1) There are even more changes coming for the Hurricanes. It will take time but it’s going to be a continual process that will go all the way into the summer. In the words of Winston Churchill, “…this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
2) As Julius Caesar returned to Rome, such was the triumphant return to Pittsburgh for the conquering hero of the hockey universe, Sidney Crosby. I imagine the parade route was planned, champagne ordered and the default position for the spotlight at the Hockey Hall of Fame is set at 5’11— the same height as the man they call “Sid the Kid.” Yet, there’s something abnormally grotesque about this revolutionary force of a man, er, kid. I wonder why a player who a priori is the greatest in the game has such a devoted contingent that have an allergic reaction to his some of the effusiveness of those who exalt him constantly.
I think I found an example. Four cross-checks and an elbow (or butt end) to the face of another player. Is he the greatest player in the league? Probably. Is that kind of play necessary as the chief ambassador of the league? No.
3) Will it be time for the kids to play? It made no sense to have them up with Carolina playing 2.5 minutes a game. If not now, when? It is time to see what they can do with an expanded role which in the eyes of many is deserved and perfectly apt in the present moment.
4) @ellebunn can sing? Apparently, she can. I looked up during the anthem at Saturday’s game only to see the talented Checkers ticket sales consultant utilizing another one of her many talents. Other little known skill of E Bunn: smashing an empty Bud Light can over her forehead while reciting Lincoln’s FIRST inaugural address. She has “Brains and Brawn”…which ironically was the name of her women’s tag team while she was in pro wrestling back in the early 80’s.
5) More than likely Jarome Iginla will be amongst the biggest names talked about as the season gets closer to the trade deadline. For the good of Calgary, Iginla could help the team by agreeing to be traded. It won’t hurt his legacy as one of the greatest to ever wear the Flames sweater. Traded to a team with a chance to win the cup, a rejuvenated Iginla would be a difference maker. Lots of teams will want him but how many can carry the rest of his contract which includes $7 million next season? I can think of two teams that might have enough space for this season.
6) Zach Boychuk and Jerome Samson were excellent this weekend, but the two guys that impressed me the most were Drayson Bowman and Chris Terry. Both broke scoring droughts this weekend. Despite the lack of goals, both have continually played excellent hockey.
7) Mike Milbury recently called Alexander Semin, “…lazy, overpaid talent not worthy of the time.” Anyone disagree? This kid makes $6.7 million a year and is the ninth leading scorer on the Capitals. Would there be a single team in the NHL that would want to take this guy at that price? What does it matter if you have all the talent in the world but won’t work?
8) Coaches take the blame when their teams underperform. It’s much easier to fire the coach than trade everyone. Ultimately, it’s the players fault for not performing to the best of their abilities. Anyone can have an off night, week or even month of the season. But, to be paid a huge amount of money to lead the team on the ice and to be an utter failure for the entirety of the season is reason enough to say they should feel awful for being partly responsible for a coach losing their job. Players are very rarely held as accountable as they should be. Do coaches “lose the room” or do the players stop caring? Bryan Allen had this today to Canes beat writer Chip Alexander, "He took the fall for everyone. At the end of the day, it's the players in here who let him down."
9) Got a few messages on twitter (
@jason_shaya) and email about costing the Checkers a shutout in the final minute of play on Sunday’s game because I said something about the team having “one thing left to play for” and my color commentator made a “goose egg” reference. A few minutes later, the Checkers allowed the only goal of the game in the final minute. The thinking is that we cost Justin Peters the shutout. I believe superstitions are for the feeble minded. I do not now, nor will I have in the future, the power to determine moments of hockey games unless I am playing in them.
10) With all the talk about Kirk Muller becoming head coach of the Canes, I’d like to take a moment and say how much respect Checkers head coach Jeff Daniels has amongst his peers and those who have played and do play for him. He is extraordinarily meticulous and he coaches like he played-- in a very cerebral way and never stopping for a moment to rest. The Canes coaching change was a moment in time when the organization believed they needed an outside voice to give them a new direction. At this moment, I can assure Checkers fans that no one on the planet wants to win a Calder Cup more than Jeff Daniels and if he does, I hope the hockey world is watching.
11) The number of views we had for Saturday’s game was 22,487 in both North and South Carolina. Raleigh led the way with 7,476 followed by Charlotte with 4,907. Those are incredible numbers and all I can say is thank you for watching and being a part of our television experience. Special hat-tip to executive producer Eric “Klown” Bridenstine.
12) I am going to a WWE show today. I’ve been to one show since my departure from wrestling in back in 2001. It was a fun three years of my life and there is no part of me that wants back in but those three years will always be a special time. I started working professionally behind a microphone at 17 years of age, making me the youngest broadcaster in the modern era. During a pay-per-view match, we were calling the online broadcast, and in the “hardcore” match the wrestlers took our booth apart by smashing themselves into it a couple times. Good times.
