SB Nation User Blog: Dario

I Went To Rookie Camp On Monday

Dario — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 02:20:43 -0000

[Promoted from the FanPosts with a link added - Joe]

So I went to rookie camp on Monday. I quickly found Jori and proceeded to talk her ear off. I should be no suprise that Jori has a real passion for prospects and hockey in general. We are really lucky to have someone in the Avs blogging community who will drive through rush hour traffic on I-25 to make rookie camp and then twitter and blog and all that stuff. I also got to meet Eva there as well. Avalanche women know their sport.

Anyway, I generally like to see two or more camps before I give my opinion on prospects. However, I'm an opinionated guy and I can't help but tell everyone how much I know about so very little.

First, the NHL club showed up half way through training camp and those boys were skating on the other ice sheet. It looks like the whole team was playing over there. For those that haven't witnessed it first hand. It's just the guys playing and no one else. No coaches, no trainers and no organization beyond what the guys put together themselves. I didn't stay long to watch as I wanted to catch the rookies for the most part. But Svatos seemed relatively strong on his skates even when Parker gave him some shoving in the corners during scrimmage. Ledin is goofy, did the faceoff at center ice by placing the puck on his helmet. Not unheard of practice when there's no officials but he probably can't speak a lick of English and he seems..um, comfortable. I like him already. I saw two quick, very impressive goals from um, Brian Wilsie. I think I quipped to Jori at the time, "don't peak too early Brian". Sakic was all smiles and Foote was doing the stern, yet joking routine that anyone who didn't know better would think was him being pissed off. It reminded me of five years ago for sure. Last thing, Dave Barr looks like he's going bad cop to Granato's good cop. He's got an awsome scowl. That's a good thing, everyone needs a Dave Lewis to make the bench salty. Sadly, no porn stach, can't have everything I guess.

Oh, the rookies. This is all first impression kind of stuff. I liked Dupuis, Fritsche and oddly enough Mark McCutcheon. I like that they do a lot of heads up skating and the skating in traffic doesn't seem "distracting" for lack of a better term. Rookies in camp that always concern me at those that start to watch the puck when they have possession and ones that lose a grip on the puck when they get in any kind of traffic. They seem to have to concentrate on their skating and can't put both puck handling and skating together as a package. Dupuis and Fritsche were just looking up and making plays, skating well and looked very sharp. All this goes without saying but Jones and Hensick were the best of camp. They do the afformentioned things by second nature so they concentrate on playmaking and defensive positioning etc... McCutcheon doesn't have a career of great production honestly but he looks bigger and skates well. Let me say this about Chris Stewart, he's got Jonas Johansson/Johnny Boychuk disease. It looked to me like he's skating with a sense of entitlement out there. He wasn't busting his ass. He looked like Bertuzzi out there with that glide. When he got the puck he'd suddenly find his work ethic but he also got tunnel vision. This kid is not going to dish out a ton of assists. It just didn't look right. Especially when you consider that sure-fire guys like Hensick and Jones are skating their balls off. Jori said he was better on Sunday. So maybe my impressions are missplaced and maybe he's not THAT guy. The one who struts through rookie camp only to find his ass on the way back to the AHL without even playing a shift in the Burgandy and White game.

On defense I'm really excited about Nigel Williams. He's a big guy that can skate! It's like been a lions age since the Avs have had anyone like that in their prospect pool. You can see that his shot is NHL quality. Even his effortless wrist shots pound off the boards with great velocity. He's one of those guys that just has the right leverage and feel for shots at the point. He's making good decisions on the offensive blue line and in the defensive zone when he's established his position. He did get burned a couple times on the rush. In my estimation he's got to use his size to his advantage here and close his gap with a better poke check. His stick positioning on both times I saw him beat was in a containment position to stop a cross ice pass. Vernace also looked really good to me as well. His skating is very natural and he looked to be one of the better transitional skaters. It looked very smooth and unforced. Montgomery looked good (I think, I had to refer to my cheat sheet so often on #s I started to get confused), he's looked like the best passer of the blue liners. I didn't notice Gaunce too much, didn't see anything bad but nothing great either.

Goaltending wise Keserich struggled, Cann looked pretty balanced but not real quick. Delmas owns the bottom of the net but gets absolutely abused on the high heat. One thing I didn't care for with all the prospect goalies is that NONE of them were talking. In fact, most of the guys on the ice seemed really tense and the communication on the ice was pretty thin. I can't say there were a whole lot of vocal guys out there from what I could tell. Of course it doesn't help when everyone from Francois Giguere to Tony Granato are sitting in that executive perch above the ice watching your every move. Not to mention the steely gaze of Dave Barr. That guy makes rookies cry at night I'm telling you.

2008/2009 new cap number is 56.7 million

Dario — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:58:07 -0000

The NHLPA let slip what the NHL has yet to officially announce at the NHLPA website. The new cap is 56.7 million dollars.

NEW YORK/TORONTO (June 26, 2008) - The National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association announced today that the Team Payroll Range established for the 2008-09 League Year, pursuant to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, provides for a Lower Limit of $40.7 million, an Adjusted Midpoint of $48.7 million and an Upper Limit of $56.7 million.

So, for those teams not named the Bluejackets, Panthers or Predators the new salary cap for 08/09 is 56.7 million. So Avs fans, get your calculators out and keep an eye on one of my favorite free agent tools (no, not Draft Dodger) at NHLnumbers.

Just for the record, in Bettman's world of cost certainty the NHL salary cap has produced the following:

2005/2006 = 39 million
2006/2007 = 44 million
2007/2008 = 50.3 million
2008/2009 = 56.7 million

As of this year the unrestricted free agent minimum age has been reduced down to 27 years old or seven years played where as previously it was simply any player over 31 years of age.

Anyway, 56.7 is the new play money figure. Very close might I add, to Pierre Lacroix's magic 60 million dollar number he used for his GM tenure that included rosters with Blake, Bourque, Roy, Foote, Forsberg, Sakic, Hejduk etc...

Fanhouse blogger takes a shot at Avalanche fans

Dario — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 22:01:05 -0000

Well, this has been tossed around by various message board trolls since the sell out streak ended for the Avalanche fans. I have had this debate with several Detroit Red Wing fans over the years and now some guys are taking their shots. I'm using this diary entry to not only share this but I'm getting tired of typing out the same old responses so I want a quick way to copy and past in the future.

The blog post is at
My response: (With gramatical errors and all)

I'm not sure where you're getting this self proclaimed best fans in the NHL crap. There's no doubt that the Avalanche organization had great pride in the sell out streak. There's little doubt that Avalanche fans are spoiled. However, let's clear some items up. First, Chambers is grasping for straws to fill a column. Next, the Avalanche sold out 487 games. That is not the equivalent of six seasons Jes. That is from 95/96 season to 06/07 which minus the lockout year is TEN years! They play 41 home games a year, not 82 which is how I assume you came up with your six year comment. The sell outs include playoff games. It's a record because it's a hell of a feat and the "unspoiled" haven't done it.

You can marginalize the Avalanche and their fans all you like and I understand why some people have been waiting nearly 12 years to do it. However, the Avalanche fan base is going no where. While you're so quick to scoff at Avalanche fans as fickle front runners let's consider some realities. Ticket prices are just out of control in the NHL. The previously sorry Nuggets and Rockies all of a sudden have pull in the market and corporate ticket sales are sieving to these two draws. Even with the end of the sell out streak, the Avs filled Pepsi Center to 97.8%. Sure it's no 74.5% of real fans like those in New Jersey but we do what we can. Last, it's not so much a matter of what star power is still with the Avalanche but it is true that the Avs lost some of the greatest bulk of big name talent because of the lockout or retirements. We lost Blake, Roy, Foote, and Forsberg. In related moves we've lost Tangauy as well. It was a lot easier to throw down money to see those guys no matter where they were in the standings. For hard core fans like myself, it doesn't matter. In a Canadian city or Minnesota? No problem, those areas are hockey mad and have the best hockey fans hands down. However, this post just reeks of snobbery of the worst sort. This is something Avalanche fans have heard since 1995. Do you have any idea how pretentious it sounds for a Red Wing fan to spout of "hockeytown", "10 Stanley Cups" and "Original Six"? Look, I'm seen the verbal scrums over empty arenas in Detroit for 20 years between fans, it leads to nowhere.

Hockey has been a loved sport in this city well before the Avalanche came to play. Hockey has a rich history and avid following in the Denver market. Now, with the success of the Avalanche there's really no end in sight. Youth hockey is out of control, ice time is almost impossible to find. Kids that were six years old when the Avs began their run are now 18 and have a "lifetime" of memories being Avalanche fans. They have memories of watching hockey with their old man, playing as Forsberg in the driveway with their buddies and are for lack of a better term, indoctrinated in to the fantastic tradition of growing up as a fan.

Avalanche fans are going no where, 91.3% home capacity this year or not.

A deal with the Devil. Make the trade for Mathieu Schneider.

Dario — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 21:54:33 -0000

The Avalanche are rolling on offense. Experience and consistancy are lacking on the back end. Burke is unloading salary and Avs might be the perfect fit for a wiley old backline veteran.

Look, I'm not one of those trade proposal kind of guys. I think trades happen rarely, and when they do usually no one has a clue they are coming. With the rare exception of deals like Bourque, who at the time was clearly looking for a last shot somewhere. Now, it's clear that Burke has to trade some salary to make room for Niedermayer. I would be thrilled to see Mathieu Schneider playing on the Avalanche.

This Avalanche teams really needs a player like Schneider for a few reasons. First, he's a left handed shot and plays defense from the left side. The Avs are pretty weak up the left side right now with Liles, Skrastins, Sauer and Hannan*. Hannan is obviously, not a weak link here but his game is much stronger on the right side. He's had a really rough start to the year playing on the left side, regardless of who is partner is. On the right we have Clark, Finger and Leoprone. Cumiskey seems to play either side equally because well, he's a nut. Second, Schneider is a veteran who has played on some really, really quality defenses in his time. He moves the puck well, knows how to play the point on the PP. Of all the players on the Avalanche defense right now, Karlis Skrastins is the veteran. Hannan, who is supposed to be the premier veteran to lead that squad is 28 years old. A guy like Schneider can provide some needed leadership on that back line. Last, Schneider is on just a two year contract right now, just in time to make a good decision on letting him go or not after '08. NHL contracts are all coming in with HUGE contract lengths right now. The Avs would be on the hook for a prorated portion of his current 5.5 mil. deal. Then they would have his 5.75 for next year. They would be under less pressure to ink Liles if he got an RFA offer from someone else.

A lot of people are still hoping for a Forsberg reunion with the current cap space. I think the dire need of the Avalanche is on their own end, not on offense. Schneider could do great things for the next couple of years. Currently he's got 15 points and is a plus 4 on what started as a struggling Ducks team. Burke can't want much for him and can't afford any salary back. Besides, for some reason the Avalanche front office and Burke seem to communicate so there has to be an open line over there. We even delt him Brad May for a bag of pucks and he turned out to single handedly (handedly is my own made up word, stop giving me crap spell check) carry the Ducks to the Stanley Cup.

Any objections?

Another disaster on the NHL marketing front dies a quiet death

Dario — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:28:15 -0000

I don't want to push some items down on ITCS today because they are pretty important. I also tried to post this in response to http://jibblescribbits.blogspot.com/... but Google/Blogger is giving errors, or just hates me. In any case, this is my rant on the apparent death of the "Mark Messier Leadership Award presented by COLD-FX" (morphed from the initial award title of "The COLD-FX Mark Messier Leadership Award" which is even worse).

I agree with everything Mike Thompson said.

What it all comes down to is that the NHL has poor leadership. This is a ship that's a float at sea and has no direction.

Another example? The "Mark Messier Leadership Award presented by COLD-FX". In Bettman's infinite wisdom he takes the long standing (and great) tradition of hockey awards and bastardizes it with a sponser. What the fuck is COLD-FX and should we expect it to be around in another 100 years? The Norris Trophy presented by Kraft Foods is just plain WRONG. Furthermore, why Mark Messier? I will grant you that he's a Hall of Famer and a great NHL player. However, Gretzsky, Howe, Lemiuex and Orr don't have awards. Messier was the first in line? Really? The name of that award just sucks, I can't imagine walking through the Hall of Fame one day and seeing that abomination.

Next, this trophy was going to be presented on a monthly basis and then with a final winner at the end of the year like the other awards. What was the criteria for awarding this "leadership" trophy anyway? The best offensive player, best known player on a popular team or perhaps it was going to be something great, like an nuanced selection to prop up a great, unheralded leader on a club that might not get recognition otherwise? You know, like Chris Drury, Koivu etc... Perhaps the award would even be done by voting coaches, players or gms?

Nope, this award was chosen each month (and yearly) by the Holy Oracle of leadership quantification, Mark Messier himself. Ooookay, he's not in every dressing room and can't possibly see that many teams each month, how in the bloody hell is Messier going to do this? Well, his first award was given to Brenden Shannahan. WTF!? Shannahan may, in fact be a good enough leader but he just happened to have started the 06/07 season as one of the top scorers, but who also happened to be playing for Messier's beloved Rangers. That didn't so much bother me but the fact that they are both practically BEST FUCKING FRIENDS did bother me.

Later, Messier completely crapped the bed by naming Chris Chelios of all fricken people the award winner for the year. I can't express how insulting that is so I'll just reference a post that summarizes my feelings on it,

http://2manadvantage.blogspot.com/20...

Now, the award doesn't seem to exist. Thank God. But that doesn't mean Bettman and Co. won't create another marketing nightmare from whole cloth. The leadership is horrid and that was just a minor example of the fiasco they are turning the league in to.

Jacques fricken Cloutier

Dario — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 13:31:52 -0000

I'm moving over this comment from the Calgary gameday thred at http://www.milehighhockey.com/story/...

Joe commented that Budaj would outlast the current coaching staff. I issued the rebuttle in this post. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Jacque fricken Cloutier.

It's just part of my ongoing series of theories regarding the greatest team in hockey.

I'm buying everything you're selling here. I like Budaj.

However, you went off the deep end when you say "And I have no doubt he'll outlast the coaching staff". You sir, are lucky to still be breathing after such a comment. Have you no concept of the danger you're in. Jacques Cloutier can destroy you with little provication.

Look, there's only two individuals that have survived since 1996. One is a hall of famer called Sakic and the other is 5' 7" destroyer of man, Jacques Cloutier. Seriously, this.... thing has survived three different coaching changes. He's the Petr Franek (Franek infamously was "Avalanche Property" for 15+ years and tossed in to every expansion draft of the late 90s and early 2000s) of the Colorado Avalanche. He will never, ever stop. There can be little doubt at this point that he's not even human. In fact, when Granato is whispering in to his wrist he's not talking to the video guys, he's giving the doomsday machine called Cloutier commands to act human.

I heard that during the closed interviews between Hartley, Granato and Quenneville that the only people present were Pierre Lacroix and Cloutier. When any mention of their own defensive coaching staff came up, Pierre would immediately start shaking his head as subtly as possible while moving his eyes over to Cloutier repeatedly. Cloutier did his part by fixing an unblinking stare in their direction.

Can anyone recall a single shot of Cloutier during the bench drama of either the Detroit rivalry or the shouting matching after the Bertuzzi incident? No you can't. Why? Because Jacques frickin Cloutier would litterally destroy all parties involved if he so much as raised his doomsday finger. How can you explain him making it through so many coaching changes? How can you explain him keeping his job after coaching such notables as Chris McAlester and actually putting him in a second defensive pairing? Who can survive such things? Only a robot sent from the future. There's no other explanation.

My friends, ask yourself a simple question. Which direction do the players slide down the bench? That's right, AWAY from Jacques fricken Cloutier. When Theodore has to sit next to him he keeps his mouth shut and his eyes wide open.

Jacques fricken Cloutier.

I had no choice

Dario — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:27:09 -0000

There are lots of kids that have little choice but to become hockey fans. Your dad coaches, you live in Toronto etc... However, for a kid from Northern California I simply was given no choice in the matter. Basically, I experience the perfect storm of hockey perfection.

I grew up in a small rural community in between Tahoe and Sacramento. No one played hockey except in a few circles around Tahoe and since the 1960 Olympics, the sport had died down significantly in the area in the 1970s. However, at the age of 10 years old I and the rest of the United States were glued to our televisions to witness perhaps the greatest sporting moment in our history, The miracle on ice. Like a lot of kids and adults I was enamored with the passion, skill and emotion of the sport. As a consequence there was more exposure to it. The newspapers started to post actual box scores for LA Kings games. At the same time, our family started to rent a cabin on our property to a retired Navy captain who played in the stock market. To my delight he installed one of those massive satallite dishes so he could follow his investments. As a result I got to go over and watch hockey from time to time. I even got to watch The George Michael Sports Machine before it was syndicated. Started around the same time, GMSM had the Miracle on Ice fever as well and showed copius amounts of hockey highlights.

However, my hockey obsession reached its permenance two short years later at age twelve when I took a trip to Southern California to see my Aunt. To my delight, we got tickets to game 3 of the hockey playoffs featuring Wayne Gretsky's Edmonton Oilers vs the heavy underdog Los Angeles Kings. That game, like the Miracle on Ice became one of the best hockey games of all time. It is known to this day as The Miracle on Manchester. It was an experience like no other in the Forum that night. I heard curse words I never knew existed, beer flew and emotions ran high. In those days the Kings crowds were real blue collar die hards and they cheered for a team that was as tough as they came. The beginning of the third period was just dead silent, it was kind of spooky. However, some good upstanding citizen next to us stood up and yelled something I will never forget. I swear to this day it echoed through the entire forum. He yelled, "REF YOU MUST BE PREGNANT! YOU'VE MISSED TWO PERIODS SO FAR!!!". I had no idea what the hell that meant at the time but everyone in the lower section laughed. Then it was on, the crowd got on the refs big time and down 5-0 there was really nothing to lose. You can follow the link and read the rest of history. Did that joke turn the tide? Hell, I don't think so but it couldn't have hurt.

In two short years, I witnessed hockey euphoria at an impressionable age. As I said, I really had no choice in the matter. I went on to move to Denver which lead to my alligence to the Avalanche. The story between age 12 and my move is really too much to cover but suffice to say I love hockey, it really couldn't have turned out any other way.