Central Division
1) St. Louis Blues
Strengths- This team is build on depth, and each line they throw out there is able to compete with any other teams top lines. Kevin Shattenkirk & Alex Pietrangelo are arguably the league’s best defensive pairing. T.J. Oshie, David Backes and Alex Steen fill out the league's most structured team top-to-bottom.
Weaknesses- Losing Ryan Miller to Vancouver leaves the job on Brian Elliott and Jake Allen who made a select amount of starts last year.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Paul Statsny, Peter Mueller, Carl Gunnerson
Place they Finish- 1st in Division and 2nd in Conference
2) Chicago Blackhawks
Strengths- Team did everything they need to do in the off-season by signing Jonathan Toews & Patrick Kane long term. They added Stanley Cup winner Brad Richards to play on the Power Play with a bunch of very good forwards. Duncan Keith is a shoe-in for a Norris nomination each year, and Brent Seabrook is very underrated. Corey Crawford is a plus this year, despite the harsh critics, the guy is a good goalie, in the top-10 of the league.
Weaknesses- Dealing Nick Leddy was a must under a tight crunch with the NHL’s Salary Cap, but it was a tough blow.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Brad Richards, Dan Carcillo
Place they Finish- 2nd in Division and 3rd in Conference
3) Dallas Stars
Strengths- They added more fuel to the fire, which in this case is a good thing. Tyler Seguin emerged last year and played very well on a line with Jamie Benn. Toss in Ales Hemsky and big centre Jason Spezza and the Stars have a very strong offensive unit. Kari Lehtonen keeps the team in games.
Weaknesses- Outside of Trevor Daley they do not have any shut down defenseman and he is 5ft 11 inches. Will Spezza and Hemsky buy in to the defensive scheme?
Off Season Moves Brought In- Jason Spezza, Ales Hemsky, Andres Lindback, Patrick Eaves
Place they Finish- 3rd in Division and 6th in Conference
4) Colorado Avalanche
Strengths- They are young, fast, skilled, and more importantly they play both ends of the ice. Nathan Mckinnon, Matt Duchene, Ryan O’ Reilly and Gabriel Landeksog resemble the league’s best young team, with Head Coach Patrick Roy at the helm. Tyson Barrie will continue to develop as one of the league’s best puck-moving defenseman. They added veteran forwards Jarome Iginla and Daniel Briere, which will help them come playoff time. Semyon Varlamov is a legit number one goalie.
Weaknesses- Defense can look really bad some nights. Erik Johnson gets some help with veteran Brad Stuart as the team’s shut down defenseman.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Jarome Iginla, Daniel Briere, Brad Stuart
Place they Finish- 4th in Division and 7th in Conference (WC1)
5) Nashville Predators
Strengths- Shea Weber leads a young team into a tough year. They are one of those bubble teams that could end up making the playoffs. They added James Neal, Olli Jokinen and Mike Ribiero to help the offensive shortage. Their defense is set with Seth Jones, Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis on the back end. I have them in the playoffs based purely on my belief that goalie Pekka Rinne will rebound from injury.
Weaknesses- Added scoring but still need more.
Off Season Moves Brought In- James Neal, Olli Jokinen, Mike Ribeiro, Derek Roy, Anton Volchenkov
Place they Finish - 5th in Division and 8th in Conference (WC2)
6) Minnesota Wild
Strengths- They can score in bunches. Thomas Vanek joins his former Buffalo Sabre Jason Pominville where he really had his best years. Mikko Koivu will vie for comeback player of the year and Zach Parise is good for at least 25 goals. On the backend they have reliable Ryan Suter and Jarred Spurgeon is one of the up-and-coming Dmen in the league.
Weaknesses- This team has good goaltending but too much of it with Nicklas Backstrom locked up long-term. While one of Josh Harding and Darcy Kuemper will be traded/waived.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Thomas Vanek, Justin Falk, Jordan Schroeder
Place they Finish- 6th in Division and 9th in Conference
7) Winnipeg Jets
Strengths- Team played better down the season last year under Head Coach Paul Maurice, but by that time they were out of it. Blake Wheeler is the team’s best offensive threat. They have one of the best home crowds in the league. Dustin Byflugien can play anywhere on the ice, and this year it seems like it could be at forward.
Weaknesses- Good players who just can’t seem to reach their potential. Look no further to Evander Kane. Ondrej Pavelec is not a number one goalie in the league. His good games are far and few. Did not fill holes in off-season.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Peter Budaj, Mathieu Perreault, TJ Galliardi
Place they Finish- 7th in Division and 13th in Conference
Pacific Division
1) Los Angeles Kings
Strengths- The defending Stanley Cup Champions kept everyone together including Marian Gaborik who plays very well with centre Anze Kopitar and should give them some more offense. Drew Doughty is one of the best players in the world and Jonathan Quick is a rock between the pipes.
Weaknesses- Shockingly, this team has stretches where they just do not score. They have become the masters at winning 1-goal games but those games take a toll on you, especially off a short summer.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Resigned Marion Gaborik
Place they Finish- 1st in Division and 1st in Conference
2) San Jose Sharks
Strengths- Even though they stripped the letters off Joe Thornton & Patrick Marleau this team is too gifted not to win. Their problems don’t take place during the 82 game season. Logan Couture & Joe Pavalski are studs and are good for 80+ point seasons if both are healthy. Brent Burns moves back to defenseman and plays with one of the best shut down guys in the game in Marc-Edouard Vlasic.
Weaknesses- Team just can not find success in the playoffs. Antti Niemi did not play well last year, which opened up the door for Alex Stalock.
Off Season Moves Brought In- None
Place they Finish- 2nd in Division and 4th in Conference
3) Anaheim Ducks
Strengths- DO NOT fool yourself. Ryan Getzlaf & Corey Perry together, are the best 1-2 punch in the NHL. They acquired Ryan Kesler who will give the Ducks the NHL's best 1-2 centre combo.
Weaknesses- They lose Jonas Hiller between the pipes which leaves it to second year players Frederik Andersen and John Gibson. Both have showed promise, but the sample size is too small at this point. They also loss Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu to retirement.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Ryan Kesler, Dany Heatley, Clayton Stoner
Place they Finish- 3rd in Division and 5th in Conference
4) Vancouver Canucks
Strengths- Call this team- Team Bounceback. Ryan Miller is better then both Luongo and Schneider, so it’s funny how things turn out. But, he is coming off a poor showing with St.Louis in the post-season and it’s also the place he gave up the “Golden Goal”. Henrik Sedin and brother Daniel should bounce back from poor seasons. Alex Burrows should score more then five goals. Rookie Bo Horvat looks like he will make the team.
Weaknesses- They lose their heart and pulse in Ryan Kesler. They added Nick Bonino and Radam Vrbata but should struggle to score. Defense is suspect.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Ryan Miller, Nick Bonino, Radam Vrbata, Derek Dorsett, Bo Horvat
Place they Finish- 4th in Division and 10th in Conference
5) Calgary Flames
Strengths- This team is one of those that are a few years away from really competing. Shawn Monahan looks like he’s a keeper. Mark Giordano is underrated for what he does for this team. Outside of him though, there is not much.
Weaknesses- Sam Bennett starts the season needing surgery on his shoulder. Need to find creative ways to score, don’t have the depth yet to compete.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Jonas Hiller, Mayson Raymond, Derek Engellend, Raphael Diaz, Devin Setoguchi
Place they Finish- 5th in Division and 11th in Conference
6) Arizona Coyotes
Strengths- They are a well coached team, and buy into the system. Mike Smith is a solid goalie, but he is as good as it gets in the desert. They added Sam Gagner which should bring some flare to an offense badly needing it. Keith Yandle despite trade rumors is a rock on the blue-line.
Weaknesses- Outside of Antoine Vermette and Gagner they don’t have much offense. Team should not give up a lot of goals based on the way they play, but they wont score much either.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Sam Gagner, Devin Dubnyk
Place they Finish- 6th in Division and 12th in Conference
7) Edmonton Oilers
Strengths- Do not know totally what to say about this team, that has been blessed with number one picks Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakapov. They have star-on-the-rise Jordan Eberle. David Perron and Teddy Purcell give this team some good scoring depth.
Weaknesses- Probably the worst defensive team in the league which is terrible news behind two backup goalies in Ben Scrivens and Viktor Fasth.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Benoit Pouliot, Teddy Prucell, Nikita Niskanen
Place they Finish- 7th in Division and 14th in Conference
WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF MATCHUPS:
(C1) St. Louis Blues v. (WC1) Colorado Avalanche
(C2) Chicago Blackhawks v. (C3) Dallas Stars
(P1) Los Angeles Kings v. (WC2) Nashville Predators
(P2) San Jose Sharks v. (P3) Anaheim Ducks
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
2014-2015 NHL PREVIEW- Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
1) Montreal Canadiens
Strengths- It all starts with goaltending and Carey Price who at just 27 years of age has won an Olympic Gold Medal, World Junior Gold and a Calder Cup. Had it not been a horrific high-ankle sprain in the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Rangers it could have also been a Stanley Cup added to his awards. In front of Price is a young solid core that GM Marc Bergevin has put in place. Led by their highest paid player in P.K. Subban, forwards Max Pacioretty and third year players Alex Galchenyuk & Brendan Gallagher, the Habs look bound to reach the playoffs and strive for number 25.
Weaknesses- People will question their leadership with the losses of Brian Gionta and Josh Gorges but that should not be a problem, with a tight nit team in place. Their real problems fall on the uncertainty at centre. With Galchenyuk starting the season on the wing, its a good problem to have, but he is a lot better suited down the middle of the ice, which leaves a decision for Head Coach Michel Therrian. The Canadiens also have veterans in Manny Malhotra, Tomas Plekanec, as well with Lars Eller and David Desharnais. On defense there only problem is who fits the 6th Defenseman spot; between Nathan Beaulieau and Jarred Tinordi
Off Season Moves Brought In- P.A. Parenteau, Manny Malholtra, Jiri Sekac, Tom Gilbert
Place they Finish- 1st in Division and 2nd in Conference
2) Boston Bruins
Strengths- The core of: Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Milan Lucic and Brad Marchand are a formidable group that can play with any Top-6 in the NHL. On Defense they have “Big-Z” Zedeno Chara who is the anchor of the group along with Dougie Hamilton and returning from injury Dennis Seidenberg. Goaltending is solid with Tukka Rask who is a lock for a 40-win season. They still compete every game and are one of the league’s best home team.
Weaknesses- They lost some character guys in Johnny Boychuk, Jarome Iginla and Shawn Thornton. For all the talent that the Bruins have they have a problem at times scoring goals.
Off Season Moves Brought In- None
Place they Finish- 2nd in Division and 4th in Conference
3) Tampa Bay Lightning
Strengths- Last year, the Lightning were a solid group behind new bench boss Jon Cooper. This year they went out and made moves to help Steven Stamkos replace the loss of Martin St.Louis. The additions of former Rangers Brian Boyle, Anton Stralman and last year they traded St. Louis for Ryan Callahan all should have big roles. There backend is a little shakey but Victor Hedman will benefit from the additions of Stralman and Jason Garrison should help out on Special Teams. Goalie Ben Bishop is determined to come back from injury and help his team reach the post-season again.
Weaknesses- Besides bona-fide superstar Steven Stamkos it’s hard to tell where all the scoring will come from, but Jonathan Drouin should help. They have an abundance of defenseman on the roster and they are also $2 million over the cap as of October 8th.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Anton Stralman, Jason Garrison, Brian Boyle, Brendan Morrow, Evgeni Nabokov
Place they Finish- 3rd in Division and 5th in Conference
4) Florida Panthers
Strengths- One thing’s for sure is that this team is building for the long haul with players like Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov and now Aaron Ekblad. Roberto Luongo is under contract for a long time and will keep them in games.
Weaknesses- Every year it seems like a revolving door with the players that the Panthers acquire, deal, or lose to free agency. Who knows how long it will take for the team to “gel”. Goals will be tough to come by, but this team knows how to grind.
Off Season Moves Brought In- David Bolland, Shawn Thornton, Jussi Jokinen, Willie Mitchell, Greg Zanon
Place they Finish- 4th in Division and 7th in Conference (WC1)
5) Toronto Maple Leafs
Strengths- Scoring might seem easy for a guy like Phil Kessel but when he slumps so does the team. He has good chemistry with Tyler Bozak who on any other team would be a 2nd or 3rd line centre.
Weaknesses- Much more is expected out of Nazem Kadri, Joffrey Lupul, and captain Dion Phaneuf. James Van Riemsdyk has played well as a Maple Leaf, but has the tendency like Lupul to miss time due to injuries. Jonathan Bernier has been good a times but there needs to be more consistency.
Off Season Moves Brought In- David Booth, Stephane Robidas, Roman Polak, Matt Frattin, Mike Santorelli
Place they Finish- 5th in Division and 9th in Conference
6) Ottawa Senators
Strengths- The Senators have one of the best players in the game in defenseman Erik Karlsson. Alongside newly signed Bobby Ryan and young forwards Kyle Turris and Mika Zibanejad this team finds a way to play well under Head Coach Paul MacLean.
Weaknesses- This team has many holes, goaltending is a question between Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner. Karlsson is great offensively but is no sure thing on defense and Chris Phillips is very old and Marc Methot wants out.
Off Season Moves Brought In- David Legwand
Place they Finish- 6th in Division and 11th in Conference
7) Detroit Red Wings
Strengths- Each year this team has their eyes set on the playoffs and with Henrik Zetterberg & Pavel Datsyuk there is always a chance. The team relishes in their “underdog” status and coach Mike Babcok will always have his team prepared. Can Gustav Nyquist and Jordan Tatar take the next step? Niklas Kronwall is the strong point on a very weak defensive line.
Weaknesses- Goaltender Jimmy Howard has been shaky the last few years, but does manage to play really good some times. Their defensive line used to be the core of the Red Wings success, now it’s their hindrance.
Off Season Moves Brought In- None
Place they Finish- 7th in Division and 14th in Conference
8) Buffalo Sabers
Strengths- The Sabers are building for the future and are a good few years away from actually competing. Cody Hodgson, Tyler Ennis, Matt Moulson will lead the young guys while new captain Brian Gionta and defenseman Josh Gorges should supply valuable leadership.
Weaknesses- Goaltending is a problem with Jonas Enroth and Michael Neuvrith. Tyler Myers has played poorly to say the least since his rookie year, he needs to step it up. He will have the chance now that stay-at-home-defenseman Gorges is apart of the team. Despite Moulson there will be no one else on the team with 20+ goals.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Josh Gorges, Brian Gionta, Andrej Meszaros, Matt Moulson
Place they Finish- 8th in Division and 16th in Conference
Metropolitan Division
1) New York Rangers
Strengths- The Rangers biggest strength is there speed and there depth, oh and they have a guy by the name of Henrik Lundqvist A.K.A. “The King”. Head Coach Alain Vigneault took his team to the Stanley Cup in year one with the team and not much else is expected. Martin St. Louis will have a full season with the team and the loss of Brad Richards will open it up for Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin and Chris Kreider. Ryan McDonagh has emerged as one of the top defenceman in the Eastern Conference. Dan Boyle should be a nice replacement on the point during the Power Play.
Weaknesses- Team does not really boast a top centre, will have to score by committee. Rick Nash needs to step up and score 25-30 goals.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Dan Boyle, Lee Stempniak, Matthew Lombardi, Tanner Glass
Place they Finish- 1st in Division and 1st in Conference
2) Pittsburgh Penguins
Strengths- Sidney Crosby duh. Evgeni Malkin duh. Of course having two of the best players in the world helps. The team added good depth in Patrick Hornqvist who should go well with Chris Kunitz on Sid’s line. Kris Letang returns healthy and ready to go and hill be paired on the Power Play with newly acquired Christian Ehroff.
Weaknesses- For all the offensive prowess that the Penguins possess, they are not a sound team defensively and that is why Dan Bylsma was fired and Mike Johnston was brought in. Losing James Neal who seemed like such a good fit in Pittsburgh. Look for Marc-Andre Fleury to be dealt by the deadline as he will no longer be with this team after the season.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Christian Ehrhoff, Patrick Honrqvist, Steve Downie, Blake Comeau, Thomas Greiss
Place they Finish- 2nd in Division and 3rd in Conference
3) Columbus Blue Jackets
Strengths- They are young. They are fast. And they don’t mind being called underdog. With former Vezina trophy winner Sergei Bobrobsky manning the pipes and a youthful, fast team in front, this team will show everyone in the league why they gave the Penguins a handful in the playoffs last year. Ryan Johansen is the future captain of this team and Brandon Dubnsiky is the team’s pulse. Adding Scott Hartnell gave the team a much needed jolt of lightning on offense after losing Nathan Horton for an undisclosed amount of time.
Weaknesses- Defense is weak and promising star Ryan Murray is starting the season on the Injured Reserve.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Scott Hartnell
Place they Finish- 3rd in Division and 6th in Conference
4) Washington Capitals
Strengths- They can score with Alex Ovechkin. Nicklas Backstrom is a tremendous set-up man. Head Coach Barry Trotz should help them play better defensively with the likes of Mike Green and newly acquired Brooks Orpik & Matt Niskanen.
Weaknesses- For all the talent this team finds a way to blow it. Goalie Braden Holtby will be trusted with the starting role, with only Justin Peters as his backup
Off Season Moves Brought In- Matt Niskanen, Brooks Orpik, Head Coach Barry Trotz
Place they Finish- 4th in Division and 8th in Conference (WC2)
5) Philadelphia Flyers
Strengths- Team is build around Claude Giroux. They bring back R.J. Umberger who had his best season as a member of the Flyers. Brayden Scehnn & Sean Couturier will be counted on heavily.
Weaknesses- They lose the chemistry between Grioux and Scott Hartnell. First it was Chris Pronger, now it looks like Kimmo Timonen may never play hockey again. Defense is shaky to say the least. Can Steve Mason have another good year?
Off Season Moves Brought In- Michael Del Zotto, R.J. Umberger
Place they Finish- 5th in Division and 10th in Conference
6) New Jersey Devils
Strengths- Team still finds a way to score since losing Zach Parise. Mike Camalleri will fill that void. Martin Havlat is a project but at $1.5 million a year it’s worth the bargain. Jaromir Jagr seems to have found the fountain of youth and plays well along side Patrick Elias.
Weaknesses- Travis Zajac is their number one centre, which just won’t cut it. Martin Brodeur is no longer a Devil after more then two decades with the team. Cory Schneider has to prove that he can be a number one.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Mike Cammalleri, Scot Clemmensen, Scott Gomez, Tomas Kaberle, Martin Havlat, Jordan Tootoo
Place they Finish- 6th in Division and 12th in Conference
7) New York Islanders
Strengths- Made strong moves before the season started to bolster a weak defensive line. The additions of Stanley Cup winners Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk will help a young team. Captain John Tavares is a stud and should eclipse 100 points if he stays healthy.Kyle Okposo and Mikhail Grabovski will help JT on the offensive front. Moved to the Barclasys Centre in Brooklyn. Jaroslav Halak fills the pipes for a team that has needed a starting goalie for over a decade. Lots of depth on defense, with nine guys signed to the roster.
Weaknesses- Team can put up lots of goals on special teams, but the question remains if they can play better 5-on-5 hockey.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Jaroslav Halak, Mikhail Grabovski, Nikolai Kulemin, Cory Conacher, Nick Leddy, Johnny Boychuk
Place they Finish- 7th in Division and 13th in Conference
8) Carolina Hurricanes
Strengths- Jeff Skinner and Eric Staal lead a team that is surely in the rebuild phase.
Weaknesses- Losing Jordan Staal before the season hurts for a team that can use as much offense as they can get. Goalie Cam Ward has not been good since 2010. No real top player on the backend.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Jay McClement, Tim Gleason
Place they Finish- 8th in Division and 15th in Conference
Playoff Bracket
EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF MATCHUPS:
(A1) Montreal Canadiens v. (WC1) Florida Panthers
(A2) Boston Bruins v. (A3) Tampa Bay Lightning
(M1) New York Rangers v. (WC2) Washington Capitals
(M2) Pittsburgh Penguins v. (M3) Columbus Blue Jackets
1) Montreal Canadiens
Strengths- It all starts with goaltending and Carey Price who at just 27 years of age has won an Olympic Gold Medal, World Junior Gold and a Calder Cup. Had it not been a horrific high-ankle sprain in the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Rangers it could have also been a Stanley Cup added to his awards. In front of Price is a young solid core that GM Marc Bergevin has put in place. Led by their highest paid player in P.K. Subban, forwards Max Pacioretty and third year players Alex Galchenyuk & Brendan Gallagher, the Habs look bound to reach the playoffs and strive for number 25.
Weaknesses- People will question their leadership with the losses of Brian Gionta and Josh Gorges but that should not be a problem, with a tight nit team in place. Their real problems fall on the uncertainty at centre. With Galchenyuk starting the season on the wing, its a good problem to have, but he is a lot better suited down the middle of the ice, which leaves a decision for Head Coach Michel Therrian. The Canadiens also have veterans in Manny Malhotra, Tomas Plekanec, as well with Lars Eller and David Desharnais. On defense there only problem is who fits the 6th Defenseman spot; between Nathan Beaulieau and Jarred Tinordi
Off Season Moves Brought In- P.A. Parenteau, Manny Malholtra, Jiri Sekac, Tom Gilbert
Place they Finish- 1st in Division and 2nd in Conference
2) Boston Bruins
Strengths- The core of: Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Milan Lucic and Brad Marchand are a formidable group that can play with any Top-6 in the NHL. On Defense they have “Big-Z” Zedeno Chara who is the anchor of the group along with Dougie Hamilton and returning from injury Dennis Seidenberg. Goaltending is solid with Tukka Rask who is a lock for a 40-win season. They still compete every game and are one of the league’s best home team.
Weaknesses- They lost some character guys in Johnny Boychuk, Jarome Iginla and Shawn Thornton. For all the talent that the Bruins have they have a problem at times scoring goals.
Off Season Moves Brought In- None
Place they Finish- 2nd in Division and 4th in Conference
3) Tampa Bay Lightning
Strengths- Last year, the Lightning were a solid group behind new bench boss Jon Cooper. This year they went out and made moves to help Steven Stamkos replace the loss of Martin St.Louis. The additions of former Rangers Brian Boyle, Anton Stralman and last year they traded St. Louis for Ryan Callahan all should have big roles. There backend is a little shakey but Victor Hedman will benefit from the additions of Stralman and Jason Garrison should help out on Special Teams. Goalie Ben Bishop is determined to come back from injury and help his team reach the post-season again.
Weaknesses- Besides bona-fide superstar Steven Stamkos it’s hard to tell where all the scoring will come from, but Jonathan Drouin should help. They have an abundance of defenseman on the roster and they are also $2 million over the cap as of October 8th.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Anton Stralman, Jason Garrison, Brian Boyle, Brendan Morrow, Evgeni Nabokov
Place they Finish- 3rd in Division and 5th in Conference
4) Florida Panthers
Strengths- One thing’s for sure is that this team is building for the long haul with players like Jonathan Huberdeau, Aleksander Barkov and now Aaron Ekblad. Roberto Luongo is under contract for a long time and will keep them in games.
Weaknesses- Every year it seems like a revolving door with the players that the Panthers acquire, deal, or lose to free agency. Who knows how long it will take for the team to “gel”. Goals will be tough to come by, but this team knows how to grind.
Off Season Moves Brought In- David Bolland, Shawn Thornton, Jussi Jokinen, Willie Mitchell, Greg Zanon
Place they Finish- 4th in Division and 7th in Conference (WC1)
5) Toronto Maple Leafs
Strengths- Scoring might seem easy for a guy like Phil Kessel but when he slumps so does the team. He has good chemistry with Tyler Bozak who on any other team would be a 2nd or 3rd line centre.
Weaknesses- Much more is expected out of Nazem Kadri, Joffrey Lupul, and captain Dion Phaneuf. James Van Riemsdyk has played well as a Maple Leaf, but has the tendency like Lupul to miss time due to injuries. Jonathan Bernier has been good a times but there needs to be more consistency.
Off Season Moves Brought In- David Booth, Stephane Robidas, Roman Polak, Matt Frattin, Mike Santorelli
Place they Finish- 5th in Division and 9th in Conference
6) Ottawa Senators
Strengths- The Senators have one of the best players in the game in defenseman Erik Karlsson. Alongside newly signed Bobby Ryan and young forwards Kyle Turris and Mika Zibanejad this team finds a way to play well under Head Coach Paul MacLean.
Weaknesses- This team has many holes, goaltending is a question between Craig Anderson and Robin Lehner. Karlsson is great offensively but is no sure thing on defense and Chris Phillips is very old and Marc Methot wants out.
Off Season Moves Brought In- David Legwand
Place they Finish- 6th in Division and 11th in Conference
7) Detroit Red Wings
Strengths- Each year this team has their eyes set on the playoffs and with Henrik Zetterberg & Pavel Datsyuk there is always a chance. The team relishes in their “underdog” status and coach Mike Babcok will always have his team prepared. Can Gustav Nyquist and Jordan Tatar take the next step? Niklas Kronwall is the strong point on a very weak defensive line.
Weaknesses- Goaltender Jimmy Howard has been shaky the last few years, but does manage to play really good some times. Their defensive line used to be the core of the Red Wings success, now it’s their hindrance.
Off Season Moves Brought In- None
Place they Finish- 7th in Division and 14th in Conference
8) Buffalo Sabers
Strengths- The Sabers are building for the future and are a good few years away from actually competing. Cody Hodgson, Tyler Ennis, Matt Moulson will lead the young guys while new captain Brian Gionta and defenseman Josh Gorges should supply valuable leadership.
Weaknesses- Goaltending is a problem with Jonas Enroth and Michael Neuvrith. Tyler Myers has played poorly to say the least since his rookie year, he needs to step it up. He will have the chance now that stay-at-home-defenseman Gorges is apart of the team. Despite Moulson there will be no one else on the team with 20+ goals.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Josh Gorges, Brian Gionta, Andrej Meszaros, Matt Moulson
Place they Finish- 8th in Division and 16th in Conference
Metropolitan Division
1) New York Rangers
Strengths- The Rangers biggest strength is there speed and there depth, oh and they have a guy by the name of Henrik Lundqvist A.K.A. “The King”. Head Coach Alain Vigneault took his team to the Stanley Cup in year one with the team and not much else is expected. Martin St. Louis will have a full season with the team and the loss of Brad Richards will open it up for Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin and Chris Kreider. Ryan McDonagh has emerged as one of the top defenceman in the Eastern Conference. Dan Boyle should be a nice replacement on the point during the Power Play.
Weaknesses- Team does not really boast a top centre, will have to score by committee. Rick Nash needs to step up and score 25-30 goals.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Dan Boyle, Lee Stempniak, Matthew Lombardi, Tanner Glass
Place they Finish- 1st in Division and 1st in Conference
2) Pittsburgh Penguins
Strengths- Sidney Crosby duh. Evgeni Malkin duh. Of course having two of the best players in the world helps. The team added good depth in Patrick Hornqvist who should go well with Chris Kunitz on Sid’s line. Kris Letang returns healthy and ready to go and hill be paired on the Power Play with newly acquired Christian Ehroff.
Weaknesses- For all the offensive prowess that the Penguins possess, they are not a sound team defensively and that is why Dan Bylsma was fired and Mike Johnston was brought in. Losing James Neal who seemed like such a good fit in Pittsburgh. Look for Marc-Andre Fleury to be dealt by the deadline as he will no longer be with this team after the season.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Christian Ehrhoff, Patrick Honrqvist, Steve Downie, Blake Comeau, Thomas Greiss
Place they Finish- 2nd in Division and 3rd in Conference
3) Columbus Blue Jackets
Strengths- They are young. They are fast. And they don’t mind being called underdog. With former Vezina trophy winner Sergei Bobrobsky manning the pipes and a youthful, fast team in front, this team will show everyone in the league why they gave the Penguins a handful in the playoffs last year. Ryan Johansen is the future captain of this team and Brandon Dubnsiky is the team’s pulse. Adding Scott Hartnell gave the team a much needed jolt of lightning on offense after losing Nathan Horton for an undisclosed amount of time.
Weaknesses- Defense is weak and promising star Ryan Murray is starting the season on the Injured Reserve.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Scott Hartnell
Place they Finish- 3rd in Division and 6th in Conference
4) Washington Capitals
Strengths- They can score with Alex Ovechkin. Nicklas Backstrom is a tremendous set-up man. Head Coach Barry Trotz should help them play better defensively with the likes of Mike Green and newly acquired Brooks Orpik & Matt Niskanen.
Weaknesses- For all the talent this team finds a way to blow it. Goalie Braden Holtby will be trusted with the starting role, with only Justin Peters as his backup
Off Season Moves Brought In- Matt Niskanen, Brooks Orpik, Head Coach Barry Trotz
Place they Finish- 4th in Division and 8th in Conference (WC2)
5) Philadelphia Flyers
Strengths- Team is build around Claude Giroux. They bring back R.J. Umberger who had his best season as a member of the Flyers. Brayden Scehnn & Sean Couturier will be counted on heavily.
Weaknesses- They lose the chemistry between Grioux and Scott Hartnell. First it was Chris Pronger, now it looks like Kimmo Timonen may never play hockey again. Defense is shaky to say the least. Can Steve Mason have another good year?
Off Season Moves Brought In- Michael Del Zotto, R.J. Umberger
Place they Finish- 5th in Division and 10th in Conference
6) New Jersey Devils
Strengths- Team still finds a way to score since losing Zach Parise. Mike Camalleri will fill that void. Martin Havlat is a project but at $1.5 million a year it’s worth the bargain. Jaromir Jagr seems to have found the fountain of youth and plays well along side Patrick Elias.
Weaknesses- Travis Zajac is their number one centre, which just won’t cut it. Martin Brodeur is no longer a Devil after more then two decades with the team. Cory Schneider has to prove that he can be a number one.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Mike Cammalleri, Scot Clemmensen, Scott Gomez, Tomas Kaberle, Martin Havlat, Jordan Tootoo
Place they Finish- 6th in Division and 12th in Conference
7) New York Islanders
Strengths- Made strong moves before the season started to bolster a weak defensive line. The additions of Stanley Cup winners Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk will help a young team. Captain John Tavares is a stud and should eclipse 100 points if he stays healthy.Kyle Okposo and Mikhail Grabovski will help JT on the offensive front. Moved to the Barclasys Centre in Brooklyn. Jaroslav Halak fills the pipes for a team that has needed a starting goalie for over a decade. Lots of depth on defense, with nine guys signed to the roster.
Weaknesses- Team can put up lots of goals on special teams, but the question remains if they can play better 5-on-5 hockey.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Jaroslav Halak, Mikhail Grabovski, Nikolai Kulemin, Cory Conacher, Nick Leddy, Johnny Boychuk
Place they Finish- 7th in Division and 13th in Conference
8) Carolina Hurricanes
Strengths- Jeff Skinner and Eric Staal lead a team that is surely in the rebuild phase.
Weaknesses- Losing Jordan Staal before the season hurts for a team that can use as much offense as they can get. Goalie Cam Ward has not been good since 2010. No real top player on the backend.
Off Season Moves Brought In- Jay McClement, Tim Gleason
Place they Finish- 8th in Division and 15th in Conference
Playoff Bracket
EASTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF MATCHUPS:
(A1) Montreal Canadiens v. (WC1) Florida Panthers
(A2) Boston Bruins v. (A3) Tampa Bay Lightning
(M1) New York Rangers v. (WC2) Washington Capitals
(M2) Pittsburgh Penguins v. (M3) Columbus Blue Jackets
Saturday, May 17, 2014
2014 Road to the Stanley Cup- Third Round Picks
Eastern Conference:
Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Rangers
Prediction: Canadiens in 6
Key Matchup: Montreal's speed vs. New York's speed
How they got here:
Montreal - Rd.1 Tampa (4-0) , Rd. 2 Boston (4-3)
New York - Rd.1 Philadelphia (4-3), Rd.2 Pittsburgh (4-3)
Western Matchup:
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Los Angels Kings
Prediction: Blackhawks in 7
Key Matchup: Corey Crawford vs. Jonathan Quick
How they got here:
Chicago - Rd.1 St.Louis (4-2) , Rd.2 Minnesota (4-2)
Los Angels - Rd.1 San Jose (4-3) , Rd.2 Anaheim (4-3)
Saturday, May 10, 2014
2014 Road to the Stanley Cup- Second Round Picks
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
(1) Boston Bruins vs. (3) Montreal Canadiens
Prediction: Canadiens in 7
Key matchup: Price vs. Rask
(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs.(2) New York Rangers
Prediction: Rangers in 7
Key matchup: Rangers Defense vs. Penguins Offense
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
(1) Anaheim Ducks vs. (3) Los Angeles Kings
Prediction: Kings in 7
Key matchup: Getzlaf/Perry vs. Gaborik/Kopitar/Brown
(3) Chicago Blackhawks vs. (4) Minnesota Wild
Prediction: Blackhawks in 6
Key matchup: Blackhawks big guns vs. Wild big guns
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
2014 Road to the Stanley Cup- First Round Picks
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
(1) Boston Bruins vs. (4) Detroit Red Wings
Prediction: Bruins in 5
(2) Tampa Bay Lighting vs. (3) Montreal Canadiens
Prediction: Canadiens in 6
(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (4) Columbus Blue Jackets
Prediction: Penguins at 7
(2) New York Rangers vs. (3) Philadelphia Flyers
Prediction: Rangers in 7
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
(1) Anaheim Ducks vs. (4) Dallas Stars
Prediction: Ducks in 5
(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (3) Los Angeles Kings
Prediction: Sharks in 6
(1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (4) Minnesota Wild
Prediction: Wild in 6
(2) St.Louis Blues vs. (3) Chicago Blackhawks
Prediction: Blackhawks in 7
(1) Boston Bruins vs. (4) Detroit Red Wings
Prediction: Bruins in 5
(2) Tampa Bay Lighting vs. (3) Montreal Canadiens
Prediction: Canadiens in 6
(1) Pittsburgh Penguins vs. (4) Columbus Blue Jackets
Prediction: Penguins at 7
(2) New York Rangers vs. (3) Philadelphia Flyers
Prediction: Rangers in 7
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
(1) Anaheim Ducks vs. (4) Dallas Stars
Prediction: Ducks in 5
(2) San Jose Sharks vs. (3) Los Angeles Kings
Prediction: Sharks in 6
(1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (4) Minnesota Wild
Prediction: Wild in 6
(2) St.Louis Blues vs. (3) Chicago Blackhawks
Prediction: Blackhawks in 7
Bird's Eye View: Jays 2014 Chapter 1
The Toronto Blue Jays are already off to a better start to their 2014 season; (8-6, 1st in AL East), then last year, and there are still 148 to go. This quick start includes facing 10 of the first 13 against AL East opponents. This year it took Jose Reyes all of one at bat before he tweaked his hamstring. The injury is not severe at all, and the All-Star shortstop is expected back this week against Cleveland.
Early on the Jays have had to face minor adversities with two major injuries. (1) Closer Casey Janssen has spent the start of the season on the DL with a shoulder injury. Fortunately for the Jays their strength lies in the bullpen and Sergio Santos has fit in nicely as his replacement. (2) The other injury happened more recently seeing a hot hitting Macier Izturis trip on the stairs at Camden Yards and tore a significant ligament in his leg and is expected to be out all season. Izturis was seeing the ball great and was an upgrade at second base over Ryan Goins.
Its amazing to see what a year could do for a team. Last year the Jays came up substantially short in their bid of returning to the playoffs for the first time since 1994. Injuries took a toll, pitching never got around, hitting was sub-par at best, defense was abysmal but so far there have been more positives then negatives to start the season.
Positives:
1- Mark Buehrle is off to a fantastic (3-0) start. He looks like he did four years ago when he was an All-Star. He has truly embraced being the ACE of the rotation with R.A. Dickey struggling, and it started after the All-Star break last year. His 0.89 ERA is definitely something that stands out, and a strong year from him will keep the Jays in contention.
2- Dionner Navarro is by no means a top defensive or offensive catcher but his presence behind the plate early in the season is already significantly better then J.P. Arencebia ever showed over his time as a Jay. Pitchers looked more relax knowing that a ball won't go wild on any given pitch.
3- Melky Cabrera is off to a piping hot start batting .325 and already matching last seasons Home run total with 4. With the injury to Reyes, Cabrera has filled in nicely in the lead off position which makes for an interesting choice when Reyes returns this week. I suggest leaving Cabrera in the lead-off position and having Jose bat second before Bautista and Encarnacion.
4- Sergio Santos - finally looks like the reliever they hope for. Casey Janssen doesn't have overpowering stuff but his command of the strike zone made him a successful closer last year. Santos on the other hand does have the over powering fastball and a devastating slider. His four saves coupled with his 11 strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings is a good sign.
5- John Gibbons - I was not too fond of the Gibbons signing last year, but he really didn't have a chance with the rotation and all. One thing he deserves credit for is managing of the bullpen. So far he's off to a good start with both the bullpen and rotation, but how will he handle adversity?
Negatives:
1- R.A. Dickey - It's clear that Dickey isn't the pitcher the Jays traded for. He's struggled against the AL East and is off to another struggling start to his season. The once proclaimed "ACE" is very inconsistent and getting 15 wins would be a miracle.
2- Brett Lawrie - Despite hitting his 2nd career Grand Slam, Lawrie has struggled mightily at the plate, batting under .200. Fortunately, his defensive ability is overshadowing his slow start at the plate.
3- 2nd base - Anyone around the MLB will tell you that the Jays don't really have a second baseman. Ryan Goins is a less advertised Russ Adams. A guy who plays decent defense but rarely gets on base.
Up Next: The Jays fly to Cleveland to face Yan Gomes in a 3-game set before flying back home to take on the AL East and the Baltimore Orioles before John Farrell and the Red Sox pay their first visit of 2014.
Early on the Jays have had to face minor adversities with two major injuries. (1) Closer Casey Janssen has spent the start of the season on the DL with a shoulder injury. Fortunately for the Jays their strength lies in the bullpen and Sergio Santos has fit in nicely as his replacement. (2) The other injury happened more recently seeing a hot hitting Macier Izturis trip on the stairs at Camden Yards and tore a significant ligament in his leg and is expected to be out all season. Izturis was seeing the ball great and was an upgrade at second base over Ryan Goins.
Its amazing to see what a year could do for a team. Last year the Jays came up substantially short in their bid of returning to the playoffs for the first time since 1994. Injuries took a toll, pitching never got around, hitting was sub-par at best, defense was abysmal but so far there have been more positives then negatives to start the season.
Positives:
1- Mark Buehrle is off to a fantastic (3-0) start. He looks like he did four years ago when he was an All-Star. He has truly embraced being the ACE of the rotation with R.A. Dickey struggling, and it started after the All-Star break last year. His 0.89 ERA is definitely something that stands out, and a strong year from him will keep the Jays in contention.
2- Dionner Navarro is by no means a top defensive or offensive catcher but his presence behind the plate early in the season is already significantly better then J.P. Arencebia ever showed over his time as a Jay. Pitchers looked more relax knowing that a ball won't go wild on any given pitch.
3- Melky Cabrera is off to a piping hot start batting .325 and already matching last seasons Home run total with 4. With the injury to Reyes, Cabrera has filled in nicely in the lead off position which makes for an interesting choice when Reyes returns this week. I suggest leaving Cabrera in the lead-off position and having Jose bat second before Bautista and Encarnacion.
4- Sergio Santos - finally looks like the reliever they hope for. Casey Janssen doesn't have overpowering stuff but his command of the strike zone made him a successful closer last year. Santos on the other hand does have the over powering fastball and a devastating slider. His four saves coupled with his 11 strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings is a good sign.
5- John Gibbons - I was not too fond of the Gibbons signing last year, but he really didn't have a chance with the rotation and all. One thing he deserves credit for is managing of the bullpen. So far he's off to a good start with both the bullpen and rotation, but how will he handle adversity?
Negatives:
1- R.A. Dickey - It's clear that Dickey isn't the pitcher the Jays traded for. He's struggled against the AL East and is off to another struggling start to his season. The once proclaimed "ACE" is very inconsistent and getting 15 wins would be a miracle.
2- Brett Lawrie - Despite hitting his 2nd career Grand Slam, Lawrie has struggled mightily at the plate, batting under .200. Fortunately, his defensive ability is overshadowing his slow start at the plate.
3- 2nd base - Anyone around the MLB will tell you that the Jays don't really have a second baseman. Ryan Goins is a less advertised Russ Adams. A guy who plays decent defense but rarely gets on base.
Up Next: The Jays fly to Cleveland to face Yan Gomes in a 3-game set before flying back home to take on the AL East and the Baltimore Orioles before John Farrell and the Red Sox pay their first visit of 2014.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Super Bowl XLVIII
The Big Game is here and it's the matchup that most (including myself) had predicted at the start of the season. The Peyton Manning led Denver Broncos vs. The Seattle Seahawks and "Beast Mode." Both teams had beaten the rivals Manning over Brady and Seattle over San Francisco to get here.
Denver Broncs vs. Seattle Seahawks
In a matchup that will see the number one offense versus the number one defense, this Super Bowl has the potential to be the greatest Super Bowl in the last 20 years. Russell Wilson has many years ahead of him and with the way the defense is built, it could be back in the Super Bowl for years to come. On the other hand this may be Peyton Manning's final chance at hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Currently the owner of a (1-1) record in the "Big Game." Manning does not want to go out with another loss and one less ring then his younger brother Eli. After the season that he had, the 2014 MVP heads into the game as a slight favourite but he'll have to get by Richard Sherman's defense to win. There are many intriguing matchups but here are the three that I feel will be the most crucial.
Key matchups:
1) Denver's Wide Recievers vs. the Legion of Doom: If Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas can shut down and confuse the wide outs of Denver, it will be a long game for the Broncos. Yes, Knowshon Moreno has gone forever since fumbaling, but the Seahawks don't give up a lot of rushing yards. Manning will have to be on the mark to win this game. The Seahawks don't give a lot of big plays down the field, so short and middle passes may be the key instead of the big 20+yard play.
2) Marshawn Lynch vs. the Broncos defense: Lynch has been in beast mode all throughout the playoffs and without Von Miller causing havoc, he should have a strong game. If the Broncos can control what the Seahawks do up front that will force Wilson to throw the ball to guys like Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin. The key for the Seahawks is to give Lynch 22-27 carries and hope he rushes for 100+yards.
3) Peyton Manning vs. Russell Wilson: Old School vs. New School. The Sheriff against the New Kid on the Block. Two different types of playing, both very successful. Manning will have to control everything at the line of scrimmage while Wilson has the ability to make and extend plays with his legs. The key will be who can avoid the turnovers the most.
Prediction: Seahawks 24 - Broncos 21
Denver Broncs vs. Seattle Seahawks
In a matchup that will see the number one offense versus the number one defense, this Super Bowl has the potential to be the greatest Super Bowl in the last 20 years. Russell Wilson has many years ahead of him and with the way the defense is built, it could be back in the Super Bowl for years to come. On the other hand this may be Peyton Manning's final chance at hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Currently the owner of a (1-1) record in the "Big Game." Manning does not want to go out with another loss and one less ring then his younger brother Eli. After the season that he had, the 2014 MVP heads into the game as a slight favourite but he'll have to get by Richard Sherman's defense to win. There are many intriguing matchups but here are the three that I feel will be the most crucial.
Key matchups:
1) Denver's Wide Recievers vs. the Legion of Doom: If Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas can shut down and confuse the wide outs of Denver, it will be a long game for the Broncos. Yes, Knowshon Moreno has gone forever since fumbaling, but the Seahawks don't give up a lot of rushing yards. Manning will have to be on the mark to win this game. The Seahawks don't give a lot of big plays down the field, so short and middle passes may be the key instead of the big 20+yard play.
2) Marshawn Lynch vs. the Broncos defense: Lynch has been in beast mode all throughout the playoffs and without Von Miller causing havoc, he should have a strong game. If the Broncos can control what the Seahawks do up front that will force Wilson to throw the ball to guys like Golden Tate and Doug Baldwin. The key for the Seahawks is to give Lynch 22-27 carries and hope he rushes for 100+yards.
3) Peyton Manning vs. Russell Wilson: Old School vs. New School. The Sheriff against the New Kid on the Block. Two different types of playing, both very successful. Manning will have to control everything at the line of scrimmage while Wilson has the ability to make and extend plays with his legs. The key will be who can avoid the turnovers the most.
Prediction: Seahawks 24 - Broncos 21
Sunday, January 19, 2014
The Playoff Push: Conference Championship
Well, it's here, the final four teams, arguably the best four teams in the NFL. Any way you slice it, Super Bowl 48 is going to be one heck of a game. On one hand you have the greatest modern day sports rival in Tom Brady v. Peyton Manning. On the other hand you have the future of the NFL, the HYBRID quarterback matchup of Colin Kaepernick v. Russell Wilson. These games will all derive from the four quarterbacks and how the play. New School or Old School these two games are a football fan's wet dream.
AFC: (1) Peyton Manning's Dever Broncos vs. (2) Tom Brady's New England Patriots
Some are calling this the "Legacy Bowl" as it may be the final time that Manning goes against Brady. Make no mistake this is Peyton's year. Records broken, first seed and home advantage, he's played like an MVP all year and will probably win the award for a 5th time, but a loss against Brady would be tragic. He's (4-10) lifetime against him. On the other side of the field Tom Brady also deserves the MVP nod for what he has had to work with all year. The losses on offense were substantial and the defense is no Seahawks-like defense in which they can hold opponents to just 14 points. Some way Brady and Bill Belichick find a way to beat Manning again and again but this time there's one factor they've not dealt with. ALTITUDE.
3 Key Matchups:
1. Wes Welker vs. Who ever is covering him: The Patriots did a good job on shutting Welker down when these two teams met earlier. Welker will be looked on for all red-zone targets so who ever is covering him will have to be able to keep up with the shifty wide receiver.
2. Aqib Talib vs. Demaryius Thomas: Talib said that has career began in New England even though he began his career in Tampa Bay. "I've been in the NFL since '08," Talib said this week, per the Boston Herald. "But I've really been in the NFL since November of 2012." Since becoming a Patriot in the middle of last season, the team that's gone 20-6. He will have his hands full with Thomas who is a deep vertical threat and can cause havoc in the screen game.
3. Patriots running backs vs. Broncos linebackers: Without the likes of Gronkowski, Welker and Hernandez, Brady has had to rely on running backs Steven Ridley and Shane Vereen. Enter LeGarrette Blount. Blount brings a nice balance of speed, strength and quick feet. The former Oregon Duck set a Patriot record with 4-rushing Touchdowns against the Colts last weekend. Without Von Miller, guys like Wesley Woodward and Danny Trevathan will have to step up.
X-FACTOR: Julius Thomas
*He's a mismatch for every defender and has really blossomed this year to be one of the top tight ends in the game. Last week he made timely plays to help the Broncos beat the Chargers.
Prediction: Broncos 31 - Patriots 28
NFC: (1) Russell Wilson's Seattle Seahawks vs. (5) Colin Kaepernick's San Francisco 49ers
They are so many similarties between these two guys. It's even reported that they are friends off the field, however the 49ers were in this position last year and beat the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta. It doesn't get any easier as they head to the 12th man and deal with the noise in Seattle. Wilson does not have the weapons that the 49ers possess, yet he finds ways to make plays to guys like Golden Tate and who can forget about Marshawn "Skittles" Lynch. Wilson doesn't need to be perfect, he just has to avoid the turnovers. Kaepernick willneed to make plays with his feet as much as his arm. He will be tested agains the "Legion of Boom".
3 Key Matchups:
1. Frank Gore vs. Marshawn Lynch: Both these guys are the heartbeat of their teams, they will only go as far as these guys take him. I doubt they're will be a 100-yard rusher in the game but both should come close. Gore has the advantage in the passing and screen game but Lynch is ferocious and besides Adrian Peterson the toughest halfback to take down.
2. 49ers wide recievers vs. Legion of Boom: For Kaepernick it's comforting knowing he can go to three targets that are all capable of making big plays. Vernon Davis is the key, as he's a matchup nightmare. Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree will garner a lot of attention, which will help Davis. For Seattle they're confident with Richard Sherman, Thomas and Kam Chancellor in the backfield.
3. Jim Harbaugh vs. Pete Carroll: These guys don't really enjoy each other as they square up against each other for the 3rd time this year. It's like a boxing match. Carroll won Round 1. Harbaugh snuck away with Round 2 and the final round will determine on who can knock the other one off and catch them by surprise. It may not be a knockout but one of these teams will be done after today.
X-Factor: Earl Thomas
* Earl Thomas is the best safety in the game and no pass seems to be out of his range. The guy makes big hits in the run game, if he's on then the Seahawks have a good chance at winning, but he can't afford plays to happen like he did against Drew Brees. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTpXN43TRGc)
Prediction: 49ers 27 - Seahawks 24
AFC: (1) Peyton Manning's Dever Broncos vs. (2) Tom Brady's New England Patriots
Some are calling this the "Legacy Bowl" as it may be the final time that Manning goes against Brady. Make no mistake this is Peyton's year. Records broken, first seed and home advantage, he's played like an MVP all year and will probably win the award for a 5th time, but a loss against Brady would be tragic. He's (4-10) lifetime against him. On the other side of the field Tom Brady also deserves the MVP nod for what he has had to work with all year. The losses on offense were substantial and the defense is no Seahawks-like defense in which they can hold opponents to just 14 points. Some way Brady and Bill Belichick find a way to beat Manning again and again but this time there's one factor they've not dealt with. ALTITUDE.
3 Key Matchups:
1. Wes Welker vs. Who ever is covering him: The Patriots did a good job on shutting Welker down when these two teams met earlier. Welker will be looked on for all red-zone targets so who ever is covering him will have to be able to keep up with the shifty wide receiver.
2. Aqib Talib vs. Demaryius Thomas: Talib said that has career began in New England even though he began his career in Tampa Bay. "I've been in the NFL since '08," Talib said this week, per the Boston Herald. "But I've really been in the NFL since November of 2012." Since becoming a Patriot in the middle of last season, the team that's gone 20-6. He will have his hands full with Thomas who is a deep vertical threat and can cause havoc in the screen game.
3. Patriots running backs vs. Broncos linebackers: Without the likes of Gronkowski, Welker and Hernandez, Brady has had to rely on running backs Steven Ridley and Shane Vereen. Enter LeGarrette Blount. Blount brings a nice balance of speed, strength and quick feet. The former Oregon Duck set a Patriot record with 4-rushing Touchdowns against the Colts last weekend. Without Von Miller, guys like Wesley Woodward and Danny Trevathan will have to step up.
X-FACTOR: Julius Thomas
*He's a mismatch for every defender and has really blossomed this year to be one of the top tight ends in the game. Last week he made timely plays to help the Broncos beat the Chargers.
Prediction: Broncos 31 - Patriots 28
NFC: (1) Russell Wilson's Seattle Seahawks vs. (5) Colin Kaepernick's San Francisco 49ers
They are so many similarties between these two guys. It's even reported that they are friends off the field, however the 49ers were in this position last year and beat the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta. It doesn't get any easier as they head to the 12th man and deal with the noise in Seattle. Wilson does not have the weapons that the 49ers possess, yet he finds ways to make plays to guys like Golden Tate and who can forget about Marshawn "Skittles" Lynch. Wilson doesn't need to be perfect, he just has to avoid the turnovers. Kaepernick willneed to make plays with his feet as much as his arm. He will be tested agains the "Legion of Boom".
3 Key Matchups:
1. Frank Gore vs. Marshawn Lynch: Both these guys are the heartbeat of their teams, they will only go as far as these guys take him. I doubt they're will be a 100-yard rusher in the game but both should come close. Gore has the advantage in the passing and screen game but Lynch is ferocious and besides Adrian Peterson the toughest halfback to take down.
2. 49ers wide recievers vs. Legion of Boom: For Kaepernick it's comforting knowing he can go to three targets that are all capable of making big plays. Vernon Davis is the key, as he's a matchup nightmare. Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree will garner a lot of attention, which will help Davis. For Seattle they're confident with Richard Sherman, Thomas and Kam Chancellor in the backfield.
3. Jim Harbaugh vs. Pete Carroll: These guys don't really enjoy each other as they square up against each other for the 3rd time this year. It's like a boxing match. Carroll won Round 1. Harbaugh snuck away with Round 2 and the final round will determine on who can knock the other one off and catch them by surprise. It may not be a knockout but one of these teams will be done after today.
X-Factor: Earl Thomas
* Earl Thomas is the best safety in the game and no pass seems to be out of his range. The guy makes big hits in the run game, if he's on then the Seahawks have a good chance at winning, but he can't afford plays to happen like he did against Drew Brees. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTpXN43TRGc)
Prediction: 49ers 27 - Seahawks 24
Saturday, January 11, 2014
The Playoff Push: Divisional Round
The Indianapolis Colts were the only home team to win this past weekend in what was a crazy slate of games. Now the divisional round is here and the games should be as exciting.
(2) New England Patriots vs (4) Indianapolis Colts
Breakdown: In what was the craziest of all the games last week, Andrew Luck and the Colts stunned the Kansas City Chiefs, rallying from 28 points. The brilliance of Luck continued with yet another late-game comeback win on the back of five total touchdowns (4Pass,1Rush). Despite 4 turnovers, 3 of which were interceptions, Luck showed his poise and leadership to win his 11th come from behind win in just two years. On the other side of the ball Tom Brady has shown us, this year with a cast of nobody's how special he is. Brady will benefit from playing at home but has a surprsing (3-5) record over his last eight playoff games.
How the Patriots win: A balance of running and passing the ball. If they shut down the running game the receivers might not be able to make play after play. Brady has been get a lot of different contributers but he'll need to focus on the likes of Shane Vereen and Legarette Blount involved. The defense is not great to begin with and the loss of Vince Wilfork is huge, but somehow Bill Belichick figures away to shut the opponents offense top option. In this case it's TY Hilton.
How the Colts win: After speaking to my brother who is probably biased and is a die-hard Colts fan, he predicts that Trent Richardson will rush over 100yards. If thats the case the Colts should be in business. I particularly don't believe that will be the case, they'll need Hilton to have another big performance (13rec/224yds/2TD) .
Prediction: Patriots 31 - Colts 28
(1) Seattle Seahawks vs (6) New Orleans Saints
Breakdown: The Saints found a way to do something they have struggled all season with and that's winning on the road. Shayne Graham has gone from unemployed to playoff hero with three field goals including the game winner with as time expired against the Eagles. Drew Brees will need to be much better if he wants to beat the Seahawks. The Seahawks were the best in the NFC with a (13-3) record. They are led by the defense and the ground game of Marshawn Lynch. The x-factor will be the 12th man which has only been beaten once in the last two years.
How the Seahawks win: Russell Wilson should have success against a depleted Saints defense and if Richard Sherman and the secondary can neutralize the weapons of Brees. It will be interesting to see how much a factor Percy Harvin is. The guy can change a game in an instance.
How the Saints win: Mark Ingram had a good week against the Eagles and will be relied on heavy in the rushing game. The defense will have to create at least two turnovers to have any chance to win the game.
Prediction: Seahawks 28 - Saints 17
(2) Carolina Panthers vs (5) San Francisco 49ers
Breakdown: The 49ers were able to beat the Green Bay Packers on the arm and leg of Colin Kaepernick. The last time these two teams met the Panthers won 10-9 in a very defensive game. Expect more points then the previous game but both Luke Kueckly and Patrick Willis will be the x-factors.
How the Panthers win: CAAAAM. Cam Newton's biggest pro game comes at home which should give an extra boost of adrenaline to start the game. How he deals with the pressure during the game will all depend on the run game and if Steve Smith is healthy.
How the 49ers win: Frank Gore seems to always seems to make big plays at big moments. If the defense cane make stops on 3rd downs, the 49ers have shown that they can make plays down the field with Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis and Anquan Boldin.
Prediction: 49ers 21 - Panthers 17
(1) Denver Broncos vs (6) San Diego Chargers
Breakdown: The Chargers got in on a miracle and their cinderella run is still continuing, and if there is anyone that should be primed to take down the Broncos it's the team that beat them last. Former Broncos OC Mike McCoy is now the head coach of the Charges and has a firm grasp on what type of offense Peyton Manning likes to run. The win against the Cincinnati Bengals showed that winning on the road is not a problem.
How the Broncos will win: The Broncos go as far as Manning goes and a big game would surely help propel a long playoff run. Knowshon Moreno should be given every chance to be the guy and he's been prone to fumble the ball.
How the Chargers will win: Phillip Rivers continues to show why he deserves a nod for MVP or Comeback Player of the year. If he can make big plays down the field and avoid turnovers the Chargers have a legitimate chance to beat the Broncos again.
Prediction: Broncos 35 - Chargers 31
Enjoy!
(2) New England Patriots vs (4) Indianapolis Colts
Breakdown: In what was the craziest of all the games last week, Andrew Luck and the Colts stunned the Kansas City Chiefs, rallying from 28 points. The brilliance of Luck continued with yet another late-game comeback win on the back of five total touchdowns (4Pass,1Rush). Despite 4 turnovers, 3 of which were interceptions, Luck showed his poise and leadership to win his 11th come from behind win in just two years. On the other side of the ball Tom Brady has shown us, this year with a cast of nobody's how special he is. Brady will benefit from playing at home but has a surprsing (3-5) record over his last eight playoff games.
How the Patriots win: A balance of running and passing the ball. If they shut down the running game the receivers might not be able to make play after play. Brady has been get a lot of different contributers but he'll need to focus on the likes of Shane Vereen and Legarette Blount involved. The defense is not great to begin with and the loss of Vince Wilfork is huge, but somehow Bill Belichick figures away to shut the opponents offense top option. In this case it's TY Hilton.
How the Colts win: After speaking to my brother who is probably biased and is a die-hard Colts fan, he predicts that Trent Richardson will rush over 100yards. If thats the case the Colts should be in business. I particularly don't believe that will be the case, they'll need Hilton to have another big performance (13rec/224yds/2TD) .
Prediction: Patriots 31 - Colts 28
(1) Seattle Seahawks vs (6) New Orleans Saints
Breakdown: The Saints found a way to do something they have struggled all season with and that's winning on the road. Shayne Graham has gone from unemployed to playoff hero with three field goals including the game winner with as time expired against the Eagles. Drew Brees will need to be much better if he wants to beat the Seahawks. The Seahawks were the best in the NFC with a (13-3) record. They are led by the defense and the ground game of Marshawn Lynch. The x-factor will be the 12th man which has only been beaten once in the last two years.
How the Seahawks win: Russell Wilson should have success against a depleted Saints defense and if Richard Sherman and the secondary can neutralize the weapons of Brees. It will be interesting to see how much a factor Percy Harvin is. The guy can change a game in an instance.
How the Saints win: Mark Ingram had a good week against the Eagles and will be relied on heavy in the rushing game. The defense will have to create at least two turnovers to have any chance to win the game.
Prediction: Seahawks 28 - Saints 17
(2) Carolina Panthers vs (5) San Francisco 49ers
Breakdown: The 49ers were able to beat the Green Bay Packers on the arm and leg of Colin Kaepernick. The last time these two teams met the Panthers won 10-9 in a very defensive game. Expect more points then the previous game but both Luke Kueckly and Patrick Willis will be the x-factors.
How the Panthers win: CAAAAM. Cam Newton's biggest pro game comes at home which should give an extra boost of adrenaline to start the game. How he deals with the pressure during the game will all depend on the run game and if Steve Smith is healthy.
How the 49ers win: Frank Gore seems to always seems to make big plays at big moments. If the defense cane make stops on 3rd downs, the 49ers have shown that they can make plays down the field with Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis and Anquan Boldin.
Prediction: 49ers 21 - Panthers 17
(1) Denver Broncos vs (6) San Diego Chargers
Breakdown: The Chargers got in on a miracle and their cinderella run is still continuing, and if there is anyone that should be primed to take down the Broncos it's the team that beat them last. Former Broncos OC Mike McCoy is now the head coach of the Charges and has a firm grasp on what type of offense Peyton Manning likes to run. The win against the Cincinnati Bengals showed that winning on the road is not a problem.
How the Broncos will win: The Broncos go as far as Manning goes and a big game would surely help propel a long playoff run. Knowshon Moreno should be given every chance to be the guy and he's been prone to fumble the ball.
How the Chargers will win: Phillip Rivers continues to show why he deserves a nod for MVP or Comeback Player of the year. If he can make big plays down the field and avoid turnovers the Chargers have a legitimate chance to beat the Broncos again.
Prediction: Broncos 35 - Chargers 31
Enjoy!
Saturday, January 4, 2014
The Playoff Push: Wild-Card Weekend
The NFL regular season has come and gone in a blink of an eye and now the playoffs are here with four intriguing Wild-Card match-ups. Before I break down the games it's worth noting that this season proved that the NFL is the "best unscripted reality television out there." So says Al Michaels at least. But this is true as we look at the eight teams that will be playing this weekend.
(4) Indianapolis Colts vs. (5) Kansas City Chiefs
Breakdown: For Andrew Luck and the Colts the season started off magnificently. Wins against power-houses (San Francisco and Seattle) and an emotional win against Peyton Manning in his return to Indy helped jump start them in a very weak division. However, in that game against Denver they lost their best offensive weapon in Reggie Wayne, and it has shown. Robert Mathis and his 19.5 sacks anchors a pretty underrated Colts Defense and is a viable choice for Defensive player of the year. The Chiefs started the season 9-0 but beat just one team over .500 all season and that was the Philadelphia Eagles at their worst. The Chiefs lost to Denver and San Diego twice and were manhandled by these same Colts in week 16 at home. If there is one thing on their side it's that they will be playing in a dome were Jamaal Charles should be poised to have a good day.
How the Colts will win: If Andrew Luck and the Colts win the turnover margin. Luck will have to make plays with his arm and leg and if T.Y. Hilton has a big day, this team should be in a good position to win. Shutting down Charles on Defense is key.
How the Chiefs will win: Defense, Jamaal Charles, Alex Smith. The Chiefs are all about their defense which was stout for most of the season, but since week 10 they have came back to earth.If Charles gets over 30 touches in the game then the Chiefs will be moving the ball well down the field. Alex Smith is playing in his biggest game and a dud would surely have the doubters with a lot of ammunition going into next season.
Prediction: Colts 28 - Chiefs 21
(3) Philadelphia Eagles vs. (6) New Orleans Saints
Breakdown: The Eagles weren't sure who their Quarterback was to start the season but the answer is clear now. Nick Foles led the Eagles past the Dallas Cowboys in week 17 to grab the NFC East and the 3rd seed. After a tumultuous start, Foles has stepped in, and been nearly perfect(2 interceptions to 27 touchdowns). A lot of the pressure has been taken off Foles as LeSean McCoy put up career numbers this season, and is the deadliest weapon in these playoffs. It's weird to see Sean Peyton and the Saints as the 6th seed but that is exactly what they are. The loss to the Panthers on the road gave away the division, needing a big win against the Buccaneers at home to make the playoffs. Their big problem this year has been playing outdoors and on the road and that's the case for the number six seed.
How the Eagles will win: Foles handles the pressure of his biggest game, makes the right reads and does not turn the ball over. The possession time is also going to be key as both teams can put up points fast. Just like Charles in the early game if Chip Kelly gives McCoy 30+ touches then the Eagles will be in good shape. Their defense is suspect despite playing better the last four weeks. They face their toughest task with Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham.
How the Saints will win: If their defense makes stops. The Saints only chance of competing is if they can shut down the run game and give the ball back over to the offense. The offense has been average to say the best on the road, but if there's anyone to bet on to step up its Drew Brees.
Prediction: Saints 38 - Eagles 24
(3) Cincinnati Bengals vs. (6) San Diego Chargers
Breakdown: The Bengals won the AFC North for the first time in over a decade and a big reason for that was going 8-0 at home. This is the third straight season that Marvin Lewis and the Bengals will be in the postseason but the first time they'll be playing in front of their hometown fans. Andy Dalton is the perfect example of inconsistency. He's got an abundance of talent around him, yet their are plays and reads that he makes that are just boggling. The San Diego Chargers got here on the back and arm of Phillip Rivers (and maybe the leg of Ryan Succop). After escaping a horrific end to their season (they beat a Chiefs team that rested 20 of its 22 starters). The Chargers will need Eric Weddle to shut down A.J. Green.
How the Bengals win: The theme for the Bengals this playoffs is if Dalton could play like Joe Flacco did last year then the Bengals should be considered legitimate Super Bowl contenders. A.J. Green is a top-3 wide receiver in the game and Marvin Jones should win breakout player of the year award.
How the Chargers win: Ken Wisenhunt and Mike McCoy have have added some nice pieces to complement Rivers with Keenan Allen, Eddie Royal and Ladarius Green. It'll be up for these guys to make the plays when called upon. Eric Weddle is the captain of a defense that is middle of the pack, a big game by the Defense could be what continues the Cinderella run.
Prediction: Bengals 42 - Chargers 24
(4) Green Bay Packers vs. (5) San Francisco 49ers
Breakdown: It's a rematch of last year's playoff and the opening game of this season in which the 49ers dominated both games. The Packers have Aaron Rogers back in the fold, but it's still not certain that he's 100%. Their defense is abysmal but thanks to a collapse by the Detroit Lions and a win against the Bears in week 17, they're in the playoffs. Eddie Lacey has been good for them but the 49ers don't give up a lot of rush yards so it's all going to be down to Rodgers and his receivers. Colin Kaepernick looked a lot better in the last 8 games then he did in the first 8 games. Their defense is top in the league and will give problems to Rodgers all game long. The 49ers were built for these type of games where weather won't be a factor. It's supposed to be (-18).
How the Packers win the game: It's going to be tough without Clay Matthews to stop the 49ers but if they can create turnovers then it gives Rodgers the chance to be great. Lacey won't see a lot of yards but its important that they continue with the run, to set up the play action (where Rodgers is so good).
How the 49ers win the game: Run it down the throats is what I bet Jim Harbaugh is saying. The 49ers love to run the ball and expect it to come in all different ways. This year they added Anquan Boldin who loves these moments to go along with Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree. Defense will play its game.
Prediction: 49ers 38 - Packers 17
Enjoy the games!
(4) Indianapolis Colts vs. (5) Kansas City Chiefs
Breakdown: For Andrew Luck and the Colts the season started off magnificently. Wins against power-houses (San Francisco and Seattle) and an emotional win against Peyton Manning in his return to Indy helped jump start them in a very weak division. However, in that game against Denver they lost their best offensive weapon in Reggie Wayne, and it has shown. Robert Mathis and his 19.5 sacks anchors a pretty underrated Colts Defense and is a viable choice for Defensive player of the year. The Chiefs started the season 9-0 but beat just one team over .500 all season and that was the Philadelphia Eagles at their worst. The Chiefs lost to Denver and San Diego twice and were manhandled by these same Colts in week 16 at home. If there is one thing on their side it's that they will be playing in a dome were Jamaal Charles should be poised to have a good day.
How the Colts will win: If Andrew Luck and the Colts win the turnover margin. Luck will have to make plays with his arm and leg and if T.Y. Hilton has a big day, this team should be in a good position to win. Shutting down Charles on Defense is key.
How the Chiefs will win: Defense, Jamaal Charles, Alex Smith. The Chiefs are all about their defense which was stout for most of the season, but since week 10 they have came back to earth.If Charles gets over 30 touches in the game then the Chiefs will be moving the ball well down the field. Alex Smith is playing in his biggest game and a dud would surely have the doubters with a lot of ammunition going into next season.
Prediction: Colts 28 - Chiefs 21
(3) Philadelphia Eagles vs. (6) New Orleans Saints
Breakdown: The Eagles weren't sure who their Quarterback was to start the season but the answer is clear now. Nick Foles led the Eagles past the Dallas Cowboys in week 17 to grab the NFC East and the 3rd seed. After a tumultuous start, Foles has stepped in, and been nearly perfect(2 interceptions to 27 touchdowns). A lot of the pressure has been taken off Foles as LeSean McCoy put up career numbers this season, and is the deadliest weapon in these playoffs. It's weird to see Sean Peyton and the Saints as the 6th seed but that is exactly what they are. The loss to the Panthers on the road gave away the division, needing a big win against the Buccaneers at home to make the playoffs. Their big problem this year has been playing outdoors and on the road and that's the case for the number six seed.
How the Eagles will win: Foles handles the pressure of his biggest game, makes the right reads and does not turn the ball over. The possession time is also going to be key as both teams can put up points fast. Just like Charles in the early game if Chip Kelly gives McCoy 30+ touches then the Eagles will be in good shape. Their defense is suspect despite playing better the last four weeks. They face their toughest task with Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham.
How the Saints will win: If their defense makes stops. The Saints only chance of competing is if they can shut down the run game and give the ball back over to the offense. The offense has been average to say the best on the road, but if there's anyone to bet on to step up its Drew Brees.
Prediction: Saints 38 - Eagles 24
(3) Cincinnati Bengals vs. (6) San Diego Chargers
Breakdown: The Bengals won the AFC North for the first time in over a decade and a big reason for that was going 8-0 at home. This is the third straight season that Marvin Lewis and the Bengals will be in the postseason but the first time they'll be playing in front of their hometown fans. Andy Dalton is the perfect example of inconsistency. He's got an abundance of talent around him, yet their are plays and reads that he makes that are just boggling. The San Diego Chargers got here on the back and arm of Phillip Rivers (and maybe the leg of Ryan Succop). After escaping a horrific end to their season (they beat a Chiefs team that rested 20 of its 22 starters). The Chargers will need Eric Weddle to shut down A.J. Green.
How the Bengals win: The theme for the Bengals this playoffs is if Dalton could play like Joe Flacco did last year then the Bengals should be considered legitimate Super Bowl contenders. A.J. Green is a top-3 wide receiver in the game and Marvin Jones should win breakout player of the year award.
How the Chargers win: Ken Wisenhunt and Mike McCoy have have added some nice pieces to complement Rivers with Keenan Allen, Eddie Royal and Ladarius Green. It'll be up for these guys to make the plays when called upon. Eric Weddle is the captain of a defense that is middle of the pack, a big game by the Defense could be what continues the Cinderella run.
Prediction: Bengals 42 - Chargers 24
(4) Green Bay Packers vs. (5) San Francisco 49ers
Breakdown: It's a rematch of last year's playoff and the opening game of this season in which the 49ers dominated both games. The Packers have Aaron Rogers back in the fold, but it's still not certain that he's 100%. Their defense is abysmal but thanks to a collapse by the Detroit Lions and a win against the Bears in week 17, they're in the playoffs. Eddie Lacey has been good for them but the 49ers don't give up a lot of rush yards so it's all going to be down to Rodgers and his receivers. Colin Kaepernick looked a lot better in the last 8 games then he did in the first 8 games. Their defense is top in the league and will give problems to Rodgers all game long. The 49ers were built for these type of games where weather won't be a factor. It's supposed to be (-18).
How the Packers win the game: It's going to be tough without Clay Matthews to stop the 49ers but if they can create turnovers then it gives Rodgers the chance to be great. Lacey won't see a lot of yards but its important that they continue with the run, to set up the play action (where Rodgers is so good).
How the 49ers win the game: Run it down the throats is what I bet Jim Harbaugh is saying. The 49ers love to run the ball and expect it to come in all different ways. This year they added Anquan Boldin who loves these moments to go along with Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree. Defense will play its game.
Prediction: 49ers 38 - Packers 17
Enjoy the games!
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