HockeyHawks soaring, Flames' unrest and 30 thoughts

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GM Stan Bowman has some time to finish the job – it’s believed the organization wants to wait until the team comes home next week before making any official announcement – which is important. Due to the NHL’s “tagging” rules, Chicago doesn’t have the cap room to finalize anything, even if it wanted to.

(The easiest way to explain tagging: It’s a formula that attempts to prevent teams from violating the cap in future seasons. Two years ago, when Scott Niedermayer returned to the NHL in mid-season, the Ducks were forced to trade Andy McDonald to make room for the defenceman’s contract. Teams can eliminate the problem by dealing a player who is on a multi-year deal – as McDonald was – for a player with an expiring contract. Doug Weight, in that case.)

There are a few things Stan Bowman can do to fix this. There is no doubt that, if he wanted, he could solve a lot of present and future cap issues by trading Patrick Sharp. Sharp has two years remaining on a contract with a cap hit of $3.9 million US per season (actual cash payout of $8.3 million). If Bowman made him available, there might be 15 interested GMs. San Jose inquired about Sharp during the summer when the Sharks were uncertain if there would be a Dany Heatley trade, and I believe Toronto asked about him recently, too.

However, it’s my personal opinion that trading Sharp is an absolute worst-case scenario for the Blackhawks – only as a last resort. One of the things they have is a special chemistry. It’s a young group loaded with single guys who like to have a good time, but recognize when business must be business. Trading someone like Sharp, who is a critical part of that chemistry, can be very dangerous. It’s hard to quantify the effect, which is why GMs prefer to avoid it.

Bowman might eventually be forced to make a painful move, simply because Brian Campbell’s contract (and Cristobal Huet’s) are untradeable. But it’s better to do it in the summer, not during a season with a potentially special ending.

So, what now?

In the short term, the Blackhawks are offering Brent Sopel, who will make $2 million next season (cap hit: $2.33). Trading him would end the tagging issue, although the Hawks would have to sacrifice a high draft pick to make it work. I thought it would take a first-rounder, but, apparently, I’m wrong about that – a second will do.

So, which team(s) would have cap room, be willing to help the Blackhawks, will take Sopel and need draft picks? Toronto, for sure. Blackhawks assistant GM Kevin Cheveldayoff was at the Leafs game against Washington last Saturday. (He saw the Marlies in the afternoon, too.) Brian Burke basically bought a draft pick from Tampa last season.

The teams with the most cap room – Phoenix, Nashville, Islanders – are out for budget reasons, but some others with space will be tempted by the pick.

THE SCREAMING SUTTER

All of them probably qualify, but we’re talking about Brent here. By now, you’re familiar with the report out of Denver last week; that Brent Sutter could be heard in the hallway tearing into Dion Phaneuf. There was a lot of debate about whether or not it was acceptable to report what was supposed to be a dressing-room dressing-down.

I have a rule: If it can be heard/seen by the public, you’ve got to do it.

Example I: In a previous life as a CFL sideline reporter, Hamilton kicker Jamie Boreham was throwing passes on the sideline. The game was in Edmonton, and any fan could have seen it. What on earth was the kicker doing throwing passes?

He was working on a fake.

The special teams coach saw me there and glared at Boreham. All he asked was that I waited until they did it – which was the very next punt – before I said anything. Afterward, I reported what I’d seen. I thought that was fair; really don’t like the idea of tipping off a play for another team.

Example II: Years ago, covering basketball, Charlotte centre Matt Geiger yelled at head coach Allen Bristow in a huddle. He got in Bristow’s face so bad that teammate Kendall Gill had to calm Geiger down. It happened right beside me, and fans saw everything. I asked them about it after the game, and all three played it down. I used it as an example of how, in an intense game, emotion can take over.

There were a lot of elements for an explosive story. First of all, it’s Calgary – a hot hockey market (forgive the Ron MacLean-esque pun). Second, it’s a big-name coach and a big-name player. Third, it’s one of the worst things to call a hockey player. Fourth, when someone outside the dressing rooms can hear something like that, it’s going to get out, eventually.

You’ve got to ask Sutter, and you’ve got to ask Phaneuf before reporting anything. And, it’s my experience that teams should co-operate, because it allows them to get their spin on the story before things really get out of control.

30 THOUGHTS

Okay, here we go:

1. One exec wasn’t surprised to hear Brent Sutter blow up at his team for complacency. Their five best players are under contract for at least three more seasons. That can be both a good thing and a bad thing. Sometimes, a comfort level sets in and Sutter has to disrupt that.

2. A lot of questions about Steve Stamkos making the Olympic Team. Well, Doug Armstrong (on the committee) was really impressed Stamkos asked to play in the worlds last year despite a difficult rookie season. That helps. So does 15 goals. What hurts: Depth at centre. Crosby is a lock. Red Wing players say Mike Babcock loves Ryan Getzlaf. Babcock admitted how much he likes Mike Richards. It’s this country’s deepest position. Also, inexperience cost Canada dearly in 2006.

3. Best chance for him to make it: He’s still among the goal-scoring leaders in late December; and, Canada has so many veteran forwards that there is room for him as the 13th guy.

4. Wonder if there should be more discussion about Brad Richards, though.

5. Saw where The Hockey News named Tyler Myers the early Calder Trophy favourite. And, I can’t describe you how impressive Myers is as a person. But, if John Tavares continues this path, he HAS to be Rookie of the Year. No one is dealing with pressure like he is and that matters.

6. Great Myers story I did use: His father, Paul, took away Tyler’s car in junior because his grades were too low.

7. Great Myers story I didn’t put in: When he got to Kelowna, he kept his stick too close to his body. Assistant coach Jeff Finley – who played with Chris Pronger – wrote “STICK” in green felt pen all over Myers’ stick so the defenceman would remember to use it. It worked.

8. Why do goaltenders fight so hard to prevent equipment reductions? Look at all the broken bones caused by shots coming off composite sticks.

9. The rally caps Toronto players tried in the shootout against Washington were Jamal Mayers’ idea.

10. Suspending Georges Laraque is doing the Montreal Canadiens a favour. He isn’t bringing anything to them right now.

11. Having said that, I don’t believe he was trying to injure Niklas Kronwall. He’s just too slow to check anyone that skilled. (Doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be suspended, though.)

12. Don Cherry talked about Jason Spezza shooting more. It’s a must. A few years ago, one coach said Spezza was getting easier to defend because he always thought pass. Spezza adjusted, but he’s regressing.

13. I’ve always enjoyed listening to Pat Quinn, because he’s very bright. Here’s a quote of his from the book Simply The Best, by Mike Johnston and Ryan Walter. “You have to know what you’re trying to accomplish. Thirty teams say they want to win the Cup this year, but only one will. There might be 10 that have a real good chance and 20 that are just trying to get by. You have to identify where you are and set up a plan to convince your players that this is how we’re going to get to the end of the line.”

14. Now, based on that, where does Quinn think the Oilers are?

15. Dany Heatley comes to Edmonton on Friday. The smartest thing he could do is say, “I’m sorry but I didn’t want to go to a Canadian city. I wanted to go to San Jose from the beginning, because it’s less suffocating for me.” Won’t stop the avalanche of boos, but Oiler fans deserve an honest explanation.

16. Interesting to hear Jacques Martin praise Carey Price’s work ethic, because that’s been Martin’s number one issue with the young goalie. Martin was in Colorado with Patrick Roy, and pointed out that when Roy was struggling, he would go on the ice without pucks and work on technique. That’s what he wants Price to do.

17. Semyon Varlamov sat at his stall, visualizing, for almost 15 minutes after the Capitals’ morning skate in Toronto on Saturday.

18. Alexander Ovechkin stops himself more than anyone stops him, but can you believe that the Maple Leafs – of all teams – played him better than anyone else so far this year? The strategy: Ask your defencemen to meet him at his own blue-line. And, if he does get into your zone, keep him out of the middle. Of course, much easier said than done.

19. One of the reasons the Leafs played so well? I think they’re very aware that Brian Burke’s patience is running out and Ron Wilson isn’t going anywhere. That means waivers, if no trades are possible.

20. Meanwhile, the Ducks are having troubles signing Bobby Ryan. Burke drafted him and Ryan is represented by same agency (Newport) as Phil Kessel. Kessel was a restricted free agent who ended up in Toronto. Could history repeat itself? Just wondering. We’ll see.

21. Really hope Nikita Filatov made his own decision to go back to the KHL, not someone else’s.

22. Tampa Bay really wants to unload Lukas Krajicek’s salary.

23. Biggest upset of the week: Mike Fisher discussing his relationship with Carrie Underwood. Fisher is accommodating on every subject – except that one. Usually he just smiles and refuses to say anything.

24. Ryan Smyth’s injury will have a huge effect on Anze Kopitar. Alexander Frolov simply can’t replace what Smyth does. This will be a big test of Kopitar’s improvement.

25. Most effective move of the off-season: Could it be removing the letter from Patrick Marleau’s jersey? Some guys are just better off without added responsibility. And, it’s not like he doesn’t want to or have to act as a pro.

26. Reports are that the Capitals will play the Rangers at Yankee Stadium in next year’s outdoor game. That’s a make-good to Washington. The Caps were supposed to play at Fenway, but were yanked because of concerns their ratings would be too low.

27. Will Antti Niemi’s shoutout in Vancouver halt the Blackhawks’ search for another goalie? Remember, their front-office mess cost them Martin Biron during the summer.

28.100 Ranger Greats – a new book – names Brian Leetch the best player in franchise history.

29. Bryan Bickell scores the winning goal in Vancouver last night, 24 hours after a huge collision with Dustin Penner. His reward? A trip to the minors so Marian Hossa can return.

30. Mathieu Perreault – six points in his first nine games – said he has found the transition to the NHL a lot less difficult than he thought because of the two-referee system. The AHL uses only one ref, and therefore get away with more hooking and holding. NHL players don’t.

BONUS THOUGHT ...

31. For the Twitter user “Tokyo Showdown”: How can I criticize hockey players’ lack of fashion sense when I have none myself?

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