Low had to go

Can't get enough hockey to satisfy you? Even with playoff coverage exploding all around? Have no fear, your mailbag is here.

Why doesn't anyone believe that either the Sharks or Bruins can go the distance? What am I missing here?
--Matt, Virginia Beach, Va.

Two problems with the Sharks: 1) The Red Wings and 2) the Avalanche. As for the Bruins, they could well get to the Cup finals (I have them getting to the Eastern Conference finals myself). They obviously have the forward depth to make it there, they have the goaltending, and they have several players capable of thriving in crucial games. I'm a bit concerned, though, about how well their defense will hold up over the long haul of the playoffs -- a nagging injury or two could really hurt the unit -- and that's why I didn't pick them to reach the Cup finals. But if they make it out of the wild wild East, I would not be surprised to see them playing for the Stanley Cup.

I believe that much of the blame for the Rangers' bad season falls on shoulders of one person: Ron Low. This team looked as if it had no strategy or plan in its own end. On top of that, the penalty kill was ghastly for the second year in a row. The staff's lack of attention to detail, and the offensive pressure that was required, allowed little margin for error. When the players made a mistake, it looked as if they weren't trying, which was not the case. Hopefully, Pat Burns, Ken Hitchcock or any other coach who understands today's game, will be behind the bench next season. What do you think about this?
--E. Max Gohagen, Temple Terrace, Fla.

I'm with you for the most part, E. Max Gohagen. Low did not do an acceptable job of coaching that team. He refused to give the Rangers discipline when it was needed, and he allowed players to get away with lackluster play without ever taking their ice time or demanding anything more from them. The players are not completely without blame; when they saw they could get away with cutting corners, they cut corners. Without a strong-willed coach to set the tone, they often lost focus and motivation. That Mark Messier was so often injured and so often ineffectual was also debilitating to the team. Not that Mess would have made such a difference with his play, but he wouldn't have put up with halfhearted efforts down the stretch.

Another big problem with Low was that he never implemented and stuck to a cohesive system of defense to complement the Rangers' offensive inclinations. A big reason there were so many defensive breakdowns this year was that Low didn't have the team clearly focused when it came to playing defense. Whomever comes in to coach -- and if it's anyone but Hitchcock, the Rangers are making a mistake -- will be far more demanding. One of the reasons the Stars endured injuries so well under Hitchcock was that everyone on the team, even rarely used players who had to step in, was committed to the same, team-wide agenda. That's what the Rangers need. And with that agenda things like a better penalty kill -- you're right, the Rangers' failures there were inexcusable -- should follow.

How come I never hear Janne Niinimaa's name for Norris Trophy consideration? He's a great all-around blueliner, the best defenseman, if not best player, on the Oilers and one of the main reasons that team is a among the league leaders in goals against.
--Scott Brown, Duncan, British Columbia

Norris candidates, more than wannabes for any other major award, are dependent upon reputation. It takes a few years of exceptional play to break into the club now inhabited by the likes of Lidstrom and Blake and Chelios and Pronger. Niinimaa has been mistake prone for much of his early career. He often took bad gambles with the puck and left himself vulnerable. Now, at age 26, he appears to have developed his all-around game. This was definitely the best year of Niinimaa's career and he's only going to get better. Night in and night out over the last month or so of the season, he was the Oilers' best player. He puts in a lot of minutes at a high level and asserts himself physically. He's always been a good puck-mover and now he picks his spots excellently on offense. Niinimaa could have had a few more goals than the five he scored this year, but he was an outstanding playmaker. Another year or two like this one, with maybe an extra four to six goals thrown in, and you'll start hearing Niinimaa's name in the Norris mix.

I wrote in a couple of months ago complaining about overtime losses and how they could skew the standings and you claimed, correctly, that last year they did not affect the standings greatly. But as I look at the current standings, with teams bunched so close together, I see that overtime losses have taken on a whole new meaning (look at Phoenix with six). Just curious if this changes your opinion?
--Peter Stone, Cambridge, Mass.

Peter, I still don't regard overtime losses as "skewing" the standings in any way. There's no way to say that the Coyotes would have lost any of those six games in OT if they hadn't been assured of gaining a point. They might have simply played cautiously and tied all of them; or they might have played differently near the end of the third period. The current point system inspires teams to play aggressively in overtime and that's what makes it such a good rule. If you feel that teams are being rewarded for losing, you're missing the larger point.

I'm confused. Haven't the last 20 or so years shown us that the Hart Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding player? When Gretzky, Lemieux and Jagr were winning MVPs, no one else was worth mentioning. Jarome Iginla had 30 percent more goals than his closest competitor and will win the Art Ross. He has been by far the most outstanding player, despite many goalies having had career years. Based on history, Iggy's the MVP, don't you think?
--Mark, Calgary, Alberta

Iginla unquestionably had the best year of any non-goalie in the NHL. But I'm guessing the Flames could have missed the playoffs without him. MVP is a hybrid award. It goes to a player who has had an outstanding performance, but also one who has helped his team succeed (i.e. been "valuable" to his team's accomplishments). When Mario, Gretzky and Jagr won the award, they took their teams to the playoffs. I don't think the MVP has to go to a player on a first-place or second-place team, but barring a truly gargantuan year -- a 65-goal season, say -- it should to go to a postseason qualifier. It would be nice for Iginla to be named a Hart Trophy finalist, as a nod to his superb season, but because of the Flames' mediocrity I wouldn't vote him the MVP.

I might be down to my last straw here. I'm about 0 for 7 on mailbag replies so far. Here's just a little off-the-wall question because I know you'll be bombarded with playoff queries this week. Even though I'm not the biggest fan of enforcers, they still remain part of the game. Who is the toughest in the league right now? My picks: Peter Worrell and Georges Laraque. Most overrated: Tie Domi.
--Chris Black, Oshawa, Ontario

I love Georges as player and he can clearly handle himself, but he doesn't have that real streak of venom that some nasty boys have. Worrell's right there among the nastiest, and Domi is afraid of nothing, whether you think he's overrated or not. Those boys out in Anaheim, Kevin Sawyer and Denny Lambert, will rough you up, too. And so, my friend, will Philadelphia's Donald Brashear. In two years, the Blues' Reed Low could be the best fighter in the league.

My question is more of a fantasy one: Who would you rather have as your goalie, Curtis Joseph or José Théodore?
--Grant Thorpe, Cambridge, Ontario

Hiya Grant. These are the things you fantasize about? Hey, to each his own. As for who I'd rather have, I'm going with Théodore.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Kostya Kennedy covers the NHL beat for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com.

 

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