Green Machine Musings- One Last Look Back (Part I)

 

                 Hey Stars fans!  In this edition of Green Machine Musings, we will take a look at the story of the Dallas Stars away from the ice in 2013-14.  I promise, after this post there will be little looking back and a ton of looking forward in my column.  Alas, we should do justice to the men who built this team and examine how well they did their jobs this season.

 

Owner Tom Gaglardi, President Jim Lites and Company       A-        Simply put, from 2008 to 2011, the Dallas Stars were one of the most poorly run organizations in hockey.  Now, they are a top class organization with the resources and personnel required to compete for the Stanley Cup.  The turnaround began at the top and started working its way down in November of 2011, when Vancouver businessman Tom Gaglardi bought the team.  A man with deep roots in hockey and a personal connection to North Texas, this man was precisely what the organization needed after floundering through three years of bankruptcy after the bottom dropped out of the economy (and owner Tom Hicks' wallet) in 2008.  2013-14 was essentially Gaglardi's first full year as owner of the club because he purchased the Stars midseason in 2011-12 and 2012-13 was a season cut in half by hockey's third lockout in two decades.  With a full season to work with, he set out to leave his mark on the organization this year.  He overwhelmingly succeeded in doing so, and we could not be happier with the results.

              What I think makes Gaglardi the ideal owner is his willingness to allocate authority to individuals that he sees as fit (go ahead and be envious, Cowboys fans).  When Gaglardi took over the team back in 2011, one of his first moves was to re-hire Jim Lites as Team President.  Lites, who had held the position previously on two separate occasions (1993-2002 and 2003-2007), is a master of promoting the team and maintaining positive relationships with the fan base and the DFW community.  Together, these two individuals and their front office staff have rebuilt the image of the Dallas Stars, both figuratively and literally.  In regards to the latter, this team went from having some of the most drab uniforms in the NHL to being instant eye candy for all who watched them, as the club's new "victory green" uniforms were unveiled on June 4th.  According to everyone involved, the process of creating the new uniform was neither quick nor easy, but it appears that Tom Gaglardi was spot on when he said, just prior to the release, that he thought that the new jerseys and logo created "a look to stand the test of time."  I could not agree more, as the shade of green was adopted by the DFW community at a breakneck pace. A Dallas Stars jersey is once again something to be shown off by all who don it.

 

 

               At the same time, Tom Gaglardi and his crew have been working very hard to make going to Stars games a prominent part of the Dallas entertainment scene once again.  Unfortunately, attendance fell off so rapidly after 2008 that it both has been and remains a long road back at the turnstiles for this team.  Charts like this won't go away overnight:

 

 RK        TEAM              TOTAL            AVG            PCT

  1          Chicago            927,545           22,623          117.6

  2          Detroit              908,131           22,149          110.4

  3          Los Angeles     779,734           19,017          107.6

  4          Vancouver       810,594           19,770           107.2

  5          Toronto            797,310           19,446           103.3

  6          Minnesota        758,729           18,505           103.1

 ....

 25         New Jersey       625,570          15,257            88.7

 26         Florida              581,286          14,177            83.2

 27         Carolina            634,832          15,483            82.9

 28         Columbus         602,619          14,698            81.0

 29         Phoenix            564,798          13,775            80.4

 30         Dallas               601,008          14,658            79.1

This chart was published by ESPN.  For numbers 6-24, visit espn.com/NHL.

 

              Yep, that chart shows the Dallas Stars as being dead last in the NHL in terms of the percentage of seats in the arena sold for each regular season home game (although I tend to believe that Florida and Phoenix fudged the numbers a bit).  However, such an unsightly ranking is not indicative of the efforts of the Stars' marketing board and ticketing staff.  In addition, the new owner has both allocated funds to advertise the team in all forms of media and remains committed to keeping tickets affordable for the average fan.  Stars tickets remain the cheapest in hockey and there is no indication that a price hike is imminent despite the team's appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  And to top it all off, this team works very hard to establish and maintain good relationships with customers like myself.  My ticketing representative, Travis Gafford, made the process of getting my partial season tickets extremely easy and I highly recommend him to anyone interested in getting a package deal of any sort.  In short, filling the AAC on a consistent basis is a lengthy process, but we're getting there.  Pretty soon, crowds like those we saw on Modano night and during the series against Anaheim will be making our barn loud and proud more often than not.

 

              Now, I can talk about upper management, new uniforms and ticket sales all I want, but none of these things contributed to the immediate success of the team on the ice this season.  Not to worry, Tom Gaglardi didn't neglect to leave his mark on the on-ice product as well.  In buying this team two years earlier, he was taking over a rebuild that was years in the making, but had yet to really get underway.  The owner accelerated it in a big way at the end of the lockout-shortened 2013 season.  See Part II of this post for the rest of the ongoing saga behind the scenes for the Dallas Stars.

 

Christian Bussler

@c_buss15

2014 FIFA World Cup: Groups E-H

Less than 24 hours until kickoff! Here is the second part of my group predictions for this year's World Cup.

Group E

Another relatively weak group in which the French should be favorites. France are looking to erase memories of the last World Cup where they finished dead last in their group. This year's squad is a lot different than the last however, and France has a strung together a good series of results. Raphael Varane and Bacary Sagna will anchor the defense while Yohan Cabaye and Paul Pogba pull the strings in midfield. Karim Benzema will likely start at forward, but Olivier Giroud gives France some depth. They should win this group. Ecuador will also fancy their chances of advancing from this group. Their biggest problem is the back line, which is an interesting mix of inexperience and older players who may be losing their form. They also lose their best central midfielder, Segundo Castillo for at least the first game, and likely the second. Where Ecuador is dangerous is one on one: Antonio Valencia and Jefferson Montero are very good in these situations. Switzerland was actually the seeded team for this group, and they have a young team that will push every team in this group. Three Napoli midfielders (Valon Behrami, Blerim Dzemaili, and Gokhan Inler) are the key to the team. Xherdan Shaqiri is a bright young talent that will play on either wing and Josip Drmic is poised for a big World Cup after finishing in the top 5 scorers in the Bundesliga. Honduras make it to their second straight World Cup, and though they didn't win a game last time, they were influential in eliminating Switzerland (who coincidentally are in their group yet again). This group is certainly more manageable than 4 years ago, but getting out is still a long shot. The back line is experienced, specifically Maynor Figueroa who plays in the Premier League for Hull City. Wilson Palacios is their best player. The central midfielder also plays in England for Stoke City, and every attack will go through him.

Prediction

1. France
2. Switzerland
3. Ecuador
4. Honduras


Group F

This group features a relatively easy draw for Argentina, and should they win the group, could set up a match-up with Brazil in the final. Argentina is favored to go far, and of course they'll look to none other than Lionel Messi to step up. Argentina is loaded up front with Messi, Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain and Ezequiel Lavezzi.  Javier Mascherano will likely start in the center, but it's the defense and goalkeeping that may undo Argentina. Pablo Zabaleta is one of the best right backs in the world, but the central defense is a huge question mark. There are even bigger question marks at goalie, with Sergio Romero the number 1, but if he plays like he did at the last World Cup, expect a change. Bosnia-Herzegovina make their first World Cup appearance, and they are a dark horse for me. Even if they finish second in the group, they get a favorable draw against the Group G winners.Like Argentina, Bosnia boast a great attack with Edin Dzeko the main star, but Miralem Pjanic is also expected to play a big role. Defense is a little shaky, with Emir Spahic being the only experienced player. Bosnia also don't have a very good bench, and depth becomes a key once you get past the group stages. Nigeria will also have a good shot at finishing second. The Super Eagles will look to the speed and creativity of Chelsea midfielder Victor Moses. Unlike the previous two teams, Nigeria has more experience on defense, led by Joseph Yobo, who played in the 2002 and 2010 World Cups. Iran is a clear underdog in this group, and a single point should be considered a mild success. Coach Carlos Queiroz was able to guide Iran through qualifiers, and his coaching will be key if Iran are to win. Most of Iran's players don't play in major European leagues, Fulham's Ashkan Dejagah being the one exception.

Prediction

1. Argentina
2. Bosnia-Herzegovina
3. Nigeria
4. Iran


Group G

There is little doubt about it, this is the group of death, and unfortunately the Americans are in it. This is also the part where you probably expect me to pick them to make it out of the group and shock the world, but I just can't see it happening. Even with Marco Reus missing, Germany may have the most depth at this World Cup. They are certainly a favorite to life the trophy. Germany may also have the best mid-field at this tournament with the likes Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mesut Ozil, and Mario Gotze. The defense is also loaded with stars like Phillip Lahm and Mats Hummels. Where Germany may have some issues is at at forward. Miroslav Klose is the all time leading scorer, and needs just one goal to tie Ronaldo's record for most career World Cup goals. However, he is 36 and struggled for his club this year. Mario Gomez and Thomas Muller may be inserted in his place. Portugal are likely favorites to get the second spot, and to me a dark horse to win the tournament. Contrary to popular belief, Portugal is not just Cristiano Ronaldo. Joao Moutinho and Raul Meireles enjoyed great seasons at their respective clubs. On defense, Pepe and Fabio Coentrao highlight an experienced and underrated group. In my opinion, this is the group of death because of Ghana, the best African team. Ghana's major weakness is mental toughness with many of the players quitting the national team at some point. They are very strong up front with Asamoah Gyan, Kevin-Prince Boateng, and Jordan Ayew. The midfield, led by AC Milan duo Sulley Muntari and Michael Essien, is also loaded. Defense is a bit of a question mark. Jonathan Mensah is a solid center back, but the rest of the group is relatively inexperienced. The United States are the underdog in this group, but getting out of the group is not impossible. I question why the chose Sao Paulo as their base camp, meaning they have to travel almost 10,000 miles in the group stage alone. The key will be the first game, they HAVE to win it to have any shot at getting out. Ghana seems to be the U.S. kryptonite, eliminating them from the last two World Cups. Personally, I disagree with leaving Landon Donovan off the roster. Even if coach Jurgen Klinsmann didn't start him, Donovan could come off the bench or just be there as a veteran leader. I also would've picked Eddie Johnson over Chris Wondolowski. Jozy Altidore recently ended a 6 month goal drought, hopefully that means his form will improve. Michael Bradley to me is a very underrated midfielder. His passing is on point and he is a true box to box midfielder. The defense is what worries me the most. They are inexperienced and seem to be slow at times. Geoff Cameron and Matt Besler will have their hands full in this group of death.

Prediction

1. Germany
2. Portugal
3. Ghana
4. United States


Group H

In this group you have two teams that are dark horses in Belgium and Russia. The Belgians have seen an incredible revival, and their main weakness in this tournament will be lack of experience. Talent-wise though, this team is stacked with young superstars: Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Axel Witsel, Dries Mertens, Kevin De Bruyne, Jan Vertonghen, Thomas Vermaelen, Vincent Kompany, and Thibaut Cortois just to name a few. Unfortunately, the winner of this group likely faces Portugal while the runner up likely faces Germany. Russia will fight with Belgium for the top spot, but may be looking at the next World Cup (which they will host) as their real shot at going far. Coach Fabio Capello brings a plethora of knowledge and experience, and he decided to pick only players from the Russian league. The experienced center back duo of Vasili Berezutski and Sergei Ignashevich will look to keep opponents out, while Yuri Zhirkov will link up with the forwards. Alexander Kokorin is the future of Russian strikers, and he's likely to start in this tournament. South Korea's main problem is the defense, who's most capped player, Kwak Tae-hwi, has only 33 caps. The Koreans actually have multiple players in major European leagues including Lee Chung-yong, arguably their best midfielder. Ji Dong-won and Son Heung-min enjoyed good seasons in the Bundesliga. Look out for 6'5" forward Kim Shin-wook. Algeria are one of the most inexperienced sides at this tournament but will look for defender Madjid Bougherra to continue leading the team. Sofiane Feghouli had a great season for Valenica, and most attacks will go through him. Islam Slimani will be looked upon to keep up his scoring pace for the national team. Slimani has 9 goals in just 18 games and was the leading scorer in qualifiers.

Prediction

1. Belgium
2. Russia
3. South Korea
4. Algeria


Final Thoughts

The World Cup only comes around once every four years, so if you have the chance to watch, I encourage you to do so. Keep in mind no European team has ever won a World Cup in North or South America, and until 2010, no European team had won outside of Europe. I think that trend continues this year, and I have three South American teams in my semi-finals. I do think someone will finally solve Spain, in this case Uruguay. Also, opening games are usually very cautious, nervous games. Don't be surprised if Brazil-Croatia ends in a tie. Before I finish, I'll give you my predictions for the final 4.

Winner: Brazil
Runner-up: Argentina
Third Place: Germany
Fourth Place: Uruguay

2014 FIFA World Cup: Groups A-D

It's finally time. The event that captures the entire world is only a few days away! Even those who aren't usually soccer fans tune in for the World Cup. To put things in perspective, the Super Bowl this year was watched by just over 100 million people. The last World Cup final was watched by almost a billion! It's a showcase of the best players in the world representing their respective countries. I personally get chills when I hear the national anthems played and the players are singing along. You can tell how much this means to all of them. Before I give my analysis and predictions for the first four groups, I'll highlight some general headlines to watch for.

Brazil as Host Country

On paper, having the World Cup in Brazil is genius. Not only has Brazil won the World Cup a record 5 times, they constantly produce some of the best talent in the game. This year's team is no exception, from Neymar up front, to guys like Ramires and Oscar in the middle, and Thiago Silva in the back, Brazil have a VERY good team. Playing in front of home fans will surely put the pressure on the Selecao and they are the favorite to win it all. Brazil last hosted the World Cup in 1950 when they lost the final to Uruguay in front of 200,000 people. It is considered one of the biggest upsets in the history of the World Cup. Uruguay is also in this World Cup, and there is even a chance the teams play each other in the final (though it is sort of a long shot). As great as having the World Cup in Brazil is, there are some problems that continue within the country. Preparation of stadiums is the arguably the biggest, with Sao Paulo and Curitiba not expected to be ready on time. Rio de Janeiro's  mayor recently said he thinks having 12 host cities was a mistake (8 are required). Other than stadiums, there have been numerous protests and strikes from groups who feel the billions of dollars Brazil spent to prepare for the World Cup could've been better used. Recently, subway workers in Sao Paulo went on strike, saying they will not come back for the World Cup if they don't get a pay raise. Don't panic too much though, South Africa had more than its fair share of problems, and that World Cup turned out ok.

Best Two Players in the World With a Chance to Shine on the Biggest Stage

There's very little debate: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the two best players in the world. Who's better? That's really a matter of opinion because you can make an argument for both (Personally I think Ronaldo is the better player). While both players are surrounded by superstars in their respective club teams, they don't have quite the firepower when playing for their countries. Portugal and Argentina are still VERY good teams, don't get me wrong, but it's nothing like Real Madrid or Barcelona. One reason why I think Ronaldo is the better player is he's done better for his country with less. I would argue that overall Argentina is better than Portugal. Messi has never gotten past the quarterfinals with Argentina in the World Cup, while Ronaldo helped them to a 4th place finish in 2006, and to the Euro 2004 Final. Messi has also done very little for Argentina in the Copa America (South American championship).  Messi was better during Argentina's qualifying campaign this year, but Ronaldo stole the show in the UEFA playoff, scoring all 4 goals over two legs, guiding Portugal past Sweden. Both players are now in the prime of their careers, and expect both to have great performances. Many argue Messi will never be considered the greatest of all-time if he doesn't win a World Cup. What happens to Ronaldo's legacy if he is able to somehow guide Portugal to the final?

Missing Stars

While Ronaldo and Messi will both play in the World Cup, a host of great players will miss this year's tournament. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is arguably the most notable. It was Ibrahimovic vs. Ronaldo in the UEFA playoff, with Ronaldo triumphing 4-2 (literally, each player scored all of the goals for his respective team). Anyone who's watched Zlatan play knows how skilled of a player he is. Unfortunately, he plays on a Sweden side that overall have suffered in quality over the last few years. Now Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski will also miss out. Poland never really threatened to qualify, despite having a manageable group. The state of Polish soccer is very poor, and there is a huge need to bring a big name coach to put it together. Of course this section couldn't be complete without mentioning the most expensive signing in the history of soccer, Gareth Bale. Bale is from Wales, who have only played in the World Cup once. The team as a whole is not very good, and being in the 5th pot out of 6 in Europe means the Welsh will have tough qualifying groups for the foreseeable future. Other players won't be there because their respective national teams simply didn't call them up. Carlos Tevez of Argentina and Carlos Vela of Mexico are the biggest names. Still other players will miss out because of injuries. Marco Reus (Germany), Franck Ribery (France), and Radamel Falcao (Colombia) were recently ruled out, and a host of other players recently suffered injuries in friendlies (some gruesome, like Mexico's Luis Montes). While most of these teams can deal with losses of players, some of these guys are literally top 10 players in the world, so they will be hard to replace.


Group A

Any team drawn into this group knew they would face the tall task of having to play Brazil. The other three teams in the group include Mexico, Croatia, and Cameroon. I expect Brazil to win this group, though they may not win the first game against Croatia. Usually World Cup openers are very tense, nervous games that end in draws. Overall, Brazil may be the best team from top to bottom. Usually it's the defense and goalies that do them in, but Thiago Silva and experienced veteran Julio Cesar should provide stability. Second place will be a dog fight between Croatia and Mexico. On paper, Croatia is the better team, but the difference isn't huge. They have one of the best midfielders in Luka Modric who enjoyed a career year for Real Madrid. Croatia may have trouble scoring goals though, and Mario Mandzukic is suspended for the opener. Mexico have played much better since hiring new coach Miguel Herrera. The Mexicans needed the United States' help to get to the CONCACAF-Oceania playoff, but they easily trashed New Zealand. The injury to Luis Montes may be crucial, and there is some confusion as to who will play up front, with Javier Hernandez reportedly demoted to the bench. Cameroon is a team that may get by because the other teams will overlook them. Samuel Eto'o will be asked to step up, and the striker had a largely mediocre season at Chelsea. The loser of the Mexico-Cameroon game (if there is one) is all but finished.

Prediction

1. Brazil
2. Croatia
3. Mexico
4. Cameroon


Group B

This is in my opinion the third toughest group behind D and G. Defending champions Spain have a tall task just to get out of the group, though they should win this group. Chile and the Netherlands will fight it out for second, while Australia are seen as the clear underdog. The opening match between Spain and the Netherlands is a rematch of the 2010 final, and a Netherlands win would really shake up this group. Spain are one of the favorites to win the World Cup, but they are older than last time and it seems as though teams are figuring out how to play against them. The inclusion of Diego Costa is a huge boost, because Spain really have no striker depth. The midfield may be the best in the world with Iniesta and Xavi expected to pull the strings yet again. The defense is also still solid with Gerard Pique and Sergio Ramos anchoring the back line. Chile are a team that not many people really know about, but they are my favorite to finish second. Alexis Sanchez, Arturo Vidal, and Gary Medel give the Chileans a super star at each position (forward, midfield, defense). Chile play a hard press, forcing opponent turnovers and counterattacking goals. The players have tremendous stamina. The Netherlands are looking to get back to the World Cup final after a terrible performance at the 2012 Euros. The team is older, but also has some fresh faces, and it's the new guys that will determine how far this team will go. The back line is inexperienced, and the speed and pressing of Chile could be a significant problem. Robin Van Persie and Arjen Robben are still superstars, but they are older and can't be expected to carry this team. Australia come in as huge underdogs, but don't be surprised if the Socceroos play a part in this group. I don't expect Australia to make it out, but if they steal points from the Netherlands or Chile (or maybe Spain), it can shake up the group.

Prediction

1. Spain
2. Chile
3. Netherlands
4. Australia


Group C

This group is one of the weakest, and every team has a good chance of making it out. The problem is the match-up with Group D in the second round. I don't see any of these teams making it past the round of 16. Colombia would be the clear favorite, but the injury to Falcao knocks them down a few notches. Luckily, Colombia have Carlos Bacca and Teo Gutierrez to cover. These guys are relatively unknown right now, but if Colombia go far, they will play a huge role. James Rodriguez and Juan Cuadrado provide tons of speed in midfield, while Juan Zuniga provides the same at left back. Greece are a very interesting team. They struggle in World Cups, but they won Euro 2004 and made it out of the group at the last Euros. They play an old school, physical, defensive style that seems to get results. Led in the back by Borussia Dortmund's Sokratis Papastathopolous, the Greek's may park the bus and look to counter with Georgios Samaras (who looks like Jesus) and rising star Kostas Mitroglou. Japan are one of the most technically gifted teams at the tournament. Led by their stars in mid-field Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa, I see the Japanese as one of the teams making it out of this group. Maya Yoshida and Yuto Nagatomo provide a solid presence in the back. The only worry I have about Japan is a lack of big name strikers. The Ivory Coast are in my opinion Africa's best shot at getting out of the group stages. They still have plenty of firepower up front with Didier Drogba and Gervinho. Salomon Kalou and Yaya Toure will provide great support in midfield. The Ivorians' weak link is their defense, which is a little older and slower than what you may want. This group gave me the biggest challenge/headache for predictions.

Prediction

1. Colombia
2. Japan
3. Ivory Coast
4. Greece


Group D

Another tough group, this one is littered in history as Uruguay, England, and Italy have all won the World Cup, Italy 4 times. Much like Australia in Group B, Costa Rica will look to play spoiler, and have some added motivation as Uruguay beat Costa Rica in the playoff to get to the last World Cup. Italy are fresh off a terrific performance in the 2012 Euros, where they finished 2nd. Veteran Andrea Pirlo may be the most intelligent midfielder in the world right now; he plays alongside another superstar in Daniele De Rossi. Marco Veratti is a rising star who could have a coming out party this World Cup. On defense, the Italians have Giorgio Chiellini and Andrea Barzagli. In case they falter, Gigi Buffon, provides cover in goal, and was on the 2006 World Cup winning team. Of course I can't forget about Mario Balotelli up front, but Ciro Immobile may also be poised for a big tournament. Uruguay seek to build on their 4th place finish in 2010, and their Copa America Championship in 2012. Like Italy, Uruguay have depth at nearly every position, most notably at forward. Luis Suarez will be fit and will play alongside Edinson Cavani. The defense features Diego Godin, Diego Lugano, and Martin Caceres. The experience and talent of Uruguay will get them out of this group. England actually had a decent Euro 2012 and qualified undefeated. Yet there is a sense that this team is in a bit of a decline, with players like John Terry, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, and Ashley Cole getting old. Daniel Sturridge, Adam Lallana, Raheem Sterling and Gary Cahill are less experienced guys that could break out, but it's a tall task in this group. Wayne Rooney may have to carry this team if they want to make it out of the group. Costa Rica were already huge underdogs, but losing arguably their best player in Joel Campbell puts them even further away from making it out. Still, the Ticos are always a tough, scrappy opponent, and a draw will shake up the entire group.

Prediction

1. Italy
2. Uruguay
3. England
4. Costa Rica

Adam Bakiera
@abakiera

Follow me throughout the World Cup! Also, please comment and give your own predictions! 

2014 FIFA World Cup: By the Numbers

FIFA WORLD CUP STARTS ON THURSDAY!!! Some numbers to crunch in the meantime...

Across the Pond: Post Season Edition Part 3

The World Cup is less than a week away! Coming up in the next few posts will be my predictions and analysis of each group. But before I get to that, I'll recap the Serie A, and some of the less known leagues in Europe.

Serie A

Champion: Juventus (30th title, 3rd straight)

Champions League (2nd, 3rd): Roma, Napoli

Europa League (4th, 5th, 7th*): Fiorentina, Inter Milan, Torino (Parma finished 6th, but was unable to obtain a UEFA license to play in cups due to overdue tax debt).

Coppa Italia: Napoli

Relegation (18th, 19th, 20th): Catania, Bologna, Livorno

What looked like a potential three horse race for the title became a one horse race in January. Juventus ran away with the Serie A title, winning their 3rd straight. Never before had a Serie A team broken the 100-point barrier, nor won 33 games in a single campaign. Never before had an Italian side posted a perfect home record in a 20-club top flight, nor found the net in 37 out of their 38 fixtures. They failed to make it out of the group stages in the Champions League, however, so they didn't have to play as many games after Christmas. Roma looked like they would mount a serious title challenge by winning their first 10 games, but they faded down the stretch. Napoli also added some firepower before the season, but never threatened Juventus. "The Old Lady", as Juventus is sometimes called, were also seen as favorites to win the Europa League, especially with the final in Turin, but lost to Benfica in the semi-finals. The two big Milan clubs (Inter and AC Milan) had disappointing seasons yet again. These teams once ruled Italy and Europe, but Inter finished 5th and AC Milan 8th. Serie A was the best league in the world 10 years ago, but today one can argue it isn't even top 4. Of course there was more drama with Mario Balotelli (shocker) when in February it turned out he was the father of a child of an Italian model. I've always been a huge Balotelli critic because he has the talent to be one of the best players in the world. Unfortunately, it looks like he refuses to grow up. Nonetheless, Juventus and Roma will be dangerous teams in next year's Champions League. Catania is the most notable team relegated, they leave Italy's top flight after 8 years.

My Awards

Player of the Season:  Carlos Tevez (Juventus)

With Juventus breaking all sorts of records, it's only fair to assume they had the best player in the league on their team. Tevez finished third in the scoring race, and added 7 assists. Throughout his career though, Tevez has been notorious for two things: his off the field antics and his incredible on the field work rate. He's probably the best "defensive" forward in the game, in the sense that he helps out by coming back and he also pressures defenders up the field. It looks like he may have found a more permanent home in Turin after spells with West Ham, and both Manchester teams. He was critical to Juventus' record breaking season, and will be crucial for them next year

Manager of the Season: Rudi Garcia (AS Roma)

In one of the biggest surprises of the season, Rudi Garcia guided his men to a second place finish after Roma finished 7th the year before. In fact, in most seasons, Garcia's team would've challenged for the title, but this was, of course, a record breaking year for the champions. Still, hats off to Roma for providing the stiffest challenge to Juventus,easily claiming second place, and more importantly a Champions League spot. Roma could be a Champions League dark-horse next year.

Goal of the Season: Alessandro Lucarelli (Parma) vs. Torino

What makes this goal even more impressive is Lucarelli plays center defense.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26ElMB933F8

Honorable mention goes to Mario Balotelli of AC Milan for his strike against Bologna

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWCd3MNQA8Q

Signing of the Season: Luca Toni (Hellas Verona)

This may be the signing of the season for the entire European Continent. Hellas were picked by many to go right back down to Serie B, but instead, the club challenged for an Europa League spot for most of the season. In the end, Hellas finished 10th, just 3 points outside of a Europa League berth. A big reason for this was Toni, who came over from Fiorentina on a FREE TRANSFER and was the second leading scorer. Talk about bang for your buck! On top of that Toni is 36, so he may have found the fountain of youth. There were even reports that he may make the Italian National Team for this summer's World Cup, which in the end didn't happen. Still, it was a great signing by Hellas, and a great season for Toni.

Rest of Europe Recap

This may be one of the hardest sections to write about, because literally every country in Europe has a soccer league, and some of these leagues have even produced Champions League winners in past years. Recently though, it's hard for teams outside the top 4 leagues (England, Spain, Germany, Italy) to even make it to the quarterfinals of the competition. FC Porto were the last team outside of the top 4 leagues to win the competition in 2004, coincidentally, they beat another team outside of the top 4 leagues in AS Monaco. There may be a change in the top 4 soon though. The French league (Ligue 1) is threatening to displace Italy's Serie A. Serie A was hit by multiple match fixing scandals in the past few years, resulting in players leaving and the league declining. On the flip side, the French league has seen Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and AS Monaco gain new ownership. Both owners are billionaires, and have invested heavily in bringing in new players. In fact, PSG was linked with a move for Barcelona's Lionel Messi, with the French club seriously considering offering almost 200 million Euros for Messi. They've also made it to the quarterfinals in the last two Champions Leagues.

It's also important to mention some of the other leagues because they have great, young players that could be household names very soon. This is especially true if you watch the English Premier League, as more and more teams are bringing in young players from outside of England, rather than developing players from their own youth leagues. One league to always keep an eye on for young talent is the Dutch Eredivisie, specifically Ajax Amsterdam who just wont their 33rd title. While most of the talent Ajax produces is domestic, such as Wesley Sneijder and Clarence Seedorf, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Luis Suarez also spent part of their career with Ajax. What you can expect is at least one player each year going from Ajax to a club in a bigger league and becoming a superstar. The latest is Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen.

The Dutch league isn't the only one that serves as a feeder league for players. The Portuguese league may be just as talented, if not more talented. Benfica were this year's champions, winning for the 33rd time. Portugal's big three clubs are Benfica, Porto, and Sporting Lisbon. These three clubs supply most of the players for the Portuguese national team and is where players like Cristiano Ronaldo (Sporting), Luis Figo (Sporting), Hulk (Porto), and James Rodriguez (Porto) spent some time when they were relatively unknown players.

Moving to Eastern Europe, the Ukrainian and Russian leagues have recently seen a rise in prominence. The Ukrainian League is dominated by two teams: Dynamo Kiev and Shakhtar Donetsk, the latter of which won their 9th title this season. Like Portugal, these two leagues provide a lot of players for the national team, but recently, the leagues have seen an influx of players from Brazil and Africa. Some Russian clubs are also splashing massive amounts of money to get quality players. Zenit St. Petersburg, who are sponsored by Russian energy giant Gazprom and have a billionaire owner, spent almost 100 million Euros two years ago to bring in Hulk and Axel Witsel from Porto. They led the Russian Premier League for almost the whole year, but lost it in the second to last week of the season, losing at home to Spartak Moscow. That game was marred by fan violence, as supporters attempted to storm the field with less than 10 minutes left. CSKA Moscow ended up winning the title, their 5th. Interestingly, leading scorer Seydou Doumbia was left off the Ivory Coast's World Cup roster.

Finally, I'll end with a recap of the English Championship, which is the second tier in England. With the Premier League gaining viewers every year, fans may not be familiar with the promotion/relegation system. Norwich City, Fulham, and Cardiff City are relegated from the Premier League. Leicester City, Burnley, and Queens Park Rangers (QPR) will take their place. Leicester won the league, and return to England's top flight for the first time in 10 years. Burnley return after a three year absence and QPR go right back up after being relegated last year. All three teams will have a decent chance at staying up due to the massive amount of money involved in television contracts. It is estimated that the teams will make anywhere from 100 to 150 million pounds!

Stay tuned for World Cup predictions starting Monday.

Adam Bakiera
@abakiera

Green Machine Musings- Grading the Goalies

              Howdy Stars fans!  The Buss is finally back in motion after my Maymester course made me put the blog on the back burner.  In this post, we will wrap up the process of looking back on what was the 2013-2014 season for the Dallas Stars.  From here on, we will be focused on analyzing the club's current needs and trying to predict the moves that the upper management will make to help the Green Machine take the next step toward becoming a bona fide contender in the NHL's Western Conference.  But for now, the task at hand: it's time to finish grading the roster.  On to the men in the crease!

#32 Kari Lehtonen     B+     Dallas came into this season knowing that the Big Finn would really have to take his game to the next level if this club was to see significant improvement.  That thought was spot on; for as Kari went, so went the Dallas Stars.  Lehtonen made 64 regular season starts, a mark that left him tied with Marc-Andre Fleury and Antti Niemi for most in the NHL.  This is a double-edged sword, as it means that A) he was both durable and dependable all year long, and B) he received little help from his various backups.  His GAA of 2.41 was good for 13th in the league amongst goaltenders with at least 49 starts, and his save percentage was a respectable .919.  As you can see in my chart below, I rank Lehtonen just outside the top ten of NHL goaltenders.  This clearly does not make him elite, but it does represent a significant surge in his play as of late and places him in good company.  I could have placed him at #9, but playoff experience and long-term level of play forced me to place Niemi and Miller just above him.  I think that with a better defense in place in front of him, Lehtonen could easily pass these two.  Whether he can move higher up the rankings to become a truly elite goaltender is a question that only he will be able to answer.  A lengthy playoff run is the one credential that he does not have.  Can the Big Finn stand on his head and backstop the Stars to a string of series victories sometime in the years to come?  Only time will tell.
 

Sorry folks, there can be only one King.

             Here's my list of the top netminders in the NHL.  I threw out nearly all goalies who are used in tandem on a specific team because, in order for a goalie to be considered elite, they must be the starter that their organization turns to at a moment's notice.

 

 Additional factors considered included:

  -recent success (past 2-3 years, a.k.a. what have you done for me lately?)

  -postseason success overall

  -quality of team in front of him

  

                                       THE TOP ELEVEN

                                    1.) Henrik Lundqvist (NYR)

                                    2.) Tuukka Rask (BOS)

                                    3.) Carey Price (MTL)

                                    4.) Jonathan Quick (LA)

                                    5.) Corey Crawford (CHI)

                                    6.) Semyon Varlamov (COL)

                                    7.) Mike Smith (PHX)

                                    8.) Sergei Bobrovsky (CBJ)

                                    9.) Antti Niemi (SJ)

                                  10.) Ryan Miller (BUF-STL)

                                  11.) Kari Lehtonen (DAL)

  

             Honorable Mention: Ben Bishop (TB), Jimmy Howard (DET)

 

Had to omit due to tandem: Cory Schneider/Martin Brodeur (NJ), Roberto Luongo (VAN-FLA), Jaroslav Halak (STL-WSH), the Minnesota quartet.

  

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS POST! I want to know precisely what you think of this list.  Do you think I've got it right or do you think I'm upside down?  Tell me your top ten, I honestly think that you'll find ranking numbers 6-11 rather difficult.  If you think that I'm absolutely out of my mind, remember that this is tough stuff, even for the experts (one of which I, admittedly, am not as of yet). *sigh*
 

 

 

#30 Tim Thomas     C+    The Stars' biggest in-season acquisition was a real headline-grabber as Thomas, the veteran netminder turned temporary political pundit, made his way to Big D.  He was acquired from the Florida Panthers on March 5th for Dan Ellis in a simple two-player deal.  Almost immediately, Stars fans thought that the trade might be a stroke of genius by Stars GM Jim Nill; because shortly thereafter on March 8th, Kari Lehtonen was concussed in a collision with Minnesota's Erik Haula, an injury that would keep him out of the lineup for ten days.  Thomas would make the next three starts for Dallas, and the results were mixed (a fantastic win over St. Louis and bad losses to Calgary and Winnipeg).  Once Lehtonen returned, Timmy rarely saw the ice on a consistent basis.  Overall, Thomas made 8 appearances (6 starts) and went 2-4-1 with a GAA of 2.97 and a save percentage of .902.  Those numbers aren't too bad, but they are nowhere near what the coaches and fans wanted out of the Stars' new backup. My reasoning for Thomas' subpar showing is the fact that his style clashed with the inability of the Stars' defensemen to clear the crease effectively.  Tim Thomas is an aggressive goalie who challenges shooters and, in the process, gives up some juicy rebounds.  On a team like the Boston Bruins, which collapses toward its own net very effectively, this wouldn't be a problem.  But on a team like the Stars, which lacked both size and grit on the blue line this season, a goaltender like this was bound to be a liability.  I'm not saying that Jim Nill made a big mistake in acquiring Thomas, but he will have to be more selective as he searches for a new backup goalie this offseason.

 

 

#30 Dan Ellis     C-     We cannot effectively analyze what was the Stars' goaltending situation in 2013-14 without acknowledging the aforementioned Ellis, who was, somewhat unfairly, vilified for some of the struggles of Kari Lehtonen due to his own issues in the crease.  When Lehtonen went down with a groin injury very early in the season, the team turned to Ellis to carry the load until further notice.  The veteran backup made 4 starts over that stretch, going 1-3-0.  These struggles led to the coaching staff leaving him on the bench for long stretches at a time.  For example, after those four early-season starts, he did not play for over a month.  Don't get me wrong, he did some good things this year, too.  He was extremely effective against, of all teams, the Anaheim Ducks.  On November 26th, Lindy Ruff sent out Ellis to face the Ducks on national television, a move that surprised everyone. All Ellis did was keep his team in the game until they exploded for five third period goals to win the game 6-3.  On February 1st, he did something even more impressive to the Ducks on their home ice, shutting them out in a 2-0 Stars' victory.  In all, Dan Ellis played in 14 games for the Stars before being traded to Florida, making 11 starts.  His record of 5-6-0, GAA of 3.04, and save percentage of .900 certainly should have been better, but I'm wondering how much of the blame for Ellis' struggles can be placed on Ruff and Company.  It had to be difficult for Dan to get into a rhythm when he was only playing once or twice a month.  I tend to think that the goaltending situation could have been improved, as a whole, with more balanced play by both the #1 and #2 guys in net.  It will be interesting to see heavily Ruff and his crew lean on Kari Lehtonen next season.  With a new backup in Big D, I tend to think that their strategy will change.

 

NOTE: The following two players are graded primarily for their performance with the Texas Stars.

 

 

#1 Jack Campbell      B      The Stars' top prospect according to the player development experts over at DefendingBigD.com, Campbell was expected to get his first taste of being a full-time starter at the professional level this season with the Texas Stars.  Unfortunately, he did not get the chance to prove himself in this role.  When he was on the ice, he was flat out dominant, stone-walling opposing offenses left and right.  However, he spent much of the regular season recovering from a pair of lower-body injuries.  In all, Campbell finished the regular season having made 16 appearances and posted a stellar record of 12-2 (plus two shootout losses) with a GAA of just 1.49 and a terrific save percentage of .942.  In the Calder Cup playoffs, he alternated the starting job with Cristopher Nilstorp and went 2-1 in four appearances with a GAA of 2.54 before being injured in Game 5 of the Western Conference Division Finals against Grand Rapids.  Also, Campbell made his NHL debut this year prior to his first stint on the injured reserve list.  He got a start on the road in Anaheim on October 20th during the stretch in which Ellis was filling in for the injured Lehtonen.  The good: Jack made a whopping 41 saves.  The bad: the Stars allowed 47 shots in the game.  Obviously, the situation he was put in was completely unfair, as he was thrust into the lineup against one of hockey's best teams before the Stars' defense situation had been properly sorted out (this game was the nail in the coffin for the pairing of Sergei Gonchar and Alex Goligoski).  Campbell will most likely remain with the Texas Stars next season so that he can gain the experience of being a full-time starter before he moves up to the NHL level as the Dallas Stars' full-time backup.  While 2013-14 was not kind to Jack's development, make no mistake, this kid is the real deal.  If he continues to develop at his current pace, look out.  We could have something huge in Big D by the time 2015-16 rolls around.

 

 

#41 Cristopher Nilstorp     B+     Nilstorp only made one appearance in a Dallas uniform this season, a significant step back from 2013, when he began the year as the backup with the Dallas Stars.  That said, the 30 year-old Swede played a crucial role for this organization as he backstopped the Texas Stars to the AHL's highest point total in the regular season and then through the playoffs to the Calder Cup Finals.  During the regular season, Nilstorp appeared in 45 games, finishing with a 27-12 record(plus 4 shootout losses), a 2.45 GAA, and a save percentage of .918.  He also had three shutouts on the year.  During the Calder Cup Playoffs, he alternated starts with Jack Campbell through the Stars' first eight games before Campbell was injured in Game 5 of the Divisional Finals. Nilstorp came in and won that game before finishing off Grand Rapids in Game 6.  Then, facing one of the league's best clubs, the Toronto Marlies, in the conference finals, Nilstorp stood tall time and again, giving his team the boost it needed to break through an incredibly stout defense time and again.  It took seven games, but the men from Cedar Park came through and are now on their way to the Calder Cup Finals for the second time in their five-year history.  They will start the series against the St. John's IceCaps (Top affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets) on Sunday at the Cedar Park Center.  After this season Nilstorp will be an Unrestricted Free Agent, leaving Jim Nill with a major decision to make.  Does he re-sign Nilstorp to shore up his organization's goaltending depth, or does he let him seek greener pastures in order to give someone else a shot?  This will be an interesting story to watch unfold, especially if the T-Stars hoist the Calder Cup in the coming weeks.

 

 

Bring it home, boys!

Please Note: My next post will be a real mixed bag.  First off, I will analyze the performances of those who oversaw the day-to-day operations of this team in 2013-14.  Then, I will offer a brief comment on the team's (relative) attendance woes before giving you a run down of all the things that I plan to talk about in the coming weeks. Come on you Stars!

 

Christian Bussler

@c_buss15

Dress to Impress: The Best Uniforms In Sports

What is the best part about being a sports fan? Is it escaping from the stress and daily routine of the work week for a few hours? Is it the jubilation one feels when their favorite teams prevail? Or is it the excuse to stuff your face with cheap hot dogs and overpriced nachos?

For you, it may be one of those reasons. For me, it’s a chance to marvel at the creativity of some teams in the uniform department. Jerseys are an incredibly underrated part of the sports world. Yeah winning is important, but what is the point if you look bad while doing it? For this series of blogs, I will be taking a look at some of the best and worst jerseys currently in rotation in your favorite sports.

Today’s post will focus on the best everyday unis worn in the three major pro sports and college football. My decisions are based upon three criteria: color scheme, design, and creativity.

Some color schemes just work better than others. Purple and black, blue and orange, black and yellow, and any combination that includes powder blue seem to be some of the more visually appealing color schemes. It is hard to say that a uniform is top three in its sport if it does not have a solid color scheme with two (or more) colors that complement each other effectively. While the color scheme is important, it can easily be ruined if the uni is not designed correctly. The use of primary and secondary colors, proper logo placement and the lettering is all important. Using the team name vs. the city across the chest, the typeface or font, as well as the placement and font of the numbers are all factors. I feel it’s necessary to mention here that the Yankees, Red Sox and Giants do not get any bonus points for not using names on the back of the unis. Just because you have been around for 100+ years does not mean I will reward you for this foolishness. Creativity however will be rewarded quite nicely. Outside the box thinking in terms of displaying the team’s colors or nickname can be a big bonus when evaluating unis.

College Football

University of Florida Gators (Color)

These may just be the best unis in college football. The orange and blue color scheme is a personal favorite of mine, and Florida has found the perfect way to display it here. Florida’s color unis typically feature a blue jersey, white pants and orange helmet. The decision to go with blue jersey and orange helmet was brilliant. They compliment each other perfectly and play on the orange and blue color scheme in an incredible way. The Florida logo with the gator head is a classic, but I love the decision to put “Gators” on the helmet. As you will learn throughout this blog series, I HATE white jerseys. With a passion. It shows such a lack of creativity, and some teams display white jerseys with little to no thought or use white as a secondary color to show how little unis mean to them. I say this to compliment Florida. The Gators use blue, orange AND white in a perfectly mixed scheme that doesn’t give a feel of color overload.

University of Maryland Terrapins (Maryland Pride)

Under Armour has been pretty solid with their college uniforms, but their crowning moment was the Terps Maryland Pride unis. These tasty uniforms feature a primarily white jersey with shoulders that display the two different designs of the Maryland state flag. The right shoulder is the black and yellow checkerboard design, while the left side displays the red and white cross design of the flag. As sweet as this design is, Under Armour absolutely killed it on the helmet. The helmet is split in two, displaying the same flag designs seen on the shoulders. This uni design has received quite a bit of criticism, but I think the integration of state pride as well as the overall creativity of the unis make this one of the better designs seen in college football.

TCU Horned Frogs (Color/Black)

Go ahead and call me biased. But after you do, take another look at the purple jersey, black pants, and purple helmet combination of the Frogs. What a glorious use of color here. It is nice to see a good use of purple and black instead of the hideous white unis that TCU usually runs out. The lack of white here is a big plus, but the proper use of black is what makes this so special. Numerous teams like to use black regardless of whether it’s one of their school colors or not. Although black is technically not a TCU color (purple, white), you’d never know by looking at these unis. Another plus here, even though it’s technically under the logo department, is the continued use of the combined TCU-frog logo on the helmet.

MLB

Colorado Rockies (Alternate 2)

The vest jersey is a lost art in the game of baseball. I have always been a fan of the vests worn in the MLB, although the number of teams using them has been have been declining. The Colorado Rockies keep the swag alive with the black sleeveless jerseys, grey pinstripe pants and a black hat. What this uni lacks in creativity (standard city name display, block numbers) it makes up for in a black vest, black undershirt combo.

Miami Marlins  (Alternate 2)

Since the renaming of the franchise in 2012, the uniform game of the Miami Marlins has taken off. The new color scheme of orange and black is another personal favorite of mine. The Marlins have another great one with their alternate uni consisting of an orange jersey, white pants and an orange hat. Using the team’s logo ‘M’ in the chest ‘Marlins’ as well as the light blue shadowing on the letters and numbers add to this uni’s impressiveness. This uniform plays more on the Marlins orange and blue color scheme, which is just as delicious.

Pittsburgh Pirates (Alternate 1)

Of the black and yellow color scheme seen in all the Pittsburgh teams, the Pirates definitely have the best display of it uni-wise. The Pirates alternate uni that is my favorite in baseball has a black jersey, white pants, and a black hat. This is perfect in so many ways. First off, it uses two of the best logos in baseball. The Pirates cap logo ‘P’ is one of the best in the league, so why not use is on the jersey too? Another great logo is the angry (?) pirate and crossed bats logo, which is displayed on the left sleeve of the alternate jersey. The yellow trim on the neck and sleeves, in addition to the number font which matches the cap logo make this an incredible uni.

As you’ve noticed by now, my three MLB selections are all alternate jerseys. This is because Major League Baseball has made all teams’ home unis white and all road unis grey. This is terrible because of the great colors in the league. I understand you can not always wear a color because some teams have the same primary or secondary colors, but you don’t need your main unis to be white and grey. And pick up your uni game American League.

NBA

Chicago Bulls (Road)

When I say Chicago Bulls, what do you think of? It’s either Michael Jordan, or the number 23. And when I say one of those, what do you think of? I know what it is. It’s a red Bulls jersey. This combo of a red jersey and red shorts with white trim and black font is one of the most recognizable uniforms in all of sports. The red and black together is a solid combo, but so many teams (Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds, Portland Trailblazers) can’t seem to get it right. The simplicity of this jersey is what it makes so impressive. All you really have is the black font with white trim, and three displays of the classic Bulls logo (one above the player’s name, one on each leg of the shorts). The Bulls road unis are a great way to start of the NBA section.

Denver Nuggets (Road)

The Denver Nuggets also have chosen another fantastic color scheme. The powder blue and yellow scheme goes great together, and looks great on their road unis, which consists of blue jerseys and blue shorts with yellow trim and a white stripe on each side. As I stated, I think powder blue might be the best uni color there is. This included with the Nuggets yellow makes their road unis a tough combination to compete with.

Orlando Magic (Road)

The Orlando Magic have always been strong in the uni game. This is no different when it comes to their current road unis. This is a combination of a light blue jersey with light blue shorts, with pinstripes (!!!!!!!!!!!) and a black stripe down the side. Say what you want about the color scheme or how it’s nothing like the old Magic jerseys, but the pinstripes are still on point. I am also a fan of the font for the letters and especially the numbers. This uni is clean.

NFL

Baltimore Ravens (Alternate)

Another team that can pull off the purple and black color scheme is the Baltimore Ravens. The uni that landed them on this list however, is their alternate black uniform. Last worn in their week 13 matchup against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens black jersey, black pants and black helmet combo is deadly. Going all black everything usually doesn't end well, but the purple accents on the jersey, in addition to the white numbers and white logo on the sleeves, help the Ravens pull this one off. Baltimore also rocks a unique number font, which adds to the smoothness of the Ravens’ uni repertoire.

Cincinnati Bengals (Home)

Perhaps the most creative unis in the league belong to the Cincinnati Bengals. They are always styling in the ever powerful black and orange color scheme, but the home uni is the most impressive. This consists of a mostly black jersey with white pants and an orange helmet. The best aspect of this uni is the black tiger stripes on the orange helmet. Not only does it look really cool, it is also the best integration of the team’s nickname in the league. This same stripe pattern can be seen on the shoulders and down the side of the pants. Major creativity points to Cincinnati here. The Bengals display a unique number font as well, which is huge across the chest and back in white and nicely accented by an orange outline on the black jersey.

Green Bay Packers (Home)

Another very appealing color scheme can be seen in the Green Bay Packers unis: green and yellow. The Packers rock this from top to bottom, with a green jersey, yellow pants and a yellow helmet. The green and yellow mixing is consistent throughout, with yellow trim on the jersey and green piping going down the side of the pants. That classic Packers ‘G’ outlined by green on the yellow tops off what is one of the most beautiful unis in sports. This is a simple uniform, with no city or team name or any team logos on the jersey. It also has a standard number font, but man this uni is sweet.

  

Coming up next, I will take a look at the best throwback unis in each sport. Tell me what you thought about my list, or if I left out any of your favorite uniforms. Let me know your favorite throwback uniforms at me as well!

Kris Gross

@ThatGrossGuy

NHL Playoffs: The Final Act

Wow...what.a.series. If you had the misfortune of missing out on the Kings-Blackhawks Western Conference Final, you just missed one of the best series hockey has seen in the last 15 or so years. I've watched hockey religiously since I was about 8, and this series goes in my top 5 of all time. Maybe one day I'll make a list of the best series I had the pleasure of watching (hint: it will happen later this summer). To be fair, it's not like the Eastern Conference Finals was a complete dud, but it can't touch what happened out west. Before I preview this year's finals, I'll review my predictions.

Montreal Canadiens vs. New York Rangers

Prediction: Canadiens in 6

Result: Rangers in 6

"Goaltending is one of the most important keys to a deep playoff run" This series is a great case of this being 100% true. Carey Price's injury in game 1 was huge. Enter Dustin Tokarski (who?). If anything, Tokarski's performance in this series secures him the Montreal back-up job for next season. At best, maybe a team like the Oilers or Flames who need a goalie come with an offer to make Tokarski their number 1. It's incredible to see a rookie goaltender step in for his first career start in a conference final. However, as well Tokarski played, he is at fault for the game 2 loss. A loss that changed the entire series. In a fair and just world this series would have gone to 7 games, but the NHL playoffs are anything but fair. After game 2, Tokarski was the main reason why the series even went this long. On the other side, Henrik Lundqvist was just as good as Tokarski (with the minor exception of game 5). His acrobatic save in game 6 on Tomas Vanek was the punctuation to the series. It's also fitting that the game winner was scored by Dominic Moore, who took a break from hockey after his wife died of a rare disease. The Canadiens looked tired in parts of this series, suggesting their emotional win over Boston in the previous series took its toll.  The Rangers won this series with stifling defense and a superb penalty kill, killing 21 of 23 penalties. Carl Hagelin was a big part of both, and he will have to continue playing like he is if the Rangers want any shot at the cup. 


Chicago Blackhawks vs. Los Angeles Kings

Prediction: Kings in 7 (in Overtime)

Result: Kings in 7 (in Overtime)

So...I get bonus points for being exactly right with every part of my prediction. You could probably write a book about this series, it was that good. I am convinced these are currently the two best teams in the league, and it showed. Let's go back to game 2 when the Kings scored 6 unanswered goals to steal home ice. They then won both games in LA, and were inches away from winning game 5 when Anze Kopitar's shot in overtime hit the post. The Blackhawks showed championship resolve, winning game 5 in double overtime, and taking game 6 in LA, after a masterpiece performance by Patrick Kane. Kane was non-existent at the beginning of the series, but he was almost unstoppable by the end. The Kings also proved that while they're a defense-first team, they are capable of playing in track meets. For a team that struggled to score goals in the regular season (and parts of the playoffs), the Kings scored less than 3 goals only once and at one point in the series were 5 for their last 8 on the power play. To be honest, I didn't think the Kings could go into Chicago and win a game 7 after blowing a 3-1 series lead. We shouldn't be surprised though, the Kings are now 7-0 in elimination games this year. What does that really mean? This team is scary good when their season is on the line. Also, shout out to Justin Williams (aka Mr. Game 7)...Williams became the all-time leading point scorer in game 7's with a goal and an assist in this one. He has 14 career game 7 points, better than any player in the history of the NHL. Pretty impressive. Oh, and he's also NEVER lost a game 7 in his career (7-0). This is one of those times where it's a shame one of these teams has to go home. A quick note: this is the fourth time in five years that Chicago or Los Angeles is representing the West in the Stanley Cup Final. The loss by Chicago means no team has won back to back championships since the Detroit Red Wings in '97-'98.


Predictions
Eastern Conference: 0-1
Western Conference: 1-0 (1 exact number of games. 1 correct prediction of series ending in OT)

Playoff Total
Eastern Conference: 3-4 (1 exact number of games)
Western Conference: 6-1 (2 exact number of games, 1 correct prediction of series ending in OT)
Total: 9-5 (3 exact number of games, 1 correct prediction of series ending in OT)


The 2014 Stanley Cup Final: Los Angeles Kings vs. New York Rangers
Game 1 Wednesday, June 4th 8:00 ET

This is it. The end of the road for both of these teams. This is the dream match-up for the NHL. Two teams, in two of the biggest markets. If the NHL wants to gain popularity, it has a perfect opportunity with these two teams playing in the final. These teams have had very different paths to the finals. The Kings got here by beating the number 1, 2, and 6 ranked scoring teams, all in 7 games. They're the first team in NHL history to play the maximum 21 games and make it to the final. The Rangers have played 20 games, so it's not like they breezed into the finals, but their opponents were weaker. New York also gets three extra days of rest. As many experts point out, the Rangers have yet to face a team that is as physical or deep as the Kings. But make no mistake, no team ever makes it this far and doesn't deserve it. The problem here is that the Rangers simply don't match up well with the Kings, and are simply not as good on paper. But as we all know, games aren't played on paper. For those that watched hockey a long time ago, this series reminds me of the 2003 Finals between the Devils and Ducks. New Jersey was the clear favorite that year, but they were pushed to 7 games, mostly because of Anaheim goalie J.S. Giguere. This year, Lundqvist will need to play similarly if the Rangers want a shot at the cup.

Key Match-ups

Henrik Lundqvist vs. the entire Kings roster

So far in these playoffs, it's been goalie vs. goalie as the key match-up, but this is a lot more than that. Not only will Lundqvist have to outplay Jonathan Quick, he'll have to do it by a considerable margin (unless the Rangers somehow become a goal-scoring machine). The truth is, Lundqvist doesn't have the defense in front of him that Quick does, no offense to Ryan McDonagh and Dan Girardi. Remember what King Henrik had to do in game 7 of the second round against Pittsburgh? There will be times in this series where the Kings will launch wave after wave of attacks and it will be up to Lundqvist to keep his team in the game. I would give Lundqvist a small edge over Jonathan Quick, but it may be the only match-up in this series that favors the Rangers.

Kings forwards vs. Rangers forwards

If the Rangers are to win the cup, they'll need their forwards to help out a lot on defense, much like the Pittsburgh series. If you look at just the centers, LA has the edge. Kopitar, Carter, Stoll, and Richards...they pack quite the punch up the middle. While Kopitar and Carter may steal the attention, Stoll and Richards are very good role players, especially in the face-off circle. The wingers are pretty good too...Marion Gaborik leads the NHL in playoff goals, and has been scoring in the clutch. He faces one of his former teams in this series, and had some productive years as a Ranger, notching over 40 goals in one of them. Tyler Toffoli and Tanner Pearson complete the "That 70's line" with Jeff Carter, and were the most important line in games 2-5 in the Chicago series. Rick Nash and Martin St. Louis will have to elevate their game for the Rangers to win. A specific match-up to watch will be these teams' third lines. The Rangers' third line carried them past Pittsburgh while LA's third line has Justin Williams, a clutch playoff performer, and Jarret Stoll, who as mentioned before, is one of the best face-off takers in the league.

Darryl Sutter vs. Alain Vigneault

Coaching adjustments were absolutely crucial for both teams in their last series, but especially for the Kings. Even though the "that 70's line" tore up Chicago at the beginning of the series, they were ineffective for games 5 and 6. So Sutter broke them up and the result was a game 7 victory. Sutter's adjustment was in response to Joel Quenneville (Chicago coach), shuffling his lines. Vigneault knows exactly what he's up against though. While still in Vancouver, Vigneault's Canucks were ousted in 5 games by the Kings in the first round of the 2012 playoffs. The task at hand is a tall one, but keep in mind this is only Vigneault's first season as head coach of the Rangers, meaning his guys know the system and can adapt quickly to adjustments.

Special Teams

Both teams stepped up in this department to win their last series. On one hand, the Rangers were able to virtually shut down a very respectable Montreal power play, killing 21 of 23 penalties (91%) including 8 of 9 in game 3. On the other hand, the Kings power play went 6 for 19 (32%), and while the PK did allow 6 power play goals, the Blackhawks are a top 3 NHL offense. The Rangers were up and down on the Power Play in their series. They started 4 for 10 but only scored twice in their final 16 chances. Not only does the Rangers penalty kill have to maintain its high level of play, the power play has to be more consistent.

Verdict: The Kings will be pretty heavily favored to win this series, and for good reason. Really, the only match-up where the Rangers have the edge is goaltending, and even that edge is very small. The Rangers do have the benefit of three extra resting days, but fatigue doesn't seem to be hurting the Kings too much (especially given the gauntlet they had to get through). The Rangers also have two players with significant emotional strength right now. Martin St. Louis has been a different player since his mother passed away on Mother's Day. Dominic Moore also looks inspired, scoring the only goal in game 6 after a year away from hockey. Moore's wife died in January of 2013 from a rare form of liver cancer. If you combine those factors AND if Henrik Lundqvist plays the series of his life, the Rangers have a chance. However, that's a lot of "ifs" and while it's not impossible for the Rangers to win this series, it will be very hard. The Kings are simply more talented, deeper, and more experienced. Kings in 6.


Adam Bakiera
Follow me on twitter @abakiera