Mike Chen's Hockey Blog

Don’t Hit That Panic Button

by Mike Chen on 11/20/08 at 10:52 AM ET
Comments (5)

I saw this headline from the boss this morning regarding the second-to-last-place Ottawa Senators but I’m not pushing the panic button yet on any team, not even the St. Louis Blues. Put it this way: ten years ago, if I told you your team was two games under .500 and three points out of a playoff spot, would you panic? Probably not, but because of the gradual increase of parity in the league over the past decade, that sort of record will put you in the cellar.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that the traffic jam in front of a team with that record is closer than you think. So standings aren’t a reason to panic yet, not for Ottawa, St. Louis, Florida, or any other team finding them in the lower half of the leagues standings. What are genuine reasons to panic? 

Continue Reading »

Filed in: NHL | Mike Chen's Hockey Blog | Permalink
 Tags: Standings,

Mike Chen vs. Spector: Part Deux

by Mike Chen on 11/19/08 at 08:01 PM ET
Comments (0)

This is short notice, but I’ll be on Ottawa’s Team 1200 tonight doing another hockey panel with Lyle “Spector” Richardson. Tune in online here at 11 PM EST/8 PM PST.

Filed in: | Mike Chen's Hockey Blog | Permalink
 Tags: Team+1200,

The New-New-New-New-Look Lightning

by Mike Chen on 11/19/08 at 12:20 PM ET
Comments (1)

One of the biggest supposed complaints Lightning players had about Barry Melrose was that he lacked a real system. If the Bolts looked lost during games, it sounds like it was because they literally were—true defined roles and systems weren’t in place.

Whether it’s because the players didn’t gel with Melrose or because Rick Tocchet is offering some more structure, the two games that Tampa’s played has shown some statistical differences. No, not in the win column (though two shootout losses in two games isn’t exactly terrible) but more so in ice time:

Continue Reading »

Filed in: NHL | Mike Chen's Hockey Blog | Permalink
 Tags: Tampa+Bay+Lightning,

Chicago Bizarro-Hawks

by Mike Chen on 11/17/08 at 01:00 PM ET
Comments (0)

With the Chicago Blackhawks flying high (literally and figuratively) in the post-Bill Wirtz revival starring Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, I thought it’d be a reasonable time to take a quick look back at one alternative timeline for the Chicago Blackhawks. Younger fans, after all, may not realize that they missed out on an NHL titan back in the early/mid-90s—a team that really could have been even better.

Stanley Cup winners are often built around a strong pair of centers. In the 1990s, Mario Lemieux had Ron Francis, Steve Yzerman had Sergei Fedorov, and Joe Sakic had Peter Forsberg. As good as the Chicago Blackhawks were during the early/mid-90s, they only had one top-flight center in Jeremy Roenick.

However, they sure came close to getting one. In this alternate timeline, we’ll assume that all feasible trades and drafts were made in 1992 - 1994, except with one big change: Eric Lindros came to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Continue Reading »

Filed in: NHL | Mike Chen's Hockey Blog | Permalink
 Tags: Bill+Wirtz, Chicago+Blackhawks, Eric+Lindros, Mike+Keenan,

From The Blue Line To The Committed Indian

by Mike Chen on 11/16/08 at 04:33 PM ET
Comments (0)

Longtime Blackhawks fans – those with memories that can stretch from at least Ed Belfour – fondly recall a dirtsheet/newsletter/gossip rag called The Blue Line. As a Hawks fan growing up in San Jose, I’ve never actually seen one of these, just heard about their mythical status while chatting about the Hawks on old Usenet forums back in the mid-90s.

While writer/lawyer Mark Weinberg (author of Career Misconduct, the scathing take on Dollar Bill Wirtz) doesn’t put out The Blue Line anymore, a few fellows over at Second City Hockey are reviving the tradition with The Committed Indian. It’s a combination pre-game program, The Onion-style satire, and awesome statistics (e.g. Hawks record when the PA plays PJ Harvey: 0-0-0, Hawks record when Toews tries to hard: 3-3-2).  You can preview the inaugural issue from a few weeks back here.

For tonight’s issue, the Committed Indian folks have asked me to provide some commentary (f-bombs allowed) about the Sharks. You can pick up your copy outside of the United Center at tonight’s Hawks/Sharks game.

Filed in: NHL | Mike Chen's Hockey Blog | Permalink
 Tags: Chicago+Blackhawks,

Required Reading For Koules/Barrie

by Mike Chen on 11/14/08 at 04:51 PM ET
Comments (0)

I really hate quoting myself but the knee-jerk reactions in Tampa Bay, now with the firing of Barry Melrose, are taking the franchise from “amusing sideshow” to “sad joke.” Oren, Len, (and Brian Lawton if he actually does anything), please review a tale that I posted a few days ago about the 2003-04 San Jose Sharks. I think you’ll find it educational.

And a quote from a wise Jedi master: Patience! For the Jedi, it is time to eat as well.

Filed in: NHL | Mike Chen's Hockey Blog | Permalink
 Tags: Barry+Melrose, Tampa+Bay+Lightning,

Puck Rock: Sean Burke

by Mike Chen on 11/13/08 at 02:11 PM ET
Comments (1)

Sean Burke may be best known for stopping pucks (a quick stats overview: 300+ career wins, nine teams, 2001-02 Vezina finalist, two Canadian World Championships) but he’s also one of the most enthusiastic hockey people when it comes to music. Of course, if you saw him during his playing career, a quick snapshot could probably have told you that—he’s had a number of great guitar players on his goalie mask.

Today, Sean has a front-office gig with the Phoenix Coyotes as head of prospect development. A long-time guitar player, Sean’s musical tastes vary, from his beloved Led Zeppelin to old-school heavy metal to newer country artist --and he’s the focus of this edition of Puck Rock.

Continue Reading »

Filed in: | Mike Chen's Hockey Blog | Permalink
 Tags: Sean+Burke,

Check Your All-Star Voting

by Mike Chen on 11/13/08 at 01:51 AM ET
Comments (1)

I didn’t see this directly linked anywhere on the All-Star voting page, but if you want to continuously check the voting results, all you have to do is go here. Be sure to bookmark it as it supposedly updates in real time.

Filed in: NHL | Mike Chen's Hockey Blog | Permalink
 Tags: All-Star+Game,

Mike Chen Vs. Spector: Tonight!

by Mike Chen on 11/12/08 at 06:03 PM ET
Comments (2)

Have you ever wondered what would happen if there was a knock-down, drag-out, blood-and-guts UFC-style battle between me and Lyle “Spector” Richardson for title of Best Damn Fox Sports Hockey Columnist? No? Well, how about an elaborately staged WWE-style steel cage no-disqualification match? Not really your thing?

Ok, well, how about if you just tuned in tonight to Ottawa’s Team 1200 radio to hear me and Lyle be part of a hockey panel with the Late Crew for the better part of an hour? Sounds like fun, right? (Can I write any more sentences ending in question marks?)

We’ll be on tonight at 11 EST/8 PST for about 45 minutes to discuss all things hockey with the Dan and Phil of the Team 1200’s Late Crew. You can listen online here.

Filed in: | Mike Chen's Hockey Blog | Permalink
 Tags: Team+1200,

Habs Fans Get Out The Vote

by Mike Chen on 11/12/08 at 02:18 PM ET
Comments (1)

Good job, Montreal. Not only are you celebrating your centennial, you want to make sure that the All-Star Game on your home ice has your dudes in the starting lineup.

A quick snapshot of fan voting as of 11 AM PST (it literally took me an hour to get through the various screens as it seems like the servers are crashing) shows a disparate amount of votes heading towards the Montreal Canadiens. Here’s the rundown on the East:

Continue Reading »

Filed in: NHL | Mike Chen's Hockey Blog | Permalink
 Tags: All-Star+Game, Montreal+Canadiens,

 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8       Next »