Monday Musings

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Written on 9/27/2010 by Jim Cerny

Here's a quick analysis of the top stories from this past weekend in the NHL:

Streit Headed Straight to IR
It can't be easy being an Islanders fan. Or being Garth Snow or Scott Gordon, for that matter. The team holds an open scrimmage for their fans to get excited about its young up-and-coming team, and what happens? The Islanders top defenseman, Mark Streit, suffers a major shoulder injury when checked by teammate Matt Moulson. Word is that Streit will miss 6 months of action due to damage in the labrum and rotator cuff. Other than an injury to John Tavares, could you think of a more important player to go down for the luckless Islanders? I sure can't. Streit is invaluable to this team. It's No. 1 defenseman. It's power play quarterback. A legit 50-60 point player from the back end. A 25-minute per-night ice hog. Respected locker room, and on ice, leader. Barring a trade, and reports say the Isles have no interest in Edmonton's Sheldon Souray, look to James Wisniewski, Jack Hillen, and Andrew McDonald as defensemen asked to step up up offensively. Yikes! What a comedown from Streit, in my opinion one of the most underrated blueliners in the game. Perhaps 19 year-old Calvin de Haan will get a longer look now, though he, too, is coming off shoulder surgery from last season. Plus several scouts have expressed their doubts about de Haan to me, though most reports have him pegged as a solid offensive defenseman. Bottom line, though, Streit's long-term departure is a crippling blow to the Islanders, one that only could be surpassed by a similar injury to Tavares.

Redden Waives Goodbye to Broadway
The news that defenseman Wade Redden was placed on waivers by the Rangers on Saturday was expected. The veteran's play has been in a steep decline for years and his $6.5 million salary cap hit has been an albatross for GM Glen Sather for three seasons. But anytime a team is willing to pay a player that much money not to play---or at least to do so in some minor league outpost like Hartford---is still somewhat of a surprise. I have not spoken yet with Redden, but you would think he and his agent Don Meehan have been preparing for this moment all summer and have thought out all of their options. To keep collecting his mega-salary, Redden must report to the Rangers AHL affiliate. But he and Meehan could try and broker a deal in Europe, similar to what Blackhawks unwanted goalie Christobal Huet has done this season. Either way, Redden is finished on Broadway. And while it is the right move for the team to make, it shouldn't be lost in all of this that Redden is a decent, well-intentioned person. Redden was All-Class all the time. He is not the monster Rangers fans would have you believe. In fact, he is the exact opposite. And I wish Wade and his wife Danica, who just gave birth to the couple's first child last Wednesday, the best moving forward.

Calling Jose Theodore! Calling Jose Theodore!
Josh Harding's gruesome knee injury in which he suffered not only a torn MCL, but a shredded ACL, as well, has Minnesota on the lookout for a No. 2 goalie to play behind Niklas Backstrom this season. While 20 year-old Matt Hackett is viewed as the Wild's goalie of the future, he needs more seasoning and would not benefit playing 20-odd games behind Backstrom. And minor league backstop Anton Khudobin, while being talked up by GM Chuck Fletcher, doesn't fit the bill either. But at the right price, a veteran like 34 year-old Jose Theodore (30 wins, .911 save percentage, 2.81 goals against in Washington last year) or Vesa Toskala (not so pretty in Toronto and Calgary) would be a nice addition. And why wouldn't the price be right? Better to be the Wild's No. 2 than sitting out, staying in shape, and waiting for the phone to ring during the season, all while NOT being paid a cent. Minnesota will head to Finland to begin the season shortly, so Fletcher needs to make a decision soon. If I'm Theodore, I'd make sure my passport is ready to go.

Burke Says Kadri Not Such a Sure Thing
Ok, I'll admit it. When thinking about who the top rookies would be in the NHL this season, I always, and I mean every single time, had Toronto's Nazem Kadri near the top of my list. Not so fast, according to Toronto GM Brian Burke who came down hard on the 19 year-old center this weekend. Burke flat out said that, though, Kadri survived a round of cuts, the kid hasn't shown anything in the pre-season that leads the Maple Leafs to believe he can contribute at the NHL level this season. OUCH! Kadri was a 35-goal, 93 point player in London last year, and his arrival in Toronto has been eagerly anticipated by Leafs fans ever since he was selected in the first round of the 2009 draft. That wait now may just be a bit longer. Burke is a straight shooter. While his words had to have some motivational meaning behind them, I really believe that Burke right now is leaning towards farming the kid out. Kadri's got this week to pick up his play. Let's see how he reacts to a taste of adversity.

Youngsters Shine in Edmonton
19 year-old wing Magnus Paajarvi netted a Hat Trick late last week. 20 year-old Jordan Eberle makes the highlights with two pretty goals and an assist last night. 18 year-old first-overall pick Taylor Hall has a goal and two assists in his first two games. And 23 year-old Linus Omark thrills with his goal-scoring prowess. I know it's only the pre-season, but the Oilers look like they have a lot to be excited about---not just this season, but thinking long-term---with the play of these four exciting rookies. Edmonton coach Tom Renney was loathe to play the kids when he coached the Rangers in the all-consuming win-now atmosphere. But is he now willing to take on this many kids and let them grow together, knowing the inevitable bumps in the road which will come on a regular basis, perhaps more often than victories, to start? I hope so. The potential for the Oilers to be one of the more intriguing and exciting teams to watch this season is growing by the day. Let the Kids Play, Tom!

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US Wins WJC Gold in Overtime

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Written on 1/06/2010 by Jim Cerny


Wow! That was fun!!

Team USA won the Gold Medal at the 2010 World Junior Championships last night in Saskatoon, 6-5 over five-time defending-champ Canada on defenseman John Carlson's overtime goal. And what a thrilling, exciting, emotional, and just plain fun contest it was.

Back and forth on the scoreboard. Back and forth chances on the ice. Hard hitting. Passionate. Intense. Complete with a tremendous rally by Canada which received a pair of goals from Jordan Eberle in the closing minutes to make a 5-3 game 5-5 as the home-town fans erupted in ear-splitting delerium.

And then it all is decided in overtime. Both teams with chances during the 4-on-4. Finally Carlson hops up to not only join a rush, but lead it, from his defense position, creating an odd-man advantage. His left wing shot, after a nifty shoulder fake, is true blue.

Make that, true Red, White, and Blue.

Was it a perfectly-played game? Far from it. The goaltending on both sides left much to be desired, as did commitment to defensive play. But who cares? This was a really, really fun game to watch between a pair of very talented programs. No losers here. Not the ones who earned gold. And not the ones who wear silver today, either. And most definitely not those who were fortunate enough to watch the final act of this great tournament.

As for the Rangers' prospects I touted yesterday, well, they all delivered for Team USA.

Chris Kreider, the Rangers' first round pick in 2009, put the US on the board by scoring his sixth goal of the tourny in the opening period, a quick rising shot from the left circle off a rush. Exactly the type of goal the Rangers are not scoring enough of at the NHL level these days. Kreider's speed is well-advertised, and was on display in full last night. What is not as advertised is his passion, and he showed plenty of it on the big stage last night.

Derek Stepan, a secound rounder from 2008 who captained Team USA, was among the best players in the entire tournament, leading all scorers with 14 points and 10 assists. A real heart-and-soul player, with a solid yet-not-dynamic skill set, Stepan played big in the biggest game of the tourny last night. He took the big faceoffs, logged major time on both specialty teams, and when the game was tied 3-3 in the third period Stepan assisted on the go-ahead score and then tallied the goal that put the US up 5-3 moments later.

Not surprisingly Stepan took home much hardware following the game, voted to the all-tourny team, named Team USA's Player of the Game. But most importantly he took home a gold medal, and was the first to touch the tournament trophy.

And Ryan Bourque, son of Hall-of-Famer Ray and the Rangers' third round pick in 2009, played an integral part in last night's win, as well. In fact Bourque, who assisted on Team USA's second goal of the game and was a real sparkplug on the forecheck all night, nearly scored the game-winner off a slick move into the high slot two minutes before Carlson's memorable goal.

All in all a great night for hockey's future, and not just because I'm from the United States and Team USA grabbed the gold. It was great theater, and a great selling point for hockey, no matter the winner or loser, though I will say that I agree with NHL Network analyst Dave Starman who said that this game and tournament is the type to inspire American youngsters to play this great game of hockey. Maybe that's why a US victory was more important than a Canadian one. Perhaps.

And speaking of Starman, great work my friend. Not only last night, but throughout the entire 2010 World Junior Championships.

Just like the teams you covered on the ice.

Congrats Team Canada.

And congrats Team USA. 2010 WJC Gold Medal winners!

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