UPDATE - Measure number 4 ballot

In case you were wondering, this what the ballot  for the state wide referendum on UND's use of the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo will look like on the June 12th Primary Election Ballot.

There has been some question about how the ballot will be written, this is straight from today's Grand Forks Herald.

“Referendum Measure No. 4
“This referendum measure concerns Senate Bill 2370 as passed by the Legislative Assembly in the November 2011 special session (Session Laws, Chapter 580). Senate Bill 2370 repealed section 15-10-46 of the North Dakota Century Code, which required the University of North Dakota to use the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

“YES — means you approve Senate Bill 2370, the effect of which would allow the University of North Dakota to discontinue the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

“NO — means you reject Senate Bill 2370, and would require the University of North Dakota to use the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.”

VOTER REGISTRATION 

Registration Deadline: North Dakota does not require some form of voter registration. Each precinct has a list of residents who voted in previous elections. If a voter's name is on the list, he provides valid form identification, and his address can be verified, then he may vote.

Party Affiliation: North Dakota has open primaries, which means that on primary day, a voter is free to choose any party’s primary, but once having made that choice, the voter is confined to voting in the primary of just one party.

QUALIFICATIONS 

Age: Must be at least 18 years old on Election Day

Citizenship: Must be a United States citizen

Residency: Must be a legal resident of North Dakota and a resident in the precinct for 30 days preceding the election

Related articles

• So is the Fighting Sioux nickname on the way back (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Fighting Sioux nickname supporters tell ND Supreme Court that 1969 ceremony precludes 'civil interference' (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Developing - NDSC rules against NDBoHE (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• They aren't listening - Fighting Sioux nickname (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Fighting Sioux nickname supporters file petitions with 17,000 signatures (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

More Potential Departures...including Coaches (RW77)

Brad Schlossman has stated that Aaron Dell is likely to sign. There have been tweets that suggest that there may be up to 3 more early departures. We know that MacWilliam and Rowney aren't the other 2.

I also doubt Rodwell and Grimaldi will bolt. For Grimaldi it would be ridiculous...unless he's bolting for an entry contract and assignment to Major Juniors (ala BC's Adam Pineault a few years back) but... that would suprise me. I'm pretty certain that one of the two is Danny Kristo. However, I think the third is just a rumor.

As for Dell, the Montreal Canadiens were trying to sign him after last season but I doubt they're in the mix now thanks to GM being fired. Best bet is Calgary, but I wouldn't count out Winipeg.

In either case, it would solve a lot of the conjecture as to what happens to Tate Maris.

And in other news:

Schlossman reports Cary Eades is a candidate for the Mankato job. This isn't a surprise as I'm sure Eades has been a candidate in several head coach gigs since he came back to UND. It would not surprise me if Eades bolts for Mankato either. Mankato plays gritty...which is Eades' forte. Eades' hire may also keep the higher profile recruits they have from bolting.

As for UND, it would be interesting to see what direction they go. Will they promote Dane Jackson to Associate Head Coach and hire an Assistant or will they hire an Associate Head Coach and keep Dane where he is?

If Dane gets promoted, it would not surprise me to see the Assistant position go to... Karl Goehring. He's already working with the team and has done a decent job.

Or... what about Scott Koberinski? He's been helping UND since I was at UND it seems like... (circa 2002 or so). Koberinski has head coaching experience in the USHL.

John Marks and Steve Johnson will pop up. However, the question would be: Would Steve take a lateral job change especially since UND turned him away twice. I'd hope so as I'd love to see Steve back as a coach.

They could go out of left field and hire Tom Ward out of Shattuck? He has WCHA coaching experience, though with the hated Gophers...

In the end, Eades isn't going to stick around forever. And he is destined for a head coaching gig. I think Mankato would be a good gig if he wants it. That being said, I hope he stays.

CHL best route to the NHL?

This Newsday Article touched on the Islanders signing former Fighting Sioux forward Brock Nelson signing with the New York Islanders,  the Newsday writer used this opportunity to give the silly notion that the CHL was the best route to develop hockey players.  Personally, I think that opinion is short sighted and I can give many examples that would shoot holes in that theory.

Arthur Staple, Newsday --- College hockey players are still regarded with some wariness around the NHL, and the top of the scoring charts shows why: Of the top 30 scorers in the league entering Tuesday night's games, only four spent any time in U.S. colleges, including two players on the ice here last night, the Isles' Matt Moulson and the Devils' Zach Parise.

Canadian junior hockey is considered the better track for talented teenagers to reach the NHL. J.T. Miller, the Rangers' first-round pick last June, de-committed from North Dakota to enter the Canadian junior system and try to fast-track his development.

North Dakota is where Nelson, 20, went after the Islanders drafted him 30th overall in the 2010 draft. He had a solid freshman year, then bulked up his 6-4 frame and had an eye-opening sophomore season, scoring 28 goals in 42 games.

Let me be clear, I am in no way shape or form anti-CHL, and I realize that there are a lot of great players in the NHL that got to the NHL using the CHL route, however, this opinion that the CHL is the “best route” to get to the NHL if you’re a top draft choice is a load of horse manure. It’s obvious that the writer of this article didn’t do his research when he formed this opinion.

All you have to do is look at WCHA teams like North Dakota and Wisconsin who have a history of developing NHL talent, the New York Rangers have a few examples of this with Derek Stephan who is currently ranked fourth in points for the Rangers. We could use a lot of band width giving examples of college hockey players that are making a huge contribution in the NHL right now.

Last night’s game on NBC Sports between the Detroit Redwing and the Saint Louis Blues featured Justin Abdelkader (Michigan State), Brian Elliot (Wisconsin) T.J. Oshie (North Dakota), David Backes (Minnesota State), Andy McDonald (Colgate University), Kevin Shattenkirk (Boston University) 

The Rookie Year Candidate is the Flyers Matt Read who played his college hockey at Bemidji State.  

At the end of this article, the guy then contradicts himself with this closing paragraph.

Eight of the players the Isles suited up Tuesday night had some college experience, including Donovan, who got thrown right in the fire by playing most shifts against the Devils' top line, featuring Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk.

"Honestly, we don't care what league they come from -- college, juniors, Europe," Snow said. "If they can play, they can play for us. Every player is unique."

Goon's Frozen Four review

Much like Sioux7 my brackets for the NCAA Hockey Tourney were totally busted as I got only one out of four brackets right, usually I am able to pick two of the four correctly.

Just for the record, my Frozen Four brackets included Michigan, Miami, Boston College and North Dakota.

I confess as a college hockey fan I am not all that excited with this season’s Frozen Four field, to be honest with you it bores me. This Frozen Four could end up being as bad as the 2010 Frozen Four that was at Four Field where Boston College ran through the field like a hot knife through butter. I could see the same thing happening again this season.

Unfortunately, the two best teams are in the same bracket and the attractive match-up is Minnesota and Boston College; other than that, nothing really jumps out at me in this season’s Frozen Four. In one bracket we have what I would consider a snooze feast between Union College and Ferris State, and there are others that agree with me.

 

Game time for the first game between Union College (26-7-7) and Ferris State (25-11-5) is 3:30 p.m. Central Standard Time Thursday.  The game is on ESPNU (DirecTV208 and Dish Network148) 

My prediction is that the Ferris State University Bulldogs, who are lead by head hockey coach Bob Daniels, who incidentally was awarded the 2012 Spencer Penrose Award, will end Union’s magical season in a boring non-eventful game if you’re still awake by the end of the game you will see Ferris State win in a trap feast 2-1 game.

Both teams Union and Ferris State have never been in the Frozen Four so one of these two teams is going to make the championship game of the Frozen Four for the first time in their team’s history. 

Fun and interesting facts about Ferris State and Union: The Bulldogs and Dutchman's rosters contain  NO NHL Draft picks, there is not a single one on either team, that is almost unheard of in today’s college hockey world. Just for the record, Union college has , Boston College has 9 and Minnesota has 17 NHL draft Choices.  

In the evening title it’s the Boston College Eagles (31-10-1) vs. the Minnesota Golden Gophers (28-13-1) at 7:00 p.m. Central Standard Time Thursday. The game is on ESPN2 ( DirecTV and 209 Dish Network 144)

This season’s Frozen Four prohibitive favorite, Boston College is a team that has three solid forward lines that could be most teams first line on any team. The Gophers are also loaded through the forward lines as well. Here are the lines that both teams used in their last games.

Boston College Forward Lines 

Barry Almeida (22g-16—38pts) – Bill Arnold (17g-17a—34pts) – Steven Whitney (13g-22a—35pts)

Chris Kreider (22g-21a—41pts) – Kevin Hayes 6g-20a—26tps) – Destry Straight (3g-6a—9pts)

Johnn Gaudreau (20g-21a—41pts) – Pat Mullane (10g-26a—36pts) – Paul Carey (15g-12a—27pts) 

Minnesota Gophers Forward Lines

Kyle Rau (18g-25a—43pts) – Nick Bjugstad 25g-17a—42pts) – Zach Budish  (12g-23a—35)

Sam Warning (6g-9a—15pts) – Erik Haula (20g-28a—48pts) – Jake Hansen (15g-22a—37pts) 

Nate Condon (11g-19a—30tps) – Travis Boyd (1g-8-a—9pts) – Taylor Matson (8g-15a—23pts) 

Goalies

Boston College goalie Parker Milner, 27-5-0, 1.70 goals against average and a .935 save percentage. It would be an understatement to say that Milner has been on fire as of late, during the Eagles' current 17-game winning streak, Milner has been flawless and sports a 17-0-0 record and an impressive 1.11 goals-against average with a mind popping .960 save percentage.

Minnesota goalie Kent Patterson, 28-13-1, 2.23 goals against average and a .911 save percentage. I have seen Gopher fans make the argument that Patterson has been the has been the MVP for the Golden Gophers.

As Sioux7 laid out in his blog post, both teams are similar statistically and I do expect that special teams will have a major factor in this game’s outcome.

Minnesota ranks
1st in team offense with a 3.67 avg/gm
8th in team defense with a 2.21 avg/gam
5th on the Power Play at 23.24% (43/185)
36th on the Penalty Kill at 81.0% (149/184)

Boston College ranks
6th in team offense with a 3.50 avg/gm
2nd in team defense with a 2.07 avg/gam
11th on the Power Play at 21.55% (39/181)
3rd on the Penalty Kill at 88.0% (162/184)

That being said, I am going to stick with my earlier prediction that made a week ago, I do expect to eat a little crow if my prediction is wrong.  That being said, I have seen a lot of good teams get absolutely steam rolled by the Boston College Eagles during the NCAA tourney.

 I also predict that the Boston College Eagles will win their programs fifth NCAA Title by a 6-3 score against the Ferris State Bulldogs.

Related articles

• Frozen Four Match-Ups (by Sioux 7) (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Redwing77's Frozen Four Opinion Piece! (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• My prediction for the Frozen Four (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Frozen Four Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)

It looks like a really blew my frozen four picks from two weeks ago. I had picked Union, Maine, Michigan, and North Dakota to make it, well at least I got one right. How about the fact the we have four teams from four different conferences this year, last year it was just the WCHA (UMD, UND) and CCHA (UM, ND) in the frozen four.

Here we are, Tampa Florida, none the less; not exactly what I call hockey country. Anyway here are the team’s backgrounds and information as well as my best guesses as to the winners. .

SEMI-FINAL #1
#3 Union (26-7-7)
Union got to the Frozen Four by beating Michigan State and UMass-Lowell in the East Regional (Bridgeport, CT) two weeks ago.

The Dutchmen are 6-0-0 on neutral sites and 10-5-3 on the road this season. Union is on a seven game win streak that helped them capture the ECAC hockey crown. The Dutchmen have only lost two games in the 2012 calendar year (Brown and Cornell).

This is Union’s first trip to the Frozen Four, they are 2-1 all time in the NCAA tournament. They lost to Minnesota-Duluth in their first ever NCAA game last year, and UMD went on to win the title last year.

Union ranks
4th in team offense with a 3.55 avg/gm
1st in team defense with a 1.80 avg/gam
4th on the Power Play at 24.34% (46/189)
10th on the Penalty Kill at 84.8% (128/151)


#6 Ferris State (25-11-5)
The Bulldogs got to this point by beating Denver and Cornell in the Midwest Regional (Green Bay, WI) two weeks ago.

The Bulldogs are 0-1-0 on neutral ice and 8-6-3 on the road this season. FSU has won three of its last four games.

This is Ferris State’s first trip to the Frozen Four; they are 3-1 all time in the NCAA tournament, 2-0 this year and 1-1 in 2003, losing to Minnesota that year.

Ferris State ranks
21st in team offense with a 2.93 avg/gm
5st in team defense with a 2.17 avg/gam
25th on the Power Play at 19.17% (37/193)
6th on the Penalty Kill at 85.8% (157/183)


UNION versus FERRIS STATE
The all time series between Union and FSU is all Dutchmen, they are 4-0-0, and those games were all played in 2006 and 2007, in Big Rapids and Schenectady respectively.

Going with the numbers on these teams it favors Union, going with that logic I'm going with the Dutchmen to advance to the Final. UNION WINS


SEMI-FINAL #2

#1 Boston College (31-10-1)
The Eagles got to Tampa by beating Air Force and Minnesota-Duluth in the Northeast Regional (Worcester, MA) two weeks ago.

The Eagles are 8-1-0 on neutral ice and are 10-6-0 on the road this season. The Eagle come into Tampa on a 17-game winning streak, their last loss was on January 21st to Maine.

This is Boston College’s 23rd trip to the Frozen Four; they have won the NCAA Hockey Title 4 times – 1949, 2001, 2008, 2010. The Eagles are owners of a 43-38 all-time NCAA tourney record.

Boston College ranks
6th in team offense with a 3.50 avg/gm
2nd in team defense with a 2.07 avg/gam
11th on the Power Play at 21.55% (39/181)
3rd on the Penalty Kill at 88.0% (162/184)


#8 Minnesota (28-13-1)
The Gopher got to the Frozen Four by beating Boston University and North Dakota in the West Regional (St. Paul, MN) two weeks ago.

The Gophers are 2-1-0 on neutral ice and are 9-6-1 on the road this season, and have now two in a row and five of their last six games.

This is Minnesota’s 20th trip to the Frozen Four; they have won the NCAA Hockey Title 5 times – 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002, 2003. The Gophers are owners of a 52-33 all-time NCAA tourney record.

Minnesota ranks
1st in team offense with a 3.67 avg/gm
8th in team defense with a 2.21 avg/gam
5th on the Power Play at 23.24% (43/185)
36th on the Penalty Kill at 81.0% (149/184)


BOSTON COLLEGE versus MINNESOTA
The all time series between Eagles and Gophers is at 27 games with Minnesota leading 14-11-2. They have met nine of those times in the playoffs with the Eagles holding a 5-4 edge. These teams are 1-1-0 in neutral-site games, one in 1954 (14-1 Gophers) and 2008 (5-2 Eagles).

Last year the semi-finals were similar in that one game was between teams that did have all the hardware (UMD v ND) and the other was two storied progams (UMich v UND). Could this game be like that one? Where the favorite team plays well and gets dumped by a hot goalie? Can Patterson stone wall the Eagles? I think he can, but will he? EAGLES WIN


CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
If, and that's a big if, my semi-final predictions are correct, that would be a Union and BC final. I'm going for the new kids on the block.
DUTCHMEN National Champions

Related articles

• My prediction for the Frozen Four (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• A quick look at the regionals... Goon's Pontifications.... (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• NCAA Hockey Bracket 2012, Boston College Vs. Minnesota-Duluth: Eagles Headed To Frozen Four (sbnation.com)

Matt Frattin vs Marcus Foligno

Former Fighting Sioux forward and current Toronto Maple Leafe Matt Frattin isn't know for his fighting skills, nor do I see him picking up the role as the Leafs goon. That was Frattin's first career fight in the NHL. 

Personally, I have to give him credit for standing up for a teammate, Foligno's hit on Bozek was questionable and border line dirty and I admire a players stepping up and answering the bell even if he doesn't fight.

In tonight's game against the Buffalo Sabres, the leafs rookie Frattin had the Gordie Howe Hat Trick tonight by scoring a goal, and assist and a fight.

Frattin scored his eighth goal of the season tonight, here is the video to that goal [Click to view].

Frattin now has (8g-7a—15pts) in 54 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs this season.

As soon as the NHL regular season is over, the Leafs are not going to be in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Frattin will play in the AHL's  Calder Cup playoffs with the Toronto Marlies. 

Related articles

• Nelson signs with Islanders and Big Mac to return. (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Big Sky Bluffing?

First off, I am not trying to start a fight with anyone, I agree with Rob Port of Sayanythingblog on a lot of things when it comes to politics, but on this issue he is dead wrong. Today's ruling by the North Dakota Supreme Court puts UND's Athletic Department in a very bad situation, now they really get to find out if the Big Sky Conference is bluffing, "if" the Fighting Sioux nickname law isn't voted down or killed by the NDSC.

I am going to take the word of the UND athletic department over a political blogger. Who are you going to believe? 

While it might only be three B1G teams that won't play UND in any sport, two of those teams (Wisconsin and Minnesota) in college hockey, those teams bring a lot of money when they play the Fighting Sioux in hockey at the Ralph Englestad Arena. 

So that point is flawed and a little disingenuous from a hockey point of view. Not being able to play Minnesota and Wisconsin in college hockey after the 2012-13 season would be a fatal blow to the University and could cost the University of North Dakota a lot of money.

Would you rather see some random team every other season or would you like to play Wisconsin and Minnesota on a "semi" regular basis?

Wisconsin has stated they want to continue the series between the two teams but won’t if UND keeps the Fighting Sioux nickname.  According to Chuck Schwartz of Bucky's Fifth Quarter, "assuming North Dakota works out their nickname issues, it seems likely that the Badgers will continue to play Denver and North Dakota one series per year for the foreseeable future."

Lastly, some suggest we should discount Dale Lennon, Tim O'Keefe, Dave Hakstol and Chris  Mussman who some have accused of being  liars or stooges for the UND administration and the Big Sky Conference.  

Today's decision by the North Dakota Supreme Court puts that match up in jeopardy.
I will always love the Fighting Sioux nickname but where were these people 3-4 years ago? That was the time to stand up and fight. Why now?

Related articles

• So Who is bluffing? (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• The Legislature's response to the SBoHE (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• They aren't listening - Fighting Sioux nickname (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Big Sky Conference not Bluffing. (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Developing - NDSC rules against NDBoHE

University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux athletic logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This just in the North Dakota Supreme Court has ruled against the North Dakota Board of Higher. The North Dakota Supreme Court ruled against the North Dakota Board of Higher Education.

ND Courts ---- The Justices signing this majority opinion would exercise this Court's discretionary original jurisdiction and decide now the constitutionality of the legislative enactment requiring the University of North Dakota ("UND") to use the "Fighting Sioux" nickname and logo. We conclude the question of the constitutional authority of the Board of Higher Education, in contrast to the constitutional authority of the legislature, is properly before this Court and is ready to be decided. Those Justices writing separately, however, conclude the issue is not properly before this Court at this time, is not ready to be decided and they will not decide the issue at this time. The necessary number of Justices required to decide the merits is lacking and for this reason we must deny the application of the State Board of Higher Education.

This ruling by the North Dakota Supreme Court puts UND in a precarious situation with the Big Sky Conference. Of course this is a little breathing room after Montana put themselves in the cross hairs with their on campus scandal where they fired the Athletic Director and the head football coach.

Edit: Justice Carol Ronning Kapsner  ruled that there is no matter of urgency at this time, if there was the State Board of Higher Education would have filed in court last year after the Fighting Sioux nickname law was passed in March of 2011.

[¶37] It is clear that the constitutionality of N.D.C.C. § 15-10-46, the statute asserted to be a problem, is not a matter of urgency. If it were so, the Board would have challenged its constitutionality, as it could have done, immediately upon its signature by the Governor on March 15, 2011, one year ago, or any time thereafter. The fact that it did not do so until now indicates this is not a matter of urgency.

Related articles

• Fighting Sioux nickname supporters tell ND Supreme Court that 1969 ceremony precludes 'civil interference' (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• The Legislature's response to the SBoHE (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• So is the Fighting Sioux nickname on the way back (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• They aren't listening - Fighting Sioux nickname (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Nelson signs with Islanders and Big Mac to return.

This the news that we figured that was coming, I think there are a few more players we have to worry about, Danny Kristo is one, but also Corbin Knight and possibly Aaron Dell. The Fighting Sioux did get some good news as they found out that Junior defenseman Andrew MacWilliam will be returning to the Fighting Sioux in the fall for his senior season. According to @UNDSID there could be a few more to come. Good Luck to Brock Nelson... [Official Release]

I will post any updates that come up. It's turning out to be a busy news day for the Fighting Sioux.
There have been 8 players to forgo their college eligibility this season in the WCHA this season. 


University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux
Brock Nelson, sophomore, Forward, New York Islanders

Colorado College Tigers
Jaden Schwartz, sophomore, Forward, St. Louis Blues

Denver University Pioneers
Drew Shore, Junior Forward, Florida Panthers
Jason Zucker, sophomore, Forward, Minnesota Wild

Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs
J.T. Brown, sophomore, Forward, Tampa Bay Lightning

Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks
Terry Broadhurst, Junior Forward, Chicago Blackhawks

St. Cloud State Huskies
David Eddy, Junior Forward, Calgary Flames
Mike Lee, Junior Goalie, Phoenix Coyotes

Related articles

• Sioux dismantle Gophers 6-3 in St. Paul (insidehockey.com)
• Sioux grind out win against Huskies (insidehockey.com)
• Double J of WTBX is our dirt bag of the week... (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Home Field advantage?

Goldy Gopher, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities mascot. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I figure we can start a debate on Tuesday afternoon with nothing going on today.

Recently, we have heard from Gopher fans how the Xcel Energy Center is not a home game for the Minnesota Gophers. that is false since the Xcel Energy Center is eight miles from the University of Minnesota campus.

Check out this stat, it's pretty telling, the Minnesota Gophers have hosted a regional championship, both at the Xcel Center and Marucci Arena (2003, 2005) five times since 2003 and made the Frozen Four three times.

Also, the three seasons the Gophers missed the making the Frozen Four when they were the host team, was when they failed to qualify for the NCAA tourney (2009, 2010 and 2011). 

B.C. Interuption --- Since the tournament expanded to 16 programs for the 2002-3 season, the University of Minnesota has hosted the West Regional on five separate occasions (2003, 2005, 2009, 2010 and 2012). In three of those years, the Gophers were able to advance to the Frozen Four. Still don't think there's an advantage to playing closer to home come tournament time?

Granted many times the NCAA Regionals are hosted by schools that won't even sniff an NCAA Tournament bid in any given year. Teams like Holy Cross, Fairfield and Michigan Tech rarely make an NCAA Tournament appearance but continue to host a regional every few years. Other college hockey heavyweights -- like New Hampshire, North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin -- are regular hosts for either the Regional round or the Frozen Four.

So to claim by Gopher fans and others that the Xcel Energy Center is not like home ice for the Golden Gophers is disingenuous and short sighted.

Congrats to the Minnesota Golden Gophers for making the NCAA tourney and we see how your team matches up with the high flying Boston College Eagles. [Goon's Prediction]

Related articles

• A quick look at the regionals... Goon's Pontifications.... (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• My prediction for the Frozen Four (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• UND's tentative 2012-13 Schedule (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• NCAA West Regional Capsules (insidehockey.com)

It's all Kessel's fault...

This is predictable and you could see this one coming, the media in Toronto and Montreal are hard on their athletes. some might call them brutal and their fans have an entitlement mentality as well.

Just ask Toronto Maple Leafs forward Phil Kessel, who is having a career year (37g-41a—78pts) and scoring almost a point per game and has a chance to score 40 goals yet this season but will be the focus of the fans ire. The last time the Toronto Maples Leafs made the Stanley Cup Playoffs was during the 2003-04 season.

Michael Traikos, National Post --- If Phil Kessel were to reach the 40-goal mark in a year in which the Toronto Maple Leafs missed the playoffs, what would be the reaction?

Would you cheer? Would you boo? Would you even care?

It might be a tree-falls-in-the-forest type of question. Kessel, who set a career high by scoring his 37th goal in a 4-3 win against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday, has been one of the NHL’s top offensive players this season. And yet it is difficult to celebrate his breakout year when you try and digest all that has gone wrong with the 14th-place team in the last two months.

Had Toronto made the playoffs — had they played their way to home-ice advantage, something that was not unthinkable not that long ago — Kessel might have received Hart Trophy consideration.

Related articles

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