<p>Somewhat of a deja vu situation for Leafs’ fans watching that ending. </p>
<p>Congrats to the Hawks on the win! It’s too bad that it was again a win on the road. I always feel for the season ticket holders when they miss out on that.</p>
<p>Another great discussion this year. Let’s hope that next year it doesn’t take til June 24th to see the Cup hoisted!</p>
<p>gloworm, enjoy that grandbaby!</p>
<p>I just learned the next season is only 13 weeks away. These teams are too beat up to compete next season at the very highest level. And that’s after a short season. </p>
<p>My thoughts on some Bruins issues. </p>
<p>Tyler Seguin: I think his biggest issue is a lack of ice vision. I have no idea if that comes or if it doesn’t. He has a lot of what I might call straight ahead skill but no handle on the overall ice. That affects play-making. I’d say his secondary issue is a lack of a real special shot. He doesn’t have a super fast release. (Fastest I ever saw may have been Brett Hull.) When I watched Patrick Kane release, he has a real sweep and snap in his wrist shot and he sees where the opening is. That’s a special shooter by comparison.</p>
<p>My main issue with the team this year was the lack of “hands”, meaning scoring touch, among forwards and the lack of playmaking on defense. Both have been issues for years. Shows how hard it is to get a playmaking defender who fits. They’ve certainly tried. The lack of hands showed when Chicago did a better job of cutting down David Krejci’s open ice. He is one of the most elusive skaters in the league, able to stop and shift direction better than his defenders. Most teams react by giving him space but of course that is the wrong tactic because he’s essentially a passer first. Chicago did a better job defending the Bruins first line over time - and they are a really good line.</p>
<p>One of my thoughts was they could have looked at moving Horton to Bergeron’s line because I think Patrice would really benefit from having that kind of quality mucker and it would make the Bergeron-Marchand connection more dangerous. But the problem then would be who to go with Krejci? I’ve never been a Jagr fan. Strong on the puck yes but I’d rather see a better skater with Lucic and Krejci. But that would mean who? Seguin? One of my thoughts was a first line of Krejci-Lucic-Marchand and Bergeron-Horton-Seguin but I’d rather have Marchand with Bergeron and I didn’t see enough from Seguin. The other skaters on the team - and they have some excellent skaters - don’t have enough touch or shot. </p>
<p>So in terms of next year and beyond, I think they need another forward for the 1st or 2nd lines - assuming Horton is here, etc. - and more mobile, more playmaking defense. The latter is harder to get. I’m not sure Krug with his size is the real answer.</p>
<p>For Chicago, I didn’t see them much during the year. They clearly could use a forward but I think they’re probably more interested in getting a big defenseman. I say this because that’s what Detroit always did when they were winning: they’d run into a Dallas or St. Louis or New Jersey and see a Pronger or the like and want that 6’5" guy. They kept trying. Never worked and it screwed up the defense pairings. But the reality is that after winning this year, the Blackhawks have a year off to think it through. Odds of repeating when the playoffs can last for 28 games is just too low.</p>
<p>Bergeron’s game 5 injury turned out to be a broken rib, torn cartilage and muscles. They sent him to the hospital because they thought he might have injured his spleen. Then he separated his shoulder during game 6.</p>
<p>Hockey players are nuts.</p>
<p>I put a big chunk of the blame for the Bruins’ loss on Chara. He made a couple of bad plays that led directly to Chicago goals, and he is just too slow to recover when he makes a mistake. Chicago schemed him well.</p>
<p>On other news - Tortorella wasn’t out of work long, he just got hired by Vancouver. The Canucks coach got hired by the Rangers. Pretty strange.</p>
<p>yikes … a new definition of “sudden death” … 17 seconds.</p>
<p>Fun series though … would have liked a 7th game!</p>
<p>I love playoff hockey, but the outcomes can be so random. With just a few goals scored each game, luck plays a very large role in who wins any single game. Chi won, so they are the better team…but a couple different puck bounces in game 1, 5, or 6 and the Bruins benefit…then they would have been the better team? The outcomes are nothing like say basketball where there is no doubt who is playing better and deserves the win. I’m taking nothing away from Chi, just stating my opinion on hockey in general. Great to watch, but can be so darn frustrating.</p>
<p>Blackhawks are a classy bunch, no complaining or whining…I respect that team a lot…</p>
<p>I’m not particularly a sports fan but we live only a few blocks away from Coach Q. We heard that neighbors had TP’d his house so we drove over to see and take some pictures with today’s Trib. Lo and behold who should come out of house to greet visitors but the coach himself - he very graciously gave autographs, including on our Trib. A keepstake!</p>
<p>Just resurrecting this for a minute to see if anyone else is watching the NHL draft. Two big surprises so far. Seth Jones not chosen until the fourth spot. And an amazing deal where Vancouver got the Devils first round choice in a trade for Cory Schneider. Wow. This makes Lamoriello look like a genius and Gillis look like a novice.</p>
<p>I was happy to see that Wirtz wrote an open letter thanking Boston and the Fans and City for a great Cup Series. Really, there’s a ton of respect here for that team and for the fans. H was commenting yesterday that it’s nice to have such a great competition and end up really liking the other team so much.</p>
<p>Bumping just to mention that Coach Q was the surprise grand marshal of our little home town 4th of July parade. He rode alone on the top of a fire truck, hoisting the Stanley Cup as much as possible. We got some great photos.</p>
<p>Always kind of sad when the teams who end up in the finals then get rid of some of some of their players. Boston won’t have Seguin, Peverley, Horton or Ference next season. Chicago won’t have Boland or Frolick, and maybe more once the free agent frenzy begins tomorrow.</p>
<p>Chicago remade much of their team after winning in 2010. That’s the way of the game now with the salary cap. Remember, it went down by some millions this year - probably will go right back up next year - and they changed the way teams could load contracts in future years. That means the stars are getting deals that pay more in the early years - and across the term of the contract - and that squeezes out the middle paid players.</p>
<p>Not related to the playoffs but I wanted to let everyone know that HBO’s 24/7 Road to the Winter Classic started on the weekend and will continue with one episode on each of the next three weekends. This year’s game is between two original 6 teams, the Leafs and the Red Wings and will be held at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. The show is an interesting look inside the teams with access that is rare to press or fans.</p>