Ovi-rated

Alex Ovechin is overrated. He is not the best hockey player in the world and he will never be the best player in the world. Alex Ovechin is one of the most if not the most exciting player in the world. Ovechin plays a fast, hard hitting game that brings you out of your seat. Ovechin is the most charismatic player in the game. But he does not play a consistent game. He also plays the least important position on the ice. Unfortunately Alex has become somewhat of a powerplay specialist.

I am not and will never be an Ovechin hater and I regularly defend him against the small minded people who hate him because he’s Russian or he doesn’t play on their NHL team. I love watching him play. The puck on his stick or when you see him zeroing in on a big check are two of the best things the NHL has to sell, but those do not make you the best player in hockey. Ovechin is the best power play scorer in the league and probably the best sniper in the game, not the leagues best player.

Holding Ovi back from being the best player in the league are a few things. One , he’s a winger, by nature it’s the least important position on the ice. Two,  Ovi doesn’t not take defense seriously his plus minus is -17, which ranks him 698. That is a disgrace. Three, he only plays a physical game sometimes. Usually at the beginning of games or when he’s pissed. Now his hits are explosive and make the highlight reels but they usually put him out of position and face it when Ovi is running around hitting people he’s not doing what he does best, scoring. Four, he is somewhat predictable, that is why he was in a slump for over a year. Teams had figured him out. He’s back scoring again with the help of his coach Adam Oates. Oates made Ovi  switch sides 5 on 5 and moves him around more on the power play. Ovi still can’t create his own offense like other elite players. He’s creates a fantastic shot off the rush but not chessboard tic tac toe / give and go plays like other superstars. All of these  is not a knock on Ovi just the facts.

When comparing best players in the world comparing forwards to defensemen to goalies is wrong. So let’s just compare forwards. If you judge the best player by who GMs would pick to start a franchise there’s at least a half dozen centers ahead of him, which plays into centers  being a more valuable position than winger but also the one trick pony aspect to Ovi’s game. While you won’t want to start a franchise with him he’s the first player you’d pick to be on your power play. Ovi is like a great power hitter who bats .240 and can’t play defense. You want him to bat when you need a homer but not a single and you definitely don’t want him to play the field. The best description of  Ovi is he’s hockey’s best designated hitter. Hitting in baseball is like scoring in hockey it’s very important but it’s not EVERYTHING. Enjoy Alex. Watch him on tv. Buy a ticket to see him play.The man with the yellow laces is amazing, just not the best player in the NHL.

HATE/LOVE Players

PD-Hate/Love

This column is about guys you hate playing against but would love to have on your team. I pick my top three Hate/Love players. Sure every player that is good you don’t like when you’re playing against them but would love to have on your team, but I’m talking about guys that get under your skin, that you wish took a puck in the face and a stick to the balls. The guys you swear at the television. I’m not talking about guys who are so good like Zdeno Chara that you hate them or Milan Lucic who I admit I have a man crush on and am just jealous he’s not a Penguin because I yearn for a circa 1996 power forward. They just don’t make them like that anymore. I’m not talking about guys that only hurt your team. I’m talking about guys that hurt every team. Brad Marchand hurts every team , quite literally but I hate rats, and don’t want them on my team,  I was ecstatic Matt Cooke is in Minnesota.

Here are 4 guys that almost made the list. Wayne Simmonds of the Flyers. First obviously I hate every Flyer but most Flyers I would NEVER want on my team. Simmonds was an LA King  and learned to play hockey the right way not the Flyer way. Fact is Simmonds  is just a damn good player. The only thing I hate about him is he’s wears creamsicle orange . Daniel Briere the undersized forward for the Montreal Canadiens is a BIG game player. He may do nothing in the regular season but he will come up big in the spring. He’s a midget and he’s scores more garbage goals than guys twice his size. I loved him in Buffalo, hated him in Philly now he’ll probably kill me as a Canadien. Briere is too clutch to ever truly hate, he must be admired.  I could put Nathan Gerbe, on this list because he’s a poor man’s Briere , who never makes the playoffs, but I don’t want him on my team. I just hate that a little person can score so many goals in the crease and not get his head kicked in. If the Penguins were not up to their neck with offense defensemen I would put Montreal’s P K Subban in my top three. He’s a Norris trophy caliber D man whose chippy play has made him more than a few enemies in the league. But I’m SO sick of my D men ( especially Kris Letang) up ice , I just don’t want another freelancer on my team.

He’re’s my top three Hate /Love players. Micheal Grabner of the New York Islanders. He’s faster than the DPT when you’re meter runs out. He’s so fast every time he’s on the ice it becomes an odd man break because in two strides he’s in the play. If he’s hands were 1/8 as good as his wheels he’d be a fifty goal scorer. Even with mitts of stone I’d love to have him on my team. He’s a great penalty killer, not because he even plays defense but he’s so fast the opponent always has to be afraid of a shorthanded goal against. Why do I hate him and not just admire his speed, because you can’t relax when he’s on the ice and he cherry picks. Yes cherry picks !!!

2^nd on my list is Ottawa Senator tough guy Chris Neil. Chris Neil has a head made of cement. Earlier this year he took a puck to the face and didn’t miss a shift. He looks like one of those toys you need to pound on the head to score a goal or kick a field goal. He looks like his head was squeezed with a shoe horn into his helmet. Neil is infuriating because he’s like the Terminator , he just keeps coming at you.  You always have to know when he’s on the ice as well because he will bulldoze anyone. Hits like a freight train and usually clean. When you throw that made hits some will be on the edge He sticks up for his teammates and he takes on all comers, you don’t need a true goon on your team because he’ll fight any goon out there. . He can chip in a goal or two Neil’s probably the toughest guy in the league who can actually score when he tries too. Neil could have been in the movie Slap Shot but he is no joke

This leads me to my number one Hate/Love  guy Flyer’s winger Scott Hartnell. He is a great asshole. He gets under everyone skin. He cheap shots but not in the I’m gonna injure you way just the I’m a jerk off way. He’ll fight when he has too but not for without a good reason, for a Flyer he actually plays with intelligence. He stands RIGHT in front of the net and takes a beating. He has a nice shot and makes some slick passes. Hartnell is also loved by his teammates and is a locker room leader. As much as I despise him I would give him a piggy back ride then length of the PA turnpike if he wants to be Sid or Geno’s winger.

I-5 War / Kings vs Ducks

While some of the hockey world is debating why LA is hosting an outdoor hockey game, I’m breaking down a Kings –Ducks matchup not for the Outdoor series but if they would meet in a playoff series, making it the I-5 War. The winner of the I-5 War the Carpool Cup has a great chance to win the Stanley Cup. The Ducks have some truly outstanding players, and arguably the NHL’s greatest Dynamic Duo     (Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry) but the Kings are bigger, have more depth and are only two years removed from winning the Cup. The Kings even lost the NHL’s best goaltender and started playing better. The Kings haven’t given up a first period goal in six weeks. Even more impressive than that is the Ducks have got at least a point in every home game. The Ducks can easily win the Outdoor game, or any one game against the Kings, they’re one of the top six teams in the NHL this but column is about who would win a seven game playoff series and I pick the Kings.

 The Kings and the Ducks each have a ton of talent up front and roll four legitimate NHL lines. The Kings are bigger but the Ducks are not small by any means and the Ducks are a little faster. The Ducks have more  high end scoring with the Dynamic Duo but the Kings have a more scoring throughout their top twelve forwards. The tight checking playoffs could turn the Ducks into a one line. The Kings lines are set up so each line has a passer, a scorer and a corner guy .The example being the potent line of Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter and Dwight King. This gives Coach Sutter flexibility .Both teams are relying on young guys but most of the Kings young guys already have their names on the Cup. Both teams also have a ton of leadership. Kings Captain Dustin Brown is a throwback could play in any era.   The Ducks have Captain Getzlaf and Hall of Famer Teemu Salanne to lead the way. The Kings forwards play a grittier dump and chase game while the Ducks are more a puck possession team. It’s harder to play a puck possession game in the playoffs, which means the Kings are more equipped for the playoffs because they play a playoff style of hockey all season long. One King’s player who is set to become an even bigger star is Anze Kopitar. He is a the West Coast Evgeni Malkin and would be a superstar if he played on the I-95 and not the  I-5.

On defense the Ducks are led by veteran Francois Beachemin who is have a resurgence in his second stint in Anaheim. Beachemin and his D partner  Cam Fowler are playing outstanding hockey The remaining Ducks blue liners are solid if non descript . The Kings D men are a more versatile bunch of physical puck movers who always . The Kings miss two time Stanley Cup winner  Rob Scuderi but Drew Doughty is a Norris trophy waiting to happen

The Ducks have to great goaltenders and you’d think that would be enough to beat the Kings in the goaltending category but the Kings appear to have three great net minders. Conn Smythe /Stanley Cup Winner Jonathan Quick maybe the best goalie in the NHL but he’s injured and may take awhile to get back in flow, no problem Ben Scrivens has filled in nicely and his back up Martin Jones  pitches shutouts like Cy Young Dodger pitcher Clayton Kershaw. The Ducks man between the pipes Jonas Hiller is playoff tested but maybe traded because his backup Viktor Fasth is playing like a number one.

The Ducks do win the special teams battle. The Duck’s are lethal on the power play and the Kings are underachieving with the man advantage. It’s actually puzzling how bad the Kings are. The Kings have a slightly better penalty kill because of better defenseman and they’re a Sutter coached team.

Coaching is where the biggest discrepancy is between the teams. The Kings are coach by Darryl Sutter. He’s a Sutter brother and he won a Cup. The Ducks are coach by Bruce Boudreu and I’m writing about the playoffs.

While the Ducks are having an outstanding regular season, Coach Boudreu usually does, and could have home ice advantage in a playoff series against the Kings , which would be huge because the Ducks are awesome at home, I believe the Kings would wear down the Ducks in a seven game series with their size and depth. The Ducks are a faster team but remember the Stanley Cup playoffs are not a sprint but a war of attrition that’s why I think the Kings would win the I -5 War.

Happy Holidays !!!!!!!!!

NHL at the Quater Pole

We are ¼ threw the NHL season so I compiled a list of 6 things I have loved about this season so far

Sid and Geno- Finally, knock on wood, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are healthy at the same time. It’s been awhile. At this writing they’re one and two in the league in scoring and putting on a clinic most nights. It is so much fun to watch. I bet for non Penguin fans too, except those in Philly. The spring maybe another story but for now let’s all enjoy greatness

The Blackhawks- The have not succumbed to the Stanley Cup hangover and look like a team on a mission to go back to back. Sure they may take a night of, who doesn’t but they haven’t taken the fall off like most Cup winner do.

Patrick Roy- He has invigorated the Avalanche. He has got their young stars (Duchene, Stastny, Landeskog, MacKinnon) to play at a high level and gotten the best out of his goaltenders.  Edmonton should have hired him.

Jagr and Selanne –Watching these Hall of Famers makes me feel young, because I was young when they entered the league. Jagr is passing immortals ( Mario, Stevie Y, Mess) and leading the Devils in scoring. Teemu is still playing with elegance and fire he had 2 decades ago.

Smaller nets- The smaller nets have made for more goals by giving gifted playmakers more space in Gretzky’s office.

Totorella in Vancouver- Having Torts in Vancouver means we don’t hear his asinine thoughts on a daily basis and it lets the NY Rangers be the fun, exciting team their roster should be.

And now things I have hated

Stamkos Injury- Steve Stamkos injury was horrific to see happen to anyone but when it happens to a superstar, in his prime it’s sad. Tampa was a playoff team when it happened now they are struggling

The Islanders- The Isles are at the bottom of a mediocre to put it nicely conference. I had hope for the Isles this year, They have a young superstar ( Tavares) a good coach and they play with speed and grit but the Vanek trade was stupid , their defense has been bad and their goaltending worse.

Attendance in Florida- They should just move already. Bettman has to suck it up. Those empty seats are an eyesore. If people in south Florida want to see live hockey they should do it when they’re visiting their relatives up north.

No touch icing- There’s too many icing calls. No touch has made the game safer so I’ll accept that aspect but go back to the “the pass almost connected”” wave off the icing .Icings slow the game down.

Headshots- I hate them all. Suspensions should start at 10 games

OH Canada

I just spent the weekend in hockey mad Canada and loved every second of it. As a hockey mad person myself I was in heaven. Everyone says America is mad about football and we are but we’re nowhere near as mad about football as they are about hockey. Women in Canada know more about hockey then most men in America know about football. American men know who the Dallas Cowboy quarterback is women in Canada know who the Dallas Stars 3^rd line center is. \

I was in Toronto last weekend which happened to be at the same time as Hall of Fame weekend. The Hockey Hall of Fame is located in an old bank building in downtown Toronto. Toronto is the perfect location for a Hall of Fame because when you’re done touring the Hall of Fame you’re in Toronto, a fabulous  city and not say Canton , OH. The Hall has 3 major components. One is filled with larger than life displays of about 20 Hall of Famers. Gretzky ,Lemieux , Howe ,Orr are permanently on display but a handful of other rotate, also are huge displays of hockey around the world and a replica of the Canadien’s locker room from the old Montreal Forum. Another major component is the interactive fun kid zone. I jumped right in and hand a blast. Shooting on a virtual goalie and trying to stop Messier on a breakaway between the pipes. The last component is what’s called, the Great Hall .where everyone who is a Hall of Famer has a beautifully drawn picture, their version of a bust and a summary of his career. It’s also where they keep all the trophies, Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe, Art Ross etc.  If the trophies aren’t magnificent enough the stained glass roof is as awesome as any church in Europe’s

I also got to go to the Hall of Fame game at the Air Canada Center. I saw three of my all time favorite players, this year’s HOF inductees ( Chelios,Shanahan ,Neidermayer) get acknowledged, Jaromir Jagr play live for the last time probably, and a Leafs win. Well all of three of those were very exciting nothing matched the my first live in person Oh Canada, especially with six 20oz Molsens in me.If you love hockey like I do go to the Hall of Fame and catch a live game anywhere in Canada you’ll love it.

Back to hockey next week: My look at the season at the quarter poll

Sharks - Is this Their Year?

Sharks - Is this Their Year?

- Joe Bartnick 10/29/13

Is this year going to be the Sharks year? It very well could be. After years of playoff disappointments and underachieving the Sharks seemed poised to make a deep run in the playoffs this year. I know it’s not even Halloween yet,but this year’s Sharks team is different. It started last year in the playoffs when they grew a pair and actually played above expectations. Before we take a closer look at the sharks let’s look at their competition in the West. The defending champion Chicago Blackhawks maybe even better this year but repeating is almost impossible to do in today’s NHL. The LA Kings seemed to be in a bit of a funk. Sure the Kings know October doesn’t really matter but Jonathan has been off and a funk can turn into a malaise if it’s not stopped

The Detroit Red Wings moved to the East. The Anaheim Ducks are also off to a hot start but Bruce Boudreau is always Scotty Bowman in October and Bob Berry in May. The St. Louis Blues are a trendy pick but they never score goals when they have to. Remember Ken Hitchcock’s only Cup was given to him when he was the Star’s coach and the refs wanted to go to bed and not another overtime.

Back to the Sharks, they have everything to need to win the Cup. They have scoring depth, solid defense, a great goaltender and they’ve gained some intangibles.

The Sharks signed Logan Couture to a long term contract and made him the cornerstone of the organization moving forward but holdover leaders Joe Thorton and Patrick Marleau aren’t going anywhere and are actually have a renaissance. Martin Havlat , Joe Pavelski and newly minted winger Brett Burns give the Sharks more than a couple guys who can put the biscuit in the basket. Not to mention rookie sensation Tomas Hertl. The Sharks traded for a real tough guy Mike Brown to hopefully replace fake tough guy, cheap shot artist, worthless human Raffi Torres.

The Sharks defense has the two things you want in a defense. It’s tough and it can move the puck. Dan Boyle and Brad Stuart make a great shutdown pair and Marc Edourd Vlasic and Justin Braun are the most underrated defensive pair in the NHL. When Scott Hannan is you’re seventh defensemen, you have a great defensive core.

Shark’s goaltender Antti Niemi won a Stanley Cup in Chicago. He knows what it takes to win four best of sevens.

The Sharks also brought in former Penguin Tyler Kennedy , a winger who has a knack for scoring clutch playoff goals.

I know it’s not November but the Sharks are looking good for next Spring.

For all the of bitter Flyer fans who wanted me to dissect the Rangers disastrous start, I want to let them sleep in their own bed before a game before I say their season is over.

Flyers Stuck In The 70's

Flyers Stuck In The 70's

- Joe Bartnick 10/15/13

I’ll put this right out there. I hate the Flyers. I enjoy a Flyers loss almost as much as a much as a Penguins win. The beauty is they both happen so frequently. The question is why. The answer is the Penguins have a sound management and the Flyers do not. The Flyers are stuck in 1975. The last time they won the Cup. The Chairman of the Flyers Ed Snyder who’s only joy in life is jacking up your cable listens to former Flyer great Bobby Clarke for all his hockey views. Bobby Clarke is the Al Davis of the NFL. Al believed what worked to win in the 70’s would work to win forever. Clarke thinks the Flyers should play like they did in 1975 when he was the star surrounded by a few guys with talent and the rest with prison records. The Broad Street Bully punched their way to the Stanly Cup but that was almost 40 years ago. The NHL and the world changed.

Five years ago the Flyers hired Peter Laviolette to coach their team and I was scared. Lavy was not your standard issue Clarke crony. He knew how to coach talent and had won a Stanley Cup in Carolina of all places. I am now relieved that Lavy was fired 3 games into this season and replaced by former Flyer goon Craig Berube. Berube’s biggest claim to fame is taking bad penalties that have ended talented Flyer team’s playoff runs.

This is how stupid Clark and Flyers GM Paul Holgren are. The Flyers aren’t losing because they don’t play with passion are don’t take enough stupid penalties ( they lead the league in penalty minutes) . They lose because they insist on playing big , slow defensemen that can’t keep up in today’s NHL. They lose because they haven’t had a competent goaltender in two generations and the lose because they traded away a shitload of high end talent (Jeff Carter, Mike Richards, James Van Riemsdyck ) and put their team in the hands of a talented yet immature Captain Claude Giroux.

Flyers fan won’t care. They’re stuck in 1975 too. I’m sure Zac Rinaldo will board and injure some other teams star and all will be right in their world. I hope you Flyers fans are old enough to remember 1975.