Why Barry Melrose Won't Help the Lightning

He stinks.

Okay, that could be the shortest and least in-depth blog post ever if I were to quit right there, but regardless of the explanation I give, it'll all go back to that point.

If you haven't heard, the Tampa Bay Lightning signed Barry "The Mullet" Melrose to be their new head coach. A man who hasn't been in the league in 13 years, a man who has always been better suited to be an analyst than a head coach has been named head coach of a NHL team over the likes of Bob Hartley, Marc Crawford, and Joel Quenneville. If you can't figure out why the Bolts did this-- let me spell it out for you:

PUBLICITY STUNT

That's right kids, in an attempt for the Bolts to get more interest from the NHL and from their own fans in Tampa, they hired one of the most recognizable hairstyles to be their bench boss. This is a team who is four years removed from a Stanley Cup championship and they are are in such dire straits that they need to go the route of hiring due to recognition rather than qualifications. Way to start off on the right foot new ownership group.

But, what can you do?? You have to give Hollywood producer and Bolts co-owner Oren Koules some props for creating a buzz in the hockey world off the hop by getting Melrose back behind the bench. What better way to draw attention than making it with a move like this. Forget they drafted first overall, forget they have a bevy of talent they could market...you need Melrose to be the guy to guide this team to drunken mediocre.

Now, this is not because I have something big against Melrose. I think he's a great analyst and I think a personality that could be big asset to American coverage of the NHL on TV. It's just that he was choice based on that and not his history. Melrose is 82-103-31 in two-and-a-half seasons with the LA Kings, which is defining moment is taking the Kings to the Cup finals. And sure, Melrose has a Calder Cup and Memorial Cup to his name-- but that was eons ago. The game is new, the caliber of players are better, and as a whole-- I think this move could be more of an albatross for the Bolts than a god-send.

If you want to bring a team back into the spotlight, the Bolts needed to get a coach who will actually get the job done and get the team back to prominence by winning and making waves that way. Someone like Joel Quenneville would have done the same job that Melrose could do, but better and in a quicker turnaround time. It's Hockey Personnel 101 and maybe someone should give the new Tampa owners a crash-course on this subject.

In the end, the only good thing to take away from this is that ESPN could be knocking on my door to give me a contract offer to be their new studio analyst. Hey guys-- Facebook me and we'll talk.

Post-Draft Thoughts

It was quite the scene in Ottawa. A decent amount of trades, involving actual players this year, and the whole pomp and circumstances of the NHL Draft shone through. Of course, there will be many questions after this weekend in order to determine what to think about next season.

The Draft first, and the idea of being the deepest draft ever held true, with a couple teams going really off the board in order to get their player. It wasn't until the Senators picked Erik Karlsson with their 15th pick that it start to go off the board. Karlsson was rated by The Hockey News at #71 on their top-100, though he was the 4th ranked European skater according to Central Scouting. Two picks later, the Ducks went really off the board in taking high schooler Jake Gardiner, who was 23rd North American skater, but overlooked by many people out there.

However, the biggest steal could be the Los Angeles Kings taking Justin Azevedo from the Kitchener Rangers in the 6th Round. Azevedo was by-passed in last year's draft, but came back strong with a 124-point season this year and helped the Rangers go ahead to the Mem Cup finals. I'm definitely on the bandwagon now for the Kings, especially if they can get all their cylinders popping.

The trades were very interesting. With them actually involving rostered players, it made it that much more fun.

-Olli Jokinen heading to Phoenix FINALLY puts to rest the rumors of him getting out of there. He had requested something go down and now he becomes a big fish in a medium sized pond. Alongside of Shane Doan, the Coyotes offense could become very potent. In return, the Panthers get Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton, which should help their hurting blue line and could spell the end of Jay Bouwmeester's tenure in the Sunshine State.

-Alex Tanguay getting sent to Montreal also ends those rumors being thrown around. It also opened the door for the Flames to get Mike Cammalleri from LA. Tanguay should help keep the consistency of scoring going for the Habs, while Cammalleri will give the Flames some help down the middle, even though they have alledgedly signed Daymond Langkow to a long-term deal.

-Earlier in the day, Ray Emery and Dan Cloutier got bought out of their contracts, which should come a no surprise. Emery was a distraction and was usurped by Martin Gerber in net, while Cloutier never really recovered from his days in Vancouver. Though I'm sure some team will take on Emery to see if they can change him, odds are Cloutier's done for the foreseeable future.

-The Predators goaltending situation was solved with the Preds signing Dan Ellis to an extension, while Chris Mason was dealt to St. Louis to back-up for Manny Legace. Mason hit a big rough spot for the Preds and the fresh start could do him well, but Ellis came back to help the Preds to the playoffs and did all he could to help the team win.

That's just the tip of the iceburgh, but it's time to party for now. I'll be back next week with some more news and notes as we get ready for free agency season.

Draft Weekend Outlook

By this time tomorrow, yours truly will be in Ottawa; getting ready for the NHL Draft festivities. There's a lot of things that you can look forward too and a lot of things that should be looked out for this weekend. Here's a list of some that come to mind.

-This has been touted as the deepest draft ever, so it should be interesting to see where these players go. Outside of Steve Stamkos going #1 (and there's some who think even that's not a lock), the rest of the line could go any number of ways. Of course, we can't gauge a draft class for a while, but check in five years to see how these picks turn out.

-Trade rumors are going to be buzzing, especially concerning the host Ottawa Senators. There's already a buzz around about the Sens wanting to trade up to get a top-10 pick, but they'd have to give up the 18th pick and a roster player in order to do so, which could be too rich for Bryan Murray's blood.

-Also, what's going to happen with Patrick Marleau. With his no-trade clause and hefty salary extension set to kick in on July 1st, the Sharks seem to have Marleau in-play. Jonathan Cheechoo's name has also come up, though the Sharks may want to hold onto him for the short-term.

-Olli Jokinen has told the Panthers' management he would like to be traded. This could result in some major bidding during draft day. Granted, he could be traded after then, but it seems with all the GMs and management groups in one room, you'd think this would be the prime place to get a major deal like this done.

-What will FOHS spawn this draft?? Last year, our crew created the legend of the Sombrero, who is a local legend and of folklore to the folks of Columbus, as well as becoming a phenomena on the Interweb and in the DC media.

Should be an interesting weekend, and I'll be at ground level. Not only will I be checking in here with some updates as I hear it, but I'll be live-blogging on Going Five Hole during the first round of the draft. You should stay tuned-- I need to pack.

Farewell to Dominik

It's taken a couple of days, but it's time for me to genuflect on Dominik Hasek and the career he had. It was a bittersweet end for Hasek. Granted, he won the Stanley Cup, but only because he was lit up in Nashville, which allowed Chris Osgood come on and lead the Detroit Red Wings to the Stanley Cup.

Yet, even though he didn't lead the Wings to the Cup, his career as a whole will put him in the upper echelon of goaltenders of all time. Say what you will about Hasek, but he got results and was able to carry a team on his back just by being as solid as he was. If you take a look at any of those Sabres teams he was on, they couldn't get to the playoffs and have success if Hasek wasn't backstopping them.

There were a couple things that really stalled Hasek's career-- arriving to the NHL late in his life and then having injuries later on in his career which had people doubting his abilities. That notwithstanding, Hasek gave the hockey world many memorable saves and was at the center of the reason why video review is in the NHL-- the Foot-in-the-Crease incident in Game Six of the '99 Cup Finals.

Yet, when the Butterfly goaltending style was starting to take center stage, Hasek's "hybrid" style was the unique quality that made him the goalie he was. Frankly, there was no style for Hasek. He looked like he played a stand-up game, but he would stop the puck by any means possible. It was often exciting, often horrifying, often head-scratching-- but he got the job done.

It wasn't just on the NHL stage, as his two Cup rings, six Vezinas, and two Harts spoke volumes-- but his international results weren't too shabby either. Hasek captured a Gold Medal in the Nagano Games in 1998 and a Bronze in 2006, while he had three Silvers in the World Juniors from 1982-1984, as well as a Silver (1983) and three Bronzes (1987, 1989, 1990) in the World Championships. Worldwide, Hasek could get the job done, regardless of the stage.

On modern goaltenders, it's hard to keep Hasek out of the top-5, but all-time, he could very well be top-10, if not staying in the top-5. You either loved him or hated him, as you never really saw much of a middle ground when it came to fans. Yet, you have to give credit where it's due and with his credentials, it's hard to say he's not all he's cracked up to be. It could be a while before we see another unique goalie like Hasek.

Is Balsillie Bad For The NHL??

It's pretty crazy that within hours of seeing the TSN article about Research-in-Motion's CEO Jim Balsillie's camp trading harsh words with the NHL, my June 10th edition of the Hockey News showed up with Ken Campbell talking about Balsillie's quest to get another Canadian team in the NHL, with Quebec City being the possible destination.

If nothing else, you have to give Balsillie credit for keeping his name out there.

It almost makes you wonder if Balsillie is the Mark Cuban of Canada. It's hard to deny this guy's desire to get a team and make it a winner, as well as a profitable venture. Also, he's a tech wizard who has drawn the ire of the other NHL owners, to the point where he may not be able to get a team because of the hatred towards him by the other owners.

In the TSN article, Balsillie's camp has said that there have been eight teams who have contacted Balsillie about his interest in owning the teams. Richard Rodier, who is Balsillie's advisor, claimed that the NHL made it clear that they don't want Balsillie as an owner in the league. Bill Daly countered saying that it's not up to the league as a whole, but the 29 other owners who have to approve this move. That would be a sincere statement if it seemed that Gary Bettman didn't want anything to do with Balsillie when he was in the Nashville Predators deal or the Pittsburgh Penguins deal.

Albeit, I have to side with the NHL on the Predators situation considering that Balsillie didn't own the team and was already selling tickets for the Predators....out of Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario. Usually moving a team that you don't own and starting to sell season tickets and luxury boxes will have the league frown upon that. That's like me moving a team to Kansas City and started selling tickets...especially since I own neither a team, nor the Sprint Center.

Yet, with all the controversy surrounding Balsillie, is he really as bad for the NHL as the head office would have you to believe??

To be honest, he's the kind of maverick the league needs to get some more exposure. He's a guy who, while rough around the edges, could bring more good than bad to the league. Like I said, I draw comparisons to Mark Cuban. Plus, the connections that Balsillie has in regards to RIM and his tool the BlackBerry, it could very well be in the best interest in the NHL to allow Balsillie to own a team. His business sense knows no bounds and really could help bring any team he had to the next level in terms of exposure and revenue-- which the owners all love.

Now, with that thought-- how will Balsillie acquire a team. Though his camp has said eight teams have approached him, you would almost think that expansion would be the easiest route to go. With rumors of prospective owners like Balsillie and Jerry Bruckheimer wanting to dip into expansion, it seems that it could be right over the horizon for the NHL-- regardless of what some pundits may say. Even NHLPA Director Paul Kelly said that NHL expansion into Canada is common sense-- which is where Balsillie could come in.

In the end, if the NHL owners and Board of Directors shut down any attempt at Jim Balsillie to own a NHL franchise because they don't like his style or like what his motives are-- it seems to me to be a case of cutting off your nose to spite your face. Balsillie is a smart businessman who really would be an asset to the league. Even if he does ruffle a few feathers, the amount of attention he'll draw to the league will be like....well....what Mark Cuban did for the NBA.

Wazz's First Round Mock Draft Board

If you haven't known me for a while, I'm all about prospects and the Draft. Going to each draft, sans 2005, since 2002; it's just a great event. The season is over, the future is now-- and beers flow like wine. But, it's time to go ahead and reveal my full first round mock draft. Check it out, let me know, and go from there.

1. Tampa Bay Lightning: Steve Stamkos, C, Sarnia Sting (OHL)

2. Los Angeles Kings: Drew Doughty, D Peterborough Petes (OHL)

3. Atlanta Thrashers: Luke Schenn, D, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

4. St. Louis Blues: Kyle Beach, LW, Everett Silvertips (WHL)

5. New York Islanders: Zach Bogosian, D, Peterborough Petes (OHL)

6. Columbus Blue Jackets: Tyler Myers, D, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

7. Toronto Maple Leafs: Alex Pietrangelo, D, Niagara Ice Dogs (OHL)

8. Phoenix Coyotes: Nikita Filatov, LW, CSKA-2 (Russia)

9. Nashville Predators (From Florida): Mattias Tedenby, LW, HV 71 (Sweden)

10. Vancouver Canucks: Colin Wilson, C, Boston University (NCAA)

11. Chicago Blackhawks: Kirill Petrov, RW, Kazan (Russia)

12. Anaheim Ducks (From Edmonton): Colten Teubert, D, Regina Pats (WHL)

13. Buffalo Sabres: Cody Hodgson, C, Brampton Battalion (OHL)

14. Carolina Hurricanes: Zach Boychuk, C, Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)

15. Nashville Predators: Josh Bailey, C, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

16. Boston Bruins: Michael Del Zotto, D, Oshawa Generals (OHL)

17. Calgary Flames: Jordan Eberle, C, Regina Pats (WHL)

18. Ottawa Senators: Colby Robak, D, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

19. Columbus Blue Jackets (From Colorado): Luca Sbisa, D, Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)

20. New York Rangers: Mikhail Stefanovich, C, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

21. New Jersey Devils: John Carlson, D, Indiana Ice (USHL)

22. Edmonton Oilers (From Anaheim): Yann Sauve, D, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)

23. Washington Capitals: Anton Gustafsson, C, Frolunda (Sweden)

24. Minnesota Wild: A.J. Jenks, C, Plymouth Whalers (OHL)

25. Montreal Canadiens: Daultan Leveille, C, St. Catharines Falcons (Golden Horseshoe Junior B)

26. Buffalo Sabres (From San Jose): Jacob Markstrom, G, Brynas (Sweden)

27. Philadelphia Flyers: Joe Colborne, Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL)

28. Los Angeles Kings (From Dallas): Greg Nemisz, C, Windsor Spitfires

29. Atlanta Thrashers (From Pittsburgh): Tyler Cuma, D, Ottawa 67s (OHL)

30. Detroit Red Wings: Chet Pickard, G, Tri-City Americans (WHL)

I'll have more analysis over at Going Five Hole in a short bit, with a write-up about why I think these guys are going where they are going.

What's Next for the Penguins

It was a heck of a run for the young team from Western Pennsylvania, but it was not to be, as the Penguins fell two games short of the Holy Grail of hockey. The big question now is how can they build off this with so much change that could happen this summer. The questions about what free agents will get re-signed and for how long will be on the chopping block.

Odds are Marian Hossa won't be back with the Penguins, mostly due to the fact that Ray Shero has to re-sign M-A Fleury, Jordan Staal, and Evgeni Malkin to long-term deals, as well as figure out what to do with the likes of Ryan Malone, Gary Roberts, Ty Conklin, Georges Laraque, and Jarkko Ruutu. Granted, everyone after Malone will be affordable and probably easier to get under contract. Yet, that being said-- with only nine players under contract for next season, one being Sidney Crosby, everything should be just fine for the Pens.

Building off this season should be the real focal point for the Pens. They say you have to learn how to lose before you learn how to win. Not much losing went on with the Pens this playoffs, which could be counterproductive next season. Sure, it's highly doubtful, but maybe the thought of it being very easy to roll through the Eastern Conference may get into their heads next season and ruin it for them.

Let's be honest, being the East Champs really is a albatross for some teams. Last year's champs, the Ottawa Senators, got swept in the first round. The '05 Champion Carolina Hurricanes didn't even make the playoffs, while the '04 Champs, the Tampa Bay Lightning, got ousted in the first round-- albeit after a loss of a season. In fact, you have to go back to the 2001 New Jersey Devils, who made it to the Finals that season, before you have a team who was successful after winning the Eastern Conference title. All the others after them either lost in the first round or didn't make it to the Playoffs at all. The Penguins better hope that curse doesn't linger-longer.

There wasn't much about the season the Penguins could look at as a downfall. Without the services of Sidney Crosby and M-A Fleury to injury, others like Evgeni Malkin and Ty Conklin stepped up and showed the depth that the Pens had this season. Plus, the defense was something that improved a lot this season, as it was questionable for the past couple of seasons. All around, the team played very well and the front-office made some crucial moves to make the team what they are today, Eastern Conference Champions.

The Penguins will be fairly busy this summer and may be the team to watch in order to see what's going to happen next to them and their core. The fans can bask in their teams success for now, but come October-- it'll be a whole new season. It could keep flourishing for the Penguins, but it could also flounder. Parity is a helluva thing, but for now-- it's all about partying.

The Incredible Shrinking Goalie

Gary Bettman held his "State of the League" address before Game One of the Cup Finals today and while addressing the fact that all the teams will play each other at least once, the topic of goaltender's equipment came up again. Bettman citing that goals are down and that goaltenders are better physically and in their equipment, that there needs to be a way to get more room for the shooters to shoot. This comes weeks after the league and PA announced they would be forming a group to find a way to deal with goalie equipment issues.

This has been a debate that has been going on since the new rules came into effect after the work stoppage. The game was opened up, for sure, but it always seemed that the league and the people in charge of rule changes have it out for goalies. It's an odd statement to say that because goalies are being better that they need to be punished and have equipment taken away from them. It's almost like saying that guys like Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, and Jarome Iginla need to use wood sticks because they are much too good for composite and that Dion Phaneuf and Shea Weber can only stick check because they hit too hard.

The problem I have is that the NHL brass isn't embracing the goaltenders for their stellar work. Not only do they have to be physically sharp, but mentality as well. The fact they have been subjected to these changes and still are as good as they are-- it's a testament to how far goaltending has come in the last two decades. To be honest, if a young Wayne Gretzky had to play against goalies of today back then-- odds are he wouldn't have scored 92 goals and 215 points like he did in the early 80s.

I think the time has come to embrace the idea of bigger nets. It needs to happen. It HAS to happen. For the sanity of goalies and fans out there-- bigger nets need to be a god-send and needs to be the saving grace. My reasoning is on how far these decrease in pads will end up being. Will we soon see that goalies wearing editions of the local papers on their legs, like so much Greg Goldberg in the "Mighty Ducks??" Sure, it would bring up advertising dollars for papers to bid to have their goalie wear their paper, but it's joke in the long run of things.

Bigger nets will stop the insanity of the shrinking the size of goalie pads, while also give Bettman what he wants, which is to give shooters more to shoot at. That is, until goalies adapt to that, to which there will be a scurry to figure out how to adjust the game more to give the shooter even more to shoot at.

Adaptation is the reason for the goalies getting better. It has been the case ever since the beginning of the sport. From wearing proper padding to freezing the puck to the mask to the butterfly position; goalies have been able to adjust themselves to the game around them and become better players. Sure, people love scoring and it's what gets fans out of their seats (aside from fighting); but why can't people realize that a great goaltending performance could outweigh scoring in a single game.

Plus, the protection issue comes up as well. Hockey sticks are becoming lighter and the velocity coming off the sticks are becoming higher and higher. The goalies need all the padding they need to help protect their bodies from these weapons the stick companies are coming out with today. Sure, the one-piece composites may break like a wet snowball, but when they stay together, they are deadly both in accuracy and velocity. Taking padding away is taking away absorption of the blow from guys who are facing upwards of 100mph shots on a regular basis throughout the game.

The thought of bringing back the firewagon hockey style of the old days is an intriguing one and one that many older fans may enjoy-- but in the grand scheme of things; it probably won't be as good as some thought it would be. All it would do is allow teams to adapt (there's that word again) to a more defensive style of hockey and we're right back to where we were before the lockout with clutching and grabbing being the norm and posing as defensive hockey.

Note to Gary Bettman and those in charge of rule changes-- bigger nets. It's the thing that'll allow goalies to keep their padding for protection, as well as give the league the bigger shooting area for the offense to shoot at. It's the only sane thing to keep the sanctity of the game in tact....until scoring is down again and we put in the "Doubler" puck like MTV's Rock n' Jock.

The Fan Factor

There's an interesting debate on a message board I frequent about fan etiquette. Now, here's the lead post that started the whole thing. This is verbatim, so don't blame me for the craptastic structure or mistakes in spelling or grammar.

We used to be Flyers fans, but after hearing the immature booing every time a skilled player touches the puck in Philly - It's too embarassing to be associated with this team.
Those idiot redneck fans aren't smart enough to realize how lucky they are to be watching skilled players the likes of Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin etc. live so they boo like a bunch of drunken teenagers! Good thing they are not educated hockey fans as it would be a black eye to the sport. These people are dumb enough that soon they will boo all Canadian players, no matter which team they play on.
Hopefully there will be no more playoff games in Philly this year so all those drunken chest-beating, plexiglass-banging idiots can go back to shining their gunracks and kicking their dogs.
Hey losers; This is Stanley Cup Hockey, not midget rodeo!!

Now, this started a whole bashing of the original poster and thoughts about this inane post and what's it means to uneducated fans.

My take on this first off is that Philly fans are probably the most passionate fans in any sport. Having lived in Philly for a year for college, everyone knew something about sports regardless of bracket-- meaning man, woman, young and old; they had a take on at least one sport in Philly. Sure, you can talk about the bad stuff like the Santa Claus thing and their booing-- but they only want the best all the time. Granted, some of them also proclaim that if they were to win something, it would be the worst time in the sport because of the fact they wouldn't have much to complain about.

As far as fans booing opposing players-- that's the nature of the beast. Personally, it could be a sign of respect in instance like Ovechkin and Crosby and then personal vendetta, like the Capitals' fans when it comes to Larry Murphy (woop, woop, woop), Sergei Gonchar, and Jaromir Jagr. People pay their ticket, they can do whatever the hell they want, to be honest. As long as no personal harm is done-- I don't see an issue with.

The fact of the matter is that if fans were wild and crazy in places like Philly, New York, Montreal, or Toronto-- the game would be very dull and the atmosphere of these arenas wouldn't be what they are. That's why it's called a home-ice advantage, because the fans become the 7th player on the ice without actually being on the ice (which is why I want to bring back the rover, but that's for another article).

So, to the person who started this post....either deal with it or move to a place where political correctness is the norm and everyone wins just so no one's feelings are hurt. If you claim you're a fan, you're really not. Grow some courage and suck it up, Nancy.

Let me hear you thoughts on this-- the comments are always open.

What's Next For The Stars

It was a valiant effort by the Stars to try and make a comeback from being down 0-3, but it was stopped short by the juggernaut that is the Detroit Red Wings. However, many answers were given this playoffs, but some still remain.

One pressing issue will be what's going to happen with Mike Modano. There have been rumblings of his retirement in the distance, even though he has two more years left on his contract. Makes you wonder if the Richards trade and Ribiero re-signing were under previous notions that Modano is going to hang 'em up. That said, should he come back-- he'll have a great supporting cast. With Brendan Morrow stepping up this playoffs with the rest of the team and the bright future ahead, Modano could make go for the duration of his contract.

Defensively, the Stars were able to see how their defense has developed with the youngsters taking center stage thanks to injuries to Sergei Zubov in the playoffs. Mattias Norstrom and Trevor Daley are the only free agents this summer, with Daley more than likely getting a deal soon. Norstrom may have to look on the market as Mark Fistric, Niklas Grossman, and Matt Niskanen have stepped out of the shadows to make a name for themselves.

Marty Turco was clutch for the Stars in the playoffs and proved that he has a lot to give the team in the future to have a shot at the Cup. The wonder is what's going to happen for a back-up. Johan Holmqvist didn't get much of a look in Dallas and his track record is spotty at best. Tobias Stephan may not be ready, but with a work horse like Turco; you'd have to wonder if it really matters who's behind him.

It was a strong run and there's a lot to build off of this season. Co-GMs Brett Hull and Les Jackson have built this team for the long-haul and it's paying off quick dividends. Now, if they could only re-do those god-awful black jerseys....

What's Next For The Flyers

It started off so well this playoffs for the Flyers, defeating the Capitals in a thrilling seven game affair, then taking it to the Eastern Conference leading Montreal Canadiens, but nothing seemed to click when taking on the Penguins. However, the future is bright for the Flyers.

The front-line seems to be in great shape with Mike Richards and Jeff Carter taking the helm. With the emergence of RJ Umberger in this playoffs, the youth movement is alive and well in the City of Brotherly Love. Daniel Briere proved he was worth the money he got last summer, as Mike Knuble provide a solid sidekick when healthy. The acquistion of Vaclav Prospal was key for the Flyers, but being able to retain him will be the big pressure point. The health of Simon Gagne will have to looked at as well.

Defensively, the Flyers got quicker with the acquistion of Kimmo Timonen this off-season and Braydon Coburn showed his true worth on the ice. However, whether or not the Flyers will re-sign Jason Smith and whether or not to buy-out Derian Hatcher will be on the chopping block for GM Paul Holmgren.

Between the pipes, Martin Biron emerged as the #1 goalie for the Flyers, so what to do with Antero Niittymaki?? With a weak goaltending free agent market this summer, the Flyers could hang him out there and fall back on Rejean Beauchemin or Martin Houle as the back-up for Biron. Of course, should Biron fall to injury, having Niittymaki as a back-up could prove to be crucial.

All in all, going from dead last in the NHL to the Conference Finals could be deemed as a huge success for the Flyers. That said, Holmgren will have a lot decisions to make in the off-season and will have to be based on building on this season rather than fall short by three wins to the Stanley Cup.

Stanley Cup Breakdown

It's not over, but if either the Stars or Flyers can mount a comeback from going down 3-0, I'll gladly retract this post and will root for whoever overcomes the deficit. Let's fact it though, it's been 33 years since the last team to comeback from 0-3 to win the series (Islanders over Pens, 1975) and it was 33 years before that when the first team to comeback from 0-3 (Leafs over Wings, 1942). Huh....wonder if these teams who were defeated before could have history repeat itself.

That notwithstanding, it looks like it'll be the Pittsburgh Penguins taking on the Detroit Red Wings for the Stanley Cup. The buzz will be Sidney Crosby and his Pens taking only three years to get to this point-- so let the slurping continue. Also, this could be the first time a European, in this case Nicklas Lidstrom, would captain his team to a Cup win. Both teams have a ton of firepower, good amount of defense, and surprising goaltending.

OFFENSE: Even with their top scoring performer, Johan Franzen, out with concussion-like symptoms; the Red Wings are still effective. The play of Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg have excelled even more, while fringe players like Darren Helm, have stepped up and played at an elite level. There's plenty of fire power from the first line to the fourth line on the Wings to be taken for granted.

The Penguins have the best young talent assembled with Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Ryan Malone playing like their veterans, while Marian Hossa seems to have finally shaken his playoff slump of years past, putting up more than a point-per-game this playoffs.

DEFENSE: Sergei Gonchar and Ryan Whitney have been playing very well, both defensively and offensively. Both have been the puck-moving defensemen that the Pens need in order to get out of the zone. In fact, all the defensemen on the Pens are plus players, with Hal Gill actually playing like the defenseman many envisioned him to be.

On Detroit's side, while Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski get all the ink in the news, the play of Niklas Kronwall has quietly gone under the radar. With 11 assist, all at even-strength, Kronwall has been the Wings top point getter from the blue line. Lidstrom and Rafalski will still be a force, but Kronwall's performance thus far will get him some looks in the Finals.

GOALTENDING: Both teams have had their surprises in net, but Chris Osgood could very well trump M-A Fleury in this category. Osgood came off the bench and has yet to lose in the playoffs this season. With Osgood's turnaround as a whole this season-- he could get a few Conn Smythe vote sway his way when and if the time comes.

Fleury has been stellar as well, but still some people say he hasn't been tested yet. Granted, with the team he has in front of him, Fleury can really be better off not being tested, but will make the saves he needs to make in order to keep his team in it. It's amazing we're talking about a kid who was pretty much left for dead with his injuries and the stellar play of the other goalies on the Penguins roster.

This series could go the full seven and even then, the Cup may be given out in May for once in a long while. It should be a match of wits and a match to see who flinches first. It should be up-tempo hockey from the puck drop of Game One to the end with end-to-end rushes, air-tight defense, and top-notch goaltending.

This is another series where I hate both the teams with a passion, but the edge will have to go with the Red Wings. I think the Wings will take it in six games, but only due to experience being on their side.

Craziness in the Coaching Ranks

It's one thing to have the announcements of Paul Maurice and Joel Quenneville being let go from the Maple Leafs and Avalanche, respectively. It's a whole other thing when you hear that Barry Trotz and Jacques Lemaire are returning to the Predators and Wild. It makes you wondering what's going on with some GMs when thinking about what coaches should be behind their benches.

Maurice's scenario was something that seems predictable-- without a playoff appearance in three years, without a permanent GM, and with a whole lot of turmoil in the roster; Maurice was the fall-guy, plain and simple. All the players with no-trade clauses on the Leafs (thanks to John Ferguson Jr. of course), the ability to motivate the team wasn't there for Maurice because the players knew they couldn't be moved without their approval first. When you have that kind of issue, it's hard to get anything going.

Quenneville is an interesting case. Maybe there was another offer too good to pass up (perhaps Ottawa, Atlanta, or the Leafs), but Quenneville didn't do awful in Colorado. Three seasons, three 40+ win seasons, two playoff appearances-- then the team and Quenneville decide to part ways. There has to be something more to this situation and may unfold when/if Quenneville gets another gig.

However, the Trotz and Lemaire situations are fair too mind-bending-- especially considering the lack of success both have had in recent years.

Trotz has been with the Predators since day one and all he has to show for it is four straight first round exits in the past four seasons, though the regular seasons have been on the up and up. With all the change going on in Nashville, you'd think they would have changed the coaching regime as well. However, David Poile has stuck with Trotz, mostly because he has know him since Trotz was a part of the Capitals organization as coach of the Portland Pirates, then the Caps AHL affiliate. I'm sure that Trotz will be on a tight-leash if he can't get success from his team in the early going of the '08-'09 campaign.

Lemaire has also been with the Wild since day one, but his success has been up and down. With the exception of the first two seasons, Lemaire has maintain an above .500 winning percentage, but doesn't have much to show; save one big run in the 2003 Playoffs. The Wild have only made it to the playoffs twice, though the fact they are in a very tough division could be an excuse for the lack of success, but at that point-- wouldn't you want someone who can break through that barrier and take all doubt out of the toughness of the division??

It's very confusing to me, but what do I know-- I'm not a GM. You would think that coaches who haven't been able to break a threshold that you want to break through would get canned over guys who've only had a limited amount of time to show what they've got.

Fabian: Flourish or Flop

After weeks and months of speculation on what he may do, Fabian Brunnstrom has made the decision to play for the Dallas Stars. Many times, Brunnstrom has been rumored to be signing with the Vancouver Canucks and the Detroit Red Wings, but in the end, the Stars are the place for Brunnstrom.

Now, the biggest question of them all-- with all the hype and all the press this 23-year-old has been getting, will he pan out to what has been written about him??

The Swedish forward has been a hot topic item since his break-out season last year in Division 1 Swedish hockey putting up 37 goals and 73 points to go along with a +51 with Boras HC. This season, playing with Farjestads BK in the Swedish Elite League, Brunnstrom has nine goals and 37 points in 54 games with a +4 rating. That put him tied for 18th in the League, while his 28 assists tied him for 7th in that category.

The resume is definitely something that will attract the teams and the attention of many people, however, the NHL is a much different place than the NHL. It'll be a little more physical and a little better goaltending. Especially on a team that has the skill sets as the Stars, it'll be interesting to see what kind of role the young Brunnstrom will play in the line-up.

With so much buzz and hype around him, the microscope will be focused squarely onto Brunnstrom and to see what he can do in the NHL setting. If it's a flop for Brunnstrom, then it'll be a lesson to some teams about who to trust in their scouting staff and how to deal with buzz and hype given to an overseas player. If Brunnstrom is able to flourish, then the scouts who first got the sniff of Brunnstrom will be hailed as legends in the game.

Needless to say, I'm glad that this whole ordeal is done with. I was getting a little sick of all this speculation of where he would go and when he would sign. Just to get his name out of the headlines for a little while will be a relief for me and other hockey fans I'm sure.

An Ode to Olie the Goalie

Through thick and thin, the Washington Capitals always had one constant in the past 18 years-- Olaf Kolzig. That will change next season, as Olie the Goalie has announced that he will not be back with the Capitals for the '08-'09 campaign. It shouldn't come as a surprise, though, as the writing was on the wall when Cristobal Huet came into the fold. Kolzig was the constant professional though all of the turmoil and it showed the real character he had as a person and a player.

And what an ending to an era this will be for the fans. Undoubtedly, Kolzig's #37 will be retired once he does, but Kolzig believes he has the ability to still contribute to an NHL team.

However, it's a time for Caps fan to genuflect on what Kolzig brought to the Capitals organization since he was drafted 1989. In fact, only Mike Modano and Joe Sakic have been with a single NHL team longer than Kolzig. He is fifth amongst active goaltenders in wins and became the 23rd netminder with 300 wins when he beat the Calgary Flames this March. Let's be honest, if not for that silly rule about not being able to give goalie's the captaincy, Kolzig would have had it on his sweater for a number of years.

Kolzig has seen it all, the lows of being on a last place NHL team, highs of getting to the Stanley Cup finals, the lows of losing in four-straight in the Finals, and the revitalization of the Capitals' team in the past few seasons. On top of that, his personal achievements include a Calder Cup ring, a Vezina Trophy, the Butterfield Trophy for Calder Cup MVP, and Hap Holmes Memorial Award for AHL goalie with the lowest GAA.

But it was never about personal gain for Kolzig. Much like another Capitals star, it's more about the team goal in winning the Stanley Cup than any personal award. So much, that he did what he did after the Huet trade because he thought it would give the Caps the best chance to win.

Kolzig was solid for most of his career, posting a .907 save percentage in his Caps career and a 2.70 GAA in 711 games with the Caps. In fact, the only time he started to really struggle was after the Lockout. The only time Kolzig posted a .900 save percentage was this past season and the first season after the Lockout, 2005-06, based on at least 25 games played.

For all the on-ice accolades Kolzig has achieved, off the ice, Kolzig has been just as busy. Kolzig is the co-founder of Athletes Against Autism and set up the Carson Kolzig Foundation, named after Kolzig's son who is affected with autism. Also, Kolzig-- along with former teammate Stu Barnes-- owns the WHL's Tri-City Americans.

In the end, Kolzig's career with the Caps didn't end in a Stanley Cup, it didn't end with him playing in Game Seven, didn't end with him going off into the sunset on his own terms. It will end with him being one of the most recognizable Capitals in the history of the team, being one of the top goaltenders to ever play with the Capitals, and being known as the constant professional regardless of the frustration that he may have had to endured.

I'm sure I speak for a lot of Caps fans when I say, thank you for everything you have done Olie-- it was been a great ride and we wish you the best.