#98

Biscuits and Breezers

    Welcome back to another blog of Biscuits and Breezers! I apologize that I have been terribly busy lately and I haven't had time to write! So to catch up on the news, we will be talking about a few injuries, the Outdoor Classics, and a trade! To start off the injured list, Paul Martin of the Pittsburgh Penguins has had surgery on his right hand to repair a break he sustained in the quarterfinals of the Sochi games. He is expected to be out 4-6 weeks. Pekka Rinne has stepped up from his rehabilitation and has been sent to play with the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL after missing the last 4 months due to a hip infection. He has also been cleared to increase his physical activity and could start against Pittsburgh next week. After tearing his MCL and meniscus in Russia, John Tavares has been told by team doctors that he will not require surgery to repair those tears. His rehab will roughly last 8-12 weeks, but should be set for next season. The Columbus Blue Jackets have put defenseman Fedor Tyutin on the IR list due to an injured ankle, once again sustained in Sochi. He is expected to be out 2-3 weeks. Last but not least, Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg will be out a minimum of 8 weeks after having back surgery to repair a herniated disc in New York. The nagging and relentless pain took him out of the Olympics after only about 2 games for Team Sweden. After seeing all of these injuries, it is no wonder that they are considering taking NHLers out of the Olympics for the 2018 games. Yes if you haven't already heard the news, NHL players could possibly have their eligibility taken away for the Olympic games. Hopefully we will hear how this turns out soon enough. Get well soon everyone!

(Credit to Google Images - sportsnet.ca)

   Since the trade deadline is rapidly approaching, there has been one major trade between Buffalo and St. Louis. Goaltender Ryan Miller and forward Steve Ott from the Sabres have been traded to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for goalie Jaroslav Halak, forward Chris Stewart, prospect William Carrier, a 2015 first round draft pick, and another conditional draft pick. Seeing that this is the first major trade to happen, this should kick off a snowball effect of trades to come. For some fans they will see their favorite players pack their bags and leave off to a new city and for the other fortunate fans, their season with stay pretty much the same except with a little added anxiety until the Stanley Cup playoffs come around the corner and anxiety levels across the globe are raised. Best of luck!

(Credit to Google Images - sbnation.com)

    Every year to celebrate the history and traditions of hockey from it's roots, the NHL will play a series of games outdoors in different stadiums around the country or in Canada. We have already seen the Rangers take on the Islanders and Devils, the Ducks take on the Kings, and of course the Red Wings vs. Toronto but this time we set our sights to Soldier Field in Chicago and BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Even though two hours before the Heritage Classic took place it was announced the roof was to be closed over BC Place due to heavy precipitation, these few games celebrate pond hockey in all it's glory and the deep tradition and love of Canadian hockey. In a snowy winter wonderland, the Chicago Blackhawks hit a home run by beating the fiery Pittsburgh Penguins 5-1. Jonathan Toews led his team mates to a very important win that has sent the Windy City into a fury of pride and hopes of a back to back Stanley Cup win. When the Canucks took on the Senators, we got a glimpse of what the premature days of the sport would have looked like; two Canadian teams playing puck outdoors in the freezing cold and loving every minute of it. Karlsson, Ceci, MacArthur, and Greening helped the Senators and the beautiful city of Ottawa to a 4-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks. This game was a tribute to the 1915 Stanley Cup finals between the Ottawa Senators and champions Vancouver Millionaires and a tribute it was indeed. We were brought back in time and into it as well. Here are some photos depicting these experiences:

(Credit to Pittsburgh Penguins on Facebook)

(Credit to Chicago Blackhawks on Facebook)

(Credit to Pittsburgh Penguins on Facebook)

(Credit to Pittsburgh Penguins on Facebook)

Eddie Lack (Credit to Google Images - twitter.whotalking.com)

(Credit to Hockey Goalies on Facebook)

(Credit to Ottawa Senators on Facebook)

 







     Now to look at the great future of our sport, here are the phenomenal "Players of Today." For the prospect pick we have Erie Otters forward Connor McDavid. For the NHL pick we have Buffalo Sabres goaltender Jhonas Enroth. For the European pick we have Chicago Wolves defenseman Jani Hakanpaa.

    Connor is 6 ft 0 in, 185 lbs, and is from Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. In the 2013-2014 season, he has 21 goals in 50 games played, 61 assists, 82 TPs, a +/- of 34, and 12 PIMs. He is not eligible to be drafted until 2015, but he is already considered to be the for sure 1st overall draft pick. This beaut is already being compared to Sidney Crosby as the next "Next One." I always knew this day would come but I didn't suspect it to come this soon. The next generation of greats are slowly coming into the spotlight and McDavid will without a doubt lead the pack. He has everything an NHL team could want and more. He can get the goals, he helps out his team mates whenever they need it, he will go to extreme lengths to get the win, and he is just aggressive enough to describe his physical game as strong. I am incredibly excited to see where Connor gets drafted to because wherever he goes, that is where the next era begins. He has silky mitts, great on-ice vision, quick skates, and a high hockey IQ. Good luck Connor with the Otters and your future hockey career!

(Credit to Google Images - hockeysfuture.com)

   Jhonas is 5 ft 10 in, 166 lbs, and is from Stockholm, Sweden. He was drafted 46th overall in the 2nd round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft to the Buffalo Sabres. In the 2012-2013 season, he had 4 wins in 12 games played, 4 losses, 1 OT loss, 1 shut out, 27 goals against, 332 shots against, a .919 save percentage, 2.60 goals against average, and 623 minutes played. Even though he was one of the back ups to Ryan Miller, Jhonas is a very talented and dependable goaltender. He is very talented with glove catches and is skilled with pad movements. He trusts the pipes and is very observant to everyone on the ice. He tries to support his team mates as much as he can and is consistently trying to improve his game. It would be fantastic, in my opinion, to see him move up to a starting goaltender because I think Jhonas has everything in him to be a very talented and helpful goalie. Good luck Jhonas with Buffalo and your future NHL career!

(Credit to Google Images - buffalohockeybeat.com)

   Jani is 6 ft 5 in, 218 lbs, and is from Kirkkonummi, Finland. In the 2012-2013 season, he had 2 goals in 34 games played, 5 TPs, 34 PIMs, and a +/- of 2. Even though Jani does not have the greatest offensive game in the AHL, his physical game is out of this world. He is a big defenseman who knows how to be aggressive to get through shifts. He is very defensive minded and even though it takes over his offense, he is definitely one of the best defenseman I have ever seen. He is quick, strong, and very aggressive. Hakanpaa was drafted 104th overall in the 4th round of the 2010 NHL Entry draft by the St. Louis Blues. I like that as a player he knows his size and embraces it to his advantage. Jani knows that if he plays a big frame and rough players around a little bit, he can support his team in one of the best ways. I also really like that he takes on the typical Finnish style of play which is where they play a very quick and incredibly physical game. He isn't one to shy away from a fight and that just makes his ice time that much better. He is the defenseman that every team needs to make sure they have on roster. If I was to draft a team, Jani Hakanpaa would without a doubt be one of my first picks. Hopefully we will see his offensive game improve as he ages into his career, but if not his current game will take him very far. Good luck Jani with the Wolves!

(Credit to Google Images - jatkoaika.com)

   Thanks for reading another blog of Biscuits and Breezers! Every blog will be filled with updated hockey news, player reviews, and much more! Until next time remember, don't get your breezers in a bunch because hockey is always around the corner. Remember, it's always a great day for hockey and it's a lifestyle not just a sport!