The Pipe Dream Lives On

A few years ago I wrote about the possibility of the Québec Nordiques coming back to the NHL. It eventually turned out that the rumours were but another tease for fans of the long-maligned franchise.

What's old is news again (French): former players Michel Goulet and Kevin Lowe are getting behind an effort to build an NHL-ready arena in Québec. So far the initiative looks a little shaky; there is no franchise available, expansion is a non-starter in this economy (aside: I've quickly grown tired of the expression "in this economy"), and NHL ticket prices are way out of reach for the old Nordiques fanbase.

So far it simply has the appearance of a couple of ex-NHLer's going out on a limb for an old buddy. I would be shocked if anything came of this particular effort. Besides, building an NHL-ready rink hasn't exactly made the Jets rush back to Winnipeg.

NHL Cities: Population

A discussion with Bruce Mr. Turk over the viability of Hamilton as an NHL market made me think to come up with this little table.

1. New York Metro(3 teams): 18.7 million (6.2 million per team)
2. Chicago Metro: 9.4 million
3. Washington DC/Baltimore: 8 million
4. Boston Metro: 5.8 million
5. Dallas: 5.8 million
5. Philadelphia Metro: 5.8 million
7. Toronto Metro: 5.4 million
7. Miami Metro: 5.4 million
9. Atlanta Metro: 4.9 million
10. Detroit Metro: 4.5 million
11. Los Angeles/Anaheim (2 teams): 4.2 million (2.1 million per team)
12. Phoenix: 3.8 million
13. Montréal: 3.6 million
14. Minneapolis/Saint-Paul: 3.5 million
15. St. Louis: 2.8 million
16. Pittsburgh Metro: 2.4 million
16. Tampa Bay Area: 2.4 million
18. Denver Metro: 2.3 million
19. Vancouver Metro: 2.2 million
20. San Jose/San Francisco/Oakland: 2 million
21. Columbus Metro: 1.7 million
22. Raleigh-Durham: 1.5 million
23. Nashville: 1.4 million
24. Ottawa: 1.1 million
25. Edmonton Metro: 1 million
25. Calgary Metro: 1 million
26. Buffalo: 282,864

Possible NHL Locations (by population):

1. Seattle Metro: 3.8 million
2. Portland: 2,127,881
3. Québec: 717,600
4. Hamilton: 714,900 (although all of southern Ontario is a potential market)
5. Winnipeg: 706,900

All figures courtesy wikipedia.org

Obviously, a lot more goes into the equation for a viable hockey market than population. However, it's interesting to note that Portland, who has been rumoured in the past to be interested in an NHL team, lords over the Canadian markets in terms of population. Nonetheless, the future home of the Pittsburgh Penguins (should they move), will have more to do with Mr. Balsillie's personal factors than a city's size.

NHL Awards Prognostication

You have my picks for the only hardware that matters (Buffalo winning Lord Stanley's Cup), but for the sake of argument here are my guesses, erm - predictions, for individual award winners in this year's NHL.

Jack Adams Trophy

Coach having most contributed to team's success

Gérard Galland, Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus will experience a true turnaround this year, riding a healthy Rick Nash all the way to the playoffs. Then maybe we'll be able to find Columbus on a map of North America.

Honourable Mention: John Tortorella, Wayne Gretzky

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Calder Memorial Trophy

Rookie of the Year

Phil Kessel, Boston Winnie the Poohs

Kessel will drop right into a pivotal role offence and powerplay, picking up 25 goals and 70 points in the process.

Honourable Mention: Evgeni Malkin, Guillaume Latendresse

Hart Memorial Trophy

Player judged to be most valuable to his team

Sydney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

The NHL and everyone involved in it, including the media, are fast-tracking Crosby's rise to superstar, eager as they are to have a poster boy. He is formally anointed heir to Gretzky with this award.

Honourable Mention: Jarome Iginla, Brad Richards

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Lady Byng Memorial Trophy

Player deemed to be the most ladylike

Darcy Tucker, Toronto Maple Leafs

Honourable Mention: Mats Sundin, Andrew Raycroft

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Chuck Norris Memorial Trophy

Player deemed to defend like Chuck Norris

Scott Niedermayer, Anaheim Ducks

Somewhere along the way, this unfortunately became the award for high-scoring defencement. Ah well, the masses must be fed. Hopefully Niedermayer doesn't roundhouse kick someone to the head with his skates on.

Honourable Mention: Bryan McCabe, Wade Redden

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Maurice Richard Trophy
NHL Goalscoring Leader

Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta Thrashers

Hossa and Kovalchuk will work like magic this season. Kovalchuk wins the title with 62 goals.

Honourable Mention: Joe Thornton, Alexander Ovechkin

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Art Ross Memorial Trophy

NHL Scoring Leader

Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks

Thornton will become the first player in history to win the Hart and Art Ross trophies after having been traded from the team he captained for reasons unknown other than an a penny-pinching owner. Final tally: 113 points.

Honourable Mention: Jason Spezza, Jarome Igingla

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Frank J. Selke Award

Top Defensive Offenceman, or something or other

Mike Peca, Toronto Maple Leafs

All joking aside, I love this award. It sets out to recognize a non-glory type player, one who gives up statistical prominence for the benefit of the team. Unfortunately, this year the award will go to Mike Peca, because there's no way the Toronto media allow the Leafs to get shut out of the awards.

Honourable Mention: Brad Richards, John Madden

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Georges Vézina Trophy

Best Goaltender

Dominik Hasek, Detroit Red Wings

I know it hurts, Ottawa fans, but Hasek will be playing with chip the size of the Rideau Canal on his shoudler. This will spur him to a G.A.A. below 2.00.

Honourable Mention: Martin Brodeur, Roberto Luongo

NHL Predictions, 2006-07

On the eve of opening night I offer you my picks for the upcoming NHL season. Keep in mind that I am absolutely terrible at prognostication, just like most pundits. Without further ado, here we go:


Eastern Conference:


Northeast Division:


1. Buffalo
2. Ottawa
3. Montréal
4. Toronto
5. Boston

I think it will be a battle to the death for second place in this division, with Montreal losing out on some sort of tie-breaker. Toronto will be just as awful as last year, but take solace Leafs fans: you could be the Bruins.


Atlantic Division:


1. New York Rangers
2. New Jersey Devils
3. Pittsburgh Penguins
4. Philadelphia Flyers
5. New York Islanders


Divisional matchups will be of the utmost importance here. Somehow, I think the Penguins will own the Flyers head-to-head this year, and Sydney Crosby will be stellar. He won't win the Art Ross, mind you. In November, the Islanders will fire head coach Ted Nolan and replace him with Dave Allison.


Southeast Division:


1. Tampa Bay Lightning
2. Carolina Hurricanes
3. Atlanta Thrashers
4. Washington Capitals
5. Florida Panthers


Tampa gets back on top after being humbled last year. Carolina will come down a few levels, and Florida will be just awful and in December, Ed Belfour will offer Jacques Martin "one billion dollars" for more playing time.


Playoffs:


1. Buffalo Sabres
2. Tampa Bay Lightning
3. New York Rangers
4. Ottawa Senators
5. Montréal Canadiens
6. Carolina Hurricanes
7. New Jersey Devils
8. Pittsburgh Penguins

Conference Quarter-final:

Buffalo over Pittsburgh
New Jersey over Tampa Bay
Rangers over Hurricanes
Ottawa over Montréal


Conference Semi-final:



Buffalo over New Jersey
Ottawa over Rangers


Conference Final:



Buffalo over Ottawa

Western Conference:


Central Division:

1. Detroit Red Wings

2. Columbus Blue Jackets

3. Nashville Predators

4. Chicago Blackhawks

5. St. Louis Blues

Detroit dominates the conference in the regular season with Hasek playing with a chip on his shoulder. Columbus catches plenty of teams sleeping this year thinking "same old Blue Jackets, time for a night off", enough so to make the playoffs.

Northwest Division:

1. Calgary Flames

2. Edmonton Oilers

3. Vancouver Canucks

4. Minnesota Wild

5. Colorado Avalanche

It's always stuck me that they've bunched all three Western Canadian teams into one division (much like in the East). For rivalry's sake, or to eliminate as many from the playoffs as possible? Hmmmm...

Pacific Division:

1. Anaheim Ducks

2. San Jose Sharks

3. Phoenix Coyotes

4. Dallas Stars

5. Los Angeles Kings

The Kings remain in the cellar. Gretzky squeezes every bit of talent out of his dogs and makes the playoffs, while Anaheim and San Jose are at each other's throats all season. In mid-season, Mrs. Pronger demands a trade because Mr. Pronger has impregnated yet another local. He promptly turns around and says: "We've run out of cities, sweetie."

Playoffs:

1. Calgary Flames

2. Detroit Red Wings

3. Anaheim Ducks

4. Edmonton Oilers

5. San Jose Sharks

6. Phoenix Coyotes

7. Columbus Blue Jackets

8. Vancouver Canucks

Conference Quarter-final:

Calgary over Vancouver

Columbus over Detroit

Phoenix over Anaheim

San Jose over Edmonton

Conference Semi-Final:

Calgary over Columbus

San Jose over Phoenix

Conference Final:

San Jose over Calgary

Stanley Cup Final:

Buffalo over San Jose

Now head to Las Vegas and bet your mortgage on it.