Week 11- Results

1) Yes, the Messier week is over and none too soon! We started off very poorly, but thankfully our West coast picks enabled us to at least secure a .500 evening. Going 6-6 isn't what we like to do, but when a possible 3-9 was staring at us, we'll take it. For the season we are now 86-58 for a .597 winning %. We even took a bath on our Lock as the Jackets lost at home to the lowly Ducks to bring that stat to 8-3.

2) We hope to rebound from 2 consecutive sub par weeks next Saturday when another 12 contests will be up for grabs. Additionally FR2 tells us they plan a post on recent developments in Phoenix. As always, keep it here for all the latest!

Weekly Picks:11

1) Yes, its that time. Saturday, so time for our weekly picks of all games in the NHL. This is week 11. We are hoping to rebound from one of our worst weeks of the season last time out. Thus far through 10 weeks we are 80-52, for a .606 winning %. With a dozen games up for grabs here are our choices of who we see winning.

Philadelphia at New Jersey: Flyers

Boston at NY Islanders: Bruins

Buffalo at NY Rangers: Rangers

Carolina at Ottawa: Senators

Washington at Toronto: Capitals

Montreal at Atlanta: Thrashers

Anaheim at Columbus: Blue Jackets (Lock of The Week)

Florida at Pittsburgh: Penguins

San Jose at Phoenix: Coyote

Detroit at Nashville: Predators

Minnesota at Vancouver: Canucks

Dallas at Los Angeles: Kings

Observations........

1) As we come into the week end of week 11 we figured we'd throw out a few observations/opinions of some of the news of the day, etc.

Topic 1:Shanahan Joins NHL- No Surprise!?! In case you missed it, a week or so ago the NHL announced that the former player would assume the position of the NHL’s new vice president of hockey and business development. Well, if you're a regular reader of this blog you certainly are not. We have stated on multiple occasions that Shanny was destined for the NHL front office. We stated a couple of years ago when he was a UFA from Detroit that he'd likely sign with a team close to the NY metro vicinity. Voilà (like the French lingo?) Brendan signed on for the Rangers then the Devils. Keeping a close proximity to his ultimate goal.

2) Many are saying this is "Payola"
http://canuckscorner.com/tombenjamin/?p=1398 for Shanny's role in circumventing Bob Goodenow and getting a CBA done in 2004/2005. From what we have heard it didn't hurt, but even before that Shanahan was on Bettman's radar. It was their 'relationship' prior to the last Bettman lockout that enabled the two to help bridge the divide between players and management, and for better or worse (you be the judge which) get the salary cap the league wanted, and the game back. Time will tell if he's qualified or not for this very new position that apparently is more on the business side, but business degree or not Brendan always came off as one of the brighter players in the game. WE could see him eventually moving up within the ranks and perhaps in a decade or so assume the commissioners role.

3) Topic 2: The Faux Jinx continues. It seems whenever we make a post/comment/take a stand the situation suddenly turns around. The most recent instances were two blog pieces we did concerning Sidney Crosby not being 'The Next One. http://newfaux.blogspot.com/2009/11/not-next-great-one.html and one about Peter Laviolette taking over in Philly http://newfaux.blogspot.com/2009/12/stevens-canned-laviolette-hired-good.html. In the former post Sid the Kid went on a tear following the post. While we stick with our conclusions we found it humorous he got hot right after that. In Philly the revers has been true. In his first week Laviolette has only won once in 4 tries as the Flyers fall further back in the Eastern Conference standings. There have been rumours of club house instability with captain Richards and new super star Chris Pronger butting heads somewhat. If this team is to succeed, and we maintain they have the talent to do so (despite ray Emery sucking/getting hurt), it will more require Lavy to get "the room' in order and cohesive, than ti implement a new style of play. Stay tuned.

Results: Week 10

1) Week 10 is gone and done. What a night it was! it seems almost every game was decided by one goal, and we didn't fair too well in those, especially the ones that went into the extra session/SO. Of course that's all part of the game so we accept all results. Also just after we lad the decision of the Flyers to replace Stevens with Laviolette Philly lays a serious egg at home against a caps team without its best player (Ovechkin). we don't see that continuing.

2) As for the actual carnage, we went an abysmal 5-9 to bring our 10 week total to a still respectable 80-52, or a .6.6 winning %. It wasn't al bad as we extended our winning ways with our Lock of The Week. Bringing that stat to 8-2 on the season. We will be back at it for week 11 next Saturday when 12 games will be played.
As always keep it here for all the latest!

Stevens Canned! Laviolette Hired! Good Move!

1) In what amounted to a late night lynching after everyone had gone to sleep Philadelphia Flyers coach John Stevens was fired late yesterday evening. The team didn't even hold its press conference until 8:00 pm last night!! Yes, its not a huge surprise to most people, its just the timing that we at Fauxrumors have issue with. The Flyers could/should have made this announcement either MUCH earlier in the day. Why wait? The only possible reason was the Hurricanes dragging their feet in giving permission?

2) As for the decision, we're actually in agreement with Paul Holmgren/the Flyer management. Stevens clearly was not the right coach for this team. Yes, as many have reported/said Stevens is one of the brightest young hockey minds in the game, and we would be shocked if he's not back coaching another NHL team before next season commences, but after an initial elevation of the team from the dregs 3 seasons ago, the Flyers never propelled themselves to that 'next level. Yes, and we would agree with those who say the biggest problem the Flyers have (and have had forever since Bernie parent retired) is between the pipes, but if anyone has seen the Flyers play this season there clearly was something lacking. A fire if you will. This team SHOULD be among the elite in the East, if not the NHL, not fighting for their lives for a 8th spot.

3) As for the decision to replace Stevens with Peter Laviolette, we again are in firm agreement with the choice. In fact we'd venture to say this is as important to their potential success this season as the Pronger addition in the off season. In 'Lavy' the Flyers have a coach that has won. A guy who is every bit as emotional as his team SHOULD be. We think this is a match that is a perfect fit and we'd be shocked if the Flyers don't proceed to over take the rest of the conference and be fighting the Pittsburghs and Capitals for supremacy in the East. Yes, Ray Emory/goaltending remains a problem/issue, and as we projected in our preseason predictions would be their eventual downfall in the post season, it should NOT prevent this team from winning at least 75% of their regular season games from here to April.

Week 10 Picks!

1) Its already week 10 of the 2009-2010 NHL season. There are 14 games on the line this afternoon/evening. We bring our 9 week total of 75-43 on the season, or a .636 winning %.



Vancouver at Carolina: Canucks

Edmonton at Dallas: Stars

St. Louis at Los Angeles: Kings

Toronto at Boston: Bruins (Lock of The Week)

NY Rangers at Buffalo: Sabres

Detroit at New Jersey: Red Wings

Washington at Philadelphia: Flyers

Atlanta at Florida: Thrashers

Colorado at Columbus: Avalanche

Chicago at Pittsburgh: Penguins

NY Islanders at Tampa Bay: Islanders

Minnesota at Nashville: Predators

Calgary at San Jose: Flames

Ottawa at Phoenix: Coyotes

Not A Mis-Print?

1) As we perused the NHL standings we were struck with several items with what we saw in the Eastern Conference. One, the top 8, after almost 30% of the NHL season has been completed, consisted of 3 NE division teams. Not a huge shocker (we saw 2) really, but most didn't think that the Senators would be one of them. As bad as things have been in Beantown they have hung in there and as of this point have a playoff position. Buffalo is not a shock as we at Fauxrumors believed that a healthy Ryan Miller would put them back into contention, and thus far his heroics have been a huge factor in their early success.

2) The thing about the top 8 that struck us the most was the fact that there are 3 SE Division teams there and only two Atlantic division team currently in playoff position. We felt before the season that the Atlantic was the best division in the East. Regular readers may recall how we lambasted the SE division in late October, http://newfaux.blogspot.com/2009/10/south-least-division.html No shocker that the Washington Capitals are in the top 8, but surprisingly, the team we believed had the best chance of joining them the Carolina Hurricanes are the conferences worst team!

3) Meanwhile the Lightning and Thrashers are having very nice starts. Look out DC, the Thrashers are only 7 points behind you with 3 games in hand! So who else is not getting it done? Well, the Flyers and Rangers are two teams we felt pretty confident would be playoff teams. The Flyers a Cup contender in our pre season predictions have played very poorly the past few weeks placing them on the outside of the top 8. The Blue Shirts, after a nice start have folded their tent and looked like a bottom 5 team the past 3 weeks, going a horrendous 3-7 in their last 10 games!

4) Yes, we can already hear some of you saying, 'its early Faux'. Of course, but its not the first week of the season anymore. These trends are significant now. We feel that teams like the Lightning and Thrashers, barring serious injury woes, will hang in there and make it a fight to the end for a playoff spot. Something both of those beleaguered markets desperately need! We also can't see the Flyers staying where they are. At some point they will put together a nice streak and be right back in the top of the Atlantic race. Additionally, really only two teams can be counted out as of now. The aforementioned Hurricanes who appear lost, and the Maple Leafs. Everyone else is within a good weekend of games of getting back into the top 8. As it has been the last few seasons it will likely go down to the final day before we know who will be there and who will need to book a mid April tee time.