It's a Wrap
by Rink Rat
Finally. Now we all can go outside and play in the sun. Play-offs over, awards handed out, let the grousing begin. Canadians have been in an uproar all spring; Americans give a large yawn and go back to watching 'CSI: Highway Road Kill.'
And that is part of the problem. Canadians are furious at the decline in entertainment value and demand changes while in America no-one gives a fig because practically no-one watches hockey. The 1994 Stanley Cup game seven had nearly five-million Canadians riveted to the couch. Ratings were good in the States with the Rangers trying to break a 54-year championship drought and there was loose talk amongst the fools who run the game of overhauling the NBA.
This spring ABC/ESPN were lucky to crack two-million households. Better than 45-million Americans would have to tune in to equal the Canadian record of five-million set ten years before. Anyone who loves hockey has a comprehensive list of the games' ills. But really there is only one thing wrong - no goals. Last season the league averaged 5.24 goals/game - that's both teams. Twenty years ago teams could hit that figure in the first period. This season was supposed to be better, what with a crack-down.......We had 5.30 goals/game. Did anyone notice?
The season was bleak for many coaches - eight were fired and another, Laviolette of the Islanders, was canned immediately after his team was bounced from the play-offs. Columbus had a decent coach, King, but he was sacked and will work in Europe next season.
Memo to unemployed coaches: avoid working for a general manager who still wants to coach. The Jackets' GM, MacLean, will coach next season. Quinn in Toronto has come up with a fascinating twist. He'll continue coaching but relinquish the gm duties to a stooge, thus protecting his sorry behind.
Goaltenders continued to inflate to the size of circus tents. Rangers' Messier slogged up and down the ice when he wasn't napping on the bench. Another Ranger, Lindros, continued his sad decline; the San Jose Sharks collapsed, league MVP, Montreal's goaltender Theodore, had a dreadful season, and scoring champion Iginla of Calgary played injured much of the season.
On the positive side, the league had two Cinderella teams early - Tampa Bay and Minnesota - and another late - the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. Pensioner Andreychuk of the Lightning had 20 goals and taught the team's young players how to win. Hull in Detroit hit the 700-goal mark and captain Yzerman won everyone's heart with his courageous rehab from a knee injury.
Toronto netminder Belfour had a marvelous come-back season, winger Gaborik emerged as a future star, a Cult of Lemaire blossomed in St. Paul, Pittsburgh owner/player Lemieux had a sensational first 40 games, while Colorado's Forsberg went on a tear late and nipped Vancouver's Naslund for the scoring title. There were tight races up and down the conferences and then the post- season produced perhaps the greatest string of upsets the league has ever seen. This summer sees juicy free agents coming on the market which promises exciting new prospects.
Now if we could only see a few more goals. Only fourteen weeks until the restart.
the RAT can be reached via email @ rinkrat@bookiekiller.com
by Rink Rat
Finally. Now we all can go outside and play in the sun. Play-offs over, awards handed out, let the grousing begin. Canadians have been in an uproar all spring; Americans give a large yawn and go back to watching 'CSI: Highway Road Kill.'
And that is part of the problem. Canadians are furious at the decline in entertainment value and demand changes while in America no-one gives a fig because practically no-one watches hockey. The 1994 Stanley Cup game seven had nearly five-million Canadians riveted to the couch. Ratings were good in the States with the Rangers trying to break a 54-year championship drought and there was loose talk amongst the fools who run the game of overhauling the NBA.
This spring ABC/ESPN were lucky to crack two-million households. Better than 45-million Americans would have to tune in to equal the Canadian record of five-million set ten years before. Anyone who loves hockey has a comprehensive list of the games' ills. But really there is only one thing wrong - no goals. Last season the league averaged 5.24 goals/game - that's both teams. Twenty years ago teams could hit that figure in the first period. This season was supposed to be better, what with a crack-down.......We had 5.30 goals/game. Did anyone notice?
The season was bleak for many coaches - eight were fired and another, Laviolette of the Islanders, was canned immediately after his team was bounced from the play-offs. Columbus had a decent coach, King, but he was sacked and will work in Europe next season.
Memo to unemployed coaches: avoid working for a general manager who still wants to coach. The Jackets' GM, MacLean, will coach next season. Quinn in Toronto has come up with a fascinating twist. He'll continue coaching but relinquish the gm duties to a stooge, thus protecting his sorry behind.
Goaltenders continued to inflate to the size of circus tents. Rangers' Messier slogged up and down the ice when he wasn't napping on the bench. Another Ranger, Lindros, continued his sad decline; the San Jose Sharks collapsed, league MVP, Montreal's goaltender Theodore, had a dreadful season, and scoring champion Iginla of Calgary played injured much of the season.
On the positive side, the league had two Cinderella teams early - Tampa Bay and Minnesota - and another late - the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. Pensioner Andreychuk of the Lightning had 20 goals and taught the team's young players how to win. Hull in Detroit hit the 700-goal mark and captain Yzerman won everyone's heart with his courageous rehab from a knee injury.
Toronto netminder Belfour had a marvelous come-back season, winger Gaborik emerged as a future star, a Cult of Lemaire blossomed in St. Paul, Pittsburgh owner/player Lemieux had a sensational first 40 games, while Colorado's Forsberg went on a tear late and nipped Vancouver's Naslund for the scoring title. There were tight races up and down the conferences and then the post- season produced perhaps the greatest string of upsets the league has ever seen. This summer sees juicy free agents coming on the market which promises exciting new prospects.
Now if we could only see a few more goals. Only fourteen weeks until the restart.
the RAT can be reached via email @ rinkrat@bookiekiller.com
