Welcome to Walshy’s Wrap Around. Yes the the Olympics are here and we have no NHL to talk about but there is a big date that is all hockey fans heads and that’s the Trade Deadline. The Flyers were in heavy talks with Atlanta before Kovalchuk was sent to New Jersey. Now we have another problem, yes theirs always a problem. Emery will be sidelined the entire Olympic break with a hip injury and it could drag on into the 2nd half. If a move is made for a goaltender it will most likely mean that Emery will not be returning next season.
One possible goalie to come to Philly is Marty Turco. Yes it’s a big name but some say hes on the decline. He has started 60 plus games every season since 03 and posted sub 2.00 GAA twice in that span bringing him to a team in the hunt could bring the bang back to Turco. He’s an ok at best playoff goalie with a 21-26 record and a 2.17 GAA. Yes you could say he didn’t get goal support and Id agree with you but in the season where his team had been bounced out of the 1st round he had a plus 3 GAA. That is not good.
Another possibility is Tomas Vokoun, this 33 year old Slovak has played for 3 different teams in his career Habs, Predators, and currently the Panthers. With the Habs he played 1 game lasted 20 mins and gave up 4 goals CMON and really hasn’t done all that well in his career except the 05-06 season where he went 36-18 with a 2.67 GAA not bad on a bad team. Another downfall he has 11 career playoff games with a combined 2-8 record. Just what the Flyers need right.
When it comes down to it I think it will be easier to get Turco now since there are 3 goalies in Dallas then Vokoun but I see Holmgren making a push for this 2-8 playoff goalie. Just seeing how the flyers have traded in recent past I see Vokoun coming to Philly.
Showing posts with label Hockey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hockey. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Walshy's Wrap Around
Welcome to Walshy’s Wrap Around. Everyone hockey fan or not knows the Olympics are fastly approaching. The opening ceremony is February 12th and National Hockey is defiantly a must see this Olympic season. This week on Walshy’s Wrap Around I will give a rundown of each Nations team and my prediction for the Gold Medal.
United States
Yes the United States Olympic team may be overlooked this time around with their young inexperienced players but they could do some damage. In the 2006 Olympics the USA finished a dismal 8th. Some of the same faces are back to bring gold back to the US this year which hasn’t occurred since 1980. Some new faces that could make big impacts. Bobby Ryan, Patrick Kane, Phil Kessel, Erik Johnson, and Jack Johnson. Philadelphia Flyer was a hopeful to take the injury spot that is now vacated by Tim Gleason of the Carolina Hurricanes
Prediction-8th
Breakout player-Phil Kessel
Belarus
Yes everyone Belarus does have an Olympic hockey team. Yes this team didn’t qualify for the 2006 winter Olympics. Yes they only have 4 NHL players on there roster. AND yes non of their goaltenders were born in Belarus but I guess you cant overlook this team with talented players like Mikhail Grabovski, Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn, and Ruslan Salei. This team will either sink or…………sink more.
Prediction-10th
Breakout Player-Sergei Kostitsyn
Germany
Germany does have more NHL faces then Belarus does but the talent ugh. Marco Sturm, Marcel Goc, Christian Ehrhoff, Dennis Seidenberg, Alexander Sulzer, Thomas Greiss, and AHLer Philip Gogulla. This squad finished 10th in 06 but with younger faces all I can see from here is improvement.
Prediction-9th
Breakout Player-Philip Gogulla
Latvia
Lativia wow heres another team. 2 NHL faces on there team. Philadelphia Flyers own Oskars Bartulis and Karlis Skrastins. 16 of the 21 members play on Dinamo Riga. Chemistry could be there. That’s why im making this team my SLEEPER nation of the Olympics. This team finished dead last in 06 so all they can go is up.
Prediction-7th
Breakout Player-Oskars Bartulis
Norway
It gets worse here. One NHL face and that’s former flyer Ole Kristian Tollefsen, who is now with the Detriot Redwings. Heres the rundown here I will guarnatee this team comes in last it just seems that this team is undersized with their tallest player being 6’3 and only weighing 193 pounds so I can see this team being beat up in the physical game.
Prediction-12th
Breakout Player-Patrik Thoresen
Switzerland
Hers another team that could do some damage in the Olypics. Luca Sbisa, Mark Streit, and Jonas Hiller round off the big names on the team. Other than that not a lot of names jump out at you. This team had a lot of older players that could be guidance for some young guys which the Swiss has plenty of.
Prediction-11th
Breakout Player-Luca Sbisa
Slovakia
This is one of my favorites for a possible gold medal bid with big names like Marian Gaborik, Marian Hossa, Zdeno Chara. Former NHLers Marcel Hossa, Ziggy Palffy, Jozef Stumpel, and Richard Zednik will be in Vancouver fighting for gold. I see big things for this team lets see if they deliver.
Prediction-4th
Breakout Player-Ziggy Palffy
Czech Republic
This is another favorite of mine. Stong on defense with Tomas Kaberle,Marek Zidlicky and Pavel Kubina and will be able to score with forwards like Martin Havlat, Milan Michalek, Patrik Elias and former NHL all-star Jaromir Jagr. I guess you could say I like this team cause of Jagr yes that could be the reason but id love to see Jagr light it up again on the ice
Prediction-3rd
Breakout Player-Jaromir Jagr
Sweden
The defending gold medal team is back to bring the gold home once again. With big names like the Sedin brothers, Daniel Alfredsson, Nicklas Backstrom,Nicklas Lidstrom, Henrik Zetterberg and Lundqvist. Former NHL Star Peter Forsberg is also on the roster so it will be exciting to see how he plays. I defiantly see this team attempt to bring the gold back but will fail this team is a little bit older than the 2006 gold medal team.
Prediction-5th
Breakout Player-Peter Forsberg (if not Injured)
Finland
Silver medal team from 2006 and bringing back tournament MVP Antero Nittymaki with big name goalies like Niklas Backstrom and Mikka Kiprusoff Antero may not get the chance for an MVP again. A lot of big names her like Teemu Selanne, Kimmo Timonen, Mikko and Saku Koivu and Jarkko and Tuomo Ruutu. This team has the fire power to get the job done in 2010.
Prediciton-6th
Breakout Player-Mikko Koivu
Russia
Everones Favorite for the Gold this year. I have myself liking this team a lot too. With MVP caliber names like Datsyuk, Kovalchuk,Ovechkin, and Malkin. And not to forget Gonchar, Nabokov, Semin and former NHLer Sergei Fedorov. This team will defiantly be one of the Juagernaughts this year.
Prediction-2nd
Breakout Player-Alex Ovechkin
Canada
The birthplace of this sport. The home of the 2010 Olympics, Canada!!! After a very disappointing 7th place finish in 06 this team is hungry for gold and this could be there year with big names like Mike Richards, Sidney Crosby, Dany Heatley, Jarr….wait im not gonna name the whole team here. That’s how powerful this team is with NHL stars.
Prediction-1st
Breakout Player-Mike Richards
United States
Yes the United States Olympic team may be overlooked this time around with their young inexperienced players but they could do some damage. In the 2006 Olympics the USA finished a dismal 8th. Some of the same faces are back to bring gold back to the US this year which hasn’t occurred since 1980. Some new faces that could make big impacts. Bobby Ryan, Patrick Kane, Phil Kessel, Erik Johnson, and Jack Johnson. Philadelphia Flyer was a hopeful to take the injury spot that is now vacated by Tim Gleason of the Carolina Hurricanes
Prediction-8th
Breakout player-Phil Kessel
Belarus
Yes everyone Belarus does have an Olympic hockey team. Yes this team didn’t qualify for the 2006 winter Olympics. Yes they only have 4 NHL players on there roster. AND yes non of their goaltenders were born in Belarus but I guess you cant overlook this team with talented players like Mikhail Grabovski, Andrei and Sergei Kostitsyn, and Ruslan Salei. This team will either sink or…………sink more.
Prediction-10th
Breakout Player-Sergei Kostitsyn
Germany
Germany does have more NHL faces then Belarus does but the talent ugh. Marco Sturm, Marcel Goc, Christian Ehrhoff, Dennis Seidenberg, Alexander Sulzer, Thomas Greiss, and AHLer Philip Gogulla. This squad finished 10th in 06 but with younger faces all I can see from here is improvement.
Prediction-9th
Breakout Player-Philip Gogulla
Latvia
Lativia wow heres another team. 2 NHL faces on there team. Philadelphia Flyers own Oskars Bartulis and Karlis Skrastins. 16 of the 21 members play on Dinamo Riga. Chemistry could be there. That’s why im making this team my SLEEPER nation of the Olympics. This team finished dead last in 06 so all they can go is up.
Prediction-7th
Breakout Player-Oskars Bartulis
Norway
It gets worse here. One NHL face and that’s former flyer Ole Kristian Tollefsen, who is now with the Detriot Redwings. Heres the rundown here I will guarnatee this team comes in last it just seems that this team is undersized with their tallest player being 6’3 and only weighing 193 pounds so I can see this team being beat up in the physical game.
Prediction-12th
Breakout Player-Patrik Thoresen
Switzerland
Hers another team that could do some damage in the Olypics. Luca Sbisa, Mark Streit, and Jonas Hiller round off the big names on the team. Other than that not a lot of names jump out at you. This team had a lot of older players that could be guidance for some young guys which the Swiss has plenty of.
Prediction-11th
Breakout Player-Luca Sbisa
Slovakia
This is one of my favorites for a possible gold medal bid with big names like Marian Gaborik, Marian Hossa, Zdeno Chara. Former NHLers Marcel Hossa, Ziggy Palffy, Jozef Stumpel, and Richard Zednik will be in Vancouver fighting for gold. I see big things for this team lets see if they deliver.
Prediction-4th
Breakout Player-Ziggy Palffy
Czech Republic
This is another favorite of mine. Stong on defense with Tomas Kaberle,Marek Zidlicky and Pavel Kubina and will be able to score with forwards like Martin Havlat, Milan Michalek, Patrik Elias and former NHL all-star Jaromir Jagr. I guess you could say I like this team cause of Jagr yes that could be the reason but id love to see Jagr light it up again on the ice
Prediction-3rd
Breakout Player-Jaromir Jagr
Sweden
The defending gold medal team is back to bring the gold home once again. With big names like the Sedin brothers, Daniel Alfredsson, Nicklas Backstrom,Nicklas Lidstrom, Henrik Zetterberg and Lundqvist. Former NHL Star Peter Forsberg is also on the roster so it will be exciting to see how he plays. I defiantly see this team attempt to bring the gold back but will fail this team is a little bit older than the 2006 gold medal team.
Prediction-5th
Breakout Player-Peter Forsberg (if not Injured)
Finland
Silver medal team from 2006 and bringing back tournament MVP Antero Nittymaki with big name goalies like Niklas Backstrom and Mikka Kiprusoff Antero may not get the chance for an MVP again. A lot of big names her like Teemu Selanne, Kimmo Timonen, Mikko and Saku Koivu and Jarkko and Tuomo Ruutu. This team has the fire power to get the job done in 2010.
Prediciton-6th
Breakout Player-Mikko Koivu
Russia
Everones Favorite for the Gold this year. I have myself liking this team a lot too. With MVP caliber names like Datsyuk, Kovalchuk,Ovechkin, and Malkin. And not to forget Gonchar, Nabokov, Semin and former NHLer Sergei Fedorov. This team will defiantly be one of the Juagernaughts this year.
Prediction-2nd
Breakout Player-Alex Ovechkin
Canada
The birthplace of this sport. The home of the 2010 Olympics, Canada!!! After a very disappointing 7th place finish in 06 this team is hungry for gold and this could be there year with big names like Mike Richards, Sidney Crosby, Dany Heatley, Jarr….wait im not gonna name the whole team here. That’s how powerful this team is with NHL stars.
Prediction-1st
Breakout Player-Mike Richards
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Walshy's Wrap Around
Welcome to the 3rd installment of Walshy’s Wrap Around on PhillyPress. This week I will be covering the Philadelphia Flyers over the Last Week and looking at some news around the National Hockey League. The Flyers only had 2 games this last week Thursday vs. Thrashers, Saturday vs. Islanders and Monday vs. Flames. Flyers had wins vs. New York and Calgary and a Tough 4-3 loss vs. Atlanta. The Flyers are up to 6th in the Eastern Conference with 59 points. There is also news that the Flyers are listening to trade offers from Atlanta involving Kovalchuk bringing him to Philadelphia would make the Flyers a legit contender. There is a catch though, the Flyers would have to give up fan favorite Jeff Carter in the deal reports say. Is it worth it I say no since Carter is younger and could possibly be a better player down the road.
Big trades have been made over the last 2 days. The Anaheim Ducks made a move sending backup and former Conn Smythe award goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere to Toronto for LW Jason Blake and G Vesa Toskala. In my view I believe the Ducks made out on this deal just by getting Blake hes a playmaker and a scoring threat that could be great on any line. Also Toskala will thrive as a backup in Anaheim since he will not have the pressure of being the starter for Toronto and having high expectations and failing season after season.
The Leafs made another huge move by trading LW Niklas Hagman, C Matt Stajan, D Ian White, and RW Jamal Mayers to Calgary for hard hitting defensemen Dion Phaneuf, LW Fredrik Sjostrom, and Prospect Keith Aulie. In this deal I feel it was even the Flames got 2 guys that will play on the first line with Iginla, an average Dman that will try to replace Phaneuf’s presence and Jamal Mayers who will be the tough guy presence with Prust going to the Rangers. Phaneuf will be great in Toronto if resigned. Toronto has a lot of injured Defensemen and it seems like all these moves we made a little to late for this season but just in time for next.
Also just in as of 1:11 AM the Rangers traded Chris Higgins and Ales Kotalik to the Flames for Olli Jokinen and Brandon Prust. I love this deal for the Rangers Higgins and Kotalik have been complete busts for the Rangers. Kotalik who has a -18 this season with only 22 points. In his last 4 seasons he has hit the 20 goal mark 3 times. Higgins has 14 points and was a 27 goal scorer in 07-08. Jokinen is a very very under rated player in this league. Hes had 30+ goals 4 times in his career. Prust brings the physical aspect the Rangers have been lacking.
See you next Tuesday on the next installment of Walshy’s Wrap Around.
Big trades have been made over the last 2 days. The Anaheim Ducks made a move sending backup and former Conn Smythe award goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere to Toronto for LW Jason Blake and G Vesa Toskala. In my view I believe the Ducks made out on this deal just by getting Blake hes a playmaker and a scoring threat that could be great on any line. Also Toskala will thrive as a backup in Anaheim since he will not have the pressure of being the starter for Toronto and having high expectations and failing season after season.
The Leafs made another huge move by trading LW Niklas Hagman, C Matt Stajan, D Ian White, and RW Jamal Mayers to Calgary for hard hitting defensemen Dion Phaneuf, LW Fredrik Sjostrom, and Prospect Keith Aulie. In this deal I feel it was even the Flames got 2 guys that will play on the first line with Iginla, an average Dman that will try to replace Phaneuf’s presence and Jamal Mayers who will be the tough guy presence with Prust going to the Rangers. Phaneuf will be great in Toronto if resigned. Toronto has a lot of injured Defensemen and it seems like all these moves we made a little to late for this season but just in time for next.
Also just in as of 1:11 AM the Rangers traded Chris Higgins and Ales Kotalik to the Flames for Olli Jokinen and Brandon Prust. I love this deal for the Rangers Higgins and Kotalik have been complete busts for the Rangers. Kotalik who has a -18 this season with only 22 points. In his last 4 seasons he has hit the 20 goal mark 3 times. Higgins has 14 points and was a 27 goal scorer in 07-08. Jokinen is a very very under rated player in this league. Hes had 30+ goals 4 times in his career. Prust brings the physical aspect the Rangers have been lacking.
See you next Tuesday on the next installment of Walshy’s Wrap Around.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Walshy's Wrap Around
Welcome to the 2nd installment of Walshy’s Wrap Around. This Tuesday I will shy away from the Philadelphia Flyers and talk about the trade rumors circulating the NHL. Kovalchuk, Turco, and Lecavalier are the 3 big names being circulated around the league. Ill give a run down of where the possible destinations for thes 3 big names.
Ilya Kovalchuk
Ilya Kovalchuk of the Atlanta Thrashers has been one of the most talked about players coming up to this March’s trade deadline. He is one of the top players in the NHL and posts 30 goals almost every season. Rumors were before this season was that he would leave the NHL and go to KHL in Russia. That could be on some GM’s minds at the deadline. Teams rumored in the running Washington, Calgary, and Toronto. The team that has the talent to do so is the Calgary Flames rumor is that they are offering big hitting defensemen Dion Phanuef in the trade.
Marty Turco
There have been rumors circulating all season about Turco leaving Dallas. Hes been bench in favor of Alex Auld and some say he could be dealt in the next month. Earlier this season Turco was rumored to go to Philadelphia when Emery went down with the abdomen injury but the emergence of Michael Leighton. Accotding to yahoo sports Dallas is looking for young net minder stuck behind a starter somewhere else. All signs point to Minnesota Wild goalie Josh Harding. He is the backup to All-Star goalie Nicklas Backstrom.
Vincent Lecavalier
Every hockey fan remembers the big trade rumors with Vinny going home to Montreal and the standing O he got at the All-Star game last season. Habs fans were excited that the home town boy was coming. The trade deadline went by and nothing happened. The rumors are back again but this time it’s the Rangers trying to get the skilled Center. Rumors are that Defensemen Matt Gilroy, Wade Redden center Brandon Dubinsky or Winger Ryan Callahan would be needed to bring Vinny to MSG. The one problem is that Vinny has no-trade clause in his contract. So I don’t really see anything workinh out again.
Ilya Kovalchuk
Ilya Kovalchuk of the Atlanta Thrashers has been one of the most talked about players coming up to this March’s trade deadline. He is one of the top players in the NHL and posts 30 goals almost every season. Rumors were before this season was that he would leave the NHL and go to KHL in Russia. That could be on some GM’s minds at the deadline. Teams rumored in the running Washington, Calgary, and Toronto. The team that has the talent to do so is the Calgary Flames rumor is that they are offering big hitting defensemen Dion Phanuef in the trade.
Marty Turco
There have been rumors circulating all season about Turco leaving Dallas. Hes been bench in favor of Alex Auld and some say he could be dealt in the next month. Earlier this season Turco was rumored to go to Philadelphia when Emery went down with the abdomen injury but the emergence of Michael Leighton. Accotding to yahoo sports Dallas is looking for young net minder stuck behind a starter somewhere else. All signs point to Minnesota Wild goalie Josh Harding. He is the backup to All-Star goalie Nicklas Backstrom.
Vincent Lecavalier
Every hockey fan remembers the big trade rumors with Vinny going home to Montreal and the standing O he got at the All-Star game last season. Habs fans were excited that the home town boy was coming. The trade deadline went by and nothing happened. The rumors are back again but this time it’s the Rangers trying to get the skilled Center. Rumors are that Defensemen Matt Gilroy, Wade Redden center Brandon Dubinsky or Winger Ryan Callahan would be needed to bring Vinny to MSG. The one problem is that Vinny has no-trade clause in his contract. So I don’t really see anything workinh out again.
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