By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=James_D._Silver]James D. Silver
The average American watches 41/2 hours of TV per day. This has been declining since the turn of the millennium thanks to the internet. Interestingly though, the average daily involvement with Facebook is only 7 minutes and Twitter, about 4 seconds. While Facebook and Twitter continue to trend higher in unique views per month, it is still important to see how far they are behind TV.
This means that it is not the Twitter or Facebook message itself that is getting through to the public. It is the reporting on TV and radio about the Twitter or Facebook messages that gets them into the broad public domain. Chad Ochocinco of the New England Patriots has 2.5 million Twitter followers. I'm not one of them. When he says something, I and about 50 million sports fans who aren't his followers, learn of it through TV or radio.
What is fascinating is the wiliness of the TV and radio outlets to support billion dollar businesses like Facebook and Twitter, when they could be using the same basic technology to feed their own media brand. A company called Comet has a technology that allows ESPN, Clear Channel, Yahoo Sports, and other media outlets the ability to have all the messages they want without having to promote other people's billion dollar brands for free.
Now, enter the NHL. On the surface, their limitation of Facebook and Twitter messages before and after games may seem petty. But, the TV and radio networks who pay to broadcast their games need this time to generate advertising revenues; hence, they all have pre-game and post-game shows. Players tweeting and updating Facebook during these time periods compete with the pre- and post- games shows, which must have the latest breaking news to be viable.
Good for the NHL! This will certainly begin a trend where sports leagues will start supporting their own brand and not giving it away for free to Twitter and Facebook.
Any league, team, or sports media outlet can have the same capability as twitter or Facebook without violating any patents or copyrights. Why hasn't anyone done it in the past? The reason is that the amount of news and publicity the stations were getting from the Twitter and Facebook phenomena offset the fact that their own brand value was being compromised. Now, as the leagues and media outlets see diminishing increased value, they are recognizing that the downside is a loss of their brand value, which is no significant. The NHL was the first to recognize this, and they should get kudos for their ability to look into the future.
The next logical extension for the NHL naturally will be to have their own messaging services concurrently placed on their teams' websites and the websites of TV and radio media who broadcast their games. The pre- and post- game shows can include their own version of messages within the context of their own brand. Thus, in the long run, the league and the fans will have it all. The league will enhance brand value and the fans will get instantaneous messages from favorite players and coaches.
Get on the bandwagon NFL, MLB and NBA! The NHL is on the right track! http://sportadore.com - where the world speaks of Sports!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?NHL-Vs-Twitter-and-Facebook---Good-Move!&id=6565235] NHL Vs Twitter and Facebook - Good Move!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Who Will Make the NHL Playoffs in the West in 2012?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=James_D._Silver]James D. Silver
It's that time of the year for NHL predictions, and here are our picks for the top 8 spots in the West:
1. Vancouver Canucks: Happily for the fans in Vancouver, the Canucks have reached the point where they will do very well during the season and most likely will win their conference. But the fans want more. They've gone to the 7th game of the Stanley Cup, and nothing will be satisfying until they win it. We expect the Canucks to have the best record in the West this year, and maybe even have home team advantage throughout the playoffs.
2. Detroit Red Wings: There is a value in bringing back the same players from the previous year, and the Red Wings will have the advantage of consistency and experience. Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Daysuk are top-notch players who may be able to carry the team. We expect Detroit to win the Central Division. They may not be deep, but their stars should be able to make the difference.
3. Los Angeles Kings: We just have a feeling the Kings will do well this year. We can't explain why. We just figure they'll be third.
4. Anaheim Ducks: We think it's great to have a regional rivalry between the Kings and the Ducks, and we expect both to be fighting it out throughout the season. Let's hope it generates some sparks, some drama and some fan interest in Southern California. A high level of competition between the two is predicated on goalie Jonas Hiller recovering and returning to his former self. Otherwise, they will slip a few places in our expectations.
5. Chicago Blackhawks. Sorry. We're not on the Blackhawk wagon. If they gel, we could be wrong, but for time being, we think they will disappoint the Chicago fans who expect them to seriously get back in the Stanley Cup hunt this year.
6. St. Louis Blues. We expect them to make the playoffs, but wouldn't be shocked if everything came together and they finished in the top 4 in the West
7. San Jose Sharks. We just don't like the new players, who all are in the minus category on goals while they are on the ice. A number of improvements at other teams will yield more competition and lower expectations on where they finish in the Pacific Division. Goalie Steve Mason is the kind of guy who can get hot, so even if the Sharks just squeeze into the playoffs, if he starts throwing shutouts, they could make it deep into the playoffs
8. rel=nofollow [http://sportadore.com/NHL/CentralDivision/Columbus-Blue-Jackets/Tweets]Columbus Blue Jackets. The 8th spot is up for grabs, and I'm going to make the choice as a homer - the Bluethings will make the playoffs. They had a great start last year, and I am hoping they can start strong this year, but finish strong as well. If I'm wrong, they could drop 5 spots or so.
I should really add the Calgary Flames, as if I were really objective and rational, I'd pick them against the Columbus Bluewhatevers. But I am not objective and rational, so I've made my picks accordingly.
Get the last [http://sportadore.com/NHL]NHL rumours and tweets on Sportadore.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Who-Will-Make-the-NHL-Playoffs-in-the-West-in-2012?&id=6580920] Who Will Make the NHL Playoffs in the West in 2012?
It's that time of the year for NHL predictions, and here are our picks for the top 8 spots in the West:
1. Vancouver Canucks: Happily for the fans in Vancouver, the Canucks have reached the point where they will do very well during the season and most likely will win their conference. But the fans want more. They've gone to the 7th game of the Stanley Cup, and nothing will be satisfying until they win it. We expect the Canucks to have the best record in the West this year, and maybe even have home team advantage throughout the playoffs.
2. Detroit Red Wings: There is a value in bringing back the same players from the previous year, and the Red Wings will have the advantage of consistency and experience. Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Daysuk are top-notch players who may be able to carry the team. We expect Detroit to win the Central Division. They may not be deep, but their stars should be able to make the difference.
3. Los Angeles Kings: We just have a feeling the Kings will do well this year. We can't explain why. We just figure they'll be third.
4. Anaheim Ducks: We think it's great to have a regional rivalry between the Kings and the Ducks, and we expect both to be fighting it out throughout the season. Let's hope it generates some sparks, some drama and some fan interest in Southern California. A high level of competition between the two is predicated on goalie Jonas Hiller recovering and returning to his former self. Otherwise, they will slip a few places in our expectations.
5. Chicago Blackhawks. Sorry. We're not on the Blackhawk wagon. If they gel, we could be wrong, but for time being, we think they will disappoint the Chicago fans who expect them to seriously get back in the Stanley Cup hunt this year.
6. St. Louis Blues. We expect them to make the playoffs, but wouldn't be shocked if everything came together and they finished in the top 4 in the West
7. San Jose Sharks. We just don't like the new players, who all are in the minus category on goals while they are on the ice. A number of improvements at other teams will yield more competition and lower expectations on where they finish in the Pacific Division. Goalie Steve Mason is the kind of guy who can get hot, so even if the Sharks just squeeze into the playoffs, if he starts throwing shutouts, they could make it deep into the playoffs
8. rel=nofollow [http://sportadore.com/NHL/CentralDivision/Columbus-Blue-Jackets/Tweets]Columbus Blue Jackets. The 8th spot is up for grabs, and I'm going to make the choice as a homer - the Bluethings will make the playoffs. They had a great start last year, and I am hoping they can start strong this year, but finish strong as well. If I'm wrong, they could drop 5 spots or so.
I should really add the Calgary Flames, as if I were really objective and rational, I'd pick them against the Columbus Bluewhatevers. But I am not objective and rational, so I've made my picks accordingly.
Get the last [http://sportadore.com/NHL]NHL rumours and tweets on Sportadore.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Who-Will-Make-the-NHL-Playoffs-in-the-West-in-2012?&id=6580920] Who Will Make the NHL Playoffs in the West in 2012?
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Who Will Make the NHL Playoffs From the East in 2012?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=James_D._Silver]James D. Silver
Having talked about the Playoff Ins and Playoff Outs in the NHL West in the last two articles, today we are making our predictions of who will make the playoffs from the East.
1. Washington Capitals: Sure, they'll win the Southeast. That's easy. But can Alexander Ovechkin and company have the best record in the East? We think so. They'll have easy pickings in their own division, and we expect them to hold their own with everyone else.
2. Pittsburgh Penguins: Sid Crosby will be back, which of course increases their chances to win the East. Plus, they have a solid team and good goaltending. We look for the Penguins to be a major force, no matter where they end up in the regular season.
3. Montreal Canadiens: It's so good to see the Canadiens as a force in the NHL. They are improved over last year, but we feel that were over-performing, as indicated by their exit from the playoffs. So, we look for a more realistic finish for Andrei Markov and his cohorts this year.
4. Buffalo Sabres: Goaltending is important. Ryan Miller is very good. But, we don't think the Sabres have it to make it to the top during the regular season. Yet we do think they will make the playoffs, based our observations of their relatively steady, if unexciting, play.
5. Boston Bruins: Stanley Cup Champs! How can we pick the Sabres above them? We look for the excitement and energy to be at a lower level this year for the Boston team, and we won't be surprised if the Bruins lose in their first playoff series. We're going against the flow here, as some Las Vegas odds makers have the Bruins as 3rd or 4th in the NHL this year.
6. New York Rangers: Most feel the Rangers will improve over last year, when they had difficulty with consistency and difficulty in the locker room. Henrik Lundvist and his crew should show some improvement, but it is hard to pick them in the top 4 of the East.
7. Philadelphia Flyers: The Flyers are a hard read. They could end up a top 4 team if they gel with all the additions. Jaromir Jagr is a wild card, and how he plays will be quite meaningful for their final positioning. They will definitely make the playoffs, but it is tough to place them, so we're basically throwing darts on this one.
8. rel=nofollow [http://sportadore.com/NHL/SoutheastDivision/Tampa-Bay-Lightning/Tweets]Tampa Bay Lightning: What happened to Steven Samkos in the second half last year? We hope whatever it was is now behind him. If he gets back to form, we expect the team to make the playoffs.
Next up: Our predictions on who won't make the playoffs from the NHL East.
Get the latest [http://sportadore.com/NHL]NHL rumours and tweets on Sportadore.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Who-Will-Make-the-NHL-Playoffs-From-the-East-in-2012?&id=6580936] Who Will Make the NHL Playoffs From the East in 2012?
Having talked about the Playoff Ins and Playoff Outs in the NHL West in the last two articles, today we are making our predictions of who will make the playoffs from the East.
1. Washington Capitals: Sure, they'll win the Southeast. That's easy. But can Alexander Ovechkin and company have the best record in the East? We think so. They'll have easy pickings in their own division, and we expect them to hold their own with everyone else.
2. Pittsburgh Penguins: Sid Crosby will be back, which of course increases their chances to win the East. Plus, they have a solid team and good goaltending. We look for the Penguins to be a major force, no matter where they end up in the regular season.
3. Montreal Canadiens: It's so good to see the Canadiens as a force in the NHL. They are improved over last year, but we feel that were over-performing, as indicated by their exit from the playoffs. So, we look for a more realistic finish for Andrei Markov and his cohorts this year.
4. Buffalo Sabres: Goaltending is important. Ryan Miller is very good. But, we don't think the Sabres have it to make it to the top during the regular season. Yet we do think they will make the playoffs, based our observations of their relatively steady, if unexciting, play.
5. Boston Bruins: Stanley Cup Champs! How can we pick the Sabres above them? We look for the excitement and energy to be at a lower level this year for the Boston team, and we won't be surprised if the Bruins lose in their first playoff series. We're going against the flow here, as some Las Vegas odds makers have the Bruins as 3rd or 4th in the NHL this year.
6. New York Rangers: Most feel the Rangers will improve over last year, when they had difficulty with consistency and difficulty in the locker room. Henrik Lundvist and his crew should show some improvement, but it is hard to pick them in the top 4 of the East.
7. Philadelphia Flyers: The Flyers are a hard read. They could end up a top 4 team if they gel with all the additions. Jaromir Jagr is a wild card, and how he plays will be quite meaningful for their final positioning. They will definitely make the playoffs, but it is tough to place them, so we're basically throwing darts on this one.
8. rel=nofollow [http://sportadore.com/NHL/SoutheastDivision/Tampa-Bay-Lightning/Tweets]Tampa Bay Lightning: What happened to Steven Samkos in the second half last year? We hope whatever it was is now behind him. If he gets back to form, we expect the team to make the playoffs.
Next up: Our predictions on who won't make the playoffs from the NHL East.
Get the latest [http://sportadore.com/NHL]NHL rumours and tweets on Sportadore.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Who-Will-Make-the-NHL-Playoffs-From-the-East-in-2012?&id=6580936] Who Will Make the NHL Playoffs From the East in 2012?
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Johnny Bower and the Rookie Card Class of the 1954-55 Parkhurst Series
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tom_Samworth]Tom Samworth
The 1954-55 Parkhurst series consisted of 100 hockey cards and currently a full set is valued at up to $4000. A common card is the series is currently worth up to $25, according to Beckett Hockey Monthly. 1954-55 marked the first year that Parkhurst shared the cardboard glory with Topps, a yearly duo that would last until the 1963-64 season.
Four rookie cards were included in the 1954-55 Parkhurst series that are of significance. Gordie Howe might have the highest valued card at $600 but the rookie card of goaltender Johnny Bower is not far behind at $400.
The number 65 card of Johnny Bower is an uncorrected error, with his name spelled Bowers. Bower played all 70 games for the New York Rangers in his rookie season, 1953-54. However, Johnny played just five games in 1954-55 and two more in 1956-57. It wasn't until 1958-59, after shifting to the Toronto Maple Leafs organization that Bower became a regular for good. Bower played for Toronto until retiring after playing just one game in 1969-70.
Johnny Bower was a two-time Vezina Trophy winner with Toronto. Johnny was a huge part of the Leafs winning four Stanley Cups during the 1960's. In 1976, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The second most valuable of the rookie rel=nofollow [http://www.vintagehockeycardsreport.com/]hockey cards from the 1954-55 set is somewhat of an oddity. Fred Sasakamoose played just 11 games during the 1953-54 season with the Chicago Black Hawks and never played another NHL game again. The 1954-55 Parkhurst number 82 is the only hockey card of Sasakamoose. What is the significance? Fred is the first Aboriginal to play in the NHL.
The other two significant rookie cards belong to two players that had somewhat parallel hockey careers. The 57 of Doug Mohns and the 74 of Dean Prentice are both valued at $40. Each played junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey Association during the 1951-52 and 1952-53 season. However, Prentice moved up to the NHL during that season, whereas Mohns didn't begin his pro career until 1953-54. Each played 22 seasons in the NHL with Mohns playing 1390 games to Prentice's 1378.
After two Memorial Cup championship seasons with the Barrie Flyers of the OHA, Doug Mohns went straight to the NHL as a regular with the Boston Bruins. Mohns played in the NHL until the end of the 1974-75 season with the Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Minnesota North Stars, Atlanta Flames and Washington Capitals.
Interestingly, Mohns is the only one of the four mentioned here that also had a card in the 1954-55 Topps series. The number 18 card in the Topps set is also considered a rookie card and is worth considerably more than the Parkhurst card at $125.
Dean Prentice played his OHA hockey with the Guelph Biltmores. He started the 1952-53 season with Guelph but finished up with 55 games with the New York Rangers. Prentice played until 1973-74 with the Rangers, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota North Stars.
Tom is the author of http://www.vintagehockeycardsreport.com (Vintage Hockey Cards Report). Vintage Hockey Cards Report provides information on a wide range of vintage hockey cards and the players that appear on them. One focus is to provide a real eBay pricing guide based on the winning bids of vintage hockey cards on eBay auctions.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Johnny-Bower-and-the-Rookie-Card-Class-of-the-1954-55-Parkhurst-Series&id=6595519] Johnny Bower and the Rookie Card Class of the 1954-55 Parkhurst Series
The 1954-55 Parkhurst series consisted of 100 hockey cards and currently a full set is valued at up to $4000. A common card is the series is currently worth up to $25, according to Beckett Hockey Monthly. 1954-55 marked the first year that Parkhurst shared the cardboard glory with Topps, a yearly duo that would last until the 1963-64 season.
Four rookie cards were included in the 1954-55 Parkhurst series that are of significance. Gordie Howe might have the highest valued card at $600 but the rookie card of goaltender Johnny Bower is not far behind at $400.
The number 65 card of Johnny Bower is an uncorrected error, with his name spelled Bowers. Bower played all 70 games for the New York Rangers in his rookie season, 1953-54. However, Johnny played just five games in 1954-55 and two more in 1956-57. It wasn't until 1958-59, after shifting to the Toronto Maple Leafs organization that Bower became a regular for good. Bower played for Toronto until retiring after playing just one game in 1969-70.
Johnny Bower was a two-time Vezina Trophy winner with Toronto. Johnny was a huge part of the Leafs winning four Stanley Cups during the 1960's. In 1976, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
The second most valuable of the rookie rel=nofollow [http://www.vintagehockeycardsreport.com/]hockey cards from the 1954-55 set is somewhat of an oddity. Fred Sasakamoose played just 11 games during the 1953-54 season with the Chicago Black Hawks and never played another NHL game again. The 1954-55 Parkhurst number 82 is the only hockey card of Sasakamoose. What is the significance? Fred is the first Aboriginal to play in the NHL.
The other two significant rookie cards belong to two players that had somewhat parallel hockey careers. The 57 of Doug Mohns and the 74 of Dean Prentice are both valued at $40. Each played junior hockey in the Ontario Hockey Association during the 1951-52 and 1952-53 season. However, Prentice moved up to the NHL during that season, whereas Mohns didn't begin his pro career until 1953-54. Each played 22 seasons in the NHL with Mohns playing 1390 games to Prentice's 1378.
After two Memorial Cup championship seasons with the Barrie Flyers of the OHA, Doug Mohns went straight to the NHL as a regular with the Boston Bruins. Mohns played in the NHL until the end of the 1974-75 season with the Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Minnesota North Stars, Atlanta Flames and Washington Capitals.
Interestingly, Mohns is the only one of the four mentioned here that also had a card in the 1954-55 Topps series. The number 18 card in the Topps set is also considered a rookie card and is worth considerably more than the Parkhurst card at $125.
Dean Prentice played his OHA hockey with the Guelph Biltmores. He started the 1952-53 season with Guelph but finished up with 55 games with the New York Rangers. Prentice played until 1973-74 with the Rangers, Boston Bruins, Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Minnesota North Stars.
Tom is the author of http://www.vintagehockeycardsreport.com (Vintage Hockey Cards Report). Vintage Hockey Cards Report provides information on a wide range of vintage hockey cards and the players that appear on them. One focus is to provide a real eBay pricing guide based on the winning bids of vintage hockey cards on eBay auctions.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Johnny-Bower-and-the-Rookie-Card-Class-of-the-1954-55-Parkhurst-Series&id=6595519] Johnny Bower and the Rookie Card Class of the 1954-55 Parkhurst Series
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Who Will Miss the NHL Playoffs From the West in 2012?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=James_D._Silver]James D. Silver
Yesterday, I predicted the top eight teams in the West, with a caveat that, while picking the Columbus Blue Jackets for the last playoff spot, it is more than likely that Calgary will be there instead. So, I have no choice but leading with the Flames on the list of teams that we think won't make the playoffs.
1. Calgary Flames: If I were completely objective and rational, I'd put Calgary into the playoffs, based on the way they finished last season. If they keep that rate up, they can do even better than eighth. They lost defenseman Robgyn Regehr over the summer, and they didn't add much, so there is a good chance they won't play as well as they did late in the last season. Who knows? This is a big guess anyway.
2. Phoenix Coyotes: The loss of Ilya Bryzgalov in goal will be devastating. So will be the departure of Vewrnon Fiddler, Ed Jovanovski, and Eric Belanger. It's hard to see how the offseason additions will make up for the offseason losses. Having said that, though, if things click, the Coyotes still could make the playoffs.
3. Minnesota Wild: Defense seems to be a challenge this year. Plus, it looks like a front office "tear it down before we build it back up" situation. So, why then, are we picking the Wild at 11th rather than lower? We think they'll play reasonable solid hockey for the talent level that they have in place.
4. rel=nofollow [http://sportadore.com/NHL/CentralDivision/Nashville-Predators/Tweets]Nashville Predators: A lot of people think Nashville, coming off a playoff win last year, will improve this year. In fact, it would be easy to pick them for the last playoff spot. But, it just seems that things just aren't right. They lost a lot of people in the summer, and I'm not sure really good players like Shea Weber can make enough of a difference.
5. Edmonton Oilers: We love Edmonton fans. We think they need a moral victory, if not the first choice in the NFL draft. So, we're not picking them last. We're picking them two spots from last. We can't see the Oilers making the playoffs, but we can see them dropping below 13th.
6. Colorado Avalanche: The Avalanche are in a deep amount of hurt. But maybe not. Maybe the will squeeze into the playoffs. Maybe we are out of our minds to pick them this low. New goaltenders are always scary. Look for a tough year in Denver.
7. Dallas Stars: We may be the only people who pick Dallas last. The ownership issues make things tough. They won't make the playoffs. Quite simply, they need to rebuild, and that's what they will do. Look for them to get a very high draft pick.
Get the latest [http://sportadore.com/NHL]NHL rumours and tweets on Sportadore.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Who-Will-Miss-the-NHL-Playoffs-From-the-West-in-2012?&id=6580928] Who Will Miss the NHL Playoffs From the West in 2012?
Yesterday, I predicted the top eight teams in the West, with a caveat that, while picking the Columbus Blue Jackets for the last playoff spot, it is more than likely that Calgary will be there instead. So, I have no choice but leading with the Flames on the list of teams that we think won't make the playoffs.
1. Calgary Flames: If I were completely objective and rational, I'd put Calgary into the playoffs, based on the way they finished last season. If they keep that rate up, they can do even better than eighth. They lost defenseman Robgyn Regehr over the summer, and they didn't add much, so there is a good chance they won't play as well as they did late in the last season. Who knows? This is a big guess anyway.
2. Phoenix Coyotes: The loss of Ilya Bryzgalov in goal will be devastating. So will be the departure of Vewrnon Fiddler, Ed Jovanovski, and Eric Belanger. It's hard to see how the offseason additions will make up for the offseason losses. Having said that, though, if things click, the Coyotes still could make the playoffs.
3. Minnesota Wild: Defense seems to be a challenge this year. Plus, it looks like a front office "tear it down before we build it back up" situation. So, why then, are we picking the Wild at 11th rather than lower? We think they'll play reasonable solid hockey for the talent level that they have in place.
4. rel=nofollow [http://sportadore.com/NHL/CentralDivision/Nashville-Predators/Tweets]Nashville Predators: A lot of people think Nashville, coming off a playoff win last year, will improve this year. In fact, it would be easy to pick them for the last playoff spot. But, it just seems that things just aren't right. They lost a lot of people in the summer, and I'm not sure really good players like Shea Weber can make enough of a difference.
5. Edmonton Oilers: We love Edmonton fans. We think they need a moral victory, if not the first choice in the NFL draft. So, we're not picking them last. We're picking them two spots from last. We can't see the Oilers making the playoffs, but we can see them dropping below 13th.
6. Colorado Avalanche: The Avalanche are in a deep amount of hurt. But maybe not. Maybe the will squeeze into the playoffs. Maybe we are out of our minds to pick them this low. New goaltenders are always scary. Look for a tough year in Denver.
7. Dallas Stars: We may be the only people who pick Dallas last. The ownership issues make things tough. They won't make the playoffs. Quite simply, they need to rebuild, and that's what they will do. Look for them to get a very high draft pick.
Get the latest [http://sportadore.com/NHL]NHL rumours and tweets on Sportadore.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Who-Will-Miss-the-NHL-Playoffs-From-the-West-in-2012?&id=6580928] Who Will Miss the NHL Playoffs From the West in 2012?
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Finding the Best Ice Hockey Drills Online
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Sean_Skinner]Sean Skinner
Ice hockey is a fantastic energy-filled game, and that really captures the interest of many boys as young as eight years of age. The key to success in ice hockey lies in developing overall body strength, honing skating techniques, and improving stick-ball coordination techniques. As such, a wide variety of hockey drills are needed for practice and training purposes to bolster the performance of the aspiring players. Some of the most renowned hockey drills include running the scrimmage, shootout, passing horseshoe, British bulldog, pig in the middle, triangle drill, preparations station drill, loose ball scramble, pressing drills, 3v2 drill with counter attack, and so forth.
The aforementioned hockey drills are what every player, and by extension the team, aspires and strives to perfect on. This also means that different teams will naturally work on the same skills sets and therefore most teams will more or less be on the same level. However, it is common knowledge that to become better you need to adopt new sets of skills or different approaches - which other players and coaches have no clue about. Nowadays, developing new tactics and skills involves plenty of scientific research and working with actual data to discover improved body movements that are needed to enable players to become more versatile, quicker and more powerful, just like the many hall of famers of this fantastic game.
Modern ice hockey drills are based on programs that are geared at developing skills, systems, conditioning, sense, strengths, tactics, positioning, and dry-land training. The earlier (especially in early teen-hood) the hockey player is introduced to these skills the better positioned he or she becomes with regards to breaking into college and professional ice hockey leagues. This research is also geared at studying and bringing together techniques used by different ice hockey playing nations and clubs. The material is then presented in the form of DVDs and symposiums, and even during practical hockey sessions with these professionals - after all they have to practice what they preach.
Many hockey teams are finding these new techniques of training helpful because if the professional demonstrates and applies a new technique successfully, then it instills a sense of "I can do it" in the budding players. Sometimes it is all about actually seeing someone doing something differently that pulls the playing-better trigger. Some of the hockey drills covered in these materials include stick-handling instructions and hockey skating skills, and with regards to some recent developments the skills sets include the variable goals training model and material making reference to productive breakaways, shootouts and penalty shots. You can also find professional coaches for hire online who offer specialty mini clinics and weeklong training sessions that include one-on-one training with individual players as well as overall team training.
For more information about hockey drills please visit to http://www.skinnerhockey.com/
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Finding-the-Best-Ice-Hockey-Drills-Online&id=6597522] Finding the Best Ice Hockey Drills Online
Ice hockey is a fantastic energy-filled game, and that really captures the interest of many boys as young as eight years of age. The key to success in ice hockey lies in developing overall body strength, honing skating techniques, and improving stick-ball coordination techniques. As such, a wide variety of hockey drills are needed for practice and training purposes to bolster the performance of the aspiring players. Some of the most renowned hockey drills include running the scrimmage, shootout, passing horseshoe, British bulldog, pig in the middle, triangle drill, preparations station drill, loose ball scramble, pressing drills, 3v2 drill with counter attack, and so forth.
The aforementioned hockey drills are what every player, and by extension the team, aspires and strives to perfect on. This also means that different teams will naturally work on the same skills sets and therefore most teams will more or less be on the same level. However, it is common knowledge that to become better you need to adopt new sets of skills or different approaches - which other players and coaches have no clue about. Nowadays, developing new tactics and skills involves plenty of scientific research and working with actual data to discover improved body movements that are needed to enable players to become more versatile, quicker and more powerful, just like the many hall of famers of this fantastic game.
Modern ice hockey drills are based on programs that are geared at developing skills, systems, conditioning, sense, strengths, tactics, positioning, and dry-land training. The earlier (especially in early teen-hood) the hockey player is introduced to these skills the better positioned he or she becomes with regards to breaking into college and professional ice hockey leagues. This research is also geared at studying and bringing together techniques used by different ice hockey playing nations and clubs. The material is then presented in the form of DVDs and symposiums, and even during practical hockey sessions with these professionals - after all they have to practice what they preach.
Many hockey teams are finding these new techniques of training helpful because if the professional demonstrates and applies a new technique successfully, then it instills a sense of "I can do it" in the budding players. Sometimes it is all about actually seeing someone doing something differently that pulls the playing-better trigger. Some of the hockey drills covered in these materials include stick-handling instructions and hockey skating skills, and with regards to some recent developments the skills sets include the variable goals training model and material making reference to productive breakaways, shootouts and penalty shots. You can also find professional coaches for hire online who offer specialty mini clinics and weeklong training sessions that include one-on-one training with individual players as well as overall team training.
For more information about hockey drills please visit to http://www.skinnerhockey.com/
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Finding-the-Best-Ice-Hockey-Drills-Online&id=6597522] Finding the Best Ice Hockey Drills Online
Friday, November 18, 2011
New and More Efficient Hockey Training Equipment
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Sean_Skinner]Sean Skinner
Success in any crowded field (with reference to sports) often comes by aiming to do things differently or with the help of better resources. The sentiments are quite true in the case of ice hockey; using the same old hockey training equipment will not get you very far in terms of developing new skills or achieving improved results. Luckily, ongoing research that involves manufacturers working in conjunction with players to develop new and better equipment has yielded some credible results. Let us examine a few of them.
The puck has for years been the centre of interest with researchers looking to develop designs that will enable players to push it faster, and handle and strike it better. This initiative has seen people practice with heavier pucks and even golf balls. However, the best ball with regards to developing versatile and quick hands is the Swedish Stickhandling ball, a wooden ball that is mostly used in dry land training environments. It is ideal for pre warm up sessions whereby it helps to stimulate the neurological motors in the hands thus developing quicker responsive patterns. This is possible because the ball basically is lighter and as such it moves faster on ice as compared to the puck. Heavier balls cannot develop quick hands as they offer more friction and therefore players can instead use them for resistance training which is geared at developing strength. Unlike the golf ball, the Swedish ball does not bounce and hence it fully mimics the motions of the puck.
The shooting bungie (bungee) cord is another addition to the modern hockey training equipment. This cord is used to improve a player's shooting strength and speed. It is basically an elasticized rope with two O-rings, one at either end and with one bigger than the other. One end is attached to a non-movable wall fixture while the other is attached to the hockey stick. The elastic cord provides some resistance to the stick's motion and hence you develop greater strength as you practice snap shots, backhand shots and wrist shots. Following a training regimen based on 2 to 3 sets of 20 to 30 reps for two months, players have reported speed increments of up to 10mph. This piece of equipment fully mimics the shot motion under pressure thus helping the player to develop the right range of motion.
Yet another product aimed at improving shot power is the SkinnerShooter. This equipment brings to shooting a unique tracking concept - a quality that sets it apart from other tubing products in the market. This is so because it is made of resistance bands and a pulley system that allows for the tracking of the travel of the stick while keeping the load on the blade of the stick constant. In shooting motions the wrists must make a turn in what is referred to as "Lock and Load", and as the shot is taken the wrists must turn again, implying that the hands work in opposites. The essence of this hockey training equipment is therefore to strengthen the muscles involved in the shooting action so as to improve the power of the shot.
For more information about hockey training equipment please visit to http://www.skinnerhockey.com/
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?New-and-More-Efficient-Hockey-Training-Equipment&id=6597526] New and More Efficient Hockey Training Equipment
Success in any crowded field (with reference to sports) often comes by aiming to do things differently or with the help of better resources. The sentiments are quite true in the case of ice hockey; using the same old hockey training equipment will not get you very far in terms of developing new skills or achieving improved results. Luckily, ongoing research that involves manufacturers working in conjunction with players to develop new and better equipment has yielded some credible results. Let us examine a few of them.
The puck has for years been the centre of interest with researchers looking to develop designs that will enable players to push it faster, and handle and strike it better. This initiative has seen people practice with heavier pucks and even golf balls. However, the best ball with regards to developing versatile and quick hands is the Swedish Stickhandling ball, a wooden ball that is mostly used in dry land training environments. It is ideal for pre warm up sessions whereby it helps to stimulate the neurological motors in the hands thus developing quicker responsive patterns. This is possible because the ball basically is lighter and as such it moves faster on ice as compared to the puck. Heavier balls cannot develop quick hands as they offer more friction and therefore players can instead use them for resistance training which is geared at developing strength. Unlike the golf ball, the Swedish ball does not bounce and hence it fully mimics the motions of the puck.
The shooting bungie (bungee) cord is another addition to the modern hockey training equipment. This cord is used to improve a player's shooting strength and speed. It is basically an elasticized rope with two O-rings, one at either end and with one bigger than the other. One end is attached to a non-movable wall fixture while the other is attached to the hockey stick. The elastic cord provides some resistance to the stick's motion and hence you develop greater strength as you practice snap shots, backhand shots and wrist shots. Following a training regimen based on 2 to 3 sets of 20 to 30 reps for two months, players have reported speed increments of up to 10mph. This piece of equipment fully mimics the shot motion under pressure thus helping the player to develop the right range of motion.
Yet another product aimed at improving shot power is the SkinnerShooter. This equipment brings to shooting a unique tracking concept - a quality that sets it apart from other tubing products in the market. This is so because it is made of resistance bands and a pulley system that allows for the tracking of the travel of the stick while keeping the load on the blade of the stick constant. In shooting motions the wrists must make a turn in what is referred to as "Lock and Load", and as the shot is taken the wrists must turn again, implying that the hands work in opposites. The essence of this hockey training equipment is therefore to strengthen the muscles involved in the shooting action so as to improve the power of the shot.
For more information about hockey training equipment please visit to http://www.skinnerhockey.com/
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?New-and-More-Efficient-Hockey-Training-Equipment&id=6597526] New and More Efficient Hockey Training Equipment
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Who Won't Make the Playoffs From the NHL East in 2012?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=James_D._Silver]James D. Silver
It is possible that the New Jersey Devils could squeeze in, but we're not willing to take that as a solid position. Some are even predicting that the Charlotte Whalers will make the playoffs, but we don't see that.
Here is how we expect the rest of East to finish this year. As with any predictions of who doesn't make the playoffs, there is lo's of room for error.
1. New Jersey Devils: Will Ilya Kovalchuk be average? Is Martin Brodeur too old? It's a tough call, as everything depends on the contributions of just a few of the top performers on the team. If the top guys don't deliver, the Devils could be looking at a lot worse positioning than 9th.
2. Carolina Hurricanes: We like Eric Staal. We like Cam Ward. We are still upset that the Whalers are no longer in Hartford, so our picks always understate where we expect the Hurricanes to end up. Hockey in Charlotte. Ugh. Don't get us going.
3. Toronto Maple Leafs: We love the city of Toronto, just like we love Montreal and Quebec, but in a different sort of way. We really, really want the Toronto Maple Leafs to win, because we want the nice people in Toronto to have a sense of what it is like to be a winner in the NHL. But, we really, really don't think it is this year. Sorry.
4. Winnipeg Jets: There will be lots of energy in Winnipeg with the return of the Jets. So, we won't be surprised if they over-perform. It would be great for the city of Winnipeg if they squeezed into the playoffs, but we just don't see it. There is lots of room for optimism on defense, but it will be tough to get enough offense to pull it off.
5. Ottawa Senators: Everyone expects Ottawa to finish last. Since we don't want to be like everyone, we are predicting that they will finish third from last. Basically, the kids need to do well just so they can feel good about the future. Then, who knows, maybe getting a number one draft pick is in the cards!
6. Florida Panthers. Let's give the Panthers credit for a number of key signings over the summer. But, we don't see them as doing anything but fighting for a top draft choice
7. New York Islanders: So, what good can we say about the Islanders? Ah. Um. Hmm. Goaltending - Nope. Defense - Nope. Offense - Nope. Oh, wait, I have it. They are young, and someday they may be good!! Unfortunately, not today.
Get the latest [http://sportadore.com/NHL]NHL news and tweets on Sportadore.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Who-Wont-Make-the-Playoffs-From-the-NHL-East-in-2012?&id=6603533] Who Won't Make the Playoffs From the NHL East in 2012?
It is possible that the New Jersey Devils could squeeze in, but we're not willing to take that as a solid position. Some are even predicting that the Charlotte Whalers will make the playoffs, but we don't see that.
Here is how we expect the rest of East to finish this year. As with any predictions of who doesn't make the playoffs, there is lo's of room for error.
1. New Jersey Devils: Will Ilya Kovalchuk be average? Is Martin Brodeur too old? It's a tough call, as everything depends on the contributions of just a few of the top performers on the team. If the top guys don't deliver, the Devils could be looking at a lot worse positioning than 9th.
2. Carolina Hurricanes: We like Eric Staal. We like Cam Ward. We are still upset that the Whalers are no longer in Hartford, so our picks always understate where we expect the Hurricanes to end up. Hockey in Charlotte. Ugh. Don't get us going.
3. Toronto Maple Leafs: We love the city of Toronto, just like we love Montreal and Quebec, but in a different sort of way. We really, really want the Toronto Maple Leafs to win, because we want the nice people in Toronto to have a sense of what it is like to be a winner in the NHL. But, we really, really don't think it is this year. Sorry.
4. Winnipeg Jets: There will be lots of energy in Winnipeg with the return of the Jets. So, we won't be surprised if they over-perform. It would be great for the city of Winnipeg if they squeezed into the playoffs, but we just don't see it. There is lots of room for optimism on defense, but it will be tough to get enough offense to pull it off.
5. Ottawa Senators: Everyone expects Ottawa to finish last. Since we don't want to be like everyone, we are predicting that they will finish third from last. Basically, the kids need to do well just so they can feel good about the future. Then, who knows, maybe getting a number one draft pick is in the cards!
6. Florida Panthers. Let's give the Panthers credit for a number of key signings over the summer. But, we don't see them as doing anything but fighting for a top draft choice
7. New York Islanders: So, what good can we say about the Islanders? Ah. Um. Hmm. Goaltending - Nope. Defense - Nope. Offense - Nope. Oh, wait, I have it. They are young, and someday they may be good!! Unfortunately, not today.
Get the latest [http://sportadore.com/NHL]NHL news and tweets on Sportadore.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Who-Wont-Make-the-Playoffs-From-the-NHL-East-in-2012?&id=6603533] Who Won't Make the Playoffs From the NHL East in 2012?
Monday, November 14, 2011
Who Will Win the Stanley Cup in 2012?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=James_D._Silver]James D. Silver
Let's start with who we expect to get through the first round of the playoffs:
� Vancouver
� Detroit
� Los Angeles
� Chicago
� Washington
� Pittsburgh
� Boston
� Montreal
We wouldn't be surprised if the Buffalo Sabres and St. Louis Blues break through the first round, and we know there are always upsets in the first round. But, this year, we figure there will be enough of a difference between the top and bottom four teams in each division, that we expect the top teams to come out of the first round relatively unscathed. With this said, we'll stick with the above, which includes a couple of first round upsets from where we expect teams will finish in the regular season.
The Vancouver Canucks are on a mission and the Detroit Red Wings just seems to be headed in the right direction, so we're picking them to win the second round in the West. Chicago could make to the second round as could the Kings. Heck, even Anaheim could make it, but no matter how things go, we expect Vancouver will have the top seed throughout the West playoffs, and we expect them to win in the first two rounds.
In the East, we're picking the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins to make it through the second round. Sidney Crosby's return will make a big difference for the Penguins, and as with the Canucks, we think the Capitals will be on a mission this year.
It's awfully hard to repeat a Stanley Cup win nowadays, and the Boston Bruins are just not a team that separates itself from the other 5 or 6 top teams, so we see them bowing out in the playoffs, maybe in the first round, but more than likely in the second round. Montreal could make it to the Final-Two in the East, which would make for a really exciting series, but they would need to get really hot, something that they may not be up to this year.
As for our Stanley Cup matchup, we're pegging the Washington Capitals and Vancouver Canucks - two teams that have won conferences and played well in recent regular seasons, but haven't come away with the big prize. Fans of both teams expect them to be in the finals, and anything other than a Stanley Cup from either team will be a disappoint for their respective fans.
Washington is a bit older and will soon begin regressing in quality to slip back into the pack, so we expect their players will have the most motivation and drive to win now. So, we're predicting that the Washington Capitals will win the Stanley Cup in 2012. But, just so it's clear where we think things are trending, we have no problem in predicting that the rel=nofollow [http://sportadore.com/NHL/NorthwestDivision/Vancouver-Canucks/Tweets]Vancouver Canucks will win it all in 2013!
Get the latest [http://sportadore.com/NHL]NHL news and tweets on Sportadore.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Who-Will-Win-the-Stanley-Cup-in-2012?&id=6603539] Who Will Win the Stanley Cup in 2012?
Let's start with who we expect to get through the first round of the playoffs:
� Vancouver
� Detroit
� Los Angeles
� Chicago
� Washington
� Pittsburgh
� Boston
� Montreal
We wouldn't be surprised if the Buffalo Sabres and St. Louis Blues break through the first round, and we know there are always upsets in the first round. But, this year, we figure there will be enough of a difference between the top and bottom four teams in each division, that we expect the top teams to come out of the first round relatively unscathed. With this said, we'll stick with the above, which includes a couple of first round upsets from where we expect teams will finish in the regular season.
The Vancouver Canucks are on a mission and the Detroit Red Wings just seems to be headed in the right direction, so we're picking them to win the second round in the West. Chicago could make to the second round as could the Kings. Heck, even Anaheim could make it, but no matter how things go, we expect Vancouver will have the top seed throughout the West playoffs, and we expect them to win in the first two rounds.
In the East, we're picking the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins to make it through the second round. Sidney Crosby's return will make a big difference for the Penguins, and as with the Canucks, we think the Capitals will be on a mission this year.
It's awfully hard to repeat a Stanley Cup win nowadays, and the Boston Bruins are just not a team that separates itself from the other 5 or 6 top teams, so we see them bowing out in the playoffs, maybe in the first round, but more than likely in the second round. Montreal could make it to the Final-Two in the East, which would make for a really exciting series, but they would need to get really hot, something that they may not be up to this year.
As for our Stanley Cup matchup, we're pegging the Washington Capitals and Vancouver Canucks - two teams that have won conferences and played well in recent regular seasons, but haven't come away with the big prize. Fans of both teams expect them to be in the finals, and anything other than a Stanley Cup from either team will be a disappoint for their respective fans.
Washington is a bit older and will soon begin regressing in quality to slip back into the pack, so we expect their players will have the most motivation and drive to win now. So, we're predicting that the Washington Capitals will win the Stanley Cup in 2012. But, just so it's clear where we think things are trending, we have no problem in predicting that the rel=nofollow [http://sportadore.com/NHL/NorthwestDivision/Vancouver-Canucks/Tweets]Vancouver Canucks will win it all in 2013!
Get the latest [http://sportadore.com/NHL]NHL news and tweets on Sportadore.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Who-Will-Win-the-Stanley-Cup-in-2012?&id=6603539] Who Will Win the Stanley Cup in 2012?
Saturday, November 12, 2011
2011-2012 Wingers To Look Out For
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ian_Mawdsley]Ian Mawdsley
Having completed four Yahoo custom league drafts already this September, it has been interesting to see where guys have gone draft by draft. Of course, not every draft is the same, with many varying in stat categories or by league type (H2H, Rotisserie, etc) or by the number of teams drafting. With that in mind, some guys will be better depending on if you have SOG, Hits & Blocks in your scoring settings, rather than just the regular G, A, PPP, etc. Be sure to do your research and mock drafts!!
Let's get started! There might be some players that are rated highly, but that doesn't mean that they are rated where they should be!
C Ryan Getzlaf (Yahoo Rank=34)
As far as I'm concerned, Getzlaf should be rated much higher than he is, so consider him a steal in the 3rd or 4th round. He is on a top line with last year's 50 goal scorer and has Bobby Ryan to his left. His stats weren't that bad, they just weren't amazing last year. Expect this to increase back to the 80 point range, along with great PPP, a solid +/- and if you're lucky, he may even return to his expected 80+ PIM. If your league has hits, you just got yourself a multi-threat, 80 point talent. Don't be afraid to grab him earlier than his rank would say. Although if you miss him, do not fret as there are plenty of Centers available that will put up good numbers later on.
C Jason Spezza (YR=94)
It was only two years ago that Jason Spezza was averaging 80-90 points a season. A few injuries later and sub par seasons later, people are seriously discounting this guy's ability. Yes, he lost Heatley, but Alfie is back now and with some new young talent, Spezza is sure to put up 65-70 points this year. His PPP will be great, but look out for that +/- if they can't figure defence out.
C Mikko Koivu (YR=124)
Koivu has consistently put up 60-70 points in MINNESOTA... and now he has a pure goal scorer in Dany Heatley on his wing and is primed to get at least 70 points assuming they can mesh. Tell me how many other 70 point players are available at 124. Not very many! Great PPP, decent PIM and good SOG, although that might go down with Heatley in town.
RW David Backes (YR=60)
If your league takes into account Hits, SOG, FW, G, A, +/- & PIM or some variation there of, Backes is worth much more than a rating of 60. The newly minted captain will put up great numbers this year and is as close to an all around player as they come. St. Louis is primed for a good season and possible playoff run with their young squad starting to hit their prime and Backes will be leading them all the way... and in every category.
RW Marian Hossa (YR=113)
Why a 30 goal scorer on a top offensive team like Chicago is rated at 113 is beyond me. He is not first line, but on a good second line, with ample opportunity on the top powerplay unit. If he can play a full season, look for a 70 point season from him and good PPP numbers, good shot totals and a good +/-.
RW Nathan Horton (YR=165)
Last season almost had a 30-30-30 year. Yet he rates at 165. Better for you if you can get him late. He did get destroyed in the finals of the playoffs last season and was out with a concussion, but he is back now and there is no reason why he can't put similar numbers. Do take that with a grain of salt, as there have been many not to come back well from a concussion.
LW Jamie Benn (YR=160)
LWs are thin this year as they are most years, but I have found there are few LWs in the middle of the draft and many good LWs available late in the draft. Benn is one such LW. Entering his third campaign, Benn improved last year and shows signs that he is ready to breakout. It helps that he will most likely get chances on the top line this year with Ribeiro and Eriksson. He gives added bonus for hits and expect PPP to increase with more playing time on the top unit.
LW Simon Gagne (YR=269)
This pick is assuming he can play at least 70 games. It's a risky pick, but that's what the last three rounds of the draft are for right? He is reunited with Mike Richards in L.A. and when he is healthy, he is a point per game player. Injury is always a scare, but his point totals should increase to 55-65 and have good PPP and have good SOG.
LW Antoine Vermette (YR=205)
Let me start by saying that this pick is more for leagues with Hits, SOG and FW. Vermette is solid in each of those three stat categories and has potential to get back up to a 60 point season. Having some other centers in the way on the depth chart hurts, but his LW capability helps make him more valuable as a positional player. Again, if you don't track Hits, SOG or FW, he is probably not the player for you.
Other Wingers To Look Out For
C David Krejci
C Tim Connolly
C Derek Roy
RW Ales Hemsky
RW Kyle Okposo
RW Daniel Alfredsson
LW Andy McDonald
LW Patrik Elias
LW James Neal.
Ian is an avid hockey and fantasy hockey fan. In his spare time, he likes to poke fun at Maple Leaf Nation. He is a strong supporter of the Colorado Avalanche. Go Avs!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?2011-2012-Wingers-To-Look-Out-For&id=6602357] 2011-2012 Wingers To Look Out For
Having completed four Yahoo custom league drafts already this September, it has been interesting to see where guys have gone draft by draft. Of course, not every draft is the same, with many varying in stat categories or by league type (H2H, Rotisserie, etc) or by the number of teams drafting. With that in mind, some guys will be better depending on if you have SOG, Hits & Blocks in your scoring settings, rather than just the regular G, A, PPP, etc. Be sure to do your research and mock drafts!!
Let's get started! There might be some players that are rated highly, but that doesn't mean that they are rated where they should be!
C Ryan Getzlaf (Yahoo Rank=34)
As far as I'm concerned, Getzlaf should be rated much higher than he is, so consider him a steal in the 3rd or 4th round. He is on a top line with last year's 50 goal scorer and has Bobby Ryan to his left. His stats weren't that bad, they just weren't amazing last year. Expect this to increase back to the 80 point range, along with great PPP, a solid +/- and if you're lucky, he may even return to his expected 80+ PIM. If your league has hits, you just got yourself a multi-threat, 80 point talent. Don't be afraid to grab him earlier than his rank would say. Although if you miss him, do not fret as there are plenty of Centers available that will put up good numbers later on.
C Jason Spezza (YR=94)
It was only two years ago that Jason Spezza was averaging 80-90 points a season. A few injuries later and sub par seasons later, people are seriously discounting this guy's ability. Yes, he lost Heatley, but Alfie is back now and with some new young talent, Spezza is sure to put up 65-70 points this year. His PPP will be great, but look out for that +/- if they can't figure defence out.
C Mikko Koivu (YR=124)
Koivu has consistently put up 60-70 points in MINNESOTA... and now he has a pure goal scorer in Dany Heatley on his wing and is primed to get at least 70 points assuming they can mesh. Tell me how many other 70 point players are available at 124. Not very many! Great PPP, decent PIM and good SOG, although that might go down with Heatley in town.
RW David Backes (YR=60)
If your league takes into account Hits, SOG, FW, G, A, +/- & PIM or some variation there of, Backes is worth much more than a rating of 60. The newly minted captain will put up great numbers this year and is as close to an all around player as they come. St. Louis is primed for a good season and possible playoff run with their young squad starting to hit their prime and Backes will be leading them all the way... and in every category.
RW Marian Hossa (YR=113)
Why a 30 goal scorer on a top offensive team like Chicago is rated at 113 is beyond me. He is not first line, but on a good second line, with ample opportunity on the top powerplay unit. If he can play a full season, look for a 70 point season from him and good PPP numbers, good shot totals and a good +/-.
RW Nathan Horton (YR=165)
Last season almost had a 30-30-30 year. Yet he rates at 165. Better for you if you can get him late. He did get destroyed in the finals of the playoffs last season and was out with a concussion, but he is back now and there is no reason why he can't put similar numbers. Do take that with a grain of salt, as there have been many not to come back well from a concussion.
LW Jamie Benn (YR=160)
LWs are thin this year as they are most years, but I have found there are few LWs in the middle of the draft and many good LWs available late in the draft. Benn is one such LW. Entering his third campaign, Benn improved last year and shows signs that he is ready to breakout. It helps that he will most likely get chances on the top line this year with Ribeiro and Eriksson. He gives added bonus for hits and expect PPP to increase with more playing time on the top unit.
LW Simon Gagne (YR=269)
This pick is assuming he can play at least 70 games. It's a risky pick, but that's what the last three rounds of the draft are for right? He is reunited with Mike Richards in L.A. and when he is healthy, he is a point per game player. Injury is always a scare, but his point totals should increase to 55-65 and have good PPP and have good SOG.
LW Antoine Vermette (YR=205)
Let me start by saying that this pick is more for leagues with Hits, SOG and FW. Vermette is solid in each of those three stat categories and has potential to get back up to a 60 point season. Having some other centers in the way on the depth chart hurts, but his LW capability helps make him more valuable as a positional player. Again, if you don't track Hits, SOG or FW, he is probably not the player for you.
Other Wingers To Look Out For
C David Krejci
C Tim Connolly
C Derek Roy
RW Ales Hemsky
RW Kyle Okposo
RW Daniel Alfredsson
LW Andy McDonald
LW Patrik Elias
LW James Neal.
Ian is an avid hockey and fantasy hockey fan. In his spare time, he likes to poke fun at Maple Leaf Nation. He is a strong supporter of the Colorado Avalanche. Go Avs!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?2011-2012-Wingers-To-Look-Out-For&id=6602357] 2011-2012 Wingers To Look Out For
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Tour Cobalt Q Inline Hockey Skates Review
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Paul_A_Buchanan]Paul A Buchanan
The Tour Cobalt Q Inline Hockey Skates offer top-level performance for serious hockey players. There are a few reasons why this skate stands out from the competition. Tour built these skates using the Labeda Hum'er II frames. Made from aluminum, these lightweight frames offer a single axle design (no more lost screws!) and are currently the only frame able to hold four 80mm wheels. Tour's DPS technology allows the front two wheels to sit inside a cavity at the front of the boot causing the skater to have a lower center of gravity with increased speed and improved turning and stopping ability. The boot includes Tour's Pro-level Coratec™ quarter panels reinforced with Ultra-lite Pro stiffener. In other words, a puck to the foot will feel like a minor bump. To top it all off, Labeda has thrown their Dynasty II 80mm wheels on this already sick skate! These are top rated wheels used by the highest caliber players due to their incredible grip and stopping qualities.
The Tour Cobalt Q Inline Hockey Skate does have its problems. While Tour had the right idea: protection, they fell short when placing this idea into the skate's design. The tongue of the skate offers a protective foam piece which actually digs into the player's shin. This remains uncomfortable until the skates are worn in. The reinforced ankle protection provides a similar discomfort; be prepared to have blisters for the first few skating sessions. The Titanium ABEC 9 688 Micro bearings do offer a lighter weight than the regular 608 bearings; however, the 688's aren't as durable. Expect to be changing these bearings after a couple months (Tour does include a free set of bearings with the skate).
Overall the Tour Cobalt Q Roller Hockey skates offer great protection, they are lightweight, fast, and offer features that go above and beyond its competitors. Tour has lowered their pricing on these skates making them more affordable so you can stay on top of your game.
Reading reviews on different skates is always a good idea before making an online purchase for hockey equipment. Reviews help make purchasing easier by answering questions about a product that you may have otherwise asked if you were looking at the skate in person. For the sake of avoiding disgruntled purchases and wasted time, it is important to know what you are buying before you decide on any hockey skate!
What do you think about the [http://www.hockeyrelated.com/hockey/equipment]Tour Cobalt Q Skate?
Learn about more products by reading [http://www.hockeyrelated.com]hockey reviews.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Tour-Cobalt-Q-Inline-Hockey-Skates-Review&id=6605899] Tour Cobalt Q Inline Hockey Skates Review
The Tour Cobalt Q Inline Hockey Skates offer top-level performance for serious hockey players. There are a few reasons why this skate stands out from the competition. Tour built these skates using the Labeda Hum'er II frames. Made from aluminum, these lightweight frames offer a single axle design (no more lost screws!) and are currently the only frame able to hold four 80mm wheels. Tour's DPS technology allows the front two wheels to sit inside a cavity at the front of the boot causing the skater to have a lower center of gravity with increased speed and improved turning and stopping ability. The boot includes Tour's Pro-level Coratec™ quarter panels reinforced with Ultra-lite Pro stiffener. In other words, a puck to the foot will feel like a minor bump. To top it all off, Labeda has thrown their Dynasty II 80mm wheels on this already sick skate! These are top rated wheels used by the highest caliber players due to their incredible grip and stopping qualities.
The Tour Cobalt Q Inline Hockey Skate does have its problems. While Tour had the right idea: protection, they fell short when placing this idea into the skate's design. The tongue of the skate offers a protective foam piece which actually digs into the player's shin. This remains uncomfortable until the skates are worn in. The reinforced ankle protection provides a similar discomfort; be prepared to have blisters for the first few skating sessions. The Titanium ABEC 9 688 Micro bearings do offer a lighter weight than the regular 608 bearings; however, the 688's aren't as durable. Expect to be changing these bearings after a couple months (Tour does include a free set of bearings with the skate).
Overall the Tour Cobalt Q Roller Hockey skates offer great protection, they are lightweight, fast, and offer features that go above and beyond its competitors. Tour has lowered their pricing on these skates making them more affordable so you can stay on top of your game.
Reading reviews on different skates is always a good idea before making an online purchase for hockey equipment. Reviews help make purchasing easier by answering questions about a product that you may have otherwise asked if you were looking at the skate in person. For the sake of avoiding disgruntled purchases and wasted time, it is important to know what you are buying before you decide on any hockey skate!
What do you think about the [http://www.hockeyrelated.com/hockey/equipment]Tour Cobalt Q Skate?
Learn about more products by reading [http://www.hockeyrelated.com]hockey reviews.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Tour-Cobalt-Q-Inline-Hockey-Skates-Review&id=6605899] Tour Cobalt Q Inline Hockey Skates Review
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Drills to Improve Your Speed on the Ice in Hockey
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Anthony_Cortellessa]Anthony Cortellessa
There are various drills to improve your speed on the ice in hockey. Be sure to put in the time and effort in order for you to improve your game.
Believe it or not, the most successful drills to improve your speed on the ice are done off the ice. Off ice hockey training is a huge factor in today's competitive game. The game is all about speed and doing the proper drills will make you faster and an overall better player.
By targeting muscle groups that are used while skating through off ice training, you can develop more power in your legs. This power will translate to your stride, and allow you to skate significantly faster. These drills are done by numerous NHL players because they want to improve their game... and it works!
Front squat - this targets your hamstrings, glutes and quadriceps, all of which are used while skating.
Dead lift - targets your hamstrings, glutes and lower back.
Sled pushes - Often overlooked in off ice hockey training, it is one of the most important exercises you can do. This works your hamstrings, glutes and quadriceps at a very high and powerful intensity. Do sets of 25 yard pushes.
Sled pulls - similar to sled pushes, it works all of your leg muscles very well. Also increases your speed on the ice. Do sets of 25 yard pulls.
Do 3 sets of 6 reps for weightlifting exercises. This develops the most power in your muscles. This is exactly what is going to increase your speed on the ice!
Plyometrics are also very important to develop power. Do 3 sets of 10 reps for maximum results:
Squat Jumps
Lunge Jumps
One legged squat jumps
Later jumps
Box jumps
Tuck Jumps
Lastly, agility is crucial when it comes to speed on the ice. The number one thing you can do to increase your speed, is use an agility ladder. You can use it before practices or games to warmup as well. It greatly improves your foot speed and coordination. This increased foot speed will greatly increase your speed on the ice. I
Every NHL team uses an agility ladder for this reason, you should to!
You should not do every exercise I have listed above in one workout. You can always use the agility ladder at the beginning of your workout to warmup. Then focus on different exercises every time:
Monday: Agility ladder, front squat, dead lift, 4 plyometric exercises
Wednesday: Agility ladder, sled pushes, sled pulls, 3 plyometric exercises
Obviously, it is important that you have the proper training equipment to improve your skating speed on the ice in hockey. You will need a barbell and weights, agility ladder and a training sled.
I highly recommend the agility ladder and training sleds. The agility ladder improves your foot speed immensely. The training sleds target the muscle groups in your legs that are used to skate. The power you will generate by doing sled pulls and sled pushes will be crucial to improving your speed on the ice. That is why they are used by so many NHL players!
At http://www.bestofficehockeytraining.com there is much more information regarding products and everything you need for your off ice hockey training program.
Be sure to put in the required time and effort by doing the proper off ice hockey training exercises to skate faster on the ice! You will not be disappointed with your results. Take your game to the next level with off ice hockey training!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Drills-to-Improve-Your-Speed-on-the-Ice-in-Hockey&id=6622605] Drills to Improve Your Speed on the Ice in Hockey
There are various drills to improve your speed on the ice in hockey. Be sure to put in the time and effort in order for you to improve your game.
Believe it or not, the most successful drills to improve your speed on the ice are done off the ice. Off ice hockey training is a huge factor in today's competitive game. The game is all about speed and doing the proper drills will make you faster and an overall better player.
By targeting muscle groups that are used while skating through off ice training, you can develop more power in your legs. This power will translate to your stride, and allow you to skate significantly faster. These drills are done by numerous NHL players because they want to improve their game... and it works!
Front squat - this targets your hamstrings, glutes and quadriceps, all of which are used while skating.
Dead lift - targets your hamstrings, glutes and lower back.
Sled pushes - Often overlooked in off ice hockey training, it is one of the most important exercises you can do. This works your hamstrings, glutes and quadriceps at a very high and powerful intensity. Do sets of 25 yard pushes.
Sled pulls - similar to sled pushes, it works all of your leg muscles very well. Also increases your speed on the ice. Do sets of 25 yard pulls.
Do 3 sets of 6 reps for weightlifting exercises. This develops the most power in your muscles. This is exactly what is going to increase your speed on the ice!
Plyometrics are also very important to develop power. Do 3 sets of 10 reps for maximum results:
Squat Jumps
Lunge Jumps
One legged squat jumps
Later jumps
Box jumps
Tuck Jumps
Lastly, agility is crucial when it comes to speed on the ice. The number one thing you can do to increase your speed, is use an agility ladder. You can use it before practices or games to warmup as well. It greatly improves your foot speed and coordination. This increased foot speed will greatly increase your speed on the ice. I
Every NHL team uses an agility ladder for this reason, you should to!
You should not do every exercise I have listed above in one workout. You can always use the agility ladder at the beginning of your workout to warmup. Then focus on different exercises every time:
Monday: Agility ladder, front squat, dead lift, 4 plyometric exercises
Wednesday: Agility ladder, sled pushes, sled pulls, 3 plyometric exercises
Obviously, it is important that you have the proper training equipment to improve your skating speed on the ice in hockey. You will need a barbell and weights, agility ladder and a training sled.
I highly recommend the agility ladder and training sleds. The agility ladder improves your foot speed immensely. The training sleds target the muscle groups in your legs that are used to skate. The power you will generate by doing sled pulls and sled pushes will be crucial to improving your speed on the ice. That is why they are used by so many NHL players!
At http://www.bestofficehockeytraining.com there is much more information regarding products and everything you need for your off ice hockey training program.
Be sure to put in the required time and effort by doing the proper off ice hockey training exercises to skate faster on the ice! You will not be disappointed with your results. Take your game to the next level with off ice hockey training!
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Drills-to-Improve-Your-Speed-on-the-Ice-in-Hockey&id=6622605] Drills to Improve Your Speed on the Ice in Hockey
Sunday, November 6, 2011
To Realign Or Not to Realign?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Matthew_T_Jablonski]Matthew T Jablonski
How would you change the look of the NHL's division format?
The league has made it obvious that the Winnipeg Jets will no longer be playing in the East next year and will be moving out west, most likely into the now central division. This opening in the East has caused quite the stir out West with teams such as Columbus, Nashville and Detroit desperately attempting to get their foot into the Eastern timezone. There has been rumours of the league just doing a straight swap with Winnipeg and Detroit just exchanging places. This makes for the least amount of change but a lot of teams would be left complaining.
Dallas and Minnesota both want out of their current divisions, while Detroit just wouldn't quite fit in a division with the Florida's and Tampa Bay's. There's an opportunity for drastic change in the league that could be beneficial long term, one quite similar to what Bob McKenzie mentioned as the leagues "Plan G".
Here's what we think: because there are just too many Eastern timezone teams in a league of 30, a 4 division format would work best. Group the teams by timezone as best you can, as follows:
Pacific: Colorado, Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Phoenix.
Central: Winnipeg, Dallas, Minnesota, St. Louis, Columbus, Nashville, Chicago.
Northeast: Montreal, Toronto, Buffalo, Carolina, Boston, Detroit, Ottawa.
Atlantic/Southeast: NY Rangers, NY Islanders, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington, Tampa Bay, Florida.
Games would be primarily based within the division so the league would have to go back to the old playoff format of having the 1st seed in each division play the 4th and 2nd play the 3rd in the first round of the playoffs. One of the leagues strongest marketing angles is the great rivalries they have so a divisional format for the first two rounds of the playoffs can't hurt. People will be quick to point out that having only 7 teams in some divisions would be unfair as only 3 teams would miss the playoffs compared to 4 in the 8 team divisions, but there could be a crossover option of sorts where if the 5th place team from the 8 team division has more points than the 4th place team in the 7 team division they would be able to compete in the playoffs eliminating that 4th place team.
A lot of options are on the table, and no one option seems to work for everybody so what do you think? How should the league change their divisional format for the 2012-13 season? http://www.ugehockey.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?To-Realign-Or-Not-to-Realign?&id=6629568] To Realign Or Not to Realign?
How would you change the look of the NHL's division format?
The league has made it obvious that the Winnipeg Jets will no longer be playing in the East next year and will be moving out west, most likely into the now central division. This opening in the East has caused quite the stir out West with teams such as Columbus, Nashville and Detroit desperately attempting to get their foot into the Eastern timezone. There has been rumours of the league just doing a straight swap with Winnipeg and Detroit just exchanging places. This makes for the least amount of change but a lot of teams would be left complaining.
Dallas and Minnesota both want out of their current divisions, while Detroit just wouldn't quite fit in a division with the Florida's and Tampa Bay's. There's an opportunity for drastic change in the league that could be beneficial long term, one quite similar to what Bob McKenzie mentioned as the leagues "Plan G".
Here's what we think: because there are just too many Eastern timezone teams in a league of 30, a 4 division format would work best. Group the teams by timezone as best you can, as follows:
Pacific: Colorado, Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Jose, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Phoenix.
Central: Winnipeg, Dallas, Minnesota, St. Louis, Columbus, Nashville, Chicago.
Northeast: Montreal, Toronto, Buffalo, Carolina, Boston, Detroit, Ottawa.
Atlantic/Southeast: NY Rangers, NY Islanders, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington, Tampa Bay, Florida.
Games would be primarily based within the division so the league would have to go back to the old playoff format of having the 1st seed in each division play the 4th and 2nd play the 3rd in the first round of the playoffs. One of the leagues strongest marketing angles is the great rivalries they have so a divisional format for the first two rounds of the playoffs can't hurt. People will be quick to point out that having only 7 teams in some divisions would be unfair as only 3 teams would miss the playoffs compared to 4 in the 8 team divisions, but there could be a crossover option of sorts where if the 5th place team from the 8 team division has more points than the 4th place team in the 7 team division they would be able to compete in the playoffs eliminating that 4th place team.
A lot of options are on the table, and no one option seems to work for everybody so what do you think? How should the league change their divisional format for the 2012-13 season? http://www.ugehockey.com
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?To-Realign-Or-Not-to-Realign?&id=6629568] To Realign Or Not to Realign?
Friday, November 4, 2011
Toronto Maple Leafs Vs. Montreal Canadiens Outlook
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Don_Goldman]Don Goldman
Most National Hockey League spectators and experts may be leaning toward the Montreal Canadiens in the 2011-2012 rankings, but the Toronto Maple Leafs have won four games out of six as of their last game on October 20. That is compared to the Canadiens' one win and five losses. Canada will surely be watching this face-off on Saturday, October 22, when the Maple Leafs and Canadiens duke it out at the Bell Centre in Montreal. People who bet hockey online may want to take a look at the teams' performance in their last games before they make their decision for the three-game home stand.
Montreal vs. Pittsburgh Review
The Montreal Canadiens drew criticism on Thursday when they lost 3-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Analysts say that the Canadiens' lineup that night was strong enough to defeat the Penguins, even if forward Scott Gomez had to leave the game because of his injury during the first period. Some thought that the return of right winger Michael Cammalleri, who didn't play the past three games because of a leg injury, would also bring Montreal victory. Penguins left winger James Neal kickstarted the team's first period lead, but goalie Marc-Andre Fleury ended up being the star of the show with 27 saves. The two other goals were contributed by center Joe Vitale and right winger Arron Asham. Canadiens captain and right winger Brian Gionta managed to score less than two minutes to the end of the game.Canadiens goalie Carey Price was able to stop 29 out of 32 attempts by the Penguins.
Toronto vs. Boston Review
The Toronto Maple Leafs' performanceon the same night was no better than Montreal's defeat, losing out to the Boston Bruins at 6-2 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Spectators who bet hockey online and otherwise must have been ambivalent about choosing their team since the Bruins lost their previous game to the Carolina Hurricanes and the Maple Leafs triumphed over the Winnipeg Jets before the Boston bout. About seven minutes into the game, Maple Leafs' center David Steckel scored the team's first goal despite Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas, but the U.S. team quickly rebounded with a score courtesy of right winger Nathan Horton. Goaltender Jonas Gustavsson did his best for Toronto, saving 37 attempts throughout the game. Unfortunately it wasn't enough to stop plays including Bruins captain Zdeno Chara's one-time goal and Horton's rebound from a blocked 50-foot shot, also attempted by Chara. The third period saw Toronto's second goal, matched by three more from the Bruins.
October 22 [http://www.nhlpredictions.ca/]NHL Predictions
Sports enthusiasts looking to [http://www.bethockey.ca/]bet hockey online may want to check out blogs before getting comfortable about the Maple Leafs' chances in the upcoming game. Toronto may have won the October 6 game against Montreal, but its performance has been inconsistent for the past several games, losing to the Penguins after winning against Winnipeg and getting defeated by Colorado before that.However, Montreal appears to be less loved by experts, ranking lower in the forecasts than Toronto. Its single win out of six games is not helping the team gain public confidence, and analysts are worried that Carey Price may not be getting the help he needs from fellow Canadiens.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Toronto-Maple-Leafs-Vs.-Montreal-Canadiens-Outlook&id=6661093] Toronto Maple Leafs Vs. Montreal Canadiens Outlook
Most National Hockey League spectators and experts may be leaning toward the Montreal Canadiens in the 2011-2012 rankings, but the Toronto Maple Leafs have won four games out of six as of their last game on October 20. That is compared to the Canadiens' one win and five losses. Canada will surely be watching this face-off on Saturday, October 22, when the Maple Leafs and Canadiens duke it out at the Bell Centre in Montreal. People who bet hockey online may want to take a look at the teams' performance in their last games before they make their decision for the three-game home stand.
Montreal vs. Pittsburgh Review
The Montreal Canadiens drew criticism on Thursday when they lost 3-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Analysts say that the Canadiens' lineup that night was strong enough to defeat the Penguins, even if forward Scott Gomez had to leave the game because of his injury during the first period. Some thought that the return of right winger Michael Cammalleri, who didn't play the past three games because of a leg injury, would also bring Montreal victory. Penguins left winger James Neal kickstarted the team's first period lead, but goalie Marc-Andre Fleury ended up being the star of the show with 27 saves. The two other goals were contributed by center Joe Vitale and right winger Arron Asham. Canadiens captain and right winger Brian Gionta managed to score less than two minutes to the end of the game.Canadiens goalie Carey Price was able to stop 29 out of 32 attempts by the Penguins.
Toronto vs. Boston Review
The Toronto Maple Leafs' performanceon the same night was no better than Montreal's defeat, losing out to the Boston Bruins at 6-2 at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Spectators who bet hockey online and otherwise must have been ambivalent about choosing their team since the Bruins lost their previous game to the Carolina Hurricanes and the Maple Leafs triumphed over the Winnipeg Jets before the Boston bout. About seven minutes into the game, Maple Leafs' center David Steckel scored the team's first goal despite Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas, but the U.S. team quickly rebounded with a score courtesy of right winger Nathan Horton. Goaltender Jonas Gustavsson did his best for Toronto, saving 37 attempts throughout the game. Unfortunately it wasn't enough to stop plays including Bruins captain Zdeno Chara's one-time goal and Horton's rebound from a blocked 50-foot shot, also attempted by Chara. The third period saw Toronto's second goal, matched by three more from the Bruins.
October 22 [http://www.nhlpredictions.ca/]NHL Predictions
Sports enthusiasts looking to [http://www.bethockey.ca/]bet hockey online may want to check out blogs before getting comfortable about the Maple Leafs' chances in the upcoming game. Toronto may have won the October 6 game against Montreal, but its performance has been inconsistent for the past several games, losing to the Penguins after winning against Winnipeg and getting defeated by Colorado before that.However, Montreal appears to be less loved by experts, ranking lower in the forecasts than Toronto. Its single win out of six games is not helping the team gain public confidence, and analysts are worried that Carey Price may not be getting the help he needs from fellow Canadiens.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Toronto-Maple-Leafs-Vs.-Montreal-Canadiens-Outlook&id=6661093] Toronto Maple Leafs Vs. Montreal Canadiens Outlook
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