NHL Frozen Frenzy was back for the second time. Personally, it was just as ho-hum as the first. Even though hockey is my favorite sport, and I love the playoffs, I'm not keen on watching hockey in October because the season is so long, and I finally got back into football. I still don't think this works as well as it does for the NFL. However, I'd be more engaged if it happened in March when the games meant more, and teams needed wins for playoff spots. The ratings would probably be higher too. I realize this is their counterprogramming to the NBA season start but the NBA only has two games. Frozen Frenzy wouldn't change their mind if someone wanted to watch those games. I do applaud them for trying something new though.
Things I like
1.Sergei Bobrovsky became the fastest goalie to 400 wins in NHL history. That's quite an accomplishment when you think about it from a historical perspective and because he hasn't been on the greatest teams. Bobrovsky has had a strange rollercoaster career, going from bad to good twice. I thought the Panthers should have moved on from him, but their patience paid dividends.
2.The Winnipeg Jets are the only undefeated team left. I've never liked the Jets because of their toxic culture a few seasons ago, and they ruined Patrik Laine's career and ran him out of town. I'll just say I'm surprised they're 8-0. Head coach Scott Arniel became the first coach to start 8-0 with a new team. This obviously won't last, and the start of the season is not the time you want to be hot. This start is puzzling because this is the same group of players that never do anything in the playoffs. It's possible they'll pull a Washington Capitals and finally break out several years later, but it's doubtful.
Things I don't
1.The San Jose Sharks have set NHL history with the longest losing streak to open a season. They are 0-7-2. First overall pick Macklin Celebrini might return in two weeks, but probably not. Not much has changed since last season. Hopefully, they'll get another top five pick this season.
Fights of the Week
Special thanks to hockeyfights.com for making this section a little easier to do.
Dylan McIlrath vs Nicolas Deslauriers
A long, good fight.
Marcus Pettersson vs Darnell Nurse
Nurse doesn't fight much recently and it's weird a top defenseman would in the third period of a game that's over. But he got the edge at the end.
Goat of the Week
Auston Matthews - Toronto Maple Leafs
This play is so atrocious. In overtime, in his own zone, Matthews circles back and passes across the ice to absolutely no one. I assume he thought someone would be there, but wouldn't you check first? The Bruins and Brad Marchand captialze for the overtime goal.
https://www.nhl.com/video/tor-bos-marchand-scores-goal-6363819632112
Stat Line of the Week
10/26/24 Philadelphia 7 vs. Minnesota 5
| Skater | TOI | G | A | +/- | SOG | Hits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S.Couturier | 17:32 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 1 |
The Philadelphia Flyers aren't a great team because they are rebuilding and their coach is an idiot. After winning their opener, they dropped six straight and seemed headed for seven against the Minnesota Wild. But Sean Couturier scored a minute into the game to set the tone and then added two more goals and assists. The first goal was his 500th career point.
Numbers, Numbers
50 – Oilers shots in a win against the Pittsburgh Penguins
2 – Leon Draisaitl overtime goals in three overtimes so far
.941 – SV% for Frederik Andersen who has returned
50 – Shooting percentage of Joel Kiviranta
-7 – Plus/minus for Mikael Granlund who has ten points, he's on the Sharks of course
-21 – Sharks goal differential
Rankings
The rankings are based on how the teams are currently playing.
Top 5
- Winnipeg
- Dallas
- NY Rangers
- Minnesota
- Vegas
Bottom 5
- San Jose
- Chicago
- Philadelphia
- Pittsburgh
- Nashville
NFL thoughts
I never thought Caleb Williams would be a good NFL quarterback, and so far, I've been proven right. Sure, the Bears lost by a hail mary, but they had no business leading that game. But it's still early. I'd rather talk about the New York Jets and Aaron Rodgers, a case study of what not to do.
The Jets blamed all their problems on Zach Wilson, a player they selected second overall, only because his uncle was friends with the Jets owner or some nonsense. He was not good, but then again, neither was his supporting cast or coaches. There's a reason why past first round quarterbacks by the Jets play better elsewhere. Geno Smith and Sam Darnold are living proof. Refusing to play the better backups the Jets sputtered along until Aaron Rodgers became available on the trade market.
Just because a top quarterback becomes available does not mean you should take him. Deshaun Watson is liivng proof of that. What I mean is that great players are never no longer wanted. If a team doesn't want them anymore, there's a good reason. There are only two instances in recent memory where a top quarterback left and led a team to a Super Bowl. One is Peyton Manning, the other is Tom Bray. The key is both were still wanted. The Patriots didn't want to lose Tom Brady. Only Bill Belichick did. Manning only wasn't wanted because he was injured, and the Colts got the first pick in the draft so it made sense to move on. Rodgers was different. The Packers didn't want him anymore.
Rodgers also has a vastly different personality than Manning and Brady. They both live and breathe football. Rodgers is aloof, has an ego that keeps growing with age, and thinks he's better than things like minicamp. He isn't getting any younger, and he last won a playoff game in 2020
It was foolish for the Jets to think someone like Rodgers would lead them to a Super Bowl at this stage of his career. He's only been to one previously. It was even dumber to think they were only a quarterback away. They fired their coach and nothing changed. Mostly becdause Robert Saleh seemed like the coach with the least power. He doesn't seem to do much, and he's completely clueless about the offensive side. Of course, none of this would have been necessary if the Jets knew how to draft and develop quarterbacks.
I did like the Jordan Travis pick, though, but he's still injured.