The last month of the season is winding down and now all the teams have to play with the guys they have for the home stretch. I still feel Philly did better than anticipated, especially with the current solution in goal. Biron’s debut wasn’t spectacular but I’m sure he’ll fare better next season, as long as the next GM gets him the right kind of help in the back end. My Flyers are out of the playoffs yet they have shown signs of fighting harder because they do want to beat their worst record ever (58 points, 17-35-24). I have to admit, my interest in watching them is waning because there will be no further action after April. I will try to keep cheering them on as it will be a sneak preview of what they will look like next Fall.
Phoenix has also thrown in the towel after the trade deadline. Too bad. Seems they will continue to build the team around Shane Doan, a mediocre plan. I think they need a new coach. I like Gretzky as a player, not as a coach anymore. I feel the shine of his past accomplishments has dulled and the team isn’t listening anymore. Maybe he should’ve taken the “promotion” upstairs and hired Ken Hitchcock to run the bench. No one will get a better idea of what they look like after the draft.
Austin’s Icebats are on an eight-game losing streak and have cinched last place in their division. No playoffs near my house this Spring. I hope to catch their last game near the end of the month to wish them well for the Summer. Some players will return to Canada to look for other opportunities. At least Terry Virtue already left for the Hamilton Bulldogs for the remainder. I also am hoping they will play next season at the nearby rink.
Finally, the Penguins have declared they’re at an impasse with the local and state government. What it really means is that the government is going to make the owners pay more than they’re willing to part with. The governor has asked the NHL to intervene. He shouldn’t hold his breath. Bettman is already screwing fans by killing Hockey Night in Canada, after 50 years, to get the NHL the “best” price by having the games moved over to cable companies. I’m sure Bettman has no problem with the Penguins receiving corporate welfare to play in Kansas City, a market that failed to support the Scouts in the Seventies when it was a more viable city. If it results in a re-alignment of the conferences though, I can live with such an improvement. The Devils are the Flyers’ true regional rival not the Penguins.