Post by GoVoysGo on Dec 2, 2014 12:55:38 GMT -5
These boards will be used for the weekly power rankings. I thought it would be nice to suggest how this league appears to shape up ahead of this upcoming season. I will be posting the weekly power rankings in one part each week. There will be no bottom half first part, also known as the glass half full half, nor the MC Hammer second portion (Too Legit too Quit). If you get offended that is OK we weren't going to spend Christmas together anyways.
The grammar will be bad and if you feel the need to point that out please be prepared to make a fist with your right hand and shake it back and forth so you can visualize my response to those complaints.
The Power Rankings are composed based on performance, record, and a glance at the team rosters...........
I have given the number rank a colour based on how the team is trending: green (trending up), red (trending down, like my math marks over the years), and gray (consistent... or you simply can't become more extreme, either first or worst). THE RANK ITSELF IS NOT REFLECTIVE OF THIS.
And finally, please have fun with these as I intend to, and try to ignore the fact that I copied the beginning of Clint J. Gritt's weekly power rankings from the Triple Play Dynasty baseball league.
#2 GRAND RAPIDS GOATS (1) 6-2
Okay, well somebody isn't going to like me when he sees these rankings.
AS: "Are you putting Mark first?"
DR: "I was going to last week, but not anymore."
That much is true.
AS: "Okay, then I'm first?"
So I lied.
DR: "Yeah."
Wins over Seattle don't prove anything. Losses to Hamilton do.
Grand Rapids should not be happy with their performance. While the score was close, Stutter acknowledges that those with names other than Carey Price and Jimmy Howard reportedly went missing. There were no leads on there whereabouts for the week, but last Sunday they were all found huddled in front of the newly-renovated KeyArena in Seattle, forgetting that they still had to play hockey during Week 7.
The time of possession tips heavily in favour of the Huskies; they controlled the puck for a jaw-dropping 78% of the game. The Goats looked sluggish, giving up a handful of breakaways and taking penalties galore.
They looked even worse the next week.
If the Blazers weren't such an incompetent team, Grand Rapids would have lost. These teams combined for the lowest scoring matchup. Neither would have beaten a different opponent.
Lets look at shot numbers. Shot differentials favoured Grand Rapids by two. Fenwick differentials favoured Seattle by one. Corsi differentials favours Seattle by eight (Grand Rapids blocked 7 shots, Seattle blocked none; NOTE: this is likely false). Puck possession saw the Goats boast a 2% advantage over their foe (GR 51-49 SEA). Yikes.
Next up? A visit from their deer friends (IT'S A DOUBLE DOUBLE ENTENDRE!). This will likely be the matchup to watch this week, as two virtual locks for the postseason in Grand Rapids and Red Deer make war.
The grammar will be bad and if you feel the need to point that out please be prepared to make a fist with your right hand and shake it back and forth so you can visualize my response to those complaints.
The Power Rankings are composed based on performance, record, and a glance at the team rosters...........
I have given the number rank a colour based on how the team is trending: green (trending up), red (trending down, like my math marks over the years), and gray (consistent... or you simply can't become more extreme, either first or worst). THE RANK ITSELF IS NOT REFLECTIVE OF THIS.
And finally, please have fun with these as I intend to, and try to ignore the fact that I copied the beginning of Clint J. Gritt's weekly power rankings from the Triple Play Dynasty baseball league.
#1 HAMILTON HUSKIES (4) 6-2
I may have just made some enemies.
This team is shooting itself in the foot. The problem is, the foot had its hands up. Sorry, I've been meaning to make that joke for a long time.
This team is shooting itself in the foot. The problem is, the foot had its hands up. Sorry, I've been meaning to make that joke for a long time.
The thing is, that joke doesn't even have much traction. This is a team that keeps proving me wrong after I criticized them for no reason.
The Sheriff finally caught the Assassins red-handed (and red-jerseyed), who had their hands raised...
Yes, I might be overkilling the joke (much like Wilson overk... you get it), but the fact is, the Sharvit Squad has played well, even though I've burned them more than...
ENOUGH!
It will take much more than a drinking problem to slow down Jon Baloney. His controversial moves leave most of us wondering, "Where the hell did this team come from?" I'm the exception, wondering, "Where the hell is the team?"
Seriously. It took a lot of arguing with myself (no judging here) to convince myself to rank them this high (that, and the fact that Stier refused to discretely bench his players and give me a win). I still don't think this team is a contender. They don't have the goaltending (oh, look who's talking) or the star power. The roster value is there, meaning Hamilton is a team that is a move or two away from rejoining the best-team conversation. Baloney's credentials prove that he knows this and will make it happen.
Two home wins (including a big victory over rival Grand Rapids, and another huge victory against the "new boss in town" in Red Deer) cannot be overlooked. The team surprisingly dominated the Goats, and good goaltending kept things close. They were a little rocky at the go against a much tighter, defensive minded Blades club, but, around the midway point of the game, found success off the drop pass just a bit into the zone from the blueline, around the middle. This very well may be the first time — since being hired less than a month ago — that Blake Mabcock looked to be at a loss of words. He just did not have an answer for the Huskies' breakout. He tried everything, but Hamilton coach Jerry Krotz got the better of him here.
Good job to Sharvit & co. Like both seasons before, you keep proving us wrong. Hopefully, you won't for much longer.
Next week, we'll see if you are serious about contention. If you somehow manage to lose to a Milwaukee team that dropped its last two clashes to the undisputed (well, before Milwaukee joined that conversation) bottom two teams, then next week will be an absolute mess. I'm sure that won't be the case for THE RETURN OF TYLER SEGUIN: PART 2.
W7MVP: Logan Couture • 1 PPG • 2 PPA • 10 SOG• 24.6 FPTS
W8MVP: TJ BRODIEEEEE • 3 GP • 2 G (1 PPG) • 3 A • 4 +/- • 9 BLOCKED SHOTS • 35.1 FPTS
Reason for hope: You may be first here, but I have bested you in the battle that is known to most as "Data Management" (thanks, by the way).
Okay, well somebody isn't going to like me when he sees these rankings.
AS: "Are you putting Mark first?"
DR: "I was going to last week, but not anymore."
That much is true.
AS: "Okay, then I'm first?"
So I lied.
DR: "Yeah."
Wins over Seattle don't prove anything. Losses to Hamilton do.
Grand Rapids should not be happy with their performance. While the score was close, Stutter acknowledges that those with names other than Carey Price and Jimmy Howard reportedly went missing. There were no leads on there whereabouts for the week, but last Sunday they were all found huddled in front of the newly-renovated KeyArena in Seattle, forgetting that they still had to play hockey during Week 7.
The time of possession tips heavily in favour of the Huskies; they controlled the puck for a jaw-dropping 78% of the game. The Goats looked sluggish, giving up a handful of breakaways and taking penalties galore.
They looked even worse the next week.
If the Blazers weren't such an incompetent team, Grand Rapids would have lost. These teams combined for the lowest scoring matchup. Neither would have beaten a different opponent.
Lets look at shot numbers. Shot differentials favoured Grand Rapids by two. Fenwick differentials favoured Seattle by one. Corsi differentials favours Seattle by eight (Grand Rapids blocked 7 shots, Seattle blocked none; NOTE: this is likely false). Puck possession saw the Goats boast a 2% advantage over their foe (GR 51-49 SEA). Yikes.
Next up? A visit from their deer friends (IT'S A DOUBLE DOUBLE ENTENDRE!). This will likely be the matchup to watch this week, as two virtual locks for the postseason in Grand Rapids and Red Deer make war.
W7MVP: Carey Price • 3 GS • 2 W • .943 SV% • 36.4 FPTS
W8MVP: The Pittsburgh Penguins
(Kunitz, Letang, Malkin, Crosby, Comeau, Ehrhoff) • 4 GP • 6 G (2 PPG) • 16 A (4 PPA) • 8 +/- • 1 GWG • 44 SOG • 28 HITS • 9 BLOCKED SHOTS • 121.3 FPTS
Reason for hope: Owner Adam Stier was recently arrested for trying to rob a store, but spent too long trying to deposit the money into his bank account. Apparently, he is struggling to afford his contracts after blowing most of it on a new apartment. The team will be without him when they host the Red Deer Blades next week. Expect a good matchup anyways.
#3 RED DEER BLADES (2) 5-3
So, this week, I've decided to change it up a little for the Power Rankings. In retrospect, I am way too harsh on all the teams. This time, I will be uncharacteristically nice.
Red Deer was very impressive the past two weeks. I really liked how they turned over the puck every five seconds. They did that really well.
I also loved their dangerous scoring prowess. By that, I mean they were dangerous with the puck in the defensive zone, giving the opposition good scoring chances.
Yeah, this is getting really boring. I'm done with this dumb nice guy shit.
Your team fucking sucks! Stop winning!
The assasins dealt with Dallas last week, evening out the season series at one win apiece. They then completely and utterly crapped the bed against the now top-ranked Huskies. Sources close to the team tell us that practice will spend a significant amount of time addressing defensive strategy against the drop pass. Yes, I really just said that.
Thus far, only the Sharvit squad has used the drop pass even once (they've used it a few times now, and have mastered it); Red Deer fans can be grateful that the team only plays Hamilton twice more (of their remaining thirteen games)... that is, unless Ed Nolan, who used it plenty in the KHL (with Jokerit) and at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics (with Team Latvia), can find a way to teach it to his players. It would take a miracle to teach them anything, really, so I wouldn't bet on it.
Well, you (Mark Korodetz) got your wish: you didn't win the Art Ross Trophy again. I had originally written, "And everyone reading this will shit their respective pants when they found out who did win the Art Ross (unless the readers actually know already... you know what, forget I said anything, ever) this week," but the hockey gods had other ideas (why do I have to be so cocky?). It appears that after two losing seasons with the now-Dallas-located franchise in Flint and Cincinnati, Blake Mabcock and Glen Kolland have found a home, a team that they can actually impact in a positive way (Cincinnati team captain Zdeno Chara and Mabcock never saw eye to eye; once engaged in a fistfight). As a Seattle Blazers fan (and owner and former GM), I hope this doesn't last.
This week, we saw them try to win over the one team they had yet to do so against: the Sharvit squad. That didn't change. The offense had some solid chances. Both teams' goalies fought hard. The match was fairly evenly matched, until Jerry Krotz pulled out the "drop-pass inside the zone" from his playbook, and there was simply no answer for it defensively.
The Blades will look to build on their performances next week against a Grand Rapids team that they are desperately trying to surpass in the standings (the same one that they beat a month ago).
(Kunitz, Letang, Malkin, Crosby, Comeau, Ehrhoff) • 4 GP • 6 G (2 PPG) • 16 A (4 PPA) • 8 +/- • 1 GWG • 44 SOG • 28 HITS • 9 BLOCKED SHOTS • 121.3 FPTS
Reason for hope: Owner Adam Stier was recently arrested for trying to rob a store, but spent too long trying to deposit the money into his bank account. Apparently, he is struggling to afford his contracts after blowing most of it on a new apartment. The team will be without him when they host the Red Deer Blades next week. Expect a good matchup anyways.
#3 RED DEER BLADES (2) 5-3
So, this week, I've decided to change it up a little for the Power Rankings. In retrospect, I am way too harsh on all the teams. This time, I will be uncharacteristically nice.
Red Deer was very impressive the past two weeks. I really liked how they turned over the puck every five seconds. They did that really well.
I also loved their dangerous scoring prowess. By that, I mean they were dangerous with the puck in the defensive zone, giving the opposition good scoring chances.
Yeah, this is getting really boring. I'm done with this dumb nice guy shit.
Your team fucking sucks! Stop winning!
The assasins dealt with Dallas last week, evening out the season series at one win apiece. They then completely and utterly crapped the bed against the now top-ranked Huskies. Sources close to the team tell us that practice will spend a significant amount of time addressing defensive strategy against the drop pass. Yes, I really just said that.
Thus far, only the Sharvit squad has used the drop pass even once (they've used it a few times now, and have mastered it); Red Deer fans can be grateful that the team only plays Hamilton twice more (of their remaining thirteen games)... that is, unless Ed Nolan, who used it plenty in the KHL (with Jokerit) and at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics (with Team Latvia), can find a way to teach it to his players. It would take a miracle to teach them anything, really, so I wouldn't bet on it.
Well, you (Mark Korodetz) got your wish: you didn't win the Art Ross Trophy again. I had originally written, "And everyone reading this will shit their respective pants when they found out who did win the Art Ross (unless the readers actually know already... you know what, forget I said anything, ever) this week," but the hockey gods had other ideas (why do I have to be so cocky?). It appears that after two losing seasons with the now-Dallas-located franchise in Flint and Cincinnati, Blake Mabcock and Glen Kolland have found a home, a team that they can actually impact in a positive way (Cincinnati team captain Zdeno Chara and Mabcock never saw eye to eye; once engaged in a fistfight). As a Seattle Blazers fan (and owner and former GM), I hope this doesn't last.
This week, we saw them try to win over the one team they had yet to do so against: the Sharvit squad. That didn't change. The offense had some solid chances. Both teams' goalies fought hard. The match was fairly evenly matched, until Jerry Krotz pulled out the "drop-pass inside the zone" from his playbook, and there was simply no answer for it defensively.
The Blades will look to build on their performances next week against a Grand Rapids team that they are desperately trying to surpass in the standings (the same one that they beat a month ago).
W7MVP: Eric Staal • 3 GP • 3 G (1 PPG) • 2 A • 1 GWG • 11 SOG • 27.9 FPTS
W8MVP: Henrik Zetterberg • 3 GP • 1 G • 5 A (4 PPA) • 13 SOG • 34.7 FPTS
Reason for hope: Mark Korodetz: this is the kind of guy you really want to own a team and make employment decisions... on the premise that he doesn't hire himself.
#4 MILWAUKEE BLIZZARDS (3) 3-5
Ugh.
Losses to both the Buffalo Sabres AND the Carolina Hurricanes in the same month? What are you, San Jose?
Joking aside, Milwaukee is not faring well. James McEnroy is starting to go into one of those panic attacks that we see so often (like, once a month).
Welcome to the discussion of bottom two, non-playoff teams.
Let's take a look at what happened here.
Since a three game streak, Milwaukee has dropped four in a row; the last two, however, sting pretty badly.
After going 1-2 on a three game road trip, playing guest to the current top three, the Blizz returned home to prepare for a five game homestand. After hosting the Blazers, Milwaukee hosted the Diamonds. Two home games against the two worst teams; what better way is there to get a team out of a funk?
Sean Trooper didn't get the memo.
Apparently nobody got the memo, Seattle and Dallas included. To their credit, Seattle and Dallas played well. Still, there's no excuse for the poor performance. I won't go into specifics, but none of the possession or shot differential statistics favoured Milwaukee in either game.
To make a bad situation worse, their next guests are the current league-leading Hamilton Huskies.
Reason for hope: Mark Korodetz: this is the kind of guy you really want to own a team and make employment decisions... on the premise that he doesn't hire himself.
#4 MILWAUKEE BLIZZARDS (3) 3-5
Ugh.
Losses to both the Buffalo Sabres AND the Carolina Hurricanes in the same month? What are you, San Jose?
Joking aside, Milwaukee is not faring well. James McEnroy is starting to go into one of those panic attacks that we see so often (like, once a month).
Welcome to the discussion of bottom two, non-playoff teams.
Let's take a look at what happened here.
Since a three game streak, Milwaukee has dropped four in a row; the last two, however, sting pretty badly.
After going 1-2 on a three game road trip, playing guest to the current top three, the Blizz returned home to prepare for a five game homestand. After hosting the Blazers, Milwaukee hosted the Diamonds. Two home games against the two worst teams; what better way is there to get a team out of a funk?
Sean Trooper didn't get the memo.
Apparently nobody got the memo, Seattle and Dallas included. To their credit, Seattle and Dallas played well. Still, there's no excuse for the poor performance. I won't go into specifics, but none of the possession or shot differential statistics favoured Milwaukee in either game.
To make a bad situation worse, their next guests are the current league-leading Hamilton Huskies.
W7MVP: Ryan Miller • 2 GS • 2 W • .912 SV% • 25.4 FPTS
W8MVP: Ryan Miller • 3 GS • 2 W • 2 SHUTOUTS • .950 SV% • 46.2 FPTS
Reason for hope: Like Stier, owner Shmuel Kantor nearly filed for bankruptcy after Dairy Queen sales plummeted. To keep himself afloat until the Blizzards returned home, Kantor started working at Best Buy. This is very bad news for the YGFHL. I really don't know how to make this even a little funny, so I'll do this instead.
#5 DALLAS DIAMONDS (6) 2-6
The fans have taken to the streets of Dallas in celebration.
This has nothing to do with the team. The cause for celebration has to do with moving up to no. 5 in the TFHN weekly (OR SO WE THOUGHT) rankings.
Owner Isaac Reich is certainly happy, knowing how much of a deal he makes of these power rankings.
The Diamonds have earned it. After a decent outing in a loss against Red Deer, they took command against a slumping Milwaukee Blizzard squad.
After Seattle GM Bryan Dirks made some snarky remark about an 18-wheeler — or something like that — regarding Dallas (specifically GM Dale Novis), both teams went out and pulled Milwaukee further and further away from best-team conversation. Now, they both sit tied, one game back from the same Milwaukee team — the team holding the final playoff spot.
A sickly Reich sat at home, recovering from an upper body injury (head cold), egging on his team. They did not let him down, and he is now well enough to congratulate them in person.
Despite their success, this story is far from over. The Blizz are 3-5, holding the final playoff position. The Diamonds and Blazers — both 2-6 — are one game back from Milwaukee and out of the playoffs. Milwaukee is busy trying to fend off a strong Hamilton team, potentially opening a window for one of the two teams (Seattle and Dallas) to climb into the playoffs. Even more interesting is the fact that those two teams face each other next week.
This means that, should the Huskies get the job done, Milwaukee will have to share the spot with one of the two teams (SEA and DAL). The only thing left to wonder is, "Who will win?" Only time will tell.
Reason for hope: Like Stier, owner Shmuel Kantor nearly filed for bankruptcy after Dairy Queen sales plummeted. To keep himself afloat until the Blizzards returned home, Kantor started working at Best Buy. This is very bad news for the YGFHL. I really don't know how to make this even a little funny, so I'll do this instead.
#5 DALLAS DIAMONDS (6) 2-6
The fans have taken to the streets of Dallas in celebration.
This has nothing to do with the team. The cause for celebration has to do with moving up to no. 5 in the TFHN weekly (OR SO WE THOUGHT) rankings.
Owner Isaac Reich is certainly happy, knowing how much of a deal he makes of these power rankings.
The Diamonds have earned it. After a decent outing in a loss against Red Deer, they took command against a slumping Milwaukee Blizzard squad.
After Seattle GM Bryan Dirks made some snarky remark about an 18-wheeler — or something like that — regarding Dallas (specifically GM Dale Novis), both teams went out and pulled Milwaukee further and further away from best-team conversation. Now, they both sit tied, one game back from the same Milwaukee team — the team holding the final playoff spot.
A sickly Reich sat at home, recovering from an upper body injury (head cold), egging on his team. They did not let him down, and he is now well enough to congratulate them in person.
Despite their success, this story is far from over. The Blizz are 3-5, holding the final playoff position. The Diamonds and Blazers — both 2-6 — are one game back from Milwaukee and out of the playoffs. Milwaukee is busy trying to fend off a strong Hamilton team, potentially opening a window for one of the two teams (Seattle and Dallas) to climb into the playoffs. Even more interesting is the fact that those two teams face each other next week.
This means that, should the Huskies get the job done, Milwaukee will have to share the spot with one of the two teams (SEA and DAL). The only thing left to wonder is, "Who will win?" Only time will tell.
W7MVP: Pekka Rinne • 2 GS • 2 W • .934 SV% • 27.4 FPTS
W8MVP: Pekka Rinne • 3 GS • 3 W • 1 SHUTOUT • .950 SV% • 51.2 FPTS
Reason for hope: The playoffs aren't just a wet dream anymore. There's a real possibility of Dallas making some moves to gear up and crash the spring party.
#6 SEATTLE BLAZERS (5) 2-6
I don't know what to feel anymore. Following a victory that was not even close (until the last minute), Seattle played a deplorable outing against a Grand Rapids team that didn't play much better either.
On the bright side, both the Blazers and Diamonds are one game back from a playoff spot, and both contributed to this. Good job to both!
Seattle gets the shit end of the stick due to the performance they followed with. Ugh. Deplorable.
Much like Mabcock (for Red Deer), new head coach Ed Nolan earned a much-needed win in his debut (in Milwaukee). Yet, unlike Mabcock, he could not follow up with a strong performance the same way. Nolan put his Seattle Blazers squad on blast Sunday.
“That was like an NHL team playing a Pee Wee team,” the coach told The Seattle News.
Harsh, but fair. He got one thing wrong, though. That was like a junior team playing a Pee Wee team. Their opponent was no dominating force either.
The backstoppers had a field day, not facing any challenges. There were more turnovers than the average Los Angeles Lakers game; that goes for both teams.
The hierarchy of the league has undergone major changes. After most professional writers penned this troupe for the postseason — a few even predicting a finals appearance — the Blazers have proved them all wrong, but not in a good way. There have been flashes of brilliance, a spark, but the fire has yet to catch. This is especially a problem for a team called "the Blazers".
With a probable (but far from certain) Milwaukee loss at the hands of the Sharvit squad, Seattle will look to make the first jump into a playoff position with a win against Dallas.
Reason for hope: The playoffs aren't just a wet dream anymore. There's a real possibility of Dallas making some moves to gear up and crash the spring party.
#6 SEATTLE BLAZERS (5) 2-6
I don't know what to feel anymore. Following a victory that was not even close (until the last minute), Seattle played a deplorable outing against a Grand Rapids team that didn't play much better either.
On the bright side, both the Blazers and Diamonds are one game back from a playoff spot, and both contributed to this. Good job to both!
Seattle gets the shit end of the stick due to the performance they followed with. Ugh. Deplorable.
Much like Mabcock (for Red Deer), new head coach Ed Nolan earned a much-needed win in his debut (in Milwaukee). Yet, unlike Mabcock, he could not follow up with a strong performance the same way. Nolan put his Seattle Blazers squad on blast Sunday.
“That was like an NHL team playing a Pee Wee team,” the coach told The Seattle News.
Harsh, but fair. He got one thing wrong, though. That was like a junior team playing a Pee Wee team. Their opponent was no dominating force either.
The backstoppers had a field day, not facing any challenges. There were more turnovers than the average Los Angeles Lakers game; that goes for both teams.
The hierarchy of the league has undergone major changes. After most professional writers penned this troupe for the postseason — a few even predicting a finals appearance — the Blazers have proved them all wrong, but not in a good way. There have been flashes of brilliance, a spark, but the fire has yet to catch. This is especially a problem for a team called "the Blazers".
With a probable (but far from certain) Milwaukee loss at the hands of the Sharvit squad, Seattle will look to make the first jump into a playoff position with a win against Dallas.
W7MVP: Steven Stamkos • 4 GP • 3 G (1 PPG) • 2 A (1 PPA) • 2 +/- • 15 SOG • 30.4 FPTS
W8MVP: Alexander Ovechkin • 3 GP • 3 G (2 PPG) • 1 +/- • 14 SOG • 9 HITS • 4 BLOCKED SHOTS • 35.1 FPTS
Reason for despair: When asked what Seattle fans can be hopeful about, [Red Deer and Milwaukee] owners Mark Korodetz and Shmuel Kantor did not have an answer, and Seattle owner Daniel Ronel could not think of anything funny or realistic enough.
Reason for despair: When asked what Seattle fans can be hopeful about, [Red Deer and Milwaukee] owners Mark Korodetz and Shmuel Kantor did not have an answer, and Seattle owner Daniel Ronel could not think of anything funny or realistic enough.