TFR VOLUME XXII NUMBER 19 THE FISCHLER REPORT HOCKEY’S WEEKLY THIN K T A N K TFR FEBRUARY 25, – MARCH 2, 2016 OBSERVATIONS: IN THIS ISSUE: Cup? Based on his in-season performance, Stam- * JAROMIR JAGR'S astonish- kos appears more like a good second-line for- ing success in Sunrise has right- ward. JAROMIR JAGR 1 fully inspired waves of praise CAROLINA HURRICANES 2 for the Czech legend. But it's He stands 9th in goal scoring and 32nd in points. also worthwhile commending Granted that Stamkos will be coveted when he ASPHALT AVENGERS 3 those who had both the fore- turns UFA but until that day comes he'd be well sight and faith in bringing Dou- served by providing the Bolts with the kind of SAN JOSE SHARKS 4 ble J to the Panthers. That offense for which they are paying him -- and maybe will pay him next season. WASHINGTON CAPITALS 5 would be general manager Dale Tallon and his trusty Hall of Fame advisor Bill PHILADELPHIA FLYERS 6 GOSSIP: Barring an unexpectedly late Mon- Torrey. The Tallon-Torrey team also rate kudos treal playoff surge, there appears to be no way for their choice of coach. Gerard Gallant has ex- that Michel Therrien can keep his job behind the tracted more out of Jagr than any bench boss Habs’ bench next season. His boss Marc Ber- Publishers: could be expected and that goes for a Scotty gevin knows that and will act accordingly. Stan Fischler Bowman as well. One of the two “Guys” must be considered an option to be the next coach for the Canadiens: (@StanFischler) Guy Boucher is a French-Canadian, familiar As for Jagr, he was gracious post-game following David Kolb with the Montreal organization from his days his two-goal performance last weekend to leap with its former AHL affiliate in Hamilton, and (@DavidKolbMSG) frog Brett Hull into third place on the all-time also has previous NHL coaching experience as goals scored list with 742. “You got to have great the bench boss for Tampa Bay. There also is Guy Managing Editor: teammates, passing the puck and they did it. I got Carbonneau, a two-time Stanley Cup champion David Kolb with the Habs as a player. … Likewise, Ther- 20 goals at age 44 because of this, so thank you rien's bete noir, P.K. Subban, will remain a guys,” he said. Canadien and may even be named captain Editor in Chief: next season. This means that Max Pacioretty Leo Scaglione Jr. Next on the list is Gordie Howe, who totaled 801 might very well be the name Montrealer to be (@LeoScaglioneJr) goals. “When I got the birthday cake for my 44th traded. ... Speaking of names, Lou Lamoriello must be mulling over the possibility of dealing -- birthday (on February 15), I got a wish and I said ‘I wish I’m going to be a goal scorer,’” Jagr or keeping for that matter -- his gifted Nazem Lead Reporters: Kadri. Lou might be mulling over the com- Vince Comunale chuckled. “So far it works so maybe I’m going to ment of one scout: "Kadri is a player who always (@PGHVC) catch Gordie, and maybe Wayne Gretzky too.” will break your heart." … The Leafs also have six pending UFAs and there’s an excellent Rob Del Mundo Gretzky, the all-time leader, finished with 894 chance multiple players may be moved. The list (@Rob_DelMundo) includes goaltender James Reimer and forwards career tallies. Alan Greenberg P-A Parenteau, Michael Grabner, Brad Boyes, (@thegovman) * STEVEN STAMKOS won't be traded this sea- Marco Arcobello and Rich Clune. That point son; that's the guarantee from his boss Steve Yz- was solidified during the weekend when pending UFA forward Shawn Matthias was dealt to Colo- erman. In the wake of that news, the more im- rado and then on Monday when forward Nick Staff Photographers: portant question is this: what can the Lightning's Spaling and defenseman Roman Polak were David Perlmutter captain do for his team in its quest for the Stanley moved to San Jose. Robert Kolb E-MAIL [email protected] TFR VOLUME XXII NUMBER 19 Page 2 RALEIGH NEWSPAPER QUESTIONS of Raleigh-Durham. become winners amidst budget limitations HURRICANES’ RELEVANCE IN and a variety of other entertainment op- MARKETPLACE One only has to look south to Tampa and tions. this particular season to Florida where the While the Hurricanes cele- Panthers have played for years in front of Sounds exactly like the hockey team at brated the tenth anniversary cavernous empty seats. With the Panthers' which they were throwing stones. of winning the Stanley Cup winning record, that has changed. with a resounding 7-2 win over the Islanders and con- Hurricanes' management is caught between MORE GOSSIP:Since the Hurricanes have tinue to show signs of a promising future, the proverbial rock and hard place. They demonstrated that they can pull themselves the Raleigh's News & Observer took to re- must win to succeed at the gate. The ques- into the playoff mix without Eric Staal hashing the same old tired business prob- tion is how many years do they want to doing much scoring, doesn't that enhance lems of the team in a dominating full- wait and, of course, what happens to the the idea that g.m. Ron Francis will deal his feature front page story describing the fan base and sponsorship opportunities captain? Sure seems that way to us. It's not team's ongoing struggle to remain relevant during that wait? inconceivable that Eric could move from in the marketplace. Teams like the Maple Leafs don't have teaming with brother Jordan to skating Our Canes’ Insider, Joel Cohen, offers his those concerns even when going through a alongside bro Marc with the Rangers. ... If, perspective. rebuilding scenario. as seems the case, the Canucks miss the playoffs who could make a case for Willie For smaller non-traditional markets, the Issues about the team's ownership are not Desjardins keeping his coaching job in waiting period is crucial. The longer the new: Peter Karmanos, Jr., has been trying Vancouver? Unless you want to blame wait, the longer the losses. There are two to sell a block of shares for the past two g.m. Jim Benning for the Canucks’ col- strategies: spend money to make money years, but won't give up controlling inter- lapse. … The Flames were taken by sur- with some 'name' players, while your se- est. It's believed the money pit is tightening prise with the public announcement by lected draft players develop, or spend little as the team continues annual revenue loss- Gary Bettman regarding Dennis Wide- money and play the draft development es. man's text message. Teammate Joe Col- waiting game. borne said the league also could have It's well known that attendance has fallen used the text he received from Wideman, along with corporate sponsorship revenues, With the team in a once unthinkable few wishing the whole situation would go and that season ticket sales have decreased. points away from a wild card spot, the fo- away. He continued that since text messag- It's also well known that the team has had a cus is on which strategy g.m. Ron Francis es could be used by the NHL, that maybe losing record for the past years, failing to will take as he looks to next year and re- teammates shouldn't be texting as much make the playoffs where the big ticket solving contract issues with Eric Staal, anymore. money is generated. Additionally, we Cam Ward and fourth-highest team scoring know that to make it in a non-traditional leader, Kris Versteeg. Being razor thin market, you must win. All of this is not close to a playoff position makes it tough: breaking news, which really brings to mind spend money and trade assets for a playoff why this story was published at all. push and potential instant success or con- tinue the draft and youth movement for a While it's easy for anyone from the side- promising future. lines to write about a team's problems and bash them over the head, a negative-only Ironically, Raleigh's newspaper finds itself article about the Hurricanes hurts and must -- like other newspapers across the country not overlook the many positive effects that – seeking relevance in the marketplace, this team has had on a marketplace the size redefining and reinventing themselves to TFR VOLUME XXII NUMBER 19 Page 3 ASPHALT AVENGERS LEAGUE BRINGS CARTOON TO cept. They made the idea a reality and along with Phillips and LIFE partners Harry Poulos and Ray Murphy, they launched beta-test leagues in Salem, Massachusetts, and in Riley’s home state, New The Asphalt Avengers animation series is a Jersey, to see what the response would be from the kids. smashing success in the hockey world. Based upon real-life youth hockey players coached by “The kids absolutely loved the idea,” he explains. “It was some- the cartoon’s founder, Chris Riley, it has now thing different, unique. You didn’t have to be great to play the transformed beyond the digital realm into a game. You could just play it and have fun. That’s really what the living and breathing floor ball and street hock- whole message for it is – go out, have fun, be a good teammate, ey league. be respectful to the officials and to your coaches. In a special edition of Leo’s Lair, TFR Editor-in-Chief Leo “It’s about teaching the kids the proper way to compete in athlet- Scaglione, Jr., details the Asphalt Avengers cartoon and league.