The Ice Sheet: Hockey Returns
May 9, 2008
Filed under: Dallas, Detroit, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, General NHL, Rangers, Flyers, Penguins, Wings, Stars, Stanley Cup
Each day from Monday to Saturday, The Ice Sheet will take a look at the biggest stories in the league that happened on the ice and elsewhere the night before.
Don’t remind me that the offseason is swiftly approaching. There will be many nights like Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Here’s hoping the NHL Network can find superior “vintage games” than Devils-Flyers 2004 Game Five. Listen, I have nothing against that game, but it’s hardly a “classic”. It’s going to be a long summer. Oh, and it’s the NHL Network. Give me that four-overtime Avalanche-Panthers Cup clincher. I mean, Uwe Krupp rules, and he scored the game-winner.
Back on task, you need not worry about a lack of hockey anymore. The Ice Sheet is back, as the conference finals are set to get underway. We’ve already offered you previews of the East and West (read the East one, because the West was written by some idiot from Minnesota). You’re invited to check them out.
As for other hockey news, there’s some. We’ll cover that, and offer some final words on the NHL’s version of the “Final Four” after the jump.
Where does Jagr end up? Jaromir Jagr is a free agent this summer. Take note, because this has never happened before. Jagr knows it, and he’s also likely aware that this is his last chance at a big-money contract. The Rangers may have been bounced in the second round with relative ease by Pittsburgh, but Jagr proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he has the ability to still play, and he has the desire to win.
For his part, Jagr states the Rangers are the first option for 2008-2009. He hinted that he’s apt to return to Europe in two more years to fulfill a promise to his father. That means he’ll want to play for a team that has a real chance at the Cup. Do the Rangers qualify? They have a lot of money tied up in veteran forwards, and they’re sorely in need of an upgrade on defense. Henrik Lundqvist is a great goaltender, but he can’t do it alone, and he was too often left on an island against Pittsburgh. Either guys weren’t getting back, or they would screen him when they did get back. New York will continue to be good, but they aren’t a legitimate contender if they don’t address their issues on defense.
Paul Maurice: You’re fired. No surprise here. Maurice got the axe in Toronto after two years outside of the playoffs. One year is bad enough in Toronto, but a second year would get anyone fired up there, even if there wasn’t a new GM coming. Colleague Jes Golbez makes a great point on his blog, saying that it’s not like the Maple Leafs have been a well-oiled machine from the top down. Bad signings and bad trades crippled the roster, and while Maurice doesn’t inspire confidence in his tactical abilities, he didn’t have much of a shot with this team.
Make fun of the rabid Toronto fan base all you want, but they don’t accept mediocrity. Then again, “mediocrity” would be a step up from what we saw much of this past season.
The Maple Leafs job reminds me of the Dallas Cowboys coaching position. The pressure is tremendous, and the chances of satisfying a significant percentage of the fans, along with ownership, are usually not very high.
What you may have missed. The NHL hasn’t been doing much, but FanHouse has been busy. Here’s a quick sample of what you may have missed since that four-overtime game Sunday night.
Leafs Give Maurice the Boot
John Tavares Fires Agent, Hires Mommy
Ron Wilson Might Need Some Lessons on Motivation in the Workplace
Sabres Sign Boston College Star Gerbe
Detroit’s “Mule” Pulls a Big Load
FanHouse Roundtable: NHL Playoff Officiating
America, Prepare to Be Blinded by Don Cherry
Hockeysfuture Purchased by CraveOnline
Final thoughts: Conference finals. If you’re looking for more great material on these series, check out James Mirtle, who interviewed bloggers from the final teams, and Earl Sleek, who has some great stuff on the Dallas-Detroit series.
I already opined on Dallas-Detroit, and I like the Wings in a close shave. In the East, I feel the series will come down to the play of Marc-Andre Fleury. He’s been great so far, but the Flyers have made two goalies (Huet and Price) look bad so far in the playoffs, and they’d love to do the same to the Pennsylvania rival goaltender. If Fleury plays well, can he frustrate a team that’s scored a few softies so far, or will the Flyers bear down and beat him anyway? I like Pittsburgh, but I don’t think it will be anything close to a cakewalk. It should easily be tougher than either of Pittsburgh’s first two series.
Random YouTube, or maybe not Random at all. It’s been 20 years since Jim Schoenfeld dropped a tirade for the ages on Don Koharski. In fact, Might 8 is the 20th anniversary of the controversial one-game suspension handed down to Schoenfeld.
I’m nearly humiliated to state that Koharski’s officiating career easily outlasted Schoenfeld’s NHL coaching career, which ended in 1999. And he still stinks after all these years.
Let’s all have a doughnut in honor of this monumental anniversary.
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