Remembering Mr. Hockey Gordie Howe

Gordie Howe was a hockey icon during his time playing in the NHL and in the WHA. He was born on March 31, 1928 to humble roots in Saskatchewan. He joined the Detroit Red Wings at the age of 18 and was a part of four Stanley Cups. Howe died Friday morning at 88 years old, this after surviving two strokes in late 2014 when it seems to be close to the end for Howe. But Howe like a true warrior survived and recovered from the strokes, putting many fans at ease. According to the Detroit free press Howe went peacefully and without regrets early this morning. Many of the younger generations will remember Howe for the infamous "Gordie Howe hat trick", which Howe only did twice in his career. 

Is Jonathan Drouin making the right decision?

It has been a major story this season surrounding the 2013 3rd overall draft pick for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Jonathan Drouin's season has been surrounded by controversy and doubt, after struggling to crack the lineup early in the season it was clear Drouin was unhappy. After being limited to just 19 games because of injury and only five games in November. So in his second season Drouin was sent down to the Lightning's AHL affiliate the Syracuse Crunch to get more playing time. GM Steve Yzerman stated at the time "he's been dealing with a minor nagging injury that is finally healed. With everyone coming back at the same time, it's a good opportunity to get a young player a lot of ice time, get his game right back on top and bring him back at the appropriate time". With that there was no clear date set for Drouin to rejoin the Lightning. 

Are the Blackhawks still the favorites after the trade deadline?

The Chicago Blackhawks like most top teams in the NHL were busy during the last week before the trade deadline. As one of the best teams in the West and having the best player in the NHL this year in Patrick Kane. The future seems pretty bright for the defending champions looking to go back to back. The Blackhawks have become the gold standard in the NHL over the past six years, being able to move players while still maintaining their core of players. The Blackhawks have made the right decisions by taking chances on Brad Richards, Chris Versteeg and a few other veteran players. They have also been on of the best teams when it comes to cutting ties with players that are reaching the end of the usefulness. Their farm system has also been developing solid young players who have been able to come in and fill those roles for the Blackhawks.

Is Ryan Miller the same goalie?

In the early 2000's Ryan Miller was arguably the best goalie in the NHL, he was the back bone of some of those great Sabers teams under Lindy Ruff. But Miller has fallen off over the last few years, age and news teams have led him into obscurity. Miller has struggled since joining Vancouver as a free agent in 2014. The narrative has been his best years were in Buffalo and has been in decline since the 2010 Olympics. He joined the Canucks on a three year 18-million-dollar contract, he was supposed to lead the Canucks back to the playoffs. He had been one of the most sought after goalies at the trade deadline when he was dealt to the St. Louis Blues to help them in their cup hopes. Miller had a decent run with the Blues helping them make the playoffs. Unfortunately, they fell short in their cup hopes and were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round. 

Leo Komarov: the leafs diamond in the rough

It's been a tough couple of years for Toronto Maple Leafs fans, they have been rebuilding for what feels like forever. The Leafs haven't made the playoffs since 2011 when they fell apart in game seven against the Boston Bruins. But they have finally found a decent foundation for them to build on, and his name is Leo Komarov.  Komarov has found a home on the Leafs first line under new head coach Mike Babcock. Komarov a veteran of international play has brought new life to a young Leafs team looking for some offense.  Under the new coaching staff Komarov has become an all-star, the 29 year-old has bounced around the past few years. He has played in the KHL, AHL, and the NHL before finding his place on the Leafs top line. So far this season he has 16 goals and 31 points to lead the Leafs in scoring. 

Jaromir Jagr: the ageless wonder

One of the biggest stories of the season has been 43-year-old Jaromir Jagr who has found new life with the young Florida Panthers. Since entering the league with the Pittsburgh Penguins Jagr has more than lived up to his first round pick status. Jagr is a two time Stanley Cup champion playing on the great Penguins teams of the 90's along side Mario Lemieux. He is a 13-time all-star with the latest selection coming this year, with him captaining the Atlantic Division all-star team in the 3-on-3. He has done absolutely everything there is to do in professional hockey also winning five Art Ross trophies, the 1999 Hart memorial trophy, and three Lester B. Pearson Awards. He is also one of only 26 players to ever win a Stanley Cup, a World Championship, and Olympic Gold in Men’s Ice Hockey over his career. 

Can the Toronto Maple Leafs deal Jonathan Bernier

Earlier today, it came out that the Toronto Maple Leafs have started to shop goaltender Jonathan Bernier. While this should come as a surprise to no one, it still raises the question can they really trade him? Bernier has posted a 6-12-3 record in 21 games for the Leafs, along with a .899 save percentage and 3.13 goals against average. After struggling right out of the gate, Bernier lost his starting role to James Reimer who has stepped up his game since last season. When Reimer was out injured, coach Mike Babcock decided that Bernier shouldn't be trusted to take over the starting role in net. Instead, The Leaf's rookie Garret Sparks was called up and made an instant impact going 3-1-1 in 5 games with a .915 save percentage. During this time Bernier was sent down to the Toronto Marlies of the AHL for a conditioning stint. Bernier was 0-8-1 at the time he was sent down and was looking to get back on track.

John Scott the NHL's unlikely all-star

John Scott's run in the NHL has been mediocre at best, he is giant enforcer who can barley keep up with the slowest NHL players. Scott's style of play is quickly being eradicated from the NHL and the hockey world for good. Fighting is dying and players like Scott are quickly realizing that they have been thrown into the wrong era of professional hockey. Scott has made a career off of being the scary enforcer who is never afraid to fight. In his nine year NHL career he has five goals and 11 points in 285 career games. He also has 542 career penalty minutes in the regular season, and 22 in the playoffs with the Blackhawks. Scott has also been suspended by the NHL two separate times by the NHL for a total of 11 games. Most causal fans know Scott as the goon who threatened to "jump" Phil Kessel causing a huge line brawl in the Leafs and Sabers preseason game a few years ago. 

How two goalies this season have redefined the way we look at the ECHL

For years the ECHL was a league of goons and the last resort for older players slowing down just looking for a few more years in the game. But as the ECHL has grown and teams have started aligning with NHL and AHL teams the league has grown. 528 players have made the NHL from the ECHL in their history. There have ben many players that cycle in and out, but two goalies this season have help redefine the way team should look at their ECHL affiliates. Garret Sparks and Mike Condon are just latest two former ECHLers to come up and make an impact for their NHL team. 

Why the Predators shouldn't have traded Seth Jones

On Wednesday the Columbus Blue Jackets traded superstar Ryan Johansen to the Nashville Predators for former 4th overall pick Seth Jones. Johansen has been on newly hired head coach John Tortorella's chopping block since he was hired in late October. Torts has battled with with the young star since coming to the Blue Jackets. His early comments about the center included that he was "out of shape". Torts also scratched Johansen in early December to "reset the superstar". 

The Pride of Scituate: Conor Garland

Very rarely is someone known as the pride of a certain town, for our little south shore town that is Conor Garland. The 19-year-old has played in the QMJHL for the Moncton Wildcats for the past four season. Garland has improved rapidly since his first season in the QMJHL. Garland left Shattuck-Saint Mary's in 2011 and returned back home to play for the Boston Junior Bruins in the Empire Junior Hockey League. Garland started the next with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL, and committed to Penn State University. But Conor decided to forego his NCAA eligibility and join the Wildcats of the QMJHL. 

The Year After: A Hockey Story

Every athlete knows that the end of their career is always right around the corner. With each passing year it becomes more and more apparent that you won't play forever. It's gets harder and harder to make teams, and less and less of your friends are on those teams. For most athletes that final year is your senior year of high school, by that time if you don't have an offer to go somewhere you probably aren't playing sports. It's all about closing out your high school career with a championship season, we all dream about going out on top and for some that’s a reality. But for most of us it ends when the season ends whether that means playoffs or not.

The light at the end of the tunnel: It looks like the Oilers rebuild is finally coming to an end

It has been a long and difficult road for the Edmonton Oilers, it all started nine seasons ago when the Edmonton Oilers lost in the Stanley Cup final to the Carolina Hurricanes. Since that season the Oilers have struggled to even sniff around eighth place in the Western Conference. It is the longest drought in the NHL currently, and since that season the Oilers haven't been able to find the right combination of veterans and their young talent. They have been a joke of hockey fans everywhere, and have always been at the top of the draft lottery. The Oilers in eight of the past nine season the Oilers have picked in the top ten of the first round, and four out of the last five years they have picked first overall. It would seem that the Oilers would be trending in the right direction with all of these top level picks, but they just haven't surrounded them with the right pieces to help them grow and develop.

My very first article: Will Henrik Lundqvist & The Rangers be able to bounce back after losing in game six of the Stanley Cup

                                   
Last year we saw Henrik Lundqvist carry the New York Rangers to game six of the Stanley Cup final, until being heart broken by Alex Martinez and the Los Angeles Kings on their way to their second Stanley Cup in two years. So what now for the king he has had a shortened summer to re-tool his game and get healthy after a long Stanley Cup run. If he was able to get a full summers work then he should be able to play just as well if not better than he was last year during the playoffs. There is absolutely no doubt that Henrik Lundqvist is one of the best and most consistent goalie year-in-year-out, he struggled a little at the beginning of the preseason but started to look like himself after a few starts and that is to be expected. 

A great end to a great career: Congratulations to Kimmo Timonen

Last night saw the Chicago Blackhawks win their third cup in six seasons and cement their dynasty as one of the best teams in the past decade. The game saw Duncan Kieth and Patrick Kane score in the 2-0 victory in games six. But there was a bigger story in this game 40 year old Blackhawks defense man Kimmo Timonen won his first and only Stanley cup, as he is set to retire now that the season is over. Back on August 5th 2014, Flyers GM Ron Hextall came to a press conference and announced "Kimmo Timonen has been diagnosed with blood clots in his lower right leg and in both lungs. Kimmo is currently being treated for this disorder back in his home country of Finland. His return to play is yet to be determined". It was an injury that many though would be the end of Timonen, when it was first reported many believed that he would just retire because of it. 

My new blog

Hi all,
My name is James McGowan and I am currently a writer for Fantasypros.com, I cover the New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles for fantasy baseball news. I formerly wrote for sportsinjuryalert.com until they were sold to Fantasypros and I covered the NHL's injury's. I love hockey and baseball, and it has been my dream to be a sports writer and I am currently working on a deal with thehockeydesk.com, to be a contributor to their magizine and their website. I will also be the director of social media, I invite you to follow me on Twitter @J3sports3 that is where I put out all of my articles. In this blog I will be covering some hockey things as we get into the off season, and some baseball things that I would otherwise not be able to cover. Thank you for reading and thank you for the support as I try and get my name out in the world of sports writing.