Before I get to the playoffs, I must give credit....

NHL playoffs start on Wednesday and before I get into my predictions I have to give massive props to a couple of Maple Leafs. Yes I would rather be writing about who the Buds are facing in the playoffs right about now, but this comes as a bit of good news after another shit season.

19 year old stud, Luke Scheen and Ian White have been selected to represent Canada at the World Hockey Championships in Switzerland. Scheen I knew was being considered, White on the other hand came as a surprise. Good on Hockey Canada. White was top notch for a weak Leafs squad and his efforts have obviously not gone unnoticed.

Schenn joins fellow 19 year old rookies Steven Stamkos from the Lightning and Drew Doughty from the Kings who were also selected to the team.

All three of these teenagers have won world junior gold for Canada in the past, so its not as if these guys are new to Hockey Canada. Its good to see the youth getting to represent for Canada at the World Champs, which over the last few years has served as a tryout for those hoping to crack the senior team. Don't be surprised if one of these kids is in the red and white come next years Olympics.

Even though my team isn't in the playoffs again this year, there is a remedy for those like myself, who really don't care who wins the cup. Playoff pool!

I got destroyed in my regular season pool. My strategy was to take my goalies early. A good tender can get you as many points as a top ten scorer. Evgeni Nabokov proved that. He got me a solid 97 points. Carey Price on the other hand got me a whopping 49 points.

With playoff pools this rule works much better. Pick the goalie from the team that your think is going to take the cup. That's a guaranteed 32 points as it takes 16 wins to hoist Stanley. Plus if you give an extra point for a shut outs it can work out to be more like Gretzky's point totals from playoffs in the 80s. Just hope the back up doesn't steal the job from the starter a few games in.

Before you just draft players one must devise who you think is going to do what and who will face off to win the cup.

Breaking down the bracket. Not as simple as you think. Upsets happen. A team you loaded up players off may go down in the first round. That's the beauty of the NHL playoffs.

I have my draft today. No better time to break down the bracket. I will only give my first round predictions, but I will give my prediction for the cup winner after.

Right lets get started.

East

Boston vs Montreal

Bruins will be too much for the Habs too handle. Tougher team with a ton of talent not to mention this years top candidate for the Vezina, Tim Thomas between the pipes.

Bruins in five.

Washington vs New York

Awesome match up. Love to see Ovechkin in the Big Apple. The NHL needs people like Ovie to market the league. Fuck what Don Cherry thinks, all he's doing is giving the game some much needed personality.

As for the series itself, tough to see the Caps losing this though they very well could. I'm not sure what this Rangers team is really all about. I like the offensive fire power of the Caps. Not 100% on their goaltending but think it will be enough to get past the Rangers.

Caps in six.

New Jersey vs Carolina

Carolina have been on fire since they got ex- Leafs coach Paul Maurice back in Raleigh. The Canes are rolling going into the dance and have been lead by their top notch tender, Cam Ward. If it wasn't for Tim Thomas' stand out year, Ward would probably get the Vezina. Getting Eric Cole back has been huge for the Canes especially while playing alongside Eric Staal.

The Devils can't be looked over. Here is a team that didn't have their best player Martin Brodeur for half the season, and were still able to take the very tough Atlantic. This one is a coin flip for me. I want to say Jersey cause they got the experience, but really so do the Canes.

Hurricanes in seven.

Pittsburg vs Philadelphia

A lot of people are excited about this series and rightfully so. This is going to be physical and down right nasty. The Pens will have to show some restraint and not get sucked into stupid penalties. Basically they can't play the Flyers type of hockey.

Philly's goaltending is shaky. I've never been a Biron nor Niittymaki fan. Briere has to contribute. If they can get Briere moving they could be in good shape, cause you know Carter and Richards will surely be on top of their game. I like the Pens and think Crosby is just now hitting his full stride after a few injuries set him back.

Pens in seven.

West

San Jose vs Anaheim

Everyone here in Vancouver was saying how glad they were that the Canucks didn't have to face the Ducks in the first round. They're a tough bunch with some skill up front and decent (not fantastic) goaltending. They got the experience and some young talent. Just can't imagine these Ducks taking out the juggernaut Sharks.

San Jose has something to prove and they showed it this season. The Presidents trophy winners have one goal in mind and that's winning the cup. Anything less for this team will be a disappointment. After some dismal playoffs in years past, its time now for the Sharks to make a serious run. I can see the Ducks taking a couple of games here but that's all.

Sharks in six.

Detriot vs Columbus

Columbus seems to be the one team people are considering to be the "sleeper" this year. Strong goaltending from rookie of the year candidate Steve Mason has helped bring the CBJ into the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. I knew when Ken Hitchcock took over as head coach of this team that it wouldn't be long before he got them in. He's too good of a coach not too. One of the down falls that I'm seeing in this series may be the fact that Mason is so young. Lots of pressure on a young goalie and drawing the reigning cup champs in your first taste of playoff action won't be an easy task. The season series was a good one with each team taking 3 games of six. The Wings are the Wings and they love the fact that not many people aren't picking them to repeat. I don't see the Jackets doing much in this series and think its the Wings in a walk.

Detriot in five.

Vancouver vs St Louis

I live in Vancouver and its a buzz in this town at the moment. One of the local sports radio shows today had a poll question asking if the Canucks drew the easiest opponent in the first round. Made me scratch my head. What do the Blues need to do for people to take them seriously?

The Blues were the hottest team in the NHL for the second half of season. They wrapped up the season going 8-1-1!

This is an easy opponent?

Its obvious that the Canucks aren't going to take the Blues lightly. The season series was a split with the two teams matching up well. The difference. Goaltending. Luongo is money. The guy has the winning mentality and this is the best team that has ever been in front of him in his short time in Van City. Chris Mason from the Blues has been a good story this year and should be good for the Blues in this series. Just not good enough.

Nucks in six.

Chicago vs Calgary

Heres another series that could end in four or go seven. The Flames are riddled with injuries and will have to re lie on a beat up back end to get them through. Its also a wonder which Mikka Kiprusoff will show up. The lights out Kipper, or the beer league hack Kipper.

The Hawks will have a jacked up house at the United Center for game one. These fans have waited far too long for playoff hockey to return to the Windy City and know that this team is legit. Loaded up front and on the back end. Goaltending is OK, but they got two good ones to choose from. Not great, but good. I like the make up of this Hawks team and with the injury situation being the way it is for the Flames, its got to be the Hawks to take this.

Hawks in six.

There it is. Most of my predictions will probably be wrong but hey that's the best part of speculating. You can always assume you'll be wrong and when your right you can always gloat!

I did say I would pick a cup winner so here goes.

In my eyes the team that will raise lord Stanley's cup in 2009 will be the San Jose Sharks. I'm not going too far out in this prediction but hey this team has it all. Top tier forwards. Strong back end and goaltender. Great coach.

Now take one guess who I will take (if he's available) with my first pick in my playoff pool.....

Good Friday!

Been awhile since I last wrote a blog and as you can see by posts in the past my final four predictions were way off! My gut told me that UNC couldn't do it without Ty Lawson being 100% but his health and play proved me wrong. I'm not sure if he was 100% but he sure as hell didn't show it. NBA mock drafts have him out of the top 10 in this summers draft, but after watching him in this years tourney, it wouldn't surprise me if his stock rises.

If you had Michigan State or Villanova in your final four you either had a crystal ball or a hand in on fixing games. Those upsets busted my bracket after the Elite 8 (which BTW I had all right) sending me out of contention in my pool. The final four games sucked and the final game was a snooze. Still though... I can't wait till next years tourney!

NHL is winding down to the final games of the season and the races are heating up. Playoff fever is beginning to rise here in Vancouver as the Canucks are jockeying for position in the West. I like this team. I'm never one to jump on bandwagons nor will I ever, but this team is legit. They got a top line that produces, complete with secondary scoring. Goaltending is on lock down, with Luongo looking the best he has all season. Their defense is suspect. They're a good bunch but have shown weakness this season. Not saying this team will win the cup as that would take some magic. Wouldn't be out of the question to see them make it to the Western Conference finals.

Out in the East well its another playoff without my Leafs. Fourth straight year not in the dance. Not gonna dwell on it as I do see a light at the end of the tunnel. Burkey and Wilson are a bit of circus but I got faith that their doing the right things to get better. We won't be in the hunt for John Tavares or Victor Hedman as we just weren't bad enough, but Luke Scheen's brother Brayden is in the draft and so is Evander Kane from the Vancouver Giants who both would be fantastic in the T dot. I've watched Kane since he was 15 and love his game. He'll surely go in the top 5 and will be tough for the Leafs to nab.

I could care less who comes out of the east but if I had to say who had the momentum its got to be the Bruins. I know Montreal has had their number in playoffs past but its the Bruins to lose. I like Ovie and the Caps. Can see the Pens making a run. Think the Devils will turn it around once the dance starts and could see Carolina being the upset team of the east.

That being said its the playoffs and the NHL is one of the best leagues for parody so its any ones to win. Just not my Leafs!

One thing that I can't wait to see end in the NHL once the playoffs start are the fights after clean hits. Its such a bitch move to grab a guy after he's leveled someone and draw them into a fight. Shane O'Brien from the Canucks did this last night after an LA King leveled one of his Canuck teammates. How its not an instigator penalty is beyond me. O'Brien who is already on the bubble of the Canucks back end will have an exclusive seat in the press box if he pulls that shit in the playoffs where power plays will kill ya. NHL refs need to step up and call the extra penalty when this sort of bullshit happens. Its just flat out stupid. You get hit clean you take it and look for a chance to get them back.

NBA playoffs are inching closer. Like my Leafs, my Raptors aren't in. This one is tougher to swallow as the Leafs had zero expectations this season, where as the Raps were supposed to be a playoff given in the weak eastern conference. I've touched on this in the past and to tell you the truth I'm done with it. They just aren't a good team. All we got to look forward to now is the draft lottery. Fingers crossed for a top 5 pick.

I'm sure anyone can predict that the Lakers will win the west. That's money in the bank. Are they the favorite to win it all? Sadly yes. Kobe has proved that he is a complete player who makes his teammates better just as Jordan did. Nobody in the west in a seven game series can take them. Last nights Lakers/ Nuggets game proved that. The Nuggets are the second best team in the west and were at pace with the Lakers at halftime. The lake show proved that they're just too much to handle and easily took the Nuggets out. I don't see the Lakers cake walking through the playoffs but don't be surprised if they only lose two maybe three games on their route to the finals.

The only other contenders in my eyes are the Celtics and the Cavaliers. The Celts are beat up bunch and are not nearly as deep as they were last year. The Cavs are a one man show. Lebron is one hell of a one man show, but just not deep nor balanced enough to take down the Lakers.

I've never been a Laker or Kobe fan. Not sure why the Lakers? The Kobe hatred is from a few years ago when he was a selfish score first player who was more of an cancer then a leader. Kudos to Kobe for maturing and realizing that its just not about him. He'll never be Jordan but who cares. He can be Kobe. Like Magic before Jordan the NBA has its best players in each era. Kobe is the best player since Jordan. He will solidify this by winning a championship without Shaq and as the true leader of the Lakers. Lebron's time is next.

Thursdays thoughts...

Its Thursday, the weekend is right around the corner. Sun is shining bright here in Vancouver, but I'm feeling sour.
Why?
Could have something to do with the fact that my teams won't be in the NBA or NHL playoffs this season.
I'm getting used to the Leafs barely showing up for most games, but the Raptors too! So much promise and hope going into the season for the Raps, went slightly, that is extremely downhill. Shaq calling out Chris Bosh as the Rupaul of big men in the NBA really isn't far off. I love me some CB4, but not the one that's been shying away from the contact on the Raps this season. Time to Buck up Bosh, or its time to move on.
What happened to all that MVP talk at the start of the season?

Will Vancouver ever start to believe in the Canucks?
The team goes on fire and wins 12 of 15. Then loses two in a row (on the road no less), against two very desperate clubs in the Kings and Ducks. Suddenly the sky is falling.
This team probably won't win the cup. This we know. The problem. Most Canucks fans are satisfied with just making the playoffs? Barring a complete collapse, the Nucks will get to the dance, and hence every Canuck fan can breath easy, cause to them just getting in the playoffs is a successful season.
Mr Gillis. For the love of god get this team to win a cup. Maybe then the lowered expectations from the fan base can end. Then Canuck fans can realize that though making the playoffs is a big achievement, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.


The NHL GM's have been in Florida all week, sitting pool side and even talking hockey. One major topic is the rule changes when it comes to scraps, fist a cuffs, brew hahas....you know fighting. The league is looking to impose a 10 min misconduct for instigators or to those that engage in "staged" fights. You know the ones that start right off the drop of the puck. The league is hoping that the 10 minute misconduct will deter those from instigating fights. Just another band aid solution for really something that should be pulled out of the game completely. The best hockey in the world gets played during the NHL playoffs, the olympics and the World Cup of hockey (or is that the Canada Cup), whatever they call it now a days. You don't see fights going down then, and the product of the play is of the highest quality.
I have always felt that fighting was part of the game, but I've changed my tune and think its time to straight up pull it out of the game. Is it going to take someone in the NHL dyeing before the league seriously does something. Blood will be on your hands Mr. Bettman. You know as good as anyone, that fighting sells hockey to the five people that watch hockey in the States. Can't lose that precious US market, right Gary? Get your head out of your wallet.

Speaking of that twerp Bettman. What the hell are you doing with NHL?
Teams in Nashville, Atlanta, Phoenix, Florida, Carolina, but no teams in Winnipeg, Quebec City, Hamilton, hell Saskatoon. Any of these city's could probably generate a larger fan base and revenue then all those american cities combined. Who really though hockey would be a good idea in Tennessee! Wait Gary did.
Funny how an American that knows nothing about hockey runs the most important hockey league in the world.