So that’s fun: The Skid hits nine in a row.

First of all everyone in Chicago, who is suddenly an expert, needs to calm down and come off the ledge, Right Now! Patrick Kane and Duncan Keith should not be traded. Alexander Salak is not the answer in goal and as far as Ryan Miller goes, the Olympics were two years ago and right now Corey Crawford might have more confidence.  I think there are SEVERAL reasons why the Blackhawks just suffered their ninth loss in a row and in no particular order.

Goaltending

Is Corey Crawford the answer in net for the long term future for a team that will contend for the Stanley Cup for close to the next decade with their core of talent? I think the jury is out, he has developed the propensity of giving up really soft goals. His positioning at times is questionable at best and his confidence appears to be shaky. However we saw what he was capable last season and the defense this year has been nowhere near to what it was last year and in 2010 where they raised Antti Niemi to cult-like status in the Windy City.

Defense

Let’s be honest they are truly dressing 3.5 to 4 defensemen a night. Keith and Seabrook, Leddy and Montador. However a major problem, Nick Leddy is not anywhere close to being ready for the ice time he is getting as the 3^rd man on the D corps. Now with the concussion sustained by Nik Hjallmarsson the blueline is threadbare. This MUST be an issue addressed by Stan Bowman before the February 27^th trade deadline.

Injuries

As it goes in this sport, the brass will never admit it, also as it goes in Chicago, the media will never ask about it after Q or Stan gives the first answer. I have a sneaking suspicion that Jonathon Toews is playing hurt. We know Patrick Sharp has been with a broken bone in his wrist. Niklas Hjalmarsson has been out the past week with a concussion mucking up the already dirty defense picture.  

Stan Bowman

What the hell did your Dad teach you? Yes he was hamstrung with cap hell after the Stanley Cup season. Most of that he created himself as the assistant GM under Dale Tallon, he missed the qualifying offer deadline and forced the Hawks to give overblown contracts to players like Kris Versteeg, and Cam Barker. Bowman has done a decent to bad job of finding roll players to fill holes left by many of the departures after 2010. I will always give him credit for unloading Cam Barker for Nick Leddy, because Leddy’s upside is much bigger than Barkers

Joel Quenneville

He can be awesome and he can be incredibly frustrating, Q will go down as the coach of the team that brought Chicago its first Stanley Cup in almost 50 years. Which in Chicago carries a lot of weight, Mike Dikta is still a god, no matter what meathead vitriol he spews on ESPN. However in last year and a half Quenneville has consistently mixed and matched lines and as well as mixed and matched goaltenders. He has a propensity of playing a certain large 6’8 defensemen less than 5 minutes a game while not giving others even look like Sami Lepisto.  The team itself and Stan Bowman on many occasions defended Q and have said multiple times he is not going anywhere and he hasn’t lost the team. This will remain to be seen.

Conclusion

Is the sky falling? Maybe as because as of February 15th the Blackhawks sit in sixth place in the West, however only 3 points out of the ninth spot. A month ago, I thought how nice it was that the Blackhawks were flip-flopping between 1^st and 2^nd in the conference and no matter what happened they wouldn’t have to worry about making the playoffs like they did last year. It appears we may be in for another bumpy end of the season, if the team doesn’t turn it around, I still don’t expect massive changes because frankly the track record of these players and this coach doesn’t dictate it. However there is no excuse for a team so talented to keep this play up, its unfathomable and unacceptable.

- Joe DeTolve

Super Surprises at the 2012 NHL All-Star Game

As one grows older you realize that All Star Games are strictly for children and for the league's corporate sponsors. So I must say that even though I think the NHL All Star game itself needs to go away, the SuperSkills Competition is more alive than ever.

Its a great showcase for the players themselves to showcases their talents and more importantly their  personality to viewers that may not always get to see them.

Whether it was Patrick Kane donning a Superman Cape and Sunglasses in an ode to the Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard from the NBA Slam Dunk Contest a few years ago.

Cory Perry scaring some sponsors momentarily who thought he was recreating the striptease scene from Slapshot. Then proceeding to take a shinny stick out of his pads and use that for his shot and scoring to boot was awesome.

Logan Couture once again wearing his old Ottawa 67s jersey in front of the home crowd.

Moments like those can't be recreated by some PR rep at the league offices nor should they be, people watch to get a small glimpse behind the curtain even if it is just some players personality.The All Star game this year was without question missing three huge stars in Crosby, Ovechkin and Toews. But in some respect that could have a PR blessing in disguise because tonight we as fans got to see moments of spontaneity and surprise from players maybe who aren’t always in the spotlight.

Hockey (at least in The United States) consistently gets chastized not before publicizing their stars the way other sports do. I for years have disagreed with this because I don't think the issue is marking their top two or three players its marketing everyone else. Everyone knows Sidney Crosby even if you aren’t a hockey fan. Ask the same person who Phil Kessel is? A night like tonight allowed for other stars to shine and I think the excitement from the hijinks of Super Stars competition has opened the eyes of some fans to a players they maybe don't know anything about.

The best way for the game to grow is to showcase the whole collection of talent not just the top echelon.

- Joe DeTolve

www.goodintheroom.blogspot.com

Au Revoir Mike Cammalleri

Stunning news out of Montreal as the Canadiens have traded Forward Mike Cammalleri, Goaltender Karri Ramo and 5^th round pick to the Calgary Flames for Rene Bourque, Patrick Holland and next year's 2^nd rounder. This comes almost exactly 24 hours after Cammalleri made some ugly but some say truthful comments about the state of the most famous franchise in hockey.

"I can't accept that we will display a losing attitude as we're doing this year. We prepare for our games like losers. We play like losers. So it's no wonder why we lose.”

Yes it is an absolute circus in Montreal right now with hiring Randy Cunneyworth and some of the comments of owner Geoff Molson, but such words from a player of the ilk of Cammalleri should never be uttered to the media. No matter what the situation is.

It appears Mike Cammalleri lost the room.

Whether you play 35 seconds a night or you make 9 million bucks a year when you are in the room you are an equal and those are your brothers and you must always have their back. Clearly I am speaking from a standpoint of rec league hockey but everything through books and such things as 24/7 I have seen, the dynamic isn't inherently different except they drive nicer cars to a way nicer rink and wear way nicer clothes.

When you are part of a team, it doesn’t matter who you are outside it matters who you are on that ice and to those guys. You must be dependable, loyal and must always have your teammates back. This is why comments like these are so damning, how can a teammate ever look at him the same way?

These comments that Mike made, were told to the wrong people, they would have been best served for in the room or at the very least in the coaches office. Intentional or not this is where he messed up, he broke a trust and threw his boys under the bus. No matter what you gotta be good in the room.

- Joe DeTolve
goodintheroom.blogspot.com

The Ottawa Senators Bring the Heat in 2011-2012

Pittsburgh- The biggest surprise at the half way point of the 2011-2012 NHL season isn't the slow start by historically strong teams such as the Penguins or Capitals. It isn’t the massive goal differential by the Boston Bruins, currently at +70. Heck it really isn’t Sidney Crosby still feeling the effects of the concussion and not playing. The biggest surprise in the NHL are the Ottawa Senators.

Coming off a disappointing season which saw a coach fired, several cornerstone players traded and questions about off-seasons signings, first year head coach Paul MacLean looked like he was set up to fail in Canada's Capital.

The first big move actually occurred last season by trading for goalie Craig Anderson, who had a Vezina Caliber season in 2009-2010, however couldn’t recapture that magic the following season. He has been a solid netminder during his first full season in Ottawa. Not stellar but good enough to win the big games, however big performances will be needed from here on out.

First was the questionable trade for Nikita Filatov for a third round pick. Everyone in the hockey world  was predicting that this would be a massive bust for GM Bryan Murray. The former 6^th overall pick did not pane out in Ottawa and by December 18^th he was back in Russia and playing for CSKA Moscow.

Paul MacLean's first season started out horribly as the Sens began 1-5 and some voices in Ottawa began questioning if MacLean was the right man for the job.

Then after a 7-2 embarrassment to Philadelphia on October 18^th, the team managed to win 7 straight and get right back in the thick of the east. This streak was spurned by the unbelievable production of Defencemen Erik Karlsson and Left Wing Milan Michalek. Karlsson through January 10th is 2^nd in the NHL with 35 assists and Michalek is tied for third with 22 goals. Not to mention Centre Jason Spezza is leading the team with 44 points and Captain Danial Alfredsson is having quite the comeback season with 33 points at the tender age of 39.

Alfredsson, the most popular player in Senators history was widely talked about during the summer as perhaps being dealt in the middle of the season to a contender for a chance to win the Stanley Cup. Due to this start, one would now begin to think that the Senators may be dealing for veteran talent to solidify this rather young team for a Cup run.

This brings us to perhaps the second gutsiest move Murray has made in his tenure in Ottawa other than trading Dany Heatley. That move would be trading David Rundblad for Kyle Turris on December 17^th. Turris had been holding out in Phoenix and finally signed with the Coyotes so that could play this season with the full hope and intention that he would be dealt out of the desert. There was no harder critic of the young star than yours truly. His production in his first few seasons was next to nothing for a player of his caliber and the fact he demanded supposedly a huge contract was absurd. But the more I see him play and interact with the team, it was a ploy to get out of a toxic situation in Phoenix. Kyle  has been a great 2^nd line centre with 8 points in 11 games and appears to be fitting into the room perfectly with other young talent.

That young talent is probably the biggest reason for this turn around. Colin Greening, Zack Smith, Erik  Condra and Kaspars Daugavins all helped the Binghamton Senators win the AHL's Calder Cup last season. Nick Foligno has 27 points thus far and 20 year old Jared Cowen appears to be settling in nicely on the blueline.

Excitement is high in Ottawa right now especially with the All Star game coming at the end of the month for which four Senators Alfredsson, Spezza, Karlsson and Michalek were voted starters. It will be a chance for the entire hockey world to have their eye on the nations capital and get a look at an up and coming team with the right mix and right coach to make some noise in the playoffs this spring and for seasons to come.

Joe DeTolve

@Goodintheroom

2012 NHL Predictions

Sidney Crosby will not play a game till the 2012-2013 season

That being said the Penguins will still win the Stanley Cup.

Nashville will lose both Shea Weber and Ryan Suter to Free Agency. Reason being Weber feels jilted and Suter shines this year and gets a huge payday. However sense I love seeing hockey flourish in non-traditional markets I hope not.

There will be a new CBA signed, but not right away. I don't see it being as bad as the NFL or the NBA but it won't get done September 15^th.

There will be a major rule change to try and curb concussions. It maybe re-instituting the red line but hopefully it will be shortening the ice surface by 10 feet.

God Forbid without another incident, but with pressure from other governing bodies the NHL will institute hybrid icing.

Donald Fehr will become the most hated man in Hockey, but only because 85 percent of hockey fans don't realize his genius.

Phoenix will move to either Quebec City or Kansas City.

The Florida Panthers will sign a big free agent because attendance will blossom. Proving winning not geography trumps all.

Nick Lidstrom won't hang 'em up and continue to be top-blue liner for the Detroit Red Wings.

Guy Boucher will be the new coach of the Montreal Canadiens.

At least one former American Superstar will attempt a comeback and fail.

God Willing The Chicago Blackhawks change “Chelsea Dagger” as their goal song and “SandStorm" as their powerplay song.

Gary Bettman will have a very special announcement live from the 50 yard line at Michigan Stadium with Rocky Wirtz, Patrick Kane, Jonathon Toews, Mike Ilitch, Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk. 2013 Winter Classic live from the Big House

This last prediction is more of a wish...Dear NHLPA, please approve all players using softcap shoulder and elbow pads at ASAP!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

 - Joe DeTolve

Every General Manager’s Nightmare

Every few years or so, most of the 30 NHL GMs will have to walk on eggshells as some of their top players will don a different sweater, that of their country for an IIHF sanction tournament. It gives the player a chance to showcase his skills on an international level. If the player performs well, that can benefit his pro team in many ways. Such as: increased jersey sales, ticket revenues and even other GM’s noticing a player and perhaps making substantial trade offers.  In most cases the player comes back after the tournament none the worse for wear with a few exceptions. The most notable was when legendary Goalie Dominick Hasek was playing in the 2006 Olympics for the Czech Republic and hurt his hamstring. This led him to not being able to play for his pro team; The Ottawa Senators.

Yesterday in Calgary, Anahiem Ducks General Manager Bob Murray experienced one such twist of fate. As a player which he gave permission to play in the World Juniors blocked a shot and fractured his left foot during Canada’s dismantling of Finland 8-1.

Devante Smith-Pelley is in the midst of a decent rookie year with the struggling Ducks, who of course fired their Stanley Cup winning coach Randy Carlyle back on November 30^th.  The 42^nd overall pick in last summer’s draft was not returned to his former OHL club, Mississauga St. Michael's Majors and was developing into a productive 3^rd and 4^th line winger. He is expected to miss four to six weeks of action, so since its Canada and they will play all the way till the last day of the tournament, The Ducks will miss him until about February 1^st.  

Now I realize this case is not the same as Hasek getting hurt in 2006 and then not being able to play for the Senators when they finished first in the East in points only to get bounced in the 2^nd round by the Lightning.  But it brings up a bigger question, is it really worth it for a team to lose their superstars for a few weeks to play in tournaments with the risk of injury so pervasive in hockey?

What would have happened if Pat Kane or Duncan Keith had been dinged in the 2010 Olympics? That could have changed the entire dynamic of the Blackhawks season and Chicago could still be waiting for a Stanley Cup. I for one, enjoy the Winter Olympics more than most and because hockey players appear to be some of the most down to earth athletes in sports, I find it so easy to throw all my patriotism behind the team.  I was crushed in 2010 when Sid scored that goal; I understand what that exposure did for the game in the United States. However I also totally understand the apprehension from the league to not go to Sochi, Russia in two years. This will be a very interesting  nine months as the CBA will expire in September and participation in the Olympics will no doubt be on the agenda, with some players including Alex Ovechkin stating regardless of what George McPhee or Ted Leonsis says he will be in Russia playing in 2014. This for sure will be a point of contention.

Joe DeTolve

Chicago, Illinois

Goodintheroom.blogspot.com

Like a fat kid in a candy store. I can't control myself. - So much NHL tonight

Oh my gosh, is there a lot of hockey on tap.

10 games tonight highlight the NHL schedule. Here is brief preview of the marquee games.

Washington vs. Buffalo

A match up for two under-preforming teams, the teams sit 10^th and 11^th in the East respectively.

The Caps have already had their shakeup this season with the firing of Bruce Boudreu. Alex Ovechkin has yet to re-capture his form that has made him one of the most exciting players in the world. On the flip side, Buffalo has also failed to live up to expectations, between questions about loyalty to their goalie to offensive underproduction. These two teams need to start off hot to get back in the playoff race because we all know what they are capable off.

Islanders vs. Rangers

I chose to highlight this game, because it figures to be feature predominately in HBO's 24/7 this week

The Rangers are sitting in 2^nd place just 1 point out of the first in the East and the Islanders per usual are sitting tied in the basement of the Conference. Its always interesting when these two teams, that are

only separated by 25 miles meet up. One also has to think, the Islanders while being in the New York bubble, don’t usually get the same attention as the Rangers or the Devils, they know the cameras will be on. Look for a highly physical, entertaining game, which hopefully produce some great moments for this week's episode of 24/7.

Columbus vs. Chicago

Best team in the league vs the worst team in the league based on point total. Will there be aChristmas hangover for the Hawks and yes sometimes I mean that literally (KANER!). Or will the hot streak continue, despite CBJ's record, they actually have played better as of late and they have become very good at being a huge pain the in the Hawks side.

Edmonton vs. Vancouver.

Vancouver as of right now in fifth place in the West and playing much closer to form with the re-emergence of Ryan Kesler back from injury and Cory Schneider and Roberto Luongo playing quite well in goal. Edmonton however started the season on fire, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle who are 18, 20 and 21years old are playing like superstar veterns. Eberle and Nugent-Hopkins are in the top 20 in points and Hall was in that mix before a shoulder injury. Hall returned before the break and look for the Oilers to either continue to grow up and flourish or get another lottery pick. This will be a huge marker tonight.

Also....

The World Juniors start tonight live from Calgary and here goes a shameless plug and THANK YOU to  the NHL Network for broadcasting the tournament in the US. This tournament year after year showcases the stars of tomorrow, so tune in to see the next Crosby, Ovechkin and Toews.

I hope everyone had a joyous holiday. I received the books, The Art of Scouting by Shane Malloy and Squaw Valley Gold: American Hockey's Olympic Odyssey.  So get ready for book reviews starting in early 2012.

Joe DeTolve

Chicago, Illinois

Goodintheroom.blogspot.com