Well folks, I am back after a chaotic summer that saw me all over the map doing random crap. Anyway, 4 Play is back, and we’ll be giving you some food for thought every week on four distinct topics of interest around the world of sports. Today, we have some good items for discussion, and hopefully you make your voices heard in the comments section!
- NHL: This Monday, the NHL exhibition season started. I’m as big a hockey fan as anyone else here, but quite frankly, I find there is little to learn from watching pre-season games in almost any sport. Sure, you get to check out some prospects, and you get to learn about new coaches, but overall, the games are dull and meaningless. If anything, you see some pointless injuries that could adversely affect teams once real games start. But, it is hockey, and like any hockey fan, ANY game makes me start to salivate and ponder the season ahead of us. So, rather than talk about the actual games, I’d rather start my hockey addicted writing by suggesting some players and teams who will move up or down vis-a-vis last year.
- The obvious:
- Sidney Crosby: Last season he got two concussions in the span of 4 days, and never returned after that. He did resume skating at certain points, but was advised to shut it down by various concussion experts. Crosby was on pace for a career season, and held the scoring race lead well after his injuries, but ultimately, his health is more important than any individual award he could win. While there is no definitive time-table for his return, he is back on the ice, participating in non-contact drills. I expect him back within one month of the opening puck-drop, and I expect him to be a fairly high-end contributor on the scoresheet. I wouldn’t bank my first overall pool pick on him, but I think he’ll be just fine.
- Alex Ovechkin: So there was a video of him looking kinda pudgy, big deal. He is still the most electrifying player in the game today, and I think he’ll be even better than last year. In fact, I’m penning him in as my pick for the Art Ross Trophy right now. OV is much-maligned at times, which seems ridiculous to me. Sure, he plays on the edge, and occasionally makes a questionable hit, but let’s face it: The dude has magic in his game.
- Rising Stock:
- Brad Richards – Richards was signed by the Rangers to be the setup man for Marian Gaborik. Considering his point totals on a talent-poor Dallas team, I expect big things from Richards. Nothing short of 90 points will impress me!
- Jaromir Jagr – Jagr came back from Russia to sign with the Flyers. This move was met with much criticism from Pittsburgh fans, but really, I understand the decision. Jagr was booed out of the Steel City in his last go-round with them, and I honestly believe he fits in better on a Philly team that is loaded with offensive potential. Get used to hearing “Giroux feeds Jagr for a tap-in”..
- Matt Duchesne – Colorado isn’t really in the mix as far as contenders go, but I love this kid. He’s the complete package in terms of what you’d want in a young forward. I estimate that he’ll turn even more heads this year than last, and be in the 90-100 point range. Take him high up in your pools!!
- On the decline:
- Chris Pronger – Injuries and age have caught up with him, leaving him with nothing more than cheap hits as a saving grace. I suppose his large body make him a good candidate to block a lot of shots, but I see him as more of a liability to a fast Philly team than an asset. It’s time to hang ‘em up Chris!
- Daniel Alfredsson – The longest-serving Sen is getting too much gray in his hair. He has lost that spark that made him such a great offensive player, and I don’t see his game evolving into a style where he can be effective as a third-liner. Sorry Alfie, time has passed you by, and now you have to go…
- Ryan Smyth – Yes, I realize this will be unpopular, but “Captain Canada” is no longer able to be the clutch contributor he once was in Oil Country. I admire his loyalty to his favourite team, but really believe at this point his only real contribution to the youthfully-stocked Oilers will be off the ice. Still valuable, but he won’t be putting up more than 50 points.
- Team on the rise: I honestly believe the New York Rangers will be in the top-4 in the East come April next year. I know, it’s kind of a homer pick, but the reality is that the maturation of some young players, coupled with the addition of Brad Richards to centre the top line is enough to make them a bona fide contender. If Henrik Lundqvist stays healthy all season, this team has the chance to go deep. Ryan Callahan is a great choice for captain, and I believe he’ll lead this team out of the annual fight for 8th place.
- Team on the decline: Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful Canuck fans, but I don’t see the Cup finalists making it anywhere close this year. Roberto Luongo still seems to have that albatross hung around his neck, and like in the epic poem “Rime of the Ancient Mariner”, there is a curse that comes with the dead bird. I believe they’ll make the playoffs, of course, but we’re looking at an early exist barring some serious luck (shedding the hex). Decent team, but overall, I’m not sold on them as much as most people. I think last year was an anomale more than the product of good team building. Sometimes, formulaic construction works, sometimes it doesn’t. It won’t work this year, as the Sedins will have less offensive success in my opinion. We’ll talk again after the first playoff round!
- PGA Tour: The FedEx Cup final is underway, and we’re all thankful Tiger Woods can’t be part of it! Well, at least I am! It has been a great playoff, with an unlikely points-leader heading into the final: Webb Simpson! There is more than just the Cup at stake, as the winner takes home a $10-million payoff, which is astonishing. I have watched all of the preceding events leading up to the Tour Championship at East Lake, and have been mesmerized by the action. So many players have risen to the task, and the result is some of the best golf I’ve ever seen. Right now, I’m going to assume Simpson hangs on to the lead, but there are others in the mix and it’s likely the most gripping tournament of the year. 30 players, only one champ!
- NFL: Anyone else thinking that the lockout has really hurt the quality of football we’re watching? Sure, Tom Brady is a good QB, but 517 yards in the first game? Considering the losing team’s QB put up over 400 yards, I’d say that game was a sandlot kind of affair, and not a “great performance on both sides”. I’ve seen so many stupid penalties, so many ill-timed tackle attempts, and a ridiculous amount of early timeouts. It’s just not feeling right. Maybe this week will be the one where we return to the quality we’re used to. Also, what the hell was the league thinking with the new kickoff spot at the 35-yard line? Runbacks are some of the most exciting plays in football, and they’ve pretty much taken that away from the fans. Yes, there have been a few exceptions, but the reality is that I’ve seen more touchbacks through two weeks of NFL play than I saw all of last season. Player health and safety are obviously concerns of mine, but I haven’t really ever seen anything horrific on a kickoff return in the past, so why the change?
- Soccer: I am a Chelsea fan. I love my team. I hate when they lose, or make bad decisions. I was actually very excited when I heard we had paid a record 75-million pounds as a transfer fee for Fernando Torres. Now, I kind of think we’d have been better off getting Raffi Torres. Surely by now, even the NHL Torres would have more than a pair of goals in the Premiership, right? And, with Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba on the team, there is really no need for Chelsea to extend the Torres experiment. Why am I so bitter? Well, if you missed the game last week, against table-topping Manchester United, Torres had a chance to pull his side within a goal with 6:30 or so to play. He maneuvered his way into the penalty area, undressed the goalkeeper, and proceeded to do this. I’m fairly sure my 9-year old twin girls would have made that a goal, and perhaps could have shifted the game into a different gear. Losing 3 points is bad enough, but losing them to Man U is a spirit-killer! Plant Torres firmly on the bench and make sure he never sees the pitch again!
Anyway, hope you enjoyed this little rant, and I’ll be back next week with more!
Until then,
Na Zdravi!
DR
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Written by Dan Rakusan
A huge Rangers (NHL), Falcons (NFL), PGA Tour and soccer fan, I have been writing semi-professionally for about 7 years now. I try to impart information with some degree of humour, and always have an opinion. PSB is another feather in my cap, and am really proud of the team assembled here, and look forward to the long-term journey PSB is embarking on in terms of establishing itself as the best sports blogging collective on the net! Look for articles such as 4-Play, Rangers blogs and PGA Tour updates, along with my NFL handicapping service!
