Did Yzerman Get Team Canada Right?

Did Yzerman Get Team Canada Right?

Did Yzerman et al Make All The Right Moves On Team Canada Selection Day?

With a night to sleep on it and more time to digest USA’s deserved win over the debatable best team on paper at the Olympics - Team Canada – I am still disappointed. However, at the same time I very impressed with the high quality, fast-paced game that we laid witness to.

Sunday’s contest was a brilliant showcase of one of the great sports on the planet. Let’s hope our friends south of the border found a way to tune in despite NBC’s insistence on having figure skating take precedent.

Hindsight is 20/20, but …

I am still left to ponder roster selections – were there better alternatives out there for Yzerman and crew to select, other than Chris Pronger, Brendan Morrow and Patrice Bergeron?

Read more:
http://thehockeywriters.com/did-yzerman-get-team-canada-right/

Article was linked today at Yahoo Sports via Puck Daddy:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Puck-Headlines-Medal-round-begins-Halak-to-Chi?urn=nhl,221612&cp=2#comments

*For all the latest prospect and draft news as well as commentary on the Olympics follow me on Twitter: The Hockey Spy

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NHL 2010 1st Round Mock Draft

NHL 2010 1st Round Mock Draft

While the entry draft is still about four months away, you can be assured NHL scouting teams across North America and the world are soaking up as many games as possible, assessing talent.

The Hockey Spy here at THW is also busy scouting the prospect world and will continue to bring detailed prospect profiles in the coming months leading up to the draft.

Today’s article embarks on my first mock draft of the season – Olympic edition.

Read more:

http://thehockeywriters.com/nhl-2010-1st-round-mock-draft/

*For all the latest prospect and draft news follow me on Twitter: The Hockey Spy

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2010 NHL Entry Draft Prospect – Tyler Seguin

2010 NHL Entry Draft Prospect – Tyler Seguin

Tyler Seguin

Tyler Seguin {TJ W - Flickr}

Age: 18
Position: Center

Date of birth: January 31, 1992
Place of birth: Brampton, Ont., Canada
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 186
Shoots: R

NHL Status: Draft Eligible 2010

One-Timer: In comparing Seguin to projected first overall, Taylor Hall, one could argue Hall has been surrounded with substantially more talent than has Seguin. While I am still of a strong opinion that Hall is the clear cut #1 overall pick, one could argue that Seguin does more with less.

Seguin possesses a dynamic skill-set and displays outstanding hockey intelligence. Tyler already plays in every situation with the OHL Plymouth Whalers. He displays a maturity on the ice well beyond his years.

Read more:

http://thehockeywriters.com/2010-nhl-entry-draft-prospect-tyler-seguin/

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Smart Money on Super Bowl XLIV

Smart Money on Super Bowl XLIV

Just over a year ago, I ventured outside of the realm of hockey to weigh in on the Super Bowl match-up between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals at my blog, The Hockey Spy.

Here’s an excerpt from my Super Bowl preview last year:

First off: Why is The Hockey Spy blogging about football in one of his first posts? Simple…The Hockey Spy also happens to be a football fanatic and on this upcoming Sports Holy Day, I cannot resist weighing in on the big game.

I recently read Michael Konik’s book “The Smart Money”, as Amazon.com states: “A riveting inside look at the lucrative world of professional high-stakes sports betting by a journalist who lived a secret life as a key operative in the world’s most successful sports gambling ring.”

As for this year’s contest, I think the Saints cover the -5 point spread, but ultimately fall 31-27 to the Colts. Thus, the game goes OVER the 56.6 point total.
That’s where the Smart Money should go from my perspective, but of course they still have to play the game.

The bottom line for me is giving Peyton Manning two weeks to study and dissect what the Saints do on defense is going to make life miserable for the opposing secondary.

Here is where I tie this article into hockey! In following some of these elite athletes carefully, it’s hard not to compare them, no matter how remote the resemblance, to hockey players:

*Peyton Manning to Scott Niedermayer and/or Niklas Lidstrom: All three of these guys play the game so efficiently, they simply make it look effortless.

*Drew Brees to Sidney Crosby: Neither is the biggest at their position in their sport, but none have more passion. They both also possess elite vision on the field or ice and simply make those around them exponentially better.

Time to prime up for the game - hoping for a classic showdown between two amazing quarterbacks!

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2010 NHL Entry Draft Prospect – Taylor Hall

2010 NHL Entry Draft Prospect – Taylor Hall

My series of 2010 prospect profiles is off and running, or should I say skating, over at The Hockey Writers. First Up - Taylor Hall:

One-Timer: One word comes to mind to describe Taylor Hall – dynamic! He is a unique, but explosive skater and very creative offensively.

There are those rankings services that try and contend Tyler Seguin or Cam Fowler are ahead of Hall. While both Seguin and Fowler are outstanding talents and potential cornerstones for whichever franchise drafts them, I remain unconvinced that either is in the same league as Hall. Admittedly, though Tyler Seguin is doing everything in his power to dethrone Hall, and Fowler was a huge part of USA’s gold medal win at the WJCs in Saskatchewan.

Hall is still a cut above the rest, in my opinion, offering up a tantalizing mix of offensive ability with his speed and puck savvy creativity, with an unquestionable passion for the game.

Fantasy Hockey Potential: Offensive = 10/10 Defensive = 8/10

NHL Player(s) Comparison: If you can imagine a morph or hybrid of Pavel Bure and Mark Messier

Read on...

http://thehockeywriters.com/2010-nhl-entry-draft-prospect-%E2%80%93-taylor-hall/

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Paint It Blackhawks Prospect Rankings: #4 Jack Skille

Well...this is actually my first anniversary since starting The Hockey Spy blog. Thanks to all of those who have supported me for the first year and going forward with my ventures at Paint It Blackhawks and The Hockey Writers. 


Here's an excerpt from my latest prospect profile at Paint It Blackhawks:

PIB Co-conspirator Christopher Ralph
This is the fourth article featuring top Blackhawk prospects. As described previously, profiles will be released in order of their ranking, with the Top 20 to be eventually released. The portal place to find Blackhawk prospect information here will through the Future Blackhawk page.

The #1 ranked prospect by Paint It Blackhawk is blueliner Dylan Olsen.
Kyle Beach, 11^th overall 2008 1^st rounder, is tight behind Olsen as the second ranked prospect in the Hawks organization, with blueliner Shawn Lalonde sneaking in at third. At #4, here’s Skille!
Jack Skille

Current Age: 22
Date of birth: May 19, 1987
Place of birth: Madison, WI, USA
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 198
Shoots: R
Salary: $ 850,000
NHL Seasons: 2
Drafted by Chicago in 2005 (1/7)
Jack Skille comes in as the fourth ranked prospect, with this position being closely contested as well. The 7^th overall, 1^st round selection in 2005 will likely soon lose his status as a prospect. The forward was regarded as one of the best skaters in the draft in that year with offensive upside.
While still too soon to tell at this point, he looks to be a lock for a forward position with the big league’s squad next season as Bowman et al. face the impending cap crunch. This season, his evolution continues…

http://paintitblackhawks.com/2010/01/20/pib%e2%80%99s-blackhawks-prospect-rankings-4-jack-skille/

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First Ever Flames Fan Forum

First Ever Flames Fan Forum

Christopher Ralph – THW correspondent

The first ever Flames Fan Forum was held at Flames Central Thursday night hosted by the Fan 960. Rob Kerr and Peter Maher (of the Fan960) were the moderators, with Flames President Ken King and GM Darryl Sutter on hand fielding questions from fans – season ticket holders and Fan960 contest winners.

While, not surprisingly, nothing earth shattering was revealed by either King or Sutter, there were some interesting discussions and plenty of laughs to be had. Let me highlight some of the questions and answers that I enjoyed.

http://thehockeywriters.com/first-ever-flames-fan-forum/

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