Tebowmania and Linsanity in the U.S seem like a dress rehearsal in comparison to the NHL trade deadline, a day which has evolved into a media circus north of the border.

 

In Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin there is substance to the attention. On the other hand, trade deadline day in the NHL has become the most overhyped, overdramatic, biggest sports letdown day of the year. Thanks to the sensationalism of the media, in particular the major sports networks, the deadline day brings more anticipation than Christmas, even without the main drawing card, Santa.

 

I don’t know about you, but I was overwhelmed by speculation. Enough Rick Nash already. Whether he asked for a trade or not, he is still in Columbus. Enough Derek Roy, he remains in Buffalo and enough Steve Ott, he is still in Dallas.

 

At least on New Year’s Eve, when there is a countdown, the clock actually does strike midnight and there is reason to make a fuss. Hockey fans were subjected to weeks of rumours and speculation about where these players will move. In the end it was all much ado about nothing (Again).

 

In reality, you, and I, as the consumer have to take responsibility for our actions as we eat, breathe and sleep the rhetoric. Yes, we are suckers. TSN, Sportsnet and other networks realize that and next year we will be back for more drama. How sad!

 

By the way, did you know Corey Schneider, Luke Schenn and Sam Gagner will all be on the block come the last Monday of February, 2013? Let the countdown begin.

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Are the Vancouver Canucks closer to winning the Stanley Cup with Zack Kassian than Cody Hodgson?

 

The simple answer is no. Both are young up and coming forwards with completely different styles and POTENTIAL. Oh yes, the dreaded “P” word.

 

Yes, Kassian provides toughness but he is less proven than Hodgson. I realize the Canucks have strength down the middle but a team cannot have too many good centres. The 21-year old Kassian had only 27 games under his belt this season with the Sabres, who felt more comfortable using him on their farm club.

 

The 22-year old Hodgson is further along in his development at the NHL level and has started to show an offensive flair, averaging half a point per game. At the time of the deal, he was 5^th among all rookie scorers. Hodgson will be a scorer, a front line contributor with Buffalo. A player that can find the net usually has a long successful career.

 

Kassian may turn out to be that ultimate power forward the Canucks need, but he is more of a long term project on a team that is built to win for today.

 

The Sabres visit the Canucks Saturday. Yes, Vancouver is a much better team than Buffalo, but how ironic would it be for Hodgson to be part of the winning goal. I bet, even though he will be in a visiting uniform, Hodgson will receive a cheer because deep down Canuck fans appreciate his talent. And skill is usually harder to find than grit.

 

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It was fitting the Detroit Red Wings NHL regular season home win streak ended in a shootout when they were beaten by the Vancouver Canucks 4-3. Not to downplay the achievement, but the record of 23 in a row was a bit tainted since three of those victories came in a shootout.

 

The NHL needs to almost have two separate record books, pre and post shootout, since many of the records are a bit tainted. If not at least have an asterisk * in the record books. It is disrespectful to previous teams that set records without the benefit of the shootout gimmick to not acknowledge their achievement. Winning in overtime is one thing but to establish new marks thanks to a skills competition is laughable.

 

Five of the nine NHL games on Thursday, Feb 23^rd ended in a shootout and it seems more teams are just happy to get there and be guaranteed the point. Okay, I need to accept that shootouts are here to stay but how a shootout win gets the same value as a regulation time victory remains perplexing. I doubt it will change in the foreseeable future but that doesn’t mean it’s right.

 

By the way, the Wings lost their next home game to Colorado by the same 4-3 score, only this time the issue was decided in 60 minutes. Now that’s a refreshing change.

 

 

 

Most experts agree the winners on the NHL trade deadline were experts hired to evaluate the trades. The losers were anyone who watched the shows.

 

Top 5 signs you were a loser at the NHL trade deadline

# 5 Your new address is in Ohio
# 4 You were traded for a stick boy and 20 rolls of tape
# 3 The team owner commits you saying you are a danger to yourself and others
#2 At next year’s GM meeting you have to wear the dunce hat
#1 Mike Millbury has nothing but praise for you…

 

 

 

 

Reports out of Edmonton say NHL bench boss Tom Renney is still suffering from headaches. No, not from the concussion, from coaching the Oilers. 

 

 

 

Hank Haney, Tiger Woods’ former swing coach, says in his new book that the quest to break Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors weighed heavily on Tiger. Really? I would think that what took a bigger toll in the end was Woods’ pursuit of 18 plus waitresses.

 

Kobe Bryant finished the All-Star game despite having sustained a “nasal fracture” Guess no one noticed since we’re all used to seeing Kobe with his nose out of joint. 

 

 

 

John Daly set a new Guiness record last Friday—he drank more than forty Guinnesses.

 

Gisele Bundchen, on vacation with Tom Brady, was seen on a beach in Costa Rica doing a photo shoot of Wes Welker and his fiancee Anna Burns. She kept telling him not to drop his pants. 

 

 

 

A new poll found that Americans dislike California more than any other state in the union.
… In response, California said, “Here, to show you that we’re friends, please take the Dodgers.”
Comedy writer Jerry Perisho http://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/

 

 

Red Sox hurler Tim Wakefield (17 years with Boston) has announced his retirement from
baseball. A ceremony will be upcoming at Fenway Park. Massachusetts will honor him by reducing highway speed limits to 48 mph that day in tribute to his fastball speed. 

 

The Boston Red Sox have banned beer from the clubhouse. Fans may notice this year that Boston’s position players and starting pitchers making frequent visits out to the bullpen.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

And 12 of them are on the roster of the Charlotte Bobcats.

 

Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel, on reports that eight million dead people are still on voter-registration lists.