5 Best Moves of NHL Free Agency

     With the start of free agency and the fireworks that happened on July 1st, the first official day of the period, there are certain moves that warrant a closer look.
     Here are the 5 Best Moves teams have made since the Free Agency period opened:

1. Paul Stastny (C) to St. Louis Blues (4 yrs/$28 million)
     The top center on the market, Stastny, just 28 years old, helped lead the Avalanche to a 52 win season en-route to a first place finish atop the Western Conference's Central division. Stastny finished the season with 60 points in 71 games and added 10 points in their 7 game series versus the Wild. Stastny's signing with the Blues adds the center that they have lacked in recent years and creates an even more potent lineup for the team that finished just one point behind the Avalanche last season and saw a very disappointing playoff performance with a first round exit. Stastny could be the final piece of the Blues playoff puzzle and St. Louis is a team that looks to finish near the top of the Western Conference standings next season.

2. Ryan Miller (G) to Vancouver Canucks (3 yrs/ $18 million)
     From the top center to the top netminder, Miller was the biggest name on the Goalie market and after St. Louis decided not to extend a contract offer to the 33 year old goaltender, Vancouver scooped Miller up in hopes to stop their goaltending woes of recent. After the Roberto Luongo debacle and the trade of Cory Schneider, the Canucks were lacking a distinguished and proven goalie. Vancouver hopes that Miller can fill that void. The 33 year old finished last season 25-30-4 with a 2.64 Goals Against Average and .918 Save Percentage, going 10-8-1 after being traded to St. Louis at the trade deadline. Miller will attempt to lead Vancouver back to the playoffs and prove that he still is an elite level goalie after a subpar playoff performance. For Vancouver this is a great signing because it will give them stability in net so that they can focus on the rest of their lineup in front of Miller.

3. Thomas Vanek (LW) to Minnesota Wild (3 yrs/ $19.5 million)   
     Vanek spent the majority of the 13' - 14' season with the NY Islanders after an early season trade from Buffalo where he had spent his entire career. However, when the trade deadline approached, one name was amongst the most commonly talked about being on the move. Vanek was traded at the deadline to the Canadiens. Vanek finished the season with 68 points including 15 in his 18 games with Montreal during the regular season. Montreal reached the Eastern Conference Finals and along the way Vanek added another 10 points over 17 games. Thomas Vanek is still one of the purest scorers in the league and is just 30 years old. This signing by the Wild is one that shows that Minnesota is displaying a win now attitude after signing big name Free Agents Zach Parise and Ryan Suter last free agency period, they have now added Vanek who looks to play on either the top or second line as the Wild attempt to shore up their scoring after finishing 24th in the league last season.

4. Christian Ehrhoff (D) to Pittsburgh Penguins (1 yr/ $4 million)
     Ehrhoff had a down season in 13' - 14' (33 pts, +/- minus 27) and his tenure with Buffalo after 3 seasons of his massive 10 year/ $40 million contract has come to a close after Buffalo decided to buy out Ehrhoff''s contract with concern that Ehrhoff would potentially retire before the end of his contract and leave Buffalo with salary penalties. With Ehrhoff on the free agency market and Pittsburgh in need of defensive help after Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen left for Washington, Ehrhoff was a perfect fit for the Penguins roster. A puck-moving defenseman who in his best seasons with Vancouver scored 14 goals and over 30 assists in each season, Ehrhoff is a very talented, albeit underrated, player who can easily step in and help make a difference for the Penguins. For just a one year commitment at a low price for a player of Ehrhoff's caliber, this could be the steal of free agency.

5. Brad Richards (C) to Chicago Blackhawks (1 yr/ $2 million)
     This is a very interesting signing by the Blackhawks. Richards, once a perennial All-Star and MVP caliber player (Two seasons with 91 points) now 34 years of age is still a top 6 forward in any line up, but has had times where he doesn't show up for stretches of time. Richards fits with the Blackhawks roster perfectly as they have lacked depth at the center position behind Jonathan Toews. Richards finished the 13'-14' campaign with 20 goals for the ninth time in his career and added 31 assists to finish with 51 points. Richards is also a very valuable Powerplay asset with 356 Powerplay points over 13 seasons. If Richards can contribute the same, or better, numbers that he was able to supply to the Stanley Cup Finalist Rangers, then 1 year at $2 million is more than a steal for a player of Richards' talent. Richards also brings leadership to Chicago as he stepped up after Captain Ryan Callahan was traded away at the deadline. It will be interesting to see if Richards is able to make a major contribution to a team that is always in the race for the Stanley Cup.

Honorable Mentions

Jarome Iginla (RW) to Colorado Avalanche (3 yrs/ $16 million)
     This would be a top 5 acquisition if it weren't for the years. Sure Iginla showed last season in Boston that he still is at the top of his game contributing 61 points with 30 goals. But a 3 year commitment to a player who is 37 years old is risky. However, it is a great signing for the Avalanche who can replace some of Stastny's production by plugging Iginla into the lineup and the 3 years could wind up paying off for the Av's.

Dan Boyle (D) to New York Rangers (2 yrs/ $9 million)
     The addition of Boyle gives the Rangers perhaps the best top 4 defense as Boyle joins Girardi, Staal, and McDonagh in what was already one of the stingiest defenses in the league (4th in goals against). Boyle's offensive nature gives the Rangers blueline some firepower and Boyle can be an immediate boost to a powerplay which finished in the middle of the pack this year. The Rangers continue to boast a loaded blueline and look to build off of their Stanley Cup Finals appearance.

Anton Stralman (D) to Tampa Bay Lightning (5 yrs/ $22.5 million)
     Stralman was one of the most consistent players on the roster for the Rangers on their playoff run and is a very talented defenseman. Stralman joins Brian Boyle as two former Rangers to join their ex-Captain Ryan Callahan with the Lightning. Stralman notched 13 points for the Rangers this season and is a player that can be leaned on to log a lot of ice time. He will be a top 4 defenseman for the Lightning and could very well be paired with rising star Victor Hedman on the top pairing for the Lightning this upcoming season.

The Many Scenarios of Group G

     With their matchup less than 24 hours away with World power Germany, the US Mens' National Soccer Team is looking to secure a place in the round of 16 for the second straight World Cup. The US are tied with Germany atop Group G with both teams at 4 points with a win and a draw each. Both teams enter the game needing just one point to advance and there has been talks of the two sides engaging in a practice that is known as the convenient draw which would see each team go on. If the two sides did play to a draw in tomorrow's match Germany would win the group with a better goal differential and would go on to face the Runner Up from Group H and the United States would play the winner of Group H which is currently led by Belgium with 6 points.

     However, neither the Germans nor the Americans want to concede a draw in their final match as both sides look to control their own destiny with a victory. Both sides can use this game as a proving grounds headed toward the next stage, the Germans can prove their dominance and the Americans can prove their resiliency. A win in this matchup would put the victor straight through to the Elimination stages and would put the other side at risk of elimination based off of the Portugal - Ghana game. 

     The storylines around this game are nothing to forget either. Jurgen Klinsmann, the Head Coach of the United States and native German, faces off against his home country. The injury to Jozy Altidore, suffered against Ghana, will keep the striker out of this match as well. Of course, there is the fact that both teams do control their destiny and a win gives either side an "easier" draw headed into the elimination rounds.

     There are several scenarios for each team in the Group to advance. The US and Germany control the easiest scenarios as for either team it's win and you're in. However, there are a variety of other scenarios that could see any of the 4 teams advance.  

     Here are the scenarios:

Germany advances:
-Win vs. USA
-Draw vs. USA
-Portugal/Ghana end in Draw
-Loss vs. USA and better Goal Differential than Portugal/Ghana

USA advances:
-Win vs. Germany
-Draw vs. Germany
-Portugal/Ghana end in draw
-Loss vs. Germany and better Goal Differential than Portugal/Ghana

Ghana advances:
-Win vs. Portugal and better Goal Differential than loser of USA/Germany

Portugal advances:
-Win vs. Ghana and better Goal Differential than loser of USA/Germany

The current Standings are as follows in Group G

     There is much at stake in the Group G group stage games tomorrow and it will be decided who advances with the results.
     Both games begin at 12 ET on ESPN tomorrow 6/25.

The Group of Death

     Tomorrow marks the first game of the long awaited FIFA World Cup hosted by Brazil. Brazil takes on Croatia in the opening match of what is likely to be one of the best World Cups to date. With phenomenal talent across the globe in players such as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Robin Van Persie and a slew of other tremendous talent, there are many teams this year in contention to take home the coveted World Cup trophy.
     However, one country who has slipped under the radar, and rightfully so, is our very own United States Men's soccer club. The US's most prolific player in history, Landon Donovan, has been left off the 23 man roster for this years' World Cup squad in a very controversial move by Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann. Despite being the US's all-time leader in both goals and assists (57 each) on the national stage, Klinsmann decided to leave the 32-year old striker off of the roster.

Landon Donovan, US leading goal scorer and assist leader

         Even with the omission of Donovan from the roster this year, the US already faced an absurdly tall task this World Cup. The United States has been placed in what has been dubbed the "Group of Death" for their Group G pool. Headlined by Germany and Portugal, two of the top teams in the world with Germany ranked 2nd and Portugal falling just behind ranked 4th, the 13th ranked US team has a huge hurdle to overcome either of those two teams.
     It doesn't get any easier when they play 37th ranked Ghana either. Ghana has eliminated the US from each of the last two World Cups, in Group play in 2006 and then in the round of 16 in the 2010 World Cup.
     The United States has got to be in top form the second they step onto the field versus Ghana in their opening matchup. Led by 31-year old Forward Clint Dempsey, and veteran Goalkeeper Tim Howard, the United States is not going to roll over and accept defeat based off of their draw in Group play. However, it will be a tall task for them to make it out and into single elimination play.
     With the Group that the United States has drawn I don't believe that they will be able to make it out of Group play, and neither does anyone else. However, if the US is able to shock the world and escape the "Group of Death" they have as good a chance as any to win it all. Here's to hoping.

  

     The United States kicks off their opening match against Ghana Monday, June 16th at 6:00PM ET.

Stanley Cup Dreams

     The final stage is set for the 2014 Stanley Cup Final. The New York Rangers will face off against the Los Angeles Kings for the right to raise Lord Stanley's Cup after a long, arduous season all culminating in this final series.
      For the Kings this is their second trip to the Cup Finals in the last three years and their third ever Stanley Cup Finals appearance. In 2012 the Kings run to the Stanley Cup was improbable as they entered the playoffs as the 8 seed in the West and defeated  top seeded Vancouver, second seeded St. Louis, and third seeded Phoenix before dispatching of the New Jersey Devils in 6 games.

Kings banner celebration 2012

      This years' run has been similar in that they have had to face off against all teams with better seedings' including their come back from 3-0 in their initial series with San Jose followed by erasing a 3-2 series deficit against the top seeded Ducks.
      The Western Conference Finals saw a matchup of the last two Cup Champions with the Chicago Blackhawks taking on the LA Kings. The series was one for the ages and was one of the best playoff series of the entire playoffs, including Game 7 which went into overtime where the Kings Alec Martinez scored just over 5 minutes into the period to send the Kings to a matchup with the waiting Rangers.
      The Rangers route to the Stanley Cup has been one of an underdog story this Playoff season. Their opening series went the distance as the Rangers exchanged wins and losses with the Philadelphia Flyers, in a hard fought series that the Rangers took in 7. The Kings aren't the only team who have faced adversity in these playoffs. The Rangers Conference Seminfinal matchup pitted them against the mighty Pittsburgh Penguins and the Penguins seemed poised to take the series jumping out to a 3-1 series lead. However, the Rangers battled with resiliency and convincingly took Game 5, 5-1 before winning the next two to lead them to a Eastern Conference matchup with the Canadiens, who as we all know had just upset the top seeded Bruins and seemed to be the favorites coming into the series.
      After an incredible 7-2 win in Game 1 for the Blueshirts, there was no one doubting the abilities of the Rangers to come out on top. Five games later and it was the Rangers taking the series 4-2 after Dominic Moore scored in the second period of Game 6 for the first and only goal of the game to send the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Finals for the 11th time and first since they won the cup 20 years ago on the heels of Captain Mark Messier.

 

 

 

 

Dominic Moore, Game 6 hero, adds the 12th piece to the Rangers Championship puzzle

      The final series of the season is shaping up to be a great one as the Rangers and Kings get underway Wednesday June 4th at 8PM in LA. Whoever wins this series deserves it as both teams have faced many trials and tribulations en route to the Cup Finals and this series will be worth the price of admission.

      My bold prediction for the outcome of this Rangers v. Kings series is that the New York Rangers continue to take the world by storm lifting the cup at home after Game 6.

Atlanta Errors Lead to Walk Off for Sox

       Jake Peavy provided the framework for the W Thursday night going eight strong innings (season-high), allowing three runs on eight hits, and throwing 111 pitches. Peavy allowed a solo HR to Jason Heyward in the 3rd, and a balk in the 4th inning led to a run after Braves Catcher Evan Gattis singled. However, Peavy seemed to calm down and retired a stretch of seven consecutive batters at one point during the game. It was Peavy's quality start that put the Red Sox in position to have any chance at winning, but it was Atlanta's mistakes in the field that gave the Red Sox the win.

       Heading into the bottom half of the eighth inning the Braves held a 3-1 lead with Atlanta SP Mike Minor in position for his third win of the season. Brock Holt led off the inning with a bloop single into left field where Braves LF Justin Upton was waiting to field the ball, only to look away and misplay the ball allowing it to get behind him and allowing Holt to move to second. Xander Bogaerts followed up with an RBI single to pull the Red Sox to within a run and Dustin Pedroia safely reached on a slow roller up the middle.

       A third consecutive single by Sox DH A.J. Pierzynski (Ortiz was scratched before the game with Calf Soreness) got by CF B.J. Upton and the score was knotted up at 3-3 entering the ninth.

       Who else but Koji Uehara came in for the Sox ninth inning and shut down the Braves offense allowing one hit and striking out one in collecting his first win of the season.

        In the bottom of the ninth it was another Atlanta error that proved to be the game winner for the Red Sox. Jackie Bradley Jr. and Holt recorded back to back walks off of Braves closer Craig Kimbrel to start off the Sox half of the ninth. Bogaerts hit a hard grounder to Braves 3B Chris Johnson who made the throw to 2B Tommy La Stella who couldn't make the catch and the ball rolled away from him. Bradley smartly took off for home and scored the game winning run in walk off fashion as the Sox completed a four game sweep of the Braves, after coming off a 10 game losing streak before.

Xander Bogaerts (2) congratulated by teammates in the dugout (ESPN)

        The win puts the Red Sox record at 24-29 for the season as they look toward their upcoming series with the Tampa Bay Rays. The Sox go right back to work Friday, May 30 at 7:10PM as they send RHP Brandon Workman (0-0) to the mound for his second start against Tampa ace David Price (4-4).

         Workman went five innings allowing three ER on five hits in his last outing in Tampa Bay picking up the no decision as the Sox fell late to the Rays 8-5.