Recently on NHL.com I came across an article that suggested Claude Giroux could be a finalist for the Hart Trophy (Most Valuable Player of the league) after the season is over. This came to me as a bit of a surprise, but since the article was written Giroux has 7 points in just 4 games. Two of those games were against the top team in their division, Pittsburgh Penguins, and another against the defending Stanley Cup champions, Chicago Blackhawks. After watching the past few games, I see the chances of him being a finalist pretty likely (although Sidney Crosby will most likely win the award). In order for him to be a finalist I think he will have to do all of the following by the end of the season:
* Get the Flyers into the playoffs
* Continue to score at the pace he is now
* Be in the top 3 for points throughout the league
Doing all three of those don't seem as impossible as they may have earlier this year when it took him 15 games to score his first goal. Since then it seems he easily takes control over games to lead the team to victory. He has done an outstanding job on the power play and has even played a lot of minutes shorthanded this year. While on the power play, it seems his line is out there for the full 2 minutes almost every time (if they don't score before then).
Last year Alexander Ovechkin won the award after getting off to a slow start and eventually turning it around, maybe this year Giroux could do the same. After starting the past two years slow with wrist injuries, it seems like the team only plays as well as their captain. The teams record when he scores a point proves it, as they are 32-13-3 when he does get on the scoresheet.
What do you think? Should Giroux be named MVP or, at least, be a finalist for the award?
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Friday, March 14, 2014
Post Trade Deadline Rant
The NHL trade deadline is always a time of excitement for hockey fans. Many
teams make trades that try to improve the team to be more of contenders for the
Stanley Cup. The Flyers are almost always a team that will trade assets for an
aging player, who most likely may not even sign back.
This year the Flyers started off by trading Matt Mangene from the AHL, 3rd round pick in 2014, and a 2nd round pick in 2015 for Andrew Macdonald from the New York Islanders. Shortly after, the Flyers traded Andrej Meszaros to the Boston Bruins for a 3rd round pick in 2014. In all likelihood, the organization thinks this move will help them be more competitive in the playoffs. This may help them get into the playoffs and maybe to the 2nd round, but not much further.
Kimmo Timonen is a 38 year old defenseman who has been on the team for a few years now. The current group of defensemen on the team simply aren’t good enough to win it all. Timonen is the best defensemen on the team, but has been slowing down showing signs of his age constantly throughout the season. Last season the team resigned him, which I thought was a mistake. There really is no excuse to not trade Timonen to a contending team for picks or prospects. At his age, he is not going to lead a team to the Cup, but he has a much better chance of winning one helping out another team. The trades that were made this year will not improve the team at all. Macdonald is only a slight upgrade over Meszaros, and in getting him the Flyers gave up more and got a later 3rd round pick. Hopefully next year the Flyers will learn their lesson and try to build a good group of defensemen, but probably won’t. This year though the team missed out on upgrading the team.
This year the Flyers started off by trading Matt Mangene from the AHL, 3rd round pick in 2014, and a 2nd round pick in 2015 for Andrew Macdonald from the New York Islanders. Shortly after, the Flyers traded Andrej Meszaros to the Boston Bruins for a 3rd round pick in 2014. In all likelihood, the organization thinks this move will help them be more competitive in the playoffs. This may help them get into the playoffs and maybe to the 2nd round, but not much further.
Kimmo Timonen is a 38 year old defenseman who has been on the team for a few years now. The current group of defensemen on the team simply aren’t good enough to win it all. Timonen is the best defensemen on the team, but has been slowing down showing signs of his age constantly throughout the season. Last season the team resigned him, which I thought was a mistake. There really is no excuse to not trade Timonen to a contending team for picks or prospects. At his age, he is not going to lead a team to the Cup, but he has a much better chance of winning one helping out another team. The trades that were made this year will not improve the team at all. Macdonald is only a slight upgrade over Meszaros, and in getting him the Flyers gave up more and got a later 3rd round pick. Hopefully next year the Flyers will learn their lesson and try to build a good group of defensemen, but probably won’t. This year though the team missed out on upgrading the team.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Update 03/04
The Flyers got back to the season this past Thursday and have played 2 additional games since. They played the San Jose Sharks, New York Rangers, and Washington Capitals.
The team started the second half of the season slow, as they got beat 7-3 against San Jose. As the weekend approached, however, they began to play very well. On Saturday, the Flyers beat the Rangers 4-2. On Sunday, the Flyers played a great game by coming back from behind to win in overtime against the Capitals 5-4.
Wayne Simmonds seems to be the team's most improved player this year. He is using his physicality to translate into many goals because he is now second on the team in points. He had 3 points in the first two games back from the break. Claude Giroux had a huge 3 point night on Sunday to lead his team to victory.
Mason played in all 3 games. Ray Emery was injured with a lower body injury for both weekend games. Cal Heeter was the backup for Mason. The Flyers next game is finishing off a home-home series against the Capitals this Wednesday.
The team started the second half of the season slow, as they got beat 7-3 against San Jose. As the weekend approached, however, they began to play very well. On Saturday, the Flyers beat the Rangers 4-2. On Sunday, the Flyers played a great game by coming back from behind to win in overtime against the Capitals 5-4.
Wayne Simmonds seems to be the team's most improved player this year. He is using his physicality to translate into many goals because he is now second on the team in points. He had 3 points in the first two games back from the break. Claude Giroux had a huge 3 point night on Sunday to lead his team to victory.
Mason played in all 3 games. Ray Emery was injured with a lower body injury for both weekend games. Cal Heeter was the backup for Mason. The Flyers next game is finishing off a home-home series against the Capitals this Wednesday.
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