Centre vs Defenceman: How General Managers Make the Draft Call

If you’re the general manager of a hockey team, do you draft a first-line Centre or do you build your team around the first-pairing defensemen? 

Most of the answers I got say it depends on the organization or the management. Better yet, it depends on the organization’s biggest need. For example, the Toronto Maple Leafs need a first-pairing defenceman who could help on the power play. But the Calgary Flames need a first-line center—although some Calgary Flames fans say the defenceman trumps the centre because the zone coverage is so bad.

The New York Islanders will tell you how grateful they are for the defenseman Matthew Schaeffer. There is no doubt in their minds that the route to take for every organization is addressing the defenseman. 

Of course, a general manager has to use his common sense. If the first player in the draft is a Centre who is a generational player, then, of course, that changes everything — you have to draft the said player. 

That being said, if both players are equal, most people told me the defenseman is the way to go. My source informs me that the reason people go for a defenceman is that they take longer to develop. It is a harder position to learn. That makes them the more valuable assets.

When it comes down to it,  the defensemen have a lot more responsibility. Playing defence is more complicated than going up and down the ice. 

You have to keep one eye on your own man and the other on everybody else’s man. Ninety percent of the defenceman’s business is addressing mistakes the forwards make. 

That being said, the centremen is the stick that stirs the drink. Without a first-line centre, the team’s offence is in quicksand. If no one is getting the snipers the puck, how are they supposed to shoot? Every good team in the league has a top-line center, the biggest cog of the offense. 

Final word, I guess I would have to say I am leaning toward picking the defenseman just simply because it’s harder to grow a defenseman than it is a first-line center. They are more valuable in the long run.

When the Story Mattered Most: Larry Brooks on Getting It First

Nobody really likes to have to write about a hockey legend passing away. The great Larry Brooks of the New York Times recently passed away. Hockey has lost a tremendous icon and legend. For him, it was not always about the story; he also wanted to help people.

Millions of people looked first to Larry Brooks to find out what was happening. He knew how to get to the story and get to the truth.

Everybody knows there is a race when it comes to getting the story in sports. It is especially true in the hockey rumor world. Larry Brooks was one of the best at getting the story first and telling it straight. There is a saying that went along in the world that I think fits Larry Brooks to a T.  The saying “to be the man, you must be the man, you must beat the man.” (Ric Flair)

Larry Brooks was definitely the man, and for reporting in New York, whatever anyone needed — anything, or any kind of news — he was simply the main source to believe.

I asked three guests today to share their remarks on the loss of the legend Larry Brooks.

Jan Levine  

Jan is a correspondent on the site https://hockeyhotstove.com/

Jan just wrote his tribute to Larry Brooks. He’s a terrific, knowledgeable writer and a great Twitter follow. You can follow him on Twitter at @airjan23.

Here are his kind words:

Larry Brooks was the dean of the New York hockey media. He had contacts all over the hockey world, using them to obtain tidbits no one else had or was willing to report. His Sunday SlapShots column in the NY Post was a must-read. Brooks leaves an indelible impact on hockey in general and especially the Metro NY area.

Jonny Lazarus

My second guest, Jonny Lazarus, is a digital reporter at https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/ College Hockey, NESN, AND USHL, and a genuine good guy. Last but not least, cohost of the podcast, Morning Cuppa Hockey.

I asked if he would share a favourite story he had about Larry Brooks:

I had a really cool opportunity to spend some 1-on-1 time with Larry last season in Anaheim. We were the only two people there covering the game. I got to ask him about his time with the Devils, how he got started with the Rangers, his relationship with Tortorella, his feud with Dan Boyle, and so many other things. But what we talked about most was his Grandson, Scott. I didn’t know Larry all that well, but I can tell you from my experience, there’s nothing he took more joy in than Scott’s hockey career. I talked to him about my youth hockey experience, and he shared with me about how Scott was kind of undersized and was about to start checking as a Bantam. He brought Scott to practice one day, and I could tell he was Scott’s hero. I mean, imagine being a young hockey player getting to go to the Rangers practice and see your grandfather talking to every single player, that’s so damn cool. Every time I heard news about the Rangers, I was checking Larry’s Twitter to confirm it. He was always the first one to get to everything. Even in press conferences, I wouldn’t feel comfortable speaking until Larry asked his question. He’s a guy who commanded respect. He was the only reporter that Peter Laviolette spoke to by name. For a small guy, he had such a large presence around the press box. I’m happy and honored I got to know him, even if it was just a little.

Russ Cohen

My final guest today is an old friend, a huge supporter of mine for years.

You can find Russ on Twitter @sportsology. He is a prospect writer at Sportsology.com and http://NHLdraftbuzz.com. A terrific follow on Twitter.

When I was a new writer covering the New York Rangers, Larry would occasionally ask what I saw on a particular play or goal. That was thrilling. I would see him over the years. I was in a few memorable John Tortorella scrums and would listen to his stories about his grandson’s hockey game, at my request. I would joke that someday I would scout him and write a feature article about him.

Final word

Thank you, Larry, for all that you did

Randy 

What the Islanders Need: Three Players, One Plan

As we enter the regular season, the New York Islanders have three major players who are working. As long as these three players continue to work, the New York Islanders will be fine and could make the playoffs. If they stop working, this could be a challenge for them.

Bo Horvat

Bo’s playing the best hockey of his career. And Wilson? He’s something else — just as strong on defense as he is on offense. There’s no worry about putting him on the penalty kill the way there is with the power play. His wrist shot is what’s really clicking — it’s dialed in, and he’s been the guy all season. I love that he’s looking to shoot more instead of always hunting for the perfect pass.

Ilya Sorokin

As I said in other blogs, Sorokin is coming back. I think he’s finally becoming healthy. I think injuries have slowed his progress, but I see a light at the end of the tunnel. I like his awareness of what’s going on; his hockey vision is among the best. He is getting better at controlling his rebounds.

Final Word

The Isles have a lot going for them. They still have room to grow. There has to come a point when ownership will decide whether they are making a playoff run or building for the future. If they are building for the future, they have some major assets they could trade and get a nice package. Mathieu Darche will have a pretty good idea of what to do. It is never a good idea to rush matters. There is plenty of time for them to make up their minds. By the end of November, we should know exactly what this team is. There is a saying: “Patience is a virtue.” I wonder how many Isles fans will have lost their virtue by the end of November? 

Toronto’s Latest Epidemic

Lately in Toronto, there has been a rash of broken ankles from jumping off bandwagons.

Patent: “Hi, I think my ankle is broken.”

Doctor: “How did it happen? It sure looks like it’s broken. We’ll have to take X-rays. Let me help you take off your coat. It looks like it’s kind of hot for you. Don’t want you hurting yourself more by putting weight on that ankle.”

Patient: “No, I got it. I can hop on one leg when I take it off.”

As soon as the patient takes off his coat, the doctor rudely interrupts him.

Doctor: “We are going to have to take you to have a CAT scan of your brain. You might be a victim of hit-your-head-against-the-wall disease.”

Patient: “How can you tell that? I just took my coat off?”

Doctor: “Wearing a Maple Leafs jersey is an early symptom.”

Sometimes I find myself hitting my head against the wall over and over again, watching the Maple Leafs. A good example of this was the Pittsburgh Penguins game, where they played the worst two periods I’ve ever seen them play, and then finished it off with a third period that made them look like Stanley Cup champions.

There is a bright side to this hockey team. With two straight wins, they look like they’re getting out of their funk. As I have said in previous blogs, the Leafs have all the talent in the world. They just have to learn to put it to good use.

If I could fix what is wrong with the Toronto Maple Leafs, I would be a millionaire. I would bottle the solution and put it on the market. The winning formula is simple, thought, and unfortunately, cannot be bottled: outwork the other team.  

A Note about Nick Robinson

Nick has really improved lately. In fact, he has earned himself a spot on the team. I have seen two improvements in his game. He is shooting more often, but the biggest improvement is that he is finally doing what it takes to win. His desire to win is overcoming his fear of losing.

Final word

I see signs that the Maple Leafs are emerging from their funk. Matthews is beginning to skate and getting the goals he’s supposed to. Nylander, when he is interested, is the best player on the team. John Tavares has found the fountain of youth. I wonder how much he would sell it to me for?

Hard work will pay off. The Leafs will be a contender if they stay focused. Otherwise, there will be a rash of broken ankles and hit-your-head-against-the-wall disease in Leaf Land.

Randy 

Faceoff Master: Remembering Dave Keon’s Genius on the Ice

Dave was one of my favourite captains on the Toronto Maple Leafs of all time. Dave was a leader through his example, a terrific player who did everything that was asked of him. He was not a flashy player, but a great player. He was one of the best Leafs centres in the league because he could play in any situation. Dave was a faceoff master; he was the perfect player to be out there to keep a lead. What made him so valuable was that he was good both defensively and offensively.

Achievements

 

Calder trophy 1960-61

In the 1960-61 season, Dave accumulated 20 goals while assisting on 25 others. He was a key factor in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Stanley Cup win, proving that he was going to be a star for years to come.

Lady Byng trophy 1961-62, 1962-63

I can’t imagine going through a whole season with only one minor all year. Yeah, Dave Keon did that twice, proving he never put his team behind the eight-ball. Dave Keon was never a me player. He was always a team player.

Con Smythe 1966-67

The Toronto Maple Leafs were in the glory of the world. The 1966-67 season was the last time the Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup. Dave Keon was the most productive player in the playoffs, recording 3 goals and 5 assists to help the team win the Stanley Cup.

Stanley Cup

Dave won four Stanley Cups in his career with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was a strong soldier in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ army in the 60s. He was a terrific player who did what it took to win. He knew how to win and was one of the best defensive players of his time. During those years, Dave Keon was probably the most complete player on the team. 

He will be a legend for years to come —a true hero in Toronto Maple Leafs history.

Randy 

When Heroes Wore Skates: the Players I Loved

As I’ve mentioned before, when we were young kids, we all had our favorite players and we had high expectations of them. We tried everything to be like them. We badly wanted to be like them. Today, I thought I would like to discuss why I loved the players I loved.

Keep in mind, this is only a sampling of the players I liked. Keeping that in mind, let’s get to the list of my players in no particular order. I did not focus on the Maple Leafs, Canadiens, or Islanders. This was not focused on a specific team. Here is my first one.

Bobby Orr

Although I disliked Bobby because of my Maple Leafs connection, I love him for his exceptional playing ability. There’s no little doubt that he is the best defenceman ever in the NHL. Sorry, all the Oilers fans (Paul Coffie), but there is no doubt in my mind that Bobby is the standard everyone has to live up to. 

I could mention that Bobby had six 100-point seasons, but I won’t. I could mention the eight James Norris Trophies he won, but I won’t. In fact, there are way too many trophies to mention: the Hart Memorial, Conn Smythe, Art Ross, Lester B. Pearson, and the Calder Memorial, so I won’t.

I could tell you that his greatest season (1970-71), he had 139 points, including 37 goals and 102 assists. The most goals he achieved in one season (1974-75) was 46. Those are crazy numbers for a defenceman. He was one of the best rush skating defensemen I have ever seen. He was plus minus 124 in the 70-71 season. Can you imagine being on the ice with 124 goals scored more than being scored on? That is an incredible stat.

Greatest Moment

Bobby Orr’s greatest moment is undoubtedly scoring the goal while being tripped up to win the Stanley Cup. May 10, 1970, scoring the goal on Glen Hall. Noel Picard will go down in history as the player who tripped Bobby Orr on the winning goal of the Cup.

The Person He Was

Bobby Orr will always be remembered as one of the greatest players of all time. There is no denying that. He was also known for his work in charities. Particularly, the March of Dimes and Cerebral Palsy charities. His compassion for mankind is well known. Generally, he is a terrific person in and out.

Final Word

I was always a huge fan of Mr. Orr and his one-man rush from end to end. He and Phil Esposito were a deadly combination with 291 combined points. Bobby was one of the best passers in the game. His ability to find the open man was legendary. Orr was simply the best.

Randy