While the NHL cannot compete with the coverage that the national media devotes to the NFL, MLB, college b-ball and football and even the NBA at times, it does not mean that the game or the league has nothing to offer. There are few sporting events as dramatic or passion filled as an NHL game between rivals in a sold out arena. Many of my friends in the midwest don't understand this, seeing that basketball is THE winter sport along Interstate 90, stretching from Erie, PA to Chicago (and probably a bit beyond...at least to Joliet).
I have no problem with this...it makes sense. Chicago hasn't had a competitive hockey team in close to two decades, a crime for an Original 6 franchise, with quite possibly the best jerseys in all of sports. While Bill Wirtz was busy running peanut vendors out of the United Center and his team into the cellar, the Bulls were busy winning 6 NBA titles with the most recognizable athlete the world has ever seen.
Heading East from Chicago, you travel through Indiana, which ever since the release of Hoosiers has been generally accepted as the capital of high school basketball. With no pro hockey team in the state, and probably the fewest ice rinks of any northern state, it's no wonder that hockey fans are few and far between.
Ohio isn't much better... Columbus has a gorgeous arena, but who's kidding themselves into believing that the Blue Jackets will ever be anything other than back page news to Ohio State football and basketball. Cleveland's pro hockey days ended after a brief 2 years when the Barons were folded and merged with the Minnesota North Stars (who later moved to Dallas). Hockey in Cleveland has always seemed to have a bit of a cult following, and is scheduled to once again get a minor league AHL team, the Lake Erie Monsters who begin play next fall. Is it any wonder why the NHL can't pull ratings?
Yet the league that has become a punch line in sports media can boast about a few things it does better than any other pro sports league, including it's trading season.
The NHL deadline falls a week earlier than it has in years past, but with approximately 75% of the 82 game season complete teams have a very solid understanding if they are "buyers" or "sellers". The NFL's early deadline (Week 6 of 17...just 35% of the season complete) isn't really conducive to trades at all. With an added emphasis on parity, only if a team is 1-4 or 0-5 are they TRULY out of a playoff spot, unless they play in the NFC, so there's really no need to have a fire sale. Also, when was the last NFL trade of any consequence? Herschell Walker from Dallas for 37 draft picks in 1989? Has there been a trade since then that has had any impact on the league?
Baseball's July 31st deadline occurs with a solid 2 months (about 55 games) remaining, with about 65% of the season complete. Yet the July 31st deadline isn't a true hard and fast deadline. From August 1st to the end of the season players can still be traded, only after they clear waivers. While this means that generally only role players of little consequence are moved after August 1st, it's still possible for teams to acquire an additional bat or defensive specialist for the stretch run.
The NBA's deadline occurs with about 65% of the season complete and though I plead ignorance, appears to be hit and miss. This season only 3 teams were involved in trades on deadline day, and none of the moves were very substantial. Historically there have been some major blockbuster moves close to the deadline, like in 2oo3 (Seattle and Milwaukee's Gary Payton/Ray Allen deal), but for every year that NBA teams are active, it appears the next season's trade deadline is a dud (2000, 2007). What's odd about the NBA deadline is that the deals made never seem to make much of an impact on that current season. The top teams in either conference are hardly ever involved, it's generally bad teams that are attempting to makeover their roster for next season, or teams that get bounced in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
Only in the NHL is the trade deadline as important for the front runners as it is for teams that are mired in basement. Unlike in baseball, there is no second chance to pick up a role player later. For teams that are headed to the playoffs, making a deal is considered almost mandatory. It's generally accepted that a key ingredient in any Stanley Cup winning team, is a player acquired around the deadline.
The Buffalo Sabres' situation has changed in recent days due to an unprecedented streak of injuries to their forwards, but let's think back to two weeks ago. The Sabres had been at the top of the NHL, or within 4 points, since the beginning of the season. For 55 games they had been undoubtedly the top team in the Eastern Conference, and had rivaled Anaheim, Nashville and Detroit all season for the overall league lead in points. The Sabres boasted a team-based offensive attack, unreliant on production from just one line, defensive depth and the best goaltending tandem in the league.
So what was Buffalo sports talk centered upon? The necessity of the Sabres making a deal at the deadline. No matter if a team is 4pts out of the playoff race or if a team is 14 pts up in their division are NHL teams satisfied with standing pat at the deadline.
Nashville has already overpaid for again superstar Petr Forsberg and his 1 healthy foot, despite the fact that Nashville is comfortably heading to the playoffs and already had a potent group of forwards.
Fast forward 6 home games for the Sabres, and suddenly they are missing 7 starters from their lineup. Honestly, it isn't really that big of a deal though. The players injured may be starters, but they don't really contribute that much.
- Chris Drury - team captain, leading goal scorer, best faceoff man, top defensive forward, leads the team in PP goals and is one of the top penalty killers. Oh, Drury is also considered to be soul of the team.
- Max Afinogenov- one of the most dynamic offensive threats on the team and is one of the most elusive players in the leage. Was having a career year before breaking a bone in his hand.
- Paul Guastad - if Drury is the soul of the team, Gaustad is the heart. A physically imposing, versatile player that had played with Drury on the 1st line and Peters and Mair on the 4th line, was a solid faceoff man and could play the wing or center. Was a presence on the ice and one of the Sabres best forecheckers. While his stats will never be eye-popping, "The Goose" had become a beloved player this season for his honest blue-collar effort night in and night out.
- Al Kotalik - played with Drury for most of the season and has the hardest shot on the team. Was a integral part of the PP, simply because teams had to overplay his side, attempting to negate any shots from the high slot. Was 7th on the team in points and one of only 6 players with 10 or more goals at the time of his injury.
- Jiri Novotny - a solid role player that centered Buffalo's 4th line when everyone was healthy. Not the biggest offensive threat, but a responsible two way player.
- Daniel Paille - a rookie who had contributed reasonably well so far and looks to have a strong future with the team in the coming years. A prototypical Buffalo forward, fast, good hands, on the smallish side and scrappy when pressed.
- Jaroslav Spacek - Buffalo's only offseason acquisition has been a disappointment offensively, but posesses a cannon shot from the point and a is a solid defenseman. His return to the lineup provides Lindy Ruff with depth on defense and offense, by allowing Ruff to be flexible with super-rookie Nathan Paetsch.
So, what do I hope Buffalo GM Darcy Regier does at the deadline? Acquire Kevyn Adams from Phoenix. He's gritty, will add toughness, and most importantly is excellent at faceoffs and penalty killing...two areas that no team can win in the "2nd Season" without excelling at. He should be relatively cheap to acquire (a prospect and draft pick should do it), thus allowing Regier to keep his depth at goaltending. Finally, his contract fits in with the room the Sabres have to work with. Here's to Tuesday and here's to the NHL.
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