I'm A Nerd: Portal

So you might not understand what you saw, but this is portal. I would like to start off by saying a big thank you to my buddy David for giving me his free copy of portal! When you pre-order portal 2 (which everyone here should go do), you get a free copy of this wonderful game. You essentially have a gun that has a portal entrance and a portal exit. Simple? Wrong. Although it is a pretty simple concept, the physics and tricks you have to use in this game are ridiculous. You can create infinite loops and really think outside the box in order to get past obstacles. You might have to do something with gravity like this:



Anyways this game really plays with your mind and makes you really think about physics in a whole new way. Although you can beat the game in about 10 minutes (if your pro) it could take hours if you don't know what your doing. I hope to see what Portal 2 brings.

Music Recommendation: Lights

Music Recommendation: Ladyhawke

It looks like New Zealand is no longer just known for Flight of The Conchords, Lord of The Rings, and Kiwi's. Phillipa "Pip" Brown or "Ladyhawke" is best known for her hits "Paris is Burning" and "My Delirium". Still, she has numerous other hits including "Another Runaway", "Magic" and "Dusk Til Dawn". The song above is a mashup of her first and only album to date. It's not often that a singer can remake an entire debut album and turn it into its own song. She won best album as well as best single for the 2009 New Zealand Music Awards and shows no signs of slowing down. According to the Charlatans' Tim Burgess- "I've been working with Josh, the guitarist from The Horrors, and Stefan, the drummer from the Klaxons and right now we can only do stuff when our other bands aren't doing things. But when we do get together, it's really explosive and it'll be well worth waiting for. I've also got Ladyhawke singing on it."

Also to throw insult to injury I decided to included Lissy Trullie in here just for fun. only so many "L" ladies that you can fit into a week.

UFA Watch: Tomas Kopecky

(picture courtesy of life.com)

Although Tomas Kopecky is not a household name, he is someone that could certainly be on the Edmonton Oilers radar. With Jordan Eberle and Ales Hemsky down the right side, Edmonton could use some size down the right side and Kopecky is 6'3" and over 200lbs. Although it is likely that Ryan Jones, Curtis Hamilton or Tyler Pitlick occupy that spot going forward, I think that Tomas Kopecky would be a great fit until our kids are ready to jump up into that role. He is currently 5th on a very talented Chicago team Although the majority of his points were from playing a top six role this year, he would be a nice luxury in our bottom 6.

Given his career year in Chicago this year with 14 goals and 27 assists for 41 points in 73 games, Chicago is unlikely able to sign him. Only 29, Kopecky is still entering his prime and likely looking for a pay raise- something Edmonton shouldn't have a problem offering him. Here is a great hit on Denis Gauthier and another awesome hit on Carle.

I'm A Nerd: R.U.S.E

R.U.S.E is a real time strategy game that was released in september 2010 for the PC, Playstation 3 and Xbox360. It allows the gamer to take the role of a World War II general that tries to raise through the ranks in hopes to end the war. But it doesn't just stop their, the general still has some odds and ends to finish after the war as well. The game offers a great multiplayer where you can take control of different nations against your friends. The best part of this is that each nation (or faction) has different units that are better suited for different styles of players. These nations include United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Italy, France, and the Soviet Union. The French for example have upgraded bunkers that allow for easier defending while the Germans have much stronger tanks. Panzer General anyone?

Although this game may just seem like your typical WWII strategy game at first, it provides two very unique aspects that allow the user to enjoy the game on a whole new level. First, the user has full control off the camera. What I mean by this is that the player can zoom all the way until their units look like chips on table. A typical view would look this this:



But the player can also scroll in to watch the battle first hand. This is not to say that you only have two options, but rather you can look at the board from every single angle and any zoom that seems comfortable. This allows the gamer to pay attention to both the micro and the macro in the game.



Unlike games like Starcraft that you can just mass as many units as you possibly can and try to overrun a city or town, you are unable to use such simple strategies in this game. With Recon your units are unable to see hidden units and your army can be absolutely slaughtered. In addition, the board has forests, mountains and rivers that can cause huge problems for units. If you place the lonliest footsoldier in a forest it can easily ambush a tank. The same is true for artillery. Response times are also much longer. If your army becomes ambushed you aren't going to be able to get another army to a different town in the matter of seconds like a lot of strategy games.

The second biggest thing with R.U.S.E is of course the ruses. What are ruses? Well basically they are decoys that are handed out every couple of minutes that add a more dynamic gameplay. The user can choose between a wide range of ruses that reveal information, hide information or create decoys. So essentially one user could use a spy to see what a use has while another user could launch a fake assault on a town. Other ruses make small units look like bigger units and vice versa. You can also make your units move faster. Their are many different strategies you can use and you have to react to other peoples ruses accordingly.

(pictures courtesy of digitalchumps.com and play2compete.com)

Devan Dubnyk: Goaltender of the Future?

Their is a lot to like about Devan Dubnyk. The Regina Saskatchewan native is a fromer first round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Although it was a questionable pick at the time, he is looking much better then the five picks that followed. Those players included Alexander Radulov, Petteri Nokelainen, Marek Schwarz, Kyle Chipchura, and Lauri Korpikoski. Although I'm normally not one who supports drafting goaltenders in the first round, It's hard not to like this pick.

It has taken Devan Dubnyk a lot longer to get to the NHL then most thought, but he has been worth the wait. The 6'6" netminder has a respectable 0.911 save percentage on a team that is currently ranked second worst in goals against. Even more impressive is his record. Dubnyk currently sits with 10 wins and 12 regulation losses. He does however have EIGHT overtime losses and I can't even recall how many of his regulation losses have come with under a minute left in play. My point is, that if this team improves in the shooutout and in overtime that Dubnyk could be sitting a very nice 18-12 record on the worst team in the leauge. Oh and one shutout.

Given that this is his first full season with the Oilers (he played only 19 games last season), he really has a chance to be the goaltender of the future with the Edmonton Oilers. His numbers don't express his full potential seeing as he has almost always been on the team that is the "underdog". He has had times where he has made 40+ saves and still lost the game because of the team in front of him. With a defence in front of Dubnyk, I would be surprised to see his save percentage rise and his goals against drop.

At the same time the kid is only 24. If you look at a goaltender like Cam Ward he had a .897 save percentage in the regular season when he was 23 and when to the stanley cup and followed it up with a .904 save percentage in 2007-2008. In fact Ward is seemed as one of the best goaltenders in the leauge (not elite but still capable to winning a cup) even though his career save percentage is .909 in the NHL. Thats less then what Dubnyk is currently sitting at now.

The young Oilers look like they finally have a few peices coming together.

Music Recommendation: Lissie

Elisabeth Maurus or "Lissie" is an American folk artist from Rock Island, Illinois. Her Debut Album "Catchin a Tiger" was released June 21st, 2010 and has already received unbelieveable attention. She was voted by Paste Magazine as the #1 best solo artist of 2010. She already has three singles including "Cuckoo", "In Sleep" as we as "When I'm Alone". In fact, iTunes UK voted "When I'm Alone" as the best song of 2010 and she has continued to turn pop covers such as "Bad Romance" and "Pursuit of Happiness".

Lissie is an artist to watch for sure. She makes singing look so effortless and isn't just a one hit wonder. I look forward to see her grow as an artist and use her musical talents (not just her voice but her guitar playing) in different ways. If you liked her first video check out "Everywhere I Go" or "Making Pies".

Food Recommendation: Kimchi

(picture courtesy of iheartkimchi.wordpress.com)

This fermented Korean Dish is simiar to that of a Cabbage Roll. Although their are hundreds of different styles of Kimchi, the base of most consist of napa cabbage. Other popular variations consist of Cucumber, Scallions, and Radish dishes. You can have Kimchi as a side dish or make it into a stew. In either case it is always a good idea to add red peppers or chili pepppers to add some spice. You can then add garlic, oninons, green onions and fish sauce.

Although the dish is smelly and can be very sour (depending on how long it is fermented) Kimchi is a Korean standard that North American people should come to love. It is a healthy, inexpensive and sustainable alternative to western cuisine. Now if I could just actually take the time to properly learn how to make the stuff I would be set.

2011 NHL Draft: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

(picture courtesy of thescoutingreport.org)

Statistics (2010-2011): Red Deer Rebels (WHL): 69GP 31G 75A 106P +30 51PIM

"RNH", "The Nuge", "Hopper"... whatever you want to call Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, this kid has a name worth remembering. The slick two-way playmaking centre could very well go first overall this spring. If you would have told me four months ago that Nugent-Hopkins was going first overall pick, I wouldn't have agreed. His 6'0" and 170lbs frame isn't deemed NHL ready by most standards and he went more then a month without scoring a goal.

Now don't get me wrong, I have always been a big fan of Hopkins. He has always had the potential to be first overall but hasn't made a solid case for himself since he was left off the WJC roster. But I didn't think he would respond the way he has since the World Junior Championships. Not to take anything away from Sean Couturier, Gabriel Landeskog or Adam Larsson, but Hopkins is easily the hottest player in the 2011 Draft right now. Even though he had an "okay" start to the season he wasn't scoring at the pace he is now. Prior to the WJC ending, the Red Deer Rebels forward was sitting at 37GP with 10 goals and 38 assists.



However since then he has posted 21 goals and 37 assists for 58 points in just 32 games. To put his 1.813 P/G into perspective, Sean Couturier finished with 1.655 P/G. Nugent-Hopkins entire season might not be better statisticsally, but his second half is significantly better then Couturiers. As far as his "two way" ability goes, the Red Deer Rebels have gone 24-8 since the WJC. Not too shabby for the kid. In addition he is already leading the WHL playoffs with 5 points in just two games against the Edmonton Oil Kings. Here is a video of his six point performance against Moose Jaw on February 4th:



Although he is lacking in size (height), he makes up for it in other ways. He has the speed to beat defenders one on one, the skill to take you out of your seat and the mentality that makes him hard to throw off his game. He is calm with the puck and can slow down the game or speed it up. He can beat defenders in so many ways. If you pressure him he can dish the pass off to his teammates in the slot, but if you give him space he can carry the puck into the slot himself and put it past the goaltender. He makes everyone around him better and can dominate games. He is a tenacious forechecker that always gets the puck on his stick with his superb backchecking abilities. He has an excellent wrister and the agility that makes him hard to hit.

An interesting article back on March 14th by Thepipelineshow said that "2 NHL GM's, who have a very good chance of ending up in the NHL draft lottery have said they would take the Red Deer Rebel first overall". In addition, "another high placed scout thought if RHN reached the 30 goal mark it would be enough to convince whoever has the first overall pick to take him". Well, he finished with 31 goals and here we sit.

As far as the Oilers are concerned, I think they will be very sorry if they pass on "Hopper" for Sean Couturier. He may not have the size that the Oiler are looking for, but he will easily become the best "small" forward that Edmonton has- even better then Jordan Eberle. I still salivate at the thought of Hopkins dishing the puck to Taylor Hall in slot. If he centers a line of Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle for the next 15 years, I would be one very happy fan. If Edmonton selects either Larsson or RNH we are going to get ourselves a number one center or a number one defenceman for years to come.

Music Recommendation: Little Boots

This video is brought to you by the letter "L". If you missed my last music recommendation, I decided that I was going to recommend a female artist that started with the letter "L" out of spite of Lady GaGa. GaGa isnt worth her "Lady" title let alone the "L".

Anyways, Victoria Christina Hesketh or "Little Boots" is amazing. Not only is she ridiculously ridiculously good looking she is also ridiculously talented. Her debut album "Hands" in 2009 has had a lot of success thus far. She is currently working on her second album that is apparently inspired by Edgar Allan Poe. She is more known for her single "Remedy" but shows that shes not a one hit wonder with her complete album. Sure her pop dance music is borderline mainstream but her sound is undeniable- at least better then Lady GaGa. "New In Town", "Hearts Collide" and "Stuck on Repeat" are both work checking out!

Draft Lottery: The Gamblers Fallacy

All to often, I hear Edmonton fans worried about the team retaining the first overall selection. Although the last place team has a 48.2% chance of retaining the first round pick, the past three drafts have seen no movement on the lottery front. In fact, in the past five years only one team has won the draft lottery and moved up into first place. This if course was the infamous 2007 NHL draft or the "Patrick Kane" draft. After all the tanking that Philadelphia did, they wound up with James VanRiemsdyk (who just came off his first Hat trick against New Jersey yesterday). I don't think they are complaining now though seeing as they are the favourites to win the Stanley cup.

The reason I bring this up, is because fans think that their is no way that Edmonton retains this years pick based on previous drafts. For those of you who don't know what a Gamblers Fallacy is, it can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambler%27s_fallacy. Basically it just states that "the fallacy is the belief that the universe somehow carries a memory of past results which tend to favor or disfavor future outcomes." Regardless of what has happened in the past, these are currently the odds of retaining the first overall pick:

30. Edmonton Oilers- 75GP 57P (48.2%)
29. Colorado Avalanche- 74GP 64P (18.8%)
28. Ottawa Senators- 76GP 69P (14.2%)
27. Florida Panthers-76GP 69P (10.7%)
26. New York Islanders- 76GP 70P (8.1%)

With the season winding down, we should find out who the winner of the draft lottery two days after the regular season ends (which would be April 12th) although nothing has been confirmed by the NHL. However if you are a firm believer or conspiracy theories and think that the deck is stacked, lets take a quick look at who is likely to "win" the lottery this year. As we already know, last year was the first time in franchise history that Edmonton selected first overall. But what about the other teams? Believe it or not, but all teams in the bottom five have already drafted first overall in their franchise history.



As far as the Colorado Avalanche go, besides the Matt Duchene pick (3rd overall), the highest draft pick they have had in franchise history was 12th overall back in 1998. They used this pick to select Alex Tanguay. That is of course because the Colorado Avalanche were the Quebec Nordiques until 1994. If we factor in the Nordiques draft history, we could include Eric Lindros (1st overall), Owen Nolan (1st overall), and Mats Sundin (1st overall). If we factor in the Nordiques then they have had a total of three first overall picks.

The New York Islanders have had the most action inside the top 5 selecting Nino Niederreiter (5th overall), Raffi Torres (5th overall), Tim Connolly (5th overall), Roberto Luongo (4th overall), Eric Brewer (5th overall), J.P. Dumont (3rd overall), Wade Redden (2nd overall), Darius Kasparaitis (5th overall), Scott Lachance (4th overall), Dave Chyzowski (2nd overall), and Pat LaFontaine (3rd overall). This does not even include the two first overall picks (John Tavares and Rick Dipietro). I don't think the Islanders deserve another first overall pick with all the picks they wasted.

Ottawa on the other hand has had the most first overall selections with four selections. Bryan Berard, Alexandre Daigle, Chris Phillips, and Jason Spezza were all selected by the Ottawa Senators. However, outside the first round selections the Senators haven't had a whole lot of picks inside the top 5. The only times they were included they took Alexei Yashin (2nd overall) and Radek Bonk (3rd overall).

Finally, the Florida Panthers have only selected first overall once when they selected Ed Jovanovski back in 1994. Still, the panthers have selected Erik Gudbranson (3rd overall), Rostislav Olesz (7th overall), Nathan Horton (3rd overall), Jay Bouwmeester (3rd overall), Stephen Weiss (4th overall) and Rob Niedermayer (5th overall). Although they would be deserving of selecting first overall, they have already traded their first oveall selection TWICE. It's interesting that of all the drafts they decided to stay with Jovanovski but passed on Eric Staal and Rick Nash.



As far as conspiracy theories go, I don't think their is a team more deserving then the Edmonton Oilers. Still, maybe Bettman tries to bring more fans into Florida by handing them the first overall selection.

(picture courtesy of lowonoil.com, thestar.com, and life.com)

Music Recommendation: Lady Ga Ga

Please read this before you close the window!! Hahaha okay so in no way shape or form do I recommend listening to Lady Ga Ga. Sure her songs are catchy and easy to sing along to, but I think that their are much more talented musicians out their. Lady Ga Ga is not nearly as unique as people give her credit for. As someone who does not have an incredible voice it would be hypocritical to say that she "sucks" or anything like that but I would like to widen peoples musical tastes.

In fact, I will be releasing a song every single day for the next week of artists that are better. To make things more interesting I will only pick artists that start with the letter "L". Hell, I will even only pick female artists that start with the letter "L". Stay tuned for more artists that are brought to you by the letter "L".

Movie Recommendation: Office Space

Ron Livingston and Jennifer Aniston star in the 1999 classic comedy "Office Space". It has been referenced by several TV shows and movies (from the famous red stapler to the bashing of the fax machine) for their daily take on work and the problems the average cubical worker faces day to day. The movie starts off by poking fun of being stuck in a traffic jam and moving about an inch every couple of minutes... just like everyone else.

This movie is great because everyone can relate to the movie and hate about their life. Peter Gibbons (Ron Livingston) hates his job and thinks that every day is the same. He doesn't want to go to work and decides to see a hypnotist for his problems. However during his session the doctor dies after telling him to relax and be care free. So essentially for the rest of the movie Peter doesn't worry about any consequences and goes about his daily routine without worry.

He decides not to go to work, but he still gets paid for doing it lol. He only puts in about 15 minutes of work a day and no one even notices that he spends the entire day doing other things. In fact, he is actually promoted because he is unchallenged. This is a great film with a bunch of inside jokes that I can't stop quoting! Here's the trailer

Shootout: The Loser Point

For all the talk about the shootout being a joke and taken out of the game, I decided to do a little bit of research to see if these opinions were warranted. So far this season we have had 270 shootouts. I have outlined what the quick overview of the eastern conference shootouts vs the western conference shootouts (wins versus losses):

Eastern Playoff Teams: 39-32
Eastern Non-Playoff Teams: 25-33

Western Playoff Teams: 41-31
Western Non-Playoff Teams: 30-39

At first we can see the the playoff teams have a much better shootout record record. In addition, teams in the west seem to be better at the shootout thus far with 71 shootout wins over the 64 eastern conference wins. But is this jump large enough to suggest that the shootout is causing good teams to miss out of the playoffs. If we just look at playoff teams vs. non-playoff teams we have a combined number of:

Playoff Teams: 80-62 (56% winning percentage)
Non-Playoff Teams: 55-70 (44% winning percentage)

The average person would say "Holy crap the playoff teams are better in the shootout." But this doesn't change the standings if this is the case. If we compare the regular winning percentage to shootout percentage we will see that the original conclusion is wrong.

Playoff Teams: 587 Regulation Wins
Non-Playoff Teams): 393 Regulation Wins

Given that the playoff teams have almost 1.5 times the regulation wins that the non-playoff teams have, suggesting the shootout helps playoff teams seems far-fetched. If anything non-playoff teams are benefiting from the shootout. The 8% increase from playoff teams from non-playoff teams in the shootout is actually a lot less then we should be expecting. Don't get me wrong, a team like Los Angeles is benefiting with their 9-2 record in the shootout. Without the SO they would be without a playoff spot. Their will always be teams that are relying too heavily on the shootout, but as a whole the shootout wouldn't have a very big effect on NHL standings.

Music Recommendation: The Submarines

Although I am not a huge fan of the Los Angeles Kings right now, I am on the other hand a fan of some of their homegrown talent. I am, of course, talking about The Submarines. Although the band consists of only two people (John Dragonetti and Blake Hazard) and they are actually happily married. The song "You Me And The Bourgeoisie" is commonly known as the "iphone" song. But this doesn't mean that they don't have a great repertoire. The band already has three albums and is set to release their fourth album on April 5th, 2011. I really like their first album with "Brighter Discontent", "Vote", and "Hope". Still "1940" is a great song on their last album "Honeysuckle Weeks".

UFA Watch: Josh Harding

(picture courtesy of nhlsnipers.com)

The Minnesota wild will have a difficult time signing UFA goaltender and career backup Josh Harding to sign with them before July 1st. The 26 year old Regina, Saskatchewan IMO would look great battling with Devan Dubnyk for the starting position next year. But Edmonton already has both Devan Dubnyk and Nikloai Khabibulin right? Well considering the Russian stanley cup winner has an abysmal .892 save percentage and and 3.32 GAA he isn't exactly living up to expectations.

Sure, Harding might have some padded statistics for a team that doesn't give up a whole lot of quality shots. Still, he has had 2,240 shots against in 83 NHL games for an average of 27 shots against a game. Khabibulin on the other hand has average 27.9 shots against per game with a career save percentage of .907. This doesn't even consider Hardings career year of .929 save percentage and 2.21 GAA in the NHL. Normall this isn't something that you would consider too highly, but he is only one year removed from these numbers.

As far as his winning percentage goes, he has won 28 games and lost 39 games at the NHL level. Although these numbers are concerning, his numbers in the AHL are MUCH better. Harding has shown that he can be successful in the AHL with 67 wins and only 40 losses.

I still would like to see Edmonton persue a goalteder like Tuuka Rask out of boston or Michal Neuvirth out of Washington is the price wasn't too high. However if the asking price is too high then Harding could be a peice of the puzzle for free.

2011 Draft Prospect: Mark Scheifele

(picture courtesy of thehockeynews.com)

Statistics (2010-2011): Barrie Colts (OHL): 66GP 22G 53A 75P -22 35PIM

The 6'3" 182lbs Centre from the Barrie Colts could very well find himself in an Edmonton Oilers uniform next year. Although he he is going to have to hit the gym hard, he has the frame that many NHL teams look for. Mark was planning on going to Cornell until the Colts really start showing faith in the kid. When the colts traded for him, they knew took a risk on him. Luckily for them, he was convinced that the OHL was the best route for his development.

It's hard to argue that he made the right choice as Scheifele finished second on his team in scoring despite playing against other teams top checkers in his rookie season. I like what this kid brings to the table, but his goal production worries me. Of his 22 goals, 13 of them were scored on the powerplay. Does someone that scores 9 even strength goals in the offensive OHL worth a first round pick? This remains to be seen. Another point that might keep him out is his plus minus. Mind you his -22 isn't nearly as bad as teammates Colin Behenna (-42), Steven Beyers (-50), and John Padulo (-49).

Still Scheifele finished fourth in rookie scoring (ahead of fellow 2011 draftees Nicklas Jensen, Rickard Rakell and one points behind Alexander Khokhlachev) despite being on the worst team in the leauge. I would welcome Sceifele with the 31st overall pick but would be hesistant selecting him with LA's pick unless they do some very serious damage in the playoffs.

Here are a couple interesting articles on Scheifele from the The Hockey News and NHL.com. I also put up a video of him at the top prospects game that shows off his skill for the big man.

Music Recommendation: Broken Social Scene

I'm A Nerd: Starcraft II

So after years of wait the sequel to the popular starcraft was finally released. Despite the build up I was surprised to see how few of the original starcraft players not only play but try the new game. Not only are the graphics MUCH better but it has a great single player option. Actually, from everyone that I've talked to, they were impressed with the single player but really let down on the multiplayer. Despite not being able to fully play a campaign as the Protoss or Zerg in single player their were a lot of cool options. First, you are able to upgrade your units based on the research that you have done. This means that the the vespene gas would be able to collect itself ot that bunkers would have secret turrets hiding on top. Your upgrades would actually even determine which units you would have all together. If starcraft goes forward I would love to see the multiplayer reflect these upgrades and make it so that each player has a unique series of research that would make for interesting matches. Here is a quick video that demonstrates a few of the units:



If this game was as good multiplayer as it was single player it would easily be the best game on the market. Having said that, the UMS maps were very limited and playing with other people IMO was a huge hassle. One very important part of SC2 is that the graphics can be played on a very low quality or have state of the art graphics. This means that you usually run into players that have very bad lagg and aren't running the game on optimal settings. Even though the multiplayer gameplay was similar to that of the original, I was expecting more. I really like the void ray's in the new game and could really like a lot more of the new units.

Unfortunately for me I only recommend the single player and am still waiting on the UMS maps before I go and play this online. I do have to say though, I really liked the unlocking and achievements aspect in SC2.

2011 Draft Prospect: Mika Zibanejad

(picture courtesy of tumblr.com)

Statistics (2010-2011): Djurgården (SEL): 26GP 5G 4A 9P

Zibanejad (pronounced either C-ban-jad or Zee-BAh-nee-Zhad depending on who you talk to) is a very interesting prospect. Although his mother is Finnish and his father is Iranian Mika was born in Huddinge, Sweden. The skilled swedish sniper has an increidble attention to detail and is a very hard worker. He has the skill to undress defenders but the two way game that should make him a regular in the NHL. He is already a center in the Swedish Elite Leauge that is dominating on the draw. He plays very well defensively and isn't afraid to make a hit or take a hit to make a play. Zibanejad is a good leader, possesses a strong shot and great speed to go with his all around game. Oh and he is also 6'2" 192lbs. Here is a video of him undressing potential 1st overall pick Adam Larsson:



Ideally I would love to see the Oilers pick up Mark McNeill or Mika Zibanejad with LA's pick on draft day. If either play lasts until the 15th pick or so then I would be all over that. I wouldn't be surprised if MZ jumps into the top ten on June 24th and would consider moving up to take this kid. For all the attention that Landeskog is getting, Zibanejad is the SEL's answer to Gabriel. In fact, Mika is also very fluent in english much like Landeskog. Although he does not sound like a canadian kid, he could be a very special player in the NHL for many years to come. His grit, leadership, faceoff ability and size are all things that the Edmonton Oilers are lacking. Here are a few clips of the kid:

Food Recommendation: Parmesan and Garlic Chips

(picture courtesy of olddutchfoods.com)

These things are delicious. Although they aren't a meal or anything like that its still a tasty snack that tastes a lot different then most chips. Worth trying out for sure.

Music Recommendation: Stars

Another Montreal band that is really become iconic in Canada is "Stars". Although their new album wasn't as well received as Heart, In Our Bedroom after the War, or Set Yourself On Fire. I still think that they have really done something new and different with their album and appreciate that from a musician. I would also check out "My Radio", "The Night Starts Here", "Barricade", "Personal", "Ageless Beauty", "Your Ex-Lover Is Dead", and "Elevator Love Letter". Also if you like stars check out Amy Millan's solo stuff below. Enjoy!

Music Recommendation: Arcade Fire

So getting away from electro music for a while, lets go back to some easy listening music from Canada. I still can't believe that someone that deserves to win an Oscar actually comes away with the hardware. Usually it ends up going to some overplayed band or artist that relies heavily on their singles. Thats not the case with Arcade Fire. All of their albums are complete and convey a message. Love this band since their debut album and was blown away when they made the new album. It pretty much summarizes indy music over the past 5 years and represents modern societial views. It's also really cool to see like 7-8 people on stage coming together to play a peice of music instead of a 4 peice. Way to represent Canada!

Music Recommendation: Crystal Castles

So sticking with music that people probably won't like, nothing better then Crystal Castles. I love CC and think they are one of the best duo is Canada. They bring that rare dark electro mix that I just love. Alice Glass is amazing but I really find myself drawn to a lot of their sounds that are heavily influenced by Ethan Kath. I think "Reckless" is the best song live but it might not come across this way. Check out "Crimewave", "Lovers who uncover", "Baptism", "Untrust Us" and "Through the Hosiery".

Movie Recommendation: 500 Days Of Summer

So I really like this movie and can't believe how popular it has gotten. It is not a love story like many stories try to be. It brings up the cold truth that sometimes things just aren't meant to be. She tells him right off the bat that she doesn't want anything long term with the guy and he obssesses over the girl the entire movie only to be shot down. Worth checking out and has some decent actors in Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel.

You can say that she was leading the guy on the entire movie, but it really goes to show how people need to click off the bat. You have to have more then a few common things and both parties really have to want something as bad as the other person or else someone is just going to get hurt in the long run. Anyway enough rambling. Check it out!

2011 Draft Prospect: Duncan Siemens

(picture courtesy of sports.yahoo.com)

Statistics (2010-2011) Saskatoon Blades (WHL): 72GP 5G 38A 43P +40 121PIM

Currently ranked 10th by ISS, the Sherwood park native would be a pipe dream if he was somehow available with Los Angeles' first round pick in the 2011 draft. I highly doubt that Edmonton is able to move into the top 4-5 to select one of the big four but I do think they have a realistic chance to draft Siemens. The guy hits like a truck and knows how to play good way hockey. Despite being an incredible +40 on his team I still feel like he has a bit of room for improvement in his gap control and needs to focus on defence instead of the big hit sometimes. Having said that, I'm not sure that would make who he is. Siemens strives off playing physical and brings some of that nasty side teams like to see.

Perhaps the biggest thing with Duncan is that he is a relatively late birthday, so close that he would be a 2012 draft prospect if he was born 8 days later. This is surprising to say the least given how physically mature the kid already is. He has great footspeed for someone his size and reads the play well. He gets his stick in passing lanes and is a coaches dream for a shutdown pairing defenceman. He has a strong work ethic and is still able to help transition the puck. Still, he is going to have to work on his puck control skills and offensive game without taking away from his defensive work- this coming from a defenceman who finished with 43 points. He still has a good hard shot and could be a top pairing defenceman at best. He will however probably be more of a shutdown guy at the next level.

When Saskatoon ends up going to the memorial cup I wouldn't be surprised at all if we see Siemens stock rise to that of Luke Schenn of the Toronto Maple Leafs. I wouldn't be surprised if he is drafted a bit higher then Colten Teubert (drafted 13th overall in 2008) as well. If he is still available at 9 or 10 I would even consider moving our own 2nd round pick plus LA's first round pick to move up and snag him. Would a team like Minnesota or Columbus consider this deal? I guess it would depend on where LA ends up picking.

Food Recommendation: Yebeg Tibs

So I had a pretty sweet day yesterday. Although I was planning to sleep in, my wonderful wifey had other plans for us. We started the day off with exciting morning visiting Edmonton's toy and collectible show at the SHAW. If you want to hear more about the show check it out below. Anyways, we decided to try something new and go out for Ethiopian food at the famous Lagano Skies on Whyte avenue. Voted the best Ethiopian food place in Edmonton for the past forever, we were surprised to see how small the restaurant was. However, despite its small size we felt cozzy and were welcomed with wide arms. The service was great and helpful when recommending new dishes.



We tried a few new things. I had the importated Tusker beer from Kenya that was an impressive 500ml. It was pretty delicious but at almost $9 a bottle I think that it's something that I would only try once. Bec on the other hand had a mango shake made from fresh mango's so that was pretty cool. But before we had our meal we had Kategna. If you don't know what that is, its a huge Injera covered in a butter chili sauce. And if you don't know what an Injera is (which I didn't), it's basically a crepe lol.



As for the meal itself we shared the "Doro Wot" and the "Yebeg Tibs". The Doro Wot consisted of chicken squares that were covered in a spciy sauce while the Yebeg Tibs were lamb squares mized with oninions and peppers. Although the dishes reminded me of something that I would have seen in a burrito, they were complimented with salad filling. It was great to take your Injera and grab your food with your hands. It was a new and different way of trying food that I would probably try again. The lamb was great and worth going to try alone.

Bon Apetit!

I'm A Nerd: McFarlane Toy Figures

(picture courtesy of figurineforall.com)

Despite this figure being worth $38 at figurineforall.com, I was able to grab this beauty at the Edmonton toy and collectable show yesterday for only $10. As a big hockey fan and given my nerdy life the two have come together through Mcfarlanes. I have been collecting the things for the past 5 years or so and have quite the collection going. Even though I still have Sheldon Souray, Dany Heatley, Chris Pronger and a few Calgary/Leaf players that I'm not really proud of, I have mastered quite the collection. If you are a hardcore collecter you probably want to collect an entire series but I just tend to grab the players that I like the most. My favourite McFarlanes probably consist of Nikolai Khabibulin the jets jersey, my Alexander Ovechkin varient (since he's my favourite player), and my Joe Sakic variant (one of my favourite players of all time no discussion needed lol).

Anyways these things are pretty cool and I hope I can continue to add to my collection. It was a great afternoon with the wifey and I'm glad she took me to hang out with all the other nerds. Their were a ton of comic books (not a huge fan) but it was made up for with the large collections of vintage video games and cool toys that brought me back to my childhood. I wish I hung onto a few of those things now because apparently people pay big money for them! I was kind of disappointed by the amount of people buying counterfeit or knock-off NHL jerseys... but what can you do about it?!

Music Recommendation: Digitalism

Continuing on with a little bit more electro and dance music I thought it would be a perfect time to introduce Digitalism. Im stoked for the new album that they are going to be releasing here soon (or at least an EP). It's very "Daft Punk" from the single right now. Lets hope they keep it up! Lots of good stuff from them in the past including "Pogo", "Idealistic", and "Zdarlight" amongst others. Check it out!

NHL Standings: Blake Geoffrion???

(picture courtesy of edmontonjournal.com)

Blake Geoffrion might not be a household hockey name but after his performance tonight, fans of the Edmonton Oilers should be cheering his name in the city streets. Even though Nashville Predator's Blake Geoffrion has scored 3 goals in his entire NHL career thus far, he was able to register a hat-trick against the surging Buffalo Sabres tonight. Down 3-1 in the third period, Geoffrion was able to take the game into overtime where they would eventually win 4-3. This is a huge win for the Predators and ties them with the Los Angeles kings.

With Phoenix and Chicago playing eachother tonight things are going to get very interesting. If Chicago wins, they will vault themselves up the rankings to put themselves into a three way tie with Nashville and Los Angeles. If Phoenix wins, they will widen the margin on the kings by 5 points. Win-win.

Also, Calgary and Anaheim are about to go underway. Much like the Phoenix/Chicago game their are 2 guaranteed points on the table. With the flames and the ducks currently tied in the standings at 83 points, the winner of tonights match will only be 1 point behind the kings. So if everything goes well tonight the standings should look like this:

4. Phoenix 74GP 90P
5. Los Angeles 72GP 86P
6. Chicago 72GP 86P
7. Nashville 73GP 86P
8. Anaheim 72GP 85P
--------------------
9. Dallas 72GP 85P
10. Calgary 74GP 84P

2011 Draft Prospect: Jamie Oleksiak

(picture courtesy of Jim Pierce on thehockeynews.com)

Statistics (2010-2011): Northeastern University (NCAA) 37GP 4G 9A 13P 57PIM

At 6'7" and 240lbs its pretty easy to see why scouts are high on the Toronto born Defenceman. He definitely has the size to jump right into the NHL but is like 3-4 years away before his footspeed is ready. Don't get me wrong, for such a big skater he is pretty agile and can skate well. But he still has to work on his first step and shouldn't be rushed into the NHL. What makes Oleksiak more intruiging then most hockey monsters, is that he is generally considered an offensive defenceman. He can move the puck, take the body and widen the gap between him and defenders really well. He also has a tremendous work ethic and is very coachable- both traits should take him a long way. He has already surpassed his current coaches expectations and continues to be a riser thus far in the draft rankings.

Having said all that, anyone taking this kid in the top ten or top fifteen is going to have a project on their hands. I still think Oleksiak is lacking the hockey sense that is going to see him become a two way player at the NHL level. He has a limited skillset and projects to be a 3-4 defenceman at best- which worries me for someone projected in the first round. He needs to use his shot more, his acceleration as well as using his frame to his advantage. He can be beaten by smaller skilled players in the NCAA. He could be the next Zdeno Chara or the next Hall Gill. Either way, he is a very intriguing player that will be hard to ignore. It will also remain to be seen if the big man can play more then 40 games a year, something Oilers prospect Martin Marincin is learning the hard way this year in the WHL.

As Bob McKenzie has put it, "The fact that he plays hockey right now is a bonus". He has the size you can't teach and the footspeed that he can keep up with the play.

Music Recommendation: LCD Soundsystem

I sound like a broken record, but this kind of music isn't for everyone. It's still hipster music but at least you can dance to it!! Anyways, a lot of their verses and chouruses are VERY repetitive but its something that you can get used to after a while. Also check out "Tribulations", "Too Much Love", "Time To Get Away", "Daft Punk Is Playing At My House", and "Losing My Edge" amongst others. I'm not a huge fan of their latest album "This Is Happening" but its not bad by any stretch. Enjoy!

A Look Back: 2010 Draft Rankings

(picture courtesy of viewfrommyseats.com)

With all the mock drafts going around, I decided to repost my draft rankings from last year. Obviously I am going to hear about how I had Seguin over Hall and I am just going on record to say that I said that Hall would be the better player out of the gates. He was clearly more dyanmic but it remains to be seen if Seguin will turn into a highly touted number one center.

Hall will probably be the better the player between the two studs for quite a few years. He's dynamic, explosive on his feet and has no fear in his game. He can block shots and score goals. To be fair, Hall couldn't have done anything else to increase his stock this year outside demand a trade and take some noname team and take it all the way to memorial cup. He is much more polished and will step right into the NHL next year. He is the best player right now and the top spot is his to lose.

Anyways, I think that overall my previous draft rankings were pretty solid. I was able to pull of 24 of the 30 players selected in the first round. Those numbers might not seem the greatest off the bat, but consider these points for a second:

1. Tyler Toffoli is currently 3rd in OHL scoring.
2. Alex Petrovic is 7th for scoring amongst a defenceman in the WHL.
3. Jonathan Merrill has 7 goals and 15 assists for 22 points to lead U. of Michigan amongst defencemen.
4. Calvin Pickards record went from 16-34-7 to 27-31-3 this year. He has already faced 2366 shots on net. His 0.916S% is pretty much on pare with Mark Visentin's 0.918S%.

As far as Brad Ross and John McFarland go, both can bounce back. McFarland has world class talent but has yet to turn thing around with Saginaw. He was still selected 33rd overall. Ross on the other hand is what he is. He won't be anything special but will be an effective pest at the next level. But enough talk, I should probably post the rankings. (My rankings can be found here: http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=780117). A few things that I am really pround of:

1. I had Jeffrey Skinner ranked 8th despite TSN having him ranked 22nd, CSS having him ranked as the 34th NA skater, and THN ranked as 25th overall. The highest I have seen was ISS ranking him as 9th.

2. I stuck with Fowler in the number three spot despite everyone falling in love with Gudbrandon. Well it looks like Fowler is playing in Ahaheim while Gudbranson is struggling in the OHL.

3. I ranked Ryan Johansen ahead of the popular "El Nino". The big lanky center remains higher on prospect lists and was even taken higher then his swiss counterpart on draft day. But at 4th overall I was surprised to see him go for someone who needed another year in the WHL.

4. Jaden Schwartz was taken 14th overall and Joey Hishon was taken 17th overall. I like to think I called both of these guys as Schwartz was ranked 28th, 29th, 23rd and 30th respectively. Meanwhile Hishon was constantly ranked in the second round.

Food Recommendation: Salad Rolls

(picture courtesy of spicygardenrestaurant-8th.foodpages.ca)

These are not spring rolls. These are Salad Rolls. Don't get the two mized up because they are way different. To make matters more confusing they can also be called a "summer roll" or "vietnamese spring roll". Typically, Salad rolls can be made in several different ways. They can be made with Pork, Crab, Schrimp, lettuce, carrots, cucumber, etc. They are essentially vermecelli or rice noodles wrapped up with rice paper. The best part is dipping them in peanut sauce!!!

Bon Apetit!

Music Recommendation: Interpol

Already on their fourth studio album in the past 8 years, Interpol has been around for a while now. With Bassist Carlos Dengler leaving the band, it remains to be seen what the "new" sound will become. His catchy rifts will be missed but I'm still highly optimistic. Interpol is not for everyone. They have a darker side that isn't very maintstream, yet ironically are sometimes criticized for sounding too mainstream.. I don't get it. Anyways make the decision for yourself.

Music Recommendation: Shout Out Louds

I realize now that I like a lot of Swedish music. I say this because the band I am about to recommend comes from the heartland of Stockholm, Sweden. The Shout Out Louds are an indie band that just finished realeasing their third studio album called "Work". Although the song above "Blue Headlights" features Bebban Stenborg, the rest of the Shout Out Louds have a much more upbeat indie sound to them. I also recommend checking out "Please Please Please", "Comeback", "Fall Hard" and "Impossible".

2011 Draft Prospect: David Musil

(picture courtesy of Gerry Kahrmann, theprovince.com)

Statistics (2010-2011): Vancouver Giants (WHL): 59GP 5G 19A 24P +0 76PIM

Son of former NHLer Frank Musil, David Musil will never be an offensive force at the NHL level but he will get there one day. Still, he needs to work on quite a bit before he makes the jump. Musil needs a lot of work on accuracy, doesn't move the puck overly well and doesn't have the greatest plus/minus at first glance. He also needs to work on his footspeed and catching offensive speedsters off the rush. Having said that, he has the size at 6'3" and 200lbs with a nasty side that you can't teach. As far as his +0, it leads all Vancouver blueliners in that category. He is a defensive beast and takes care of his own end before expanding on the rest of the game. Musil possesses a cannon of a shot... whenever it hits the net lol. Oh, and I forgot to mention that this kid can play up to 30-40 minutes A NIGHT on the giants. Thats quite a bit to ask from a youngster.

I think Musil could be a very nasty and effective defender if placed in the right role. Although Musil was originally considered a top 10 pick, he has fallen a bit due to his lack of offensive production. I'm still not too concerned about his offence though. In his rookie season he posted 32 points and was +33. I would be interested to see how he would do on a better team. Right now Musil looks to be available around the 15-25 area of the draft. If Edmonton misses out on a guy like Mark McNeill, Musil would be a good consilation prize. Originally born in Calgary, David Musil moved to Edmonton when his father Frank joined the organization. Frank Musil finished the last three years of his 14 year long NHL career with the Edmonton Oilers. In addition, he is currently a European Scout for the organization. I wouldn't be surprised at all if his father weighs in and helps in the selection of his son late in the first round on June 24th.

I'm A Nerd: Dragon Age II

(picture courtesy of gamerreaction.tv)

So I have to say, getting this game for the PC has brought back RPG gaming for me. Since I had DA: Origins on my ps3 I feel like I need to go back and try to whole thing on the PC. Don't get me wrong I loved it on a consle but it is waaay better on PC thus far. I admit that I haven't gotten too far in the sequel but I am already falling in love with it. Definitely worth the money. Here is a sweet trailer (I think I just creamed my jeans ahahaha):

Movie Recommendation: Confessions of A Danagerous Mind

For a movie that stars Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Drew Barrymore, George Clooney, Sam Rockwell, Julia Roberts, Michael Cera, Chuck Barris, and Dick Clark you would think it would have garnered more attention. Sometimes you get those movies where actors force themselves to have too big of a part rather than just playing in the designated role, this isn't the case with "Confessions of a dangerous mind". Every actor plays their part perfectly and it goes well with an awesome screenplay adapated by none other then Charlie Kaufman.

The story itself is hilarious. It originally start off as a book written by Chuck Barris. Barris, as you may or may not know was the TV produced for shows such as "the dating game", "newlywed game" and "the gong show" amongst others. What makes it interesting is that he writes this "biography" of his life yet begins to insert a very unlikely and hilarious ulterior plot. Essentially, when Chuck Barris is not prepping for his gameshows, he is off working as a CIA agent killing communist threats in foreign companies. In fact, the tripes and vacations that contestants won were actually destinations that Chuck had to visit to take part in an assassination.

Anyways this movie has an allstar cast and is a hilarious peice to watch whenever you get the chance. It's not as good as Kaufman's other works like "Adapation", "Being John Malkovich" or "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" but its very unique and worth watching. Sam Rockwell is still one of my favourite actors and this movie really shows it.

Here is a quick peak:

What to expect with LA's first round pick??

(picture courtesy of life.com)


An interesting article by Scott Cullen broke down the value of first round picks and what the odds were for teams selecting in the 1-5, 6-10, 11-15, 16-20, 21-25, and 26-30 range. Since Edmonton is looking at the last three sections, I thought I would look at the picks from 1995-2004 as well. Although I believe scouting has increased over the past 5 years and it is easier to predict how players will turn out, I think their will be a lot of different opinions from the upcoming draft. Some teams will have a player slotted in the 11th spot while others could have them at 30. For the full article go to http://www.tsn.ca/columnists/scott_cullen/?ID=267960.

He notes that players taken between 16-30 included players like Ryan Getzlaf, Brent Burns, Robyn Regehr, Mike Richards, Simon Gagner, Daniel Briere, Mike Green Martin Havlat, and Correy Perry to name a few. Just by looking at the numbers he had, it is about a 60% chance that Edmonton drafts an NHL player with the pick that they have acuired with LA's pick. Jason Gregor confirms these numbers in his article: http://oilersnation.com/2011/2/25/value-in-acquiring-draft-picks. Roughly 40% of first round draft picks end up being busts.

I'm here to tell you that these statistics are misleading. Its not all doom and gloom in my mind. First, those numbers include some very very horrendus draft years including 2004 and 2005. Secondly, drafting has become considerably better over the past 5 years. Factoring this in with this year draft having a lot of talent and being a good year to have another first, Edmonton could have another steal on their hands. Finally, the way the NHL is being played and the need for youth in an organization draft picks and youngesters are playing a bigger movement in their teams success. I did my own (albeit subjective) breakdown of players that are already NHL regulars, who I think should be in the NHL next year or two as well as players that still have a shot of making the NHL. The numbers look good.

2008 Draft: 15-8-3-4
-15 players already in the NHL(Stamkos, Doughty, Bogosian, Pietrangelo, Schenn, Wilson, Boedker, Bailey, Myers, Karlsson, Sbisa, MDZ, Eberle, Ennis, and Carlson)
-8 players that should have long NHL careers (Hodgson, Beach, Teubert, Boychuk, Colborne, Gardiner, Pickard, Tedenby)
-3 players that should still be NHLers (Filatov, Cuma, and Nemisz)
-4 players that have really struggled (Gustafsson, Tikhonov, Leveille, McCollum)

2009 Draft: 10-10-9-1
-10 players already in the NHL (Tavares, Hedman, Duchene, Kane, OEL, Paajarvi, Kulkiov, Leddy, Josefson, and Johansson)
-10 players that should have long NHL careers (Schenn, Kadri, Cowen, Ellis, Kassian, De Haan, Runbland, LeBlanc, Moore, and Erixon)
-9 players that should still be NHLers (Glennie, Kreider, Schroeder, Holland, Caron, Palmieri, Ashton, Despres, and Olsen)
-1 player that has really struggled (Paradis)

I started doing the 2010 draft as well but realized that a lot of it is pure speculation. Right now only 5 players are in the NHL but I wouldnt be surprised if another 10 players are in the NHL next year (Gudbranson, Gormley, Johansen, Niederreiter, Connolly, Forbort, Tarasenko, Kuznetsov, Granlund and Hishon to name a few). I also think that their are a bunch of guys like Watson, Howden, Etem, Visentin, Campbell etc that could really turn out to be something special.

Anyways from these two drafts the odds seem a lot better. If 2009 can come close to either of these drafts (which I think it will) then we should be in good shape. It shows that 42% of the first round picks are already in the NHL and another 30% should be surefire NHLers in the near future. Together that is a 72% not even including the longshots to make the NHL. This number is MUCH higher then it has been in the past.

Music Recommendation: Ting Tings

If you are looking for something that's just catchy but not something thats going to change your perception on life or anything I highly recommend the Ting Tings. They are great for just mindless fun and something that you can dance to and hum in your head. Anyways, it's something a bit more popular that you can still hear on the radio but they have some good songs that don't really get as played as much as they should.

Patience Young Swede

Lets face it, Oiler fans are spoiled. I say this because we have seen how quickly a kid like Taylor Hall or Jordan Eberle can jump into the lineup without slowing down offensively. I would even argue that we were spoiled when Sam Gagner made the jump right to the NHL. Sure, we are being patient with most of our other prospects but why is it that Edmonton Oiler fans expect that all of our first rounders to make the NHL immediately and produce.


(picture courtesy of communities.canada.com/edmontonjournal)

I bring this up because of the constant bashing I hear about Magnus Paajarvi. The kid is an unbelieveable talent that is still putting up decent numbers in the NHL, the problem is that they aren't quite as good as the young phenoms that Edmonton has been blessed with. Anyways, I'm hear to tell you that this is only natural for a swedish player. In fact, it is the exception that someone comes over from sweden and produces almost instantly. The only real cases I could find of this were Nicklas Backstrom (selected 3rd overall), Anze Kopitar (11th overall) and Erik Karlsson (selected 15th overall). Hell, even the leauge leading sedins that were drafted number 2 and 3 respectively took 5+ years to really break into the leauge. Victor Hedman was drafted 2nd overall and is still looking to take his game to the next level at the NHL.

I have compiled a list of swedish players that were drafted in the first round that are considered NHL regualars as well as the busts over the past 10 years. It should be noted that I did not include anyone drafted behind Magnus Paajarvi. These include Jacob Josefson, Tim Erixon, and Marcus Johansson. He is easily ahead of both Josefson and Erixon and is putting up better numbers then Johansson. It should be noted that the average length for a player coming from the SEL is about 4-5 years before they really contribute at the NHL level.

Daniel Sedin (2nd overall):
Year 1 (SEL): 19G 26A 45P
Year 2 (NHL): 20G 14A 34P
Year 3 (NHL): 9G 23A 32P
Year 4 (NHL): 14G 17A 31P
Year 5 (NHL): 18G 36A 54P

Victor Hedman (2nd overall):
Year 1 (NHL): 4G 16A 20P
Year 2 (NHL): 3G 21A 24P
*Has yet to take the next step*

Henrik Sedin (3rd overall):
Year 1 (SEL): 9G 38A 47P
Year 2 (NHL): 9G 20A 29P
Year 3 (NHL): 16G 20A 36P
Year 4 (NHL): 8G 31A 39P
Year 5 (NHL): 11G 31A 42P
Year 6 (SEL): 14G 22A 36P
Year 7 (NHL): 18G 57A 75P

Nicklas Backstrom (3rd overall):
Year 1 (SEL): 12G 28A 40P
Year 2 (SEL): 14G 55A 69P

Oliver Ekman-Larsson (6th overall):
Year 1 (Swe-1): 9G 18A 27P
Year 2 (NHL): 1G 10A 11P
*Has yet to take the next step*

Magnus Paajarvi (10th overall):
Year 1 (SEL): 12G 17A 29P
Year 2 (NHL): 10G 16A 26P
*Has yet to take the next step*

Anze Kopitar (11th overall):
Year 1 (SEL): 8G 12A 20P
Year 2 (NHL): 20G 41A 61P

Lars Eller (13th overall):
Year 1 (SEL): 12G 17A 29G
Year 2 (AHL): 18G 39A 57P
Year 3 (NHL): 7G 8A 15P
*Has yet to take the next step*

Erik Karlsson (15th overall):
Year 1 (NHL): 5G 21A 26P
Year 2 (NHL): 12G 28A 40P

Nicklas Bergfors (23rd overall):
Year 1 (AHL): 17G 23A 40P
Year 2 (AHL): 13G 19A 32P
Year 3 (AHL): 12G 15A 27P
Year 4 (AHL): 22G 29A 51P
Year 5 (NHL): 21G 23A 44P

Mikael Backlund (24th overall):
Year 1 (Swe-1): 4G 4A 8P
Year 2 (AHL): 15G 17A 32P
Year 3 (NHL): 1G 9A 10P
Year 4 (NHL): 8G 10A 18P
*Has yet to take the next step*

Alexander Steen (24th overall):
Year 1 (SEL): 5G 10A 15P
Year 2 (SEL): 10G 14A 24P
Year 3 (SEL): 9G 8A 17P
Year 4 (NHL): 18G 27A 45P

Mattia Tedenby (24th overall)
Year 1 (SEL): 3G 1A 4P
Year 2 (SEL): 12G 7A 19P
Year 3 (NHL): 7G 9A 16P
*Has yet to take the next step*

Patrik Berglund (25th overall):
Year 1 (Swe-1): 21G 24A 45P
Year 2 (NHL): 21G 26A 47P
Year 3 (NHL): 13G 13A 26P
Year 4 (NHL): 18G 27A 45P
*Has Plateaued, still waiting to make the next step*

Niklas Kronwall (29th overall):
Year 1 (SEL): 1G 9A 10P
Year 2 (SEL): 5G 7A 12P
Year 3 (SEL): 5G 13A 18P
Year 4 (AHL): 2G 11A 13P
Year 5 (AHL): 13G 40A 53P
Year 6 (NHL): 1G 8A 9P
Year 7 (NHL): 1G 21A 22P

*Draft Busts* Jens Karlsson (2001), Lars Jonsson(2000), Martin Samuelsson (2000), Fredrik Sjostrom 2001), Jonas Johansson (2002), and Robert Nilsson (2003), Christofer Lofberg (2005), Dennis Persson (2006), Anton Gustafsson (2008)

Just for fun I thought I would also bring up the statistics and progression of a player like Henrik Zettberg. He is after all one of the best that Sweden has produced but it took the Detroit Red Wings a long time to do so. Yes, he was drafted way later in the draft but it still goes to show that patience can go a long way.

Henrik Zetterberg (210th overall):
Year 1 (SEL): 15G 31A 46P
Year 2 (SEL): 10G 22A 32P
Year 3 (NHL): 22G 22A 44P
Year 4 (NHL): 15G 28A 43P
Year 5 (SEL): 19G 31A 50P
Year 6 (NHL): 39G 46P 85P

Any way you break it down, the whole "Swedish players play against grown men and can handle the NHL" argument is overblown. Sure, they might be able to handle the NHL but it does not mean that they are going to be able to come in and produce at both ends of the ice. Over the past 10 years only three SEL players were able to come in and produce in their second year after being drafted. The Oilers did not have a chance to draft any of these three players and right now MPS is looking to be the best player available at his respective draft position.


(picture courtest of thepipelineshow.blogspot.com)

Just be patient and wait a few years before we run a kid out of town. He is going to be money for us down the road. I would also like to point out that if Edmonton does indeed draft Adam Larsson this summer, fans probably shouldn't expect anything to amazing in his first season. He would be lucky to put up 20 points coming directly out of the SEL (i.e. similar numbers to Victor Hedman). Even Nicklas Lidstrom played an extra two years after his draft year in the SEL before coming over to the NHL. That leads me to believe that we won't really see a dominante Larsson until his third year with the team. I'm not saying Edmonton shouldn't draft Larsson but odds are he will take a while to develop- something that shouldn't be a problem for a team doing a full rebuild.

Food Recommendation: Bubble Tea

(picture of athousandblooms.blogspot.com)

Although Bubble Tea has become extremely popular over the past few years it is still a really cool drink that a lot of people have yet to try. Although people commonly think that bubble tea is named such because of the pearls at the bottom of the drink. Yet, the pearls are NOT bubbles. Rather, traditionally the drink was historically made in a way that left the top of the drink with bubbles along the top of the drink. Anyways, they taste a lot like milkshakes/slurpies but you have the freedom to do whatever you want with it... kind of like at a booster juice or an icecream store. Anyways, try one of these delicious drinks with or without the tapioca pearls. You can also get jelly's to replace the pearls or a whole whack of other stuff.

Music Recommendation: Mumford and Sons

Music from a great band that has really caught on. You can hear them on a ton of radio stations and their youtube videos have millions of views (something I can't say for most of the music that I recommend). Anyways Mumford and Sons are a pretty easy to accept and love given their simple chords and melodic vibe. Cheers!

Television Recommendation: It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

So you may want to facepalm when if you watch the video above, but thats pretty much your typical episode of its always sunny in philly. Not only do they make fun of every major controversial issue that is out there, but they take advantage of your typical joe's kindness and compassion to their fellow man. The main characters are selfish people that will go to no ends to benefit themselves- even if it means destroying the lives of others.

Anyways, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia is one of the few shows that I try and watch that is currently being run on the major networks. Every single episode just turns into a yelling match between 4 friends. I love it.

Music Recommendation: MSTRKRFT

nw sng frm mstrkrft!! I lve th nw stff nd lking frwrd 2 th mre. spr fn 2 dnc 2. wndr hw lng cn kp ths p.

Anyways I love the canadian electro duo and can't wait for the new album!!

2011 Draft Prospect: Tomas Jurco

Statistics (2010-2011): Saint. John Seadogs (QMJHL): 57GP 30G 24A 54P +45 17PIM

This is Tomas Jurco, the most talented slovakian since Marian Gaborik. As you can see above, the kid is a wizard with the puck. He can dangle in a phone booth and put on a one man clinic. But does that make him a first round pick? As scouts have seen with guys like Rob Schremp, skill can only get you so far.

Having said that, I think the situation with Jurco is much different. Sure, his statistics may not wow you playing on a stacked Saint John SeaDogs team, but he is the real deal. This year was his first season playing in overseas and still has to get used to the game.

As far as the Rob Schremp argument goes, I don't think you can compare the two. First, Jurco is a 30 goal scorer already and stands at an amazing +45. On the other hand Schremp scored 30 goals and sat at +17. It might not seem like a huge difference but 16 of those goals for Schremp were on the powerplay, while Jurco has scored 9 goals on the PP. From this, I think he is a much better two way player and can handle his fair share 5 on 5. Secondly, Tomas Jurco is 6'2". 193lbs and a right winger. Wingers typically don't have to be as great defensively as centers. Schremp on the other hand is lucky if he breaks the 6'0" mark and was 185lbs when he was drafted. I think Jurco's size and position will go a long way in making it in the NHL.

This is a guy that I would consider with LA's pick and would be absolutely estatic if he somehow fell to the Oilers second round pick.

Music Recommendation: The National

This is probably one of my favourite bands. They always cheer me up when im down and they just keep coming out with great music. Boxer is easily one of the best albums of my lifetime and I would put High Violet right up there as well. They aren't going to wow you with catchy beats but the singers deep voice is mesmerizing. The entire album is solid so its hard to pinpoint a particular hit to listen to. I would still recommend "Fake Empire", "Apartment Story", "Bloodbuzz Ohio" and "Sorrow". Check it out!

Television Recommendation: Serial Experiments Lain

(picture courtesy of www.epic-anime.com)

So say what you will about anime. It's not for everyone. But let me get something straight for all the naysayers that continuously diss cartoons and japanese anime. Just like television, not all anime is the same. Their doesn't have to be giant gundams fighting each other, or pokemon battles. Rather, their are pyschological and philosophical ideals that are best exmplored through a different medium- anime. Much like seeing Homer Simpson continously getting up from what would normally be considered life or death situations with nothing but a scratch, anime allows us to have this different approach.

As far as Serial Experiments Lain goes, it brings up a series of interesting ideas regarding the internet and defining reality. It is a story about self discovery and finding out who one is in society. It brings in the cyberpunk element of artistry that I love and I think that it is a very underrated peice. Lain is essentially your typical school girl who lives a life like any other. That was until one of her friends committed suicide. To make things weirder, she receives a text messaged from her friend from beyond the grave. At first she thinks that it is a prank of sorts, but soon realizes that "the wired" is a medium that can be used between the living and the dead. She begins to question reality and even asks herself "Who is Lain?" It's one of those shows that isn't going to hold your hand while you watch it. Their is a lot of interpretation and you have to put some thought into watching it.

Like I said this isn't for everyone. As one review from animeworld.com states "Slow, surreal, layered with symbolism and a vague, wandering non-story, Serial Experiments Lain is a unique and defiantly weird series. As with most things that go this far out on an artistic limb, you're likely to either find it enthralling or be unable to stand it, but there's little room for middle ground." If you don't like anime, just ignore this post. Still, I love it and recommend it.

Food Recommendation: Pho

(picture courtesy of shermansfoodadventures.com)

I figure if I can blog about music, television, hockey and movies then I could probably talk about what my favourite foods are. At the top of the list lately is Pho. For those of you that don't know what Pho is, its basically a vietnamese soup that at its base has rice noodles. You can then add sprouts, brisket, tripe, beef, chicken, pork, shrimp, lime, peppers, basil and various vegetables to the dish. You don't have to have a meaty Pho, but its really cool to see the meat cook before your eyes as it is submerged in broth.

Another really cool thing about Pho is the way that you eat it. In one hand you take your trusty chop sticks and the other you get to use an asian style ladle spoon. If your white, or you don't know what your doing it can be pretty tricky. It's almost as much fun just trying to eat the stuff as it actually is eating it. What I also love about Pho are the spices and sauces you can add to the dish. Outside your traditional Hoison sauce, I love to load my Pho up with chili peppers, jalapeno peppers and hot sauce to make it as spicy as possible!

Bon Appetit!

2011 Draft Prospect: Tyler Biggs

(picture courtey of ushl.com)

Statistics (2010-2011): U.S. National Development Team (USHL): 17GP 7G 4A 11P

I think scouts should be talking more about Tyler Biggs. For all the talk that Brandon Saad gets in the OHL, you would think that Biggs would be ranked higher. Unlike Saad, Biggs does not play like a kitten. He uses his size well and throws his weight around. Lets get one thing straight with Biggs. This guy isn't named Biggs for a reason. Unlike his 5'8" father, Tyler Biggs is actually big. At 6'3" 208lbs, Biggs still has a lot of untapped potential. He compares himself to Ryan Getzlaf. Well, that is if Ryan Getzlaf was a right winger. He could also be compared to Calgary Flames' Jarome Iginla.

Unlike his Canadian father who played in the OHL before entering the NHL, Tyler opted to go to the USHL. But for right now, it will be interesting to see if Biggs will change his mind going forward. Already committed to Miami University, several NHL teams may want to see Biggs go the OHL/AHL route. Given that USHL forwards are hard to judge, he could be taken outside the top 10 of the draft. I mean just look at how uick Seth Ambroz had his stock draft. Having said that, he has all the tools to become a wrecking ball in the NHL and could be a steal come draft day.

P.S. It will be interesting to see if he ends up playing for team Canada or the United States in the future.

Music Recommendation: You Say Party, We Say Die

Catchy indie tune from a pretty underrated band. Not for everyone but I think that they are better then the yeah yeah yeahs. The band is called You Say Party! We Say Die! but for some reason ou can't have an exclamation mark in the title!

No Blogging Today

(picture courtesy of angywong.com)

I like LOLZ cats but I don't like being sick. I should have more up tommorow!

2011 NHL Entry Draft: March Mock Draft

(picture courtesy of www.icethetics.info)

Obviously teams are going to move up and down the rankings as the season and post-season carry on, but I decided to post a mock draft if the season were to end today. This is not my draft rankings but rather who I think teams will be targetting and a very general idea of where I expect players to go. I hope you enjoy this read in lieu of a prospect portfolio.



1. Edmonton Oilers- Adam Larsson
(Edmonton is clearly lacking on the backend and is sitting second worst in the leauge in goals against. Larsson is supposed to be the best defenceman in the past 20 years. They will be tempted to take a center but according to Tambo they will take need into consideration this year much more then years prior.)

2. Ottawa Senators- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
(Ottawa is already deep on defence and has size in Jason Spezza. They may be torn between RNH and Landeskog but IMO Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is much more dynamic and will help solidify their center position for years.)

3. Colorado Avalanche- Gabriel Landeskog
(Already deep at center and with the newly acquired Erik Johnson, Colorado is able to address the hole left by Chris Stewart. Although Landeskog probably wont be as successful in the NHL as Couturier he is a much better fit in Colorado.)

4. New York Islanders- Sean Couturier
(Long Island could use a defenceman or a winger, but can't pass over Couturier. He will being size and create a great 1-2 punch for the Islanders for many years to come. He will be able to concentrade on dominating defensively while Tavares can flourish offensively)

5. Florida Panthers- Ryan Strome
(The Panthers are set on defence for quite a while with Gudbrandon, Kulikov, Ellerby, etc. They jump at the chance to add an offensive weapon in Strome down the middle. Although they will try and target Couturiers size, I see them being able to build something around the dyanmic Strome)

6. New Jersey Devils- Ryan Murphy
(Much like Brian Rafalski, Ryan Murphy will bring some much needed offence to the Devils back end. He can move the puck and add a wow factor that is desperately needed in New Jersey.)

7. Atlanta Thrashers- Jonathan Huberdeau
(Atlanta needs help up front and is already set on the back end with Bogosian, Buff and Enstrom. Huberdeau, Burmistrov and Little up front give the team some variety and socring ability. Best forward available.)

8. Boston Bruins (From Toronto Maple Leafs)- Dougie Hamilton
(Chara isn't going to last forever and Boston could use a stud. Hamilton is a steal here and should be a great fit. He can do it all and has a hidden mean streak the the bruins should be able to bring out of him.)

9. St. Louis Blues- Mika Zibanejad
(St.Louis loves to draft the Swedes and they get a good one in Zibanejad. Obviously looking to bloster their forward lineup, Mika can use a year or two in sweden before coming over and making an impact. He will provide a much needed wow factor to an offensively struggling franchise.)

10. Columbus Blue Jackets- Duncan Siemens
(Columbus misses out on all the possible puck moving defencemen and potential number one centers but is happy for Siemens. He can still move the puck but really stands out as a guy that can help their blueline for years to come.)

11. Carolina Hurricanes- Jamie Oleksiak
(The biggest boom-bust project this far goes to a Carolina team that can afford to take a risk on Oleksiak. With Pitkanen and McBain on the back end he should have some time to develop before they bring this kid in.)

12. Minnesota Wild- Joel Armia
(Finish powerforward joins the likes of Granlund and should have instant chemistry on a team that needs offensive fowards)

13. Anaheim Ducks- Tyler Biggs
(Big hard hitting player is the style of player that Anaheim needs to continue to draft in order to be successful. Surprising that he is still on the board here and not taken by Carolina)

14. Ottawa Senators (From Nashville Predators)- Matt Puempel
(Puempel will look great beside Spezza or RNH at the NHL level. Kid is a goal scorer going to the team with the lowest amount of goals in the NHL.)

15. New York Rangers- Nathan Beaulieu
(Rangers could use a defenceman but already have a tough guy in McIlrath. They grab a guy that can help dictate the pace of the game and allow them to play to their strengths up front.)

16. Buffalo Sabres- Brandon Saad
(Buffalo adds some size that they need up front. Lots of raw potential in Saad that is too good to pass up.)

17. Edmonton Oilers (From Los Angeles Kings)- Mark McNeill
(Hometown boy that fills the size issue down the middle.)

18. Dallas Stars- Scott Mayfield
(Dallas needs help on the blueline IMO and Mayfield can play all situations and be an anchor on the team for many years to come.)

19. Calgary Flames- Ty Rattie
(Flames need a center or some kind of help up front. They always seem to look inside the WHL for scoring and should be able to get it out of the slick Portland wizard.)

20. Phoenix Coyotes- Alexandr Khoklachev
(Phoenix grabs a great goalscorer and isn't affraid to go russian to do so. They are already set on the back end with Yandle and OEL. Phoenix looks like bandits in a year)

21. Montreal Canadiens- Nicklas Jensen
(Montreal could use some size and skill up front. Although I wouldn't be surprised to see them draft a dman with all the UFA's they have on their blueline, Jensen is too good to pass up.)

22. Chicago Blackhawks- Sven Baertschi
(The rich get richer. Great complimentary player for the forwards already up front on the Hawks.)

23. Tampa Bay Lightning- Myles Bell
(Tampa could use another offensive minded dman with a glut of forwards already up front.)

24. Pittsburgh Penguins- Tomas Jurco
(slick dynamic winger that will compliment the Centers in Pittsburgh)

25. San Jose Sharks- David Musil
(Tough defence first kid that should help stabilize the San Jose blueline. They already have a plethora of forwards)

26. Toronto Maple Leafs (From Boston Bruins)- Zack Phillips
(Hard working two-way forward that would look playing behind Nazem Kadri)

27. Washington Capitals- Vladislav Namestnikov
(Washington picks up another fast russian forward to hopefully add some chemistry to their powerplay. Already set with Carlson and Alzner on the back end.)

28. Detroit Red Wings- Jonas Brodin
(The wings stay Swedish. It paid off in the past and will continue to pay off with the talented rearguard.)

29. Toronto Maple Leafs (From Philadelphia Flyers)- Stefan Noesen
(Noesen will add some size and goalscoring to a team that will need it.)

30. Vancouver Canucks- Dmitri Jaskin
(Skilled forward that should have the freedom to develop and hopefully turn out to be a steal.)

Hope You enjoyed!