Off-Years

These are the guys who just do not seem to have the jump they did last year, or it may be luck or it may be chemistry, either way by factoring games played (in most cases) these are some disappointments of the year, guys who have fucked you in the ass fantasy wise and probably caused their coaches to tear them new assholes.


Honourable Mentions:
Andrej Mezaros, Tomas Plekanec, Brian Rolston, Brent Burns, Derek Roy, JP Dumont, Scott Gomez


#5 - Rod Brind’Amour
2007-2008 - 51 Points +0
2008-2009 - 46 Points -22
Is the age getting to this old vet? He is 39 playing in a young league with a new style, that -22 is a dark shade of awful. Like many of you I have a soft spot for Rod “the bod” and he had a strong game against the Sens the other night, lets hope he is getting that big Shnozz revved up for the playoffs.

#4 - Marian Gaborik
2007-2008 - 83 Points 77 Games
2008-2009 - 10 Points 9 games
This Slovak needs a change of scenery bad. I know he has only played 9 games, but he opted out to have surgery after sitting out 20 games this year. It was reported that the surgery wasn’t even needed until the off-season and it was something you could play through. This guys heart is as full Mikey Vicks new Kennel, get him somewhere else and he may be able to play a full season, which means 100 Points.

#3 - Tomas Kaberle
2007-2008 – 53 Points
2008-2009 – 31 Points
The talk in leaf-land before the year started was that their defense was the strong part of their team, the big part being Tomas Kaberle. He is dealing with injuries, but if this guy is on your fantasy team than you have to feel like he just folded the tent on the year…Kind of like Hagman and Toskala, 3 prime of their career vets hurt? What a coincidence? When he was playing, Ian White was playing more than Tomas, Ian White was a healthy scratch and only got a shot because he was playing forward, how embarrassing Tomas. Shout out to the ‘tasche on White though

#2 - Mike Fisher
2007-2008 – 47 Points 82 PIM
2008-2009 – 29 Points 58 PIM
With a contract like his (not his fault) and the strength, speed and shot that he has “fish” has to be better. Where is his mind this year?
http://hornofgabriel.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/carrie-underwood-good.jpg
Alright, so give him credit, the boy reeled a good one in, but as a fan; have fun the rest of the year with your prize, lets actually win next year you under-achieving bitch.

#1 - Radim Vrbata
2007-2008 – 56 Points 27 Goals
2008-2009 - 6 Points Tampa Bay Lightning
2008-2009 - 8 Points Mlada Boleslav BK*
2008-2009 - 9 Points Liberec Bili Tygri HC
One of Wayne Gretzky’s go to guys last year has absolutely fell off the map. Almost of 30 goal scorer on a team without a set-up guy such as Phoenix one year, to the next where he plays for three teams…bring out the suitcase for this kid. What really makes no sense is that he is 28, the absolute prime of his career, he had an awesome year and got the contract he wanted and then falls out of the league back home to the Czech Republic and then gets traded there.


Lets hope you were not stuck drafting these guys in your little fantasy leagues, I drafted Gaborik and yes I hold a grudge. Let me know who you have been disappointed with.

Keep Muckin it up.

Gary Roberts Reminds Me of my Dad

I figured I would just throw that out there, because i know you are all thinking it.

Gary Roberts longevity in the league was not only based on his scoring output but his optimal teamwork. The following list is the top 10 players who Gary Roberts has been able to share a dressing room with, practice with, and muck it up for.

Honerable Mentions:

Mike Vernon, Joe Nieuwendyk, Doug Gilmour, Ed Belfour, Evgeni Malkin and Vincent Lecavalier And how can I forget…Jonas Hoglund

10)Roberto Luongo– Florida Panthers – 2005-2007
All of us Canadians are praying that Gary will be sitting around in 2010 saying yes I played with Luongo…while he is wearing a gold medal around his neck.

9) Brian Leetch– Toronto Maple leafs - 2003-2004

The best American defenseman of all time. The long time Ranger had three seasons over 80 points.

8)Al MacInnis – Calgary Flames 1986 – 1995

I’m sure Mr. Roberts didn’t stand in front of the net during practice to much on the PP work. Al must have appreciated Gary too, seeing he did reach the 100 point mark when they were together.

7)Sydney Crosby – Pittsburg Penguins – 2006-2008

“Sid the Kid”, something to tell his children about.

6)Theoren Fleury - Calgary Flames 1988 – 1996
Mental Issues aside, Theoren Fleury had the excitement to get any team revved up. 2 100 point seasons. OH and a senior A title I believe.

5)Ron Francis – Carolina hurricanes – 1998 – 2000

Ronny ‘Franchise’ is a true hall of famer, who has to be the nicest guy to play in the league. Lets just say I’m sure Gary had him babysitting a few times, telling stories of the Hartford Whalers and 3 100 point seasons.

4)Lanny Mcdonald – Calgary Flames 1986-87
Who wouldn’t want to be around that Duster..enough said.

3)Mats Sundin – Toronto Maple Leafs – 2000 – 2004
For all those leafs fans out there, Mats has to be one of the best guys to look down to know he is on your side. With his big body, he has never reached the 100 point mark, but has always been at 70 points and well over, who knows what could have happened if he didn’t play for the ‘makemelaughs

2)Paul Coffey - Carolina Hurricanes – 1999-2000
A short amount of time these two greats shared together, but watching this hall of famer skate around the rink everyday would leave most jaws dropped. Having 5 years with over 100 points as a defenseman isn’t to shabby, when you compare it to the modern day defenseman.

1)Brett Hull – Moncton Golden Flames 1986-87; Calgary Flames 1986 – 1988
The “Golden Brett” is one of the best Natural Goal Scorers of all time, a grizzly bear like Gary Roberts would have only made room on the ice for a guy on this stature. To score 86 goals in one year, who would want to watch that clapper during practice.

Latest Steve Downie Suspension...

Watch Video Here

So Steve Downie racked up his second 20 game suspension in 2 seasons, and third suspension in three different leagues in the past 3 years, eh? No real surprise here, as the guy is a nutcase who likes to play on the edge.  But when is he really going to learn?  Here is a  21-year old kid with all the talent and promise in the world, who only 3 years after his draft year has been sent packing by 2 different organizations (mind you in 2 different leagues, with the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League for the hazing incident with Akim Aliu, and for a late his delivered to former Ottawa Senator Dean McAmmond while playing for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League) but is still some how remembered to be one of the great Canadian World Junior Hockey Players of recent memory.

Now I'll be the first to admit that Downie has taken quite a fall for his actions, and has more than likely been given harsher punishments than he deserved since turning pro.  This undoubtably is because of his actions and reputation he gained throughout his junior career, but this is not where is all started. Downie was always considered to be a "loose canon" throughout his minor hockey career, and will be remember by many former teammates, coaches and opposing players by this. He is and always has been the type of player who can be effective when he plays within the limits of the game, but it also doesn't take much to get him off his game.

But in the wake of this latest incident in the American Hockey League while playing for the Norfolk Admirals (the Tampa Bay Lightning affiliate), I am going to have to take Downie's side. Yes, It does look like he was taking a swipe at the ref dropping the puck, but in Downie's defense, after looking closely at the video I would have to say that he is most likely taking a swipe at the opposing players stick, as it is possible that there was some chirping being done between the two before the puck was dropped. But in the end he did strike the ref and from this the ref made a decision on the play from his own judgement.  All I'm saying is that Downie's reputation only made this one worse on himself.

Please someone, get this guy some counseling before his temperament ends his once promising NHL career.