Weekend Wrap-up

The biggest weekend in recent Bruins history has come and gone, and it can be considered a success (to some degree). Everyone and their mother knew that the Bruins were going to take whichever of the top two forwards that the Edmonton Oilers passed on, and they did. Tyler Seguin, while not as NHL-ready, likely has just as much, if not more, upside than #1 pick Taylor Hall. Some will speculate that Seguin spends another year in the OHL, playing for the Plymouth Whalers, or even in the AHL with Providence. But make no mistake about it, he is still ready to play in the NHL, and he will. Barring a trade of Marc Savard, it looks as though the natural centerman will kick-off his NHL career on the wing, a switch he is willing to make. But this was the easy part of the weekend. Taking Seguin once Hall was gone was a no-brainer.

Now, move past the second pick. And this is where you would have liked to see a more active Bruins team in the first round. They traded away the 15th pick in this years draft last week to acquire bruising and talented winger Nathan Horton. Now, I'm sure that Peter Chiarelli didn't see Cam Fowler and Brandon Gormley dropping as far as they did when he pulled the trigger on that deal. Both Fowler and Gormley were projected top-6 picks, and they ended up going at 12 and 13, respectively. Had Chiarelli kept the pick, he could have much more easily dealt it in order to move up and select one of the two defenseman. Also, towering D-man Derek Forbort dropped all the way to 15, and the Bruins could have used the pick to select him as well. But, hindsight is always 20/20. There's no way Chiarelli should have nixed the Horton deal because of what they could have had at 15. The frustrating part of the draft, however, was the Bruins lack of movement to get back into the first round. Armed with two second round picks, and two 2011 first-rounders, the Bruins failed to sneak back into the teens-to-early-twenties in order to select one of the many young defenders in the draft. Mark Pysyk, the smooth-skating offensive dman, ended up going 23 to Buffalo, a steal for the Sabres. The Bruins could have traded back to 15 to take Forbort...a steal. Then, on day two, they selected 36-goal scorer Jared Knight instead of defensemen Jon Merrill and Alex Petrovic. Now, Knight is a mystery to me. I'd never heard of him prior to the B's selecting him, and he could end up being a very good player. But I thought, and still think, that it was foolish for the team to pass up a guy like Merrill, who offers top-pairing upside.

All things considered, it was a very good draft for the Bruins. They got their franchise player in Seguin, they got a hard-nosed scorer in Knight, and they got a great two-way player (and a huge steal) at pick 45 in Ryan Spooner.

In other news from the weekend, the B's locked-up Johnny Boychuk for two more years (and he's making less than Andrew Ference, a head-scratcher) and also re-inked Mark Recchi for another year. Yea, Recchi's 42 years old, but he was the B's best winger last year. Now, being the best Bruin winger last year isn't saying much, but the old man still has plenty to offer.

The worst news of the weekend came late on Saturday, when Chiarelli had announced that they had traded Vladimir Sobotka to St. Louis for 20 year old, unsigned defenseman David Warsofsky (currently playing at BU). The move just doesn't make any sense to me. What was Chiarelli looking at during the Buffalo series last year? Sobotka was busy playing the role of "wrecking ball" and was arguably the best player on the ice (both teams) for the series! No, he doesn't have the offensive upside of a 20 or 30 goal scorer, but he plays a high-energy style and creates opportunities with his physical play. They traded Sobotka for a 5-foot-9 defenseman! What good is a 5'9 defenseman these days? Overall, a poor move by Chiarelli. The Bruins acquired two NCAA dmen this past season (Matt Bartkowski and Steve Kampfer) and had no pressing need for another development prospect at the position. Yea, you'd like to see them draft a guy like Forbort or Merrill for down the road, someone capable of being a top tier player. But stockpiling NCAA defensemen with 3rd-pairing upside makes zero sense.

Marc Savard Being Shopped Around?

So I've been following the NHL offseason fairly closely and just a week or so ago I hear a rumor about Marc Savard possibly getting traded to Columbus. I thought to myself, "what a joke that rumor is, how could anyone possibly beleive that the Bruins would trade away Savard when they just signed him to a 7 year contract extension?" Makes no sense right? Then I hear Savard for Kaberle rumors. Kaberle and Chara on the same line... now that is a spicy meatball. It seems like I hear talks about Kaberle to the Bruins just about once a week (okay maybe a little exaggeration), but another Savard trade rumor? That got me thinking, how could a team go from one extreme (7 year extension) to the other (trading him away) over night? And then it hit me, just like it did Felger on Felger and Mazz, Cam Neely was just promoted to Bruins President! That's the only way to explain this right? Perhaps the 7 year extension was mostly all Peter Chiarelli, and then once Cam gets promoted he takes over and says "Get the hell out of my way this is my team now!"

As of right now the Bruins have Savard, Bergeron, Krejci, Colborne (likely to earn a roster spot fairly soon I think), and now Campbell at the center position. It seems like their could be something to these Savard trade talks after all. Now I'm not one who would support trading Savard away at the moment because of his elite passing abiliy and vision. It was no secret that the bruins struggled offensivly last season, so why get rid of one of the best setup men in the game? Perhaps the Bruins know something we don't, or maybe this thing is getting completely blown out of proportion.

Dunbar's 2010 Mock Draft

Tomorrow will perhaps be the biggest day in recent Bruins history. In fact, screw the “perhaps,” tomorrow basically decides the future of the team. The big question: Taylor or Tyler? The way I see it, both players are destined to be stars in the league, so the Bruins are in great position at pick 2. Last week, I blessed the readers with my Bruins Draft Preview. Earlier this week, I pitted my picks up against BSP correspondent Danny D’s picks. Now, I give you my in depth analysis of each pick in the first round. Make no mistake about it, I’ve given thought to this draft for months now (probably since December), and will spend hours watching each and every pick of the first round tomorrow night (tomorrow is basically a holiday for Bruin die-hards). Am I terrified that the Bruins will fuck things up? Nope. The B’s are on an extreme hot-streak right now in terms of Front Office “common sense.” Now, all they have to do is take the leftover of the Taylor/Tyler debate and they’ll be on their way to re-shaping the franchise. There is a slight chance they trade the pick, and if they do, they’ll likely move down to the 3^rd pick or, the very latest, #4. I don’t see it happening, but if they make out with Erik Gudbranson, it will be a victory for the team (he’s seen as the next Pronger). If they end up with Cam Fowler, it’ll be a catastrophe. But, as I said, they’re on a hot streak. I anticipate them staying at 2 and taking one of the two elite forwards, but Gudbranson would be a welcome sight to my eyes as well. With all that said, here is how I project the first round of the draft to play out:

1. Edmonton - Taylor Hall (LW): Every Draft-report that I’ve looked at has said that Edmonton is leaning toward Hall. I think, for months now, that the battle for first pick has been a bit overstated. Hall is the premier player in the Draft and is the most NHL-ready.

2. Boston - Tyler Seguin (C): Like I said up top, Hall is the premier player in this draft, and the argument “Taylor or Tyler” has been largely media-based. The Bruins will have no problem taking Seguin, who has drawn comparisons to Steve Yzerman and Joe Sakic. If the B’s feel VERY strongly about Hall, there is a chance they package roster players and/or picks to swap with the Oil.

3. Florida - Erik Gudbranson (D): In the event that the Panthers keep the pick, they’ll look to add the best player available. Gudbranson is seen as the best defender in the draft and is a perfect compliment to last year’s first-rounder, Dmitry Kulikov.

4. Columbus - Cam Fowler (D): The Jackets could use a top-line center, but there isn’t one available after Seguin is gone. So they’ll go for their second-most pressing need, a mobile defenseman with elite puck moving ability, Fowler fits that.

5. NY Islanders - Brett Connolly (LW): Connolly is rated as the third best North American skater, but he comes with a ton of risk (battled a hip injury last year). If he gets the nod from team doctors, it should be a no-brainer for the Isles. Having Connolly’s elite playmaking alongside John Tavares’ scoring touch would be a lethal combination.

6. Tampa Bay - Brandon Gormley (D): They got Hedman last year at #2, and this year they'll add a stalwart D-man to pair him with for years to come. This pick could be different if Lecavalier is shipped out of town by Draft Day. They could take goalie Jack Campbell here, but I think that’s too big of a risk for new GM Steve Yzerman to take with his first pick.

7. Carolina - Ryan Johansen (C): If any of the top 3 defensemen in the draft fall to the Canes, then Jim Rutherford would jump all over it. But all of them should be gone at this point, and the Canes need to A: fill a hole at center behind Eric Staal, and B: draft the best player available (it's Campbell at this point, but they don't need a 'tender with Cam Ward)

8. Atlanta - Jack Campbell (G): They traded their former “franchise goalie” last year at the deadline when they shipped Kari Lehtonen to Dallas. They have a lot of depth up front and a stalwart on D in Zach Bogosian, but they lack security in the crease. Campbell’s stock is rising fast, though, and he could be long-gone at this point.

9. Minnesota - Jeff Skinner (C): 70 goals in his last 84 games in junior. Probably the purest goal-scorer in the draft outside of Hall, and the Wild need a top-line scoring centerman. They’ve lacked any amount of star power since Gaborik left town, but Skinner should help fill the void.

10. NY Rangers - Nino Niederreiter (LW): The Rangers, outside of the aforementioned Gaborik, struggled for offense last year. El Nino is a big power forward with a great shot who should help light the lamp on Broadway. He's the drafts youngest player (still only 17), but he's already filled out his body and could be ready to contribute as soon as next year.

11. Dallas - Derek Forbort (D): The Stars are thin on defense, and they traded their top prospect at the position in the Kari Lehtonen deal last trade deadline. Forbort isn’t NHL ready, but at this point, he offers the highest upside among the remaining defensemen.

12. Anaheim - Mark Pysyk (D): It’s a shame that Scott Niedermayer called it a career. He was still a great player and one of the purest skaters in the league. Fortunately for the Ducks, Pysyk offers a game much similar. He’s considered the best skater in the draft and has been compared to both Niedermayer and Duncan Keith…not bad for the 12^th pick.

13. Phoenix - Austin Watson (C): Watson is the drafts best defensive forward. He doesn’t have the star-upside of some of the drafts other forwards, but Phoenix’s biggest need is a centerman who isn’t afraid to do the dirty work.

14. St. Louis - Mikael Granlund (F): St. Louis has no need on defense and likely won’t get a shot at Jack Campbell, so they’ll probably go with the best talent available up front. There are questions about Granlund’s size, but not his skill. He’s an elite playmaker who has been compared to countryman Saku Koivu. They’d love to have Watson’s two-way play, I’m sure, but they’ll settle on Granlund’s star-potential.

15. Florida- Emerson Etem (C): With the pick they acquired in dealing Nathan Horton to Boston, the Panthers will look to fill the hole left by their 2003 first-rounder. Etem is an American with great speed, a nose for the net, and a finishing touch. Florida should make out nicely with this pick if Etem falls this far.

16. Ottawa - Nick Bjugstad (C): The Sens might feel that Bjugstad is too much of a “project” to take here, but he offers great size and, more importantly, great upside. He’s college-bound, so it’ll take a few years before he’s in the NHL, but it could be a worthwhile gamble for Brian Murray and company.

17. Colorado - Dylan McIlrath (D): McIlrath’s skill-set isn’t up to par with Pysyk, Forbort, or even Jon Merrill, but he’s a huge kid and has a wicked mean-streak.

18. Nashville - Jon Merrill (D): The Predators already have an elite top-pairing on D with Shea Weber and Ryan Suter, but they did just lose Dan Hamhuis via free agency and could use some added depth. Merrill is one of many US defenseman that figure to go in the first round this year, and he could wind up being a very good #3 defenseman.

19. Los Angeles - Alexander Burmistrov (F): If rumors are correct, the Kings will make a huge push toward Ilya Kovalchuk this offseason. Why? They need that type of electrifying scorer to compliment Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown. Burmistrov offers much of what Kovie does, but will take a year to fully develop into an NHL ready center.

20. Pittsburgh - Vladimir Tarasenko (LW): If the KHL doesn’t exist, Tarasenko probably goes #3 overall, or in the top 5 at the very least. But, the KHL does exist and Tarasenko comes with as much risk as anyone in the draft. Pittsburgh has never had an elite winger to play with Sidney Crosby, but if Tarasenko comes to North America, they’ve instantly got their guy.

21. Detroit - Ludvig Rensfeldt (C): Detroit needs a forward, and they’ve had tremendous success in scouting Swedish-born players. Rensfeldt compares a lot to a current Red Wing…Johan Franzen.

22. Phoenix - Calvin Pickard (G): Ilya Bryzgalov came very close to a Vezina Trophy last year, but the ‘Yotes don’t have anyone behind him, or anyone for the future. Jack Campbell won’t be available to them, so they’ll go with the second best option at the position…Pickard.

23. Buffalo - John McFarland (C): They were frustrated last year by a lack of size and intensity from their forward group. I doubt Tim Connolly plays another game as a Sabre, and Tyler Ennis and Nathan Gerbe are diminutive. McFarland brings skill and size to the bunch, something they’ll need if they want to make it out of the first round next year.

24. Chicago- Quinton Howden (C): With the pick they acquired in the Byfuglien trade, they’ll look to add some size up front. At 6’2, 200 lbs, Howden isn’t quite as big as Big Buff, but he is the safe pick here and should develop into a top-6 forward for the Hawks.

25. Vancouver - Alexander Petrovic (D): If there was one thing that prevented the Canucks from a prolonged playoff run, it was their lack of a top defenseman. Petrovic is huge (6’5), and offers the upside of a top-pairing guy that Vancouver covets. Of course, the Canucks will be very open to dealing this pick for a more proven defender (Braydon Coburn or Tomas Kaberle).

26. Washington - Jared Tinordi (D): The Caps are in a similar situation as Vancouver. Although they have great young players on the blue-line (Mike Green, John Carlson, and Karl Alzner), they lack the true “stay-at-home” type that Tinordi is. He’s a huge kid at 6’6 and could fill out to be 245 lbs. He’ll make his mark in the NHL as a big-hitting, “safe” defenseman.

27. Montreal - Stanislav Galiev (LW): Montreal likes drafting guys close to home, and Galiev offers that. He’s a talented forward with good size, something the Canadiens lack. If McFarland is available here, I think they would go with his combination of size and skill. They'll also have a long, hard look at Riley Sheahan.

28. San Jose - Tyler Toffoli (C): San Jose might look to trade up for a shot at Cal Pickard (now that they have closed the book on Nabokov). But if they stay here, they will look to add a talented forward. Toffoli is a two-way player that fits nicely into the Sharks’ system. If they want a guy with more of a scoring touch, they could look to Petr Straka or Beau Bennett.

29. Anaheim - Riley Sheahan (C): They paid dearly for this pick (dealing Chris Pronger to the Flyers last offseason), and they might never recover. With two first round picks, they could look to land a talented Russian (Kabanov or Kuznetsov), but Sheahan dropping this far could be great value. He’ll probably be a checking-line center in the NHL, but he has solid offensive upside and great skating ability.

30. Chicago - Tyler Pitlick (C): I originally had them taking Brock Nelson, and they still could, because Nelson is a pretty big kid for a High Schooler and will only get bigger. But Pitlick is a very good two-way forward, and if the Hawks have any one weakness, it’s depth at center (and goaltending). Pitlick heads to the WHL next season, and won’t be NHL-ready for at least 2 years.

Update: The Hawks just lost some feathers, Nabokov not a Shark

Seriously, when does it get to the point when you people are to start calling the Boston Sports Party a prophet or a magic 8 ball? BSP is predicting the future left and right, and it's happening right in front of all of you! I admit it, I missed on the Scott Niedermayer situation. It simply seemed like he had too much left in the tank to call it quits, but he bailed on me and cost me perfection. Other than that, Danny D and myself have been fucking spot on when it comes to the NHL offseason, and it only continues.

Yesterday, Shark GM Doug Wilson announced via press conference that the team would not be extending a contract offer to goaltender Evgeni Nabokov. Now they're not exactly changing over to a hammerhead logo, but they are certainly taking steps toward drastically changing the face of the team. I've never been a Nabokov fan, ever, I think he absolutely stinks. But league scouts, and his numbers, suggest that he should have been nominated for the Vezina Trophy this past season. So to get rid of your "Vezina-caliber" goaltender is a huge makeover in itself. I anticipated that the Sharks will make more moves, but this definitely qualifies as the start of a big makeover for the notorious playoff chokers of the West Coast.

Aside from the Sharks initial offseason moves, the Blackhawks made some shake-ups as well. It didn't take a brain surgeon to realize they were going to need to trim down their roster in order to meet cap restrictions in 2010-11. But what a lot of people didn't see coming was the departure of playoff hero Dustin Byfuglien. While the Hawks had no choice but to make a deal at some point, I think the wrong deal was made here. Byfuglien is a great compliment to the skill of both Toews and Kane, and he is going to continue to mature into one of the best power forwards in the league. A 25-goal power forward doesn't come along all that often, and the Blackhawks parted ways with one. In addition, they gave up a great 4th defenseman in Brent Sopel (a great shot blocker) and a talented agitator in Ben Eager. All of that for a few prospects, a late first round pick, and a late 2nd round pick? Not worth it. The Blackhawks managed to ease their cap woes with this deal, but they didn't get good value for their players. Next year, they'll realize how important Byfuglien and Sopel were to their success, and they'll regret the move. This deal also has implications in our Comparative Mock Draft, so we'll have to make certain adjustments.

OLE!

If you didn't watch USA's final group-play match...you missed out. WOW! The US needed a win to ensure that they advanced into the Final 16, and a goal they got...at the 91 minute mark! Who said the US can't play soccer? Yea, they just fucking beat-out England to top Group C and have advanced past the group-stage. They dominated Algeria today but couldn't hit water if they fell out of a fucking boat. After and early disallowed goal (another phantom call) and several near-goals, it looked like a frustrated Red, White and Blue were going to bow out of the World Cup in devastating fashion. Not to be. Tim Howard made a huge stop on his end, and then threw, yes threw, the ball PAST the half-field line, leading to the game-winning break. Altidore made a great pass to Dempsey, who was stopped, but Landon Donovan provided the heroics and finally put one into the net. I think it's fair to say that that is the most worked-up I have ever been during a soccer game, but a great game it was. On to the fucking elimination rounds!

Update: Horton to Wear Black and Gold

It's probably time for me to rename this blog "The Boston-area Predictors of the Future." For the second time in less than a week, BSP has done just that. Sports Party correspondent Danny D wrote earlier in the week that the Bruins were on the cusp of acquiring winger Nathan Horton from the Panthers. What happened? The Bruins acquired winger Nathan Horton from the Panthers! They dealt the 15th overall pick, Dennis Wideman, and an undisclosed pick for Horton and Greg Campbell (a checking line center very similar to Steve Begin). Wait a second...we predicted the future twice! I wrote last week that the Bruins would not be making a selection at 15, and said that they would possibly move the pick for "immediate help." They've done all of the above, and they've continued their phenomenal start to the 2010 offseason.

Horton was the 3rd overall pick in 2003, so he brings a tremendous amount of talent to the table. He is, however, a bit enigmatic in nature. He's been accused of having no heartbeat in the sunshine state (who would?) and has, as a result, not lived up to his tremendous potential. But make no mistake about it, the Bruins pulled off a highway robbery in this deal. Horton, if the city of Boston ignites his fire, could turn out to be a Cam-Neely-esque Power Forward capable of being a perennial 40-goal scorer. All for what? Dennis Wideman? A mid-first round pick? Every person and their mother knows how big a fan I have been of Dennis Wideman in the past, but he simply isn't a top-pairing defenseman. He did have a terrific playoffs, but there is no getting around how poor he played during the regular season. As far as the 15th pick goes, I'm sure it will net Florida a quality player. But from a Bruins standpoint, there won't be anyone available at that point with Horton's talent or that could make an immediate impact like he will.

The Bruins started the offseason by re-upping both Shawn Thornton and Dennis Seidenberg, which was a tremendous start. Now, they've continued to trend upward with this move. Hopefully Cam and Co. are onto something here and are able to make this team the Cup Contender they are destined to be within the coming years. People...the bandwagon has opened its doors once again!

Comparative Round 1 NHL Mock Draft

As Dunbar has been saying, he's going to be posting his "full" NHL Mock Draft column later on in the week. This is our initial Mock Draft column that will compare what I think will happen, and what Dunbar views as the most likely scenario. Keep in mind, the Bruins parted ways with the number 15 pick in the draft, along with Dennis Wideman, to acquire RW Nathan Horton (as we so aptly predicted). My predictions are shown in red, Dunbar's selections are shown in blue. Here goes...

1 Edmonton Oilers - Taylor Hall (LW) Taylor Hall (LW)

2 Boston Bruins (from Toronto) - Tyler Seguin (C) Tyler Seguin (C)

3 Florida Panthers - Erik Gudbranson (D) Erik Gudbranson (D)

4 Columbus Blue Jackets - Cam Fowler (D) Cam Fowler (D)

5 New York Islanders - Brandon Gormley (D) Brett Connolly (RW)

6 Tampa Bay Lightning - Nino Niederreiter (LW) Brandon Gormley (D)

7 Carolina Hurricanes - Brett Connolly (RW) Ryan Johansen (C)

8 Atlanta Thrashers - Vladimir Tarasenko (LW) Jack Campbell (G)

9 Minnesota Wild - Ryan Johansen (C) Jeff Skinner (C)

10 New York Rangers - Nick Bjugstad (C) Nino Niederreiter (LW)

11 Dallas Stars - Mikael Granlund (LW) Derek Forbort (D)

12 Anaheim Ducks - Jeff Skinner (C) Mark Pysyk (D)

13 Phoenix Coyotes (from Calgary) - Derek Forbort (D) Austin Watson (C)

14 St. Louis Blues - Jack Campbell (G) Mikael Granlund (LW)

15 Florida Panthers (from Boston) - Emerson Etem (LW) Emerson Etem (LW)

16 Ottawa Senators - Quinton Howden (C) Nick Bjugstad (C)

17 Colorado Avalanche - Jon Merrill (D) Dylan McIlrath (D)

18 Nashville Predators - Austin Watson (LW) Jon Merrill (D)

19 Los Angeles Kings - Riley Sheahan (C) Alexander Burmistrov (C)

20 Pittsburgh Penguins - Mark Pysyk (D) Vladimir Tarasenko (LW)

21 Detroit Red Wings - Patrik Nemeth (D) Ludvig Rensfeldt (C)

22 Phoenix Coyotes - John McFarland (C/LW) Calvin Pickard (G)

23 Buffalo Sabres - Beau Bennett (RW) John McFarland (C/LW)

24 Chicago Blackhawks (from NJ via ATL) - Calvin Pickard (G) Quinton Howden (C)

25 Vancouver Canucks - Dylan McIlrath (D) Alexander Petrovic (D)

26 Washington Capitals - Evgeny Kuznetsov (C) Jared Tinordi (D)

27 Montreal Canadiens - Jerome Gauthier-Leduc (D) Stanislav Galiev (LW)

28 San Jose Sharks - Stanislav Galiev (LW) Tyler Toffoli (C)

29 Anaheim Ducks (from Philadelphia) - Kirill Kabanov (LW) Riley Sheahan (C)

30 Chicago Blackhawks - Brock Nelson (C) Tyler Pitlick (C)

There's BSP's initial first round mock for the 2010 NHL Draft. Be sure to check back later on in the week (likely thursday) for Dunbar's "in-depth" analysis. There's plenty more on the Bruins plate this week, so far...so good.

Tuesday's Thoughts

I have to start with the World Cup, even though soccer's biggest stage may not be everyone's cup of tea. I could talk all day about the diving that goes on, or the skill that some of these guys have. But no, instead, the French have decided they want to be divas and take over the spotlight and the front page of every important blog on the internet. For those who don't remember, or never knew in the first place, France was the runner-up at the 2006 World Cup and won the damn thing in '98. They only lost due to Zidane's infamous headbutt that resulted in a Red Flag and ultimately cost his team. Apparently Zidane retired after that tournament, and even more apparent...the French are a bunch of nobody's on the World stage without him. It all started after their disappointing 0-0 draw against Uruguay in the opener, when their captain, Patrice Evra, blamed the loss on the vuvuzela's hindering their on-field communication. Then, during a team practice, they decided to "walk-out" on their coach after he disciplined one of their teammates. How much more French can you get? The entire country probably built itself up in hopes that they could win this thing! Yet they just give up and stop training because somebody got bent over the coaches knee and spanked. What a disgrace! It kind of, but not really, takes away from the legitimacy of the tournament. If one of the World's premier soccer countries just gives up, then why is the World Cup seen as such a magnificent stage? But, like I said, quitting can be expected from the French, so the legitimacy of the tourney remains. After the French figure out the whole "nuke" thing, they'll probably fuck it up and nuke themselves. When they do, we'll only remember them for their thin stripes of fried potatoes.

Moving on from that disgrace...I'm gonna have to update my Bruins Draft Preview. I had a glaring omission from the players that the Bruins should consider if they do end up keeping the #15 pick. Now, as I said in the original post, the Bruins won't be selecting anyone at #15, I'm almost sure of that. But, in the unlikely case of them keeping the pick, I would need to add Austin Watson to the group of players to be considered. I put Riley Sheahan up on the post as the two-way, gritty-type player, but that player should have been Watson. While he may never be a first-line player, Watson is viewed as the draft's best defensive forward, hardest worker, and best face-off man. The Bruins have long been a team full of soul-less players (guys like Joe Thornton, Jason Allison, Mike Ryder, and Dennis Wideman). That's not to say that those aren't skilled guys, but it takes heart to win a Stanley Cup. Watson doesn't bring the elite skillset in terms of point production, but he has the motor and the will-power that is vital in producing a championship. He would be a steal at 15 (might go in the top 10), but imagine how hard it would be to score against a line with both Watson and Patrice Bergeron on it! I said that the Bruins should consider Dylan McIlrath at the pick, but I believe that my revised stance is that the Bruins take Watson at 15 (provided they keep the pick and he's available). The Draft is a mere 3 days away! I'll have up my NHL Mock Draft on Thursday, not because you guys care, but because I want to see how close I can get!

It was about a month ago, maybe more, when I said that the Sox wouldn't be making the playoffs this year. Well, I'm almost ready to eat my words. I haven't been paying any great deal of attention toward anything baseball this year, so you can imagine my surprise when I looked at the standings the other day to see the Sox one game back of the division lead and tied with the Rays. You see, after April and the early part of May, I was thinking that this team would be lucky to call themselves a .500 club at the end of the season. For the time being, I'll admit that I was wrong. But how are they doing it!? Obviously Lester and Buchholz are having terrific years, but Beckett has had a negative effect, Lackey has been hittable, and Dice K has been Dice K (the 2009 version). I don't care how good the pitching might be (or those top 2 for that matter), how can you compete in the AL East when you start Darnell McDonald, Daniel Nava, and Bill Hall!? I'd love to know how they've managed this turnaround, because on paper...I just can't figure it out. Are they playing small-ball and winning that way? Are Lackey's numbers deceiving? Has he actually pitched better than the numbers suggest? Is Tim Donaghy umping their games? Someone fill me in!

To continue with the Sox, I caught this video on Barstool...

First off, how good of a recovery was that by the cop? It's basically the classic case of driving down the road, pretending to wave at somebody, getting them to wave back, and then just flipping down the sun-shield to check yourself out in the mirror. You try to make the other person feel as stupid as possible. That's kinda what Daniel Bard did to this guy. The cop waited to long for the fist-bump, and Bard tried to make him pay. Jokes on you Dan, this guy just absolutely destroyed you! Nothin' quite like gettin' rejected on the forearm bump and then being like "Oh, that itches, phew, much better!" Hey Bard, you're gonna have to do better than that if you want the closers role some day.

I was listening to Felger and Mazz yesterday in the car, and the Celtics offseason came up as part of their discussion. What I found surprising was when they said that fans "have to be hoping" that Pierce opts out of his contracts and signs with another team. Since I know next-to-nothing about value in the NBA or the way the cap works, I wasn't sure whether it's realistic or a pipe-dream/nightmare that this happens. Hopefully one of our NBA-savvy correspondents gives us a preview of what to expect from the Celtics this offseason. It's understood that Ray Ray likely won't be back. But beyond that, it's all foggy. Will they deal KG? Is it realistic that Pierce is done as a Celtic? Is Doc gonna retire or will he come back? Calling Ryan Wilson! Fill us in!

Horton to Wear Black and Gold?

It is rumored that Florida Panthers winger Nathan Horton could become a Bruin in the coming week or so (he has a no-trade clause that kicks in on July 1). Horton, who scored 62 points in both the '06 and '07 seasons, is a 25 year old, former 3rd overall pick that many (if not all) would say hasn't played to his full potential. The Bruins appear to have the edge over the Calgary Flames and Buffalo Sabres to acquire Horton, mainly due to the fact that the Bruins have an abundance of 1st and 2nd round picks in this years and next years draft. Peter Chiarelli has hinted that the team may use those picks to bring in someone capable of impacting the team right away. I would be very surprised if Chiarelli didn't take advantage of the draft picks that they have and try and trade some of them to a team looking to rebuild. Perhaps Horton may live up to his potential and find his mojo by getting away from a hurting Florida Panthers team. Yes, Horton isn't the huge splash that many Bruins fans want this offseason, but I have faith in the front office that they will do what they can to get this team where it needs to be.

Manny Being Manny

It had been the topic of discussion for an entire week, maybe two, leading up to the Sox's interleague series with the Dodgers...how would Red Sox Nation greet Manny Ramirez in his return to Fenway Park? Either the faithful would be thankful for Manny's body of work while dawning the Sox uniform, or they would let their anger fester over the nature of his departure. Judging from the TV broadcast, their was a mix of emotions. Some cheered, some booed. Well, for those of you who chose the latter, you should be embarrassed.

Lets start with the nature of his exodus from the city. Manny was sold at the trade deadline in '08 largely because the Sox brass felt they could no longer function as an American League contender with his "lazy" attitude. Manny had sat-out an inordinate number of games that year (basically whenever a hard-throwing hurler was to face the Sox), and allegedly faked a knee "injury" at numerous points during May and June. But, folks, this is Boston, where the media has a tendency to let their imaginations run wild! The picture that the media was painting all pointed toward Manny "giving up." Yea, he basically took the month of July off, right? Basically. He only hit .347 with four homers and 16 RBI. For Manny, that is nothing special, but it certainly doesn't seem like he packed it in! Then you've got the feud in the dugout between him and Youk. The media had to stick to their plot, which naturally meant placing the blame on Manny for the dugout spatter. In the years since, some Sox players have come out and said that Youk, while a great player, may not be the best guy to have in the dugout.

The point here? The fans will eat up anything the media spits at them, and they should be ashamed for taking the "sport paparazzi's" word for anything. Manny, while childish at times and a "free spirit," has been widely considered one of the hardest workers in the sport. Spending endless hours in the clubhouse studying tape and perfecting his craft. John Henry said last week that Manny was the hardest worker he had ever seen. Did the media make any mention of this in June or July of '08? Nah!

How quickly people forget the good that somebody has brought them. The last few years have proven exactly how "bandwagon" our city is. In '04, Manny was a crucial ingredient in putting an end to the curse and delivering a World Series Championship to Boston. Three years later, he was again vital in producing a second celebration parade. In eight years in Boston, he amassed over 270 homers, over 850 RBI, and two titles. Yet, the fans in Boston would rather be spoon-fed a load of bullshit by self-important Boston media personnel. Sure, he's childish! Sure, he's immature! Fine, he's goofy! Ok, he doesn't hustle! Are you people kidding!? HE PLAYS A GAME FOR A LIVING! You hear it all the time, "there is a business side." But there is no getting around it, baseball is a game! When you play a game, and you play it at the highest of levels, you are allowed to take a piss in the Monster! You're allowed to be a fucking goofball! More importantly, you're allowed to have fun!

Manny was a goofball, but he was a hell of a fucking baseball player. I don't care what the media said, or what the fans choose to believe. The fact is, Manny helped deliver a desperate, thirsting city something that it hadn't had in 84 years! Some of Sox Nation, apparently, thinks that media portrayals and fabrications of laziness are more important than his play on the field.

So for all of you that booed when Manny made his return to the batter's box on Friday, you should be ashamed of yourself. For what he has given this city, there is no player that deserves a louder standing-ovation than Manny Ramirez.

Just Short

Doc Rivers in February told the Celtics that they would be back to the Staple Center, not for the regular season, but for the NBA Finals. Rivers was so confident in his team that he ordered every player and member on the coaching staff to turn over $100 dollars, which he hid in the arena for the team to collect in June.

Rivers was right. The players were able to recollect their money, but were unable to cash in on the grand prize.

Last night’s Game 7 loss hurts and personally will for the foreseeable future. This Celtics team came out of no where to make a miracle run at the Championship, a sprint that no one could have imagined going into the Miami series. Heading into the playoffs, no one believed the Celtics could have knocked out D-Wade, LeBron James, and Dwight Howard, yet alone all three with relative ease. The Celtics were 26-26 over their final 52 games of the regular season and appeared to be a shell of their 2008 Championship form.

But the team came together for two months to muster everything they had left for a final title push. Three aging Hall of Famers gave up the reins, changed their individual style of play, and worked as a singular unit, in route to making it to the NBA Finals. Their run accentuated the Big Three’s individual greatness during the younger stages of their respective careers- KG’s intensity, Allen’s determination, and Pierce’s fearlessness, were evident.

In Game 7, the Celtics kick was simply gassed. It was a perfect game, minus the outcome and the agonizing nature. The Celtics refused to lose despite having Perkins on the sideline. It was unfortunate that Perkins went down in Game 6. Game 7 would have been won by the Celtics if Perkins was in the lineup. It is a big “If” but Kobe Bryant even hinted that way during the post game interviews. The Celtics controlled the game in all aspects for their style of play for the first 3 quarters- slow paced, defensive minded, and physical. Boston gained a double digit lead on the road, Kobe Bryant was “off” offensively, and the Lakers were missing free throws early. Despite being owned on the boards, the Celtics were in control.

Everything started to switch mid way through the 3rd quarter. The Celtics offensively went stagnant. Sheed was no longer getting the ball on the block, (Rasheed Wallace made up for his horrible play all season with last night’s effort. Wallace played outstanding and was the reason the Celtics went up double digits.) Rondo could not penetrate, and Allen’s jump shot was flat. The Celtics wanted to win the game more than the Lakers, it was evident. No home team, who is dominating the boards and second chance opportunities should ever be down by that much in a Game 7. Still, the Celtics proved that the key to basketball is making shots, not controlling the glass. Last time I checked, you only win by outscoring your opponent. You need to make baskets and LA was not but than again, Boston was not in regularity.

The Celtics showed their age in the 4th. They made stupid fouls which was due to fatigue. Rivers had to extend Garnett because Rasheed Wallace started to cramp up. (Wallace left it all on the court and told Rivers to leave him in the game numous times). Boston could no longer go to Wallace on the block and KG could no longer bruise down low with Gasol. Perkins absence killed the Celtics size against the Lakers. Boston ran out of able big man. When Allen simply missed everything and Artest shut down Pierce, the Celtics had no chance to recapture the lead.

It is sad to see the Celtics limp to the finish line. The Big Three won Boston a championship in 2008. That same starting lineup was altered in 2009 (No KG) and in 2010 (No Perkins). The Celtics if healthy could have won three in a row and at least should have won a second had they not been robbed by Perkins injury.

Next season will be a different look for the Celtics. Wallace will likely retire, Allen will not be resigned, and KG may be dealt due to his expiring contract. If the Big Three’s run comes to a stop, it will not be forgotten. Garnett and Allen revived basketball in Boston with their arrival and changed the atmosphere surrounding the team. Ainge will have a lot of issues to address over the next few seasons, but trust him and his decisions. He boldly traded for Ray Allen despite KG initially refusing to be traded to Boston. He created the Big Three and trusted Doc Rivers when everyone wanted his head. I can only hope Ainge delivers again for Boston.

The Celtics wanted the game more and it hurts that their grittiness was not rewarded. Boston, keep your head up high. The Celtics amazing run just came up short.

Bruins Draft Preview

Bruins fans have been long-awaiting the returns from the Phil Kessel trade. Peter Chiarelli took some heat for not getting an NHL-ready player for his 36-goal forward last offseason, but I think the doubters have silenced themselves...for now. While the Bruins have experienced heartbreaking ends to each of the last two seasons, they have a tremendous opportunity to change the fortunes of the franchise at this year's Entry Draft. Thanks to the aforementioned trading of Phil Kessel, the Bruins are equipped with two first-round picks this year, including the second overall. While the most glaring weakness for this team is goal-scoring, they lack depth all over the place and stand to improve across the board (goaltending exempt).

The first pick will be an absolute no-brainer, even for the Bruins. At the top, this draft is eerily similar to the 2007 NBA Draft. Taylor Hall is to Greg Oden what Tyler Seguin is to Kevin Durant. Hall, for the last year, was widely considered the best player in the draft and a lock for #1 overall, much similar to the hype surrounding Oden. Meanwhile, Seguin's rise came during his draft year, and the Durant-type-hype surfaced. Now, this pick is a no-brainer for the B's because they own the second overall pick, and they'll take whichever of the two Edmonton passes on. But make no mistake; they're two very different players. Hall is the dynamic sniper, a left-shot winger who is the more NHL-ready of the two. Seguin, while still an able-scorer, is a right-shot centerman who is best-known for his great two-way play and incredible playmaking skills. There are whispers that the Bruins "definitively" prefer one of them, and all signs point to that player being Hall. He's the scoring threat that the Bruins need, and appears to be ready to deliver right away. Seguin can contribute next season, but his body is still filling out and it'll take a few seasons before he's labeled as a star. If the B's fall in love with one of them before the draft, I'm sure Pistol Pete could package the 2nd overall pick with some additional pieces (it would be an expensive proposition to simply move up one spot) in a move to get the top pick in the draft to ensure they get their guy.
Best Case: Taylor Hall, LW
Real Life: Tyler Seguin, C

The second of the Bruins first-rounders is where things will get interesting for the Black and Gold. Chiarelli won't have the luxury of a "no-brainer" in the mid-to-late first round, but this is where the Bruins could vault into the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference. They will have already helped their starved offense with the number two pick, but they'll have to decide whether to supplement Hall or Seguin with another forward, or whether one of the defensemen from this D-rich draft will better suit them (both short-term and long-term). The way I see it, the Bruins will be looking at five scenarios surrounding this pick on June 25^th.

Scenario 1, trade the pick for immediate help either up-front or on the blueline: They have made it clear that it isn’t a rebuilding process and that they want to contend now, so it makes sense to think that they could move the pick for a proven asset. They could swap it for Tomas Kaberle, giving themselves a puck-moving defenseman who will contribute right away, or they could move it for scoring (maybe in the form of Patrick Sharp?).

Scenario 2, package the pick with other pieces to move up into the top 10: It’s an unlikely scenario, but it could happen. There are rumors that Florida wants to trade out of the #3 spot in order to fill several key holes. The B’s could package this pick, a roster player (Blake Wheeler), and one of their many prospects (Jordan Caron, Joe Colborne, or Zach Hamill) in order to get a chance at one of the draft premiere defenseman. If they did move up to another top 10, or top 5 pick, they’d likely be looking to select:

Cam Fowler: The draft’s best puck mover was rated ahead of Hall and Seguin to begin the season, but his stock dropped after a mediocre season in Junior.

Erik Gudbranson: He’s been compared to Chris Pronger in terms of skill at that age and mean-streak. As a shutdown defender with great physicality, he’s probably a perfect fit for the Bruins, but I’ve seen on several sites that Chiarelli “loves” Fowler and the next defender here.

Brandon Gormley: Of the 3, he’s the biggest project, as he would likely spend another year playing Junior Hockey in the QMJHL. Being the least NHL-ready of the three, Gormley could offer the greatest ceiling, and Chiarelli is a big fan of his.

A deal vaulting the B’s from 15 to top 5 would require a lot of phone-work by the Front Office, and it’s an unlikely scenario, but it could pay huge dividends if they do it right.

Scenario 3, leverage the pick as a way to unload big contracts: The Bruins have plenty of unfriendly contracts that have and will continue to hinder their ability in the Free Agent market. If they plan on moving Tim Thomas (5 mil), Michael Ryder (4 mil), or Dennis Wideman (3.875 mil), then they’ll likely need to spice the pot with this pick or a slew of prospects. If they take advantage of this scenario, then it’s an indication that Chiarelli believes his best chance of improvement is via Free Agency.

Scenario 4, package the pick with the #2 pick to swap spots with Edmonton: The Bruins are in a great position at #2, so I’m hoping that this scenario doesn’t come true. Still, if they feel that either Seguin or Hall is definitively better than the other, I’m sure they will at least give this scenario some thought. However, I’m not sure the gap between the two players justifies the Bruins giving up an additional first round pick in order to move up…but if they need to move up, that seems to be the price.

Scenario 5, and the most unlikely I think, keep the 15^th pick and make a selection: While it’s possible that the Bruins keep the pick, one of the above four scenarios will prove too tempting on the 25^th for Chiarelli to pass on. If they do end up keeping the pick, they’ll likely have a couple of guys in mind:

Mark Pysyk (D) - Considered to be the best skater in the draft, Pysyk draws comparisons to Duncan Keith and Scott Niedermayer. He's still lanky (6'1, 165), but the Bruins can watch him fill-out for a year or two as he develops.

Mikael Granlund (C/W) - Finnish center/wing hybrid with a scoring touch and incredible playmaking skills. He has been compared to Saku Koivu in terms of skill-set and leadership ability, but there are questions as to whether he can transition those skills to smaller NHL rinks.

Dylan McIlrath (D) - The "nastiest" player in the draft might not be as skilled as the top 3 or 4 d-men in the draft, but makes up for it with ferocity. If the Bruins truly value the qualities that define the "Big Bad Bruins," then McIlrath will be seriously considered here.

Emerson Etem (LW) - He's an American-born kid with great speed and a nose for the net, sound like Zach Parise? With his stock continually on the rise, he might not slip this far. But if he's available, the Bruins will have to seriously consider.

Riley Sheahan (C) - He struggled offensively last year in the NCAA, but is best known for excelling in all three zones and being strong in the faceoff circle. The Bruins don't have a need down the middle, but they could find value in his versatility and make him their latest project.

Charlie Coyle and Kevin Hayes (F) - Like Sheahan, they still need to develop, but they're both locals, meaning the Bruins should have a leg-up in their scouting reports.

The best case for the Bruins at this pick would be to see a skilled, offensive defenseman like Pysyk drop to them, if for nothing other than his tremendous upside. While that is certainly possible, I can't see that many teams passing on him. Realistically, the best case is for the Bruins to spend this pick on a nasty, tenacious D-man like McIlrath to patrol the area in front of Tuukka for the next few years.

The Bruins will drastically change the outlook of their future in the first round of this year’s draft, but fans need to remember how well this team has drafted in the later rounds. Patrice Bergeron, Milan Lucic, and David Krejci were all second round choices, while Matt Hunwick and Vladimir Sobotka were scooped up in the fourth round. Some guys to look for after the first 30 picks:

Kirill Kabanov (RW)
Alexander Petrovic (D)
Brock Beukeboom (D)
Adam Pettersson (C)
Jared Tinordi (D)
John McFarland (LW)

With so many picks in their possession, I see the Bruins taking a risk at some point within two rounds. Their skepticism surrounding Russian players was probably eased a little when they signed Yuri Alexandrov a few weeks ago, so maybe they'll look to add one of the skilled Russian forwards whose stock has plummeted over the past year.

Other than taking risks, the Bruins need to stick to the theories that saw them draft so well in later rounds over the past decade. That theory: draft well rounded players who work hard. Guys like Bergeron, Krejci, Lucic, and Mark Stuart are what they need to strive for in later rounds, and I see those qualities being keystone in guys like Tinordi and Beukeboom.

Ideally, they'll get Hall with #2 (or even #1) and use the 15th and/or 32nd picks to help unload some unfriendly salaries or add NHL-ready talent. While "ideal" can sometimes be substituted with "unrealistic," I think it's certainly fathomable for the Bruins to do exactly that on Draft Day. Either way, June 25th is a day that will drastically change the outlook of this Bruins team, both short-term and long-term.

Bam Bam Cam

As some may have already heard, Cam Neely was named team president on Wednesday. Neely has had a key role in team operations for the past couple years and many would consider the promotion to team president a no brainer. One can tell just be listening to him talk on the radio every week that he's the type of person that really "gets it" when it comes to how a team should operate. He's worked with Peter Chiarelli and the general managing aspect of the bruins, the business side of things with Charlie Jacobs, as well as working on ways to improve the relationship between the club and the fans. Neely has played a major role in developing Milan Lucic, and teaching him the ins and outs of being a big man at the wing postion. He's not afraid to be blunt and call out the team or an individual player for that matter, when they are not playing to their full potential.

"I have known Cam since he was a player and have watched him grow and develop as a true leader with this team and the community,” said Bruins Owner Jeremy Jacobs. “Along with Harry Sinden, he is one of the most passionate men I have ever met when it comes to the Bruins. The President has the responsibility for carrying the torch of the team. I can't think of a more ideal person to pass the torch to than Cam Neely, the eighth President of the Boston Bruins."

"I am honored and proud to be named the eighth team President in Boston Bruins history today,” said Bruins President Cam Neely. “The last three seasons working in the Bruins front office has been an experience that I have truly enjoyed each and every day. We have made great strides as an organization in recent years both on and off the ice. But having said that, we understand much more progress can be made, and much more progress needs to be made if we are able to meet our ultimate objectives. As President, I embrace these challenges that lie ahead and look forward to taking this organization to new heights."

Cam Neely Named President of the Boston Bruins

Update: Halak to Blues

I wrote last week ago about six potential happenings during the 2010 NHL Offseason, and one of the six has already been checked off the list. The Montreal Canadiens, strapped by the cap, faced the task of moving one of their young netminders. With Carey Price and Jaroslav Halak, the crease was just too crowded. Despite his play in the playoffs this year, Halak was the one to be moved, and the Canadiens will move forward with Price as their building-block (much to the chagrin of Montreal fans, I'm sure). The Habs were proactive in trade negotiations and their Slovakian netminder to St. Louis for two of the Blues' top young forwards, Lars Eller and Ian Schultz.

Halak's playoff surge, coupled with his late-season surge to get the Habs to the postseason, resulted in his value sky-rocketing. And while it's a steep price to pay on the Blues' end, they now have a legitimate franchise goaltender around which to build. Success in the NHL starts between the pipers, and the Blues now have the piece they need to compliment their great core of forwards and talented D. Meanwhile, Montreal will hope that Price's mental commitment to the sport will catch up to his physical tools. But, if Price continues his nonchalant ways, this could turn out catastrophically for the greatest franchise in the NHL.

Will It Continue?

A lot of [Bostonites...Bostoners...Bostonians] feel that Beantown is the center of the sports world. And, judging from the beginning-to-middle of the past decade, they weren't all that far-off in their mindset. The Patriots built the new millenniums first true dynasty, the Sox broke the curse and rattled off two World Series titles, and the Celtics even managed to go from perpetual mediocrity to NBA Champions. For a while there, it was hard to argue against Boston and its fans.

Lately, however, it's been a drastically different script. The Patriots started the path of devastation in New England when they built up the excitement of a 19-0 season and a fourth Super Bowl of the decade...only to lose to a massive underdog Giants team in devastating fashion. Instead of stopping the bleeding, the Sox were ousted in the 7th game of their AL Championship series to the division "rival" [Devil] Rays in 2008. The Sox kept the trend steady in '09 as well, getting swept by the Angels in the Divisional Round. I won't go into too much detail about how the Bruins have added to the misery, but they're the biggest culprit, albeit to the smallest fanbase of the four teams. Then, you've got the Celtics. They won in '08 to help the wounds left by the others. But last year, with Kevin Garnett battling injuries, they couldn't muster enough energy to make another run at the title, losing to Dwight Howard and the Magic.

Fast forward to present time. The Bruins have left their fanbase in ruins for the second straight year. The Patriots crawled into the NFL Playoffs, only to get blown out of the water at home to Ray Rice and the Baltimore Ravens. The Sox, fresh off their first round sweep, attacked Free Agency about as hard as CC Sabathia attacks the salad bar at TGI Friday's. Lets face it, the Boston sports scene is not a pretty one these days, except for one bright spot...the Celts. While they may have struggled through a frustrating regular season, they have managed to knock off the top teams in the East en route to Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

They made it to the finals, which is terrific, but now they're in danger of losing the final two games of the series and sending fans further into this drastic tailspin. Game Six may have been the worst they've played all season, and they lost Kendrick Perkins to a knee injury to boot. Now the Celtics find themselves in a pickle. They went to LA with momentum, and they lost it. The Lakers embarrassed them in Game 6, they're at home, they don't have to face Perkins' stingy D, and Kobe is on fire. LA has everything going for them, and they will rightfully be the "favorite" in Vegas for tonight, but that doesn't mean they should just award them the trophy now. The Celtics, while hurt and confused, have a knack for winning big games. They have the tools to shine in big moments, and Boston certainly needs it. So, Celtics...win this one for an ailing city.

Mank-out?

I'm sure that by now, all you Pats fans have heard that our best offensive lineman wants out of town. Since being drafted at the end of the first-round 6 years ago, Logan Mankins has blossomed into one of the finer guards in the NFL, even enjoying two pro-bowl seasons. But now he's demanded a trade out of Foxboro, putting the Pats in quite the pickle.

Mankins has become increasingly frustrated with the lack of progress in his contract talks with the Patriots, saying that he "doesn't need to be here anymore." He rejected the Pats' first contract offer and passed on his $3.26 million tender (the deadline past on Monday night).

I've never been a fan of contract holdouts. When a player signs a contract, he should be obligated to play-out the terms of the contract. Darrelle Revis and Chris Johnson, now that they're coming off Pro Bowl caliber seasons (and MVP-caliber as well, maybe), feel that they are too good to play for their respective teams because their newly-found "star" caliber has them feeling underpaid. Mankins' situation is entirely different, but it's still frustrating for the Patriots and the fans.

But, Logan isn't to blame for what we are seeing unfold, the fault lies with the Patriots...again. They have been preachers of value over the past few years, especially at the Draft. But now, they've got a premier player looking for a pay raise, and they're not budging. Mankins is probably looking to match, at least, what guard Jahri Evans got from the Saints (7 years, $57 mil). News flash, Patriots....MANKINS DESERVES IT! Evans is coming off of a great year for the Saints, and they have rewarded him. Mankins, on the other hand, also had a strong season and has a much more impressive career-resume than Evans does.

I know that the Patriots preach value, and I'm a fan of that philosophy in a capped-league (note: I'm not a fan of it when the Sox use it). But lets run some numbers here (and keep in mind the NFL is heading into an uncapped season in 2010). Last year, the NFL Salary Cap was set at $128 million. Last year, the Patriots cap figure was roughly $98 million. Just punched them into the calculator, hang on a second........

Ok, so I did the math, the Patriots operated a playoff season while staying 30 MILLION under the cap! Keep in mind that some of that $98 million had a negative impact (Galloway, Adalius, Shawn Springs)! Enough with the value! Sign Logan! It's not like you're in a bidding war for Brandon Marshall here. You have the elite player, and you are only bidding against yourself!

There are whispers that Tom Brady could retire at the conclusion of the 2010 season, but I'm not buying that for second. What I am buying, though, is that Tom's window for winning another championship isn't getting any bigger. He's getting older and he's got an ailing knee. Add in the fact that Moss isn't getting any younger and Welker's still not entirely healthy (might never be). The Patriots window for surrounding Tom with suitable players to make a run at the Super Bowl is closing fast. Adding to our troubles is that the Dolphins and Jets are only getting better. Bottom line: if the Patriots want to return to the top, they have to do a better job of allocating their dollars and filling out their roster.

Lightning Bolt!

For me, there are two reasons the Celtics are all of the sudden watchable...and their names are Glen Davis and Rajon Rondo. The pageantry of guys like Paul Pierce, Kobe Bryant, and Pau Gasol is what has made basketball repulsive to people like me over the years, but now there is a refreshing "new look" to the NBA Finals. Sure, the NBA will always be the NBA, and there will always be diving, whining, and poor officiating, but at least this NBA Finals features a new element. I've been a casual Big Baby fan since LSU made their run to national prominence a few years ago in the NCAA tournament. Now, he's developed into the kind of player that isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. He's got the same type of skill that allowed the Tigers to make their Final Four run in '06, and now he's the ferocious rebounder who lays-out for loose balls. That's the kind of player in basketball that is fun to watch.

Rondo, on the other hand, is fun to watch for the same reasons, plus much more. My NHL parallel to Rajon? Pavel Bure. When Bure had the puck on his stick, the guy was an absolute magician. He had unthinkable speed and made the unimaginable happen. Rondo is the same way. He's got the speed, he's got the tenacity, and he's got the creativity to glue eyeballs to the TV-screen whenever he's near the ball. Rondo's "Gary Payton-like" hands on defense, his speed in the front-court, and his "wow" factor make him the most pleasurable NBA player to watch. Simply put...he's a lightning bolt! Him and Baby have made the NBA Finals must-see TV (at least for a quarter per game) for even the biggest of NBA haters.

U.S. and A

The United States vs. England futbol match is now underway and right from the start the U.S. looked nervous and overwhelmed from the gigantic stage of the World Cup. They appear to have settled down and gained some confidence after getting a gift from the English goaltender. Maybe, just maybe, they will get so pissed off by the obnoxious horn blowing that they will show some signs off life, put the ball in the back of the old onion bag, and get the hell out of there with a victory. Although a draw would almost be just as good considering the expectations of this team.

UPDATE: Final:
England - 1
U.S. - 1
Next game: Friday June 18th - 10:00 AM ET - vs. Slovenia

OHHH BABY BABY!

Glen Davis dropped 18 points and recorded 5 rebounds (4 offensive) in 22 minutes during Thursday night’s 96-89 win over LA in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Davis, along with Nate Robinson, provided an instant offensive lift for the stagnant Celtics. The duo, thanks to their comedic postgame interview which consisted of them answering questions regarding piggyback rides, drool bombs, and Dreamworks’ movies, gave the veteran Celtics squad a fresh and humorous outlook on the series.

"You were on my back?" Davis smirked at Robinson as they sat next to one another during the joint postgame press conference.
"You didn't even notice," said Robinson. "We're like Shrek and Donkey. You can't separate us."
Davis laughed and replied, "You shouldn't have let us two get up here."

I still can not get over what was said between the two of them after the game. Mind you, what was said was is in the middle of the NBA Finals, not just some random exhibition game. The two were about as mature as 4th graders, yet it was perfect. Outside of Ray Allen, the Celtics show their emotions and speak their minds- Pierce always runs his mouth, KG slaps the court during play, Davis swears like a sailor, Rondo is the most arrogant player during any game, and Robinson and Scal are paid cheerleaders. The Celtics squad thrives off of each other’s energy more than any other team in the NBA. There is a reason the Celtics are the streakiest team in the NBA (One week they will play like the ’96 Dream Team. The next they will look like the Maine Red Claws.)

I am proud to say that I did not see Glen Davis’s performance as a surprise. I have been advocating for Davis to receiving more playing time, even if it means sacrificing KG’s minutes (see my last blog post), since before the start of the playoffs.

“Big Baby” has an underrated game. He is an exceptional offensive rebounder and a developing mid range jump shot. His shot was subpar during the season because he was coming back from a wrist injury on his shooting hand. Davis even admitted during the season that he was still not 100% . The injured wrist forced him to play with a brace which altered his shot when he came back. He also did not receive any consistent minutes when he returned because Sheldon Williams played very well in his absence.

Celtics' nation seem to have forgotten that Davis, along with Rondo, were the two reasons why the Celtics were able to beat the Bulls in 7 games and forced a Game 7 against Orlando last season. Davis played outstanding in the playoffs last season. Against the Bulls, Davis averaged 18.1 pts and 7 rebounds for the series! Against Orlando, Davis led the Celtics to wins in Game 4 and 5 to give Boston a 3-2 advantage. In those games, Davis recorded 22pts and 6 rebounds and 21pts and 7 rebounds.

His performance the other night is no fluke. Davis should have big games the rest of the series if Bynum can not play. If Bynum is out, the Celtics will have a great shot at getting banner number 18. Besides, who does not want to see Davis posing provocatively with the Championship Trophy again?

What Happens Now?

Unlike most of sports media, namely those who cover and follow the NBA, I've waited until the NHL Playoffs reached their conclusion before deciding to post my thoughts on the upcoming offseason. I'm not sure if NBA-guys are just wired differently, but don't you want to see the Playoffs through (especially a Lakers-Celtics ending) before you start babbling about where free agents are going to land. Alright, that's enough NBA "bashing" for me for now. It was a frustrating season and/or playoffs for a lot of teams this season. The Capitals won the Presidents Trophy only to get ousted by an 8-seeded Montreal in Round 1 of the Playoffs. The Leafs traded 3 drafts picks (one being Taylor or Tyler) for Phil Kessel and still stunk. The Penguins still couldn't find a suitable winger for Crosby or Malkin to play with. The Hurricanes went from Conference Final a year ago to missing the Playoffs entirely. And, of course, we all know the somber story of the Boston Bruins. What does all this go to say? That the 2010 offseason is going to be a busy one. Even the team with it all figured out, the Hawks, will have to trim payroll to get under the cap next year, and that means moving some of their key players. In the salary-cap-era, things are always interesting. Instead of Coors Light Cold Hard Facts, I'll offer up a refreshing 6 pack of PBR Crisp Clean Speculation.

1. Kaber-gone
Brian Burke must have suffered from Jim Duquette syndrom (Kazmir for Zambrano) when he made the deal to acquire Phil Kessel last summer. He gave up the 2nd and 32nd picks in this years draft, as well as the Leafs' first rounder in 2011. All this leaves Burke with a whole mess clean up. He will likely start by dealing Tomas Kaberle on Draft Day. Doing this will accomplish two things for Burke. Most importantly to Burke is that it will likely allow him to trade back into the first round this year. Kaberle won't likely fetch the top 5 pick that has been rumored, but a mid-to-late first round pick is probably a good price-tag to put on him. Secondly, it will rid Burke of a $4 million cap hit and a free-agent-to-be in 2011.

2. Hawks lose a few feathers
Would they love to keep everybody? Yea, without question. Can they? No. As good a job as the Blackhawks have done in building their championship team, they've made some terrible judgments on the value of certain players in previous years (Brian Campbell, Cristobal Huet). As a result, they'll have to start to move some of their key players out of town. They'll, in all likelihood, need to move 2 of the following: Patrick Sharp, Kris Versteeg, Dustin Byfuglien, Niklas Hjalmarsson, and Campbell.

3. Kovie stays, and goes to...
If there is one thing that Russian players have, despite their selfish play and childish attitudes, it's pride. The KHL will come calling for Ilya Kovalchuk's services, and they'll even offer the most lucrative of deals. But the talent level and security of the KHL is vastly inferior to the NHL. The Russian "pride factor" will be the one keeping Kovalchuk in North America. In fact, I expect him to land in...Toronto! Brian Burke will be making a ton of moves to give his team a make-over this offseason, and he'll create enough cap room to make a play for the biggest free agent on this years market.

4. Price stays, Halak goes
Jaroslav Halak's play during the playoffs, where he single-handedly beat the two best teams in the East, will ironically be his ticket out of Montreal. As it stands now, Halak will likely demand more from the Habs, and at the same time he will attract more suitors and fetch the best deal. Montreal is financially strapped, so it's nearly impossible for them to keep both (and they won't). Price has been inconsistent over the last two years, but there are many (myself included) who believe that he will still be the better of the two. Where will Halak land? I'm guessing the Habs will re-ink him and then ship him to St. Louis for one or two of the Blues' young forwards.

5. Niedermayer sticks around
The Ducks didn't make the playoffs last year, and Niedermayer is 36 years of age, but he still has plenty left in the tank for at least one more season. Despite his age, he's still one of the best skaters in the league in a premiere defenseman. No, the Ducks aren't close to being a Cup contender, but Nieds has plenty left to accomplish and signs a one-year deal.

6. Sharks change over to Hammerhead logo
Alright, they won't change the logo, but the San Jose Sharks will look dramatically different by October. They once again failed to live up to fan-expectations in the playoffs, and they'll take drastic steps to prevent it from happening again. First, I don't see Marleau or Evgeni Nabokov wearing the teal-sweater next year, as they'll pursue albatross contracts and the Sharks have already seen that they're not part of the winning formula. But the biggest change for the team this offseason will come via trade. Joe Thornton's one-dimensional play makes him an easy target to shutdown in the playoffs, and his tenure in California could come to an end. Where will he go? Maybe Calgary for Jay Bouwmeester, or maybe to Ottawa for the disgruntled Jason Spezza. Either way, I don't see Jumbo Joe playing next to Dany Heatley in 2010-2011.


Is everything I just wrote going to come true? Probably not. I can't predict the future, after all. But I think there's a good possibility of each happening, or at least some of them. Anyway, what do you guys think? Am I close or far off?

World Cup, Big Baby, and a few Scumbags

Just watched my first World Cup action of 2010. Gotta say I'm pretty excited to watch the WC this year, just as I loved watching the Euro Cup a few years ago. Although, thanks to the 'stool, I did here one interesting quote. Some soccer dolt on ESPN saying that US-England soccer is "like Celtics-Lakers magnified times ten." I'm still not sure what went through that guys head when he said that. For one, nobody cares about soccer in the US. Secondly, soccer is everything in Europe. Why would England consider us to be their rivals when we could give a shit? Thirdly, it's such a lopsided matchup! US soccer never has been, nor ever will be, on the same level of England. Not only should this guy feel stupid for calling it the Celts-Lakers ten fold, but he should be embarrassed for even calling it a rivalry! Soccer, excuse me, futbol fans in the UK must be in outrage over this. Where does that guy get off putting US soccer up on the same level as England soccer? And El Pres had it right about Mike Tirico. They guy must have broken several ribs and burst a lung or something trying to hold a laugh in.

Now it's time for the Celtics, I guess. Caught the fourth quarter of last nights game, which is mostly what I do during the playoffs since I can't stomach it to watch a full 48 minutes. But I started watching the game and noticed that Doc had put 'Sheed, T.A, Baby, and Donkey on the floor at the same time in a must win game in the fourth quarter when TRAILING! It doesn't take a genius to notice that there is something wrong there. But then, of course, I was proven wrong, probably like everybody else, when Baby took over and the Celtics bench was beating the hell out of the Hairy Spanish Rapists (gonna pitch that to Donald Sterns for the Lakers new name). Anyway, yea, Doc plays the bench for the first seven to eight minutes or so of the fourth quarter and they won the fucking game because of it! Maybe coaching does matter a little in the NBA? Probably not, but I guess this is a step in the right direction.

Another note from the Celts game was when Pierce clobbered whoever that black ref was. Eddie Rush? I've heard that that guy absolutely sucks at officiating games, so maybe it's a good thing Pierce gave him a stiff hook. But the best part of it is that Rush managed to shake it off. John Buccigross put it perfectly on SC today, when he said that if Rush had punched Pierce, that Paul would have had to have spent a few hours in Mass General before returning to the game. Good thing the referees in the NBA are tougher than the players!

While we're on the subject of the C's...it was a must-win game for them on Thursday night and they took care of business. But you have to figure that Sunday night's game also falls into the category of must-wins. I'm not a basketball expert, but I can only imagine that beating LA two games in a row in Los Angeles is no easy task. If Boston wants to see a parade in a few weeks, Baby and Co. are gonna have to deliver again in Game 5.

Sorry to have to put you all through three paragraphs of meaningless Celtics banter...onto the next subject. I can't think of a more fitting thing to happen to that scumbag loser Lane Kiffin. Guy goes to Tennessee for one year, declares he's better than Urban Meyer and will crush Florida, ends up sucking, and then says..."Hey, I've done my work here, I'll move-on to Southern California and I'll bring my hot wife with me." Yea? Well suck on this, Lane. A two-year playoff ban, four years of probation, and a loss of 30 scholarships! I bet the knuckleheads over at Tennessee and all the Volunteer fans are having the last laugh now you piece of garbage! It fits so well, doesn't it? Can't wait to see what type of team you'll be able to put together at USC Mr. Kiffin, especially without you're "recent" Bowl-successes and the loss of those thirty scholarships. Over under 13 months before he calls it quits?

I'll end with a second scumbag...Ben Roethlisberger. Just saw on the ESPN side-ticker thingy that he has attributed is indiscretions to him being "young" and "immature." Young as in 3 months ago? He must have changed so much since then! I hope Mr. Goodell sees through to the outstanding person Big Ben has become! But seriously, Ben, just admit it. You only rape chicks because you are ugly as sin and have the body-fat index mirroring that of your Left Tackle. You rape them because it's the only way for you! It's got nothin' to do with your youth or immaturity, it's got to do with desperation! And, best part, you are only gettin' older, pal. Good luck raping chicks when your skin is all wrinkly and you're only means of transportation is a Rascal Power Chair.