This Is Tavares Country: March 2009

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

3/31/09 News

http://lfpress.ca/cgi-bin/publish.cgi?p=261565&x=articles&s=knights

http://www.mlive.com/spirit/index.ssf/2009/03/saginaw_spirit_look_to_stop_lo.html

http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1502625

http://www.newsday.com/sports/ny-spjeansonne0401,0,1826896.column

A couple of playoff articles and a couple of draft articles. Starting to buildup to big times in the life of John Tavares...a run at the memorial cup, the lottery, and the draft. Stay tuned.

Monday, March 30, 2009

3/30/09 News

http://www.mlive.com/spirit/index.ssf/2009/03/the_spirit_insider_spirit_prep.html

http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=1444930

http://lfpress.ca/cgi-bin/publish.cgi?p=261460&x=articles&s=knights

http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/9397488/Avalanche-have-hit-rock-bottom

http://www.nugget.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1501247

Sunday, March 29, 2009

3/29/09 News

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Sports/2009/03/28/8921951.html

http://www.mlive.com/spirit/index.ssf/2009/03/saginaw_spirit_await_london_kn.html

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3796425

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/sports/hockey/29slapshot.html?ref=hockey

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/24806-.html

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Knights Eliminate Erie

6-2 win tonight. Tavares with 2 goals and an assist.

http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=15930

Knights on the verge of eliminating the Otters tonight.

Some draft stuff below as well, getting the feeling the Avs are going to finish last overall. The Isles have worked hard and looked pretty good over the last 30 games, Colorado has lost Statsny again and are clearly a team that has just stopped playing for their coach. Got a feeling a big shakeup is coming, but getting Ryan Stoa to leave Minnesota U early is a nice start.

P.S.- I hate ESPN...Why do I have to miss NCAA hockey (UNH vs UND) to watch goddamn lacrosse. Don't they have a like a hundred channels?

http://lfpress.ca/cgi-bin/publish.cgi?p=261354&x=articles&s=knights

http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_12016484?source=commented-

Friday, March 27, 2009

Draft Stuff

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=415494

http://proxy.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=4020755

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=532113

Your Threats Mean Nothing To Steve Mason

Further proof that Mason has ice in his veins.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=272836

3/27/09 News

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Sports/Hockey/2009/03/27/8903336-sun.html

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090327/SPORTS0509/303279903/-1/SPORTS03

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Knights Top Erie 4-2

No points again tonight for JT but the Knights take a commanding 3-1 series lead. I will have the post gamers tomorrow.

http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=15906

Here is the game 3 summary...sorry for the delay.

http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=15905

3/26/09 News

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090326/SPORTS0509/303269884/-1/SPORTS05

http://www.tuftsdaily.com/inside-the-nhl-islanders-have-help-on-the-way-with-draft-on-the-horizon-1.1629994

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/24745-.html

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

3/25/09 News

http://lfpress.ca/cgi-bin/publish.cgi?p=261037&x=articles&s=knights

http://lfpress.ca/perl-bin/publish.cgi?x=articles&p=261027&s=knights

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

3/24/09 Links

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090324/HOCKEY01/303249932/-1/HOCKEY

http://lfpress.ca/perl-bin/publish.cgi?x=articles&p=260946&s=knights

Monday, March 23, 2009

Draft Lottery Date

Tentatively set for Tuesday April 14th.

3/23/09 News

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Sports/Hockey/2009/03/23/8850626-sun.html

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/Sports/basement+dwellers+tanking+Tavares/1417301/story.html

Sunday, March 22, 2009

3/22/09 News

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Sports/2009/03/21/8839611.html

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3793055

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Columnists/Garrioch/2009/03/22/8844376-sun.html

Knights Crush The Otters 8-1 Take 2-0 Series Lead

http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=15898

JT with a goal and a helper as Nazem Kadri has himself a hat trick and a 5 point night...post gamers tomorrow.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Post Gamers/Mock Draft

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2009/03/20/8831076.html

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=530022

http://lfpress.ca/cgi-bin/publish.cgi?p=260721&x=articles&s=university_sports

Friday, March 20, 2009

Tavares' 3 Points Key 5-2 Knights Win

Todays articles plus some early post game summaries.

http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=15895

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2009/03/20/8831076.html

http://lfpress.ca/cgi-bin/publish.cgi?p=260602&x=articles&s=knights

http://lfpress.ca/perl-bin/publish.cgi?x=articles&p=260604&s=knights

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Sports/Hockey/2009/03/20/8819156-sun.html

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Tanking It? and Playoffs!

http://slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/the-morning-skate-to-tank-or-not-to-tank/

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3792012

Where Will JT Go? Version 1

As we approach the last few weeks of the regular season, lets take a first look at where John Tavares could end up in the 2009 entry draft. Of course this is subject to change especially with the surging Thrashers (7-3-0 in the last 10) and Islanders (6-2-2 in the last 10) racking up the points as spoilers.

1.New York Islanders
Core Players:
G-Rick DiPietro
D-Mark Streit
F-Kyle Okposo
F-Josh Bailey

The perennial favorite to land JT since early January, the Islanders have played much better lately but are still sitting last in the league. Chris Botta of islanderspointblank.com has heard that the Isles scouts love Victor Hedman, but this franchise needs scoring, a ticket draw, and a new arena. They play an offensive system and if they win the lottery and don't pick Tavares there just might be a riot on the Island. I would say they would take him but with the Isles you just never know.

2.Tampa Bay Lightning
Core Players:
F-Vincent Lecavalier
F-Martin St. Louis
F-Steven Stamkos

The Lightning have had a dreadful year and new ownership has shown no signs of stability. The St Pete Times has reported that if they get the top pick they would draft Hedman, but again who can predict with this team? They could have a different brain trust come draft time. Hedman would seem like the logical choice for a team that is starving for an impact blueliner after signing Norris candidate Dan Boyle to a long term contract then dealing him several weeks after. Stamkos and Tavares are both comparable players so you don't think they would go the way of Tavares but they could always move one of their core forwards for a D-man and change course.

3.Atlanta Thrashers
Core Players:
G-Kari Lehtonen
D-Zach Bogosian
F-Ilya Kovalchuk
F-Bryan Little

Well it looks like Donnie Waddell is showing he might have more lives than Mike Milbury. The Thrash have played very well over the last four weeks including a franchise high six game winning streak. The Kovalchuk rumors have died down and Bogosian and Little are looking like potential all stars with every passing game. Waddell has gone on record as saying he will pick Tavares and if they can keep Ilya happy and Lehtonen healthy this might be a team that is on the rise in short manner. I don't believe they will finish in the bottom two but they could win the lottery just as they did when they picked Kovalchuk.

4.Colorado Avalanche
Core Players:
F-Paul Statsny

How the mighty have fallen? Maybe they can coax Pierre Lacroix to come back? This organization was one of the top orgs in the league in terms of replenishing their team through draft picks, free agency, and trades. Now they look awfully thin to me and have already discussed the notion of trading Ryan Smyth. They could use top end talent in all areas and if are not positioned in the top two picks could trade down and stack up the system in a deep draft.

5.Phoenix Coyotes
Core Players:
F-Shane Doan
F-Kyle Turris
F-Peter Mueller

They looked like they were going to make a run at a playoff spot this year but the youth caught up and Jokinen just didn't work out. They have a great coach and a huge amount of talent coming through the pipeline. Don Maloney has turned out to be a fine evaluator of young talent and should stay the course. The most important need for this franchise right now is financial stability or they could be packing up their bags yet again. I would say they prefer Hedman but they have many pieces to play with and could make some noise at the draft.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

3/18/09 News

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=528619

http://www.opensports.com/community/user/blog_entry/561/a0a814da-de36-452a-beec-35ac7df13bd0

http://lfpress.ca/perl-bin/publish.cgi?x=articles&p=260425&s=knights

http://lfpress.ca/cgi-bin/publish.cgi?p=260420&x=articles&s=knights

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Playoffs, Lottery...Mohawks?!?!

http://lfpress.ca/perl-bin/publish.cgi?x=articles&p=260348&s=knights

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/24470-The-Hot-List-Playoff-fever.html

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/hockey/blog/2009/03/the_lottery_percentages.html

http://www.thespec.com/Sports/article/531384

http://mvn.com/hockeyspy/2009/03/quest-for-the-holy-grail-the-john-tavares-sweepstakes.html

Monday, March 16, 2009

Weekend Links Plus Todays

http://lfpress.ca/cgi-bin/publish.cgi?p=260221&x=articles&s=knights

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playerbreakingnews.asp?sport=NHL&id=2562&line=84161&spln=1

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Sports/OtherSports/2009/03/16/8762991-sun.html

http://www.torontosun.com/sports/2009/03/16/8763561.html

http://www.newsday.com/sports/ny-spscout156070363mar15,0,1777361.story

http://www.newsday.com/sports/ny-spmarknhl156070360mar15,0,7971149.column

http://www.newsday.com/sports/ny-sptavares156070362mar15,0,3767654.story

http://www.newsday.com/sports/ny-spprospect156070366mar15,0,5100270.story

http://lfpress.ca/perl-bin/publish.cgi?x=articles&p=260022&s=knights

http://lfpress.ca/perl-bin/publish.cgi?x=articles&p=260022&s=knights

http://lfpress.ca/cgi-bin/publish.cgi?p=260120&x=articles&s=knights

I'm Back...Otters Due Up For 1st Round

Just returned from a nice weekend trip to Chicago. Hawks goaltending right now is pretty miserable and I don't believe they have enough secondary scoring after Kane and Toews right now to contend for a cup.

Islanders got great goaltending from DU product Peter Mannino and I must say JT would look pretty good in the Isles agressive skating/forechecking system.

I'll have a bunch of links up shortly, including extensive Tavares/Hedman talk from the Long Island papers.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

JT Wants A Title...I Am Off To Chicago

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jyxKNXiTxEHkV3074RIIx4BWMqEQ

http://lfpress.ca/cgi-bin/publish.cgi?p=259878&x=articles&s=knights

http://lfpress.ca/cgi-bin/publish.cgi?p=259898&x=articles&s=knights

I am off to Chicago for a pair of weekend Hawks games sandwiched with a St Pats Day parade so I will try and post updates for the last weekend of the regular season depending on the connection I get in my hotel room.

As a bonus here are the current Tavares sweepstakes standings:
1.Islanders
2.Lightning
3.Thrashers
4.Avalanche
5.Coyotes

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

3/11/09=Slow Day...More Record Talk

http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=1377906

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Sports/Hockey/2009/03/11/8704661-sun.html

http://www.oshawaexpress.ca/story1644.html

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Record In Question? 3/10/09 News

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/2009/03/10/tavares_record/

http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=1373888

http://www.newsdurhamregion.com/news/sports/article/121438

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=413176

Monday, March 9, 2009

3/9/09 Articles (Record/Post Game)

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Sports/Columnists/2009/03/09/8676691-sun.html

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Sports/Hockey/2009/03/09/8676686-sun.html

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=525948

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3965387&name=lebrun_pierre

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=412929

http://www.torontosun.com/sports/hockey/2009/03/09/8678796-sun.html

Sunday, March 8, 2009

The New OHL Goal Scoring King

Knights defeat the Spitfires 4-3 as John Tavares scores a hat trick and adds an assist. JT is now the all time leading goal scorer in OHL history.

http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/tavares-sets-new-ohl-goal-scoring-record-p127774

http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=15864

http://weblogs.newsday.com/sports/hockey/blog/2009/03/break_up_the_islanders_tavares.html

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2009/03/08/sp-tavares-goals-record.html

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jeHLOjC-ZUjK9Lg1dC-fseiFqa8gD96Q4U500

http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=1367921

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5i1dzDJ3St9aWermyR4jEAASwxBOg

http://www.windsorstar.com/Sports/Spits+lose+against+arch+rival/1367842/story.html

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Post Game Articles/Record Chasing

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3786237

http://news.therecord.com/Sports/article/499241

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Sports/Hockey/2009/03/07/8664591-sun.html

http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/News/Local/2009/03/07/8664376-sun.html

Friday, March 6, 2009

Knights Win/Tavares On The Verge Of History

http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=15846

JT with a goal and two assists as London defeated Kitchener 5-3 Friday night. Tavares needs just one to tie and two to break Peter Lees' OHL career mark of 213 goals.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3958888

http://sports.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090306.wsptduha0306/GSStory/GlobeSports/home

Here are a couple of articles regarding the 09 draft with Gare Joyce' ESPN.com feature on Victor Hedman referencing the man he will be tied together with for their careers.