Did you even know that the Blackhawks and Red Wings were playing a New Years Day game at Wrigley Field?
So Mats Sundin cares more about his bank account than his name on the Stanley Cup. Isn’t that the conclusion we have to draw from his decision to sign on in Vancouver and not with the Rangers, Canadiens or anyone else?
This all began last spring when Sundin refused to waive his no-trade clause. You can talk about loyalty all you want, but when you are 37 years old, clearly nearing the end of your career, a hockey player should want the Cup more than anything else.
If Ray Bourque can leave Boston, Mats Sundin can leave Toronto.
Besides, isn’t the “I always want to be a Leaf” argument out the window now that Sundin has chased the money to the Pacific Northwest instead of skating his last year or so in Toronto?
We love the Canucks, from the Sedin twins to Kevin Bieksa to Roberto Luongo, but they are not the logical choice if your main priority is ultimate success. It is no coincidence that Vancouver’s offer trumped everyone else’s.
The Northwest Division is there for the taking, but even with Sundin, the Canucks are a fairly significant step below San Jose and Detroit. Depending on your respect for Chicago and Anaheim (when Teemu Selanne returns), Vancouver may only be the fifth-best team out west.
Sundin in Montreal would have closed the gap between the Canadiens and Bruins, if not pushed the Habs past Boston. Sundin on Broadway might have put the Rangers over the top by igniting a lackluster offense. Pick any Eastern Conference city on Sundin’s initial radar and you’ll likely pick a team whose road to the Finals is easier than that of the Canucks.
For all his deliberation and stalling, Sundin sided with his wallet and not his legacy. Which is his choice to make. It’s just an unfortunate one.
The Shootout…A quick story to illustrate how much work the NHL still needs to do to return itself to the mainstream. The background on my work computer is a drawing of how Wrigley Field will look for the Winter Classic. Upon returning to my desk last Friday, I found a co-worker marveling at the picture. But not because he couldn’t wait to see the setting in reality. He turned to me and asked, “The NHL is playing a game outdoors? At Wrigley Field? When?” Don’t forget – my day job is at Sirius XM Satellite Radio…in the sports department, so this colleague works in sports and knew nothing about the Winter Classic…
Does anyone else think a week-long moratorium on roster moves is a bit much in this day and age? It is nice that the League gives general managers a pseudo-break and prevents players from changing addresses during the holidays. But really?! This is a business and these are adults. Making trades and being traded (no matter the time of day or year) is part of the job. No other league has such a policy – I believe we’ve had an NBA coach fired on Christmas Eve two years running. We like to say “it’s the thought that counts” this time of year, but this is just too thoughtful…
A pretty interesting Calder Cup race lost a leading candidate this week when the Blue Jackets announced that center Derrick Brassard needed season-ending shoulder surgery. The rookie pivot was injured during a fight and needs nearly six months to recover. Brassard and Blackhawks winger Kris Versteeg entered Tuesday with the most points (25) among first-year players. Brassard posted 10 goals and 15 assists, and was a +12 in roughly 14-1/2 minutes per night…
Finally, a Happy Holidays from Dropping the Gloves. Keep those gloves on while you spend time with the family this week.
All comments, gripes, etc. go to boguschhockey@gmail.com
This all began last spring when Sundin refused to waive his no-trade clause. You can talk about loyalty all you want, but when you are 37 years old, clearly nearing the end of your career, a hockey player should want the Cup more than anything else.
If Ray Bourque can leave Boston, Mats Sundin can leave Toronto.
Besides, isn’t the “I always want to be a Leaf” argument out the window now that Sundin has chased the money to the Pacific Northwest instead of skating his last year or so in Toronto?
We love the Canucks, from the Sedin twins to Kevin Bieksa to Roberto Luongo, but they are not the logical choice if your main priority is ultimate success. It is no coincidence that Vancouver’s offer trumped everyone else’s.
The Northwest Division is there for the taking, but even with Sundin, the Canucks are a fairly significant step below San Jose and Detroit. Depending on your respect for Chicago and Anaheim (when Teemu Selanne returns), Vancouver may only be the fifth-best team out west.
Sundin in Montreal would have closed the gap between the Canadiens and Bruins, if not pushed the Habs past Boston. Sundin on Broadway might have put the Rangers over the top by igniting a lackluster offense. Pick any Eastern Conference city on Sundin’s initial radar and you’ll likely pick a team whose road to the Finals is easier than that of the Canucks.
For all his deliberation and stalling, Sundin sided with his wallet and not his legacy. Which is his choice to make. It’s just an unfortunate one.
The Shootout…A quick story to illustrate how much work the NHL still needs to do to return itself to the mainstream. The background on my work computer is a drawing of how Wrigley Field will look for the Winter Classic. Upon returning to my desk last Friday, I found a co-worker marveling at the picture. But not because he couldn’t wait to see the setting in reality. He turned to me and asked, “The NHL is playing a game outdoors? At Wrigley Field? When?” Don’t forget – my day job is at Sirius XM Satellite Radio…in the sports department, so this colleague works in sports and knew nothing about the Winter Classic…
Does anyone else think a week-long moratorium on roster moves is a bit much in this day and age? It is nice that the League gives general managers a pseudo-break and prevents players from changing addresses during the holidays. But really?! This is a business and these are adults. Making trades and being traded (no matter the time of day or year) is part of the job. No other league has such a policy – I believe we’ve had an NBA coach fired on Christmas Eve two years running. We like to say “it’s the thought that counts” this time of year, but this is just too thoughtful…
A pretty interesting Calder Cup race lost a leading candidate this week when the Blue Jackets announced that center Derrick Brassard needed season-ending shoulder surgery. The rookie pivot was injured during a fight and needs nearly six months to recover. Brassard and Blackhawks winger Kris Versteeg entered Tuesday with the most points (25) among first-year players. Brassard posted 10 goals and 15 assists, and was a +12 in roughly 14-1/2 minutes per night…
Finally, a Happy Holidays from Dropping the Gloves. Keep those gloves on while you spend time with the family this week.
All comments, gripes, etc. go to boguschhockey@gmail.com
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