New Podcast and Western Winners/Losers
July 30th, 2009, 1:05 pm
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On our latest podcast, Mike and I review the winners and losers so far in the Western Conference based on UFA singings, trades or just lack of movement and believing in their work-in-progress. Without rehashing everything, here are the two best and two worst teams in the West so far, in my opinion. I didn’t include the Ducks because, well…I think they’re going to miss Pronger more than they realize…and the Avs are obviously losers – so why state the known.
BEST: Los Angeles Kings – By keeping Jack Johnson with a wildly reasonable deal for someone who will likely be an Olympian in 2010, adding a Stanley Cup winner in Scuderi and a premium scorer and character guy in Smyth, the Kings are on the brink of being a playoff team and now certainly in the conversation with upstarts like St. Louis and Columbus. The real question for LA remains in net, and why they didn’t offer Martin Biron the same $$ he got from the Islanders I don’t really understand, especially for one-year – but Dean Lombardi has kept the young guys and continued to layer on the veterans. This could be the year it pays off for LA. I’m not thrilled about their progress, as a Sharks fan.
WORST: Edmonton Oilers – If they don’t end up bribing, convincing, forcing Heatley into moving West to the cold side of hell, then they are screwed. Penner, Smid and Cogliano will all be staring at Kevin Lowe wondering what the hell is going on, and Lowe might be painted into a corner into moving all three for less than value – well, Smid has no value and neither does Penner really with that contract, let’s be honest. Bringing in ‘Bulin works only if they have a defense to stop anyone – which I’m not sure they do. It could be a shooting gallery in Edmonton, they did cough up the 5th most shots per game last year with an average of 32.5. I say good, let them be cold losers. Eskimo Pie anyone?
BEST: Columbus Blue Jackets – Keep to the script. They made giant steps last season and kept their marquee player for the future and added one of the best 3rd line guys in the NHL in Pahlsson. This team is all about Steve Mason, solid team defense and Rick Nash. I think they need a PP guy but otherwise, this team is continuing to be molded into a Ken Hitchcock special. Another playoff appearance looks likely.
WORST: Nashville Predators – What the hell are they doing? Well, nothing obviously. I understand money is an issue, so why then throw it around to a guy with a wrecked back. The rest of their division is getting better and the Preds act is growing old. I think they could slip to the bottom on the NHL this year, staring a top five draft pick in the face in 2010 and be big sellers at the deadline.
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Quick towards the end of last Season looked marvelous for LA. I know they have had a revolving door for the goalies in the last few years but I think they’ve found their guy of the future. If it weren’t for Steve Mason and Pekka Rinne I think Quick would have gotten a lot more attention
WOAH! Explain how we are losers in all of this again? I think the moves Sherman have made are great for the betterment of the long term health of the franchise. How in the hell is that losing?
I like a lot of what LA has, but I don’t know why people keep praising the addition of Scuderi. Yes, he had a good playoff run, but the Kings essentially threw 3.4 million per year at a guy who is on most nights a third pairing defenseman. Additionally the Ryan Smyth trade gutted their defense and Johnson has been more “potential” than “results” for a couple years now. Until Teubert and Hickey are ready I think that blue-line will look extremely thin.
Matt,
Personally, I like Kyle Quincey, but I think the Avs could have gotten more for Smyth. That looked like a salary dump move to me. A trade motivated to save money rather than add value isn’t a good sign. Perhaps this will be good long term for the franchise, but that’s not nearly for sure. This season, I think the Avs are worse. I hope for your sake Matt Duchene contributes right away, but that’s hardly a credit to Sherman; any GM in the league would have taken Duchene after Tavares and Hedman were off the board.
Or maybe you know something about Brian Fahey that I don’t know. Actually, if you know anything about Brian Fahey, that’s something I don’t know.
Duchene aside…
People think the Avs could have gotten more for Smyth, but given the kind of player he is, added his aged and diminished abilities…I would think not. Also, Quincey comes in immediately and makes us better on the power play.
The signing of Anderson was a solid pickup for a couple of seasons down the road.
Fahey…he’s a Lake Erie guy, just a warm body, that trade is meaning less.
The way this team is right now, if they stay healthy, why couldn’t they make a run for a playoff spot?
I can’t really argue with any of the points, its spot on.
Matt: I love your sunny side up outlook but the Avs are a long way from a playoff spot. Honestly, they might be the worst team in the NHL…but that’s why they play the games so we’ll see. No one gave the Blues a snowballs chance last year either.