Thursday, December 25, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Columbus Back to One-Man Show
Just when you thought maybe Rick Nash was merely one-half of a potent one-two punch in Columbus, the feisty forward is back in his familiar place as the only reliable Blue Jacket.
The Blue Jackets have had some surprises this year, mainly the play of goaltender Steve Mason, who has been outstanding. But former No. 1 Pascal Leclaire has been underwhelming, and Kristian Huselius hasn't come anywhere near his form in Calgary.
Still, Columbus had themselves a star in rookie Derick Brassard, who led the team in scoring for about 15 games before Nash finally caught up, and was still within four points of the team lead going into this past weekend.
And now, he's gone.
Brassard dislocated his shoulder in a fight, and is having season-ending surgery next month. In addition to the question of how the rookie will bounce back next season, Columbus has a more pressing question for the here and now: Who will fill the void?
Unless Huselius starts playing like... well, Kristian Huselius, it's going to be another season of the Columbus Rick Nashes narrowly missing the playoffs despite the numbers of their captain.
Programming Note: The Sin Bin will not air tomorrow due to the holidays. We will return on Jan. 13 at 10 p.m.
The Blue Jackets have had some surprises this year, mainly the play of goaltender Steve Mason, who has been outstanding. But former No. 1 Pascal Leclaire has been underwhelming, and Kristian Huselius hasn't come anywhere near his form in Calgary.
Still, Columbus had themselves a star in rookie Derick Brassard, who led the team in scoring for about 15 games before Nash finally caught up, and was still within four points of the team lead going into this past weekend.
And now, he's gone.
Brassard dislocated his shoulder in a fight, and is having season-ending surgery next month. In addition to the question of how the rookie will bounce back next season, Columbus has a more pressing question for the here and now: Who will fill the void?
Unless Huselius starts playing like... well, Kristian Huselius, it's going to be another season of the Columbus Rick Nashes narrowly missing the playoffs despite the numbers of their captain.
Programming Note: The Sin Bin will not air tomorrow due to the holidays. We will return on Jan. 13 at 10 p.m.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Questions Abound on Broadway
Wow. Who saw this coming 5 years ago? The New York Rangers lacked the funds to sign a big free agent name, and had to watch the player they desired sign elsewhere.
Well, it happened. And after watching Mats Sundin take his money and run to Vancouver, the New York Rangers find themselves.. well- the same.
However, as a Ranger fan, one must look at the Pros and Cons of the non-signing of the former Maple Leafs captain.
PROS
- Petr Prucha, Dan Fritche, and even Brandon Dubinsky will be staying put for now, instead of being traded away-essentially for nothing.
- Chris Drury will not feel undermined by the arrival of another veteran captain (i.e. Gomez, Naslund)
- The Rangers maintain SOME cap flexibility in case of injury or other circumstances.
- One less big name veteran who can fail on the big stage.
CONS
- The Power Play still stinks. Badly.
- The Rangers still lack a true goal scorer.
Now, mind you, that even though there are more Pros to this episode for the Rangers, the Cons are quite concerning if this team is trying to drink from Stanley's Mug this June.
So what does General Manager Glen Sather do from here? What is his plan B to fix this team that is clearly still in need of a top 6 forward, as well as a steady, consistent defenseman?
The problem for Sather is that his team is still right up against the salary cap limit.
-How about $500,000 for half a season of Brenden Shanahan?
-Ilya Kovalchuk my be available later for the same money Sundin would have demanded. And he can be signed for another 8 years after this season.
or, maybe Scott Gomez and Chris Drury will start to earn 7 million a year, Nik Zherdev will turn into a superstar, and the defense will stay healthy and mistake- free.
Don't put your money on it.
Of course, it does help having the best goalie in the league.
Mats to Vancouver Leaves Questions in TO
Mats Sundin landing in Vancouver means the Toronto Maple Leafs can now officially move on from the 12-year reign of the Big Swede as captain. He was no doubt the face of the team and a capable leader, as well as one of the greatest Leafs of all time.
But, Sundin's tenure ends much the same way as other great Leafs, such as Darryl Sittler, Tiger Williams and Borje Salming: Without a Stanley Cup. And so the measure of Sundin's greatness is not the 987 points he tallied in blue and white, but rather his failure to lead the team back to the top of the hockey world. He cannot be blamed for all of that, but he played on several outstanding teams and was never able to get beyond the East finals.
Now the question becomes: Who is the next Leafs captain? Tomas Kaberle seems like the logical choice as the team's longest-tenured player and an alternate captain for several seasons, but he has been rumored to be on his way out at the trade deadline, a casualty of the new Brian Burke administration. Jamal Mayers quickly earned a letter after arriving over the summer, has been a solid performer for the Leafs and is a native of the very city in which he now plays. Nik Antropov has been around for just two years fewer than Kaberle and appears to be staying put for the time being, but perhaps the best choice would be Pavel Kubina, who has emerged as the defenseman Toronto thought it was getting two seasons ago. Now free of partner Bryan McCabe, Kubina has been outstanding, will probably not be moved, and is certainly worthy of the captaincy.
Of course, speculation holds that the next captain is merely keeping the seat warm for Luke Schenn, the rookie phenom who looks to be in TO for a long while. But that seems to be years off, and the Leafs should avoid having a whopping five players wearing A's as quickly as possible.
But, Sundin's tenure ends much the same way as other great Leafs, such as Darryl Sittler, Tiger Williams and Borje Salming: Without a Stanley Cup. And so the measure of Sundin's greatness is not the 987 points he tallied in blue and white, but rather his failure to lead the team back to the top of the hockey world. He cannot be blamed for all of that, but he played on several outstanding teams and was never able to get beyond the East finals.
Now the question becomes: Who is the next Leafs captain? Tomas Kaberle seems like the logical choice as the team's longest-tenured player and an alternate captain for several seasons, but he has been rumored to be on his way out at the trade deadline, a casualty of the new Brian Burke administration. Jamal Mayers quickly earned a letter after arriving over the summer, has been a solid performer for the Leafs and is a native of the very city in which he now plays. Nik Antropov has been around for just two years fewer than Kaberle and appears to be staying put for the time being, but perhaps the best choice would be Pavel Kubina, who has emerged as the defenseman Toronto thought it was getting two seasons ago. Now free of partner Bryan McCabe, Kubina has been outstanding, will probably not be moved, and is certainly worthy of the captaincy.
Of course, speculation holds that the next captain is merely keeping the seat warm for Luke Schenn, the rookie phenom who looks to be in TO for a long while. But that seems to be years off, and the Leafs should avoid having a whopping five players wearing A's as quickly as possible.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Forget What You Thought You Knew...Sundin to 'Nucks
Puck Daddy reporting Sundin has chosen to take a 1 year, $10 million deal with Vancouver rather than signing with New York. Interesting though, that he didn't bite earlier on that $10 million deal supposedly offered by the Canucks. That was rumored to be a 2 year contract however, so perhaps he was haggling it down to just a year.
Still...this was another team that can certainly benefit from Sundin's offensive talent. Luongo is great, but he alone won't win you the Cup.
Meanwhile, the Penguins are up 5-2 on Atlanta, just chased Pavelec, and I FINALLY get to see Johan Hedberg ("da MOOOOOSE") in the net on the same ice as Pittsburgh once again.
A game recap later tonight or tomorrow.
Still...this was another team that can certainly benefit from Sundin's offensive talent. Luongo is great, but he alone won't win you the Cup.
Meanwhile, the Penguins are up 5-2 on Atlanta, just chased Pavelec, and I FINALLY get to see Johan Hedberg ("da MOOOOOSE") in the net on the same ice as Pittsburgh once again.
A game recap later tonight or tomorrow.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Premature Evaluation
Mats Sundin remains in Free Agent purgatory Mid-day Wednesday, and reports of a Thursday deadline for a decision have been refuted by his agent, J.P. Barry.
Barry has stated that Thursday will be the EARLIEST that the 37-year-old Center and 555 goal scorer will choose a team to play for this season.
The Rangers are favorites to land the former Maple Leafs captain, but a lot of work is to be done in order to fit the Swede under the salary cap. With roster freezes taking effect on Friday, this story looks likely to drag on past the holiday season and into the New Year.
According to reports, the last team remaining in the Sundin sweepstakes besides the Rangers is the Vancouver Canucks. Vancouver offered Sundin a 2-year $20 million contract during the summer, but Mats elected to sit out the beginning of the season and await another opportunity instead.
I think it's pretty clear that the Rangers and Sundin are mutual in their desire to complete a contract. Sundin, if he comes to New York, will have fellow Swedes Markus Naslund and Henrik Lundqvist, as well as Fredrik Sjostrom to acclimate him into his new setting. The team is sitting in the top third of the Eastern Conference standings, and although the Canucks sit 5th in the West, the road to the Stanley Cup through the East is much easier than going through the teams of the West.
As for the Rangers, they long for a top-tier power forward who can help the Power Play, and push this team to elite status. Add in the leadership qualities of the Swede, and it could be a match made in heaven for both sides.
Now as for the financial issue of this situation...
The Rangers are currently hard-pressed against the cap as it is. They have approximately $1 million to work with as of today. The Blueshirts are exploring many options that would relieve their cap situation. Options include trading/waiving the underachieving Petr Prucha and/or Dan Fritche and Dimitri Kalinin. Even Scott Gomez and Chris Drury have been rumored to be on the block. Still, The Rangers would most like to unload the hefty contracts of Wade Redden or Michal Rozsival, but nobody is likely to want to pick up those contracts. Also, moving a defenseman will further thin-out New York's already depleted blue line. There are more angles to this move than just fitting the Center under the cap.
In the end, Sundin will require about $3 million to play for the rest of the season. The Rangers have a lot of work to do if both sides want this to happen, and I don't know if they'll be able to do it.
In their favor, however, is the fact that Sundin has not accepted the Canucks offer for months now. If he wanted to play in Vancouver with the Sedins, you would figure he would have signed a long time ago. Clearly it's not about the money for Sundin, it's about The Cup. There's the mark of a true hockey player.
The saga continues...
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Forsberg to Return?
Not content to keep his brittle ankles off the ice, Peter Forsberg wants to return to the NHL before the start of the post-season, and The Denver Post says it will be with the Colorado Avalanche. The question then becomes, should the Avs want him in uniform?
Forsberg is obviously an incredibly dynamic player. Perhaps the greatest playmaker since Wayne Gretzky himself, Forsberg's 636 career assists (to just 249 goals) speak for themselves. He was the perfect complement to Joe Sakic in Colorado's glory days, and was a veritable stud in Philadelphia--when he played. In fact, only once in his career--the lost 2006-07 season, where Forsberg seemingly played only every other game--has he averaged less than a point per game for a full season, and he came pretty damn close that time with 55 points in 57 games.
It's also clear that Forsberg can still get it done, with 14 points in 9 games last season. He has defined himself as the cream of the late-season rental crop.
But his presence--or, lack thereof recently--has taken its toll on teams. The Flyers in 06-07 proved to be one of the worst teams in recent memory, not because the talent wasn't there, but rather because the team repeatedly failed to be on the same page. That started with Forsberg, who could light up the scoreboard when in the lineup, but would disappear for stretches at a time that normally corresponded with lengthy losing streaks. After being traded to Nashville, the Predators were quickly dispatched from the playoffs after just five games. It was even worse last year, as Forsberg joined the Avs for the stretch run and led them to a four-game exit at the hands of Detroit.
So is a late return for the Swedish superstar necessarily the best for Colorado? History suggests not, and that's an interesting angle for all teams to take. If last year is any indication, as it was the first season where players inexplicably decided to take much of the season off, then the failure of the Avalanche and Anaheim Ducks (who brought back Teemu Selanne and Scott Niedermayer, only to make a first-round exit in six games), then the New York Rangers' signing of Mats Sundin marks the official end of the Blueshirts' Stanley Cup hopes.
As for Sundin and the Rangers, as a lifelong Leafs and Sundin fan, I consider him a traitor and will be operating as such for the remainder of his career until he puts a Maple Leaf back on his chest. Such is being a fan. But surely the Big Swede will give the Rangers plenty of depth down the middle and make them a more formidable opponent down the stretch. While it isn't much of a mystery what Sundin will bring to the Rangers, it remains a mystery how he will be received in Toronto after going to an Original Six rival.
Forsberg is obviously an incredibly dynamic player. Perhaps the greatest playmaker since Wayne Gretzky himself, Forsberg's 636 career assists (to just 249 goals) speak for themselves. He was the perfect complement to Joe Sakic in Colorado's glory days, and was a veritable stud in Philadelphia--when he played. In fact, only once in his career--the lost 2006-07 season, where Forsberg seemingly played only every other game--has he averaged less than a point per game for a full season, and he came pretty damn close that time with 55 points in 57 games.
It's also clear that Forsberg can still get it done, with 14 points in 9 games last season. He has defined himself as the cream of the late-season rental crop.
But his presence--or, lack thereof recently--has taken its toll on teams. The Flyers in 06-07 proved to be one of the worst teams in recent memory, not because the talent wasn't there, but rather because the team repeatedly failed to be on the same page. That started with Forsberg, who could light up the scoreboard when in the lineup, but would disappear for stretches at a time that normally corresponded with lengthy losing streaks. After being traded to Nashville, the Predators were quickly dispatched from the playoffs after just five games. It was even worse last year, as Forsberg joined the Avs for the stretch run and led them to a four-game exit at the hands of Detroit.
So is a late return for the Swedish superstar necessarily the best for Colorado? History suggests not, and that's an interesting angle for all teams to take. If last year is any indication, as it was the first season where players inexplicably decided to take much of the season off, then the failure of the Avalanche and Anaheim Ducks (who brought back Teemu Selanne and Scott Niedermayer, only to make a first-round exit in six games), then the New York Rangers' signing of Mats Sundin marks the official end of the Blueshirts' Stanley Cup hopes.
As for Sundin and the Rangers, as a lifelong Leafs and Sundin fan, I consider him a traitor and will be operating as such for the remainder of his career until he puts a Maple Leaf back on his chest. Such is being a fan. But surely the Big Swede will give the Rangers plenty of depth down the middle and make them a more formidable opponent down the stretch. While it isn't much of a mystery what Sundin will bring to the Rangers, it remains a mystery how he will be received in Toronto after going to an Original Six rival.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Sundin to Rangers; Pens new arena named.
Greetings Internet!
My name is Ryan Wood, and I'm in my first year on The Sin Bin. I'm currently a junior up here at Penn State University Park, and I'm a lifelong fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
With that out of the way, I have a small bit of news to relay. The first is something that I'm sure Sean will have more to say on, but it appears that Mats Sundin has reportedly made his choice of where to sign. And the winner is...
The New York Rangers!
It was speculated earlier today that Sundin had narrowed his choices to Vancouver or New York. The official decision is expected to be announced later this week.
What does this mean for New York? Sundin is 37 years old, but he is still a dynamic player, as evidenced by his 32 goals and 78 points on a sub-par Toronto team last season. He has had 12 straight seasons of 70 points or more, and he should provide some formidable center depth on a team that already has Chris Drury, Scott Gomez and Brandon Dubinsky down the middle.
Also, New York could certainly use some offensive output. The highest scoring player for the Rangers so far this year is RW Nikolai Zherdev (10 G, 30 Pts.) and they have lost 3 of their last 5 games.
-----
Now for the Penguins related news. With the Civic/Mellon Arena on its last legs, Pens fans have been wondering for a while what the forthcoming new arena would be christened. That answer has arrived.
Consol Energy, which is based out of Pittsburgh, has won the naming rights for the next 21 years and will name the arena the "Consol Energy Center." The arena is scheduled to be open for the 2010-2011 hockey season.
As a fan, I like this news for mainly one reason...it makes the reality of the Penguins future that much more secure in my mind. This is a franchise that looked all but lost before a few years ago, and now there is no turning back. I couldn't be happier.
In addition, I like the name even though many other fans have expressed indifference or disdain. I think that it's rather fitting for this hockey team, which is certainly not lacking in energy.
...Just don't pronounce it "Con-sole" [Pensblog]
------
Oh, and one final amusing note regarding Sean Avery.
Jaromir Jagr was interviewed as part of a Play magazine article about his thoughts on the Sean Avery situation. My favorite question and answer:
Well that's all for now. More to come in the future.
My name is Ryan Wood, and I'm in my first year on The Sin Bin. I'm currently a junior up here at Penn State University Park, and I'm a lifelong fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
With that out of the way, I have a small bit of news to relay. The first is something that I'm sure Sean will have more to say on, but it appears that Mats Sundin has reportedly made his choice of where to sign. And the winner is...
The New York Rangers!
It was speculated earlier today that Sundin had narrowed his choices to Vancouver or New York. The official decision is expected to be announced later this week.
What does this mean for New York? Sundin is 37 years old, but he is still a dynamic player, as evidenced by his 32 goals and 78 points on a sub-par Toronto team last season. He has had 12 straight seasons of 70 points or more, and he should provide some formidable center depth on a team that already has Chris Drury, Scott Gomez and Brandon Dubinsky down the middle.
Also, New York could certainly use some offensive output. The highest scoring player for the Rangers so far this year is RW Nikolai Zherdev (10 G, 30 Pts.) and they have lost 3 of their last 5 games.
-----
Now for the Penguins related news. With the Civic/Mellon Arena on its last legs, Pens fans have been wondering for a while what the forthcoming new arena would be christened. That answer has arrived.
Consol Energy, which is based out of Pittsburgh, has won the naming rights for the next 21 years and will name the arena the "Consol Energy Center." The arena is scheduled to be open for the 2010-2011 hockey season.
As a fan, I like this news for mainly one reason...it makes the reality of the Penguins future that much more secure in my mind. This is a franchise that looked all but lost before a few years ago, and now there is no turning back. I couldn't be happier.
In addition, I like the name even though many other fans have expressed indifference or disdain. I think that it's rather fitting for this hockey team, which is certainly not lacking in energy.
...Just don't pronounce it "Con-sole" [Pensblog]
------
Oh, and one final amusing note regarding Sean Avery.
Jaromir Jagr was interviewed as part of a Play magazine article about his thoughts on the Sean Avery situation. My favorite question and answer:
Would you love to see him playing for Avangard Omsk?
"No!" Jagr started waiving his hands and almost fell from his chair laughing. "Two years playing together for the Rangers was enough. Couldn't you come up with a lighter sentence?"
---------Well that's all for now. More to come in the future.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Avery Done in Dallas
With the Dallas Stars officially cutting ties with Sean Avery, one has to wonder if this sets a precedent with other franchises as well. Sure, it seems like an isolated incident: An outspoken player who alienated teammates from the early going, and a team that started looking for excuses to lose him weeks prior (Mike Modano: not Avery's biggest fan). But when other players cross the line, and invariably they will, will they receive similar treatment from the front office? Will their locker rooms look past the incident, or exile their former comrade? The Avery debacle has created an interesting option for other teams to look at when their pests go too far.
Also, Marc-Andre Fleury is back in Pittsburgh, and although he didn't play against Philadelphia, we can expect to see him back soon, and not a moment too soon. Dany Sabourin, suffice it to say, stopped getting it done after a more than solid start. He's no Ty Conklin, apparently.
Elsewhere around the league:
Columbus 1, Chicago 3: Cristobal Huet hasn't had many great outings this season, but this effort (31 saves) makes the grade.
Minnesota 2, Anaheim 4: Now we begin to see what the Wild are made of. A five-game losing streak presents a significant test to a young locker room.
Florida 3, Vancouver 5: The Canucks exploded with four goals in the second. With that kind of offense, there's no need for Roberto Luongo.
Also, Marc-Andre Fleury is back in Pittsburgh, and although he didn't play against Philadelphia, we can expect to see him back soon, and not a moment too soon. Dany Sabourin, suffice it to say, stopped getting it done after a more than solid start. He's no Ty Conklin, apparently.
Elsewhere around the league:
Columbus 1, Chicago 3: Cristobal Huet hasn't had many great outings this season, but this effort (31 saves) makes the grade.
Minnesota 2, Anaheim 4: Now we begin to see what the Wild are made of. A five-game losing streak presents a significant test to a young locker room.
Florida 3, Vancouver 5: The Canucks exploded with four goals in the second. With that kind of offense, there's no need for Roberto Luongo.
Welcome!
Welcome to the official site of The Sin Bin, ComRadio's longest running show! Thank you for visiting.
We got our start in January 2005, thanks to the collective genius of J.J. Terlecki and Ray Schmitt, then sophomores at Penn State. The show, originally, was a twice-weekly one hour show on Monday and Wednesday, a format it maintained until 2007.
In September 2006, current host Sean Frey (that would be me) joined the show as a sophomore, along with freshman Brendan Shorts. We became the Monday night tandem, and inherited the show when Terlecki and Schmitt graduated in May 2007.
Not content to do a two-person show in 07-08, we brought on Rob Skorochocki, at the time a junior from Hamilton, N.J., and Matt Caracappa, a senior from Randolph, N.J. The show moved to Tuesdays at 10 pm, and at year's end, Caracappa was sent off with "Matt Caracappa Night," complete with a brief segment of his greatest hits, and as Brendan quipped, "All fans in attendance received a Matt Caracappa bobblehead doll."
2008 saw great changes. The format was adjusted and Josh Rifkin, who had helped out in 07-08 as a freshman, joined the show full-time, as did Ryan Wood, a junior and Pittsburgh native. Now in its fifth season, The Sin Bin is proudly marching into the future.
The show has many claims to fame. With the demise of Under the Bleachers, a show that began in October 2004, The Sin Bin assumed the role as ComRadio's longest continuously running show as of Fall 2008. It also has the distinction, according to production director Tommy DiVito, of having the most sound clips on the network--a mark that cannot be verified, but is certainly a sign of how far we have come from our humble beginnings.
Tune in on Tuesdays at 10, or check out our podcasts to catch up on past episodes. Hope you enjoy our site!
We got our start in January 2005, thanks to the collective genius of J.J. Terlecki and Ray Schmitt, then sophomores at Penn State. The show, originally, was a twice-weekly one hour show on Monday and Wednesday, a format it maintained until 2007.
In September 2006, current host Sean Frey (that would be me) joined the show as a sophomore, along with freshman Brendan Shorts. We became the Monday night tandem, and inherited the show when Terlecki and Schmitt graduated in May 2007.
Not content to do a two-person show in 07-08, we brought on Rob Skorochocki, at the time a junior from Hamilton, N.J., and Matt Caracappa, a senior from Randolph, N.J. The show moved to Tuesdays at 10 pm, and at year's end, Caracappa was sent off with "Matt Caracappa Night," complete with a brief segment of his greatest hits, and as Brendan quipped, "All fans in attendance received a Matt Caracappa bobblehead doll."
2008 saw great changes. The format was adjusted and Josh Rifkin, who had helped out in 07-08 as a freshman, joined the show full-time, as did Ryan Wood, a junior and Pittsburgh native. Now in its fifth season, The Sin Bin is proudly marching into the future.
The show has many claims to fame. With the demise of Under the Bleachers, a show that began in October 2004, The Sin Bin assumed the role as ComRadio's longest continuously running show as of Fall 2008. It also has the distinction, according to production director Tommy DiVito, of having the most sound clips on the network--a mark that cannot be verified, but is certainly a sign of how far we have come from our humble beginnings.
Tune in on Tuesdays at 10, or check out our podcasts to catch up on past episodes. Hope you enjoy our site!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
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