Elliotte Friedman’s 30 Thoughts column is always a good read. There’s a juicy tidbit in there this week that suggests a Zack Kassian-to-Boston deal may be in the cards. He points out Canucks GM Jim Benning’s familiarity with the Bruins’ prospects, and the current regime has no attachment to Kassian whatsoever.
There was so much promise when problem child, or problem parent, Cody Hodgson was shipped to Buffalo for Kassian. The idea of having a “power forward” with good hands and a nose around net was the big appeal when Mike Gillis made the deal.
There are certainly arguments that Kassian has not been used properly. I would still like to see him play some extended time with the Sedins. But it’s clear Kassian’s development seems to have stalled, and if the front office felt they could get their own project in return it may make sense. That and 29 other thoughts on the NHL are here.
Remember the first couple of months of the season when the Canucks were such a league-wide feel-good story? One of the key reasons was the play of the first line. The Sedins looked like they were eight years younger after shedding the Cloak of Torts. They had a great fit with Radim Vrbata on the top line.
Today, Jason Botchford examines that first line. With the Sedins’ production withering away, once again the question becomes: How do you get the most from these guys? Is it time to put Alex Burrows up there? Jannick Hansen? Tom Sestito? It’s a great read, and a great question to ponder.
If you’ve got some time, and some headphones, check out our Province Sports Podcast, where we bandy about what’s the biggest problem for the Canucks right now — horrid defensive mistakes, lack of scoring or, of course, between the pipes.
Canucks collectible of the week
Looking for that special something for a Canucks fan?
How about this: A game-used, and well-used at that, trapper from Roberto Luongo.
It’s even from the spectacular tire-pumping 2010-11 season. Opening bid is $379, or you can buy it right now for $499.
Pacific Press
In a truly stunning stat, for the first time since Nov. 28, the Edmonton Oilers scored more than two goals. They still lost, 4-3 to the Sharks, but silver linings and all, it’s a start. They may even want to raise a banner for this one, “Scored 3 Goals.”
James Neal was fined $2,000 for diving; let the debate begin. Diving in soccer drives me crazy, and I wish they’d institute a retroactive rule where there’s a suspension if video shows you dove without contact to deceive the referee. It’s nowhere near that bad in hockey, yet, but it’s getting bad enough that people are taking notice.
Sharks coach Todd McLellan says his players would love to see diving targeted, get it out of the league. It takes away the temptation to earn an advantage by “embellishment,” or as it should be called, diving.
The L.A. Kings have been struggling to score and are stumbling around the standings. Last night, they won against the Blues 6-4. Anze Kopitar, who had been stuck in his own personal slump, had a career-best five points, one goal and four assists, and Marian Gaborik notched two. Great for the Kings, but frankly, they were handed a game by a very poor Martin Brodeur in the Blues goal.
This is starting to look a little sad. If Brodeur still wants to play, and a team still wants to pay him, then who are we to say it shouldn’t happen? But it’s beginning to look a lot like Jerry Rice with the Seahawks, Bobby Orr with the Blackhawks, Joe Namath with the Rams. Not a great way to go out.
The Flames are stuck in a six-game slide and the questions are starting to come about whether their shocking start to the season was a mirage. The Canucks have lost five. The defending champion Kings have lost six in a row. So, is a prolonged slump just something every team will go through in the NHL? Or are there serious signs to worry fans?
In Calgary, it’s clear they think the former, as they picked right now to give their coach Bob Hartley a contract extension. Hartley seemed like the wrong hire in Calgary when they first brought him in to a team that didn’t appear to have much in the cupboard. But you have to give the man credit, he’s got the Flames pointed in the right direction, finally.
And of course, he was responsible for this.
Canadian Clubs
Is 34 minutes too much to play for a defenceman? Not if you’re Erik Karlsson, it isn’t.
The Ottawa Senators blueliner says he wouldn’t want to play 30 minutes straight without a break, but as long as he gets a shift or two off every now and then, no big deal.
The Canadiens honoured former captain Saku Koivu last night in a match against another one of his former teams, the Anaheim Ducks. It was a nice ceremony, but the Ducks got back into the win column, beating the Habs in Montreal. Losing the points might sting a bit in Montreal, but there’s a little more concern after key cog Max Pacioretty was sent late into the boards and left the game and didn’t return.
The Leafs had been one of the hottest teams in the NHL, but their six-game winning streak came to an end last night against the, ugh, Carolina Hurricanes in the NHL’s version of “any given Sunday.”
Around the NHL
The Stars beat Vancouver this week, but there’s a question in Dallas, is the team tough enough to really last the season? There’s another question from that game though: Why did Tyler Seguin lick his middle finger and give it to a Canucks player? Even more pondersome, which player was he giving the finger to?
Hey, guess what? The Coyotes aren’t playing well. Know what that means? Yes. Shane Doan rumours. Yes. Shane Doan to Vancouver rumours.
Athlete of the year
We get some great press releases here at The Province. Here’s a great one from the CBC — make sure you set your PVR if you’re out Christmas shopping on Saturday.
“In celebration of the final Sports Weekend broadcast of the year host Scott Russell will take viewers through six of the biggest stories from the world of sports in 2014. Beginning at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT) on Saturday, Russell will look back at memorable moments including Ian Millar’s continued excellence in show jumping, the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, the rise of Canadian tennis stars Genie Bouchard and Milos Raonic, the changing of the guard in Canadian figure skating, the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the Stanley Cup.”
Yes, when I think of the great moments in sports this year, Ian Millar, 67, jumping over fences on a horse absolutely leaps to mind. I’m waiting for the national backlash though that Susan Nattrass’s performance in Mixed Trap last year didn’t make the cut.
Final Fantasy
It’s such a pivotal week in the NFL. Some great match-ups — Seattle at Arizona, the Colts at Dallas, Falcons at New Orleans to see who’ll be the worst playoff team in history. It also happens to be championship week in most NFL fantasy football leagues. If you want to get really prepared for this week, check out our picks here, with great NFL Films game previews to boot.
Super Bowl bound
Now, the Seahawks might well make the Super Bowl, but even if they don’t, Phoenix is a great destination to check out for the Super Bowl. So much going on, parties, golf, Moj at the Playboy party. We have a special package to let you know what you need to go to the Super Bowl, how to get there, where to stay, where to go, and where to get tickets. We’ve also done a video on the draw of going to a Super Bowl. Jonathan McDonald and I discuss the best cities for Super Bowl and where we’d like to go.
Worst NFL season ever?
You’re probably already acquainted with Deadspin, but every week writer Drew Magary does his NFL “Jambaroo” rolling irreverently through the week’s slate of games. This week he raises a great point: the NFL still feels bulletproof, but this hasn’t been a good season. We put up with a lot of the NFL’s B.S. because the games usually make up for it, but Magary makes the point that this year the ledger on that feels a bit tilted. A sample, and beware there are swear words; if you’re offended, skip ahead:
- Half of the NFC playoff field could be led by Ryan Lindley, Mark Sanchez and Derek Anderson.
- One of the two best teams in the NFC (Green Bay or Seattle) could conceivably still miss the playoffs in favor of an NFC South champ with a sub-.500 record.
- The most heartwarming story in all of football this season has been the unexpected good fortune of the Dallas Fucking Cowboys. There is nothing uplifting about Jerry Jones being visibly happy. I fucking hate the Cowboys and I am only happy when they find themselves repeatedly humiliated on national television.
- Two of the league’s most exciting young passers (Kaep and RG III) had their careers implode and may never recover.
- The league’s most celebrated rookie (Johnny Manziel) is fucking terrible.
- The league’s best running back missed virtually the entire season because he likes whipping his children in the scrotum with a tree branch.
- The entire first month of the season was upstaged by a video of a dude knocking his wife out in an elevator. (By the way, we are now at the stage of the Ray Rice scandal where most people have stopped giving a shit. Roger Goodell is never gonna admit that he saw the tape or knew what was on it and any time I read a new report about inconsistencies in his testimony, my eyes glaze over and I need an interpreter to explain the details.)
- The best thing that happened this season was a touchdown catch by a dude on a 5-9 team in a game that his team went on to lose.
There’s lots more over at Deadspin, but it’s a great point, and the Jamboroo should be a weekly read for you.
Bowling
It’s college bowl season. This year we’ll see a playoff, which I am greatly looking forward to, but before we get to that, we’ve got endless bowls to suffer through. Here’s a list of the seven dumbest bowl sponsors, though I kind of think the Meineke Car Care Bowl should have been on the list.
Tricks, treat
High school football is the best. None of the ultra-uptight conservatism that often plagues the pro game.
Trick plays? Yep, loads of them. One site has put together five of the best trick plays used in high school football down south this year. Some of them are pretty good.
I remember when the NFL used to be full of gadget plays, fake field goals and punts. Now we get teams on the 35-yard line, down 11 points with less than three minutes left facing fourth and four and they’ll punt. Ugh. More trick plays please.
Do the Carlton
The Vancouver Stealth are getting ready to start their season in January. Never been to a Stealth game, but man their game hosts make it look fun.
Join them “down the fox hole” with @channesson10 on Twitter and maybe dust off your “Carlton” just to fit in.
Steve Ewen has a bit more on the Stealth here.
Heavyweight beating
Spencer Kyte and myself do a weekly podcast on the UFC. This week we discussed last weekend’s free Fight Night card, and if the Junior Dos Santos vs. Stipe Miocic five-round war was the Fight of the Year. For me, it was. We also discuss how much more punishment JDS’s face can take after the two poundings it took against Cain Velasquez.
Oh, and there’s another free fight this weekend with six fights on the main card topped by Lyoto Machida vs. C.B. Dollaway. Also, Canadian Mitch Gagnon takes on fallen star Renan Barao.
Rondo to Dallas
Wow, the NBA sure loves its blockbuster trades. Seeing big names swap teams happens way more than in any of the other leagues. Does Rajon Rondo going to Dallas make the Mavs a real contender?
Gifts we don’t want
Everyone has seen the numerous gift guides available, and gifts we do want, but as the clock ticks, and people get desperate, they’ll buy anything.
But that’s not always the best way to go about it: panic buy. And considering I haven’t started Christmas shopping yet, not a lick, I should heed my own advice.
Here’s a great list of 41 things we DON’T want for Christmas.
Granted it’s from Marie Claire, but we don’t really want or need a steak branding iron, a pair of mittens that let you hold a cigarette, or a machine that automatically pets your pets so you don’t have to, Fundies, underwear for two, or the UroClub, a golf club that’s actually a pee receptacle, complete with a “privacy cloth.”
The Perfect Steak
While you may not like to brand your steak, you probably do want to cook it perfectly.
This method claims to cook your steak perfectly, and it doesn’t involve a grill. It’s called Sous Vide, and it involves plastic bags, water and seasoning, and claims that not one micron of your steak will be spoiled.
David Letterman’s Christmas swan song
It’s always sad when something comes to an end. And David Letterman will get a deserved ballyhooed sendoff come May. But tonight, if you can’t watch the show, set the PVR because one of the very best things Letterman does finishes tonight. Yes, Darlene Love makes her last appearance. For more than 25 years Love has sung her Christmas rock hit, Christmas Baby, Please Come Home on The Late Show. And with all due respect to Paul Hewson, this is the best version by an Irish mile.
Here’s a magnificent mashup of a whole lot of her appearances. And considering it’s splicing so many different versions together, it still sounds pretty good, as they have gone to great pains to shake up the arrangement and the backing vocals, from military bands to gospel groups to children’s choirs.
Put on some headphones, crank the volume and enjoy.
The best singular version though might be from 2000. But you can lose yourself for hours on You Tube listening to them all.
Merry Christmas and have a great weekend everyone.
