Ovi's skates at the Vancouver Olympics...

Of course, the skates are causing quite a stir. Goalies personalize their masks; why can't a skater personalize his blades??

Caps v. Oilers

I watched the Capitals play the Sens tonight. From the drop of the puck, it was an exciting game...lots of end to end action, and pretty physical too. Of course, both teams are in playoff spots right now, the Caps standing third in the Eastern Conference and the Sens in sixth. The Caps won 5 - 2, with Nicklas Backstrom scoring two goals (his 16th and 17th on the year), and Ovechkin netting his 27th goal and first as Caps Captain!
After that game, I watched (kinda) the Jackets take on the Oilers. The game pitted the 14th place Western Conference team versus the 15th. I did not expect a lot of scoring, rather a chippy, desparate game. Dreger from TSN twitted that he expected Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock to be fired if they lost versus the Oilers. Well, Hitch is safe for another day, with his boys picking up the win 4 -2. It was the Jackets first road win since November 19th (stat thanks to Gene Principe on Sportsnet)
Now.....It was downright painful watching the Oilers. As I watched, one thing became crystal clear...Man, I'm glad I got out when I did. It is such a difference cheering for a team that expect themselves to win every night (the Caps). They are exciting to watch. They have fun on the ice and to a man, their love of the game resonates.
Granted, the Oilers do not have the best player in the world on their roster but come on...in the NHL, with the world's best coaches you'd think every game would be full of beautiful hockey (to borrow a phrase from Ovi).
See, this is what happens with 30 teams in the NHL. You have the Capitals, who have a player in Ovechkin whose love of the game radiates and seeps into the attitude and play of his teammates. And then you have other teams, like the Oil, with records of 16 - 23 - 5, who, despite their payrolls, cannot put together a team that can string together three consecutive wins...who disappoint their fans almost every game out. In fact, at tonight's gane, with seconds winding down on the clock, the Edmonton crowd tonight started to boo their Oilers. It was shocking! But that's what happens when the product on the ice does not match the inflated ticket prices. (That is another blog topic)
Anyway, I am glad I am not a die hard Oilers fan anymore. I will still watch them from time to time, obviously, but I am happy that I got out when I did. Being part of a winning team (Caps) is something that I have not experienced in almost 20 years, since the end of the Oilers glory years.

http://svtplay.se/v/1682971/backstrom_ser_fram_emot_os

Nicklas Backstrom video in Swedish. He talks about hopefully playing in the Olympics, and playing with Alexander Ovechkin. This was in the summer back home in Sweden,so kind of dated, but cool nonetheless...
backis ar min kille

FLAMES Camp - Group A - Day One

Group A at Flames training camp featured a unit of Captain Jarome Iginla, vet Olli Jokinen (acquired last season at the trade deadline) and Swedish twenty year old Mikael Backlund. Rather than returning to his home club in Sweden (Vesteras IHK) after the World Junior Hockey Championships, Backlund played one NHL game with the Flames and was assigned to the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League. With Backlund as an integral part of the team, the Rockets won the Ed Chenowyth Cup (WHL Champioship) and represented the WHL at the Memorial Cup Championship.

As far as Day One of main camp (GROUP A) goes, Backlund was a standout. What was most impressive is that he was able to keep up and actually excel in drills with his much more experienced linemates. Also, he never stands around waiting for things to happen. For example, while his group session was winding down, Backie skated up and down the neutral zone working on his stick handling skills. He even passed the puck to himself using the boards during his self-assigned drill. He's going to make it very difficult to send him to Abbotsford, I think.

I would consider myself biased because I watched Garth Murray with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League for two seasons, but he is a pretty decent player. Maybe not NHL decent, but definitely Abbotsford decent.



Jay Bouwmeester was part of this group. He, of course, is a lock to make the team. He's stronger and smarter than he was when I watched him in junior (I lived in Medicine Hat in his draft year), about 6 seasons ago.



More later...

Flames Training Camp

I just got back from 4 hours at the Saddledome. It was a lot of fun for me as a fan (of the NHL, not the Flames). There were three groups on the ice, and all ran the exact same drills. I intend to do a little blurb on each of the three groups, and players that stood out to me. I just need a few minutes to collect my thoughts, and go through my mental notes (because I forgot to bring a pen!!)

Ovi at practice - Kettler in Arlington, VA

I miss hockey...and Ovi...and the Caps.... :(

notable July 1 tidbits (according to me)

The acquisition that never was is the thing that's got me reeling. I like Dany Heatley. I remember when he was a youngster who played on the WJC when he was still in College. I followed him when he was in Atlanta, and then when he moved to Ottawa, I thought it was great that he was going to play with Spezza. When the networks were prematurely reporting a trade between the Oilers and Sens, I was completely overcome with joy. I mean, I can't even explain how excited I was to read that...even though we would have had to give up Cogliano and Smid in the trade. I listed the Pat Quinn/Tom Renney combo, the drafting of Magnus Paajarvi Svensson and the acquisition of 'Heater' of the most exciting news in recent (1o year) Oiler history. It's a good time to be a Oiler fan.

As far as my Caps, we gave up Donald Brashear and gained Mike Knuble. I figure there are more changes coming, given that we are in need of a mobile dman.

Chicago is looking really good, after acquiring Marion Hossa (who is with his 4th team in 3 years!!), Tomas Kopecky (who I watched quite a bit when he was in Lethbridge for a couple of seasons in junior), and JOHN MADDEN!! (madden has long been on my radar, particularly because he's a Selke guy). I think Chicago were only missing a couple of key players, and now, wow, they're going to be good...

The Rangers, Leafs and Canadiens are the others who have made some pretty serious changes. Gaborik signs with the Rangers, the Habs got Mike Cammalleri, Brian Gionta, Hal Gill, Scott Gomez and Jaro Spacek. Nik Antropov signed with Atlanta (yikes!!), and Havlat signs with the Wild.

Even though I live in Calgary, I wouldn't consider myself a Flames fan. (I have gone to Flames training camps and morning skates, just for the love of NHL hockey). But I'm really excited about the acquisition of Jay Bouwmeester, and Fredrik Sjostrom. I just read that the Flames also got Garth Murray (from Regina) and Riley Armstrong (from Saskatoon). While they may never actually suit up for the Flames, the prospect of them getting a shot at the NHL is great. Murray played for the Pats in Regina when I lived there and he played a few games for the Habs back in the day.

It's been a really exciting few days - the draft last weekend and now July 1. I can't wait for next season...