BY: ALEX BOGACH
At this point, considering the fact that the NBA’s most hated team and God’s favorite quarterback are the most polarizing topics in sports, this is a column made in page view heaven. It’s probably good for site traffic when your column format is: What does Extremely Polarizing Quarterback have to do with Extremely Polarizing Basketball Team. Continue reading
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BY: DUSTIN POLLACK
It was a nice idea. The thought that three rising stars under the age of 22 would lead the Edmonton Oilers to the franchises first playoff birth since their Cinderella-like run to the Stanley Cup Final in 2006.
But just over three months after Edmonton collected its seventh win at the end of October and sat at an impressive 7-2-2 as one of the top teams in the Western Conference, the Oilers season has taken a harsh yet perhaps reasonable turn. Continue reading
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BY: ALEX BOGACH
I’ve always opposed people who believe strongly in the NBA and its sinister conspiracy plots. One of the most famous theories is that the NBA Draft Lottery is rigged. The theory’s momentum is based around the 1985 lottery when the Knicks won the first pick to get Patrick Ewing. Back then, when all non-playoff teams had equal chance at the top pick, David Stern would play BINGO by selecting envelopes out of a round rolling bin, calling out the teams one at the time. People believe that to ensure the Knicks got Ewing, Stern froze the Knicks envelope and just had to pick the cold envelope last. An even more convincing theory is that the Knicks’ envelope had a bend on one of its corners—which if you watch the YouTube video is pretty eye-opening. Continue reading
BY: DUSTIN POLLACK
If it’s at all possible, Sidney Crosby looked better in his return to the NHL after a 10-month layoff than he did when he left (He was on pace for 64 goals and 132 points.) Crosby’s return on November 21st was emphatic; the 24-year-old scored two goals and added two assists, leading the Penguins to a 5-0 victory over the New York Islanders.
But now, less than a month after his triumphant return, Crosby is back on the shelf, for an indefinite amount of time. Once again every hockey fan crosses their fingers and holds their breath hoping he returns sooner than later, better than ever, perhaps even concussion proof although we all know that’s not possible. And the odds of him experiencing another setback at some point are all the more likely. Continue reading
BY: ALEX BOGACH
I’m going to write this very slowly to make sure that by the time this gets posted it will still be relevant. With the way things are going so far, I wouldn’t be stunned to see Chris Paul in New York, Tyson Chandler back with the Mavericks and LeBron taking his talents to Beskitas.
I expected this week was going to be wild. I expected it to be jam packed with player movement—and not just any player movement—but perhaps star-studded player movement, including Chris Paul and Dwight Howard. Continue reading
BY: DUSTIN POLLACK
There’s something special about the Boston Bruins. Something unique about how they didn’t have any one player tally more than 70 points or score more than 30 goals last year. Something bizarre in that their three best players combined for nearly 300 penalty minutes in 2011 — the season they won the Stanley Cup. No forward on their team makes more than $5 million a season and only one player one their roster makes more than $6 million. They aren’t built around a pure sniper or superstar power forward, rather they’re built around three lines that can score, a defensive unit that brings a halt to any sort of oppositional speed and a goaltender who in just five years as a starter is working towards his third Vezina Trophy and second Stanley Cup. Continue reading
BY: ALEX BOGACH
How do the Raptors escape the bottomless pits of the NBA’s basement? Are we in the worst situation in the league? Is there any hope?
Fear not, young Raptor fans, I’m here to tell you the Raptors are in the perfect opportunity to become a championship contender. With Dwight Howard and Chris Paul teaming up with all the other good players in the NBA, I know what you’re feeling. You’re frustrated. I’m here to answer your questions. Continue reading
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BY: ADAM HALBERSTADT
Sitting amidst the top of the cluttered pack in the Eastern Conference, the Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves in a favourable position 24 games into the season.
Led by opportune scoring and a lineup filled with blistering speed, the Leafs have done exactly what many believed they needed to do in order to end seven years of playoff futility – get off to a hot start. Continue reading
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BY: DUSTIN POLLACK
Joe Nieuwendyk’s situation in Dallas hasn’t exactly been ideal.
For starters, last season he had to deal with an ownership group unwilling to spend and thus was forced to watch his franchise player Brad Richards head to the bright lights of Broadway, really for no other reason other than Nieuwendyk’s inability to offer him the type of long term, big-money contract that he was looking for.
And it’s not that the Stars didn’t have the money to offer Richards. Currently they’re one of the lowest spending teams in the NHL and have close to $13 million in cap space. The type of money that if a big market team had, could be used to sign two top-line players. Continue reading
Getty ImagesBY: DUSTIN POLLACK
Thursday, June 23rd 2011. In just one day, the Philadelphia Flyers changed the entire make up of their franchise.
Out was captain Mike Richards and leading-scorer Jeff Carter and in was what the Flyers had seemingly needed for years, a proven goaltender. Ilya Bryzgalov came to Philadelphia with a great track record and was supposedly the one who could put an end to the merry-go-round of puck-stoppers who minded the nets in Philadelphia for years. Most recently, during the 2011 playoffs fans watched three different goaltenders attempt to lead the Flyers to the top of the NHL. All three played a part in the Flyers demise and early second round exit at the hands of the Boston Bruins, the eventual Stanley Cup champions.
So in just one day the Flyers went from a team that relied on depth scoring to one that was committing itself to a game-stealing goaltender. A commitment that cost the franchise $51 million over nine years. Continue reading