@StanFischler 1. No matter where he goes, Steven Stamkos will wind up by being the richest player in hockey by the first puck-drop in October. 2. If I’m Lightning G.M. Steve Yzerman, I’d walk away from Stamkos and wish him the same kind of “good luck” that Islander G.M. Garth Snow did for his once-beloved […]
Did the Maple Leafs extract the next Wayne Gretzky, or Mario Lemieux or Sidney Crosby on opening night of the Entry Draft in Buffalo? Or did Toronto pluck a combination of those aces when Lou Lamoriello chose Auston Matthews at the First Niagara Center? Based on all the hullabaloo, you might think that Matthews can […]
@StanFischler Now, after Saturday night’s thrilling overtime win for San Jose, we have a series for Lord Stanley’s mug and a potential tilt in the Californians favor. Not only did the Sharks’ Joonas Donskoi’s sudden-death-winner turn the series into a major melodrama, it builds the confidence level at SAP Center in San Jose’s way. “Beating […]
Is there a future Hall of Famer available to the Devils, Islanders or Rangers in the NHL Entry Draft to be held on Friday night and Saturday in Buffalo? Each of our Met Area teams has a history of draftees who’ve made it into hockey’s Pantheon. Brian Leetch, Scott Niedermayer and Pat LaFontaine, did the trick […]
@StanFischler The NHL has always liked Las Vegas as a site for its awards celebration and will do it again next week. Now, the NHL is about to love Sin City, but for a different reason — $500,000,000 to be specific. At the league’s annual awards ceremony next Wednesday, a new award will be created. It […]
1. One playoff minus was officiating inconsistency. Retired ref Kerry Fraser agrees. Dubious fouls got called yet woodchopping got the blinder treatment. A foul should be a foul whether it’s the regular season or Cup finale. (Sub-par reffing; not exactly breaking news.) 2. There can be no alibiing for officials failing to penalize Sidney Crosby […]
@StanFischler Having watched hockey since 1939, and having seen Gordie Howe from his rookie season, 1946-47 on, I can say without question that he was the best player that I’ve ever seen, goaltenders excluded. Better than Maurice (Rocket) Richard, legitimately considered to be “The Babe Ruth Of Hockey.” Better than Wayne Gretzky, who required “policemen” […]
@StanFischler The first question to be asked now that the Pittsburgh Penguins have captured the 2016 Stanley Cup: Can the Penguins all-speed juggernaut continue on to become a dynasty hockey club? Having required six games to dispose of the San Jose Sharks — with a well-earned 3-1 victory on Sunday night at SAP Center — […]
@StanFischler 1. Whatever you do, don’t believe any of the oddsmakers when it comes to picking Sunday night’s winner of Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final. 2. Of course you could drive yourself crazy with analytics trying to figure why — after five games — the Sharks still have bite while being outplayed in […]