In A Word

On March 1, 2010, The Globe and Mail - Canada's National Newspaper as it proclaims itself - devoted its front page to a full page spread of the celebration that was just ensuing in Canada Hockey Place as the nation came to realize that the sudden-death overtime victory in the men's hockey final had been won.

It still had barely registered that it was Canada's 14th gold of the games. Fans are caught midway out of their seats. The bench has yet to empty. The flags still mere red leafs with those red representatives of sea and shining sea yet to be unfurled. Jarome Iginla, still on one knee, hasn't caught a good view of the goal or Ryan Miller's looming dejection. Sidney Crosby seems an eternity away from realizing what he has wrought for his nation, his team and himself and flinging stick, gloves and mouthguard into a flight of celebration. The moment has been seered into the nation's consciousness without the erosion of perspective that will visit it later and again and again.

A few minutes later, or more likely hours, the contemplation begins. Sportswriters and Sidney Crosby's potential biographers sharpen their tap on their keyboards to compose the moment and struggle just that much harder to fend off hyperbole and the desire to be a fan. The odd one or two might make the note, "Consult with numerologist re: Crosby's birthdate (8/7/87)," a few others might move it up their to do list as they try to find whatever insight they can into that dint of the otherworldly that has set Crosby apart, again it seems, on this day.

There are the inevitable comparisons. Immediately, Paul Henderson's goal comes to mind. For those who wonder about the secrets of the numbers, that goal was also on the 28th. The month and the year firmly entrenched. There are other international tournaments that come to mind. Beyond that there might be a comparison to another overtime goal 40 years ago. Bobby Orr's Stanley Cup winner in overtime in 1970, his flight foreshadowing fragility. To go beyond hockey, perhaps it would be Tiger Woods' putt on the 16th hole at the 2005 Masters. In each of those cases, it seemed the stage was set for or by someone with a nose for immortality or a pull toward destiny that few others possess.

Destiny?

In an era when the main event at every Olympics is a cage match between idealism and cynicism, refereed by corporatism, it is reasonable for sports audiences to ask why bother watching. Destiny? In times like these? The nutritionist and sports psychologists have done their utmost to minimize that variable of the sports equation, haven't they?

Fans probably find it difficult to buy into destiny anymore and Sidney Crosby's rise to his place among the pantheon of Canadian hockey players has been a rocky one, but maturity has gradually muted the criticism. In retrospect, Don Cherry's long-ago excoriation of Crosby's Q-league lacrosse move seems to be more of a baptism in the media fire. The reputation as a whiner or a humourless scold, the challenge of having Alexander Ovechkin as his foil and rival have all challenged Sidney Crosby in ways that few can comprehend. As he has matured, the criticism has subsided, but there were still a few doubters up until 2:52pm PST on February 28.

It was easy to single Crosby out for not scoring in the previous two games and few players would have received as much criticism as Crosby had Canada lost the game to the United States again. The game won and the goal of Crosby's stick, however, it is easy to acknowledge that things unfolded as they should have. The added drama on the Olympic stage on that Sunday afternoon was the ideal complement to the jubilation, tears, grief and glory that were the XXI Winter Olympiad.

It could have been anybody else on the Canadian roster and anyone of them would have had a story to wrap themselves in. For some, comebacks from injury; for others, surpassing expectations to prove they indeed belonged on the team, or the likes of youngsters like Crosby, continuing their own precocious climb to the center of the Canadian hockey consciousness.

The stage, destiny and stark consequences that failure might entail all pointed to Sidney Crosby and a scant eight months after becoming the youngest captain to hoist the Stanley Cup, he was decorated with the last medal of the Vancouver games and punctuated his career with a moment that has lifted the weight of the country off his shoulders and enshrined him in the hearts of his country.

At the age of 22.

Already.

Dale Tallon Firing Is an Opportunity Seized

The rumours of Dale Tallon's firing have continued for some time and despite the cache of the Bowman name, there is no guarantee that replacing Tallon with Stan Bowman is the right move for the Chicago Blackhawks. Apparently there has been tension in the Blackhawk head offices under the leadership of John McDonough, who joined the Blackhawks from the Chicago Cubs. While Rocky Wirtz has made a lot of great moves since replacing his father William, John McDonough's philosophy as President of the club has often conflicted with Tallon's and while reports cite the problems extending offer sheets to Restricted Free Agents in June, the likely issue behind the firing is conflict between McDonough and Tallon.

As with their firing of Denis Savard after 4 games in October, 2008, it leaves a bad taste in the mouth and leaves one doubting the whether the Blackhawks' have the class and professionalism of their Original Six rival. This will be cited as a turning point for the franchise and possibly even a step backward.

Tough Times ahead for the Red Wings?

As the economic situation in Michigan continues to be tenuous, the inevitable impact on the Red Wings is beginning to be felt. There have been chronic problems with the Detroit economy for some time and the Joe Louis Arena, now 30 years old is much like the Chicago White Sox' stadium and perhaps the Toronto Blue Jays' Rogers Centre in that it was built outside of the trends of stadium renewal in their respective leagues.

Before exploring this further, the fact that the Red Wings have continued to put the product they have on the ice over the last 15 years and remained one of the most valuable franchises in the NHL is an incredible credit to ownership and management, with the facilities that they play in, the location of their arena and the local economy.

The Red Wings request to renegotiate their lease at Joe Louis Arena is the first sign that it may get tougher for the Red Wings to maintain their position as one of the most valuable franchises in the league. The team has also said that it is investigating its options for building a new arena. While a new arena might inject some money into the economy during construction and some life into Detroit's moribund downtown area, state and city governments might not have the means to contribute to a new arena. A retrofit of JLA might be possible but it is probably quite difficult to design and build in an amenity-laden layout without cramping the Red Wings and their fans in the interim.

This will certainly be a difficult transition for the Red Wings ownership and management. Hopefully they will be able to manage this situation with the same expertise and professionalism they have demonstrated in running the franchise throughout the Ilitch era.

WHAT!

Denis Savard is gone?

This has to be one of the most surprising and premature firings that I can imagine and Dale Tallon would be asking to wear this for a long time to come. Firing a coach who has done a great deal to revitalize the team since coming in two seasons ago barely a week and a half into the season is ludicrous. Throw in the fact that the team is probably still gelling around its new acquisitions of Brian Campbell and Cristobal Huet and you can't help say the Savard deserved more time. And he does or did as is the case now. And after a win?!

The only, and only by the barest of slivers of credibility, saving grace here is the fact that Joel Quenneville brings the experience and reputation that he has behind the bench. It remains to be seen if the team will respond to Quenneville given these circumstances.

This might prove to be a bad move for Tallon. If the season does not go as well as expected Tallon's neck ought to be on the block. He has failed to resolve the goaltending situation by keeping Khabibulin on the payroll and the Huet signing might look bad if Khabby continues to outplay is netmate. Apart from that the firing will only unleash a lot of second-guessing in Chicago about a variety of Tallon's recent moves, even including giving the captaincy to sophomore Jonathan Toews.

The temperature just went up in Chicago.

Whew: More Joe

Joe Sakic has decided to return to the Colorado Avalanche for one more year. The press conference scheduled for Thursday before his charity golf tournament gave me a feeling that he was coming back. It is hard to make the emotional announcement of retirement and then invite everyone for a round of 18.

Sakic's return helps bolster the Avs, who find themselves amongst a rank of depleted or declining rivals in the Northwest. With the Canucks looking at only 4 or 5 20 goal scorers, the Flames moving sideways and the Avs headed for a long season of goaltending questions, the Wild and rebuilding Oilers look like the best bets. Sakic's scoring and leadership will help the Avs get the divisional point they need to stay in the race through the winter.

The next question is where will Sundin land? Bob Gainey feels the Habs are not in that race and the Rangers keep being mentioned. Stay tuned.

Random Thoughts at the End of July

The Kings and the Salary Cap: The Kings have to get over the salary cap by the end of the summer. The Kings tried to make a splash in last year's free agent market and people are still trying to figure out what happened with the performance of Ladislav Nagy before his neck injury and Michael Handzus. The Kings are probably not going to make much of an effort to get over the cap with a free agent signing, given the slim pickings that are left but they still have to do a lot to make up the $13 million between their current commitment and the salary floor. Ergo trade rumours galore. Neither Khabibulin nor Gerber are the answer in nets, especially when they hope Bernier takes another run at the starting position in training camp this year. Any other trade would cost them some of the prospects that they are hoping to build around. I don't think Dean Lombardi likes the post-lockout definition of rebuilding.

J Bo: He'll be out of Florida by Groundhog Day. IE. The Panthers will not make a serious run for the playoffs.

Sundin to Vancouver? - I don't buy that scenario unless he has a deep yearning to be called Mats Sedin. Montreal is less travel and a better shot at the cup. The Habs are not only Canada's best shot at the cup but to be more accurate the best shot at a playoff spot.

(Glen) Murray hits the streets

The Boston Bruins have placed Glen Murray on waivers. This is not a surprising move given the signing of Dennis Wideman to a salary-cap-bumping contract and the fact that the only plans the Bruins have had for Murray were to move him. He might be an interesting gamble and but might find himself in Providence for all I know. The Flames, still short of bodies might be give him some thought but Murray's not certain to be a successful reclamation project.

Other notes:
The Sundin Saga continues. I still don't see him going to Vancouver, though.

Randy Carlyle gets a two-year contract extension. Good move by the Ducks.