DEADLINE

In the new capped NHL, it seems to me that more maneuvering goes on in the summer. But this year, trade deadline day was more exciting than I expected. From here on, the only X-factor that remains is injuries. If a team can avoid losing a key player from here on, it should be pretty reasonable to expect a certain level of performance.

That being said, I'll take one last look at my predictions. At this point, I'm 7 for 8 in the East. The odd one out being Buffalo who's tied with Philly and only a point back of Boston (the odd one in). In the West, I'm also 7 for 8. Nashville being the odd one in, while Colorado is 4 points from being in. You can look for yourself at my preseason predictions. (They were a little more ugly)

Northeast notes:
Living in Ottawa, I'm seeing the Senators implode. They seem to have lost their identity as a team. Nonetheless, they picked up a good character player in Lapointe for next to nothing. I'm not sure if it will be enough. Maybe Murrary coming back behind the bench will be. Montreal, right on their tail, shipped off Huet in a bold move. Price has shown that he can carry the load and all indications are that this was a good move by Gainey. I wasn't convinced that Boston had what it takes to make the playoffs and they didn't do anything to change my mind. Buffalo on the other hand continues to beat the odds and play like a winner. They did the smart thing in shipping off Campbell and I think that they'll get by with the young guns they have. Overall, no changes in my predictions here.

Atlantic notes:
New Jersey is still tops here. Pittsburgh, yikes! They paid a heavy price for Hossa. Too much if you ask me. Obviously they want to win now, and the way they're playing I'll put them ahead of the Rangers for second in the division. But they'll miss Armstrong and Christensen now, not to mention what they lose in Esposito and a first rounder. Philly's been sliding lately, but I still think that they'll make the playoffs. The moves they've made keep them competitive in a tight division.

Southeast notes:
At the midway point I said that all the teams except Florida were in need of goaltending help. Sorry Tampa, Mike Smith isn't going to solve your problems this year. On the other hand, Huet and the other moves Washington made make them a contender for the division. They've got some ground to make up on Carolina, but I wouldn't be surprised if they caught them. I don't think that the rest have a shot.

Central notes:
Detroit got some depth on D, which was really their only glaring weakness. They should go deep. The rest of the central is a quagmire that has confused me. Nashville is sitting in a playoff spot, but I don't think it will last. The rest, well, let's just leave them alone until next season.

Northwest notes:
I picked 4 out of 5 teams to make the playoffs and I'm sticking with that pick. Colorado is 4 points out of the eighth spot. Adding Foote and bringing in Foppa is very 'maple-leaf-esque.' Unfortunately for Toronto, it will probably actually work in Colorado.

Pacific notes:
First, I've got to say that Wayne has proved me wrong. The Coyotes seem to be getting things together. All the same, they won't make the playoffs. Dallas has surprised me, and they made a big move in landing Brad Richards. Now I think that they'll go deep, and maybe, just maybe, Turco will silence the critics in May. The Sharks are improved and the Ducks keep on getting better. All in all, I think that come June, a Western Conference team will be hoisting the Cup.

I feel sorry for this guy....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=TcEink9PE9k

Highlights to here

Adam Proteau put out an invitation that I couldn't turn down. In one of his recent columns (http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/12878-Screen-Shots-My-utopian-NHL.html) he describes his ideal NHL. He asked hockey fans to tell him what their ideal NHL would look like. I sent him the email below, which is essentially a highlight reel of this blog. Here's hoping One Hockey Fan gets some lines on thehockeynews.com

Hi Adam,

Every now and then I rant a little on my blogspot about making changes to the good old hockey game. I couldn't pass up your invitation to pass on my ideas about improving the hockey industry. Here's a brief summary of some of my ideas:

The International Showcase

• Olympics
  
• Olympic participants must be under 25 years old.
• No NHL would lose more than one goalie and 4 skaters to Olympic participation.
• Of the 10 participating nations, the bottom 4 would have first selection. Then, an IIHF draft for the top 6 countries to select their players from the NHL.
• No league shutdown during the games, just a lighter schedule.
• World Cup
• Tournament held midway between Olympic years instead of All-Star game.
• 6 teams, two pools, 9 games total over 7-10 days.
• All games in North America in NHL cities.
• Other
• Between Olympics and World Cups replace All-Star game with a showcase game between reigning European club champion and Stanley Cup champion.

League Structure

• No conferences, 5 divisions of 6 teams
• Top 16 teams divided geograhpically into 4 pools (NE, SE, SW, NW) for initial home and away round robin playoff round
• Top 2 teams from each pool advance to best of 7 quarterfinals (1NE vs 2SE, 1SE vs 2SW, 1SW vs 2NW, 1NW vs 2NE) with home ice advantage determined by regular season points.
• Semifinals based on regular season points 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3.
• Relocate Phoenix back to Winnipeg, Nashville to Southern Ontario, Atlanta or Florida to Quebec City, and NY Islanders to Hartford
• Or bottom two teams relegated to AHL and top two AHL teams promoted to NHL (replace "minor league affiliation" with "player on loan" or "tier transfer" agreement)

Rules

• 4 on 4 in OT in playoffs.
• New arenas constructed to be able to have IIHF size ice. Targeted move to larger ice surface by 2020.
• Have shoot out at the beginning of every game and use results only if needed.
• No linesmen, three referees.
• Get rid of delay of game for accidentally putting puck out of play.

Hope you like.
-One Hockey Fan

The Solution for the Leafs

The solution is not trading Mats Sundin, although that might happen.

The solution is not firing John Ferguson Jr., althought that might happen.

The solution is not firing Paul Maurice.

The solution is not blowing up the team.

The solution lies deeper.

The solution to the Maple Leafs troubles is competition in their market.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are a gold mine. The ownership/board of MLSE has staked their claim and are cashing in. It doesn't matter at all what the product on the ice is. The ACC sells out every game. Even fans that don't go to games help the cause with their purchase of jerseys, hats, posters, t-shirts, underwear, socks, slippers, nail clippers, mud flaps, etc. etc. etc.

As long as this continues, the problems will go on and on.

The best thing that could happen to the Leafs is a team in Mississauga, Hamilton, Kitchener-Waterloo, or London. Sure, it would take a while to develop the fan base. Afterall, those Leaf fans are pretty darn loyal to the blue and white in spite of the perpetual mediorcaty. But, I would bet that there are enough disgruntled fans willing to defect.

Unfortunately, its not going to happen any time soon. Mr. Bettman won't let it happen on his watch.

So Leaf fans, its up to you. If you want to see a better product on the ice, unite and let your voices be heard. Go down to those NHL offices in Toronto and start begging for another team in the GTA or southern Ontario.

Mid-season adjustments

We're halfway through the 07-08 season and I figured it might be worthwhile to revisit my earlier predictions (in parentheses).

Northeast
x-1. Ottawa (x-1)
x-2. Montreal (4)
x-3. Buffalo (x-2)
4. Toronto (x-3)
5. Boston (5)

I still have no doubt that Ottawa will win the division. I thought that second would be a toss up between the Leafs and the Sabres, but the Habs have put things together in spite of slumping Mikey Ryder. Leafs fans take heart--the Leafs have improved enough to make the playoffs....next year. Ok, they still might make it ahead of the Sabres.

Atlantic
x-1. New Jersey (x-3)
x-2. NYRangers (x-1)
x-3. Pittsburgh (x-2)
x-4. Philadelhpia (4)
5. NYIslanders (5)

I had said that I wouldn't be surprised if the Devils tanked. I also said that Brodeur is "the safe bet." The Devils have overcome their tough road start and seem to be gelling under Sutter. I dropped the Rangers to no. 2 because Jagr seems to have forgotten how to tie his skates.

Southeast
x-1. Carolina (x-1)
2. Washington (4)
3. Tampa bay (3)
4. Atlanta (x-2)
5. Florida (5)

I had pegged this as the weakest division in the league. Has anyone seen a goaltender? The only good goalie in the division (Vokoun) doesn't have anyone skating in front of him. The wildcard here is Tampa. How can a team play so good at home and stink so bad on the road? If they get it together, they might make playoff spot no. 8.

Central
x-1. Detroit (x-1)
2. St.Louis (x-2)
3. Chicago (4)
4. Columbus (5)
5. Nashville (3)

St.Louis? Nope, not anymore. I thought that Andy Murray would get them into the playoffs. He will, next year. Nashville has tanked even more than I expected. I thought that the Jackets would tank it, but Hitch and Leclaire are giving them some sense of credibility.

Northwest
x-1. Vancouver
x-2. Minnesota
x-3. Colorado
x-4. Calgary
5. Edmonton

This is a quality division, and I made some quality predictions. No changes here.

Pacific
x-1. Anaheim (x-1)
x-2. San Jose (x-2)
x-3. Dallas (3)
4. Phoenix (5)
5. Los Angeles (4)

I thought that this would be the easiest division to pick. In spite of their rocky start, the Ducks and Sharks are should still end up in spots one and two. I'm glad that I didn't put any money on my bet "that the Kings will land a goaltender that wears No. 29 for a pretty good NHL East team." Then Brian Burke give Phoenix a free goaltender and its the Kings who are the cellar dwellers. Surprisingly the Stars aren't fading the way that I thought. All the same, please Wayne, follow the lead of your peers (Yzerman, Hull, Francis, etc.) move upstairs to the office.

There you have it. I'll check back after the trade deadline.