We’ve finally made it through the summer. The official opening night is upon us and we’ve got four games tonight: Montreal at Carolina, Anaheim at Detroit, Ottawa at Toronto and Dallas at Colorado. But it seems that there are some who are unwilling to let go of the summer and don’t mind throwing away a friendship in the process.
Here’s a short segment from Brian Burke’s interview on TSN’s Hockey Preview from last night:
***
James Duthie: Are you and Kevin Lowe on speaking terms right now?
Brian Burke: Well I don’t know if he is. I’m not talking to him.
Duthie: How long will the silence end, what would end it?
Burke: I’m not sure. But I know one thing. For the colossal stupidity of what the Edmonton Oilers did this past summer, if I had run my team into the sewer like that, I wouldn’t throw a grenade at the other 29 teams, and my own indirectly. So I have no intention of talking to him anytime soon.
Duthie: What if there’s an Oiler you want later in the season, around trade deadline time?
Burke: Well Bob Murray can talk to someone then. My assistant.
***
Now there are few people in hockey that I respect more than Brian Burke - for his incredible resume and also for his candor. And I understand that Mr. Burke was upset over the summer at Kevin Lowe’s actions. But its time now to let it go.
To go on Canada’s pre-eminent sports channel and say that Kevin Lowe ran his team into the sewer is uncalled for. Whether his moves will pay-off this season and/or long-term remain to be seen. But I would say that Lowe knows more than just a little about winning.
Kevin Lowe was a seven-time All-Star who won six Stanley Cups over his career, only missing the playoffs once along the way.
He was very much involved with the 2002 Canadian Olympic team as the 2004 World Cup teams. Both winners.
The Quebec Major Junior league has an award named after the guy, given to the league’s best defensive defenceman.
We talk a lot about respect among players and how its decreased over the years. How about respect among General Managers?
Restricted free agency is a part of the CBA and has been for a long time. In fact, no team has had as many offer sheets tendered toward their players as the Oilers. Teams have the right to match an offer given to one of their players, or they can choose the compensation. Burke chose the compensation. He also chose to spend $9.625 mil in cap space on a 32-year old winger, who missed most of last season with a bad back and a 38-year old defenceman.
Nobody within the game openly criticized those moves, because of his track record and because he has the right to build a team as he sees fit, within the constraints of the CBA. Maybe it will work out great and the Ducks will repeat. Maybe both will be colossal disappointments.
Will Souray work out better than Schneider?
Will Penner work out better than Bertuzzi?
Who knows what the future holds..
In the Spring of 2006, Kevin Lowe’s Oilers were one game away from winning the Stanley Cup. Since then he’s had a difficult time, no doubt. But if history has proven anything it’s that Lowe is a winner and that he will do whatever it takes for the Edmonton Oilers franchise to be successful. This may be somewhat of a rebuilding year for them but with guys like Gagner, Schremp, Pouliot, Cogliano, Nilsson, Chorney, O’Marra, Plante, etc the future is bright in Edmonton and before long they’ll be back competing with the Anaheims of the world.
This is an old issue and one that doesn’t need to be rehashed again. But in light of the comments made towards Lowe I felt compelled to mention it once again.
Kevin Lowe and Brian Burke are both winners, both legends in this game and both will surely end up in the Hall of Fame at some point.
It’s a shame that they can’t just get along.
***************
Also interesting from the TSN Preview was a survey of General Managers, asking which player (other than Crosby) they would choose to build a team around for the next five years.
Sixteen of twenty-six chose Roberto Luongo. Two picked Ovechkin, two picked Lecavalier and six players received one vote each - Getzlaf, Lunqvist, Malkin, Niedermayer, E. Staal, J. Staal
62% of GMs polled would choose Luongo over anyone else in the league (outside of Sid) to build their team around.
Where were those GMs last summer when the guy was traded with Krajicek for Bertuzzi, Allen, Auld and a pick?
If Luongo was on the market today, imagine the bidding war that would take place...
***************
I’m going to get back to the Preds story a little later this week (as well as part two of the International expansion piece). I had the chance to review some very interesting documents posted by the Tennessean today and I must say that there is certainly cause for concern if you are a Preds fan. A lot of what is going on in the media right now is posturing but the demands made by the group are very real - and some would say very unrealistic.
Another huge concern is 1,700 available tickets for opening night and 7,400 for game #2 on Saturday. Sure attendance always picks up after New Years and that this game isn't included any any minipacks, but we’re talking about under 10,000 tickets bought or comped for the second game of the year.
Last season through January 31st the Preds were averaging 1,718 comps per game.
Remember that the group has stated the magic number isn’t 14,000 - it’s actually 16,000 paid per game to allow them to have a competitive team.
Yet they’ve only sold between 8-9,000 tickets for the second game of the year on a Saturday night?
Interesting that Mr. Del Biaggio has been very quiet for a while now, despite the fact that he’s reportedly the largest investor in this ‘local group’.
***************
Speaking of AEG and their influence over league activities, Jim Devellano was quoted today as saying:
“There’s little doubt that Vegas is coming in (as an expansion franchise). It’s about four years from now and I truly believe Gary Bettman will move us East at that time.”
Strange that team execs can talk about Las Vegas as a hockey market but they can’t mention that “H” word..
***************
Ottawa’s talks with Heatley seemed to be getting closer yesterday according to TSN’s Darren Dreger, although there are still gaps in the salary, structure and term of the deal.
Assuming that it’s somewhat close, I can’t imagine that the Heatley camp will truly pull the plug on the talks when the puck is dropped tomorrow night.
If I had to bet I’d say this deal gets done and another elite name will be taken off the UFA market for next summer (aka the Summer of Hossa - who may be the only big name left when all is said and done).
***************
I wasn’t going to make predictions, but heck everyone else is doing it, so here goes..
I’m taking Carolina, Detroit, Ottawa and Colorado tonight.
Also,
President’s Trophy: Detroit Red Wings
Prince of Wales Trophy: Pittsburgh Penguins
Clarence Campbell Bowl: San Jose Sharks
Art Ross Trophy: Sidney Crosby
Calder Memorial Trophy: Jonathan Toews
Conn Smythe Trophy: Joe Thornton
Hart Memorial Trophy: Sidney Crosby
Jack Adams Award: John Paddock
James Norris Memorial Trophy: Chris Pronger
Maurice Richard Trophy: Alexander Ovechkin
Vezina Trophy: Miika Kiprusoff
William M. Jennings Trophy: Dominik Hasek
Stanley Cup: San Jose Sharks
Tolensky’s Top 30 Teams
30. Phoenix Coyotes
29. Columbus Blue Jackets
28. Chicago Blackhawks
27. Boston Bruins
26. Montreal Canadiens
25. Edmonton Oilers
24. Nashville Predators
23. Washington Capitals
22. Atlanta Thrashers
21. Los Angeles Kings
20. Toronto Maple Leafs
19. New York Islanders
18. Carolina Hurricanes
17. Tampa Bay Lightning
16. St. Louis Blues
15. Florida Panthers
14. Philadelphia Flyers
13. Dallas Stars
12. New Jersey Devils
11. Colorado Avalanche
10. Vancouver Canucks
9. New York Rangers
8. Buffalo Sabres
7. Pittsburgh Penguins
6. Calgary Flames
5. Anaheim Ducks
4. Minnesota Wild
3. San Jose Sharks
2. Detroit Red Wings
1. Ottawa Senators
Enjoy the games!
Danny -
[email protected] 
Join the Discussion:
»