2013: The NHL season that almost wasn't

Maybe it's time to give Horcoff a little credit. Oilers get off to a red hot start, Horcoff gets injured and they go in the tank for a month, especially the last week where they played some truly dreadful hockey. Horcoff comes back on Sunday night and they beat the Blackhawks, jumping out to a 4-0 lead before hanging on to win 6-5 -- Dubnyk got hurt in the second period while they were up 4-2.

 

I didn't get to see either game this weekend due to work. Didn't sound good. That might have been a season-ruining weekend for a team that was already behind the eight ball. Seven points out of the eight seed with 24 games to go, with no inter-conference play, that's a lot of ground to make up.

 

Here is a balanced article on Burkes time in Toronto. I think Burke did far more harm than good while he was there. He made some good trades but his horrendous free agent signings, the Kessel trade and reluctance to use the Leafs biggest advantage in sigining UFA's have hindered this team more than helped.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/leafs/2013/03/09/exmaple_leafs_gm_brian_burke_wants_credit_for_leafs_turnaround_while_ignoring_his_mistakes_feschuk.html

 

Are the Oilers committed to making Dubnyk their man long-term? Or he sort of a stop gap until they find someone else? Saw him play two weeks ago when they won in Dallas. Looked OK that night, but I wonder if he's the guy.

I still think they need a little better defence and goaltending to be a playoff team. But their forwards are a lot of fun to watch.

 

Yeah, this is the NHL, not the National Road Hockey League.
They're friggin' awful.

 

JR, they're better than at anytime since their Final run in 2006. They were starting at rock bottom.

 

This is Dubnyk's make or break year. I think he has actually played alright for the most part. He has had a couple of off games, but he has had far more outstanding ones. Just needs to be a little more consistent. Their big problem is defence, it is absolutely brutal right now outside of Justin Shultz. It's kind of fucking embarrassing, really. Dubnyk has been hung out to dry more times than I care to count this year. Youthfulness is great, but they also need some veteran leadership, and not just veterans leftover from their shitty teams of the last eight years or so. Brining in a vet who has won a cup and is a good locker room guy would be key, someone who has won before and can show them how to win. A guy like John Madden I think was key in this role for the Blackhawks when they won.

 

I wondered if bringing back Ryan Smyth was just a PR move.

 

Watching the Sens/Bruins game online.

Is Jack Edwards the worst homer announcer in the league?

Latendresse gets tied up with Chara and tries to draw a penalty.

Edwards: "Once a Canadien, always a Canadien"

Made me laugh, but geez.............

 

Worst in the history of the league. Original homer Foster Hewitt would be embarrassed for that asshole, who proved a long time ago he's incapable of shame.

 

There was definitely a PR edge to it, but he was also a very servicable player for most of last year. Certainly not the Smith of five years ago, but still very good in a third line role who could fill in in the top six if need be, which last season was a lot. This year he has not been very good at all and was even a healthy scratch for a game or two, which would have been unthinkable 12 months ago. Mind you he came back this year at a steep discount, so its not like they have a ton of cap or cash tied up in him. This year and next he is making $2.25 mil which seemed very reasonable this summer when he got the deal, a sharp drop from the $6.25 mil cap hit he was on his last deal. I would venture to guess it is the last contract he will sign.

 

After those five assists on Sunday, Crosby is on pace for 83 points this season. That number would have been good for fifth in the league in scoring over an 82-game season last year.