WHEELIN' WEDNESDAY WHY ALFIE LEFT THE SENS & CANADIAN TEAMS ROUND UP

 WHEELIN' WEDNESDAY

THE HOCKEY WORLD ACCORDING TO LIAM MAGUIRE

RUMOURS EMERGE ABOUT ALFIE'S DEPARTURE

QUICK ROUND UP OF THE CANADIANS TEAMS SUMMERS

    A story has surfaced regarding Daniel Alfredsson's most recent departure from the Ottawa Senators. It suggests Alfredsson was asked by team owner Eugene Melnyk to shift to the upcoming Lebreton Flats development as opposed to working in the hockey operations department. Allegedly Alfredsson responded by saying he was a hockey player, is a hockey guy and knows nothing about building and development all to a nonplused Mr. Melnyk who stated that was his wish. Alfredsson for the second time exited stage door left. We'll see if anything else comes to the fore. Another thought that's been brought forth is Alfredsson has aspirations to follow the Steve Yzerman model and have an active role in player management maybe even GM one day. Who knows, either way it was a surprising split for the legacy player, yet again. 

Taking a quick look at all seven Canadian teams since the Cup was won by Pittsburgh;

Vancouver; Bo Horvat remains unsigned but they'll get it done. I said on Vancouver radio two Monday's ago he'd be in the 3.5-4.0 AVV, maybe a five year deal. We'll see how it plays out. Vancouver are treading water. They signed a number of steady, solid NHL players who may help them to a small bump in the standings ( 69 points last year ) but still a long way from a playoff spot. Ryan Miller is gone after playing his heart out for three years but to be honest the biggest agenda item on Vancouver's plate, the Sedin's are off the books after this season. How Vancouver moves beyond them in 12 months or with them in smaller roles and for less cash will be thee biggest determination in their 3-5 year future.  

Winnipeg; The question remains what can the Jets do to make some noise in their division/conference? They moved from Atlanta five seasons ago and have one playoff appearance to show for it. They have one of the best young talents in the game in Patrik Laine; Byfuglien is 31 but coming off a productive season and is a beast on the backend. Kulikov is an upgrade for them on D; Blake Wheeler could captain my team any day and the hope is Steve Mason helps upgrade the goaltending with Hellebuyck now resigned. Going up and down the line up what is there to really inspire the thought they can move up? Scheifele is fantastic also. They are a young team and if they can get goaltending that can be close to a .920 SV % and a GAA of 2.20 or less, they will make the playoffs. They were 7th in scoring and will only improve on that this season.  

Calgary; Sam Bennett isn't signed yet but like Horvat you have to think this is done sooner than later. Calgary had a little bit of Montreal-itus in the playoffs; four games, nine goals scored four of them by one player, former Ottawa 67 Sean Monahan. Johnny Hockey-nada....two assists. Their top scoring D, Doug Hamilton who had 50pts in the regular season including 13G, one assist in the four playoff games. One of my favourite NHL players is on the Flames; Michael Ferland, love that guy. 6'2" 208. He's improved his points in three successive seasons, fifteen goals last year and I expect 40+ pts from him this year. he had 50pims last year and they all came from majors including nine fights! Love it....The biggest change for the Flames has definitely been in net. Out are Chad Johnson and Brian Elliot, in are Eddie Lack and Mike Smith. That's an upgrade albeit it marginally and to be honest Chad Johnson played very well for Canada at the World Championships so we'll see how it goes.  Calgary like everybody else in the Pacific are hoping to keep the bright lights of Edmonton on their radar screen. 

Edmonton; If the hockey world is waiting to see what McDavid and the Oilers can do for an encore they equally are waiting to see what Draisaitl signs for. After the vault opened up for McDavid and rightfully so what does that make LD worth given he scored one less regular season goal, is only one year older and outscored Connor in the playoffs, significantly. We all know he's not Connor. Nobody is other than Crosby but this has got the hockey worlds interest for sure. That said given the amount of cap space Edmonton has available ( almost 17M-with LD to sign) the watch in Oil country down the road will be what will they do with Nugent-Hopkins who has four years left at 6M. Slowly but surely the ridiculous contracts handed out by Craig MacTavish are being eliminated. Jordan Eberle going to the NYI for Ryan Strome comes 51 weeks after Taylor Hall was shipped out for Adam Larsson. Can RNH be a part of the short term plan to make a Cup final or beyond if his role is diminished or sees him moved off the top six? Or maybe he could be dealt with Edmonton picking up some of his salary. Strome will likely play wing on either McDavid's or Draisaitl's line. The Oilers were ripped off in the playoffs by the most asinine non call for goalie interference on Ryan Kesler and frankly that happened in back to back games, goalie calls that were brutal. McDavid is the 'next one' these guys are good. Their D is not ready for prime time but they are close and Cam Talbot is solid.

Toronto; If the majority of eyes are on Edmonton in the west they are on Toronto in the East. Trying to rise from the ashes of a 50 year Cup drought the leagues most exciting team in 2017 has all of a sudden added years to their roster with no less than seven players north of 30yrs old. The biggest signing and the one that drew the most controversy was Patrick Marleau. He'll be 38 by the time the season starts, his 6.2M is on the books regardless of what happens to him in the next three years yet I really liked the signing. 27 goals last year, finals two years ago, he's pumped to have a chance to play with the kids and I think he'll be real solid for them this year. Toronto will deal with him and his contract down the road either way there's nothing to suggest he won't be a solid forward for them this year. Everybody knows how the Leafs are going to get back to under the cap after being smoked in bonus money payouts,( over 5M) in fact 2nd most in NHL history only behind the 2008 Penguins. Nathan Horton and Joffrey Lupul will go on LTIR ( long term injury reserve) that 10.5 comes off, they'll sign Connor Brown and with the addition of Ron Hainsey Toronto will challenge for first in the Atlantic. Yes the Shan-a-plan has sped up and that was likely somewhat due to the push they gave the Caps. Then again, Washington are a brutal playoff team, forever...We'll see how it plays out but I like what's going on in TO.

Ottawa; Cue the Karlsson watch; he has two years left on his deal and is eligible for renegotiation on July 1, 2018. His mentor and Swedish compatriot leaves the team, again; his D partner is not protected in the expansion draft, some say because Pierre Dorion did not want to risk losing Brassard for nothing having given up Zibanejad to get him. That's pure speculation of course but it is food for thought. Karlsson played some of the best hockey of his life last year especially in the playoffs. Kyle Turris is a UFA after this season. Can Craig Anderson carry the starters role over a full season? Bottom line the Sens have earned a mulligan on any negativity IMO. When you get to within one goal of the Cup final against the team that were defending the Cup and won it again no less, you've earned that. The Pageau contract was excellent. There is much anticipation for the arrival of Thomas Chabot and Colin White will hopefully get a longer look in the lineup next year. Here's the deal as I see it with the Sens; they should make the playoffs. If their nucleus play as well as they did in the playoffs they'll challenge for first in the Atlantic and could certainly win a few rounds again in the playoffs. Nate Thompson replaces Chris Kelly; Chris Neil, unfortunately may not get a deal anywhere and given he's my all time favourite Sens player that's too bad if it's finally over. What a warrior. 

Montreal; the Habs exchanged four quarters for a buck losing Radulov and gaining Drouin but as you gaze up and down their roster the same questions remain. Can whoever is tagged with producing their offense do it when it matters most? Montreal were not expected to do much in 2014 with a 3rd place finish in the division and 215 goals scored however they roared into the semi-finals and were it not for a Carey Price injury after being run by Kreider they quite likely make the finals. It was unheralded players like Rene Bourque and Dale Weiss who scored huge goals that playoff year. Just like Pageau for Ottawa this year or Guentzel for Pittsburgh, you need your big guns to score but you also need your utility players.

 The Drouin trade is a major win for Montreal, at this point. The Russian quotient has been all but eliminated. Markov was a warrior for the Habs but to think he asked for a raise on a 2yr deal to take him to 40 is ridiculous. My prediction for Montreal, they make the playoffs all day with a healthy lineup and Carey Price- which was another excellent signing - and I predict a major trade deadline deal this season. This is Bergevin's last kick at the can. He needs this team to go deep, at least a SF appearance in my opinion especially if they stay relatively healthy.  

Snappers

-Aaron Judge's opening night sweater sold at an auction for 160K.  That wasn't even the opening bid for Paul Henderson's iconic sweater from game 8, 1972 Summit Series. Henderson's famous number 19 ended up selling for 1.2M in an auction in 2012.

-people have suggested to me the Habs ( or anybody ) should sign Jagr. Why? He's a 45 year old side show. A first ballot HOF player, no question but his day is done. There are four descriptions of an NHL team; non playoff team; a team that hopes to make the playoffs; a team that hopes to win a round maybe two and finally a legit Cup threat. Jagr only helps team A, sell some tickets, score a few goals, everybody gushes over him as he rolls 25 years beyond his last Cup where he was a 3rd liner.

Wheelin' Wednesday appears periodically on.....Wednesday's.  For a short period of time it will feature pictures of beautiful women because beautiful women make the world go round.  When golfing, it's best to line up your putt's properly.....And thanks to the lovely Megan for excellent bar cart service at Tallon last week.