Santa Ashley

It's that time of the year Honey Pot readers!  Santa Ashley is busy looking over lists and checking them twice...time to find out which Bruins have been naughty and nice ;)

Just for fun let's take a look at what Santa Ashley is getting each of her boys for Christmas this year!

Ok lets start in net and see what Santa Ashley got the best goaltending duo in the NHL for Christmas!







Tuukka Rask - For Rasky well he was an easy one to check off my list.  For Tuukka this year I got him a copy of "Anger Management for Dummies". 

Tim Thomas - For Timmy there were so many things I could get for him it was hard to choose. In the end I took his age and workload he has been getting into account and I got Timmy a super soft extra padded Yoga Mat.  Those knees aren't going to last forever ya know! We need to take care of our gumby like goaltender! Oh I also got him a booklet of Cheeseburger coupons since we know Timmy loves a good cheeseburger!

Next I hopped over to the Mall to work on the d-men on my list...

Zdeno Chara - Hmmm what to get the 6 foot 9 255 pound man on your list...well since I happen to be Canadian and Big Z happens to get in trouble with the law up here...I pulled a few strings down at the local Court House and I was able to use my "charm" to get the Captain 4 get of of Jail free cards for his remaining 4 trips to Canada for the season!

Dennis Seidenberg - A big bag of oats and new shoes for the Bruins horse!

Andrew Ferrence - For our environmentalist to help spruce up those commutes to the Gahden I got Captain Planet a basket and a bell for his bike! ALSO I got him a new pair of hockey gloves. Hockey gloves that have the index and middle finger sewn together so the next time he has an "equipment malfunction" he will be giving the peace sign and not the finger :)

Joe Corvo - Lazer treatments to remove that embarrasing sun tattoo around his navel.  Joe...that might have been ok in Ottawa and Carolina but you're a member of the BIG BAD BRUINS now...we tattoo Stanley Cups on our bodies...not the Sun around our belly button!

Johnny Boychuck - O Bullets...so full of potential and promise...for you Johnny I went back to the bookstore and I got a copy of "Hockey 101 for Dummies".  Johnny I love ya and I think you are supremely talented but I really question your hockey IQ on many nights.  I think this will help!

Adam McQuaid - For Darth Quaider I took the Liberty of having the Arena Staff at the Gahden install foam padding behind both nets for the next time you inevitably go crashing in possibly head first even it sound be a much softer landing

Steve Kampfer - The easiest one to buy for on my list.  I got Kampfer a season pass to Disneyland and a trade to Tampa so he can use his pass all year long. 

Now onto my forwards....will roll through our lines here with what Santa Ashley will be putting under Bruin trees!

Shawn Thornton - Just for fun I'm gonna give Thorty Matt Cooke for Christmas.  This way he gets to beat the shit out of him 365 days a year!

Daniel Paille - I got Pies a chisel for Christmas.  Danny boy can grind it out with the best of them but man o man are those hands made of stone.  Once we chip away that stone what a complete player Pies will be!

Gregory Campbell - My homeboy Soupie.  No literally we grew up about 15 minutes from each other...we're from the same hometown!!  Gregory I simply got you a Gold Star for Christmas.  I think your so underrated and you bring so much to this team...shot blocking, never afraid to mix it up, the man on the PK and on and on...I just really think for Christmas this year you deserve to be recognized for all your efforts!

Chris Kelly - For our boy having a breakout season Santa Ashley just HAS to get him a much deserved contract extension for Christmas!!!

Rich Peverley - Maintance Days.  Pevs missed practice today to rest some bumps and bruises...so heading into the new year I wanna give Pevs more maintance days and possibly his own personal nurse....

Benoit Pouliot - Well the perfect gift for the newest Bruin would be...a Ryder jersey.  As my buddy Daniel has coined him the "New Ryder" what better than a Ryder jersey so he can channel all of Ryder's goal scoring prowess versus the Habs, not having to do anything for an entire game but just making one shot a game count and also the ability to play net when neccesary.

Nathan Horton - Our inspiration in the last year's Finals...for Horty during my last trip in Boston I managed to get down to ice level and sweet talk the Zamboni drivers and what I got for Horty is...a case of Gahden Water!  Horty feel free to pour some of this magical water on your hands..you got a long way to go to fufill my Forty Horty prediction! Oh I also bought you a year's subscription to Playboy in case your ever on the market for a new playmate...

Milan Lucic - For Looch I got him a conductors hat and a steam whistle.  Maybe next time the Loooochich train comes barreling down the tracks Miller will hear it coming and get the fuck outta the way!

David Krejci - A 50 million dollar insurance policy on those silky sweet hands!  I figure that's about how much they will make him over the course of his career so he better get those bad boys insured!

Brad Marchand - For the rat I got him a pair of extra low rise jeans and NO shirts. 

Tyler Seguin - I got Segs two things for Christmas this year.  1 - I got him a first-class ticket to Ottawa because I really think this kid deserves to be named to the All-Star game in Ottawa this year and 2. I got  him a fake ID so he can run with the rat all year long and take his shirt off in every club in Boston!

Patrice Bergeron - For Bergy he gets...his first of many Selke Awards....and me...under his tree...in a bow...just a bow :)





There you have it...Santa Ashley's Bruin Christmas List is complete!  To all my Bruins and anyone reading this right now have a happy, safe and hockey filled Holiday Season!


- Ashley

O Canada

The Hamilton Brothers

Its that time of the year Hockey Fans!!! The best time of the year to be a hockey fan other than when the Bruins are  playing or the Stanley Cup Playoffs of course!

What am I referring too?  Well my American readers might be a bit out in the dark on this one but any of my Canadian readers know EXACTLY what I'm talking about!

World Junior Championship Time!!!

The WJC's are pretty much a National Holiday for two weeks in Canada...for some reason its just a blip on the radar screen for American Hockey fans though.  Which is truly a shame because its an AMAZING tournament.

Bruin fans should be paying close attention to this tournament though because I predict this will be a MAJOR coming out party for our boy Dougie!  Yes I know being a first round pick he obviously is already known throughout the hockey world but I predict after this tournament there will be a few GM's who had a pick before the Bruins did last year who will be kicking themselves they didn't take Dougie.

Also as a side note to my loyal Bruin readers...2010 2nd round pick Ryan Spooner who I think would have easily made Team Canada unfortunately was diagnosed with Mono the day before all players reported for the Selection Camp.  I was looking forward to watching him in this tournament but he will be back strong to finish out his season in the OHL where he has been one of the top forwards in the entire league.

Now on to a brief rundown of Team Canada's Roster.

Goaltending - As always we should be strong in net.  Mark Vistentien (Dougie's teammate in Niagara) returns from last year's team will start as the # 1.  He hasn't had a GREAT year so far in the OHL this season but he is a great goalie and has a lot to prove after last years heartbreaker in the final.  Backing him up is Scott Wedgewood who since he plays in the OHL as well  (Plymouth) I've seen a few times and it would not surprise me at all if he ends up being the # 1 by the time the tournament is over.  Regardless much like my Bruins Team Canada really has a 1A and 1B in net!

Defence - Anchored by my boy and yours DOUGIE HAMILTON our defense has a bit of everything.  No returnees on the blue line BUT 1st round NHL picks all over the place back there.  Dougie will play a ton and in all situations.  It was a surprise when we cut Ryan Murphy (which just goes to show how deep we are) but Nathan Beaulieu outplayed him in the Selection Camp and along with Dougie will quarterback our powerplay.  Of note Beaulieu is the son of Jacques...the Head Coach and GM of my beloved Sarnia Sting!!!  I'm also familiar with Scott Harrington who will most likely be the 7th D...he was a big surprise to make the team and despite playing for the London Knights I suppose I can get behind him for a couple of weeks...

Forwards - There was some concern at the selection camp that offense might be somewhat of a concern.  But fear not fellow Canadians ( or fear lots to my American readers) when you have two guys who were playing in the NHL all season in Smith-Pelley and Connolly along with Scheifle who played a few games with the Jets and who I saw in person this year (he was dominant) I don't think we will have any problem scoring goals.  Also of interest Dougie's big brother Freddie made the team and he has been great in the "O" so far this season!

All in all a VERY talented group as usual.  Now just imagine if we had Segs and Skinner who amazingly enough are both still eligible to play in this tournament!

The Official Honey Pot Prediction is.......GOLD!

Again to all my dear American friends do yourselves a favour and start paying attention to this tournament.  Obviously in Canada we're spoiled with all the coverage TSN has of the WJC but I think the NHL network shows a lot of the games in the States.

Go Dougie Go and Go Canada Go!!!

I'll Take A Pot Of Honey....With A Side Of Chris Kelly

Wow what a month! Undefeated in 15 games and we're right back where we belong!

So many players have stepped up during this streak which time and time again just proves our depth.  I know I sound like a broken record on here but our depth  is what sets us apart from the rest of the NHL and is what will ultimately lead us to becomming back-to-back Champions!!

In thinking up my next blog (this one) I had been paying close attention (as I always do) to the games as of late looking for one player to centre out and blog about.

Sure I could pick the usual suspects to blog about in relation to our most recent success.  The Captain, Timmy, Bergy, Marchy, Segs, Seidy, Looch, Horty...yes sure these guys are the ones who get a lot of the press, deservedly so BUT there was one name I kept coming back to and game after game it became more and evident to me who I wanted to heap my praise towards.

So lets give it up Bruins fans for........CHRIS FREAKING KELLY!!!!!

Who is with me here?  Who else has noticed what an important piece this guy has been ever since we acquired him last March at the deadline??  Personally this guy doesn't need to score for me to see his value.  Face-offs, PK, shutting down the other teams big guns...this guy does all of that and has done so much of that since Day 1.  But yes now that he has been chipping in a lil more frequently on the offensive side...WOW...how many teams can boast a guy with 10 goals already as their 3rd line centre??

3 goals in his last 5 games, 2 OF THEM GAME WINNERS, and in the back to back games with the Maple Leafs his face off winning percentage was 80%..no that is not a misprint 80 fucking percent of his draws he won.

Chris Kelly is easily one of the smartest hockey players on our roster and I believe because people don't see him as "special" they under rate his value to our team.

Now for a couple other tidbits straight from the HoneyPot!

- was at the Gahden live and in person last Saturday to watch my boys continue their DOMINATION over lil Phil and his Maple Laughs.  Loved every minute of it. As much as I would hate for the Leafs to make the playoffs (and I don't think they will) how amazing would it be to play these losers in the first round??

- Broken Record Time - PC is the motherfucking man! Once again he does it and he does it early locking up another one of our key pieces long term at an attractive cap hit.  Thank you PC and Magic Hands Krejci congratulations! Watch for PC to be locking up Kelly sometime soon as well I predict!

- Enough with the Segs drama! He missed a TEAM breakfast..you sleep in you sit. I don't care if he could have helped us win a game in December...I care more so that team rules are followed through and everyone is on the same page! Over..end of story. Lesson learned from Segs and we all move forward. Stop making it a bigger deal than what it actually is!

Heart And Soul

8 in a motherfucking row!!! I hate to say I told you so but feel free to browse back through the honey pot archives to read my post where I told all those who were snapping their ankles jumping off the wagon to relax we would be fine.  Well 8 wins and a rapid rise back up the East later and all is well with our Big Bad Bruins!

So many reasons why everything has turned around for us.  Offensive depth, our amazing duo in net and on and on...however another major reason I like to point to is the player I consider to be the Heart and Soul of the B's...Bergy!

Cool as a Cucumber, always dependable, offensively gifted yet defensively responsible year in and year out to me he is the Bruins MVP.

A steal in the 2nd round (45th overall) in 2003, Bergy made the B's lineup as an 18-year old with basically one year experience in major junior.  Its pretty much unheard of to stick with the big club as an 18 year old when you're a second round pick and just as rare for a player who only had one year major junior experience.  But it just goes to show how good this guy is.  From his rookie year when I fell in love with the style this guy played through now 8 full seasons later.

Just 26 years old and he will already play his 500th game as a Bruin in the next couple months keeping in mind he missed an entire season due to the lockout in 04-05 and of course missed almost a full season in 07-08 after the viscious Jones hit from behind.

Stats are stats and of course don't lie but to me the biggest intangible with Bergy is he knows how to win.  His resume now boasts a World Junior Championship, World Championship, Olympic Gold Medal and yes of course topped off with a Stanley Cup Ring.  How many players in the game today can bring that experience to a team...and at 26 years of age??

I've taken some heat for this in the past but I truly consider Bergy to be an elite player in the NHL.  Anyone who has debated this with me always point out the fact that they don't think his offensive numbers put him in that category.  To me Bergy is a guy I want on the ice in the last two minutes of a game whether we're up a goal OR we're down a goal.  That sums up who he is and what he means to our team.

Part of his under rated nature I believe also is what he does in the face-off circle. Puck possession is a huge part of the game and who does Coach throw out more then any other player when we need to win a key draw?? Living near Toronto I had to listen to Leaf fans and media blow their load over David Steckle and how amazing he was on face-offs...well here is our guy who brings that to our team and unlike Steckle doesn't need to skate to the bench as soon as he wins the draw!

The ultimate compliment a player can recieve is from other players in the league. And even though I can't stand him...ask Pussy Boy Crosby which player he loves playing with? World Juniors, Olympics Crosby would go out of his way to let it be known he wanted to play on a line with Bergy...what does that tell ya?  Ask Marchy and Segs who really makes their line go?  He makes it easier for those around him to do their thing because he takes care of so many of the "little" things when he is on the ice!

Anyway in the midst of this 8-game winning streak I thought it would be a great time to pay tribute to the player I really think makes this team go moreso then any other.  Please give me feedback whether you agree or disagree?? Do you have another Bruin that you think is moreso the Heart and Soul of our Bruins? Again feedback always welcomed people!

- Ashley

Feeling Better Yet?

Okay so maybe we're not quite out of the woods yet but does everyone feel a lil bit better about our beloved Bruins today then they did say a week ago?

I have personally been on record as stating that everything would be okay (feel free to check my twitter feed or even a previous blog entry)...but I do know how up tight so much of our fan base had been over our start.

So yes to those perhaps still on the fence as to which direction we're headed can we at least agree the past three games have been a very positive sign pointing towards the return of the Big Bad Bruins??

What I am most excited about is that most things everyone was pointing too as being broken are what has been going for us the last few games.

First and foremost two of the "whipping boys" seemed to be the bffs!  I won't sugar coat it and say they were very good for the first 10 games of the season but boy o boy have these two stepped it up!  Reunited with Looch joining the line once again along with Magic Hands Krejci these three looked like their old selves over this stretch.  Not JUST scoring goals but getting back to doing all the little things right - playing physical, driving to the net, showing plenty of emotion - they once again give us that 1,2 punch to go along with Bergy's line.

Speaking of Bergy's line...how sweet was that Segs goal last night?  A beautiful feed from Bergy and a nose for the net from Segs avoiding Tavares to get open and bury his 8th of the season.

Something else I have preached when I go on my tangents about why we will be okay is because of our depth.  And a little stat I read last night that will back me up on this point...in our past three games we have had 18 different players record at least one point! 18 different players...think about that..only 18 skaters plus 2 goalies dress for a game.  So even lets say there were 2-3 lineup changes total in those 3 games that would mean every skater but 2 or 3 in our past 3 games have recorded a point!!! That's depth.

Also last night how nice was it to see Tuukka get a win?!?! Rasky is without a doubt one of the more hard luck goaltenders in the NHL.  Let's not even get into how many teams this guy would be a number one goalie but how many quality starts does this guy put in without getting rewarded?? I was thrilled for him last night to finally have the boys play a full 60 mins in front of him and see Tuukka get the W!

Now all this being said yes there are a few slight areas that concern me...primarily with our back end.  Our goals against obviously has been great the past few games but we still seem to give up too many careless plays in our own zone.  I love Johnny Bullets but he is seriously prone to brain cramps sometimes.  Last night on the Islanders second goal he just carelessly flips the puck to clear it from his own zone..doesn't get much on it...Grabner knocks it down and after a give and go with Tavares got the Islanders right back in the game!  This is just one example but I would LOVE to see the costly careless mistakes be decreased.  I'm not worried about Big Z long term at all but even he hasn't seemed himself so far this season.

I think we're on the verge of a nice long streak where we win 8 out of 10 or so and jump right back into the thick of things in the East.  Thank god PC sticks to his guns and doesn't follow twitter. Or else Coach would be gone, Looch would be traded, half the P-Bruins would be in Boston right now instead of Providence and the Zamboni driver would be fired because ice conditions at home aren't up to par! I've truly heard it all over the past month...now come on Bruin fans unite and lets enjoy beating the fuck out of the rest of the NHL!
Big Bad Bruins are back!

- Ashley

It Wasn't Even Checking.....It Was Following!

Nail and No Talent Ferry

I can't contain my disgust for what I witnessed yesterday so I feel the need to vent!

Yesterday I was at the JLC watching the Knights take on my favourite OHL team the Sarnia Sting.

For me I love to watch the Sting play for a couple of reasons. 1. They are a very skilled team who play an up tempo game and its fun to watch and 2. Nail Freaking Yakupov!!

So I dish out 80 bucks yesterday for 4 tickets to go watch this highly anticipated match-up between two of the best Major Jr A teams in the country and what do I get for my money??

A free-agent walk on from London who sexually assaulted the best player outside of the NHL in the world.

This player in question Tyler Ferry is an absolute joke.  He and the team he plays for disgraced themselves yesterday with their garbage tactic of taking Yakupov out of the game.

Yes I know tight checking of super star players is a part of the game as it should be. But to back my point as to what this was I will paraphrase a tweet from a former NHL-GM and current Hockey Analyst Craig Button "That wasnt checking..that was following".

For anyone reading this who did not witness this let me try to describe exactly what happened.

The second Nail would step on the ice #21 from the Knights stood up and immediately jumped on the ice...again this is fine..they want him to be the guy to check Nail I have no problem with that. But what happened from that point forward made me sick to my stomach.  Ferry did not even look at the puck or for the puck the entire game!  If the puck was in the Sting zone and Nail took a skate to the other end of the ice...Ferry would leave the offensive zone to skate side by side with Nail.  ANYWHERE he went no matter where the puck was....side by side skates practically tripping over each other. What you see in the photo is not an isolated incident...that is how close he was to him the ENTIRE game no matter where the puck was! Now to add to this he thought he would agitate Yakki and slash him chirp him throughout the entire game. To Nail's credit he did not outwardly show that he gave a shit about this 4th line loser and just ignored him the entire game.  If it were me he woulda had a skate blade lodged in his balls by the second period.

For anyone trying to draw any kind of comparison to the NHL game from this just imagine if any NHL "checking forward" was told for an entire game...don't look at the puck...don't touch the puck...all you have to do is skate shoulder to shoulder for an entire game with Ovechkin.  How long do you think the NHL would stand for its best players basically being eliminated from the play to create a 4 on 4 with someone like Ovechkin essentially being blanketed for an entire game??

What pisses me off the most about this whole debacle?? Is the fact that Knight's fans (they are the OHL version of Leaf fans)...were praising Ferry like it took alot of skill to do what he was doing.  Give me a fucking break!  If you were told that you didn't even have to pay attention to the play and all you have to do is skate around the ice with someone on the other team....how is that hard?? How is that even a skill?? 

Needless to say even the fact I was sitting one row away from Bill Geurin (working for the Pens) and in the same section as Craig Button my entire day was ruined.

The Sting did manage to get a point in the shootout loss and take 5 out of 6 overall this weekend and not to mention the fact that Nail leads the OHL in scoring and just today was ranked # 1 in three mock drafts on NHL.com today!!!

Also out of interest sake for my Bruin fans reading this I will be watching Koko in person this Friday night when his Windsor Spitfires take on the Sting. Can't wait to watch the Bruins 2nd round pick in action!  Will be sure to give the full scouting report here!

- Ashley

No Star Power??

   So last night I was visiting my buddy Brian at Lids just checking in to say hi and see if he had any sweet new Bruins lids out on the shelves when Brian introduced me to his co-worker.  Despite Brian's best warnings to him  not to engage me in Bruins debate the guy just couldn't resist giving me his thoughts on the best team to ever lace up skates...the Big Bad Boston Bruins!

Of course we got into it a lil bit but the one point this guy was trying to make that really stuck with me was he said "Well the Bruins don't have any superstars. They don't have an Ovechkin or Crosby type player".

When people say this "superstar" type player...really how many of these types of players are there in the entire league? 

How do you measure a superstar? 50 goals? Well last  year there was 1 player in the NHL who scored 50 goals.  100 points?  1 player had 100 points. 

And when you say a Crosby, Ovechkin type player who falls into that category? There are some young players who MAY end up in that category...Stamkos, Hall, Tavares, Kane but really outside of Ovechkin and Crosby who is considered to be a "SUPER" star?

Personally I would take a team that has depth and has what I would consider to be "Star" players throughout their lineup.

Thankfully my team has just that. 

Along with our depth and a solid 4-lines, strong D 6-7 deep and the best goaltending tandem in the NHL I do believe we have a collection of current stars and one future star.

Feel free to debate me classifying the following star players and one future star player.


Patrice Bergeron - Yes this is where most people may be divided but in my mind Bergy is a legit  Elite NHL Star.  Thankfully we won't have to worry about this for at least three more years (hopefully he gets locked up again before that) but everyone would soon find out what Bergy is thought about throughout the league if he ever got to UFA status.  Trust me if he was ever out on the open market there would be a full out bidding war for his services.  Easily our most trusted player he can be a catalyst in the offensive zone, shut down the other teams top forward and play the first unit on both pp and pk.  Oh and if there is any thought this is just a Bruin bias feel free to check out the 2010 Canadian Olympic Team Roster.  Enough said!

Zdeno Chara - Lets go through Big Z's credentials for a second shall we.  A member of 5 NHL All-Star teams named a year end first team all-star twice and a second team all-star three times.  The plus/minus award last season with a staggering +33 oh and ya this thing called a Norris Trophy awarded to the top defenceman each year.  If anyone debates whether or not Chara is a "Star" then I don't even have the time to waste on arguing this one with you.

Tim Thomas - Would having the best goalie in the entire league equate to being a star?  Well considering goaltending wins Stanley Cups I would say so.  Our beloved backstop definitely didn't enter the NHL with Star credentials.  The 217th overall pick way back in 1994 by the now defunct Quebec Nordiques Timmy played 5 seasons pro hockey ranging all the way from the East Coast league to the old IHL, the AHL and even to Europe before even getting a sniff of NHL hockey.  But when he got his chance have there really been any better NHL goalies over the past 6 or 7 years?? Timmy has a career GAA of 2.50 and a save percentage of .922, 2 Vezina's, 1 Conn Smythe and of course 1 Stanley Cup.  Next stop the Hockey Hall of Fame (well after another Cup or two first!).

David Krejci - Ok maybe another one some of you without a hockey brain will debate.  But to me there is no doubt about it.  David "Einstein" Krejci is a star.  Einstein due to his incredible Hockey IQ and his ability to find open players unlike only many others in the entire league.  How does 73 points and a +37 in just his second year in the NHL (2008-2009) not equal star?  At just 25 he is a star and if we can keep him healthy will continue to be for years to come!

Tyler Seguin - Here is my future Star currently in our lineup.  And when I say future well the future might be sooner rather then later.  Unlike his draft buddy Taylor Hall in Edmonton Segs has had to wait it out a bit more for his shot due to the incredible lineup he was a part of.  However this take your time approach to his development will pay off down the road and as we can all see with his start this season...its already paying off.  My projection for Segs will be a future 100-point guy who will play in all situations.  Lets keep in mind he is playing how he is right now as a 19 year old! So lets see...100 points...plays in all situations...o wait maybe we do have a "Super Star"...in training.  Thank you Burkie!


So back to my new found friend working at Lids with my buddy Brian.  What can you say to that logic?  Would you rather have one superstar eating up a large chunk of your cap space?  Or would you want the Bruins model with a collection of Stars all making a manageable cap hit?  Well lets just say last weekend I was lucky enough to see about 6 Bruin players going into the Gahden with a large shiny piece of jewelry wrapped around their fingers! 




- Ashley

Relax!

Does This Help You Relax Bruins Fans??

I think I might need to disable my twitter feed during Bruins games.

I mean really people...we are 5 games into the season and the negativity I have read surrounding the DEFENDING STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS is laughable.

Now I can only imagine how long its going to take until the "Fire Coach" idiots start crawling out of the woodwork.

What the fuck? I mean seriously thats all I can say is what the fuck?  Does a team that just won the Stanley Cup a little over four months ago not deserve a bit more then a 5-game grace period before we start with this bullshit?

And I mean really...we're 2-3...not 0-5.  Let's take our finger off the panic button people!

Yes..I do get frustrated with our power play and wonder with as much talent that we do have and someone like Big Z with his 100 plus mph bomb back there how we haven't been more effective on it I don't know.  That being said...we have proved and continue to prove there are two sides to special teams and if your PP isn't goin your PK better be efficient.  Well as per usual our PK has been great so if we're gonna rip all over the power play lets give the penalty killers some love.

Personally this team, players, coaches and management has bought ALOT more then a 5-game trial period from myself before I start to show any signs of panic at all!

A few other notes from what I've noticed so far to start the season:

- As I predicted it looks like Segs is ready to take a huge jump forward now that he has a full season and confidence under his belt.  Definitely been one of our best forwards so far.

- The BFF's will be fine!  Yes Horty and Looch are off to a bit of a slow start but they both came on a bit in the Chicago game and I would predict in this next week or so will be making plenty of noise.

- Have to love the luxury we have with having the best 1-2 punch in net.  Would love to see about a 60/40 split between the pipes this year as we know Tuukka is more then capable of giving Timmmy some very important nights off.

- PC does it again!  Once again he locks up a player early in the season at what will be well below market value once all the insanity starts up again July 1.  Pevs might be our most versatile player.  The guy could play on any four lines and not look out of place...special teams guy...good leader....GREAT SIGNING!

Forty Horty!!!

Finally!  It's time people!!!  NHL Centre Ice is ordered bingo bango bring on Jack and Brick its pretty much time to go!  Raise that motherfucking banner!!!

Before the puck drops for real lets take a look at a player who I think will be one of the keys for the B's in our quest to repeat.

For the entire 2011-2012 season I would like you all to refer to him as "Forty Horty".  Yes you heard it here first...Nathan Horton #18 for your Boston Bruins will have the best offensive season of his career and will score 40 or more goals this coming season.

Unlike my  buddy Dan over at Bruins Hockey Now ...I for one loved this trade the day it was made.  Yes primarily because I had enough of "big money wides" but also because I loved the potential upside Horton brought to the table.

As good as Horton has been his entire career (6 straight 20-goal seasons) I do still think he has more to give and somewhat underachieved in Florida and at times last season as well.

And when I say underachiever again he has put up numbers that would deem him a VERY good NHL player however I really think he is on the verge of being a star.

I am positive the Horton who scored 12 goals over the Bruins final 25 games and 8 more in the playoffs is the one who will start the season tonight.

When you have all the physical tools that Horty does and you combine that with playing along side your bff and possibly the toughest player along the boards and in the corners in Looch and your centreman is the Einstein of the NHL because of his insanely high hockey IQ and the ability to find his wingers anywhere at anytime how will Horty NOT thrive and have the best offensive season of his career?

Combine that with the positive karma he deserves for bringing that beautiful, championship winning Gahden Water to Vancouver for Game 7 I think all the stars have alligned for Horty!

I'm so excited for tonight I don't know what to do with myself.  Bring it on bitches!  The repeat starts tonight...led by our 2011-2012 top goal scorer Forty Horty! You heard it here first!!

Who agrees with me?? Am I a Bruins prophet or a lil off base with my Forty Horty prediction?  Give me your feedback!! Comment, tweet whatever you feel like!

PS - To all my loyal HoneyPot readers I would like for you all to go check out Be The Game .  Great cause
be sure to check it out!

Go Bruins!!!!!!

- Ashley

Reign Of PC

One week to go people!  One week from tomorrow night high above the Gahden they will be raising our 2010-2011 Stanley Cup Champion banner to the rafters! Fuck I can't wait!!

As we get ready to gear up towards the season I want to do a few blog posts on the people whom I feel are most influential in the current state of the Bruins!

What better place to start then with the man who is responsible for assembling the best team in the NHL.

Of course I am biased but for my money he is one of the top 5 GM's in hockey right now! Actually outside of Ken Holland in Detroit who has done a better job in the last 5 years??

May 26, 2006 a new era of Bruins hockey was set to take place when PC was hired by the Bruins.
The Bruins record the year before PC came to beantown was 29-37-0-16!!

It took a year still after he was hired to get things fully on track but his record since becoming the Bruins Boss speaks for itself!

PC Win/Loss Record
06-07 - 35-41-0-6
07-08 - 41-29-0-12
08-09 - 53-19-0-10
09-10 - 39-30-0-13
10-11 - 46-25-0-11

Now how did PC turn the Bruins into the defending Stanley Cup Champions you may ask?? Well lets look at a couple of the key acquisitions he is responsible for that whom without we arent the team we are right now!

PC's 1st and Best Signing

Big Z - PC used his connection as the former Assistant GM in Ottawa convincing our now leader to pack up and join him in Boston.  As you may remember...Chara and Redden were both free agents from Ottawa that summer and PC made it obvious he wanted the Big Man while Ottawa re-signed Redden.  Amazing free agent signing AND yet again he showed his brilliance when last October he locked up Chara keeping him off of this summer's terribly over priced free agent market!

Tuukka - I realize Tuukka wasn't a big part of the cup win but he is a HUGE part of our future and this one really needs to be pointed out...Tuukka for Raycroft. Enough said.  And if you disagree with that heist I knock you out...with a milk crate!

Thank You Kessel - Oh my favourite of them all.  Let's begin with what led to this deal happening in the first place.  PC had his number for which he wanted to re-sign Kessel and would not budge.  He had the balls to stand by his convictions and boy has it paid it off.  Lets look at how the entire deal as I look at it has ended up.  Phil Kessel, Dennis Wideman and the 16th overall pick in 2010 for Tyler Seguin, Nathan Horton, Gregory Campbell, Jared Knight and
Dougie Hamilton. Amazing.

I could go on and on about the moves this guy keeps making in building this roster.  Seidenberg for Bitz and a 2nd round pick, Looch was a 50th overall pick, Marchand the 71st overall pick and then look at last year at the trade deadline.  He knew his team had a golden opportunity to take a run at the Cup and he went out and loaded up!  Ya ya people were disappointed in Kabby...I still thought he was a valuable piece but moreso look at the contributions from Peverley and Kelly!  How could ANYONE doubt the magic PC has worked putting this team together??

And finally something I give PC sooo much credit for...Standing By His Coach!  How many critics were calling for Coach's head after the Philly series in 2010 and even at points throughout last season.  Yet another example of PC sticking to his guns and being his own man and making his own decisions.  How easy would it have been for him to fire Julien after the Flyers series to take some heat off the situation? What did PC do? He stuck by his Coach unified his team and went out and made all the neccesary moves to win a Championship.

Thats the man I want in charge of my team!

#JLCreviewer Reporting For Duty! Wings/Flyers Edition!

What a game! What a Night!

At first when my friend Brian had nominated me to be the #jlcreviewer I asked...what the hell is the #jlcreviewer?? Then I was told if I won I would be responsible for keeping the twitterverse up to date on the action between the Detroit Red Wings and the Philadelphia Flyers live from the JLC here in my hometown of London.  Once I found that out I asked...how the hell do I win this???



Well through sheer luck and the power of my tweeps (especially @BHRaymond) I received the good word from @jlc Tuesday afternoon!

Fast forward to Thursday night as I get dropped off on King St at the steps of the JLC Centre lookin hot in my Krejci jersey (Always gotta represent) I was ready for some hockey!

The atmosphere outside the JLC was rockin.  It really was a party like atmosphere with the street party, red and orange everywhere (although seemed to be about a 70/30 split Wings to Philly fan).

Once inside the JLC after picking up my tickets and heading over to Section 105 I was in amazement when the usher pointed out my seats to see that I was literally 7 rows behind the Red Wings Bench!! (More on my seats and the "view" later).

Now of course anyone who knows me and my hockey viewing habits please rest assured knowing I was there in time for warm up! (Never miss warm up...never leave early!).

I hop down to my usual spot right up against the glass to get a closer look at the Red Wings.  It was awesome to see a pair of legends and future hall of famers Zetterberg and Lidstrom just inches away through the glass.  Aside from the legends I could not help but notice 6 foot 4 inch 220 lbs of Red Wing defenceman # 52 Jonathan Ericsson.

I know this guy isnt just coming on to the scene and has been around for a while but I tell ya watching him up close throughout warm up and into the game.  For such a big body and just a physical prescence this guy can move and is very good with the puck very solid in his own end.  He had a good year last season and was a +8 but my bold prediction coming from my trip to the JLC was that Jonathan Ericsson somewhat forgotten behind Lidstrom and Kronwall...will have a breakout season seeing increased ice time and will be relyed on heavily by the Wings as a shut down D this season!

Down at the other end of the ice...yes there were some of the Flyers big names...Giroux, JVR, Talbot...but the name I was most interested in keeping an eye on was one that is very familiar to my fellow Bruin fans....Kessel.

Yes Phil's little brother Blake fresh off signing his two-year contract with the Flyers was in the lineup.

Well I gotta tell ya...there should only be one Kessel in the NHL.  Throughout the night I made a point of looking out for Blake and at points I forgot he was even playing.  I left very unimpressed.

He may make the Flyers but personally I see him as a career AHL'er who perhaps is where he is
primarily because of the name on the back of his jersey...certainly not by his play on the ice!

As far as the game itself.  Well it surely didn't disappoint.  Yes it wasn't my Bruins, yes there was a fair share of players destined for junior and the AHL but I loved every minute of it!

The Wings were definitely the better of the two teams on the night taking it to the Flyers controlling the play and the shot clock for most of the night.

Aside from my new gem Ericcson I was also REALLY impressed by Wings forward Darren Helm.  Man this guy can fly!  He scored one of the Wings 3 regulation goals and perhaps was the best player on the ice.

The Wings took a 3-1 lead into the third and looked to be in complete control however the Flyers would strike for two late goals adding to the drama with Wayne Simmonds tying it 3-3 late in the game sending it to overtime.

Overtime would solve nothing leading to now the infamous shootout at the JLC (by now everyone knows what happened so I will save my banana commentary for the end).  On the ice it would be the 8th shooter Red Wing free Agent pick up Ian White who would finally end it beating Flyers goalie Micheal Leighton to end it!

Now my actual reporting of the game would be somewhat more in depth but I did have one slight yet rather wide problem throughout the game.  My view was blocked by a VERY annoying Flyer fan!!!  Boys and girls when you're at a game and...please..please...do not stand up to cheer for every single play that happens in a game.  If the other team goes off-side...its not a reason to stand and cheer.  If the other team ices the puck...its not a reason to stand and cheer. If your team gets a shot on goal...its not a reason to stand and cheer.  If the horn goes to end a period it does not signal that it is now time to straddle your boyfriend!! Nothing gets under my skin more at a hockey game then drunk annoying "fans" who don't know anything about the game!!

So again JLC..thank you for the AMAZING seats...thank you for picking me to be the #jlcreviewer...but please next time keep the uneducated, annoying, drunk woman out of my section!  Perhaps for next year's pre-season game at the JLC I will be sitting in the Press Box with my Ashley's Honey Pot Blog Media Accreditation :)

Ok before my banana commentary time for one last bold prediction.  The Philadelphia Flyers will NOT make the playoffs this season. Yes I know this was not their entire team and there were several players out of the lineup.  However I think Jagr will be a bust, I think Captain Chris is way past his prime and I'm not sold on Bryzgalov.  To take one of the top leaders and two way forwards in the NHL in Richards and one of the top goal scorers in Carter out of your lineup...I really think they took two giant steps backwards this off season.  Sorry Flyer fan..going to be a long year.

And now to the idiot who threw the banana.  Take it from someone at the game...this was not a reflection on the fans and the atmosphere at the JLC that night.  London is an amazing hockey city with great fans.  The actions of this loser are strictly that...the actions of a loser.  I hope they identify who the thrower was...then perhaps the only banana action will be one shoved up his ass!

Again...thank you JLC!!! It was an honour to be your #jlcreviewer!

- Ashley

Breaking News........The Leafs Still Suck!

Lovin My Seguin Jersey - Thank You Burkie!

I was doing some of my daily hockey reading this morning online and came across the following article Why The Leafs Will Make The Playoffs (Yeah Right!)

The timing of this article could not be better as I had already decided prior to reading this that I would dedicate my next post to those loveable losers in Toronto but after reading this it only made me wan't to talk about them even more.

The ONLY thing in this article I agree with is when they call them "Toronto's Bumbling Buds"...after that...everything is pure hope and dreaming almost as if it was written by a typical Leaf fan (probably was).

The points this article makes are extremely weak and if they are the basis of  hope for "Leaf Nation" well then its going to be another early Spring tee off time for Burkies Boys.


The primary reason this article and I think many Leaf fans have for hope is second year goalie James Reimer.

Now to get this out there as much as it pains me to say...I actually like the kid.
I think he has a promising future and I hope for his sake at some point
in his career he gets with a real organization and has a chance to live up
to his full potential.

All that being said...to pin your hopes of a playoff spot on Reimer I think
is foolish.  Leaf fans are blinded by the numbers this kid put up last season
but they're not taking into account the situation in which he did so.  By the time
"Optimus Reims" took over the # 1 job the Leafs in typical fashion were all
but eliminated from playoff contention with half a season to play.  Reims goes
in with no pressure plays well and is hailed as the saviour.

Again I like the kid but I wonder if he will stil have his "ah shucks" attitude
when there is a bit of adversity and every paper in Loser Land wants him to be traded.

Another name mentioned in the article is JM Liles.  Yes I now can hear
all the losers in Leaf land saying "oh he is a top point producing dman" yes
ok he puts up good offensive numbers...however for my money when I am judging
defencemen I like to look at the stat column to the right of PTS. Yes Leaf Nation
your star "defenceman" was a -9 last season and is a -16 for his career.

So lets get this straight...another reason your going to make the playoffs is
because you acquired a defenceman who was -9 last season?  Leaf Logic.

And finally another MAJOR reason the Leafs will be better is because they
have found that centre they were looking for to go with our old buddy Phil.  Yes poor Phil finally has the playmaking centre that will send the Leafs to the promise land.

Wrong!

Put the kleenex and hand lotion away Leaf fans and go do a lil homework on this guy.
High on skill yet higher in medical bills Mr. Connoly has not played in at
least 80 games in a single season since...2002-2003.  But yes  you say he is
all clear now and health wont be an issue so let's focus on his incredible skill.
Umm ok...I wonder how many "number 1" centres throughout the NHL have NEVER
had one single season averaging at least a point per game?  Feel free to look
it up...the numbers dont lie...this "elite" centre's career high in points
for a season is a whopping 65 points.

In typical Leaf fashion Connoly may eclipse his defensively challenged Captain (Don't worry
Dion I could never forget about you when bashing the Laughs) as the new most overrated player in the NHL.  Welcome to Toronto Tim.

Back to Phil for a second.  Was he not supposed to be the Leaf's saviour three
years ago?  I've never heard so many excuses for any of the other top level
players in the NHL as to why they haven't lived up to their potential yet.  If
you're supposed to be worth the price the Leafs paid to get this guy..should you
not make others around you better?? Not the other way around?  Hell Wilson
doesn't even trust their "best" player to be on the ice late in a game with a lead.

All I ask is that no matter how bad this team stinks once again and no matter
how early they are out of playoff contention is that the Maple Leafs "board"
does NOT fire Burkie.  I hope Burkie has a job for life with the Leafs and continues
to provide me with all the entertainment in the garbage that comes out of his
mouth on a daily basis.  Also I mean really who else will save the state of the
game today with such innovative ideas as his "bear hug" rule that he want's to
impliment.

And do we even need to mention Tyler Seguin, Jared Knight and Dougie Hamilton for
Phil Kessel?? Or the fact that the Kessel deal freed up a 1st round pick that
enabled us to trade for Horty?

Well good luck Leaf Nation...as always..you're gonna need it!

- Ashley

The Honey Pot Bruins Prospect Tour!

Draft Day Dougie

Next week my second favourite league opens up when the Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
drops the puck for real on the 2011-2012 season.

As much as I am excited to watch my Bruins repeat this year I am also excited to watch my favourite OHL team the Sarnia Sting in action.

The Sting made some HUGE moves in the off season bringing in Coyotes 1st rounder Connor Murphy, Devils draft pick Reid Boucher and Blackhawks 2nd rounder Ludvig Rensfeldt.

Add those players to the mix of returning players in Dallas 2nd round pick Brett
Ritchie and of course my favourites...the dynamic duo of Alex Galchenyuk and
Nail Yakupov who could possibly go 1-2 in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

I will actually be in Sarnia on Opening Night next Friday when the Sting take on
the Erie Otters.

Now there is also a Bruins spin to my love of the OHL and what will be my
somewhat frequent attendance at Sting games this season.

It will also give me a chance to keep my eye on several Bruin prospects!!!

PC obviously shares my love of the OHL as he and his scouting staff have taken
several players out of the best development league in the world in the past few years.

So while I have my eye on the Sting I'm also gonna have my eye on the following Bruin
prospects!

Here is my "Scouting" Schedule for the season! (All games in Sarnia)

Friday November 4th - Alexander Khokhlachev and the Windsor Spitfires will be
in Sarnia!  Can't wait to watch the Bruins 2nd rounder in action.  Put up 76
points last year for the Spits and everything I hear about him is that he is dynamic!

Saturday November 26th - THIS is the game I am looking forward to the most all season
with the Sting.  The Niagara Ice Dogs are in town!  Not only will this be a
matchup of two of the top teams in the OHL BUT most importantly...will be my
first look at the future of the Bruins Blueline! Yes I will be about 6 rows up
in section 116 watching our 2011 first rounder Dougie Hamilton!! (Thank you Burkie..ahh it never gets old) Part of the "Thank You Kessel" package everything I hear about Hamilton is he is a HUGE yet mobile defenceman great both in his own end but with some offensive upside.  Can't wait
to watch Dougie!!

Saturday January 14th - Dougie Gilmour brings his Kingston Frontenacs to the RBC Centre
in Sarnia led by 2010 2nd rounder Ryan Spooner.  From everything I have read from
the Bruins rookie tournament...Spooner was hands down the best player. Spooner is a good
two way centre who scored 35 goals last year and as a 19 year old should be one
of the better players in the OHL next year and possibly a dark horse to make the Canadian
World Jr Team!  Can't wait to get my eyes on this future Bruin!

Monday February 20th - Looks like I'm spending Family Day (Ontario Holiday) in Sarnia
watching hockey!!! Jared Knight and the London Knights come to town in what is
always a heated game between the two bitter OHL Rivals.  Add to the mix that
former Knights Assistant Coach Jacques Beaulieu is running the show in Sarnia
this year and you have the makings of a great game! Of the four prospects I have seen
the most of Knight.  I'll admit I am not completely sold on him as of yet.  He is
a very solid OHL player but I just don't see anything that wow's me by any means.
Hopefully he has a huge year and proves me wrong.

So there you have it folks!  The 2011-2012 HoneyPot Bruins Scouting Tour.

These just aren't your run of the mill low end late round prospects either.  According
to Hockey's Future website I will be watching in person 4 of the top 5 Bruin prospects!

And don't worry...I will be posting in depth scouting reports after each of these games.

On another note....Bruins open Camp Saturday!!!!

Go Bruins Go....and Go Sting Go!

- Ashley

Ashley's 5 Reasons The Bruins Will Repeat

Here we go Bruin fans!  Fire up the Ferrence Flash Mob...bang out the Ryder induced dents...and someone get Looch the hell out of Vancouver.  Training Camp is less then one week away and its time to get ready to defend our title.

Yes you may be hearing it here for the first time but mark it down...The Boston Bruins will be the 2012 Stanley Cup Champions and in doing so will be the first team since 1998 (Detroit Red Wings) to capture Hockey's Ultimate prize in consecutive seasons.

Sure alot of the critics out there will point to all the reasons why in today's salary cap era (see reason # 5) it is nearly impossible to do so as evidence in the demise of so many past Stanley Cup Champions in recent memory.

Well fuck the critics...here are Ashley's Top 5 Reasons the Boston Bruins will repeat.

5. Managing the Cap
- Past winners have blown their load winning a cup with many of their Top Stars due for a raise.  They had to dismantle so much of their supporting cast to fit these raises in under the cap it destroyed their chances the next season (Pittsburgh and Chicago come to mind right away).
I know he has his share of haters but personally I think PC has done a brilliant job managing the cap.  The long term extensions he signed Chara, Timmy and others too seemed pricey at the time but ask yourself how much money Big Z would have got on the open market this past July???
A quick look at one of my favourite sites Cap Geek will make any Bruin fan rest easy knowing we have the nucleus of our Cup winning team under contract with 7.6 million available under the cap.

4. Balanced Scoring
- Every Cup winning team needs to get production from all 4 lines.  Its not the teams loaded with 1 or 2 superstars who do the bulk of the scoring that wins championships.  How many teams would like to have a player like Rich Peverley centering their third line??  Look at a player like Marchand for example?  Starts the season on the 4th line and eventually turns into a first line winger and all he did was score big goals game after game.  You can shut down one line on any given night...but can you shut down 4 lines?? No you can't.

3. The Defence Rests
- A 6'9 Norris Trophy winner and a heart and soul Vezina winner is a pretty good recipe for a very low goals against average.  Yes we can score goals and as I mentioned I love our scoring depth but lets face it folks....defence and goaltending wins Championships!
In net what else needs to be said about Timmy??  People were writing him off two years ago...saying he was showing his age, that his style just does not lead to long term success...well all he did last year was go out and have a record breaking Vezina/Conn Smythe/Stanley Cup season.  What would lead anyone to believe he won't repeat last year's performance??
I think the key will be to give him enough rest throughout the regular season to keep him fresh.  So on those days he eats a few too many cheeseburgers, perhaps falls asleep in YOGA class..or hell just needs a night off..is there a better backup goalie in the league then Milk Crates Rask?? No there isn't.
I love our depth on defence but what I love even more is the security of having a giant in Big Z and a Seidy-Horse on the back end anchoring our D and logging about 30 mins each a night...as I said in the heading...The Defence Rests!

2. Seguin A Superstar in the Making
- I think at times last season many people failed to realize that the 2nd overall pick out of the Plymouth Whalers was just THREE YEARS REMOVED FROM PLAYING MINOR MIDGET HOCKEY...I mean think about that for a second.  Talk to fans in Tampa about how some guy named Steven Stamkos looked in his rookie season as an 18 year old??
I know Segs has a lot of fan support but I do think a lot of people fail to realize just HOW much better this guy is gonna be after a full year in the league under his belt not to mention Stanley Cup experience as an 18/19 year old.
And lets face it he wasnt just around for the ride...when called upon he contributed and was a big reason why the B's got past the Bolts to make it to the finals.
I really think the sky is the limit for Seguin and see him being the Bruins breakout star this season.

1. Chemistry
- I'll admit...being down 2-0 to the Habs and going back to Montreal...I was nervous...VERY nervous.  But how did the Bruins react to that hole they found themselves in?? They dug deep gave a giant fuck you to the Habs and all the haters (yes Greenpeace we know it was a glove malfunction) and well as we know the rest was just one big History Will Be Made commercial.
How many different times in the playoffs did "the experts" (I'm looking at you Glen Healey you dumb fuck) have this team written off??
And each and every time this team just dug deeper and got a lil bit closer and took care of business.
You don't go through what this team went through in winning last season with their backs against the wall time and time again and not develop an us against the world kind of mentality.  Look at how they celebrated together all summer long!!  I don't think any of them wanted to leave Boston all summer (the well documented Marchand/Seguin chipendale tour)...
You just get a sense of how close this team is and its because of that...they will do whatever it takes for the guy sitting beside them to get their name back on that Stanley Cup (The dents better be out of it by June Ryder!)

So there you have it...Rookie Camps are underway...Main Camps have yet to start...but we now know who will be the 2012 Stanley Cup Champion.

 And if you're still in doubt...well take a look at the pic...Jesus is a Bruins fan!

- Ashley

Nailed

Time to take a little break from my beloved Bruins and talk about a player very near and dear to my heart.

Last season I attended a pre season OHL game in London between the Knights and the Sarnia Sting.  What I didn't realize before the game is that I would be seeing one of the most excting players I would ever see in my life.

I could not take my eyes off of # 10 in white for the Sarnia Sting...from the moment I saw him skate it was obvious I was seeing someone special.

That night he scored a goal and I think had a couple of assists but regardless from that night on I was hooked on this player.

Of course the player I am talking about who not many knew about at the time but now so many in the hockey world know was Nail Yakupov.

This kid does everything at top speed. He is just as fast WITH the puck as he is without it, he has an amazing shot and the enthusiasm he plays the game with is truly Ovi like.

Last season he broke Sarnia Sting rookie records by scoring 49 goals and 102 points and was the first OHL rookie to have 100 points since  Patrick Kane had done so with the London Knights.  Oh and the Sting rookie records he set...in doing so he passed some guy named Stamkos in getting his name in the Sting record books.

So you can only imagine my excitement this week when I started my first week at Lambton College in Sarnia that I happened to meet Nail not once but twice (the second time I was smart enough to get a pic taken with him).  Even off the ice you just get caught up in this kids prescence...trust me when I say this...he is something special and if you don't know that much about him now you will a year from now when he is getting set to play his rookie season in the NHL.

Today TSN analyst Craig Button came out with his draft rankings and certainly not to my surprise he has my Nail ranked number 1 overall. I absolutely can not wait to watch next years NHL draft when this player who I fell in love with over a year ago the first time I saw him play is selected as the first player overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Craig's List

Please do yourself a favour and go to youtube and type in Nail Yakupov and watch what this kid can do.  I am sure you will be just as amazed by his talent and his enthusiasm for this great sport that I love so much. The Nail Yakupov Show

Going to Lambton College and being in Sarnia on a daily basis I know I am going to make a point of getting out and watching him as much as I can this year.  I know for sure this is the last year I would get to see him play in an OHL arena because mark my words...Nail Yakupov will be in the NHL next year and everyone reading this blog will know exactly what he is all about.

So just remember next June when you're watching the NHL draft and you hear "With the first overall pick the Toronto Maple Leafs are proud to select from the Sarnia Sting Nail Yakupov" As much as I would love to see Nail with a spoked B on his chest lets face it he is gonna go to a team like the Leafs who are capable of finising 30th overall...yes this depresses me greatly...one of the first places you heard it was here.

- Ashley

Kampfuck? No Thank You...

Steve Kampfer and two of his new D partners

Omg where has the summer gone?!?! Days are getting shorter, yours truly is now a full-time Student in college, and yes most importantly.....WE ARE ONE WEEK AWAY FROM BRUINS TRAINING CAMP!!!!! - yes Rookie camp begins tomorrow I know this

Anyhow..as we get closer and closer to the 2011 Defending Stanley Cup Champions beginning their repeat season I would like to get something off my chest (focus on the hockey talk boys)...what I would like to address is one Mr. Steve Kampfer.



I have had several "debates" via twitter regarding this undersized, somewhat skilled defenceman.

The love affair many of my Bruin buddies have with this guy is something I just don't see and I don't get.

Every time he has been in the lineup I fail to see what he brings to the table.  Everyone brings up to me his skill level. How good of a skater is, how well he moves the puck.  Well to me this should translate into being an offensive defenceman should it not?? Well as usual...I have done my homework!  Going ALL the way back to his days in the USHL his highest point total was 19 points in 46 games.....this in the USHL people! Not even the CHL..the USHL! Now lets bring it back to current day and take a look at his NHL numbers.  In 38 career games in the NHL this "skilled" puck moving defenceman has 10 points in 38 games...hardly overwhelming.

Now I know what everyone will say..."He's a defenceman why are you talking about how many points he gets?"  Well I mention this because personally I think he lacks the size and strength to be a shut down defenceman in the NHL...so if the argument is that he can project to be an offensive defenceman...I just don't see it people.  Yes in today's NHL you don't have to be 6 foot 3 just to play and there is room for "the little guy"...but to me that little guy better have exceptional talent! And yes I know everyone will say "Well he was a +9 last season Ashley!"....C'mon people...You, I or hell even Dion Phaneuf would be a +9 playing for last
year's Bruins!


Regardless of my opinions and if you are with me OR even if you are Pro-Kampfer lets take a look at the projected Bruins defence for 2011-2012.

Boychuk
Chara
Corvo
Ference
Kampfer
McQuaid
Seidenberg

Can someone please tell me where Mr. Michigan Kampfer fits on that list?  I don't know about you but I have him 7th on my depth chart folks.

To me for the "style" Kampfer plays I think he needs to either be in your Top 4 or else ship him to Providence. Give me some size, some strong defensive play and keeping things simple out of my 5,6,7 D.

Bottom line on Steve Kampfer is I think he is what he is and to me its not an overly effective NHL defenceman who is a waste of cap space.

As always your thoughts and arguments are more then welcomed!  Either comment here or send me some feedback on twitter @bruinsbunnie

- Ashley

Jumbo Joe

I was driving through Lynhurst the other day wearing my bruinskini on the way to the beach in Port Stanley when I noticed that sign I always notice on my way through "The Home of Joe Thornton"...and it made me start to think in depth about him.

November 30th, 2005 is a day as a Bruins fan that I will always remember.  The day we traded the face of our franchise to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Marco Sturm, Wayne Primeau and Brad Stuart.

When I first found out about the trade at first I didn't believe it...and then once I found it to be true I was shocked and saddened that my beloved Bruins could trade its Captain and one of the top players in all of the NHL.

"Jumbo" Joe and I go way back (ok well my memories of him)...Joe grew up in nearby Lynhurst (see photo of me paying respect to the birthplace of Joe) and he played Jr. B hockey in St. Thomas where he was a local legend and everyone in this area knew who he was.

Joe would go on to play for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds where he was an absolute Star putting up 122 points in 59 games during the 1996-97 season paving the way to him being selected 1st overall in the summer of 1997 by the Big Bad Bruins!  A draft which would also see one of my all time favourite Bruins Sergei Samsonov taken in the 1st round.

This would begin the NHL career of Joe...and it would be a slow turbulent start...he would treat his entire rookie season as if it was a season long of playoff hockey (more about the disapearing Joe act later). Joe had a whopping 7 points his rookie year setting off alarm bells that the Bruins made a mistake.

Luckily for Joe and the B's his point totals would rise each season and he would turn into an absolute force who along with one of my all-time favourites Glen Murray were one of the best 1-2 punches in the league!

Regular season success for Joe and the Bruins was becomming a regular occurance...however over time a very disturbing trend was starting to form.  What started out as perhaps a bit of bad luck turned into a disturbing three-year trend which saw the Jumbo Joe led Bruins to three straight first round exits.

At the time I will admit I was perhaps too caught up and ga ga over the prescence that he brought and the numbers he put up but looking back at it now I truly understand the reasoning behind trading him.  I honestly believe with him as the face of our franchise and our "leader" that we do not raise the Cup last season.

Looking back at it I think we maybe could have got more for Joe but I really think the turning point in this franchise was turning over the keys of this amazing franchise to a young Bergy and later Timmmy and then with the eventual signing of our current Captain Big Z!

So thank you Jumbo Joe for all you did for my beloved B's and you will always have a place in my heart but I really dont think we ever would have won a cup with ya!

- Ashley

Ahhh The Return Of The Hockey Season...

While I still have to wait a few weeks for my beloved Bruins to hit the ice I am SO EXCITED to have tickets in my hand for my first hockey game of the season this Saturday.

Saturday night (thanks to using my "charm" to swing a few free tickets) I will be at the RBC Centre in Sarnia watching the London Knights take on my favourite OHL team the Sarnia Sting.

Yes its the OHL not the NHL and yes its the Pre-Season not the Regular Season but for a hockey junkie such as myself it is still a fix!

I absolutely can not wait to watch future # 1 pick Nail Yakupov and his side kick and future 1st round pick Alex Galchenyuk up close and witness the magic on ice these two create (if you live in an OHL market and have not seen these two do yourself a favour and get out and watch them!!)

Also for any of my fellow Bruin lovers I will be keeping a close eye on 2010 2nd round pick Jared Knight (part of the Thank You Kessel Package) and I will be sure to deliver a very early scouting report on how Knight has progressed from last season.

48 hours until I am sitting in a hockey rink....ahhh I can hear the skates cutting through the ice already...

- Ashley

So Long Savvy...

Sad that I need to lose my bloggin virginity on a down note BUT I would be remiss if I didnt write a
few words about an all-time fav Bruin and his career tragically being cut short.

Although I could see it coming I was still saddened yesterday to read a report on my twitter feed with the news that PC had commented that Marc Savard was being shut down for the season and most likely his career.

At first the news saddened me but then it turned into pure and bitter outrage focused squarely on one of the NHL's biggest pussies Matt Cooke.

Today the career of a perennial All-Star and one of the most creative offensive players in the game has been cut short thanks to a 3rd sometimes 4th line plug..errr sorry "grinder" with the same skill level as any forward you would find on an AHL Roster.

I'm not even going to get into what the NHL should or shouldn't do as its been debated over and over what needs to happen but the bottom line is a player like Matt Cooke will be in the Opening Night Lineup and players such as Marc Savard and yes (this is going to pain me to admit) Sidney Crosby will be watching from the Press Box. - Editors Note - For the record I still think Sidney "Pussy Boy" Crosby is a whining piece of shit with zero personality but I would rather yell at him on the ice then see 246 shots of him a night sitting in the Press Box with a headset on.

Yesterday the OHL announced regulations that hard capped shoulder pads and elbow pads are now banned from use in their league. Why does it always seem that a Major Junior Hockey League is out ahead of the NHL when it comes to player safety? Changing equipment regulations is alot easier to do then changing human behaviour.  A broken collar bone or separated shoulder seems to be a fair compromise to severe head trauma.

Savvy I will miss everything you gave to my beloved Bruins and hope that management has already offered you a job somewhere within the organization as in my heart you will be a Bruin forever.
 
Matt Cooke you're a piece of shit and if I ever see you face to face chances are you will be leaving with a 6-inch heel stuck up your ass.

 Thank you for reading...thoughts and comments positive and negative are welcomed.
  - Ashley