I’m practicing for what’s to come
Pre-season sucks
As my summer has dwindled the only thing to look forward to now is the beginning of the new NHL season which is only about a month away. Until then, some pre-season action will have to do. Unfortunately, the pre-season has hardly done anything to make people look forward to seeing their teams get going once the real season starts. For the most part, the entire process is for head coaches and the individual organizations to pick and choose what guys will make the regular season roster and who will end up in the AHL or overseas and unless you’re watching the Blue Jackets or the Penguins the guys who make the team will hardly be a surprise.
Bound to happen?
Not surprising either is Mike Keenan resigning as the GM of the Florida Panthers. After trading goaltender Roberto Lungo to Vancouver and making some other moves, Keenan has stepped down and head coach Jacques Martin will take over GM duties. Keenan is as notorious as Larry Brown is in the NBA for jumping from team to team but his decision comes at an odd point in the NHL calendar as Keenan has decided that finding out what all his moves for the Panthers will result in doesn’t mean much when compared to whatever his goal has now become. Apparently, Keenan has not been available for comment and its Martin and the Panthers who have made it public that he’ll be taking over the day to day operations of the team. Martin is an accomplished head coach and did a rather decent job last season working with all the pieces that Keenan gave him, but the Panthers have failed to do much of anything and their owner STILL said that Keenan is leaving his position after assembling “…the most talented team in our franchise’s history.” That’s a lot of backing up for a roster who’s creator has decided to jump off the ship.
Beantown
Bruins fans are excited! No really, the Bruins have a shot at making the playoffs this season and relatively new GM Peter Chiarelli isn’t shy about talking about it. Who can blame the guy? The Bruins sign Chara right from under everyone’s noses right as the free agnecy period starts, they hire Dave Lewis as the new head coach and then Marc Savard decides to join in as well. Are these moves enough to jump over Ottawa? Perhaps, but the fact remains that the bunch of players left in Ottawa KNOW that they can get to where they need to be but just can’t get over the final hurdle and into the Stanley Cup Finals. Losing the guys they did will hurt but is it something that the Bruins can take advantage of?
If anyone knows Ottawa, its Peter Chiarelli who took the Boston GM job in July after having been with the Sens the last several years. The Northeast Division is going to be fun to watch but I’ll get into that during my NHL Season Preview.
Check out runaway Evgeni Malkin tear through some opponents but keep the volume down unless you understand Russion or care for bad music:
And after that, check out Hilary Duff on Letterman, keep the volume down as well:
Good night, everybody!
