Something exciting has happened, something that is Ducks related. Bobby Ryan and the Ducks have resumed contract talk. A few fans had been complaining that Bobby didn't attend the World Cup; some believing he wasn't invited. Bobby had actually turned the offer down, which is usual for a player who still has some business to take care of instead of playing their respective sport. In this case, Bobby still had unfinished contract talks with the team who drafted him. Though the talks don't yet involve Bobby directly just Don Meehan of Newport Sports Management. Mark Guy Bobby's agent and Ducks assistant manager David McNab and GM Bob Murray have also confirmed talks.
At the beginning of the playoffs. A majority of fans never even gave thought about the fact that the match up for the Stanley Cup Final would be Chicago vs. Philadelphia. Chicago hasn't lifted the Cup since 1961 and Philadelphia hasn't claimed it since they won it back to back in the 1974 and 1975 seasons. Chicago looks to end the longest Stanley Cup drought in NHL history.
The last time the Blackhawks made the SCF was in 1992 when Captain Serious: Jonathan Toews (born April 29, 1988) was only four years old Patrick Kane (born November 19, 1988) was also the same age as Toews these are the supposed big two, who really helped turn the ever deflating hockey market in Chicago around, back to "Madness on Madison Street" the last time the Flyers made it to the Stanley Cup Final was in 1997.
Chicago swept San Jose in Chicago 4-0 and Philadelphia beat out the "Cinderella" Montreal in a 4-1 series in Philadelphia, one of the oddest most terrible goals was allowed by Jaroslav Halak when defenseman and teammate Roman Hamrlik was out of position, fighting for the puck with Philadelphia's Mike Richards; Halak skated way out of his crease and collided with Hamlrik. The scene was nothing short of bizarre. First, Richards fell and Hamrlik tripped over Richards' legs. Hamlrik had his head down, watching the puck when he tripped over Richards legs. In came Halak colliding with Hamlrik and hard. Hamlrik laid on the ice. Halak's stick had slid down the ice back to near his crease. Halak was standing, when he watched helplessly has Richards threw in the empty net goal. Then he slid back into his crease, grabbing his stick preparing for the next onslaught of shots . Richards had quickly regained his footing, skated for the puck and tapped it in the wide open net. The Canadiens struck first, when Brian Gionta capitalized on a turnover and shot it past Michael Leighton shortly into the first period.
But not only do the Flyers and Blackhawks serve as a unlikely match-up, but look at the boys in the blue paint. Antti Niemi suiting up for Chicago and Michael Leighton suiting up for Philadelphia. Both goaltenders have never played in the NHL playoffs in their lives until the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Now they're in the Final. We know that the goalies are a huge part in a winning team. We also know they're the ones most and easiest to blame. Especially when you consider the fact that when a goal is scored a red light flashes behind them, in a visiting rink the horn sounds and the team celebrates in front of them (well same for both rinks). Then, there's the fans, chanting, tauntingly the last name of that particular goalie.
Taunt chants are definitely going to be heard, not just for the goalies, obviously but for the skaters and the opposing team as a whole. It's the Final, what else do you expect? Both Niemi and Leighton have been impressive to say the least. Leighton replaced teammate Brian Boucher after he was injured. Niemi is a big reason why the Hawks are in the playoffs and so is t he team in front of him, who played well and rarely left him out to dry. One thing that both Leighton and Niemi struggle in is their rebound control. This is where a lot of their goals were scored on them. The Goalie Guild updates The Beast Tracker at a fair and great pace during the playoffs.
Why not Philadelphia? The Blackhawks seem to be the favorite team to win the Cup, they're great contenders to win the Cup and that is basically one of the reasons they even made the SCF. But Philadelphia has been nothing short of impressive. Knocking out the offensively challenged Boston Bruins; who went 3-1 in the series Philadelphia never gave up, put nothing but pure heart into the series from every aspect on the ice and forced and won Game 7 at home in a raucous sold out Wachovia Center. If Philadelphia does win the Cup, they may be the greatest story in Philadelphia in sports history.
Philadelphia also has a goalie, who put up a wall helping his team shutout the Canadiens three teams, in the Eastern Conference Final. And Chicago? They have excellent young talent coming from Kane and Toews. Ben Eager, Kris Veersteeg This SCF is going to be exciting, as always but especially given the history behind the two teams and their goalies. Both Niemi and Leighton have already been through tough career bumps. The thing is, the goalie who lets in that winning goal for the Stanley Cup is going to be absolutely devastated. Same with the rest of the team but a goalie standing in his crease, knowing he let in that goal. Nothing will prepare him for that. In the playoffs, for any sport the hardest thing is remaining on the ice, field, court. Watching as the opposing team celebrates their championship.
J.S. Giguere is one of many goalies who knows how it feels to come so far yet fall short of the most famous trophy in sports, the only trophy in sports that never is remade. Playoffs are emotional specifically for the players, at that point the money they're making doesn't really matter. Jonas Hiller was in tears when Detroit knocked out Anaheim in the second round. It's the adrenaline that finally will wear a person down. Once that's gone, your energy is pretty much gone and if you lose; you feel nothing but the emotion boiling over. But was it worth getting that far? There's absolutely no doubt about it. Competition is part of the human life. But these goalies, these players never give up. They're constantly searching for that feeling of victory lifting a 37lb trophy.
Evgeni Nabokov no longer a Shark?
Evgeni Nabokov is an unrestricted free agent this summer. He's been the goalie face of the franchise for the San Jose Sharks, who drafted him in 1993. Nabokov has recorded impressive regular season stats, including 2 or 3 seasons with 40 wins in his name but for some reason; he falls short in the playoffs. Sure, the Sharks got to the third round this year and were swept by Chicago but they remain the only team in California to not of made the Stanley Cup Final and Nabokov has been part of quiet a few of those Sharks teams. This obviously means, he has never won the Cup. Nabokov had a $5,375,000 cap hit for San Jose in the 2009-2010 season. Another big name is Patrick Marelau according to The Hockey News they're (one pair of) two of the biggest UFAs possibly hitting the market July 1.
Nabokov is probably the best goalie on the Market but he doesn't look like a a player who will end up back in a Sharks jersey again. Other teams with goalie issues are definitely interested in him. Nabokov was pretty good in the playoffs, even if his team was swept in the third round. He was more of the silent ninja for SJ. Marleau possibly will go back but he could possibly the on a different team. but he's more likely to sign with the Sharks next season then Nabokov is.
Does Nabokov deserve a Stanley Cup? He certainly does but he needs to realize it won't be with San Jose; the Sharks could win the Cup in the future but it's just time for him to move on. To suit up in a different jersey that doesn't have a Shark swimming into a wood hockey stick breaking it. He needs a clean slate, new scenery start out fresh. Nabokov turns 35 on July 25. He still has at least a couple years in him and is deserving of having his name engraved onto the sliver god of trophies. So don't be surprised if you see him in a different sweater for the 2010-2011 season.
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