest that they should be this high, but their recent results do. Since John Tortorella was hired as head coach, Columbus is 9-7. Say what you will about the man, he has turned this team around. #19 Vancouver Canucks (Last Week: 25; +6) Yes, they rose, but I am still far from sold on this team. Honestly, I was close to putting Columbus ahead of them. The balance between standings and recent performance made it a razor thin margin. Yet, their position in the Pacific Division could allow them to still make the playoffs. #18 New Jersey Devils (Last Week: 11; -7) For the moment, the bloom is off of the New Jersey rose. Their losses in three of their last four games show that Cory Schneider cannot continue to be a one man team. This team has little secondary scoring, and lately, that has hurt them. #17 Arizona Coyotes (Last Week: 15; -2) Yes, they are in a decline right now, but I find it very difficult to criticize the Coyotes. This team refuses to go away. I doubt that anyone would have thought that Arizona would be in a strong position a quarter of the way through the season. Surprise! #16 Detroit Red Wings (Last Week: 17; +1) The Red Wings have stabilized. Still, something seems to be missing from last season. I think Jeff Blashill is a great coach, and I think given time, he will put his stamp on the team, but there still seems to be a bit of a bump making the conversion from the Mike Babcock era. #15 New York Islanders (Last Week: 12; -3) How does a team in the top 10 in both goals scored and goals allowed lose as many games as it wins? That is a good question, but that is what the Islanders have done. Logic says that the Islanders will begin to rise. But hockey is not always logical. #14 Tampa Bay Lightning (Last Week: 18; +4) The Lightning finally seem to be playing as expected. They have won three in a row including a 5-0 shutout win of the Ducks. Much credit is due to the goaltending, and I think Viktor Hedman may be the most underrated defenseman in the league. #13 Minnesota Wild (Last Week: 14; +1) This is another case in which a noticeable gap in the standings is the only thing that keeps a team from dropping. The Wild simply do not look very good right now. Truth be told, the Wild’s gaining a spot is more of just a matter of the system. #12 Los Angeles Kings (Last Week: 5; -7) The Kings have reversed fortunes, losing three of four, but they are still in first place in the Pacific Division. Still, few teams have a defensive unit playing as well as the Kings. Drew Doughty and Jake Muzzin make an outstanding shutdown pair. #11 Pittsburgh Penguins (Last Week: 9; -2) Are we finally beginning to see Sidney Crosby turn things around? He has three goals and an assist in the Pens’ last three games. That is more like what we are used to from him. Only time will tell if it continues, but I think we all know it is likely. #10 Nashville Predators (Last Week: 4; -6) Losing three straight games in shutouts is a sure way to lose ground. The only thing that broke the streak was a game against the Sabres. The Predators could have fallen more. The fact that they did not was a major point of debate between me, myself, and I. #9 Chicago Blackhawks (Last Week: 8; -1) The blue line would have been my biggest concern for Chicago this season since their lack of depth at defense was evident during the playoffs. That concern was unfounded, as those guys have been at absolute worst solid. The Hawks are far more dangerous than I expected. #8 Boston Bruins (Last Week: 16; +8) The Bruins are hot. They have won four in a row, and their scoring depth has a lot to do with why they keep winning. After 21 games, ten players are in double figures in scoring. #7 St. Louis Blues (Last Week: 7; nc) St. Louis is one of only five teams with at least 30 points in the standings. Their play has been iffy lately, but enough to stay near the top of the standings. Colton Parayko has been an outstanding addition to this team. He will certainly be a Calder contender. #6 San Jose Sharks (Last Week: 10; +4) Right now, the Sharks look like the best team in their division. The 5-2 loss to the Blackhawks in their last game definitely hurt, but the six game winning streak before that was impressive to say the least. Congratulations to Patrick Marleau for reaching the 1,000 point milestone. #5 Ottawa Senators (Last Week: 13; +8) Ottawa’s play is not always a thing of beauty, but they find a way to win. They have earned at least a point in seven straight, and have won their last four, all by multiple goals, including a three goal win over the Dallas Stars. Whatever they are doing, it seems to work. #4 Washington Capitals (Last Week: 6; +2) Who leads the Caps in scoring? No, not Alex Ovechkin. No, not Nicklas Backstrom. The answer is Evgeny Kuznetsov. Kuznetsov, who scored 27 points in 80 games last season may be the game’s most improved player. The Caps were already highly skilled, but his emergence as a scoring threat makes the team much stronger. #3 New York Rangers (Last Week: 2; -1) Seeing Henrik Lundqvist get pulled in the Rangers’ last game was shocking. The idea of him allowing five goals in a game seems entirely unthinkable. He just does not have bad games this season. He will bounce back, no doubt. The Rangers will stay near the top as well. Lundqvist is still my Vezina winner. #2 Montreal Canadiens (Last Week: 3; +1) The Habs have won three straight, but Carey Price went down again, and will miss at least a week. Can Mike Condon find more magic? Montreal certainly hopes so. #1 Dallas Stars (Last Week: 1; nc) The Stars dropped an agonizing loss to Ottawa in their last game, but it is hard to drop them. They still have the fewest losses in the league, and generally speaking are firing on all cylinders. Can they keep it up? It seems hard to bet against them. For more of the Professor's musings on the game of hockey, visit thesmacattack.com!
  15. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. Don't let the day pass without reflecting on all the blessings in your lives!

  16. @BluPuk I fully believe that the Leafs deserved that last place ranking I gave them last week, but they deserve this rise just as much. I say that to point out just how stark the turnaround has been. A little over a week ago, most fans would have seen Toronto on the schedule and assumed it to be a win. Now that they're one of the hottest teams in the league, that can no longer be done. I believe the Habs are much more dangerous this year than last. Last season, if Max Pacioretty had gone down, the offense would have gone down with him, their scoring is far more balanced this year. It's nox Max, PK, Price, and then everybody else. I knew the Sabres would be better, but in flashes, they've been better than I thought. I still don't believe they'll make the playoffs, but it may be closer than I expected.
  17. I wrote these this afternoon, but I'm just now getting to post them, so they don't reflect tonight's game. Because of that, some things are going to be off, but hey, if it didn't change day to day, what would the fun be? Btw, this time, you guys are getting this before the readers of the website. We finally have a shakeup at the top of the rankings. We also see the apparent reversal of some previous trends. Who is the new number one? How far did the Canadiens fall? Who has seen their luck change? Read on to find out! #30 Edmonton Oilers (Last Week: 22; -8) The wheels finally came off for the Oilers. The combination of struggling teams surging and their losses in five of their last six have landed them at the bottom. There can be no doubt that McDavid is missed, but his absence has killed Nail Yakupov's resurgence. On the bright side, Taylor Hall is still among the league's points leaders, and Leon Draitsaitl is still on fire. #29 Carolina Hurricanes (Last Week: 23; -6) Every time I think the Hurricanes are getting things together, they prove me wrong. If you want to put them at the bottom, go ahead. The only reason that they are ahead of the Oilers here is that they are slightly better off in the standings. It is quite hard to find anyone completely praise worthy on this team at the moment. #28 Philadelphia Flyers (Last Week: 27; -1) The good news is that Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek finally seem to have woken up. The bad news is everything else. Michael Neuvirth is due back from his injury, so he could add another plus. I think it is time for the change in net. #27 Colorado Avalanche (Last Week: 28; +1) Believe it or not, the Avalanche have won three out of their last four games. The one loss was to the Maple Leafs. (Yeah, the Leafs were 30th last week, but have you noticed you have not seen them yet). I cannot fault a team for losing to a hotter one. Now, the Avs just need to prove they can continue the trajectory. #26 Calgary Flames (Last Week: 30; +4) The Flames are improving, but they dug themselves a very deep hole, and they have been overtaken by some hotter teams to limit their rise. While things are better, however, they are not where I think they should be. This defense is simply underperforming. Mark Giordano, Dennis Wideman, and Kris Russell have the worst plus/minus ratings on the team. That speaks volumes. #25 Vancouver Canucks (Last Week: 19; -6) For a while, the Canucks seemed to earn just enough points to keep me from dropping them down the rankings. That has now changed. Teams that have been below them have heated up and surged, while the Canucks continue to stagnate. This team can score, but Ryan Miller is not playing to his standards. #24 Columbus Blue Jackets (Last Week: 29; +5) The Jackets dropped to the Senators last night, but had won three straight before that. They are gaining here because of that, but the fact that all 13 of their losses have come in regulation is preventing them from gaining in the standings. #23 Anaheim Ducks (Last Week: 25; +2) The Ducks remind me of an on again off again dumpster fire. They have stretches where they look great, and then at other times, they look horrible. Right now, they look okay enough to climb a bit. You have to wonder how long the Ducks can remain in the bottom third before it becomes panic time. #22 Toronto Maple Leafs (Last Week: 30; +8) Are we sure this is the same Toronto we saw earlier in the season? The Leafs have won four out of five with their only loss in that span coming to the New York Rangers by a single goal. If you are still criticizing Dion Phaneuf, just stop already. He is playing like the leader Toronto needs right now. #21 Winnipeg Jets (Last Week: 17; -4) This team is dropping like a rock. The fast start is now long forgotten, and the Jets are a team that desperately need to get back on track. There are rumors that Travis Hamonic may be traded here, so maybe that would give them a much-needed spark. #20 Buffalo Sabres (Last Week: 18; -2) The Sabres have hit a rough patch lately, looking more like what most of us expected. Ryan O'Reilly has definitely cooled off, but Rasmus Ristolainen looks great recently. I think there's virtually no chance that they will have the league's worst record again. #19 Florida Panthers (Last Week: 24; +5) The problem with the Panthers is a lack of consistency, but I think that is to be expected with the amount of youth the team has. With a core of under-24 players like Vincent Trocheck, Nick Bjugstad, Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov, and of course, Aaron Ekblad, this team will come around. Maybe not this year, but soon. #18 Tampa Bay Lightning (Last Week: 21; +3) Well, they did beat the Rangers last night. The Lightning seem to own the Blue Shirts. That aside, I am still scratching my head about this team. They should not be this low. I expect to hear more Stamkos rumors if things do not change. #17 Detroit Red Wings (Last Week: 10; -7) Last week I said the Red Wings had turned things around. Well, now they have done it again, heading back in the wrong direction. Pavel Datsyuk is back, but he only has one point in four games. They really need him to be a factor. Otherwise, thwy will probably continue to languish mid-pack. #16 Boston Bruins (Last Week: 14; -2) I feel like a broken record, but Tuukka Rask needs to step up. The offense is doing its part, but too many pucks are making it into the Bruins net for them to be consistent winners. The goaltending is the final piece of the puzzle, I believe. #15 Arizona Coyotes (Last Week: 9; -6) These guys just will not go away. Every time you think they are about to collapse, they shock you. They had a couple of recent bad losses, but then they turned around to beat Montreal. The fact that they are in the Pacific Division might open some doors for this team late in the season. #14 Minnesota Wild (Last Week: 7; -7) The Wild have lost three straight. This is a team heading in the wrong direction right now. They are in a steep decline in the rankings, mostly because they had worked their way up so high. They are beating teams they definitely should, but not "stealing" any games. If you want to stay high up, you have to do that. #13 Ottawa Senators (Last Week: 15; +3) The only thing Erik Karlsson was not doing was scoring goals. Now, he has five goals in five games. I think he may be fully back to form. The Senators have not looked pretty on the ice at times, but they are earning enough points to keep them from dropping in the standings and these rankings. The shutout win against the Blue Jackets was nice. We shall see if it turns into something bigger. #12 New York Islanders (Last Week: 16; +4) The Islanders have fared well against the Pacific division. Their last four games have been against teams from that division, and the only one of those teams to beat them were the Kings. Not bad. That is a sharp reversal from the stretch before, so things look a bit better in Brooklyn this week. #11 New Jersey Devils (Last Week: 12; +1) It is becoming harder and harder to believe that the Devils are a fluke. Cory Schneider continues to excel, and if the play of Damon Severson is any indication, they have a nice anchor for their blue line for the future. If the Devils can find a way to generate more offense, they will be a serious threat. #10 San Jose Sharks (Last Week: 20; +10) Close game? No pressure. The Sharks have had four consecutive one goal games, and have won them all. Right now, they seem like the clear #2 team in the division, and that ability to win close games will be a major asset should they advance to the playoffs. I would not suggest taking your eye off of this team. #9 Pittsburgh Penguins (Last Week: 6; -3) Sidney Crosby scored last night, but he is still not giving the Penguins what they need. I think he alone may be the key. If he starts playing better, the team will be fine. If not, they will collapse eventually. #8 Chicago Blackhawks (Last Week: 13; +5) The team has salary cap issues and have to "dismantle." Patrick Kane has offseason legal issues. Duncan Keith goes down with an injury. You should write this team off. Not so fast! I have only one word: wow... #7 St. Louis Blues (Last Week: 3; -4) The Blues are still in second place in the Central Division, but they look a little shaky right now. Of course, the Predators have three games in hand, so St. Louis will likely drop to third soon. This is still a good team, and no one should sleep on them, but a drop was inevitable this week. #6 Washington Capitals (Last Week: 5; -1) I am a huge fan of hockey history, so I want to take this opportunity to reflect on it. Alex Ovechkin is now the all-time leading Russian goal scorer. That surprises no one, but it is still an accomplishment worthy of mention. As long as he is there, the Caps are dangerous. #5 Los Angeles Kings (Last Week: 11; -6) All is once again right, because the Kings have rebounded. Drew Doughty might be the most underrated defensemen in the NHL. He does not pile up a lot of points, but he was a deserving Norris finalist last season. The loss of Slava Voynov was huge, and he has taken up the slack very nicely. I feel sure that Jonathan Quick would agree with me. #4 Nashville Predators (Last Week: 8; +4) If you had any doubts about the Predators' ability to score, those should be gone. They have scored seven goals twice recently. If they can get a bit more consistent with the offense, they will be an extremely legitimate Stanley Cup threat. #3 Montreal Canadiens (Last Week: 1; -2) The Habs are mortal! Even so, this is still an outstanding team, and they may return to the top soon. Carey Price is returning. If he is up to his old form, good luck scoring on this team. #2 New York Rangers (Last Week: 2; nc) Had this come out yesterday, the Rangers would have been ranked #1. The loss last night to the Lightning changed that, but the fact that they had a nine-game winning streak before that is impressive. If the season ended now, Henrik Lundqvist would be a no-brainer for the Vezina. #1 Dallas Stars (Last Week: 4; +3) They finally made it! Thirty-two points in the standings and 71 goals scored are both league best marks. It is hard to believe that this team missed the playoffs last year. If they miss them this year, it would be an epic collapse. For more of the Professor's musings on the game of hockey, visit thesmacattack.com!
  18. Former member of the @CanadiensMTL and @MapleLeafs Bert Olmstead has passed at the age of 89. https://t.co/0ESTsd2hWE #hhof #hockeyhistory

  19. @WordsOfWisdom I thought that would make your day. Lol
  20. And I thought I enjoyed hockey. https://t.co/k8qgdPdoUD

  21. ScottM

    Lest We Forget

    Thank you. I didn't want to let a day like yesterday pass without some sort of expression of appreciation on this blog.
  22. This week's rankings see a shuffle near the top, a seemingly inevitable new team at the bottom, the continuing slow rise of an expected power and a couple of upstarts, and they return of a surprising member of the top 10. Do I have your attention? If so, let us dive into the fast-paced world of the NHL to see who is up and who is down. #30 Toronto Maple Leafs (Last Week: 29; -1) It seemed inevitable that Toronto would eventually land here. They were only one spot higher for the last two weeks. The key stat here is three. That is the number of games the Leafs have won this season. It is the lowest such total in the league. #29 Columbus Blue Jackets (Last Week: 28; -1) Columbus has never been far from the bottom of these rankings this year, and that is because every time they seem to be heading in the right direction, they fall off again. They won two straight, but have now lost two straight. Who would have ever thought that Columbus would fare better in goals for (21st) than goals against (29th)? #28 Colorado Avalanche (Last Week: 26; -2) First the good news: There can now be no doubt that Nathan MacKinnon is having a bounce back season, and a milestone is soon approaching with Jarome Iginla sitting at 596 career goals. Rico Berra has looked great in net too. The bad news? This team cannot win a one goal game for anything. They have had eight games of that sort and have lost seven. That is a good way to stay in the cellar. #27 Philadelphia Flyers (Last Week: 25; -2) Philly is on a terrible slide right now. They have lost seven of their last eight games, and three of those have been by three or more goals. I chose Claude Giroux #1 in a fantasy hockey league, and right now his nine points are disappointing. Even so, he is doing better than Jakub Voracek who only has five points. Until given reason to think otherwise, I am a seller on the Flyers. #26 Calgary Flames (Last Week: 30; +4) The Flames lost their last outing to the Panthers, but they did not get blown out as they had been for so long. Before that, they had won three of four. Calgary may finally be starting to get hot (no pun intended). The fact that they are in the Pacific Division helps. Can they climb out of the hole they dug? We shall see. #25 Anaheim Ducks (Last Week: 27; +2) If not for the fact that the Ducks have lost their last two games, they would be much higher than this. Even so, they continue their climb. Before those two losses were four straight wins, and since the two recent defeats were in overtime, they have at least a point in six straight. By the way, Corey Perry is officially awake. He has seven points in his last five outings. #24 Florida Panthers (Last Week: 24; nc) The Panthers finally snapped their losing streak, but this team looks a long way from the good-looking team at the season's beginning. In the Panthers' last game, Jaromir Jagr notched another goal, #729, leaving him just two markers behind Marcel Dionne and 12 behind Brett Hull on the all-time list. Sad to say, if they do not get on track, that could be the highlight of the season. #23 Carolina Hurricanes (Last Week: 22; -1) There is a recent comeback overtime win against Ottawa on the Hurricanes resume, but that is the only good thing that can be said about the 'Canes since I last wrote about them. They have had a 3-0 loss to the Rangers and a 4-1 loss to the Stars in the last week. Yes, those a quality opponents, but four goals in three games is concerning. For now, this elevator is going down. #22 Edmonton Oilers (Last Week: 21; -1) Deciding which order to put the Oilers and the team just ahead of them was tough. The Oilers are playing a bit better, but the other team is better off in the standings. For now, the standings win, but I still like this team. Losing Connor McDavid hurt, and Nail Yakupov is cooling off, but Leon Draitsaitl's tear continues, as does the high quality play of Taylor Hall and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Allow me top applaud the play of Darnell Nurse as well. That young man will likely anchor this defense for a long time. #21 Tampa Bay Lightning (Last Week: 18; -3) Whither art thou, Tampa Bay? Quite simply, there is no reason for the Bolts to be performing as badly as they are this season. On paper, this is one of the most talented rosters in the league. Steven Stamkos is scoring, Viktor Hedman is producing, and Ben Bishop has been solid, but that is about all I can say positively here. #20 San Jose Sharks (Last Week: 19; -1) What happened to that fast start? It is long gone. There are rumors swirling that Patrick Marleau may be traded. If that proves to be true, that is a really big deal. It shows that the Sharks are ready to shake things up. They may be in a rough patch right now, but San Jose will not be a boring team to keep an eye on for a while. #19 Vancouver Canucks (Last Week: 17; -2) Apologies to any Canucks fans who read this, but the fact that the Canucks lead their division is a joke. All that means is that they have played one game more than the Kings and that the Pacific Division is pathetically week so far. After that criticism, I feel compelled to give a positive. The Canucks' 48 goals are the third most in the league. Plus, it they can turn around the fact that they are 1-5 beyond extra time, things will be fine. #18 Buffalo Sabres (Last Week: 23; +5) I am not sure if the Sabres can keep this up, but right now, they are only one game below .500. However long this lasts, Buffalo looks good right now. Of course, Ryan O'Reilly is still leading the team in scoring, but the youth movement of Jack Eichel and Rasmus Ristolainen look very good as well. If this season is not their season, it is not far away. #17 Winnipeg Jets (Last Week: 8; -9) The Jets suddenly do not look so good after losing three in a row. That 5-1 loss to the Habs a few games ago looks like it might have sent them into a bit of a downward spiral. Jets fans, do not panic yet. This team has a lot of firepower, and they could well turn things around quickly. #16 New York Islanders (Last Week: 11; -5) Three weeks ago, this team was in third place. They also started the season with a 6-2-1 record, but are now 8-5-3. That makes it clear that they are heading sharply in the wrong direction. John Tavares notched two goals in the Isles' last outing, but before that, he was pointless in four. New York needs more than that to have success. #15 Ottawa Senators (Last Week: 15; nc) Ottawa seems to be treading water right now. There are few ups and downs. They just seem stuck right around .500. It is not the fault of the offense. Guys like Mark Stone, Erik Karlsson, Kyle Turris, Bobby Ryan, Mike Hoffman, and Mika Zabinejad have made sure the goals are flowing, but Craig Anderson has not been very Craig Anderson-like. Is it time to give Andrew Hammond a shot? #14 Boston Bruins (Last Week: 12; -2) The Bruins have cooled off a bit, but they continue to defy expectations. I can forgive a three game losing streak to some extent when all three opponents are top five squads. Tuukka Rask's overall numbers still look pedestrian, but they are heading in the right direction. Will the Bruins be this season's surprise team, or are they waiting for the bubble to burst? #13 Chicago Blackhawks (Last Week: 14; +1) Apparently, offseason troubles mean nothing to Patrick Kane. He has an incredible 23 points in 15 games, which is a 126 point pace. It seems highly unlikely that he can keep that up, but is 100 or so points out of the question? With Duncan Keith's status uncertain, the Blackhawks need continued production from guys like Kane. They are down a bit, but they are not alone in that, so they manage to climb one peg this week. #12 New Jersey Devils (Last Week: 13; +1) Are we sure these are the Devils? They actually look good! The Devils have been masters of close games, winning four of five that have gone past regulation and six of eight one goal games overall. You do not have to win in a pretty fashion, you just have to win. The Devils are doing enough of that to hang tough. #11 Los Angeles Kings (Last Week: 4; -7) They have fallen a good bit this week, but to me, the Kings still appear to be the class of their division. You really cannot give the defense too much credit here. Drew Doughty, Jake Muzzin, and company have gone a long way to carry a team that is not scoring much and has a goalie with decent, but not Vezina worthy numbers. #10 Detroit Red Wings (Last Week: 16; +6) The Red Wings appear to have turned things around at the moment. I would like to give some props to Dylan Larkin, who has played a key role with this team. He has not gotten as much attention as many other high profile members of this deep rookie class, but he is deserving. He has 10 points in 15 games and is a +11 this year. He should get more hype than he has. #9 Arizona Coyotes (Last Week: 20; +11) They're BAAAAaaack. It seemed funny in week one when the Coyotes were in the top ten. They fell sharply, but now, a combination of a nice run by the desert dogs, and some lackluster performances by other teams have seen them rise again. They look like they are on a yo-yo, so we will see if this lasts. #8 Nashville Predators (Last Week: 9; +1) There was an offensive explosion in Smashville Tuesday night, when the Predators and Senators combined for 12 goals. The Predators got the lion's share in the 7-5 victory. For a team that is average when it comes to scoring goals, that had to be a pleasant sight for Nashville fans. Pekka Rinne has seemed to come back to earth lately. That needs to change if the Preds are to stay so high in the rankings. #7 Minnesota Wild (Last Week: 10; +3) Dubnyk still does not look great, but he now leads the league in wins. The Wild are winning as a team right now. That may be the best way to do it. Individual talent and stats will go a lot farther in the regular season than the playoffs. #6 Pittsburgh Penguins (Last Week: 3; -3) The concern for the Penguins is the offense. I bet you never thought you would hear that. The big guns still are not producing like they need to. For now, the defense and goaltending is winning the day, but Marc Andre-Fleury can be streaky, and we know from last season that the blue line lacks depth. Keep an eye on this team. Things will likely change at any moment. The offense will wake up, or this team will fall. #5 Washington Capitals (Last Week: 7; +2) In a week that saw Sergei Fedorov enshrined into the Hall of Fame, Alex Ovechkin matched his goal scoring record among Russian players. Unsurprisingly, he is on pace to break 50 again. Everything is working in D.C. right now. Plenty of goals, and Braden Holtby is unquestionably a star. This is a tough team to beat. #4 Dallas Stars (Last Week: 2; -2) This far up in the stratosphere, there is little room for error, and that is the only reason the Stars dropped. The offense is still on fire, and the defense is holding serve. Kari Lehtonen looks as good as he ever has. #3 St. Louis Blues (Last Week: 5; +2) The Blues currently sit atop the brutal Central Division. How, you ask? Two words: Jake Allen. He has firmly established himself as the guy in net in St. Louis with his 1.53 goals against average and .950 goals against average. In fairness, he has help. Rookie Colton Parayko and Alex Pietrangelo lead a defense that has been as sharp as the goalie behind them. #2 New York Rangers (Last Week: 6; +4) No one has allowed fewer goals than the Rangers. But, that is not a surprise when Henrik Lundqvist is in net. He is often considered to be the team when people think of the Rangers, but they are also sixth in scoring, with a very balanced attack. That has long been the missing ingredient. Is this their year? #1 Montreal Canadiens (Last Week: 1; nc) Stop pretending to be surprised. You knew this would still be the case. That Carey Price has been out for so long and the goaltending has not fallen off is a surprise though. Could I get a standing ovation for Mike Condon? The Habs are still first in goals scored and goal differential. If not now, then when? For more of the Professor's musings on the game of hockey, visit thesmacattack.com!
  23. https://t.co/eDaffPUcEC Remembering Frank McGee, Hobey Baker, and honoring all who have served. #hockeyhistory #VeteransDay #LestWeForget
  24. Happy Veterans/Remembrance Day! Without sacrifice there would be no liberty. #VeteransDay #LestWeForget

  25. November 11 is a holiday in many nations around the world, including the United States and Canada. It is not a holiday celebrated by the exchange of gifts or a cookout and meal as so many others are, but is one in which we are asked to reflect upon the sacrifices of others. Veterans Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in Canada trace their roots back to the armistice of the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 when hostilities on the Western Front of World War I ended. On this date each year, we are asked -- fittingly -- to honor those still among us who served our countries in military service and to remember those who did so who have passed on or made the ultimate sacrifice. When discussing issues such as that, hockey seems to pale in importance, but if you will allow me, I would like to recall the service of two men who are considered early giants of our sport that served in the Great War -- one from each side of the border -- and who did pay the ultimate price. It is my hope that the honoring of their memories will made us think harder about the importance of this day and to be more appreciative of those still with us who are willing to give all for love of country, countryman, and freedom. That "One-Eyed" Frank McGee was ever in the military is surprising because, as his nickname suggests, he was ineligible for service because of his bad eye. There are a couple of stories told as to how he passed the vision part of the physical, but whatever actaully happened, it is generally believed that the doctor examining him simply let it slide since on his chart "good" was written in the blank for his right eye, but the space for his left eye was left empty. I think it is understandable how that happened. Frank McGee was already a national hero as a key member of a Stanley Cup champion, and I think few would have wanted to stand in his way of serving his country in the capacity of military service. In any case, he was assigned as a Lieutenant to the 43rd Regiment in the 21st Battalion in 1915. In December of that year, he suffered a knee injury in Belgium and was sent to England to recuperate. Once his injury was healed, he was offered a desk job, but refused the position, preferring to rejoin his brothers in arms in the 21st. That was a fateful decision, though one I seriously doubt McGee would express regrets over. On September 16, 1916, Frank McGee became one of the over 1.3 million casualties of the Battle of the Somme. His body was never recovered. Moving south of the border, we come to a man who is today best known for the fact that his name graces the trophy annually given to the best player in NCAA hockey. While that honor seems highly appropriate, it seems sad that he is not remembered more for his military service. The man of whom I speak is, of course, Hobey Baker. Baker never played in the NHL, though it was not because he lacked an opportunity to do so. The Montreal Canadiens expressed interest in his joining their squad, but as a member of an aristocratic Philadelphia family. Baker believed that to do so was beneath his station. As his chances to play hockey dwindled, he took up flying, and approached his new hobby with the same level of intensity that he played hockey. In other words, he put his all into it. For Baker, the United States' entering World War I was an exciting opportunity. As a man who struggled with the need to feel a greater purpose, service of his country gave him precisely what he craved. In 1917, he was among the first to answer Uncle Sam's call when he decided to put his flying experience to use in the war effort. Unfortunately for Baker, who craved action, due to his experience as a flight trainer, he was originally stationed in Paris and given the task of teaching other pilots. Baker believed that he would most likely serve his entire term in Paris and would never reach the front. In April of 1918, however, Baker finally got his wish for action when he was assigned to the 103rd Aero Sqaudron. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre after his first confirmed kill and was later placed in command of the 141st Aero Squadron. Baker survived the war, but was never to return home. Instead of immediately returning to the United States he remianed in Paris. In December, he was finally ordered back to the United States, but hours before returning home decided to test a plane that had recently been repaired. While in the air, the plane stalled, and Baker did not have enough altitude to stabilize it. The plane crashed a few hundred feet from the aerodrome, and Baker died just minutes after his men pulled him from the wreckage. On this day that we set aside to remember true heroes, think about not only Frank McGee and Hobey Baker, but all those who have served our nations with such great honor. If you see a veteran of the armed forces, take a moment to thank them. These people are worthy of honor. It is because of what they have done for 240 years in the United States and 150 years in Canada that we have a free land to call home. Lest we forget.
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