Another NHL lockout? Fans say NO!

With the NHL Players Association introducing a new executive director and extending the current collective bargaining agreement until the end of the 2011/2012 season, one has to wonder if hockey fans can expect another battle and possibly a lockout.

Even though players are now raking in more dough than ever, the current CBA obviously works for both sides. The fact that teams have been allowed to spend more on player salaries each year not only says players are reaping the benefits, but also that NHL revenues have gone up each year since the current CBA was ratified in 2005.

So after six years under the current CBA, which we all had to pay for with a long winter without hockey, fans are starting to get squeamish once again with rhetoric building on both sides.

One of the clear indicators that the NHLPA is gearing up for a fight in the next round of negotiations is the hiring of former Major League Baseball Players Association executive director, Donald Fehr.

This is a man with a reputation of being a rugged, hardnosed negotiator and he is also credited for skyrocketing salaries in the MLB. When he was leader of the MLBPA from 1983 to 2009, we all watched in amazement as player salaries shot from an average $289,000 USD to over $3 million USD.

Fehr was also heralded by some for his negotiation skills when the MLB demanded a salary cap. However, he won that battle, as team payrolls and player salaries continue to rise to astronomical heights (see Alex Rodriguez at $275 million over 10 years). In essence, Fehr has been a major factor in why the MLB is the way it is today. The fact that he is now leading the NHLPA causes puck junkies everywhere to cringe.

After the New Jersey Devils mortgaged part of their future to acquire the dynamic Ilya Kovalchuck from the Atlanta Thrashers last season, general manager Lou Lamoriello took a big gamble and signed Kovalchuk to a monstrous 17-year contract at a cost of over $100 million.

With a CBA that was supposed to put an end to these mammoth contracts, the NHL obviously failed and they are happening more and more. As teams scramble to hold on to their assets in a competitive league, players are now richer than ever.
For example, mega-star Alex Ovechkin’s long-term deal with the Washington Capitals at 13 years and $123 million and the enigmatic Vincent Lecavalier signing in Tampa Bay for 11 years and $85 million.

With Fehr at the helm for the players association, can we expect more of these types of deals in future? Probably so, as the NHLPA is not expected to “lay down” in these negotiations as many believe they did in 2005.

When it comes down to it, hockey fans all over can agree that these next two years will be somewhat nerve-racking. Both sides will be jockeying for support and leverage, and the rhetoric will start to heat up as 2012 comes closer.

After the lost season in 2005 there is little reason to believe that the NHL would consider locking out the players for the second time in a decade with so much at stake. Since the lockout, revenues have gone up, along with attendance (in most NHL arenas), and interest in the game has started to pick up in the United States and overseas.

With whispers of a major TV deal in the United States, both the NHL and the NHLPA would be wise to not mess with what little steam they have in the US markets. In Canada the game will always be loved regardless, but in the United States, another lockout is not worth taking the risk.

Toronto fans and media turn down the heat…for now

Over the course of the 2010/2011 NHL season, fans and media in Toronto have vented their frustrations on a variety of key members of the Leafs current squad. A cantankerous Ron Wilson has been the recipient of boos, chants, and constant calls for his firing. Leafs captain, and six-million-dollar-man, Dion Phaneuf has also been jeered by fans and his talents and demeanor constantly called into question by pundits. The ridiculously talented but streaky Phil Kessel has been, and always will be, reminded of what the Leafs gave up to bring him into the fold.

But amidst all this chaos and madness in the world’s most hockey paranoid city, this young Leafs squad has evidently found a way to make all that jeering and paranoia sub cede. Win.

Who would have known that all it would take was to string together some wins and play some solid, not spectacular, but just solid hockey? Since the calendar switched over to 2011, the Leafs have a 16-8-6 record. Something to be proud of.
With fans getting giddy over the prospect of the Leafs making the playoffs for the first time in seven years (as of today they sit four points out of a playoff seed), the burning spotlight on Wilson and company has dimmed. All the while Leafs nation has forgotten why they were so angry in December.

With 15 games left to play, two games in hand on the seventh place New York Rangers, and some inspiring play there is a chance the Leafs can squeak into the playoffs, but it’s still an uphill battle. In order to get there the Leafs have to leapfrog the Carolina Hurricanes and more importantly, the Buffalo Sabres, a division rival who the Leafs face two more times before season’s end.

History tells us that a team in tenth place with 15 games remaining will not make the playoffs, but it has happened in the past. Last season, the Philadelphia Flyers needed a shootout win in their last game of the season to clinch a spot in the playoffs. They got the two points, went into the playoffs, and we all know how that turned out. The Flyers knocked off every team in the Eastern Conference and moved on to compete for the Stanley Cup. They ended up losing to the Chicago Blackhawks, but the fact is anything can happen if a team makes the playoffs.

However, the Leafs also have to get some help from other teams in the NHL in order for them to make the playoffs. Simply put, the Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, and New York Rangers all need to lose. In the meantime, all the Leafs can do is continue to win games for themselves and hope for the best.

But what if the Leafs don’t make the playoffs and fizzle out down the stretch? Will Toronto go back to their old ways and call for the axe on coach Ron Wilson, badger Dion Phaneuf, bemoan the Kessel deal? Only time will tell, but something tells me this young squad is much different than past Leaf rosters. They have youth, swagger, talent, and are beaming with confidence. These are things that haven’t been felt at the ACC for a long time. Leafs fans should also remember that building a team through youth takes time. And that’s exactly what Brian Burke and company are trying to do.

A Tribute to Hockey Heroes

I can remember my parents letting me stay up past my bedtime to watch the stars of the National Hockey League dazzle fans with their skills. With my L.A. Kings pajamas on and Bob Cole calling the game on Hockey Night in Canada, I would admire the NHL stars of the 1990’s from my basement. It’s a common experience growing up in Canada. I for one will never forget watching my favourite player set the pace of a game and become one of the most respected players in NHL history.

And, while that Hockey Night in Canada scene was playing out in the Doner household, things weren’t that much different in the homes of the guys who did grow up to be hockey stars in their own right.

In Toronto, in the 70’s, Craig Muni cheered for Bobby Orr as he wowed fans with his skill and led his team to two Stanley Cup championships in the 70’s. Just north in Richmond Hill in the 80’s, Jeff O’Neill shouted loud and clear for his hero Wayne Gretzky as he completely dominated the game with his marvelous offensive talent.
Every generation has its handful of hockey heroes. Sometimes from the home team, sometimes from the other side of the continent, these players were the stuff of nickel bets for ten year olds and first drafts to fantasy teams for the older set. We remember the plays, the amazing last minute goals, the stickhandling and the power when the gloves came off in a spirited scrap.

Whether it was Howie Morenz in the twenties and thirties, Maurice ‘the Rocket’ Richard in the fifties, ‘the Golden jet’ Bobby Hull in the sixties, or Wayne Gretzky in the eighties and nineties, every generation of hockey fan can tell you how important these players were to them growing up.

For me, that player was, ‘Burnaby Joe.’ In an astounding 20 seasons in the NHL, Joe Sakic, of Burnaby, British Columbia, accomplished just about everything a hockey player could imagine. Two Stanley Cups, 12 NHL All-Star appearances, an Olympic gold medal in 2002, a Hart trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player, a Lady Byng trophy as most sportsmanlike player, a Lester B. Pearson Award for player of the year as voted by his peers, a Conn Smythe trophy as the most valuable player in the playoffs, and a reputation as one of the classiest players in the game round out his impressive resume.

Adrian Dater of the Denver Post has covered Joe Sakic and the Colorado Avalanche closely since the team moved to Denver from Quebec City in 1995. He said, “nobody would have cared how classy he was if he wasn't a great player. He had one of the most accurate shots in NHL history. He brought the same attitude to the rink every day, win or lose. And he never got too high or low.”

Sakic used that shot to get his name into the NHL record books as he climbed his way up the NHL all-time scoring list as one of the most prolific scorers the game has seen. With his lethal wrist shot as his best weapon, Sakic fired 625 goals and 1,641 points in an amazing 1,378 regular season games. However, he might be remembered for his many clutch performances in the playoffs, where he managed 84 goals and 188 points in 172 games.

All the awards and on-ice achievements aren’t the only reasons why so many loved Sakic growing up. But it was also the way he carried himself off the ice, the way he spoke to the media, and the way his teammates would talk about how he was a quiet leader who led by example.

In the later years of his career, Joe played on a Colorado Avalanche team that was rebuilt into a team of rookies and sophomores. Dater said Sakic was the best mentor that has ever been with the team. Budding star, Matt Duchene was apparently a big fan, as Sakic helped him adjust to the NHL in his rookie season. “Duchene never played with Sakic (on the same line), but he still talks about him all the time as a huge influence,” said Dater.

In his early days as a young journalist, Dater recalls meeting Sakic. “For some reason, I still remember him telling me, ‘hope you brought your overcoat,’ on the bus heading to the airport for the Avs' very first road trip in 1995. That just stands out to me, as being a kind of friendly gesture, to a nobody reporter on his very first assignment,” said Dater.

“I've said before and still mean it, he’s the classiest guy I ever covered, for a player so good. He truly is a nice man, and he was great to me from the first minute I ever talked to him, starting with a phone call to him in Quebec when the team was first sold.”

It’s not only how Sakic worked with the press and fans during his years as a player, but there was also an immense amount of respect among his peers. In a game that is sometimes considered one of the toughest in the world, Sakic let his play and winning attitude do the talking. His Lady Byng and Lester B. Pearson awards speak for themselves, but so do the players he played against.

Jeff O’Neill, an NHL player who skated with the Carolina Hurricanes and Toronto Maple Leafs until his retirement in 2008, remembers Sakic as one of the ultimate hockey players and competitors. “He’s one of the classiest guys you’ll ever play against. I remember one time he butt-ended me by accident in the face after I tried to win a draw and he actually apologized,” O’Neill told Over the Boards Hockey.” “That’s how classy he was. He’s a top shelf guy.”

Three-time Stanley Cup winner, Craig Muni also knows how important Sakic has been to the game of ice hockey and its fans. “For the longest part he was underrated and he did a lot more than people gave him credit for, especially during his time in Quebec,” said Muni.

“He was a total leader and a total player. I’ve heard nothing but great things about him off the ice as well. To me he’ll always be one of the guys I know that has one of those great shots. It was so quick and so accurate.”

Sakic became widely respected for what he did when the Colorado Avalanche won their second Stanley Cup in 2001. As team captain, Sakic received the trophy first, but before raising it over his head, immediately passed the cup to veteran teammate, Ray Bourque, who had never won a Stanley Cup in 21 NHL seasons until that day.

But, you don’t wind up in the NHL without some heroes of your own. Jeff O’Neill was playing junior hockey in Guelph, Ont., when Wayne Gretzky was in his prime and Doug Gilmour was gaining a reputation as a scrappy, heart and soul, scorer with the Calgary Flames and Maple Leafs. “I was always a Gretzky fan growing up. 99 for the Oilers. And then as I got older, and just before Gilmour went to the Leafs, I was a huge Gilmour fan,” said O’Neill.

O’Neill idolized these guys for the same reasons that everyone else did. “Gretzky was just captivating; he was the best player in the world, the way he passed. The finesse,” O’Neill said.

Being the rugged, stay-at-home defenseman that he was in the eighties and nineties, Craig Muni also had his heroes growing up. He lists Bobby Orr, Borje Salming, Bobby Baun, and Larry Robinson as his main influences. “They played the same position as I did. I appreciated how they played. Bobby Orr being able to control the game and dominate a game, his skating and style of play,” Muni mused.

Although, perhaps, lacking some of Orr’s finesse, Muni’s other favourites had playing styles similar to his own. “Salming was one of the first successful Europeans to come over and control the pace of a game. Bobby Baun was just more a hardnosed, rugged defenseman blocking shots and Robinson was a combination of all of the above.”

As one of the league’s best shot-blockers in his prime, Muni recalls watching his idols closely to learn how to mimic their moves. “Nobody really per se taught me how to block shots it was more watching those guys do it, and kind of just trial and error,” said Muni.

As the childhood NHL heroes of my generation are almost all retired, there is no doubt that the next crop of superstars is taking over. Sidney Crosby, one of the NHL’s brightest stars, is leading the way as the new poster child. Looking at the NHL right now, Muni thinks Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin lead the way. “I love to watch Ovechkin play because of how he plays and the passion he plays with, but Crosby is up there as well. He’s more that homegrown Canadian boy,” said Muni.

O’Neill agrees when it comes to Crosby. “Sid the Kid is pretty much top shelf. He’s the best player in the league and he represents the league well, he speaks well and keeps his nose out of trouble. He seems like a good kid, a good person,” said O’Neill. “Steven Stamkos is following right in line. I think he’s just a good Canadian kid and leads by example. He does all the right things, so I think the league is definitely in good hands.”

When it comes to Washington Capitals star, Alex Ovechkin, O’Neill thinks he leads in a different way. “He’s kind of the flashier kind of different type of player. But the NHL needs a guy like that. He’s probably the second best player in the world in my mind and I think that he represents the game very well too, just in a different manner.”

In the end, the game is all about the fans. And that is something that most professional players never forget, even when they have had success. Despite having won three Stanley Cups, Muni directly referenced his childhood when talking about what it was like to win the elusive championship. “You grow up as a kid wanting to play in the NHL and win the Stanley Cup and you always play street hockey and pretend to score the winning goal in game seven in overtime,” said Muni. “It’s all that. All you would dream of and everything you always thought it would be.

Iginla on the trade block?

CBC's Elliot Friedman and Erik Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail have both commented on the possibility of the Flames trading Jarome Iginla. Friedman even said that there are some people high up in the Flames organization that would like to see Iginla gone. I for one have no idea what is going on in the Flames organization, but the Flames need commit to a complete rebuild, which I'm not sure they will under Sutter, and cut ties with Iginla. However, in these types of situations teams rarely get equal return (see the Ottawa Senators with Heatley and the Boston Bruins with Thornton).

When I look at this team though, I feel that Iginla just doesnt fit in anymore. He is one of the most competitive, toughest, and talented players in the league, and at age 33, I think he still has a couple good years of hockey left in him. If he does go on the trade block, Sutter needs to assure Flames fans, that he will get solid young talent in return.

In my opinion, the best move for Sutter right now is to start fielding offers and keep the media out of it until there is something to report.

As for where I think he could go, it's hard to say. But I would have to think Ottawa Senators GM Bryan Murray would make a pitch. As would the Pittsburgh Penguins, St. Louis Blues, Los Angeles Kings, and Montreal Canadiens. However, most of these teams would need to move some serious cap space.

What's next for the Leafs?

As the losses pile up, the Toronto Maple Leafs' hot start is becoming a distant and fuzzy memory. Having gone 4-0 to start the season, optimism amongst Leaf fans was rapidly growing. Since then, the Leafs have come back down to earth, going 1-4-1 in their last six games. This is in large part due to a complete lack of offense, especially on the power play, where the Leafs converted 21 chances into only two goals in their last six games.

While their defensive play remains strong, the Leafs simply do not have enough scoring. Phil Kessel, the Leafs lone sniper, faces opposing teams top defenders every game and until the Leafs have more secondary scoring, keeping them off the scoreboard will be relatively easy.

So this past week when word came out that Burke had received a couple "solid" trade offers, nobody was surprised. This team needs more scoring, Burke knows this and rival GM's are circling the Leafs hoping that they make a panic move. There hasn't been much information on who these trade proposals include, but there has been speculation that the Leafs could be talking to a familiar trade partner in the Boston Bruins.

Here's a hypothetical look at who could be on the trade market that might interest the Leafs.

Blake Wheeler (Boston Bruins). Wheeler has some offensive upside, but has failed to produce on a consistent basis. Signed to an entry level contract by the Bruins in 2008, Wheeler was expected to provide secondary scoring. But so far this season, Wheeler has only tallied two points in eight games. Having scored 85 points in 171 career NHL games, Wheeler's point plateau seems to be around 40-45 points. At $2.2 million for this year, Wheeler's cap hit is large for his production, but he will become a free agent this summer.

Brad Richards (Dallas Stars). He's not going to the Leafs, but I do believe he will be traded this season, unless the Stars stay in the race for a playoff push. In the last year of a large contact that pays him a monstrous $7.8 million per season, Richards will once again head into unrestricted free agency as one of the NHL's best playmaking centremen. Also, Richards is off to another hot start with 14 points in ten games. There's no doubt that the Leafs would be better with Richards, but it remains to be seen if they have what the Stars would seek in return. Probably not.

David Backes name has been thrown around out on the trade rumor market, much to my surprise. I would definitely think the Leafs have interest in the young forward, but why would St. Louis let this guy go? He is up for a new contract this summer, and negotiations with the Blues have apparently been shelved, but I think the Blues get his name on a new contract. With five points in his first nine games this season, Backes is on pace for a 40-45 point season. In his career he has 72 goals and 161 points in 291 games, with 424 penalty minutes. The offensive potential and the toughness is something Burke would covet in this American bruiser. But, the Blues also see this.

The New Jersey Devils are also apparently interested in shoring up their defense. There have been rumors floating around that Burke and Lamoriello could be talking trade. But who would the Leafs get? Kovalchuk and Parise aren't going anywhere. Zajac? There's a small possibility, but probably not. Langenbrunner? Why would the Leafs do that?

All in all, what this tells us is that there aren't many big talented centres on the trade market. It's a hard commodity to come by, and the Leafs might be stuck with what they've got for now.

Saturday news and notes

It's a big night in the NHL, as there are 14 games on the schedule. Here's a look at the Canadian teams in action and some other news and notes.

- Florida Panthers at Montreal Canadiens. The NHL's hottest team will host one of the worst. The Habs have won their last four games in a row. Price has been excellent in goal, with six wins so far. Habs fans seem to have finally warmed up to Price...for now. Tomas Plekanec and Andrei Kostitsyn have led the team offensively, with 10 points a piece. Rookie defenseman, P.K. Subban has managed a respectable 6 points. Price will start in goal tonight. The Habs might get some additional help back tonight, with defenseman Andrei Markov expected to return from injury.

The Florida Panthers are currently in rebuild mode, which means it's going to be a tough season in Miami. Veteran defenseman, Bryan McCabe is leading the team with seven points, while the Vokoun has provided solid goaltending having faced 188 shots already.

- Boston Bruins at Ottawa Senators. The Boston Bruins have been solid. Tim Thomas is doing what I thought he would do and proving that he is still an elite goalie. He has two shut outs, five wins, no losses, and a .981 save percentage. Newcomer Nathan Horton has been a great fit thus far, leading the team in offense, with nine points in seven games. Tough guy, Milan Lucic has also stepped up his game, with seven points in as many games.

The Ottawa Senators on the other hand, have looked lost for the most of this young season. Goaltending and a lack of production from their top forwards have been the major factors in the Senators slow start. They will get some help tonight, however, as centre, Jason Spezza will return to action. They are on a two game win streak, so they hope to keep the momentum going against Boston tonight.

New York Rangers at Toronto Maple Leafs. Both the Rangers and Leafs have been struggling as of late, so both teams will come out hard tonight. The Rangers have lost two in a row and will try to get back on track with Lundqvist starting in goal. So far, Ryan Callahan is the scoring leader for the Rangers with 10 points in nine games.

The Toronto Maple Leafs started off the season as one of the NHL's best teams. They have come back down to earth over their last four games however, and will look to get their offense ticking once again. The Leafs will be without forward, Colby Armstrong, who broke his hand last week. The Leafs will go back to veteran Jean-Sebastian Giguere in net, who has won four of his six starts. Phil Kessel remains Toronto's highest scorer, with seven goals and nine points. The Leafs might also be without forward Kris Versteeg, who is dealing with back problems.

- Washington Capitals at Calgary Flames. The Washington Capitals have gotten off to a decent start again this season, with young goalie Michael Neuvirth's stellar play. Ovechkin unsurprisingly leads his team with 10 points, while playmaker Niklas Backstrom has struggled with only six points.

The Calgary Flames have been playing well, sitting at 6-4-0 on the season. This is due to some timely scoring from newly signed, Brendan Morrison, who leads the team with nine points. Calgary's defense seems to have tightened up this season, and Miikka Kiprusoff has continued to play well. He will get the start in goal against the Caps.

- The New York Islanders visit the Philadelphia Flyers at 7:00pm. The Isles have been kicking on all cylinders offensively, but will look to snap out of a three game losing streak. Defenseman James Wisniewski leads the team in points despite missing two games to suspension, with 11 points in eight games. He has been on fire this season. Sophomore, John Tavares, has also been playing well, with 8 points in 7 games. Rick DiPietro will start in goal for the Islanders tonight.

The Flyers have been mediocre so far this season, but Claude Giroux has carried over his playoff heroics into this season, leading the team with 6 goals and 9 points. Despite having fired 40 shots in goal in 10 games, Jeff Carter has struggled on the score sheet thus far, with only three goals in 10 games. There's no confirmation on who will start in goal tonight, but Bobrovsky stated last night, so the team might opt to give Boucher the start.

- Pittsburgh Penguins at Carolina Hurricanes. The Pittsburgh Penguins have struggled so far this season, mostly due to sloppy play from starting goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury. Brent Johnson has posted far better numbers than Fleury, and should this continue, coach Bylsma will opt to give the hot hand more starts. The Pens will try to stop a two game losing skid tonight. Sidney Crosby leads the team with 13 points and defenseman Kris Letang has been solid with 11 points. Johnson is likely to start in goal.

The Carolina Hurricanes have showed some promise this season with rookie Jeff Skinner helping create offense. Skinner and Eric Staal lead the team with 7 points. Goaltender, Cam Ward has been given the bulk of starts this season, but coach Paul Maurice will give Justin Peters a chance to show his worth. Peters could get a start as soon as tonight.

- Andrew Raycroft will start his first game of the season for the Dallas Stars against the Chicago Blackhawks tonight.

Leafs on the verge of a trade?

Toronto's AM 640 reports that there might be a trade on the go for the Maple Leafs. Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke told AM 640 that he has received two solid trade offers in the last two days. There are no details on who or what these trades consist of, but with Burke's comments, the speculation will continue to grow.

More to follow as the details to come in.