NHL Draft: Go Time for GMs

By Jesse Liebman

Editorial. Photos by AP News

There's something to be said for the immense pressure that teenaged hockey players face while they work at achieving their dreams of becoming the next great NHL superstar. But there is an equal amount of pressure on an NHL team's scouting department on draft day. This year's edition of the NHL Entry Draft begins Friday at the Bell Centre in Montreal, and is regarded by many as the deepest draft in years.

Here's how the first five picks in the first round will likely pan out:

1) New York Islanders - John Tavares - C - 6'0", 195 lbs. - London Knights (OHL)

Every few years, some fresh-faced teen from Canada is anointed "The Next One." First it was Mario Lemeiux, then Eric Lindros, then Sidney Crosby. John Tavares is certainly no exception and his junior career resume fully warrants the title. Tavares benefited from an "exceptional player" clause that allowed him to step into the lineup of the "O's" Oshawa Generals three day's after his fifteenth birthday. Tavares is the OHL's all-time leading goal scorer with 215 goals in 247 games. He has all the tools that would enable him to immediately step onto an NHL team's opening night roster in the fall.

There are some who say the extended time spent in the OHL has made Tavares lazy. But that's not the case, according to his former coach, Chris DePiero. "His willingness to be the player he wants to be is there," DePiero says. "And to me that supersedes anything that could be perceived as a negative."

The recurring knock on Tavares is that he isn't the fastest skater. But then again, neither was Wayne Gretzky. With time, Tavares should mature into a bona-fide superstar for the Islanders.

And that's exactly what the Islanders need. Although GM Garth Snow has been glib on who his scouting staff plans on taking, it's clear Tavares is what the Islanders need. They currently play in the third-oldest building in the league, and years of poor management decisions have decimated the team's fan base. That can all change with Tavares.

With an already existing prospect core of Kyle Okposo, Blake Comeau and Jeff Tambellini, Tavares is the perfect prospect in this year's pool for the Islanders to build around if they hope to return to the glory days of Bossy, Potvin and Smith.

2) Tampa Bay Lightning - Victor Hedman - D - 6'6", 220 lbs. - Modo (Sweden)

There was a time when the hulking Hedman had warranted a look as a potential No. 1 selection. His world junior performance was solid, but Tavares simply elevated his game and outshone every prospect in the winter tournament. While he certainly has all the desireables that GM's look for in a first overall pick, the addition of Tavares to the draft pool means that Hedman will likely have to settle for second.

After selecting Steve Stamkos with the No. 1 pick last June and then going after every free agent forward on the open market, Hedman is a solid selection to anchor the Tampa Bay blueline.

With the news that Tampa's co-owners Oren Koules and Len Barrie are at odds with what to do with captain and franchise center Vincent Lecavalier, there also remains the scenario that the Lightning might be willing to trade down in the draft. Should the Lightning hold on to the pick, look for them to grab Hedman.

3) Colorado Avalanche - Matt Duchene - C - 5'11", 200 lbs. - Brampton Battalion (OHL)

A lot of talk has been made lately of Brampton's Matt Duchene, who has risen through the ranks in the past months. Duchene is described by many as most complete player in the draft.

Duchene tries to pattern his game after the game's biggest star, Sidney Crosby, but a more appropriate comparison may be Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk. Already boasting spectacular offensive skills, Duchene has also emerged as a fantastic penalty-killer. NHL Central Scouting's Chris Edwards notes that while Duchene's shot is impressive, his true asset is "his speed and ability to beat defensemen to the middle or outside."

With Joe Sakic's career winding down, it may be wise for Colorado management to grab Duchene to play with Paul Stastny. Of course, with the recent firing of Avalanche GM Francois Giguere, Colorado could also be in a position to make some moves at the draft.

4) Atlanta Thrashers - Evander Kane - C - 6'1", 176 lbs. - Vancouver Giants (WHL)

As Kane fills out his frame, he is projected to max out at approximately 200 lbs., and could even add another inch or two. That may be just the perfect combination for Kane, who has all the makings of a future power forward.

With Thrashers captain Ilya Kovalchuk scheduled to be headed for free agency after next year, the onus is on Atlanta GM Don Waddell to fill his roster with young talented players to entice his prized Russian sniper to stay. Kane may be a key piece to that puzzle .

5) L.A. Kings - Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson - LW - 6'1", 201 lbs. - Timra (Sweden)

If trying to stop the speedy Swede won't kill you, trying to pronounce his name might. Director of NHL Central Scouting E.J. McGuire had this to say about Paajarvi-Svensson: "Magnus perhaps is the stereotype of the skilled Swede coming over here in recent years – outside speed extraordinaire, ability to freeze defenders and make all his good moves work even more effectively."

Already boasting a cupboard of young roster players and prospects that includes Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Drew Doughty, Jack Johnson and Jonathan Bernier, Kings GM Dean Lombardi and his scouting staff will want to add Paajarvi-Svensson to play alongside Kopitar or center Brian Boyle in two to three years.

Last Call on Air - Goliath vs Goliath

June 24, 2009

Tasso, Tam, Greeley, Leonardi

A Bay State of Mind

by Ian Tasso

Editorial. Photos by AP News

During Friday night’s 8-2 loss to the Braves, Jason Bay went 2-3 with a double, and belted his team leading 18^th home run over the Green Monster.

The Rest of the Sox lineup went 0-26 with 10 strikeouts.

Just a small example of exactly what Jason Bay has meant to this Boston team so far this season.

There will never be another Manny Ramirez in Boston. That much is for certain. A .330 average with 40 home runs and 150 RBI are tough to replace.

But two and a half months into the season, Jason Bay continues to put on his best Manny impression, and I’ve got to say, I’m liking it.

Especially because he’s leaving out the part where he drops a fly ball one in every five tries, pushes over a 60-year old man and destroys the clubhouse from the inside out.

Because as great as Manny was, those are certainly things I could have done without.

So who is this Canadian man of mystery anyway? It’s about time we got to know this pasty white left fielder that is single-handedly responsible for the Red Sox 40-27 first place record right now.

There’s a lot we do and don’t know about Mr. Bay – so let’s settle that score right now.

What you do know: Bay was traded to the Red Sox from the Pittsburgh Pirates in last July in exchange for Manny Ramirez (Dodgers), Craig Hansen, and Brandon Moss.

What you don’t know: Bay has now played for five Major League organizations including the Sox. He was drafted by the Expos, traded to the Mets, made his Major League debut with the Padres, was sent to Pittsburgh, and now makes his home with the Red Sox. He’s also no stranger to the Boston area, playing in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Chatham Anglers back in 1999. Current Sox third baseman Mike Lowell also played for the Anglers back in ’93, as well as Oriole second baseman Brian Roberts (’98), Milwaukee outfielder Ryan Braun (’00), Tampa third baseman Evan Longoria (’05), and ex-Houston great Jeff Bagwell (’88).

What you do know: Jason Bay is a severe defensive upgrade over Manny Ramirez no matter what anyone says. Ramirez may have had a quick release and an above average ability to play the Green Monster, but he was a liability in the field, and Bay has been anything but.

What you don’t know: During his entire career, Bay has been an above average fielder. He has a career fielding percentage of .987, and he is currently in the top-five in the MLB in outfield assists with six (leads all left fielders). Bay has only committed 19 errors in left field during his entire Major League career, spanning over 6,850 innings (806 games). In Ramirez’s first 803 games in the Major Leagues, he made 36 errors – nearly twice as many. Bay is still yet to make an error in 2009.

What you do know: Jason isn’t exactly used to the limelight of baseball – Pittsburgh’s not the biggest major market for the sport.

What you don’t know: It is true that Pittsburgh may not have been the biggest arena in the world to play baseball. But Bay is no stranger to the big stage. He actually competed in the 1990 Little League World Series, representing Canada. Despite a Semifinal loss to eventual Champion, Taiwan, it is still unclear whether or not one appearance in the Little League World Series netted Bay more publicity than four and a half seasons with the Pirates.

What you do know: Bay leads the AL in RBI right now (second in Majors), and has been much more than anybody could have expected from the left field position.

What you don’t know: Bay is actually right on pace with everything he’s ever done in his Major League career, with the exception of RBI, taking into consideration the team he used to play for. In every year since 2004, his rookie year, Bay has hit between 20-35 home runs, and has always posted an average above .280 (with the exception of 2007). Though he may post a slight career high in home runs (around 35-40), these numbers are very typical of Mr. Bay. Get used to this type of production folks. This is just Jason being Jason.

What you do know: With that said about his power production so far this year, Jason Bay has lived up to the hype of having a very Fenway-friendly swing.

What you don’t know: True, but Bay has had a very homer-friendly swing his entire career. Bay ranks first All-Time for home runs at PNC Park in Pittsburgh with 61, and is fourth on the All-Time list for home runs hit by a Canadian born athlete with 166 to date.

What you do know: Jason Bay has been a horse for the Sox this season, only sitting out one game of the teams 67 so far in 2009.

What you don’t know: Again, typical Jason Bay ladies and gentlemen. The man has been a gamer his entire career, and barring any lengthy stay on the disabled list this year (knock on wood) it appears Bay will total 155 games in ’09 (of a possible 162). If he does, it will be the fourth time he’s done that in five Major League seasons. Wondering how many times Manny has done it in his 16-year career? None.

And lastly…

What you do know: Jason might be on pace for the Red Sox second MVP Award in as many years.

What you don’t know: It wouldn’t be his first piece of hardware. Bay received the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2004, along with the batting title in Class-A Clinton ('01). I’m sure he wouldn’t mind adding another trophy to the shelf though.

The bottom line is that Jason Bay continues to surprise and please Bostonians left and right, whether it be with his bat, his glove, or his hustle – because lord knows those last two are things we haven’t had in left field for quite some time.

So far in 66 games this season, Bay has posted a solid .283 average accompanied by 18 home runs, and an eye-popping 65 RBI – good for second in all of baseball. That type of production is welcomed by open arms in Boston, especially considering the gargantuan Sasquatch-esque space-shoes he has to fill at the plate.

It would be naïve of us to expect Bay to replace Manny. But he sure has done his absolute best. Number 44 has done everything that the Red Sox have asked for him, including carrying the organization on his back for the months of April and May. And looking back on that Manny trade, it appears the Sox have gotten the better of the deal after all. Manny isn’t exactly helping out the Dodgers at the moment…

Bay was on a tear early in the season. But the recent emergence of Kevin Youkilis in the middle of the order, and the (re)emergence of David Ortiz have allowed Bay to relax a little, and an inevitable cool off (if you could call it that) has taken place. But mark my words, you’ll hear more from Jason Bay before 2009 is over.

And in a big way. I can promise you that.

I’m not a fortune teller, nor do I claim to be. But while it’s raining all hell outside and weathermen are making forecasts left and right, most of which are completely wrong, I might as well throw one of my own out there as well.

Chance of Jason Bay bringing home the 2009 MVP Trophy?

100%. And that’s a money back guarantee.

Last Call on Air - One For The Pinky

June 15, 209

Tasso, Tam, Bartlett

Pose(y)ing the Question

By Ian Tasso

Editorial. Photos by AP News

Losing Kevin Garnett made the Boston Celtics' title defense near impossible. But did the absence of a certain 6’9 forward push it over the edge?

After becoming an unrestricted free-agent in the summer of 2008, James Posey vocalized his desire to return to the Boston Celtics. Unfortunately, on July 16, Posey signed with the New Orleans Hornets, making one thing terribly obvious to Celtics fans.

They better keep their fingers crossed.

In not resigning Posey, Celtics management took an outright gamble on their depth. They made it clear that they felt even without Posey’s athleticism, clutch defense, and hot shooting, they could make a run at a 2009 title. They were right.

But unfortunately, they were also unlucky.

The moment Kevin Garnett went down with a knee injury, the Achilles Heel in the Boston Celtics was exposed. Depth. Not just at the big men positions, or the point guards. Every position.

The thought came to me after watching Kobe Bryant in the NBA Finals. People call Kobe the best closer in the NBA, and its tough to argue with it. When the Lakers lead late in the game and Kobe controls the ball, it’s about as over as this year’s NBA Finals.

Kobe is like an actual Closer in every sense of the name. I mean, think about it. When Jonathan Papelbon comes into the game, you can assure yourself that 90% of the time, that game is absolutely over, no questions asked. Similarly, if Kobe is making shots, and the Lakers lead by ten with a quarter left, you can stamp that case ‘closed.’

The Celtics don’t have Kobe – not many teams do. Instead, they have Paul Pierce. If Kobe is the Papelbon of the league, then I’d say it’s safe to anoint Pierce as K-Rod. Especially when you consider the years both had in 2008. K-Rod set a saves record, and Pierce closed his way to an NBA Title.

But this year was different. Definitely without Kevin Garnett. But also because the Truth wasn’t his old self. When the clock wound down, Pierce no longer had the same ‘killer instinct’ Celtics fans had become so used to seeing in 2008 especially. He missed game-winning free-throws. He clunked those patented elbow fall-aways. And worst of all, he turned the ball over in crucial moments of the game.

Is the Truth on the decline? Absolutely not. But was there a reason he was less effective late in games than usual? Absolutely.

And that reason is because the Celtics missed James Posey a lot more than people want to admit.

When James Posey left Boston to sign with New Orleans, the Celtics and Boston media downplayed the loss. Absolutely nobody in the Boston area thought the loss of James Posey would prevent them from grabbing banner number 18.

But without Kevin Garnett, the gaping hole left by Jimmy Po grew from a simple tear to an absolute wormhole.

First off, the Celtics missed Posey’s defense. He was the first off the bench in every single Celtic’s playoff game in 2008. Compare that to Eddie House in 2009.

Don’t get me wrong, Eddie is a lights-out shooter when he’s on, and is extremely valuable to the Boston franchise. But he isn’t the defensive mastermind that Posey was. Posey was a long, quick defender, who could be physical, and shut down the best of them.

Including LeBron James. In the 2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals, James was rendered a bystander in six of the seven games in the series. That’s because he was tag teamed by a ferocious defensive duo of Paul Pierce and James Posey. Not only did the two effectively shut him down, but most importantly, Posey's skills allowed Pierce to rest often. When Pierce showed fatigue, Posey was able to come in without missing a beat, shutting down LeBron, and keeping Pierce's legs fresh. So he could nail the coffin shut in the final seconds of Game Seven, even after draining 41 points. You'd think a 31 year old would be tired after all that.

But thanks to James Posey, he wasn't.

Posey was also extremely clutch. When he wasn't knocking down huge three's, he was winning games in other ways. In Game Six of last year's Conference Finals against the Detroit Pistons, Boston was up by four late in the game and inching ever closer to an NBA Finals berth. Then, the dagger came. And it came from Posey's hand.

With 1:35 left in the game, James Posey stole the inbounds off a sleeping Tayshaun Prince, nails his free throws, and essentially ices the game. The Celtics make the Finals. It wouldn’t have happened then without Posey, and it didn’t happen in 2009 without him.

On top of his knack for big plays, Posey also gave the green the ability to effectively spread the floor.

For example, many point to the reason Cleveland lost to Orlando in the Eastern Conference Finals as a match-up flaw. It absolutely was.

It was the same match-up flaw that allowed Boston to defeat those same Cavaliers in 2008. Similar to 2009, the Cavaliers had no big men that could hold down the middle against a dominant force; Kevin Garnett in ‘08, and Dwight Howard in ’09. Because of an often relied on double team down low, the Cavs then were forced to match up undersized forwards and guards Deltone West (6’3), Devin Brown (6'5, in 2008), and Mo Williams (6’1, in 2009) on taller, longer, accurate shooters; Ray Allen (6’5), Paul Pierce (6’7), and James Posey off the bench (6’8) in 2008; and Rashard Lewis (6’10), Hedo Turkoglu (6’10), and Mickael Peitrus off the bench (6’8) in 2009.

Similar match ups. Similar results. A Cleveland loss.

To think that 2009 would have been any different would be foolish. But in the summer of 2008, the Celtics took a gamble. And in the summer of 2009, it bit them in the ass.

That’s because most importantly, James Posey gave the Celtics fresh legs. By not resigning Posey, Boston was praying that those legs would stay healthy. But when Garnett went down, they became thin, and more tired.

In last year’s playoffs when Pierce tired from covering LeBron James and Kobe Bryant all game, James Posey came in to spell the Truth. And he did it well. You seldom saw big leads trickle away while Posey was in the game for Pierce. Instead, in 2009, the Celtics were caught trying to plug a leaky pipe with toilet paper and duct tape.

In ’08, they could shove a cork in that baby.

Where was Posey when Pierce had to run around John Salmons and Hedo Turkoglu for a total of 14 games and 7 overtimes?

He was in New Orleans, scoring 12 points a game in the playoffs – five more than with Boston in 2008.

And meanwhile, Turkoglu shot his way into being labeled by ESPN as the Magic’s “end-of-game clutch shooter.” Last year that was Pierce. But in 2009, Pierce, a year older, was just too gassed to keep up late in the game, and Turkoglu took advantage.

The Celtic’s big three aren’t over the hill by any stretch. But they are getting older. All that means is that the Celtic’s bench needs to be able to fill in while the starters catch their breath. Posey gave them the ability to do just that, and win an eventual NBA Title.

The Celtics can point to the loss of Kevin Garnett all they want, but the bottom line is Banner 18 became a bit of a long shot the second Posey departed for New Orleans.

Lets just hope this year’s Free Agency is more fruitful. Number one on the shopping list: find a 2010 James Posey.

Last Call On Air - Rodney Retires

June 4, 2009

Tasso, Tam, Ciampa, Cheng

Max Power

By Jesse Liebman

Editorial. Photos by AP News

Without being an understatement, hockey is the one professional sport that requires every player to play to the best of their ability if a coach wants to get the wheels of success turning. The strength of a winning team lies not in their superstars but in a universal commitment to the system the coach employs.

Each team in this year’s Stanley Cup final boasts such players.

In Pittsburgh they call him “Mad Max,” but Maxime Talbot had every reason to smile after Tuesday’s victory over Detroit, that gave the Penguins their first victory in the series. The forward scored two big goals in Game 3, and has added a new offensive dimension to his game while still continuing to hound the Red Wing’s offensive stars.

It’s players like Talbot that take the pressure off of superstars such as Sidney Crosby, who has been held to just one assist and is a minus-2 through the series. That doesn’t mean Crosby has been lacking – every athlete gets a few bad bounces – but someone nevertheless needs to step up when a team’s go-to guys are having trouble hitting the back of the net.

When character players such as Talbot are inserted into line combinations with elite players such as the Pens’ Evgeni Malkin, you get positive results on and off the ice. That’s why you see the shy Malkin having a joke his teammate’s expense during Tuesday’s post-game press conference.

“Yeah, [Talbot has] a little bit bad hands,” Malkin deadpanned while his teammates were doubled over with laughter. “He has a lot of scoring chance and not score – just empty net. It’s okay, he learn over summer.”

Really, when was the last time anyone ever heard more than two words of English from the timorous Russian? Never, as veteran Bill Guerin attests.

“It’s kind of obvious when he’s going to carve somebody because he goes right from English into Russian,” Guerin said. “That’s one side I don’t think people understand, but he’s got a great sense of humor.”

Another strong character player who has made waves this year is defenseman Rob Scuderi. Scuderi has never tallied more than one goal in a season, but has played remarkably in shutting down Detroit’s high-octane offense.

The boys from Motown are no slouches either.

For the Red Wings, it’s been players such as relatively unknown Justin Abdelkader and Darren Helm who have elevated their game to new levels this postseason. It was Helm who propelled Detroit into the finals with an overtime winner against the Blackhawks, and the twenty-two year-old Abdelkader who has become the first rookie to score a goal in consecutive finals games since Dino Cicarelli did it with the Minnesota North Stars in 1981.

For a guy who has yet to even have his own locker room stall, let alone score in the regular season, it’s been a pretty fun ride so far for Abdelkader.

“I’m just going about my daily business,” Abdelkader said. “Maybe in the summer I can reflect on everything. I’m just trying to live in the moment.”

Last Call On Air - Brady's Back

June 1, 2008

Tasso, Greeley, Leonardi, Bartlett