STRAIGHT PICK-EM

With Covid-19, I thought the NFL would never happen due to being a contact sport. Since the league will be playing, we will take a wild stab at each match up every week and try to pick the winner. We may pick out of a hat. Perhaps some axe throwing at the dart board may determine the winner. Hell, we don’t know how we will figure out the winner like we care. We will make an educated guess each match up, cross our fingers, and pray we get each match up right. I do recommend you go with the opposite. Tall boys after tall boys mean we have not gotten it right for a very long time.

THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

HOUSTON TEXANS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

OUR PICK:CHIEFS

It’s opening night and the Chiefs will be amped up, being at home and coming off the sweet Super Bowl victory. Always have to go home team for the Superbowl champion in the first game of the season. They always relive the magic.

THE SUNDAY SLATE

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

OUR PICK:COLTS

This is the rise of the Phillip Rivers. Once a superhero and now turned human, and just dreadful last season ending his time on the west coast. Like the Dark Knight Rises, Rivers reforms himself in the off season in an undisclosed location. Rivers will ride again this time in Indianapolis. The Jaguars makes Rivers’ first villain, an easy one like the Riddler. But, we know this team has no answers. The Rivers rises again. Just can’t wait until he faces the Joker and the other clowns to his left.

CHICAGO BEARS AT DETROIT LIONS

OUR PICK: LIONS

This game I went back and forth on in my mind. I know Mitch Trubisky has a good record versus the Lions. Bears defense screams in my mind. Then I go back to the early season struggles Mitch Trubisky has historically. Why is Nick Foles being paid big money to sit? Lions were in every game last season and had late leads in most of them. This season opener they’ll manage to hold them and not fold them.

VEGAS RAIDERS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS

OUR PICK PANTHERS

First thing is a west coast team traveling east will not help Las Vegas’ first official NFL game with their new team. I like Teddy Bridgewater’s chances with a bad Raider defense in the second half of last season. Raiders made improvements. Bridgewater will play a clean game and use his weapons. Christian McCaffrey is the best back in the league and D.J Moore, one of the best receivers in the league. Panthers forget all about the cookie they had for many years. New Sheriff in town.

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

OUR PICK: PATRIOTS

Miami has improved. I know Miami has the hex on the Patriots, but in Miami, not Boston. The Evil Empire will prevail in the first week. It may not be pretty, but the Patriots game plan will be the key. I think fans will be wanting their Brady back despite the win.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM

OUR PICK:EAGLES

Washington is still in the process of grooming their young quarterback, Dwayne Haskins. New system. New coach. Carson Wentz has been there and done that. Eagles win on the road.

CLEVELAND BROWNS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS

What could have been if the Browns never moved to Baltimore?

OUR PICK:RAVENS

Browns have another coaching staff. No preseason. I think they will need to iron more wrinkles out with this team, especially after what that moron Freddie Kitchens did to them last season. Lamar Jackson will fine tune their play and rebound from that devastating loss in the playoffs last season.

LA CHARGERS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS

OUR PICK:BENGALS

WHY NOT? Why can’t number one draft pick Joe Burrows come out on top of Chargers Tyrod Taylor? Bengals will have all their play makers healthy unlike last season. What did the Chargers do to improve in the off season? Bengals earn their stripes in the opener and send the Chargers back to LA as they may think about when to put their rookie quarterback in.

NEW YORK JETS AT BUFFALO BILLS

OUR PICK:BILLS

I know Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott will have his team ready and not take the Jets lightly. I see the Bills defense giving the Jets fits. I think with Josh Allen, we will see some big time improvement of his play behind center. Last season he took steps. This season Allen makes strides.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT ATLANTA FALCONS

OUR PICK:SEAHAWKS

The thing that impressed me last season was the Seahawks winning road games. The Falcons are even a better offense than they were last season, adding some nice toys for Matt Ryan to bring out this Sunday. Seattle’s secondary is my X-factor in this close game which will force Ryan to make some mistakes. Russell Wilson finds a way to win close ones and he’ll do it in Atlanta.

PACKERS AT VIKINGS

OUR PICK:PACKERS

I hate saying this. After the Packers drafted a quarterback in the first round, it gives Aaron Rodgers an axe to grind. I could see Rodgers getting off to a very quick start, especially in a building with no fans. The viking horn without the crowd is nothing to disrupt the Green Machine offense. Kirk Cousins in big games; I have no faith in him. The Vikings defense has been revamped with some new blood. The Packers defense improved last season. Should be the same or even better.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS AT NEW ORLEANS

OUR PICK:BUCCANEERS

This is the game of the week in my book and everyone else in the NFL world probably agrees. Tom Brady versus Drew Brees sounds like a monster movie or heavy weight boxing match for all the marbles. I hate Tom Brady. Love to the Saints… knock the Buccaneers who are now one of teams you must hate into tomorrow.

My gut feeling which seems like the way the script goes is the villain, Tom Brady, will win the first match up between these two future hall of fame quarterbacks. The villain always strikes first leaving Brees to swoop down and take out Brady in the second match up.

CARDINALS AT 49ERS

OUR PICK:CARDINALS

Last season Cardinals gave the 49ers a run for their money in two games they played against each other. The Cards added DeAndre Hopkins to the mix that makes Arizona’s receiving core even better. Remember, Larry Fitzgerald still wears the bird on his helmet. The losing team in the Superbowl always seems to be hungover the following season. I recommend a greasy cheeseburger with an egg on top of it.

DALLAS COWBOYS AT LA RAMS

OUR PICK: COWBOYS

Cowboys make their mark in the Rams new stadium that will get appreciation from St. Louis, the town the Rams left. I think Dak and company get off solidly with a big win on the road. Dak Prescott will be on a mission to take his play to the elite level of Patrick Mahomes in search for big money at Menards.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT NEW YORK GIANTS

OUR PICK:STEELERS

Big Ben must be salivating. His comeback from injury last year that sidelined him most of the season, is against a weak Giants secondary. Steelers all night long.

TENNESSEE TITANS AT DENVER BRONCOS

OUR PICK:TITANS

Titans add Jadeveon Clowney while the Broncos lose Von Miller with a freak injury for the entire season. Derrick Henry runs wild and Titans make it known early they were no fluke last season.

We will throw our hat into the ring and try to predict the regular season record of every team in the NFL record. We will tell you who wins all the divisions. We will pick all the wild cards. Plus, reveal our Superbowl winner. Along the way will be some fun bold predictions. We are probably wrong. However we were probably drunk when we came up with this craziness.

NFC EAST

DALLAS COWBOYS 9-7

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 8-8

WASHINGTON DEAD SKINS 7-9

NEW YORK GIANTS 6-10

BOLD PREDICTIONS: Washington Football team becomes the Guardians.

Dak Prescott 2020 MVP

NFC NORTH

GREEN BAY PACKERS 10-6

MINNESOTA VIKINGS 9-7

DETROIT LIONS 7-9

CHICAGO BEARS 6-10

BOLD PREDICTIONS: Bears finally realize that Mitch Trubisky is a bust. GM Ryan Pace gets fired.

Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia is axed.

NFC SOUTH

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 12-4

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 11-5

ATLANTA FALCONS 7-9

CAROLINA PANTHERS 7-9

BOLD PREDICTIONS: Tom Brady versus Drew Brees oozes into the playoffs with a third showdown. Brees comes out on top, ruining Brady’s great year.

Teddy Bridgewater shows he is a starting quarterback in this league with a good year behind center for Carolina as a full time starter.

NFC WEST

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 11-5

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 10-6

ARIZONA CARDINALS 9-7

LA RAMS 7-9

BOLD PREDICTIONS: Cardinals makes the playoffs.

Seattle turns the tables on the 49ers this season winning a big game at the end to win the West

AFC EAST

BUFFALO BILLS 10-6

MIAMI DOLPHINS 8-8

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 8-8

NEW YORK JETS 6-10

BOLD PREDICTIONS: Coach Bill Belichick finds out the hard way how soft Cam Newton is.

Patriots do not make the playoffs.

AFC CENTRAL

BALTIMORE RAVENS 11-5

PITTSBURGH STEELERS 10-6

CLEVELAND BROWNS 7-9

CINCINNATI BENGALS 4-12

BOLD PREDICTIONS:Bengals rookie quarterback Joe Burrows is the real deal.

Ben Roethlisberger makes a great come back from the previous year of being injured. However late in the season Big Ben takes another topple sending him to the injured list once again. Big Ben misses the playoffs. The Steelers quickly get dispatched in the first round.

AFC SOUTH

TENNESSEE TITANS 12-4

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 10-6

HOUSTON TEXANS 9-7

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 2-14

BOLD PREDICTIONS: Jaguars head coach Doug Marrone is the first head coach canned in the regular season.

Jadeveon Clowney turns into Pennywise the clown. So scary all the quarterbacks around the league are like all the kids in the movie IT. Clowney play helps Titans get deep into the playoffs.

AFC WEST

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 15-1

VEGAS RAIDERS 7-9

DENVER BRONCOS 6-10

LA CHARGERS 5-11

BOLD PREDICTIONS: Chargers find out very quick Tyrod Taylor is not the guy to lead your team behind center for long term.

The last season Derek Carr is a Raider

PLAYOFFS

NFC DIVISION WINNERS: Green Bay, Tampa Bay, Seattle, Dallas

AFC DIVISION WINNERS: Buffalo, Kansas City, Tennessee, Baltimore

WILD CARDS

NFC WILD CARDS:New Orleans, Arizona, San Francisco

AFC WILD CARDS:Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Houston

SUPERBOWL

• 

• 

CHIEFS versus SAINTS

Saints beat Tampa Bay in the NFC championship

Chiefs beat the Titans in the AFC Championship

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER

This time Drew Brees walks off into the sunset.

SUPERBOWL WINNER: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

THE FINAL FOUR NHL STANLEY CUP CONFERENCE PLAYOFF PREVIEW WITH PREDICTIONS

Our Crystal ball does not like us

WESTERN CONFERENCE

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VERSUS DALLAS STARS

It took Vegas and Dallas all the way to game seven to advance to the conference finals. The Stars needed overtime to knock off the Avalanche. The Golden Knights finally knocked off a very young talented Canuck team. Both Vegas and Dallas were up 3 games to 1 last round and with a blink of an eye, both teams’ seasons were on the brink. Stars advance to conference finals for the first time since 2008. Vegas’ very first season of existing in the NHL, they made it to and past the conference finals. This expansion team is now in its third season.

Vegas and Dallas met in regular season before the Covid shutdown. They had different goalies in-between the pipes, and both had another guy behind the bench leading their respective teams. The Stars and Golden Knights only played two games in regular season during which they each won one. The third game was cancelled due to Covid. In the round robin tournament, Vegas beat Dallas 5-3 in that game.

For Vegas to keep a three time Stanley Cup goalie on the bench, the other guy has to be doing really well. Robin Lehner, since coming from the Blackhawks, has been awesome in-between the pipes. Marc-Andre Fleury, former Penguin, was watching as he was demoted since basically Lehner arrived. Lehner had three shutouts in six games versus the Canucks. In ten starts he has been a brick wall stopping 213 shots out 231 fired at him. This is a .922 save percentage with 1.80 goals against.

The Dallas Stars came into the Stanley Cup playoffs with a better defense than their offense. The Stars were ranked 29th in scoring in the regular season. It’s been quite the opposite in the playoffs as Dallas defense has given up 56 post season goals which is tops in the NHL during the post season. To knock out the Avalanche, the Stars offense came to life with unsung heroes doing the damage as well. A Joel Kiviranta hat trick versus Avalanche is the sniper that put holes in the Avalanche defenses in game seven.

I like the Golden Knights advancing into the Stanley Cup in this series. I think the Dallas Stars will put up a good fight and snag two games. I think Lehrner makes enough saves to quiet the unsung Star heroes. Vegas will be watching because of what they have done in the series before. I think Vegas is the most balanced team left in the tournament with a talented offense, defense, and special teams. Plus, a hot goal tender. I think Vegas swarms the net and puts pressure on opposing teams. It will be too hard for Dallas to contain throughout the entire series.

OUR PREDICTION:GOLDEN KNIGHTS IN SIX

EASTERN CONFERENCE

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING VERSUS NEW YORK ISLANDERS

The best team in regular season the last two seasons, find themselves in the conference finals. The Tampa Bay Lightning slayed their dragon from the season before and dispatched the Blue Jackets. Blue Jackets had one of the biggest upsets in NHL history last season when Columbus swept the Lightning in the very first round. Lightning had the best record in the league. Lightning took down the Bruins in the last round, which took them only five games. The rest of the three teams in the conference finals needed seven games to decide their faith. Which included the New York Islanders who got past the Flyers in game seven.

It’s Tampa Bay’s 4th time making it to the conference finals in the last six seasons. In order to remember the Islanders’ last time getting this far, you have to back to 1993 when New York skated in the conference finals. It will be the second time the Islanders and Lightning square off in the NHL playoffs. Last time in 2016, the Lightning beat the Islanders in 5 games.

During regular season, the Islanders beat the Lighting 2 games to 1 in three games. Tampa Lightning’s Ondrej Palat has a goal streak going on in the playoffs. Palat has scored at least one goal in his last 4 playoff games, needing one more for a Lightning playoff record. The Islanders, as a team, outscored the Flyers 11-3 in the third period of that series. Islander has only given up two third period goals in the total 11 post season wins in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Islanders have scored the most goals out of the final 4 teams left standing. Tampa Bay coming into the playoffs offense has less goals per contest than their regular season stats. The Islanders were the 22nd offense in regular season. The Islanders’ goals per game has been on the rise. Lightning has fire power on offense. The Lightning has a great defense. Lightning probably have the edge over the Islanders in everything, including goal tending and special teams. Tampa Bay reminds me of the Vegas Golden Knights which are very deep in depth with their roster.

I like the way the Islanders have played throughout the playoffs with their grind-out style. The Islanders get better as the game goes on, as they are playing well as a team. It seems like it could be anyone on any line to get the big goal. The X-factor is the coaching of Barry Trotz. The Capitals when they won the cup a few seasons ago, took their game to a new level. I can see the Islanders turning this series with the Lightning to the full max of seven games. Then Islanders coming up with last tally to knock off the Lightning and advance to the Stanley Cup championship.

OUR PREDICTION:ISLANDERS IN SEVEN

Kenosha, Wisconsin turned into a war zone after police officers unloaded their gun on Jacob Blake. Another incident that involves a black man and a police shooting, which escalated into pure violence. Then you have a 17 year high school white teen, who should normally be enjoying the start of school in any normal year. Kyle Rittenhouse and a friend were called into action to help protect some businesses in Kenosha from looters and rioters, who were creating havoc in the streets. Only problem was, Kyle Rittenhouse was armed and had a semi-automatic weapon. Rittenhouse suddenly came eye to eye with one of the persons who were creating havoc. Rittenhouse pulled the trigger, took a life, and it resulted in an arrest for the resident of Antioch, Illinois. Within the sports landscape, many of the teams protested by walking off the court/field, or refusing to play on that day. Then the former Midway Monster, Brian Urlacher, chimed in with his opinions of this disaster in dairy land. An Instagram post Urlacher liked, stated Rittenhouse is a patriot. Plus Urlacher was not quite done on social media, shaming the NBA players for walking off the court. On Chicago radio 670 the score, Urlacher’s history on social media was revealed. It unveiled some other disturbing things about the Bears legend.

Brian Urlacher played 13 seasons in the NFL at middle linebacker. All of them with the Chicago Bears. Urlacher was drafted in 2000 from the University of Mexico where he was a safety. Urlacher immediately played middle line backer for the Bears from day one and he was a tackling machine, chasing down opponents all over the field. Urlacher, in his first season, was awarded rookie of the year. Urlacher’s play earned him eight pro bowl selections. In 2005, Urlacher was named defensive player of the year. In 2006, Urlacher and that impressive defense led the Bears to the Superbowl. They lost to Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. In 2018 in Urlacher’s first year of eligibility, Brian was elected into the Football Hall of Fame. Since Urlacher came into the league, #54 jerseys have been the hot seller till this day on the lake front in Chicago.

Urlacher’s social media post pokes fun at the NBA:

“Brett Farve played the MNF game the day his dad died and threw 4 TD’S in the first half and was a legend for playing in the face of adversity.”

“NBA players boycott playoffs because a dude reaching for a knife, wanted on a felony sexual assault charge warrant, was shot by Police.”

First thing, the whole Kenosha thing has too many moving parts where you can point fingers at lots of people involved. The man shot by the police, Jacob Blake, is not dead. However he is paralyzed from the waist down. For Mr. Blake you can say what comes around goes around since he was thinking with his pants with a felony sexual charge. That is old school country style justice there. Then the Police shooting him from behind. Why the need to shoot the suspect in the back? Why that many bullets? Was he reaching for a knife? The worst thing is kids were watching this unfold.

Then Kyle Rittenhouse, a life guard and a kid that posts “Blue Lives Matter”. Looks like an innocent kid whose only trouble in life is he plays too many video games. Now everyone has their own slogan on what matters. Does Urkel receive any royalties from Family Matters? Blue Lives Matter is for fallen officers in the line of duty. What the hell are the parents doing in the Rittenhouse where a high school teen has a semi automatic weapon? Kyle, the day of the Kenosha war zone, was at the pool working as a life guard. Later on, he was helping the town removing graffiti. Was this sudden call into action to help protect stores, stemming from him wanting to be a police officer and help serve and protect his community? Some will say Rittenhouse felt like he was in the mood to kill off some looters. Rittenhouse’s lawyers say it was self defense. If anybody was coming at my family’s place of business or myself, I think I would have blasted that person as well. Going hunting for trouble is part of the problem. If Rittenhouse had intent, he will be going away for life.

Brian Urlacher’s reputation will be tarnished by many. Urlacher may gain some followers as well, especially a picture with him and President Trump. That may be because his brother Casey Urlacher, a politician, finds himself in hot water involved in a gambling ring. The Chicago Bears look like they don’t want anything to do with Urlacher. Urlacher has the right for free speech as it’s the first amendment in the constitution. Its like the Black Lives Matter spokesperson in Chicago, saying the looter has a right to the Gucci bag. When you go down the road of white supremacy and conspiracies about this country, and you believe them, it’s very tough getting your head on straight. Spending 13 seasons in the NFL and playing beside many players of all races, as Urlacher did. Probably calling them the band of brothers, fighting and playing for one goal. You’d think the bond of relationships he has created would prevent his mind from looking down the wrong roads of life. The greatest thing about sports is playing along side guys; it does not matter where they came from, you have their backs. Many former teammates were in shock to read about Urlacher’s comments. Many expressed their concerns about their old friend.

Police brutality is something that needs to be addressed in this country. I think why the sudden hand movement or fleeing the scene when Police arrive or ask to question someone. Seems like they are guilty before anyone says a word. Police officers want to go home every night and have dinner with their families. Plenty of police officers have been killed in the line of duty from suspects reaching for something. Plus we need to eradicate all the bad apples in all of the departments across the nation. Better training. Plus, no bullets should be shot at a suspect with their back turned to you. This is not the Nazi firing squad.

I hate making some sexual predator a hero suddenly because he was shot. Jacob Blake should have been taken in without a shot fired. Jacob Blake did something to a female sexual without her consent, and suddenly that is swept under the rug. It brings out looters and rioters who just want to create mayhem. Pouring gasoline on a lit fire. People that choose to escalate the situation should be held accountable with full punishments, because this is unacceptable to the average Joe trying to run a small business. These looters ruin what the peaceful protest message is all about. Then NBA players saying the name of a Jacob Blake to make him some kind of a cult hero to the nation.

I was never really a fan of Brian Urlacher. I always thought he was overrated as a player. Dick Butkus and Mike Singletary were better middle line backers then Urlacher. I think when Urlacher had Ted Washington and Keith Traylor, two enormous guys, taking on many blockers freeing Brian up to run around early in his career, he looked amazing. When Urlacher did not have those big guys, he was average. Brian Urlacher, the face of the Bears franchise later in his career, would not talk to reporters. Kind of acted like a Jay Cutler. That 2006 team defense tried to say they were better than the 1985 bears defense. Urlacher and Jay Cutler, those teams I want to instantly forget. I have never worn a #54 jersey and I have no plans to wear one in the future. Brian Urlacher might have gained some hair after his career, but might not be the spokesman for that group who changed his scalp. My rule in life is I never want to know what a professional athlete or a celebrity actually believes off the field, or to know them as person. Most likely I would hate most of them for their ways of using their famous celebrity status as their personal soap box.

We did not do well with our predictions in the qualifying round. Out of the 8 best out five series’, we went 2-6. In the first round of the Stanley Cup, we hope to do better with our predictions. We studied up on each best out of seven series instead of gallivanting at the saloon until the wee hours and then throwing some muck on the computer screen hoping it would stick. I can not promise beers were not had while studying the Stanley Cup playoffs in my personal hockey dome at home.

THIS TIME WE BELIEVE IN MIRACLES

NHL ROUND 1 OF 2020 PLAYOFFS

WESTERN CONFERENCE (BEST OUT OF SEVEN)

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

This series is very intriguing because it may have Cory Crawford versus Robin Lehner; both goaltenders played for the Blackhawks in regular season. Lehner was traded to Vegas at the trade deadline. This could be a nightmare for GM Stan Bowman of the Hawks. Did Bowman get rid of the right goal tender? You know Robin Lehner will try to stick it to the GM. At one time, Lehrner and the Blackhawks were talking about a contract extension.

The Vegas knights won all three of their games in the round robin tournament. The Blackhawks looked like they were not going to make the playoffs, when Covid-19 actually helped them. If Covid-19 was not around, the Blackhawks would have not made the playoffs. The Blackhawks took advantage and as 12th seed, knocked out the number five seed, the Edmonton Oilers, in the qualifying round.

WHO WILL START IN THE NET FOR VEGAS?

Robin Lehner looked sharp in two games in the round robin tournament. Marc Andre Fleury struggled in his only appearance. Fleury has three Stanley Cups under his belt, all with Pittsburgh. Fleury also helped the Golden Knights in their inaugural season make it all the way to the Stanley Cup. Fleury will tie X-Blackhawk goalie Tony Esposito with his 14th consecutive season in goal in the playoffs.

The Blackhawks main core stepped up in the Edmonton Oiler series. Jonathan Toews, Cory Crawford, Patrick Kane, and Duncan Keith showed their experience and why they have won three cups. Toews had seven points in the series.

I think Vegas is too much to handle for this Blackhawk team. Mark Stone led Vegas in scoring through the Round Robin tournament with 5 points. Vegas is expecting Max Pacioretty back for this series, and he led the Golden knights during regular season with 66 points. The Blackhawks youth stepped up in the Edmonton series. The Golden knights have 4 lines which I don’t think the Blackhawks will be able to handle. The youth, the young coach, and the aging superstars for the Blackhawks will show their colors in this series. Blackhawks will steal a game.

OUR PREDICTIONS: GOLDEN KNIGHTS IN 5

COLORADO AVALANCHE VS ARIZONA COYOTES

The Colorado Avalanche are a team loaded with talent and depth on their roster. This Avalanche team reminds me of those Joe Sakic teams that were very scary. The Arizona Coyotes had probably the hottest goalie of the qualifying round. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper is seeing the puck like it’s a gigantic beach ball floating at him.

The Arizona Coyotes came in as a number 11th seed and upset the Nashville Predators in a best out of five series. Colorado went 2-0-1 in the round robin tournament losing to Vegas in overtime. Both these teams met in the playoffs back in 2000, where Colorado moved on from that series.

Colorado has Nathan Mackinnon who is in the MVP runnings. The Avalanche also have a rookie defensemen who’s making noise to be rookie of the year. Cale Makar has been a difference maker on the ice helping his team defend the ice. The Coyotes Taylor Hall, who Arizona got in trade with the New Jersey Devils, has led the team in points since he arrived. It has been a span of 35 games with 27 points.

I like the whole team involved for the Coyotes in the Nashville series which will will be seen in this series versus the Avalanche. The Coyotes had 11 players that tallied at least one goal versus the Predators. Eight Coyote players racked up at least 2 points in that series. Seven Coyotes at least had 5 blocked shots. The Coyote are a very good checking team. They had ten guys with at least ten hits. Those team stats with the hot goalie give the Coyotes an edge and X factor that will get them past the snow angels of the Avalanche. The checking will be too much in a long fought series for the Avalanche.

OUR PREDICTION: COYOTES IN SIX

DALLAS STARS VS CALGARY FLAMES

The Calgary Flames regressed from a marvelous season last year. However the Flames got pass the Winnipeg Jets in the qualifying round, and now they face the Stars. Stars have problems putting the puck in the net on almost any given night. However the Stars can prevent the puck going into their own net with the league’s best. The Stars have a tandem goalie selection that may be the best one two punch in the league. The Stars also have two of the best defense-men in the league.

Both Dallas and Calgary have never met in the playoffs. In 1981, in Calgary’s first ever post season, they played the Minnesota North stars who eventually moved to Dallas. This series is defense versus offense. Since February 1st, the Flames have been the second best offense in the league. The Flames scored the most goals in the qualifying round. Meanwhile, Dallas defense was one of the best at limiting shots at their goalie.

Matthew Tkachuk is always a factor for Calgary. The guy to watch on the Flames is savvy veteran Milan Lucic who took his game to next level versus the Jets. Lucic, with the most playoff experience for the Flames, turns on the playoff light switch. In the beginning of game one versus the Jets, he dropped the gloves setting the tone early and often in that series. Lucic also chipped in at least one point in each contest.

For the Stars, one guy that stands out on the offense is former San Jose Sharks, Joe Pavelski. Pavelski could potentially score clutch goals for this team because he has done that over and over with so many playoff games for the Sharks. Even though Pavelski failed to reach the 20 goal mark this season, it was the first time he missed that since the strike’s shortened season.

I always think good defense can beat a good offense on most nights. The Stars were able to move deep into the playoffs last season, as they lacked offensive punch. I think the Flames took advantage of the Jets who had a lot of key injuries in that series. I think Joe Pavelski becomes a big deal in this series for the Stars. It’s why they signed him.

OUR PREDICTION: STARS IN SIX

ST.LOUIS BLUES VS VANCOUVER CANUCKS

The Canucks took a hiatus from the playoffs to rebuild. The Canucks finally made it back to post season play. Their last time lacing up the skates for the Stanley Cup playoffs was the 2014-15 season. The Canucks have assembled a nice young core that can skate and have speed. Speed kills. The Blues won the holy grail last season and are defending their title in hopes for two straight. Blues have one of the stingiest defenses in the entire Stanley Cup playoffs. Plus the hottest goalie in the Stanley playoffs last year.

This will be the 4th time the Blues and Canucks meet in the playoffs. Canucks winning all three series. The Canucks took out the Minnesota Wild in four games. The Canucks scored 12 goals in those 4 games to knock off the Wild who have been regulars in the playoffs for quite awhile. The Blues had the best record in the conference in regular season, but failed to win one game in the Round Robin, dropping them to the 4th seed.

Quinn Hughes is one of those young talented superstars for the Canucks. Hughes had 4 power play points versus the Wild. The Blues MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs last season, Ryan O’Reilly, scored half the Blues goals in the Round Robin series. Jordan Binnington, the goalie for the Blues, was the X-factor last year as he dominated between the pipes. The layoff in the Round Robin games, teams were scoring third period goals off Binnington.

This series looks like the Canucks can get a big upset in this first round on the champs. I went against the Blues in every round last season, and I’m not going to head down that road again. I think the Round Robin games will be a slap in the face for the Blues, and a wake up call. I think the experience the Blues have, will overcome the youth on the Canucks, especially in a seven game series.

OUR PREDICTION:BLUES IN 5

 

EASTERN CONFERENCE (BEST OUT OF SEVEN)

PHILADELPHIA FLYERS VS MONTREAL CANADIANS

Can the Montreal Canadians send another Pennsylvania team home from the post season? Montreal stunned the Pittsburgh Penguins in the qualifying round. The Philadelphia Flyers are a different animal. The Flyers dominated the round robin tournament against some of the best teams in the league.

The Flyers have met the Canadians six times in post season. Both teams are 3-3 against each other in post season play. Both teams’ goal tending were remarkable heading into this series against each other. Flyers goalie Carter Hart only allowed 2 goals on 59 shots in his two starts in round robin tournament. The Canadians struggled at the end of regular season. The 12th seed Canadian’s goalie, Carey Price, came up big time versus Pittsburgh making this team do 360 by giving up seven goals on 133 shots. That is .947 save percentage in 4 games including a shutout to clinch the series for Price. Both teams combined went 0-23 on the power play so far.

The Flyers out scored their opponents 11-3 in the round robin tournament. The Flyers super star, Sean Couturier, has the best face off percentage in the league and has brought that skill to the playoffs. Then Flyers defensemen, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, lit up the lamp twice and loves hitting people. The Canadians had some nice goals from Jesperi Kotkaniemi who was sent down to the AHL to work on his game late in the regular season. Kotkaniemi resurfaced and did some nice damage to the Penguins.

I think the Flyers have too much talent for the Canadians to handle in this series. The Canadians have been a nice story so far, but their luck runs out. Flyers dispatch the Canadians rather quickly.

OUR PICK: FLYERS SWEEP

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING VS COLUMBUS BLUEJACKETS

The Columbus Bluejackets are the David to the other teams Goliath. Last year ,they advanced through the playoffs with some big upsets including knocking out the Tampa Bay Lightning in round one last season in a sweep. Tampa Bay won 62 games in that season which some say could be one of the first round’s biggest upsets of all time. The Bluejackets gave the Maple leafs fits in the qualifying round, blowing them away with high speed and stepping them into the compost bin for pick up. Guess who’s coming to dinner… yes, jackets are required. It’s a rematch of Bluejackets vs Lightning on neutral ice in Canada.

Tampa Bay has everything from scoring defense to a great goalie in between the pipes. Tampa Bay has taken care of business in regular season by cementing a high spot in the playoffs earlier then most teams in the league. The Bluejackets clinched their spot in the playoffs in the final game of regular season. Plus Bluejackets like to hit people and score  goals. It is their simple recipe. This match up is like the movie, Tango and Cash. The Lightning are from Beverly Hills and fit into the perfect businessman style detective like Tango, played by Sly Stallone. Then the Bluejackets are from the tougher side of town. You have look like bad element to fit like Cash played by Kurt Russell.

I think this series this season will go the full seven games. This might be the beginning of a playoff rivalry. It might be a series that will get quite dirty and bloody by the time it ends. This time I like the Lightning winning it. I think Lightning will be better prepared and will not be shell shocked like last season.

OUR PREDICTION:LIGHTNING IN 7

WASHINGTON CAPITALS VS NEW YORK ISLANDERS

Seems like it was a long time ago when the Capitals won the Stanley Cup. It was only two years ago, as Covid seems to make time drag on. Now the Islanders have Barry Trotz, the same guy who led those Capitals to their first ever cup of all-time. Does the Islanders have the advantage, knowing the weaknesses of his former team?

This is the 8th time in history that the Capitals and the Islanders have squared off in the playoffs. Islanders have the 5-2 lead in those series. In 2015, Capitals won the last series when these two teams met. Islanders took out the Florida Panthers in 4 games to advance to the next round. The Capitals only won 1 game in the round robin tournament. Beating Boston in the last game of the tournament.

If Capitals are going to be victorious, they need their super star, Alex Ovechkin, to produce. Ovechkin was held to 0 points in the round robin play. This can’t happen in this series. Ovechin needs to make plays and get the puck in the net for the Capitals to be successful. If the Islanders play their style of clean game, limiting your scoring chances, Semyon Varlamov will have to continue playing well inbetween the pipes for the Islanders to move on.

Playing your former head coach sometimes goes in favor of the other team. Just knowing your traits of strength and weaknesses, a head coach can play their former team like a fiddle. I think Washington with the early exit last season and eventually knocking the rust off them in the round robin tournament, will benefit them in this series. Islanders can not win a high scoring game. The Capitals will attack early and eventually knock the sails out from under the Islanders to strand them into making it to the next round.

OUR PREDICTION:CAPITALS IN SIX

BOSTON BRUINS VS CAROLINA HURRICANES

Bruins versus Hurricanes is a rematch of last year’s Eastern conference finals when Bruins sweep that series. Bruins had the best record in the entire league in regular season. The Hurricanes looked like the best team in the qualifying round. Could the Canes have Dougie Hamilton back in the fold for this series? Bruins traded Hamilton to the Hurricanes and that could come back to haunt bean town.

Bruins were winless in the round robin tournament. The Hurricanes handled a very good New York Ranger team with ease. Bruins offense sputtered during the round robin tournament, as they had some players not in the line up during round robin play. Boston is known for their defense. Can Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak slow down the trio of Hurricanes that put some impressive numbers up versus the Rangers? Sebastin Aho had three goals and 8 points in the series. Andrei Svechnikov had 3 goals with 5 points. Teuro Teravainen had 2 points. This Hurricane trio can put lots of pressure on the opposing defenses and the goalie especially has to make clean saves.

Right now, it’s quiet before the storm hits and the Bruins will be the ones that are affected in this Hurricane. I think some teams it will take awhile to find their mojo. Bruins had it in regular season. The layoff and with some faces MIA, Hurricanes will take this series. Last year, Hurricanes went deep into the playoffs. This year the Bruins will be the ones dispatched as Carolina moves on.

OUR PREDICTION:HURRICANES IN 5

 

 

Seattle became the 32nd franchise in the NHL when the city was awarded an expansion team in 2018. It took this new franchise quite awhile to unveil the nickname for this new team, after considering over 1,000 different names. Probably scratching off hundreds because some group of people would be offended. Plus, many want to eradicate any American history that took place in this country. Seattle awakened the beast that lived side by side with the Emerald City deep in the seas, a creature that swam the waters. The tales many heard as kids, who heard the same stories sitting at their bar stools decades later, of the largest octopus in the world right in their backyard. I can picture an old sailor telling the story of how he faced the Kraken and they were eye to eye with each other. He lived to talk about it! By the way, the Kraken is the name they have chosen. Perhaps the owner of the Seattle franchise likes Kraken rum. The Seattle Kraken will get cracking on the ice for the 2021-22 season.

This is not Seattle’s first rodeo with a hockey squad in their town. Their last professional hockey team that skated in Seattle was Totems.

The Totems last skated in the 1970’s. The Totems played in multiple leagues and not in the NHL. The Totems won three championships in the WHL. Before the Totems, they originated as the Seattle Isacsson Iron Workers in 1943. Years went along and they changed leagues and their name. They were the Ironmen after being first called the Isacsson Iron workers. Then they went to Seattle Bombers, then Seattle Americans and finally ending with the Totems.

The Kraken are using the same style of S as the Metropolitans used when they skated in Seattle from 1915-24.

It’s a tribute from the Kraken for the Metropolitan’s history on the ice when they played in the Pacific Coast Hockey Association (PCHA.) Before the NHL formed, the Stanley Cup was still the holy grail with the different hockey leagues throughout America and Canada. The Metropolitans were the first ever American team to win the Stanley Cup in 1917.  New York Rangers won the cup 11 years later, in 1928.

I like how Seattle used the history of their city to come up with the name Kraken.

Every part in the logo is something from Seattle’s past. The Kraken will even skate where the Seattle SuperSonics used to run up and down the hardwood floors. In 2008, the Sonics left town for Oklahoma.

The Kraken has a nice sharp color scheme on their uniforms. Deep sea navy, Ice blue, boundless blue, and shadow blue. Lots of Blues with a Red eye.

The Kraken will be in the Western conference. With teams like the Vegas Golden Knights and the San Jose Sharks, who also have cool logos with interesting color schemes on their uniforms. Usually expansion teams take a few years to establish themselves in a league. Maybe not always the case. Look at the Vegas Golden Knights; from the start this team has done very well. Plus the San Jose Sharks since they arrived in the 1990’s have been in the playoffs more years of their existence than staying home for the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Kraken might not start off skating like Squiddly Diddly.

Maybe Squiddly can be the team mascot.Was Hanna-Barbera a part of the Seattle landscape? Looking forward to see who the Kraken land in the expansion draft. Many teams leave players with big contracts unprotected. Will the Kraken bite with that kind of bait? I think Seattle shows a lot of passion for their sports teams. Look at the 12th man when it comes to the Seahawks. I think Seattle should get another NBA team as well. SuperSonics part two. I think this Kraken team will get a great following in Washington, and outside the state, because of the uniforms and being the new kid in town.  I have Seattle on my bucket list for the Mariners game and now the Kraken. Coffee and good craft beer in a beautiful state sounds like a very nice combination. Lets get KRAKEN!!!

 

NHL 2020 PLAYOFF PREDICTIONS (PLAY IN ROUND)

2020 STANLEY CUP BUBBLE HOCKEY PLAYOFF TOURNAMENT

EASTERN CONFERENCE

ROUND ROBIN

The top four teams of the Eastern conference in regular season will do a round robin tournament to determine their seeding in the Stanley Cup playoffs second round. This will give these teams some games under their belt and not go into the next round rusty.

Coming in: #1.Tampa Bay Lightning, #2.Boston Bruins, #3.Washington Capitals, & #4.Philadelphia Flyers

#5.PITTSBURGH PENGUINS VS #12.MONTREAL CANADIENS

Without the Covid-19, the Montreal Canadiens for sure would have never made the NHL playoffs. Pittsburgh Penguins were swept out of the Stanley Cup playoffs last season. The Penguins always have a spot in the playoffs, as if they reserve a table a year prior. Penguins super star, Sid the Kid, will light up the lamp in this bubble hockey tournament. Sid Crosby, since coming off his injury during regular season, had 30 points in 24 games. The Canadiens’ only shot to derail the Penguins is exploit their weak goal tending. Pittsburgh is stacked in team depth compared to Montreal. Penguins seem to get deep in the Stanley cup playoffs almost every year especially from an early exit last year. I think Penguins can win a few series before they exit this season.

AS A FAN, ROOTING FOR: PENGUINS

OUR PREDICTION: PENGUINS IN 4

#6.CAROLINA HURRICANES VS #11. NEW YORK RANGERS

This bubble tournament is good, bad, and ugly in many ways. It affects each team differently. The Carolina Hurricanes have to play the Rangers who were one of the hottest teams in the league before things were shut down on the ice. The Hurricanes were having some goalie problems at the end of regular season. Meanwhile Rangers had one of the hottest goalies in the league in front of the net. Rangers’, Igor Shesterkin, went 10-2 with an incredible save percentage of .932. Hurricanes are getting back a key player from injury, Dougie Hamilton, which will help. I think ex-Blackhawk Artemi Panarin will show GM Stan Bowman, of Chicago, how stupid it was to trade this kid. Panarin is the X factor and the Rangers goalie will help New York knock off Hurricanes.

AS A FAN ROOTING FOR: NEITHER

If the Hurricanes were still the Hartford Whalers, I would root on the Whalers.

OUR PREDICTION: RANGERS IN 5

#7. NEW YORK ISLANDERS VS #10. FLORIDA PANTHERS

Florida Panthers are my Chicago Blackhawks 2.0 with legendary head coach, Joel Quenneville, behind the bench. Islanders vs the Panthers are an Even Steven type of match up. Islanders have been streaky all year and at the end were on a downward slope, losing 11 out of their last 13 games. I think the Panthers can get just enough offense to prevail over an Islander team that has trouble getting the puck in the net, to rank 23rd in offense in the entire league. I think Joel Quenneville makes a statement in his coaching abilities and gets his team to the next round.

AS A FAN ROOTING FOR: FLORIDA PANTHERS

OUR PREDICTION: PANTHERS IN 5

#8.TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS VS #9. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

The Maple Leafs have no problems putting the puck in the net. Can the Columbus Blue Jackets be successful in the playoffs minus super star Artemi Parnarin? Panarin was a big part of the Blue Jackets success last season. Can the Columbus Blue Jackets’ strong physical play that head coach John Tortorella installed, be able to shut down a Maple Leaf offense? The Maple Leaf defense is the team’s weakest link. Can Blue Jackets take advantage of that? This series should go the distance.

AS A FAN I’M ROOTING FOR: COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS

OUR PREDICTION:MAPLE LEAFS IN 5

WESTERN CONFERENCE

ROUND ROBIN

The Western conference will also do a round robin tournament to determine seeding in the next round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The Western conference top 4 teams coming in: #1.Colorado Avalanche, #2.Vegas Golden Knights, #3. St.Louis Blues, & #4.Dallas Stars

#5.EDMONTON OILERS VS #12.CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

When I first heard of this match up, I thought the Blackhawks had a very good shot beating the Oilers in a short series. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, with their playoff history, can easily be the x-factors in this type of series. Oilers have their own Batman and Robin duo with young superstars, Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

The Blackhawks goalie Cory Crawford, coming off recovery from Covid-19, is the biggest question mark of the series. Can Crawford turn the playoff switch on? Best out of 7, Oilers, I think, win that. The Blackhawks playoff history with the core they have, find a way to run the Oilers dry and win and move on.

AS A FAN I’M ROOTING FOR: A DUH THE BLACKHAWKS

OUR PREDICTION: BLACKHAWKS IN 4

#6.NASHVILLE PREDATORS VS #11.ARIZONA COYOTES

Nashville Predators have found themselves over the last few seasons in the playoffs and back, out of the post-season with early exits. Meanwhile Arizona has missed the playoffs, the last few seasons, by just a few points in the standings. Arizona has had some unsung heroes step up their game like a Connor Garland. The Coyotes have a nice goalie tandem to defend their net that makes this a very interesting match up. Nashville has salary cap issues so time is running out for this veteran team. Next season could be a totally different roster. Coyotes will make this into a series. I think Nashville escapes with the series because of the playoff experience this team has, even though with no success the last few seasons.

AS A FAN I’M ROOTING FOR: ARIZONA COYOTES

OUR PREDICTION: PREDATORS IN 4

#7. VANCOUVER CANUCKS VS #10. MINNESOTA WILD

Canucks have been annoying in my book for years. Vancouver has been rebuilding and has assembled some nice young talent. Elias Pettersson  is the leader of this Canuck young and hungry team that is looking to make a big statement in this year’s playoffs. The Wild has been running on fumes with a roster of young and old guys. A team that will be fighting the salary cap next season. The Wild has had a nice run getting in the playoffs, but when it comes to post season they have had some exits in the first two rounds over and over. Canucks will stop the Wild’s main scorer, Kevin Fiala, and put the Wild on the extinct list.

AS A FAN I’M ROOTING FOR: MINNESOTA WILD

OUR PREDICTION: CANUCKS IN 4

#8. CALGARY FLAMES VS #9.WINNIPEG JETS

The Jets and the Flames is another interesting series that has the potential to go the distance. Both teams have flaws. Both teams I thought would get further last season in the Stanley Cup playoffs. For the Flames, Matthew Tkachuk is on the rise, and if he can light the lamp it might jump start this offense. Flames goal tending has been better than last season. David Rittich has been working harder then ever, as the defense of the Flames have not been up to snuff like they have before. The Jets defense has been awful at times this season. With Dustin Byfuglien leaving, Kyle Connor has taken this offense on his shoulders as the Jets do have a few guys that can get the puck in the net. I think this series comes down to the Jets goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck. If Hellebuyck gets hot, he can get the Jets to the next round.

AS A FAN I’M ROOTING FOR: WINNIPEG JETS

OUR PREDICTION: JETS IN 4

In Bears country, is Mitch Trubisky on the bubble to be another of Ryan Pace’s first round busts? If Trubisky is thrown in the back seat of the car because Nick Foles out plays him in camp, will this end Ryan Pace as the Bears GM for good? This weekend the Bears traded tight end Adam Shaheen to the Miami Dolphins for a late conditional draft pick. Shaheen was a 2nd round draft pick in 2017. If Mitch Trubisky is a bust in a draft where you could have chosen Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes, then your number two pick of 2017 you have just traded to Miami after three seasons in Chicago. Do you chalk up 2017 as just a bad year for GM Ryan Pace? The Bears GM’s track record is not being able to hit on top picks.

Ryan Pace and the Bears thought they struck gold picking Adam Shaheen out of the small college of Ashland. They thought he was going to be a baby Gronk, as he’s a big target at 6’6″ with arms that reach high in  the sky. Shaheen never came close to a Rob Gronkowski as in three years, injuries sidelined his play to only 27 games. Shaheen’s play was ineffective. On the field he only caught 26 balls for 249 yards and 4 touchdowns in his career during those three years. You could say he was wide open a few times and Mitch Trubisky either did not trust him or missed him totally. Bears drafted a tight end, Cole Kmet, from Notre Dame this off season and signed veteran Jimmy Graham. This is another questionable signing the Bears have made trying to repair a hole from a draft pick. Writing has been on the wall as the Bears collected at one point 11 freaking tight ends. Bears have cut ties with a few like Trey Burton, who was riddled with injuries last season. Bears actually save 1.3 million off the cap with this trade off to Miami and actually get something for how poor Shaheen has played over his entire Bears career. A 6th or 7th rounder will not make up for a miss on a 2nd rounder. It’s something. My thoughts are Shareen would have ended up being cut and Dolphins could have gotten him that way.

When the Bears made the trade to get Khaili Mack and used some first round picks to make that deal happen, I thought it was good. GM Ryan Pace’s history shows he can not hit on top picks. In 2015, Kevin White, a wide receiver, was the Bears top pick who had injury history in which Bears knew about and still drafted him. Kevin White will be the biggest bust by the Bears GM. However if Mitch Trubisky goes elsewhere after this season, he may haunt the GM for Chicago more because he was fleeced by the 49ers to move up one spot. This cost the Bears a draft pick and he picked the wrong guy. Obviously, Trubisky has had a better career than White in the NFL. When you whiff on a quarterback and you miss two studs he could have had, it will hurt more then a wide receiver that could not stay on the field. Then let’s not forget Leonard Floyd, the skinny as rail defensive end who was the Bears’ first round pick in 2015. Floyd had moments, but he never played like he was hyped up to be. Maybe the Bears staff did not provide him with seconds at the dinner table.

By adding a Khaili Mack to the Bears defense, GM Ryan Pace turned that unit into one of the best units in the league. The hope was to have the quarterback position figured out, and that’s why they drafted Mitch Trubisky. It looked like it was going to work as the 2018 Bears were back in the playoffs. The double doink kick was the blame for the team’s whole season when they were ousted in the first round by the Eagles from one of those kicks. The kicking game can be blamed on the GM. Ryan Pace cut legendary Bears kicker, Robbie Gould. Ryan Pace still has not figured out the kicking game since cutting Gould. Bears were able to take advantage of an easier schedule when this team made it to the playoffs in 2018. Now that dominant defense sees the window is closing, as the roster has been riddled with holes like Swiss cheese. Due to trading most of your picks. Due to missing on high draft picks. The Monsters of the Midway are a boat with holes, as GM Ryan Pace continues to plug the leaks, but another leak always pops up. Putting a bandaid on the wreck here, and there, and back again eventually will burst like Ryan Pace’s GM career.

The 2019-20 NHL hockey regular season came to a screeching halt when the Corona Virus shut down every sport in i’s tracks. The Chicago Blackhawks were mathematically still alive to make a post season spot at that time. However the team had to jump over a few teams with not that many games left in the regular season. The Blackhawks were sellers at the trade deadline as they traded goal tender Robin Lehner to the Vegas Golden Knights when they only just signed him as a free agent on a one year deal in the off season. Blackhawks were left with Cory Crawford who started the last 8 games before operations were shut down. Did the Blackhawks make the right choice in net minders? Now Blackhawks find themselves alive. The team will play the Edmonton Oilers in  a short series in a qualifying round. Winner advances to the Stanley Cup playoffs. In a short series, with Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Duncan Keith and Cory Crawford, anything could happen. The core with the experience and they have a ticket back to the post season; it sounds too good to be true. Blackhawks announce Cory Crawford unfit to play.

In off season the reason why the Blackhawks went out and signed a Robin Lehner, was because of Crawford unable to take on the full load in regular season. Cory Crawford has been dealing with concussions and has missed more ice time in the last few years resulting in Blackhawks missing the playoffs. With Crawford and Lehner teaming up, the Blackhawks had the best goalie tandem in the league. Robin Lehner is no slouch in the 2018-19 season. He won the Masterton award for his goalie play with the Islanders. Lehner helped his team get 103 points in the standings for the Islanders which they have not done since the early 1980’s. Lehner and Thomas Greiss together in the net allowed the fewest goals in the regular season for the Islanders that season.  Too many injuries occurred this year for the Blackhawks and for this goalie tandem able to save this team and break their post season drought just did not happen. Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman shipped Robin Lehner to Vegas got a back goalie as part of the deal as Malcom Subban now wears the Indian head. Robin Lehner did want to stay in Chicago and wanted a contract extension. Two goalies paying big money was not in the cards for a GM Stan Bowman. This deal will come back to haunt the GM who is on the bubble of himself being trounced out of the windy city and being replaced.

Cory Crawford you can say is one of the best goalies in Blackhawks history. Crawford has helped this franchise capture two Stanley Cups with his brilliant play. In 2019-20 it seemed the duel banjos of Lehner and himself was helping him stay the course of the season health wise. The 35 year old Cory Crawford finished the regular season with a record of 16-20-3 with a 2.77 GAA and 9.17 save percentage. These are good numbers. These are numbers the Blackhawks need in a five game series with the Oilers. During phase 3 and 4 of the Covid plan to get  back to normal, Crawford did not participate in voluntary workouts. The Blackhawks have not givien a clear response why Crawford is unfit to play. Speculation is he’s dealing with concussions once again. Perhaps he’s just out of shape after this lay off. Some will whisper he likes to drink a bit too much. You can even throw in the Virus still lurking making him not want to play.

In a short game series with Crawford playing without issues, I thought this was a great chance for the Blackhawks to skate back in the postseason. Thought they could get by the Oilers and move on to the first round of the actual post season. If Malcom Subban gets the starting job in net, his stats this season was a 9-7 record with a 3.17 GAA  and 8.90 save percentage. Blackhawks also have Collin Delia who has only 18 career games on his resume in the NHL. Without Crawford the goalie stats do not look good versus the Edmonton Oilers. In the NHL playoffs a hot goalie could be the Ace in the deck of any series. Even if Cory Crawford played it is not a automatic series win because he could be horrible from the lay off as most players will have to knock off the rust very quickly.

Now some news has Cory Crawford may travel with the team versus Edmonton. Crawford has not got the green light to play in the series. I still think the Blackhawks should have extended Robin Lehner and cut their ties with a Cory Crawford. The Blackhawks need to remove some of the core that are aging. I can see building still around Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, but they are aging and we are wasting time with hopes of a Brent Seabrook and Duncan Keith playing like they used to. We are wasting time thinking a Cory Crawford could bring superior net presence for an entire regular season and post season on a regular basis. It is a shame that Crawford can’t play because he has a great history versus Canada teams like the Edmonton Oilers. I sense if Crawford played and played well we would never be able to get rid of him. Then more concussions will come and more games Crawford would miss and we back to the same drawing board. The Blackhawks find themselves scratching their heads every year. They continue not to see the obvious and that leads their brain trust still making the wrong moves each season.

 

 

The Chicago Bears, in 2017, were looking to solve a long time problem the team had behind center. The most important position in the game of football. The quarterback position. For decades now the Bears have had nothing but hot garbage throwing the football. The quarterback from the 1940’s, Sid Luckman, is still the best in franchise history. An ERA where they ran the ball coming off the bus. Loved Jim McMahon as the punky quarterback who led the Bears to their only Superbowl title. Jim Miller and Erik Kramer showed me heart and determination at the position. If Jay Cutler had a statue, I would get a band of protesters together and play some mailbox baseball with Cutler’s granite cranium. In 2017, the Bears had a chance to fix their ongoing problem which has aggravated fans for years. The experts had 3 door prizes in the very first round to choose from. The Bears had first crack at each door prize. They went with the booby prize by taking Mitch Trubisky. At the same time, the Chiefs moved up and took Patrick Mahomes, as he was the last door to be opened. The Texans took Deshaun Watson, who was the second door prize. What if the Bears were able to land Patrick Mahomes?

It took Patrick Mahomes only three seasons to win a Superbowl after the Chiefs beat up the 49ers in the big game on the biggest stage this past February. Patrick Mahomes playing behind center has earned him a ten year extension worth 503 million dollars. It is easiest the biggest contract by one player in sports history. This deal surpasses Mike Trout for the biggest in sports. Mahomes is the first half billion dollar player in the history of the sporting world. Patrick Mahomes only played in one game in 2017, as he watched and learned Andy Reid’s system. In 2018, Patrick Mahomes lit up the league with his play. Mahomes threw 29 touchdown passes in his first ten games, more than any other QB in NFL history. Mahomes became the first Chiefs player to pass the pigskin for 8 straight games, throwing for 300 plus yards in each of those contests. Mahomes easily has become one the NFL biggest stars and you have to say he’s up there with the leagues best at the quarterback position after only three years in the league.

How did the Bears get the booby prize? Let’s look at the college stats of the three door prizes in 2017.

PATRICK MAHOMES: TEXAS TECH, 32 GAMES, 11,252 YARDS, 93 TD PASSES, 29 INTERCEPTIONS WITH 63.5 COMPLETION PERCENTAGE AND 152.0 QB RATING

DESHAUN WATSON: CLEMSON: 38 GAMES, 10,168 YARDS, 90 TD PASSES, 32 INTERCEPTIONS WITH A 67.4 COMPLETION PERCENTAGE AND 157.5 QB RATING

MITCH TRUBISKY:NORTH CAROLINA, 31 GAMES, 4,762 YARDS, 41 TD PASSES, 10 INTERCEPTIONS WITH 67.5 COMPLETION PERCENTAGE AND 157.6 QB RATING

If I was just going by the numbers and what they did in college, Deshaun Watson would be the number one pick out of the three choices. Plus Watson had Clemson in the College championships battling it out with Alabama more than once. Mahomes’ numbers in college are off the charts. Mahomes played six less games than Watson and threw more TD passes and more yards. Not even mentioning the rushing stats from Mahomes. Mitch Trubisky’s numbers look good. Most games he played was a back up role as he only started one season In North Carolina. Trubisky has the highest completion percentage out of all three. In the NFL, Mitch Trubisky has a hard time with hitting wide open receivers in stride.

What if the Bears chose Patrick Mahomes instead of Mitch Trubisky? Originally Mitch Trubisky was going to sit his first season as he learned from Mike Glennon. Glennon I first thought would be a decent choice for the Bears in 2017 when he was on the free agent market.  The Bears overpaid for his services. Mike Glennon was touched by the Bears and presto… he turned into hot garbage. Like the kiss that turned the prince into a frog. Would Patrick Mahomes have done better behind center than Mitch Trubisky in 2017 under the Coach Fox coaching staff? Mahomes makes players better around him and can make plays happen with his arm or just taking off with his legs. I would like to think that Mahomes would have done better that season in a Bears uniform than Mitch Trubisky. In 2018, the Bears had the best defense in the league. Bears gave Trubisky help with a better receiving core. Plus they brought in Matt Nagy to take over for John Fox as head coach. Matt Nagy who worked in Kansas City before coming to Chicago. Nagy had coached Mahomes in Kansas City his rookie year. Remember Mahomes only played one game in 2017. If the Bears had drafted Mahomes he would have eventually ran the same kind of similar offense they ran in Kansas City with the arrival of Nagy. Trubisky did well in 2018 with a limited amount of Matt Nagy’s play book. We know Patrick Mahomes thrives in that system, just by career numbers out of three door prizes of the 2017 draft.

Would the double doink of a kick still have happened from Cody Parky in the playoff game between the Bears and Eagles with Patrick Mahomes as your QB? I thought the Bears left a few wins on the field in 2018. Including the opener where Green Bay came back in the 4th quarter in that game the Bears had won, but Aaron Rodgers put up yet another miracle come \back. Does Patrick Mahomes extend drives in that opening night in the second half and prevent Green Bay from making that come back? I think the Bears would have won more games in 2018 and had a first round bye and never faced Nick Foles and the Eagles. If they drafted Patrick Mahomes, they might have had the best defensive player with Khaili Mack and Mahomes, the best offensive player in the league in the same year. In 2018, people can easily blame the kicker. Mitch Trubisky had a good year, but he still was the weakest link. The defense was Superbowl caliber. Matt Nagy’s offense was impressive. Mahomes would be a game changer and the Bears coulda woulda turned into Superbowl champions. I still don’t know why the Bears gave up draft picks to the 49ers to move up one spot to only land Mitch Trubisky in 2017. If the 49ers wanted one of those quarterbacks, you still had two other choices. Would the 49ers actually pick Mitch Trubisky? Bears then would have probably passed on Mahomes and Watson and found something else in the draft if the 49ers wanted Trubisky. Maybe for Patrick Mahomes it is a blessing that the Bears did not pick him. In Chicago, quarterbacks and wide receivers come and immediately are put out to pasture. What if the Bears had their guy locked up for ten years not having to worry about the most important position on the field? When they did think they had their guy in the past, it was well wasted money extending a Jay Cutler.  Bringing back Sid Luckman would be a crazy idea. We should have cloned him back then. When it comes to being a Bears fan I feel like the Portland Trailblazers passing on Michael Jordan and picking Sam Bowie is the same brain trust who made that executive decision.