Soon to be a familiar sight? Again?

As a kid growing up in Edmonton the kind of hockey I grew up watching was the crash-and-bang, front-of-the-net Ryan Smyth hockey. The Oilers had Doug Weight, Bill Guerin and Ryan Smyth and though we didn’t have the most skilled team in the world, we still found a way to make the playoffs every year.

Ryan Smyth was the last of that golden age to be traded away. Smyth is a throwback to old hockey days when guys wanted to retire with the team that drafted them and crazy deals such as those involving Carter/Richards and Ray Bourque never happened.

Smyth may have been the centerpiece of a bad publicity story for the Edmonton Oilers at one time when former GM and current President of Hockey Operations Kevin Lowe traded him over $100 000 – but now he is the face of an Oilers team that has gone astray into the wilderness.

Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Magnus Paajarvi, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Teemu Hartikainen might be some of the faces of the future for the Oilers.

But what is the team identity?

When the Oilers traded Smyth to the Islanders, they traded the heart of the team without replacing it.

Many leaders have come and gone since Smyth departed. Horcoff is now our oft-injured captain. Moreau was shipped away. Souray demoted to the AHL. Penner dumped for some prospects.

Since Smyth left the storyline has been youth and hope.

Now that Smyth has returned, maybe it’s an indication that the future it not so far away. If Smyth is back and the heart of our team is back where it belongs, then win-or-lose the Edmonton Oilers are one step closer to coming full-cycle with their rebuild.

Smyth – like Comrie before him – may return and find that they don’t produce the way they did when they were first an Oiler. Aging, injuries and general wear-and-tear will do that to you.

But once an Oiler – always an Oiler.

Hello Refinery readers! I want you all to welcome our newest addition, furiouszczerkawski! Nick is a long time writer and editor with the Gateway at the University of Alberta as well as a foreign news intern with the Independent in London. He has written on several other sports blogs and is relatively well known in some circles as a sports podcaster.

This article also marks the return of Travis Yano (thickoil) to our Refinery ranks, who is also better known as Ghostbuster on the HFBoards forums. Never shy of being outspoken on any hockey topics, we are glad to have thickoil back in the fold as you can never have too many hockey gladiators.

Nick Frost a.k.a. furiouszczerkawski

1. EDMONTON OILERS: C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Red Deer/WHL)

The videos from the combine, the articles, interview after interview — you know, Oilers media department: you could’ve gone out of your way, even a little bit, to create some suspense. The fact that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will be an Oiler tonight is more obvious than Dustin Penner’s love of the cheeseburger.

Though I’ve never firmly been in The Nuge’s camp, and I can already picture ardently stubborn RNH fanboys foaming at the fingers to bludgeon me with draft records that support taking a centre over a defenceman with the first pick, I understand why we’re taking him. He’ll be our number-one centre, he’s got three names (fact: better than two), and he suffers from Gretzkyvision™. Get this kid a faceoff coach and let’s move on, shall we?

“If for some reason I’m incorrect, they’ll take [blank] instead”: It’s Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, folks. There’s nobody else. Naysayers, vocal minority: you’ve been led astray on a wild Swede chase, I’m afraid. I’d bet my first-born child or my last Twix bar on it.

2. COLORADO AVALANCHE: LW Gabriel Landeskog (Kitchener/OHL)

Many people say that Landeskog (who henceforth with be known as “Lando Calrissian”; I want to see if the nickname catches on) is the most NHL-ready player in this year’s Draft. Many people say that he’s a dynamic two-way forward with a glut of leadership capability. Should such statements prove to be factual when translated to the next level, the Avs should have a special player flanking their left side. Perhaps even as early as next season.

Then again, many people say that he’s Swedish as well. I call bullshit. Have you heard this kid talk? He’s clearly a born and bred Ontarian.

“If for some reason I’m incorrect, they’ll take [blank] instead”: Adam Larsson. I still believe, like many others, he’s best player available at this point. And, hey, who couldn’t use a projected world-class defenceman?

3. FLORIDA PANTHERS: C Jonathan Huberdeau (Saint John/QMJHL)

Huberdeau has been enjoying a meteoric rise following his Memorial Cup victory with the Saint John Sea Dogs, and though we could sit here all day and yammer on about how stacked that team was, he appears to have climbed his way into a guaranteed top-three position.

For the longest time, I had Sean Couturier in this spot because I figured Dale Tallon would be looking for a strong offensive centre to be the anchor of his team for years to come. Don’t get me wrong — he still is. But in a battle between two very similar players will similar offensive capabilities, the champion gets the edge.

“If for some reason I’m incorrect, they’ll take [blank] instead”: Sean Couturier. See above.

4. NEW JERSEY DEVILS: D Adam Larsson (Skellefteå/SEL)

With Huberdeau being likely to go with the Panthers’ pick, regardless of any outcome, should Lando Calrissian end up with the Avalanche, the Devils should consider themselves the luckiest team in the entire Draft. Not only do they get best player available by a whole two spots, but their defence corps finally has something to look forward — a possible franchise defenceman who can step in right away and should become a hell of a gamer with his shut-down ability and his underrated offensive ability. (Elitserien is less offensive, people; get it through your heads!) And let’s face it, this hasn’t happened since Scott Niedermayer hopped coasts and Scott Stevens got too old for this shit.

“If for some reason I’m incorrect, they’ll take [blank] instead”: Sean Couturier. Defence is the most glaring weakness, but the Devils haven’t picked this high in a long time, so they might go for some offence. It’s pretty wide open.

5. NEW YORK ISLANDERS: D Dougie Hamilton (Niagara/OHL)

The Islanders rebuild appears to be well on track with a solid group of forwards, a new lease agreement to build an arena, and… well, Rick DiPietro’s contract. Kinda hard to shake that.

Regardless, while the Isles have some solid pieces on the back-end in Travis Hamonic and Calvin de Haan, no one really stands out as an obvious top-two defender. Hamilton fits the bill perfectly, bringing size, strong mobility, and a solid two-way game.

“If for some reason I’m incorrect, they’ll take [blank] instead”: If he’s available in the right scenario, Gabriel Landeskog. Imagine Landeskog lining up next to John Tavares and Nino Niederreiter, rounding out their future top-six up front. I believe “sick” is the apropos term with the kids these days.

6. OTTAWA SENATORS: C Sean Couturier (Drummondville/QMJHL)

Taking a look at the five players already drafted, Couturier rounds out a group of six players that are widely projected to go in the first six spots. Of course, things could change, but you have to imagine that a team looking for a strong centre with great puck patience and who wins board battles, who’s also best player left on the board, would be hard-pressed not to make this pick. I’m looking at you, Ottawa.

“If for some reason I’m incorrect, they’ll take [blank] instead”: Ryan Strome. In fact, in doing some brief 3 a.m. reading, this seems like a more likely scenario if you believe that Ottawa has zero interest in that whole BPA spiel. Strome would bring some firepower back to the nation’s capital, however.

7. WINNIPEG: C Ryan Strome (Niagara/OHL)

Everyone even remotely interested in the return of NHL hockey to Winnipeg will be following closely to see who becomes the new face of this revamped team. Of course, it’s a bit of a drag for whomever is selected to walk on stage and receive a black and grey NHL practice jersey — but really, who cares: you’re about to become the face of a franchise in a city whose people have been deprived for longer than they would’ve liked.

Winnipeg needs the most help at centre, currently possessing poor depth down the middle. Strome provides offensive punch, quickness, and — despite not being a top-five player — could end up being a better first-line centre than some of his counterparts. Small is in, folks.

“If for some reason I’m incorrect, they’ll take [blank] instead”: Mika Zibanejad. In fact, after picking Alex Burmistrov last year, who’s also a small offensive centre, I think the Swedish-Iranian wunderkind would be a better choice.

8. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (via CBJ): C Mika Zibanejad (Djurgården/SEL)

Before I proceed with my explanation for this pick, I would just like to say: fuck you, Philadelphia Flyers! I had three different mock drafts going, all with different outcomes, and just when I think I have all the answers, Rowdy Eddie Snider and his rag-tag team of dubious ruffians from Broad Street come along and change the damn questions.

Oh, and the pick? Yeah, Zibanejad! Two-way centre, North American style — why the hell not!? You’ve screwed me again, you pennypackers!

“If for some reason I’m incorrect, they’ll take [blank] instead”: That’ll teach ‘em to change the dynamic of my mock drafts. Douche bags.

9. BOSTON BRUINS (via TOR): D Jamie Oleksiak (Northeastern, NCAA H-East)

Of all the teams in the top-ten (only now with the exception of those precocious Flyers), this year’s Stanley Cup Champs have the luxury of selecting someone that doesn’t need to factor into their lineup right away. Someone they can take their time with. Of all potential draftees being slapped with the “project” sticker in this year’s first round, perhaps none are as big — I’d recommend craning your neck upward now — as Jamie Oleksiak.

This Can-Am college boy won’t be ready for the big leagues anytime soon. However, standing tall at 6’7” and 244 lbs., the Bruins can take their time and ensure that not only does Oleksiak fill out his frame in its entirety (did I mention he still has room to grow?), but that his one-on-one physical game gets properly developed, too.

“If for some reason I’m incorrect, they’ll take [blank] instead”: Ryan Murphy. They can spend the same time they would with Oleksiak developing Smurphy’s defensive game. Same plan, slightly smaller.

10. MINNESOTA WILD: RW Joel Armia (Assat/SM-Liiga)

With the roar of the hometown crowd generating the energy that will power the lights in the Xcel Energy Center tonight, pressure will be on the Wild to produce a mark-out moment for fans in attendance. A quick glance at Wild-related forums online show an interest in Finnish scoring winger Joel Armia, who brings size to the table accompanying natural scoring ability. However, questions have been raised about his work ethic and commitment to the play. Nothing a motivational montage or a taser gun can’t solve. Plus, Minnesota has never had a problem selecting skilled Finnish players before. My gut tells me that, outside of Nugent-Hopkins at number one, this one’s also an empty-netter.

“If for some reason I’m incorrect, they’ll take [blank] instead”: Sven Bärtschi. But that’s a big “if.”

Antony Ta.k.a. raventalon40

1. EDMONTON OILERS: C Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Red Deer/WHL)

This truly is a year when the depth extends well beyond the top 10. However, there does seem to be a consensus top 4 or 5. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also happens to be the consensus #1, this year.

Unless the Oilers are hit by a trade they can’t refuse, it’s hard to believe the Oilers will pass up on the playmaker and visionary – RNH. The kid might be a bit scrawny now but not many aren’t at age 18. Hall was small last year and now he’s damn near 200 lbs so I have no doubt that it won’t be an issue down the line. Whether or not RNH is ready to play in tne NHL next year is not that relevant considering the Oilers aren’t exactly built like a roster that needs him to be ready, anyway. Banking on his potential is fine at this point as RNH will continue to develop at his own pace as he gets ready for the NHL game.

As a western boy playing in the dub, I’d give him the benefit of the doubt when it comes to physical play. RNH might have gotten a lot of criticism about his lack of even strength production but the kid was playing all the special teams minutes for his club – PP, PK… he’ll be good.

“If for some reason I’m incorrect, they’ll take [blank] instead”: I have a slight belief that they would give Jonathan Huberdeau a couple seconds of consideration – and then pick RNH. You can never have enough Memorial Cup MVPs but you can’t go wrong with any of these kids this year and Huberdeau, like RNH – could use some filling out as both are sub-180 lbs.

2. COLORADO AVALANCHE: C/LW Jonathan Huberdeau (Saint John/QMJHL)

I know that a lot of people are suggesting the Avalanche will not pass on either Swede (Larsson or Landeskog) I think there’s too much potential there with Huberdeau. He received a lot of criticism for playing on a good Saint John team that was much better than the other teams in the Q but his team also dominated other teams which were the respective champions in their own leagues.

Further inspection of Huberdeau’s statistics shows that in fact he wasn’t riding the bus in Saint John – he was driving it. Many of the players on that team are junior hockey veterans and have similar stats to their previous years (see Kirkpatrick). What they needed was a little Huberdeau to come and ignite the team.

The kid hits. The kid fights. The kid dangles. The kid scores.

Like RNH he has a bit of an issue when it comes to size but as we can all see he has the frame to fill out with and once Huberdeau trains with NHL trainers he will be a beast of a power forward.

“If for some reason I’m incorrect, they’ll take [blank] instead”: Adam Larsson. The Avs place defense at a priority and having Johnson and Larsson on the blueline would be pretty decent though they would tank for a couple more years. I think Stastny will be in play this summer.

3. FLORIDA PANTHERS: D Adam Larsson (Skellefteå/SEL)

The Panthers have had issues with developing forwards over the last decade. I don’t believe this is a main reason for choosing to draft by position, but the last few years have seen the Panthers default to defensemen. Assuming Larsson isn’t already picked up by the Avalanche or Oilers, Larsson would join a blueline that already boasts Kulikov and Gudbranson. Knowing GM Dale Tallon – building from the back out would not be an accident.

“If for some reason I’m incorrect, they’ll take [blank] instead”: Dougie Hamilton. See above.

4. NEW JERSEY DEVILS: LW/RW Gabriel Landeskog (Kitchener/OHL)

The Avalanche and Panthers are high on Landeskog and Huberdeau, but this guys draft pedigree screams New Jersey Devil.

As a two-way forward with offensive and defensive maturity, as well as an ability to fight, check and play within the system, he is a typical Lou prospect. With the departure of guys like Patrice Cormier, Landeskog would immediately fill a need on the third line as a rookie. Eventually, I believe his offensive struggles are exaggerated and he will eventually be at least a second line player in the NHL, if not the net presence on a cash strapped first line. He may not have skill to play on an NHL top line right now (or ever, some think) but I think he will be a Mike Richards type – if not an offensively gifted Cal Clutterbuck.

“If for some reason I’m incorrect, they’ll take [blank] instead”: Mika Zibanejad. The reasons are pretty much the same as for Landeskog, but Zibanejad may actually be more talented because he has been playing in a men’s league.

5. NEW YORK ISLANDERS: D Dougie Hamilton (Niagara/OHL)

It’s hard to disagree with Frost on this one, though Hamilton is good enough to be chosen way earlier than this. The smarts on this kid is undeniable and he plays a solid two-way game. Hamilton reminds me of a cross between Duncan Keith and Scott Neidermayer – he may not lay you out like Dion Phaneuf but he’ll beat you every other way nonetheless. That being said – don’t underestimate Hamilton’s physical game.

This is Hamilton’s second draft eligible year, as he went unselected last year in his first year of eligibility.

Look for him to crack the NHL this season.

“If for some reason I’m incorrect, they’ll take [blank] instead”: Ryan Strome. Strome is a prototypical Islanders prospect but he’s not as good as Hamilton. That being said, the Islanders have depth on D so this is a real possibility.

6. OTTAWA SENATORS: C Sean Couturier (Drummondville/QMJHL)

Couturier might be one of the slower skaters in the top 10 but his consistency is undeniable. The WJC star has an NHL calibre shot and serious board presence. Some question his ability to compete in the future at higher levels but this has also been a familiar criticism of a certain Joe Thornton.

It will be hard for the Senators to overlook the abilities of this big centerman.

“If for some reason I’m incorrect, they’ll take [blank] instead”: Ryan Strome. The Senators are in rebuild and can’t afford to be picky with positions and should take the most talented players available, regardless of position. Unless the Senators offload one of Rundblad or Cowen (which they won’t), I would’ve suggsted Ryan Murphy instead.

7. WINNIPEG: D Duncan Siemens (Saskatoon/WHL)

I’m going to go off the board a bit here and suggest that what Winnipeg needs is a tough-as-nails, go-to-guy with a bit of offensive upside. There are a couple of these defensemen this year and Siemens is one of them. Winnipeg has a lot of skill in the system and this is one of those years that you can afford to draft by need.

Siemens has a good outlet pass and has seen powerplay time. Will be a beauty defenseman.

“If for some reason I’m incorrect, they’ll take [blank] instead”: Jamie Oleksiak. He’s this year’s Jarred Tinordi.

8. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (via CBJ): C Ryan Strome (Niagara/OHL)

Strome is an elite talent that could easily be picked higher or picked lower than this position. What is in question is how much of his game will transfer to the NHL. Is he a Danny Briere – or a Rob Schremp?

“If for some reason I’m incorrect, they’ll take [blank] instead”: Mika Zibanejad. Kid has a lot of spunk and skill.

9. BOSTON BRUINS (via TOR): D Jamie Oleksiak (Northeastern, NCAA H-East)

If you told me tomorrow that Chara could start tutoring his replacement right away, I’d say sign me up. This is a real possibility if the hulking Jamie Oleksiak is still available when the Bruins pick at ninth (yes, I’m aware he’s ranked lower). He’s got offensive upside (although it seems to be limited, at this point) but Oleksiak is a beast already.

“If for some reason I’m incorrect, they’ll take [blank] instead”: Matthew Puempel. Matt was a top 10 consideration until he was sidelined by injuries. If the Bruins past actions may indicate, injury has never sidelined them from sticking to their guns with guys like Savard, Bergeron, etc. Puempel has elite skill and could be a steal outside of the top 10.

10. MINNESOTA WILD: RW Joel Armia (Assat/SM-Liiga)

Armia screams Minnesota and he would look great alongside Mikko Koivu and company. He is also flexible enough to play with the defensive players on this team, and can play special teams on either end. The one exception though may be the change of culture that has occurred in the organization over the summer. However, if there is a guy on the top 30 list that is a prototypical Wild prospect, this is the guy.

“If for some reason I’m incorrect, they’ll take [blank] instead”: Ryan Murphy. Murphy will be better than Shattenkirk, Ellis, Liles or Russell. He has vision and compete and I can’t believe I haven’t picked him yet.

ARTICLE COURTESY OF DOOGIE2K OF STILLNONAME SPORTS AND ROBERTSON’S RANTS ON PUCK PODCAST!

With the Stanley Cup Final now concluded, it’s time to start looking at the off-ice business to be conducted this summer. One of the main points that’ll need to be settled quickly is the name of Winnipeg’s new team, the relocated Atlanta Thrashers. This will presumably be announced sometime between the June 21 Board of Governors meeting and the June 24 Entry Draft. While many want to see the Jets name return, and Gary Bettman has said that the NHL won’t stand in the way, I think that recycling the Jets name is a poor idea, and that there are a number of other worthy ideas that should be considered.

Part I: Why Not the Jets?

A Winnipeg Free Press poll shows that nearly 2/3 of respondents favour “Jets” over any other name. An online petition supporting the name has over 13,000 virtual signatures. There’ve been so many articles written on both blogs and MSM websites about Why They Should Be the Jets that it’s not even worth trying to link them all. The persistent chant at all the rallies these last couple of years has been “Go Jets Go!” All of these things are excellent economic arguments against calling the team the Jets. After all, how many people are going to go out and buy “new” Jets jerseys, even with a redesign? The season ticket holders probably will: they’ve already shown a willingness to invest five figures in the team, so what’s another couple hundred bucks? The rest of the fans, the ones watching at bars or at home, are more likely to figure that their classic Jets jerseys are just as good. Sure, over time, people will eventually buy in – and they’ll empty their wallets at the first sign of a genuine playoff run – but I believe more fans would invest in a completely new branding than a fresh coat of paint on an old, nostalgic favourite.

Speaking of nostalgia, there’s an emotional argument to be made, too. While some fans would love to have “their” team back, even if it’s not the same one that left, the departure of the Jets is an old wound that many would really prefer not to re-open. They went to the rallies, they raised money through school and the office, they busted open their piggy banks, all for naught. Eventually, most of them moved on: to new NHL teams, or the Moose, or a junior club. Fifteen years later, the Jets could be coming back; but can they, really? As my girlfriend, an ex-Winnipegger, put it, “it wouldn’t be the same.” They wouldn’t be “her” Jets. She explained to me that calling the team the Jets would make it very easy to mar the nostalgic love people there have for the Jets, replacing it with a reality that can never live up to the memories. She’d rather see them called anything but the Jets, and as an outsider, it’s hard to disagree. It’s like comparing a new love to a deceased spouse: however good that new love is, there are so many great memories from before that any comparison becomes inherently unfair. Or put more succinctly, you can’t go home again.

For me, though, the real objection comes down to history. First, there’s no historical precedent in the NHL for giving an old team name to a relocated franchise, especially when that old team that still exists elsewhere. These are all the markets to be given a “second chance” by the NHL since its inception:

• Montreal Wanderers fold (1918); Montreal Maroons formed (1924)1
• Quebec Bulldogs move to Hamilton (1920); Quebec Nordiques formed (1972), join NHL (1979)
• Pittsburgh Pirates move to Philadelphia (1930); Pittsburgh Penguins formed (1967)
• Philadelphia Quakers fold (1931); Philadelphia Flyers formed (1967)
• Ottawa Senators move to St. Louis (1934); Ottawa Senators II formed (1992)
• St. Louis Eagles fold (1935); St. Louis Blues formed (1967)
• Oakland/California Seals move to Cleveland (1976); San Jose Sharks formed (1991)
• Atlanta Flames move to Calgary (1980); Atlanta Thrashers formed (1999)
• Minnesota North Stars move to Dallas (1993); Minnesota Wild formed (2000)
• Winnipeg Jets move to Phoenix (1996); Atlanta Thrashers move to Winnipeg (2011)

Of those examples, only the Ottawa Senators adopted the name and history of their predecessors, and in that case, they (sort of) assumed the history of a team that had been dead for nearly 60 years. Additionally, only the San Jose Sharks had a legitimate claim to the history of a previously-relocated franchise2, but elected not to bother. The only real precedent for this in North American pro sport is the bizarre Cleveland Browns saga, in which the Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens, but then gave up their history and trademarks to an expansion team of the same name. Even when the Baltimore Stallions of the CFL moved to Montreal and took on the name and history of the old Alouettes – discarding their own in the process – that team had been dead for nearly a decade.

It could be argued that the Jets name can be used without transferring the history from the Phoenix Coyotes, but it would be exceedingly crass to capitalize on that nostalgia without acknowledging why it matters. Adopting the Jets’ history, however, creates a whole litany of problems. What do you do with their retired numbers, which the Coyotes currently honour? Do they go back into circulation for that franchise? What about Teppo Numminen, who was honoured by the Coyotes for his contributions to the franchise both before and after the move? Or Dale Hawerchuk, who never played for the Coyotes but didn’t have his number retired until 2007? On the Winnipeg side, do you let current players, like Evander Kane and Bryan Little, keep their numbers, or make them get new ones? And what about the Thrashers’ history? True North has pledged to carry on Dan Snyder’s legacy; how would that fit into any plan to include the Jets’ history? Can you have both sets of numbers retired?

The simplest solution seems to be not to bother with the Jets name whatsoever. Honour the legacy of the Jets by raising their banners in MTS Centre and creating a “Ring of Honour” for players like Hull, Hawerchuk, Steen, and Numminen, but don’t have it affect the new club in any way.

Part II: What Else Could They Be Called?

So, if not the Jets, then what? They can’t keep the name Thrashers, since Atlanta Spirit retained the rights to the name and logo, though I’ve heard some jokingly suggest they be called the Threshers. There had been rumours for months that True North was going to retain the Manitoba Moose name, a brand they’d spent 15 years cultivating. I suspect, however, that the same economic argument as before could be applied to the Moose name: why would people buy new stuff when they already have the old stuff? There were rumours of other names like Polar Bears and Whiteout, both of which sound patently ridiculous. The latter of those was actually copyrighted by True North, but that’s undoubtedly for future use in marketing materials, particularly come playoff time.

I talked to a co-worker recently, and we came up with a few name ideas that I really like. Note that any of these could be used with either “Winnipeg” or “Manitoba,” since it remains an open question as to which True North will use.

• Falcons: The second-most popular name on the Free Press poll I cited earlier, Falcons has a great historical connection to the area. Founded in 1908 through the merger of two hockey clubs for Icelandic-Canadians, the Falcons won the Allen Cup, for amateur hockey supremacy, in 1920. That year, they represented Canada at that year’s Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium, manhandling the competition en route to the first-ever Olympic gold medal in ice hockey. Because all but one of the Olympians were descendants of Icelandic immigrants, to this day, Ice Hockey Iceland uses a falcon and Maple Leaf as its symbol. The most famous Falcons alumnus, however, was Mud Bruneteau, who ended the longest game in NHL history in 1936. It’s a name with great historical cachet, and would serve the team well, so long as they don’t wear those awful gold replica jerseys that got dug up a few years ago. Like the Habs’ and Sens’ barberpoles, it’s a design that looked good on wool under dim light that looks horrible under modern conditions.

• Warriors: Another name with history in the city, this one ranked fourth in the Free Press poll. There were two previous teams with the name: a minor-pro team that played in the ‘50s, and a junior team that played in the ‘80s, eventually moving to Moose Jaw. Notable NHLers among the Winnipeg Warriors alumni are Fred Shero, Ted Green, Hall of Famer Bill Mosienko (who scored the 21-second hat trick in 1952), and in the latter incarnation, longtime Manitoba Moose captain Mike Keane. It’s another solid hockey-team sort of name, though I suspect they’d need to take a completely different tack on the design than past incarnations. I say this not so much because any perceived racial insensitivity, but because any modernization would inevitably look like the Chicago Blackhawks.

• Aeros: Aeros is a name that evokes the Jets legacy without falling prey to many of the issues described above. Moreover, it’s a name with some hockey history: the name Aeros has long been associated with Houston, where it’s been the name of successful franchises in the WHA, IHL, and AHL. That minor-league association is, frankly, the only real problem I can see: the Houston Aeros are the current affiliate of the Minnesota Wild, which could make things potentially confusing. Still, it’s a name I’m quite fond of, and it feels like a nice compromise, though I’ll confess I’m not sure how likely such a compromise is to fly (ahem).

• Rebels: I thought this one was really clever on my co-worker’s part. Louis Riel, born near Winnipeg in 1844, led a pair of rebellions against the Canadian government, one in 1869 and one in 1885, both in the name of Métis rights. He was effectively exiled after the former, and executed for high treason after the latter. His reputation has been a subject of debate ever since, which makes naming the team for his actions controversial, to say the least. However, he’s now formally recognized by Parliament as the founder of the Province of Manitoba, by his actions in 1869, and Louis Riel Day is has been celebrated as a provincial holiday in Manitoba since 2008. Does that make it easier or harder to name the team Rebels? I really don’t know, but it’s an interesting idea nonetheless. Certainly, the name itself has a great deal of hockey history: the Rideau Hall Rebels were one of the earliest organized hockey teams, founded in 1884 by James Creighton, the father of organized hockey, and William and Arthur Stanley, sons of Lord Stanley of Preston. The WHL’s Red Deer Rebels are the best known modern example, but it’s a name that shows up all over lower levels of hockey here in Canada.

In the end, the name only matters so much. If the team develops into a Stanley Cup contender, fans will love them, whether they’re the Winnipeg Jets or Manitoba Mosquitoes. However, I would urge Winnipeggers, and True North in particular, not to get tunnel vision regarding the name. The Jets should be allowed to rest in peace, and Manitoban hockey fans should be allowed to move on. While it requires a little bit of outside-the-box thinking, casting back to the history of the province, and the history of hockey there in particular, there are a number of great ideas that fans could readily get on board with, if given the chance. While the new team will never replace the Jets, they can forge their own identity, and become something that fans of the Jets and Moose, as well as new fans of the game, can support with pride.

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1 – This refers specifically to the Anglophone Montreal market; the Canadiens were predominantly marketed to the Francophone population until the Maroons folded in the late 1930s.
2 – In 1978, the Cleveland Barons merged with the Minnesota North Stars. In 1991, that merger was dissolved and a dispersal draft was held; both the North Stars and Sharks participated in the subsequent expansion draft. This is, for example, how Oilers defenceman Charlie Huddy wound up in LA: the North Stars took him in the expansion draft, and then traded him to the Kings in a package for Todd Elik.

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Doogie2k has spent well over a decade avoiding a regular online writing assignment, and has thus far been smashingly successful. He can be found by email or Twitter.

In one of the hardest fought series with two of the most physical teams I’ve seen together in a final in a very long time, the better team won. Undoubtedly Vancouver is a very talented team and will perhaps one day win their cup.

Today is not that day.

This day is the day that the best team – the Boston Bruins – showed the heart of a champion in every single way. Discipline. Hard work. And determination. Home ice or no home ice, they were not to be denied.

If Vancouver wants to become a champion like Boston, they need to go through the same growing pains the 1980′s Oilers did when they lost to the Islanders.

Sometimes it’s about the mentality, not about the talent.

Of course you need to believe in your goalie to win. But after a game like that, after a press conference like that, Vigneault needed to put the message out to his team.

When I heard Vigneault felt he didn’t need to say anything to his team, it screamed of entitlement.

The same entitlement that has plagued them throughout the playoffs. You see, Vancouver was talented enough to beat every single one of the teams they faced in four games.

They really were talented enough. But in the end, they lost. But why did they go to 7 games against Chicago and Boston? 6 games against Nashville?

They simply have no heart.

In a Game 7 when all the marbles are on the line, Luongo displayed some of the least compete and determination of any Stanley Cup final goalie I have ever seen. That’s because he thinks he’s Ken Dryden and not John Vanbiesbrouck.

Boston has heart, and a lot of it. After games 3 and 4, they tuned down their retaliation. They tuned down the hooliganism with the fingers and the dirty plays.

Claude Julien and Chara made sure of it.

Do the Sedins and Vigneault have that kind of control over their locker room? Sure doesn’t seem like it. When you have guys like Hansen, Burrows and company out there not playing to retrieve the puck but playing to injure other players.

When the game was 1-0 or 2-0, it was their chance to get back into it. They chose to take the other road instead. The rest is history. Congratulations to Tim Thomas (I’ve been a fan for a very very long time!) and the Boston Bruins on their Stanley Cup win.

If the Canucks can keep their core together, get rid of the dirty players and bring in some heart, maybe I could cheer for them some day. Until that day, I’ll be glad to watch their city riot in response to a cup that was promised – but not delivered.

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Before I say too much about Game 7, I just wanted to point out a little tidbit on the CBC website written as a side article. Dan Marouelli took my thoughts and said it in the most concise and effective way, as captured here.

The wrong call, by Tim Wharnsby

The Bruins came out on top, but the final score of how the referees fared was a loss in the eyes of former NHL referee Dan Marouelli, who worked four Stanley Cup Finals (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003) and 187 playoff games during his 28-year career.

“I was disappointed in how [the game] was handled,” Marouelli told CBCSports.ca. “I think that were a number of fouls that were missed or [the referees] chose not to call them. I didn’t think they did their jobs very well. And I’m not one to criticize the officials.

“If you go back and look at some of these calls that were missed, some of them were of a serious nature.”

Marouelli pointed specifically to three incidents that were non-calls – Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara was hit without the puck on his own blue-line by Vancouver’s Chris Higgins; the Alex Burrows high hit on Rich Peverley behind the play and the spear to the leg of Johnny Boychuk by the Canucks’ Jannik Hansen.

“It was a Game 7 and … usually the team that was most disciplined were the ones to win the Cup. I didn’t see a whole lot of discipline this entire series. It affects the integrity of our sport when these type of fouls aren’t called.

“If that’s the way the National Hockey League wants to go, from what I used to do for a living it was all about upholding the integrity of the game and I think it affects the integrity of the game when those types of calls aren’t called.”

This is one of the better subscriptions on the series. I’m waiting to hear Greg’s Game 7 analysis.

Exceptional effort by both teams put out although Boston was the more resilient and forceful team for most of the game, as can be evidenced by the score.

Now the Bruins responded to what was a very physical and determined Vancouver team in Game 6 with a similar effort of their own in game 6. Although Vancouver had the jump early in Game 6 (as Boston did in Game 5) they didn’t finish on their chances whereas Boston finished on theirs. This has been a series dominated on home ice and all indications thus far is that Vancouver might win it all on Wednesday.

This is the time of year when lineups, matchups and the crowd are all intangibles in a very fine balance where the invisible hand of momentum (whatever that actually is) swings variably from team-to-team from play-to-play.

Now don’t get me wrong, if the Canucks win the Cup on Wednesday they will deserve it because they obviously earned it, and vice versa for the Bruins. But some of the reasons being offered up by fans and media make this long time hockey fan (who has read a lot of BS in his time) want to gag on the words I read and hear.

Sappy feel-good articles like this one are attributing a lot of credit to the Canucks for a Stanley Cup win they have not yet achieved. Carefully crafted to leave out the implied thesis (that the Canucks are good team that owes a lot of people to get to the Cup – which they haven’t won yet by the way), the Canadian Press article is written like a bad high school essay too afraid to state what they really want to say without jinxing what they believe they are owed – nay – what they feel they deserve. Why else would you want to read about the foundation laid for a good team? We could just as soon write about how the Pittsburgh Penguins were in the basement for many years before they had Crosby, Malkin and Staal but that story wouldn’t be as good because it wouldn’t have everybody’s favourite general manager – Brian Burke – in the story.

(And earth to Jim Morris because “dealed” is not a word. I believe the past tense is “dealt.” I’m sure it wouldn’t have had the same grammatical effect but I mean, sounding cliché is a small price to pay when you’re trying harder than a Shakespearean sonnet to strike a rhyme.)

Much has been made about how the Vancouver has one of the hardest if not the hardest schedule in the NHL based on their geographical location. Similar travel schedules belong to Edmonton, Calgary, and Minnesota.

Hold the phone everyone – those teams happen to be in the same division! That’s right – Vancouver played 24 games this season against Edmonton, Calgary, Colorado and Minnesota, teams that finished 30th, 17th, 29th and 21st overall – respectively. In fact, Vancouver was the only team in their division to make the playoffs.

Boston’s division? Montreal, Buffalo, Toronto and Ottawa – who finished 14th, 15th, 22nd and 26th overall – respectively.

Both relatively weak divisions although the Northwest was particularly atrocious (actually, the worst).

So let’s forget about the “difficult schedule” argument. Deserve it? Give me a break. That President’s Trophy might as well have been handed to them before the 82 game season.

Then some Canadian fans make the argument that the Canucks play some old time Canadian hockey. That’s as disgusting an argument as any I’ve ever heard. The tripping, biting, headhunting, diving and showmanship has been criticized of many a hockey player from Alexander Ovechkin to Sean Avery but when it’s the Canucks – it’s “Canadian.” Scotiabank seems to think so. The 18 years of waiting suddenly seems so much longer a wait than the 17 years or 16 years (should I keep counting?) since the Montreal Canadiens won it in 1993 that we have our own Alberta premier donning a Canucks jersey just recently.

Seriously – get a grip Canada.

Just because Vancouver is the only geographically Canadian team remaining doesn’t mean that we have to cheer for them. Fan loyalty has almost always been and should remain something that supercedes nationalism. The Stanley Cup is not a nationalistic Cup; not a patriotic Cup; not a partisan Cup; it is a Cup that represents the winner of the national hockey league’s post-season tournament and has nothing to do with citizenship or nationalist affiliation; to suggest otherwise is to file your sports enthusiasm along the same lines as the fascists and the communists – believing in something simply because it is the flag being flown by the powers-that-be and not because believe in what it stands for – which is the whole point of being a hockey fan in the first place.

Unless you’re a Vancouver fan first and a hockey fan second, which really just means you’ve hopped onto the bandwagon to tag along for the ride. Crap, clichés again.

Nonetheless, Cup or no Cup, the Vancouver hockey world and the hockey world in general has seen many a fan like you come and go. It’s the nature of the bandwagon. Even if your hierarchy goes Canada first, Vancouver fan and then hockey fan, it doesn’t disguise the lack of objectivity or acknowledgement of the lack thereof of these certain bandwagon-ing fans. Even the worst of Edmonton Oilers fans will admit that opinion is merely opinion (albeit my opinion is more right than yours ).

In Vancouver, it has been come fact – nay – urban legend that the NHL has the referees against them. The amount of times I’ve heard Vancouver Canucks fans claim that the Canadian team deserves to win more because hockey is Canada’s sport is forgetting that Boston is an original six team.

For myself, I try to cheer for Canadian teams when they are available if I believe in them, but it is never my excuse to cheer for a dirty team – a team that throws headshots and interference and cites physical edge as an excuse for a penalisable illegal play. A prime example in Game 6 is the Edler hit on Peverly where he wasn’t even throwing a hit to get puck possession, he was clearly trying to hurt the other guy. The obvious homerism bandwagon effect occurring not just on the ice but on the national television as well? Yeah, the CBC has dropped to an all-time low with its inability to provide an objective coverage of the series since the Canucks are “Canada’s team” after all.

For those who compare the Rome hit to the Chara/Pacioretty hit – just stop now while you’re ahead. I don’t believe Rome should have been suspended four games but those two hits are not even in the same category (although the corporate response – surprisingly – is).

Take it from a diehard Montreal Canadiens fan (for the record my hierarchy goes Edmonton, Montreal, Los Angeles, Nashville, Boston, although Tampa Bay gets a slight edge because of Roloson).

As a Montreal Canadiens fan it was very difficult to bring myself to cheer for Boston after they beat Roloson and the Tampa Bay Lightning. The pain of making the leap was eased by the solace of knowing they’d be playing against the Vancouver Canucks – President’s Trophy and all.

I cheered for Calgary in 2004 but not Ottawa in 2007. It’s not a big deal.

You see, the reason the league plays both national anthems is because we realize that hockey is an international sport. A sport where Canadians will play on American teams and Americans will play on Canadian teams. Whether or not the Canucks win it or not are irrelevant to me. I simply don’t believe in them – even if they are the NHL’s regular season champions.

It is not requisite to believe in something to have faith although it is requisite to have faith to believe in something; millions everyday see no evidence in an almighty God whether they call him Jesus or they call him Allah but believe nonetheless.

The Canucks new bandwagon fans are the same; they might not even understand hockey but they believe in their Canucks nonetheless – that is until they are losing the game – since that’s when they need their fans the most and that’s when the fans leave the building.

The Canucks fans have no idea what it’s like to be a fan of a team that has to start from scratch and all the arguments from the national papers about the Vancouver Canucks having a greenhorn fanbase that deserves the cup not in spite of terrible fans but because of terrible fans – they should ask an Edmonton Oiler fan what it means to buy into a 30th place team and cheer for them even when the public sentiment is that management is porous with resource management but the team is all that matters – arena troubles and all.

Ask an Edmonton Oiler fan. A Phoenix Coyotes fan. A Hamilton or Winnipeg or Quebec hockey fan.

It’s not about the team – it’s about the sport.

If I neglect to cheer for Vancouver – “Canada’s team” – I don’t lose my Canadian citizenship and I am no less patriotic or Canadian than the next maple-leaf donning snowbird. If I cheer for the Canucks simply because they are Canada’s last hope I not only lose the right to be an Edmonton Oilers fan – I lose the very reason behind being a hockey fan at all.

So again, when people ask me “why not cheer for the Canucks,” I laugh inside.

I laugh because I think a better question to answer first is “why?”

The die have been rolled.

The stage has been set.

As the series returns to Boston I wonder how the Bruins could have played with such a lacklustre effort in Vancouver. They did seem to dominate at times in the game but a careful analysis of the shots by another blogger showed that the majority of the shots came from the outside of the slot.

Basically, the Vancouver Canucks defense corp has returned to form albeit without Hamhuis or Rome.

Roberto Luongo has the swagger in the interview but I find it interesting that people are giving him credit for the win when it was clearly the team that won him the game that night, and not the other way around.

Props to Vancouver for finding a chink in the Tim Thomas armour by shooting it wide and passing it laterally, but if the Bruins can start to bury their chances, it could be a close call for going back to Vancouver for a Game 7.

Zdeno Chara, among others, had a lot of point-blank chances that they shot wide of the net.

The Bruins’ best players need to play like their best players when on the road, not just at home. But let’s not get away from ourselves here. They HAVE to win at home otherwise the Canucks will take the cup in Boston.

So they have to rise to the occasion?

Have they done that? Or are they going to go away from their 82 game season and long playoffs wondering why they were shooting like Tanner Glass?

It’s all or nothing time in Bean Town.

Let’s hope they play like it.

I made my thoughts on the Vancouver Canucks pretty clear last game, so I’m going to leave it at I’m glad that at least Brad Marchand is not going to take crap from anyone and willing to drop the gloves.

Some Canucks could learn something from the smallest player on the ice.

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Oilers Willing to Trade #1 Overall

Likely a part of Steve Tambellini’s plan to make the playoffs next year, he has made it clear he is willing to move the pick. What is interesting about this is whether he gets offers because he mentions that the top 5 players are all strong considerations for #1 overall.

The problem with this reasoning?

Owner’s of the other 4 of the top 5 lottery position picks are probably thinking the same thing.

Unless one of the other teams are very interested in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins way more than the player available at their position (not likely) they will not offer very much to move up a couple spots.

Most likely, I believe offers will come from teams outside the top 5, and Columbus being a team that keeps being mentioned. Whether or not Edmonton is willing to move outside the top 5 will be dependent on the makeup of the final list tendered by Stu MacGregor, and the fates of the scouting staffs league-wide. I mean, last year was an anomaly year for defensemen (Fowler being a good example) and how low the Oilers found a guy like Magnus at 10th overall in 2009.

Who knows? Maybe one of those top 5 guys will be available at the Columbus pick.

Better yet, the Ottawa rumours are great.

If the Oilers get Spezza, who although is not a worldbeater in terms of being able to carry a team even though he is a #1 center, will take some of the pressure off of Horcoff. Horcoff has never been the same since he lost all the help at his position (plus the injuries) and although we still haven’t replaced the Jarret Stoll / Kyle Brodziak / etc. role we would at least have a guy who will be a legit NHL top line forward.

Does Ottawa move Spezza?

Not likely, but they have mentioned they want to follow the “Edmonton model” in their rebuild (quixotic choice, if you ask me, since the rebuild was preceded by 4 years of futility and frustration). However Edmonton is much further along in their process, having already gone through two “Fall for Hall” types of seasons.

It does help their chances.

Lastly, a lot of talk about the Hemsky to Columbus rumours.

Hemsky may be injured a lot, but he is a legitimate leader on any team. He carries the offense, and he leads by example. His one weakness might be the powerplay (needs to calm it down a bit) but other than that I can see him rack up some nice assist totals playing on the Nash line.

Worth following.

All the talk heading into this series was about how good the Canucks were.

Heck, all the talk heading into this season was about the Stanley Cup favourites – Canada’s Canucks.

Is anybody else getting sick of the “Canucks Cup Quest” banner flying daily on the TSN NHL main page? Since when did living in Canada oblige me to cheer for Vancouver’s finger-biting, head-hunting, unsportsmanlike-diving excuse for a hockey team?

There’s no denying that GM Gillis has built one of the strongest, most skilled powerhouse teams in many a year. But there’s also no denying that until Kesler and Seidenberg stepped up to their pillow fight that the Canucks were never willing – and never will be willing – to back up their dirty play on the ice.

Always willing to agitate.

Instigate.

Dive.

Bite.

Slash.

Whatever necessary but never willing to finish their own battles. But I guess it’s the playoffs, after all. The courageous and the cowardly show themselves at this time of year. So sure, take a run at Keith Seabrook. Blindside guys like Nathan Horton.

But eventually you get what you deserve, and the Vancouver Canucks got what they deserved as the Boston Bruins romped them 8-1.

Certainly, the Canucks still are heavy favourites to win the cup and might still win the cup. But the Bruins have shown in two straight one-goal games (albeit dishearteningly not-so-well-fought by either team kind-of-games) and through this blowout game that nobody is handing the Canucks anything just yet – let alone the Stanley Cup.

People ask me why I can’t cheer for the Canucks – why I won’t cheer for the Canucks.

My friends know I love a feisty agitating kind of team. Sean Avery was once one of my favourite players (he’s not much of a player anymore).

Why don’t I like the Canucks? They ask.

The answer?

The reason teams play in the playoffs is that the 82 games before it don’t mean jack. So President’s Trophy or not, all the Canucks fans who felt that they are owed a cup – earned a cup – deserve a cup.

You aren’t; You haven’t; You don’t.

For Oilers fans who have suffered through 5 seasons of 82 games without a playoff game and 2 seasons of the worst team on the ice – good for you. But to Canucks fans who couldn’t sit through one blowout of their team at TD Garden as they were leaving after halfway through the third period – grow some kojones because a real fan sits through the thick and thin.

I can understand since that Canucks bandwagon must be getting pretty full about now.

To the Vancouver Canucks who celebrated like they won the cup when they finally – but barely – beat the Chicago Blackhawks: the Bruins have reminded them that 40 years of drought can easily turn into 41.

To all the doubters who came into this game questioning Zdeno Chara’s defensive game: I think they ignored that the Bruins also have an offensive game.

Finally, to all those Canucks’ fans who are complaining about what kinds of rights Tim Thomas has to play inside or outside of his crease, tiny Tim has the following answer:

Timmy’s going to do whatever he wants – when he wants.

Hextall would be proud.

We’ve got a series, baby.

And it’s about time.

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Game Notes:

Boston

- Thornton with a couple of what I call “Darren Helm” shifts, where he is a force of nature and you can’t knock him off the puck
- The Thornton family probably never thought it would be Shawn and not Joe that would be sticking it to the Canucks this time of year
- What a game by Daniel Paille and Brad Marchand! Their individual efforts are among the important contributions to Boston’s win
- Kaberle and Chara played poorly but it didn’t hurt the team
- Tim Thomas with the stereotypical “big save,” at the big moment

Vancouver

- The CBC commentators might scold Vigneault for not pulling Luongo earlier but I think they made the right decision: with all the doubt that was stirred in the Chicago series, sometimes it makes more sense to believe in your main guy even when he has sit through 8 goals
- Whale of a game by Malholtra and Kesler again but to no avail this time
- Bieksa and Kesler are the only agitating Canucks with the guts to stand up for themselves
- Burrows is a good player with a lot of skill but watching him dive such as with that tripping call tonight, just makes me sick

The Weakerthans probably said it best.

“The Guess Who suck, the Jets were lousy anyway [...] I hate Winnipeg!”

Now I don’t hate Winnipeg, but the Weakerthans are right about the Jets.

Anyone who knows me well knows I’m one of the biggest Jets fan not from Winnipeg. Plus, the Jets played before my time (I was pretty young) so for me it’s a kind of mysticism attached to the name. It has something to do with almost moving there at one point in my life for school, though I didn’t end up going. The University of Manitoba is quaint campus.

But the important thing about Winnipeg is the fans and the Jets fans are my kind of fans. Selling out 13,000 season tickets in 3 days is amazing. The fact that they had to wait until Moose season ticket holders were done speaks volumes more about how much faster they WOULD have sold out.

These are kind of hockey fans the NHL needs – but doesn’t deserve. Bettman should know better than to force the product down the throats of fans in Atlanta where there is no interest.

Without grassroots hoorah there can’t be any fanbase. Look how successful Nashville is. It has to start small and work itself up.

But it’s a sweet little town that’s like a smaller version of 90′s Edmonton. That’s probably why all these cross-generational Jets fans are still hanging on to ’96 when they should be looking forward to ’12.

I’m a big Jets fan but I have to admit that since they left the WHA and after their subsequent move to Phoenix as the Coyotes – they have been mostly terrible.

This guessing game has to end.

I would be happy if the NHL decided to let Chipman and company call the team the Jets – but I’d be happier if this new team carved out their own destiny free of old grudges and no need for unrealistic expectations. The Manitoba Moose – or Flood – or Falcons – or whatever it is they want to call them, have to define themselves for a new generation of Winnipeg fans.

It’s time for Winnipeg to grow up – and grow out of the Jets. Grow past the Jets.

The NHL is back.

The Jets were a throwback to a happier time but don’t forget what that team represented.

They have to be a new voice for all those hockey fans in Saskatchewan and Manitoba who don’t have an NHL team of their own, who have been lucky enough to default to the Oilers or forced to cheer for the Flames or Leafs. Maybe even the Habs.

The new Winnipeg team can be their team.

So welcome back, Winnipeg.

I interrupt to bring you more words of wisdom from the Weakerthans,

“My city’s still breathing (but barely it’s true)
through buildings gone missing like teeth.
The sidewalks are watching me think about you,
sparkled with broken glass.
I’m back with scars to show.
Back with the streets I know
Will never take me anywhere but here.”

The NHL was always going to end up back in the mosquito capital of Canada.

But forget about the Jets already. It’s time to build a better team.

A team worth hating.

After Winnipeg plays out their season in the Southeast, it is obvious that they will need to put them in the Western conference.

Another reason why they can’t be called the Jets.

Because if they’re in the West, I’m gonna have to hate ‘em.

GO BRUINS!

It’s been a while.

When our last host crapped out on us we tried to update the XML file and that crapped out too because it was too big to download. So we ended up just trying to use that host anyway and eventually the site fell into disrepair.

But this is the second coming baby.

And it feels good to be back.

Why do we do it?

Because we love hockey, and mostly, because we love the Oilers.