Hartley Miller's Slap Shots June 26th, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009 03:45 AM
The NHL Entry draft begins tonight and continues Saturday; the CHL European Import draft will go Tuesday; and the NHL free agent frenzy begins on Wednesday, July 1st. Who says there is an off-season in hockey? Ok, up first is the Entry Draft. The intrigue this year is that there is not a clear-cut consensus number one pick. In other words, there is no one like Alex Ovechkin or Sidney Crosby, which could mean that the top selection will not turn out to be a superstar.
The New York Islanders are scheduled to pick first. The Islanders need to sell tickets, they need a goal scorer, and above all, they need excitement. That is why the Islanders, barring a trade, should take London Knights centre John Tavares even though many pundits have suggested the team will be better off with Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman.
The Islanders need an identity. Can you name three players on their current roster? Well, there is that injury prone goalie Rick Dipietro. Who could forget that 15-year, $67.5 million deal he signed? Does he even play anymore?
Okay, then, they have proven playoff performer, Bill Guerin. Wait a second. They dealt him to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline. Um, okay, do they not have that former Hab power-play specialist Mark Street or is it Mark Streit?
Ex-Cougar Trent Hunter is an Islander and so is the ageless Doug Weight, but do not feel bad if you needed to search the internet for that information.
Tavares, the OHL’s leading scorer, the MVP of Canada's gold medal-winning team at the World Junior Championship, and Central Scouting's top-rated North American skater, will help sell tickets. Whether, selecting Tavares turns out to be more “sizzle than steak” remains to be scene, but the team needs offence. Yes, when Kyle Okposo, with a paltry 39 points is your top scoring forward the decision to pick Tavares should not be too difficult for the Islanders.
Therefore, this will leave the 6’6”, 220 pound, Hedman, to go second to Tampa Bay, although with the reported in fighting in the Lightning organization among its ownership group, no one is sure what they will do.
On the local front, PG sniper Ryan Howse, the Chilliwack Bruins MVP and leading scorer, is rated 37th by Central Scouting among North American skaters. That should translate to a 2nd or third round selection. Either way there should be many smiles in Ryan’s "Howsehold" on Saturday.
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The PG Cougars likely will not have any of their players selected in the top rounds, (if at all) in the entry draft; however, that should change next year when CHL rookie of the year Brett Connolly is eligible. The Cougars need to find another line-mate for Connolly and perhaps that player will emerge in Tuesday’s European draft.
However, although they did scoop Slovakia’s Marek Viedensky last year in the second round, the Cats have a history of mediocre choices in the Import Draft. The 6'3” Viedensky showed flashes of offensive flair while playing with Connolly. Nevertheless, will this flash get him chosen by an NHL team in the entry draft?
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When one thinks of July 1st, fireworks and Canada’s birthday usually come to mind. However, in the NHL, Canada Day is one of the most anticipated days all year because that is when the free agent frenzy begins.
The Sedin Brothers, 10 years after their draft year, in the first round, are eligible to sign anywhere, unless the Canucks meet their terms in the next few days. Both Daniel and Henrik have averaged nearly a point per game over the last four seasons. Their consistent production has put them in the one class below superstar status. They each want approximately $63 million over 12 years. I am betting they will get close to that, if not by the Canucks, then by someone else.
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Do you remember the big hockey “huba-baloo” last year, at this time? Well, it was all about the CBC dropping its Hockey Night in Canada theme song, a tradition that signified the beginning of games for 40 years. Dolores Claman wrote it in 1968. After receiving close to 15,000 entries, the song “Canadian Gold”, written by Edmonton elementary school teacher Colin Oberst, replaced the traditional song. I have to admit that in a short time Canadian Gold has grown on me with a beat that certainly is up-tempo. Despite the uproar in 2008, it turned out to be a win-win since the original song is now property of TSN/CTV. In other words, for hockey games on one network, there is nostalgia (some have suggested Canada’s second national anthem) and on the Mother Network, there is an updating of the times.
From the quote rack:
Hillary Clinton went to the hospital after breaking her elbow in a fall. Upon hearing the news, President Clinton immediately rushed to her nurse’s bedside.
Comedy writer Marc Ragovin
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton fell last week and broke her elbow. Unfortunately, it happened when she got up to answer the phone at 3am.
A 103-year-old man, believed to be the oldest living professional baseball player, threw out the first pitch last weekend at a Padres game. The man said it was the biggest thrill he has had in baseball – well, since he hit his first home run against Jamie Moyer.
In about a week, Manny Ramirez’s drug suspension will be over. He assures the Dodgers he will return as a good teammate with a great attitude, especially as he no longer suffers from PMS.
Kerry Wood, now pitching for the Cleveland Indians, blew his second save in as many days at Wrigley Field. So much for all those naysayers who thought Wood would never again be of any use to the Cubs.
Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)
Chicago Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa, who once testified before Congress that he never took performance enhancing drugs, tested positive for them in 2003. This guy lies so much he could be a congressman himself.
On Tuesday’s date in 1883, the New York Giants hosted the first Ladies Day baseball game; all ladies were admitted to the game free. It was the first time Madonna hit on a third baseman.
Comedy writer Jerry Perisho http://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/
Chris Chelios would like to return to the NHL for a 25th season. The 47-year-old defenceman says he would like to finish his career with his favorite team when he was growing up -- the Montreal Maroons.
Cam Hutchinson of the Saskatoon Star Phoenix
The US Government is in talks with the NHL to use the Jobbing.com arena in Phoenix as a treatment centre for the H1N1 flu. A spokesman for the Department of Health is excited because no fever generated in the arena has ever transferred to the general public.
Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke says he will not pursue Danny Heatley saying his actions were irresponsible and he knows irresponsible. Burke says signing Heatley would upset his 20-year turnaround plan.
Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/)
Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/)
Buffalo Sabres owner Thomas Golisano, 67, brought along current girlfriend Monica Seles, 35, last year when he made a $10 million donation to Niagara U. You sure it wasn't Viagra U?
Dwight Howard is working in a movie called 'Switch', in which a 'white, unathletic, unpopular high-school freshman' swaps basketball skills with Howard. After the switch, Howard's free throw shooting significantly improved.
Dirk Nowitzki says he met his fiancee through a 'wrong number'. Yeah, some of those numbers on the bathroom wall are hard to read.
Ryan Leaf surrendered to authorities after having several outstanding warrants for his arrest. On the bright side, Leaf said that no one has considered him 'outstanding' since he left Washington State.
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
And in case you missed it:
Ex-NFL quarterback Bernie Kosar filed for bankruptcy protection last week, citing debts of $1.5 million to the Browns, $3 million to his ex-wife and $9 million for real estate loans.Football historians immediately declared it the mother of all three-and-outs.
Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times
Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for the PG Free Press. Send along a quote, note or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com.
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Posted by: Winstons on June 26 2009 6:23 PM