Are the San Jose Sharks ready for the Stanley Cup Finals?

The San Jose Sharks have asserted themselves as the top team in the Western conference after years of choking early on in the playoffs. To top that they have finally reached their first Stanley cup final in team history. All while standing on the backs of aging veterans like Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau, and on unbelievable goaltending by first time starter Martin Jones. But the Sharks have unfortunately run into the hot goaltending of Pittsburgh's Matt Murray. Who has been outstanding for the Penguins since taking over the starting job from Marc Andre Fleury at the end of the season. Murray has been Ken Dryden esc leading the Penguins past Stanley Cup favorite's Washington and the Tampa Bay lightning. Who were on fire heading into the Eastern Conference Finals. 

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. 

Should goalie equipment be reduced?

It's been a debate in the NHL for years now, should the equipment that goalies wear be reduced to create more goals. Many believe that because there are bigger goalies in the NHL who get to wear bigger equipment it gives them more of an advantage. We are witnessing the age of the big goalie, gone are the days where we could see a goalie like Jeff Lerg in the NHL. The shortest goalie right now in the NHL is Jhonas Enroth of the LA Kings at 5'10". The league average size for a goaltender is about 6'2", with the tallest goalie being Ben Bishop who stands at 6'7". Bigger goalies are in high demand for NHL teams. But there is an issue that comes with bigger goalies, their equipment is sized for their protection. That means bigger chest protectors, bigger pads, and bigger goalie sticks all of these things add to the massive goalies.

Can the Montreal Canadiens get back into the playoff picture?

The Montreal Canadiens were the hottest team in the NHL when the season started up in October, they won't their first nine games in regulation. After setting the NHL record for most regulation wins in a row. The Canadiens were on top of the hockey world and nothing looked like it would slow them down. Despite losing their next two games in a row Montreal fans were still confident in their team. Fans were dreaming of the first Stanley cup in Canada in 23 years, the players tried to damper the excitement. PK Subban said “I've said it before and I'll say it again: All we've accomplished is to have a good start to the season, and that's it". 

Scituate's own Josh Beck commits to Babson College

Josh announced on Monday February 1st that he was committing to play for the Babson Beavers next season in the NEHC. Beck who started skating at three years old has always been one of the smaller players on most of his teams. Josh has been able to prove his doubters wrong for much of his life, many thought he would never make varsity at Scituate high school as a freshman. He not only made the team as freshman, but went on to have an incredible career with the Sailors. Beck was a consistent offensive threat through his four years with the Sailors, and was often one of the fastest skaters on the ice. He capped off his great career with the Sailors as a senior captain, making the varsity team all four years.

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. 

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.