That was a surprise. I have barely wrote a word about the conference finals for one reason or another and by the time I do it is to talk about one of the teams winning their series already. I did not expect the Hawks to sweep this series – actually I picked the Sharks to win – but even if you told me the Hawks would take it, I would have suggested six or seven games. One of the big criticisms of this fine Sharks team is their inability to preform on the playoffs but that issue appeared to have been solved this year, or at least until the pressure was really ramped up by this young Chicago team. They brushed aside two teams they really ought to have beat in the first two rounds and when it came to really standing up and being counted the best Sharks players went missing, again.
For the first time since he demanded a trade out of Ottawa in the summer, Dany Heatley will face his old team-mates and while the Ottawa players will spout the usual nonsense that their PR training has taught them to do, that they are looking at this as just another game, you can bet your ass they are going to try beat San Jose to rub it into their ex-team-mate. Also look for a few players to throw their hits just that little bit harder on Heatley. The thing that irks the Ottawa players and fans alike is that Heatley has never given a good reason why he wanted out of Ottawa other than that his playing time diminished under Cory Clouston.
I like Heatley, always have and think he is a terrific goal-scorer but he didn’t handle the summer situation well and luckily for him this game comes in the safe haven of San Jose tonight. I heard on the radio today that Sportsnet asked if they could interview him before the game and it was politely declined. Heatley may run now, but he will not be able to hide when his ship sails into Ottawa for a game next season.
Here we go, tons of hockey news to be coming forth today and boy do the hockey fans need it after quite an uneventful draft day last week. Today is one of them big days in the NHL calendar that doesn’t include any hockey actually being played — other such days include the Trade Deadline and the Draft. It’s 1 July and that means Free Agency Opens.
The players out of contract officially became eligible to sign for whatever team offers them a contract at 12 p.m. today so we are about 39 minutes into free agency as we speak and already a few moves are being made. There is also some steep rumors of trades of players under contract being made as team try to free up cap room to sign the potential free agent that attracts them.
Alex Ovechkin showed us all why he is quickly becoming the most popular player in the NHL today. He was the big favourite going into the skills competition last night and rightly so — he won it. Not necessairly through pure skills and tricks because a few other guys certainly made better moves but through the pure comedy he brought to the voting fans.
