February 21st, 2012
Christmas comes once a year, but not for the GMs in the Amazing Fantasy Hockey League, who usually get to celebrate twice a year. The first Christmas occurs in June when a fresh crop of 18-year-old hopefuls are scooped up in the annual entry draft. That is the cheap Christmas. On Tuesday, February 28th, we get to witness the unwrapping of the expensive toys… at the trade deadline!
Some teams will miss the playoffs, because their superstar players didn’t perform the way they should have performed, or were flushed by injuries, or were disabled by bad management decisions. Those teams will be offering up gifts which will glitter more brightly as the eventful deadline approaches. A typical characteristic of the AFHL’s regular season is the complete abandonment of common sense by everyone – GMs, media, and fans – involved in the game. A player whose team has spent the entire season trying to dump him becomes in the last couple of days before the trade deadline a priceless final addition to a playoff team’s roster – hopefully guaranteeing a Stanley Cup.
Oshawa City GM Earl McNeill doesn’t know what to expect.
“Anything is possible,” said McNeill after a team practice on Monday morning. “So many big trades have been made in just the last couple of days. With the way things are going this year could be like shoppers who waited until Christmas Eve to buy that special gift, GMs might find the pickings slim in the hours leading up to Tuesday’s trade deadline.”
GMs have spent the past six weeks stripping the shelves of Kris Versteeg, Daniel Alfredsson, Marek Zidlicky, Zdeno Chara, Pekka Rinne, and Nicklas Lidstrom, just to name a few.
But Manhattan GM Tony Furino thinks it will be a busy trade deadline.
“The longer we wait, the better,” said Furino. “For the teams looking for the best return possible, I think they get the biggest bang for their buck on deadline day. That’s been my experience.”
And so we have Goldsboro’s Corey Perry and Jeff Skinner, Twin City’s Brandon Sutter and J.S. Giguere, Detroit’s Vincent Lecavalier and Ryan Smyth, Comox Valley’s Brian Elliott and Dennis Widemen, Deer Park’s Alex Tanguay and Scott Hartnell, among the many currently being paraded before the breathless seekers of talent as ‘The Answer’, even if most of us aren’t sure of ‘The Question’. People in Toronto are swarming about on Yonge Street, reserving the best spots on the sidewalk for catching a glimpse of Corey Perry smiling from an open convertible. Perry would transform the Red Devils from an in-and-out team with inconsistency issues into champions, no doubt about it.
Perry, who scored 50 goals last year, has a feeling something will happen. He’s not sure what that will mean, or where he will land when the AFHL trade deadline tolls, but he’s preparing for a trade.
“I think this is a poor analogy, but it’s like going to the chair,” Perry said. “It’s more or less inevitable. When you have star players in the locker room and they can help another team, it’s something that ends up happening and you accept it as part of the game.”
Hamilton GM Gates Imbeau continues to work the phones.
“I’ve elevated things,” Imbeau admitted.
The surging Hamilton Firestorm, who are on the verge of supplanting the North Bay Warriors for the top spot in the league standings, swung two huge deals in the past four days. On Saturday, they sent Tomas Plekanec, Christian Ehrhoff, Trevor Daley, and three prospects to the Oshawa City Leafs to get star defensemen Zdeno Chara, Kimmo Timonen, Michael Leighton and a prospect. Last night, they obtained Nick Lidstrom and Nik Antropov from Washington for Brandon Dubinsky and a draft pick.
“I think at least one playoff team will panic because Hamilton has acquired a couple of superstars in the past week and pay too much for too little,” said Deer Park GM Mike Nellany.
GMs do get it right every now and then. Former Washington GM Ray Irwin traded for Teemu Selanne in the final minutes before last year’s deadline struck and Selanne was terrific in helping the Power win the 2011 Stanley Cup and getting Playoff MVP honors.
“Sometimes we have to look for short term fixes and opt for rental players – fading stars with a few good games left in them,” North Bay GM Mike Brunetta said of Ray Irwin’s trade for Selanne last year.
North Bay GM Mike Brunetta and Deer Park GM Mike Nellany completed one of the biggest last-minute-deadline-deals in 2010 (Anze Kopitar, Jochen Hecht, and a 1st round pick for Ryan Kesler and Tyler Ennis) and the two could hook up again on Tuesday.
There have been 26 trades completed at the deadline over the last two years according to the AFHL, transactions that involved 97 players.
“Guys worry about getting traded, but that’s part of the business,” Buffalo Phantoms GM Daryn Beckman said. “It’s not necessarily personal every time, it’s just something the players have to deal with.”
Buffalo’s franchise player Sidney Crosby has been dealing with the speculation of being traded almost every day since his concussion symptoms returned in December and would certainly be the biggest name moved on deadline day.
“Things are happening and, basically, management will decide if I’m going somewhere,” Crosby said in a telephone interview on Tuesday. “As a player, you have to respect that and go wherever you’re traded.”
Beckman offered a degree of sympathy but stressed the fact that he believes the Phantoms can win it all this year.
“I don’t know how many times Sidney has been asked the same question, over and over,” Beckman said. “But we believe we can win the Cup this year. If we get a good enough offer for Sid then we’ll pull the trigger.”
If Beckman decides to trade Crosby, he has until 11:59 pm EST. After that, the sales are over and the store is closed.
* * *
QUICK HITS:
– Talk about leadership! There are currently 9 past and present NHL Captains on the Hamilton Firestorm roster. (Selanne, Alfredsson, Richards, Briere, Doan, Weber, Lidstrom, Chara, Timonen)
– The Lakehead Thunderwolves are so close to being on top of the league standings. Leading the league with 644 total points scored on offense, the T’wolves are just three points out of first place. They’re up against the second place Deer Park Chiefs this week.
– “This has been a very interesting rebuild, we’ve had to deal with a lot of pressure and I think we’ve responded well,” said Montreal Xtreme GM Keith Cancilla, who has been masterful in bringing along the youthful core of his team. “The pressure is good; it’s good for the growth of the young guys on our hockey club to have to go through it. It’s a game of patience and the young guys have been a big part of that, slowly but surely they are logging more and more important minutes.”
* * *
Blast From the Past:
February 28th, 2012
5:15 am 
Pierre Lebrun: A little after 5 am… It’s the calm before the storm…
5:20 am 
Barry Melrose: And so it begins… wonder which teams will be the first to make some noise… We’re ready.
5:52 am 
Bob McKenzie: Happy Trade Deadline Day everyone!
5:59 am 
Scott Burnside: Can’t help but wonder what kind of splash Vipers GM Chris Hartley makes before the deadline tonight.
6:03 am Barry Melrose: As of this morning, no change on the Sidney Crosby front. Phantoms intend to wait for Crosby to return. News on this throughout the day.
6:25 am Bob McKenzie: I’m expecting a lot of “goofy” trades today. It’s been a strange year. So many teams still in it. We shall see.
7:01 am Pierre Lebrun: Oshawa City GM Earl McNeill jst announced he’s taking offers for Crawford, Sharp, and Parise.
7:22 am Barry Melrose: Parise will be most sought after player today.
7:39 am Bob McKenzie: Washington Power hoping to seal the deal on a trade today for some help up front, while the Deer Park Chiefs aren’t expected to be overly active.
7:50 am Scott Burnside: Someone has started a phony account of me,please be advised,it looks a lot like my account but please check the spelling folks…
8:03 am Pierre Lebrun: GM Armstrong saying Thomas Vanek will be dealt today. Hamilton an obvious possible destination.
8:31 am Barry Melrose: Lots of chatter about the Vipers stepping up for Vanek.
8:45 am Bob McKenzie: Quiet morning in Manhattan. Supermen have firm offers on a number of players. Ton of interest in Cory Schneider, but nothing imminent.
9:10 am Bob McKenzie: Odds on favorite to make the first trade today: Toronto
9:15 am Barry Melrose: Not expecting the Killers to be sellers or buyers. Hockey moves are up their alley today.
9:22 am Scott Burnside: Talking to a friend with Montreal, could see some activity there today. GM Cancilla is looking to make an impactful move.
9:25 am Pierre Lebrun: Pierre McGuire just told me Jason Arnott is heading to Manhattan. I am hearing the same thing. Pending the post on yuku.
9:33 am Pierre Lebrun: Arnott trade isn’t official yet, but told it’s done.
9:37 am Pierre Lebrun: Relax people… wow. LOL… I can’t give you details, bc I don’t have them yet. As soon as I do, you’ll know.
9:40 am Pierre Lebrun: It’s official. First trade of the day. North Bay sends Arnott to Manhattan for a 2014 third rd pick. Hmm…?
9:51 am Barry Melrose: A year ago Evgeni Malkin was big focus on this day. Didn’t move. “A little more relaxed! Haha,” Malkin said via email today.
9:55 am Scott Burnside: North Bay may not be done. Still looking to add if price is right. Brunetta is going for it!
10:01 am Pierre Lebrun: Lots of teams asking GM McNeill about Parise… but is nothing close there.
10:05 am Barry Melrose: Chiefs GM Nellany says (as of now) he doesn’t think he’ll get what he wants today.
10:10 am Bob McKenzie: Washington GM Rick Charron looking to trade away a couple of players…
10:13 am Pierre Lebrun: Let me guess… Tomas Kopecky…
10:15 am Scott Burnside: LOL I’d put money on it being Kopecky
10:20 am Bob McKenzie: Charron offered Casey Cizikas and a 3rd for Brendan Morrow… Goldsboro GM Matt Dwyer shot it down.
10:23 am Bob McKenzie: I’m told lots of packages are being discussed between Washington and Goldsboro… Krejci could be on the move.
10:25 am Bob McKenzie: Washington trying hard for Morrow… Goldsboro won’t bite.
10:27 am Bob McKenzie: Goldsboro says Washington’s offers are very low balling.
10:29 am Scott Burnside: Reached out to Montreal GM Keith Cancilla and he said it’s SSSSLLLLOOOOWWWWWW… Manhattan GM Tony Furino described the landscape as ‘crickets’.
10:35 am Bob McKenzie: Not to pile on, but another GM: “It’s dead.”
11:09 am Barry Melrose: Hamilton Firestorm looking to trade a forward for a defenseman.
11:15 am Bob McKenzie: From a Washington source, their latest offer for Morrow was recently shot down. They’re focusing on other options now.
11:22 am Scott Burnside: Not that is should surprise anyone, but Phantoms GM Daryn Beckman via text regarding the concussed Sidney Crosby: “Not trading Crosby.”
11:34 am Barry Melrose: Oshawa City GM McNeill scanning teams for top prospects. Been getting multiple offers for Crawford, Sharp, and Parise.
11:44 am Pierre Lebrun: Am told over 10 teams have inquired on Vanek in Ottawa… Victoria remains among list of clubs that covet him but won’t overpay.
12:08 pm Bob McKenzie: Boston GM Mike Phelan says “no chance” Gaborik or Malkin will be traded.
12:17 pm Pierre Lebrun: Note to all GMs,don’t be shy,feel free to…do something.
12:22 pm Bob McKenzie: Heroes’ forward Henrik Sedin says he doesn’t want to go anywhere. Loves Pittsburgh.
12:49 pm Pierre Lebrun: Lakehead GM Jason Briggs told me theres been plenty of talk, just not as aggressive as years past. A flurry close to midnight likely.
1:13 pm Pierre Lebrun: Text from Manhattan GM Furino: “Briggs wants Eriksson but he’s untouchable.”
1:17 pm Pierre Lebrun: Talks have intensified between Briggs and Furino. Briggs wants Zac Dalpe. Furino said he would consider a Dalpe/Schenn trade.
1:20 pm Pierre Lebrun: Briggs said “I’m sure he would! A guy who’s having success in the big league for a guy who can’t even crack the roster in the big league.”
1:25 pm Pierre Lebrun: Talks breaking down between Furino and Briggs. Text from Furino: “Briggs is tough to negotiate with.”
1:46 pm Scott Burnside: GM Beckman says the team got a “strong” offers for Crosby, but he turned it down.
2:01 pm Bob McKenzie: Am told the Hitmen are shopping defensemen Kyle Quincey and Tom Gilbert.
2:05 pm Scott Burnside: Furino contacted Leafs about Parise: Tavares as part of package. No-go.
2:11 pm Barry Melrose: Hahaha how fitting… City workers in Ottawa were seen removing Thomas Vanek banners earlier today.
2:13 pm Pierre Lebrun: A friend of Ottawa GM Ryan Armstrong just told me he’s completing a trade, one is close/near done.
2:16 pm Barry Melrose: This one is interesting…reporting Toronto sending Jack Johnson to Leafs for Tomas Plekanec. This is unconfirmed.
2:18 pm Barry Melrose: I’m told the Leafs are not trading Plekanec for J.Johnson… that report, like I said, was unconfirmed.
2:20 pm Bob McKenzie: Vipers have won the Thomas Vanek sweepstakes 😉 Waiting on details…
2:25 pm Bob McKenzie: Ottawa trades Vanek and a 2012 third rd pick to Victoria for Ryan Strome, Ty Rattie, Jon Merrill, Mattias Tedenby, and a 1st rd pick.
2:27 pm Pierre Lebrun: Armstrong got a nice return on Vanek… More than I would have thought.
2:45 pm Barry Melrose: All quiet on Parise/Sharp/Crawford watch, but McNeill says the Leafs will make trades today.
3:02 pm Barry Melrose: London GM Matt Plachta says a deal is on the table that would send Pietrangelo and Bryzgalov to Lakehead.
3:05 pm Pierre Lebrun: Twin City has traded Radim Vrbata. Details to follow…
3:10 pm Pierre Lebrun: Confirming Radim Vrbata from Twin City to London for Richard Bachman and Scott Glennie. Sweet trade for both sides.
3:30 pm Bob McKenzie: Heroes are taking calls for goaltender Ryan Miller.
3:32 pm Barry Melrose: Montreal close to make a big trade.
3:35 pm Bob McKenzie: GM Hartley continues to pound the phones. Now trying to get Hedman from London.
3:45 pm Bob McKenzie: Txt from London GM Plachta: “A deal involving hedman for eller… lots of parts have been mentioned with this deal but nothing concrete.”
5:05 pm Scott Burnside: Crazy quiet right now but I suspect it will pick up. Hamilton’s Alexander Semin strikes me as a significant name likely to move.
5:13 pm Barry Melrose: Popular theory >> Oshawa City is holding up a lot of teams. Many in on Parise/Crawford/Sharp and not looking elsewhere until that’s resolved.
5:38 pm Scott Burnside: Manhattan has several teams chasing J. Garrison…decent offers on the table, but Furino won’t trade him for less than a quality top 6 F.
5:59 pm Barry Melrose: Toronto and Detroit are discussing a trade. Toronto GM Jordan Carbone wants Roman Josi.
6:00 pm Barry Melrose: Detroit GM Paul Kiely wants Pekka Rinne involved.
6:01 pm Barry Melrose: Carbone: “Not going to happen.”
6:29 pm Pierre Lebrun: GM Hartley strikes again. Source tells me he got Hedman from London.
6:33 pm Pierre Lebrun: Confirmed. Hedman and a 2012 second round pick to Victoria. Lars Eller and Spencer Machacek to London.
6:35 pm Scott Burnside: Plachta said it took a while and he’s surprised they got it done.
6:44 pm Pierre Lebrun: Big deal brewing between Montreal and Twin City. Hearing Tarasenko is going to Twin City.
6:56 pm Pierre Lebrun: Trade has been made between Montreal and Twin City. Waiting for details…
7:01 pm Pierre Lebrun: Montreal acquires 2012 first rd pick (2nd overall) + Jonathan Huberdeau. Twin City acquires 2013 first rd pick + Vladimir Tarasenko.
7:04 pm Barry Melrose: Cancilla says Tarasenko will be a stud but thinks it will be worth giving him up for Mikhail Grigorenko.
7:06 pm Bob McKenzie: Montreal now holds the 1st and 2nd overall picks in this upcoming draft. Yakupov and Grigorenko – Man that would be sweet!
7:34 pm Barry Melrose: Talks really starting to pick up after the Twin City/Montreal deal.
8:07 pm Scott Burnside: Phantoms GM Beckman telling teams Crosby won’t be traded unless an offer “blows him away”. So much interest in him… could happen.
8:22 pm Bob McKenzie: Manhattan GM Tony Furino wants Crosby badly. Says he’s willing to overpay.
8:31 pm Bob McKenzie: Just got a text from Furino: “Think I’m closer to getting Crosby than ever before.”
8:45 pm Bob McKenzie: Furino telling Beckman he doesn’t stand a chance at winning the Cup without a top goalie. Anderson cannot compete with guys like Howard and Fleury.
8:52 pm Bob McKenzie: Carbone trying to pry Mikko Koivu from Fort Drum but GM Stryska says Mikko is untouchable this season.
8:58 pm Pierre Lebrun: Don’t know details, but indications are Manhattan just made a mammoth offer for Crosby.
9:01 pm Bob McKenzie: Txt from Furino: “Crosby for Zetterberg, Brodeur, and a 1st rd pick.”
9:03 pm Bob McKenzie: Txt from Beckman: “I haven’t said yes but I haven’t said no either…”
9:05 pm Barry Melrose: Hamilton says Claude Giroux is not in play.
9:07 pm Bob McKenzie: Crosby talks have broke down. Beckman declined Furino’s last offer because he loves Crosby too much.
9:09 pm Bob McKenzie: Can’t get in touch with Furino. Txt from his secretary: “After Beckman declined his final offer, he cursed me out, grabbed a baseball bat, and smashed his office phone.”
9:25 pm Barry Melrose: Firestorm have acquired Peverley and Letestu from Detroit for Timonen, Zatkoff, and a 2012 third rounder. Great pick ups for both teams.
9:26 pm Barry Melrose: Detroit close to another deal with Ottawa…
9:30 pm Barry Melrose: Detroit trades Halak, Prospal, and two third rounders to Ottawa for Reimer, Hackett, and Bulmer.
9:51 pm Pierre Lebrun: Hearing North Bay is closing in on a deal for goaltender Jeff Frazee from Comox Valley, but not done yet.
9:55 pm Pierre Lebrun: Oshawa City’s Parise, Sharp, and Crawford still getting plenty of attention today. Expect at least one of them to be moved.
10:09 pm Scott Burnside: Comox Valley sends Jeff Frazze to North Bay for Vincent Trocheck and Victoria’s 2014 second rd pick.
10:15 pm Barry Melrose: Less than two hours til the deadline!
10:17 pm Barry Melrose: Parise said to be almost emotionally drained by this process. Probably a fair bit of frustration as well.
10:20 pm Pierre Lebrun: Told Detroit has made another trade! Another with Twin City…
10:25 pm Pierre Lebrun: Twin City sends Mark Owuya and a 2012 second rd pick to Detroit for Matt Carle.
11:15 pm Scott Burnside: Lots of chatter right now with less than an hour to go. You can feel the rush.
11:30 pm Bob McKenzie: Update on Oshawa City, they’re getting close to a deal, but nothing final yet (told by member of mgmt staff).
11:39 pm Pierre Lebrun: Toronto among contenders still trying to acquire Parise/Sharp/Crawford. Many different offers considered, but the glimmer of hope in Toronto for a Parise trade is quickly fading in the final minutes.
11:42 pm Barry Melrose: May be too late, but is there a late charge for one of those studs!? Will anyone pay the price? Buckle up.
11:48 pm Scott Burnside: Source tells me Parise and Crawford are staying in Oshawa City… Patrick Sharp going to Hamilton!
11:50 pm Pierre Lebrun: Earl McNeill confirms via text that Parise and Crawford are staying put. Sharp has been dealt to the Firestorm. Waiting for details…
11:52 pm Pierre Lebrun: Oshawa City sends Patrick Sharp and MA Gragnani to Hamilton for Duncan Keith and Ales Hemsky.
11:54 pm Barry Melrose: Solid trade for both clubs.
11:57 pm Scott Burnside: Three minutes left…
11:59 pm Bob McKenzie: Last minute trade!! Manhattan sends Brunette, Holmstrom, and Arnott to Hamilton for a 2013 second round pick, Lestestu, and Rolston.
12:00 am Pierre Lebrun: So….tired…..
12:01 am Scott Burnside: Shocked that Deer Park and Buffalo did nothing, nada, squat. Both teams in position to make a run at the Cup. Thought something for the sake of change at least.
12:03 am Barry Melrose: Was just told D Kimmo Timonen was told by Firestorm that he had been traded as he came off the ice after the game tonight. That’s how he found out.
12:05 am Barry Melrose: The Firestorm had tweeted it before Timonen was told by the team, but AFHL players don’t have access to Twitter while they’re on the ice. Yet.
12:05 am Bob McKenzie: Who are your deadline winners?
12:07 am Scott Burnside: I think every trade benefited both sides. Everyone was a winner this year.
12:10 am Pierre Lebrun: Agreed. I like what Hamilton, London, and Victoria did to help their playoffs/Cup chances.
12:15 am Bob McKenzie: Busy day. Maybe not for fans expecting lots of trade action but chasing ghosts all day is hard work. Ha ha. Thanks to all the tweeps for tuning in.
March 12th, 2012
It went down to the last night of the regular season again to determine their identities, but we now know the 8 teams that will begin their march to the summit of Mount Stanley. For AFHL fans, there is no better time of year than when your team is one that has qualified for the postseason…
Heroes will emerge. Which goaltender out there will be this year’s Roberto Luongo (it won’t be Luongo; after last year’s amazing playoff run with the Washington Power, he’s on the outside looking in with the Comox Valley Hitmen).
Favourites will fall. Which top seeded team will be unable to fulfill its promise, like the North Bay Warriors last spring or the Buffalo Phantoms in the previous spring? It happens every year.
Underdogs will soar. Which team could be this year’s Pittsburgh Heroes, who rattled off upsets of the Hitmen and the North Bay Warriors?
Hearts will be broken. That will be the case in North Bay if the Warriors, the best team in the regular season, don’t finally fulfill the potential with which they’ve been teasing their fans for the last two seasons.
The chase for this year’s AFHL Stanley Cup has begun and to help give fans all around the world a semblance of an actual preview, the AFHL Commissioner, Tony Furino, sat down with hockey analyst, Barry Melrose. They talked about a number of topics including the Mustangs’ slim chance at winning a second Cup, the potential return of Sidney Crosby, and of course, hot goaltenders.
Tony Furino: It’s good to see you, Barry. Thanks for being here.
Barry Melrose: Thanks for having me.
Tony: Let’s start off with this question: What is… the AFHL Stanley Cup?
Barry: The AFHL Stanley Cup is one of the most coveted trophies in fantasy sports. It’s also one of the hardest to win. Teams must endure three week-long matchups. The winner of the Cup shows true drive and determination.
Tony: I was going to ask if you thought the 8th seeded London Mustangs had any chance at upsetting the 1st seeded North Bay Warriors, but I see you picked against them…
Barry: Yeah, I picked against them only because they’re playing North Bay. If you look at North Bay, what they’ve done all year long, they’re one of the deepest teams at all positions. Up front they have arguably the best first line in the game in Ovechkin-Getzlaf-St. Louis. They score at will. They’re great defensively and they have a great goaltender. London just hasn’t been consistent all year long and they’re playing against the best team in the Amazing Fantasy Hockey League right now.
Tony: The 7th seeded Victoria Vipers have qualified for the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. If they can get past the 2nd seeded Deer Park Chiefs, do you think they have a chance at winning the Stanley Cup?
Barry: Yeah, I think they have a chance but the Chiefs have the best goalie on the planet in Henrik Lundqvist and they’re a very well-balanced team on offense. The Vipers need to play slick and quick in order to win. They have Phil Kessel and Patrick Kane who are obviously world-class players. If you look at their defense Green and Doughty are two of the most offensive defensemen in the league, and they’ve got good goaltending in Carey Price and Semyon Varlamov. They could be a cinderella team. There’s so much parity in the playoffs this year, but defeating a top seeded team in the first round would be huge. They are a great 7-seed and I guarantee Deer Park isn’t excited to be playing them.
Tony: What do you think is more important, to have a hot offense or a hot goaltender?
Barry: I’ll take the goaltender. If you look at last year’s playoffs, Washington had Roberto Luongo and Tim Thomas. Their offense was mediocre on some nights during their run. They beat the Mustangs and the Heroes in back-to-back rounds only because Luongo and Thomas stood on their heads. So, for me I’ll take a hot goaltender any day of the week.
Tony: Let’s talk about the Crosby-less Phantoms. They’re going up against the Lakehead Thunderwolves in the first round. On paper, Lakehead has the best offense in the league. Do you think the Phantoms can get past Lakehead without Crosby?
Barry: Um, no. Buffalo needs him back desperately. First of all, I think if you’ve seen Buffalo play in the last third to quarter of the season, they haven’t been the same team. With the waiting game of Sidney Crosby, if they don’t get him back, I don’t think they have enough skill to compete with an offensive powerhouse like the Thunderwolves.
Tony: Do you think he’ll come back?
Barry: *sigh* Wow. Ya know, I thought he was going to return a month ago because the level he was practicing at so I’m very surprised he still hasn’t returned. I think there’s a lot of things behind the scenes that we don’t know and the team is just being overly-cautious. I mean, you can’t blame them. He’s the face of the league and really the face of the Buffalo Phantoms for the next 15 years. I would be cautious too. The Phantoms need him to return this week to have a chance against Lakehead.
Tony: What do you think will be the biggest upset of the playoffs, if any?
Barry: I’m going to go with Toronto over Hamilton in the first round. It’s a 6 versus 3 matchup and with Lupul and Perry sidelined with injuries, the Red Devils won’t be playing their best hockey. Hamilton is playing great, great hockey with two top-5 goaltenders in the league in my estimate in Fleury and Thomas, so I’m going to go with Toronto over Hamilton in the first round.
Tony: Up until last night, folks were expecting to see Toronto/Lakehead in the first round. The rivalry between the Toronto and Lakehead is currently the biggest rivalry in the league. For the first time in AFHL history, two rival teams could go head-to-head in the playoffs. What are your thoughts on the possibility of these two teams meeting in the next round?
Barry: Of course, the recent bad blood exhibited this season between the two GMs would give the playoffs some extra drama. I would expect to see a very physical series. Lots of hits and lots of fights. Much more than any other series, aggressive forechecking and more hitting, it would be fun to watch.
Tony: Who do you think would win?
Barry: Both those teams are stacked on offense. A couple of weeks ago, Lakehead set an all-time record for most points on offense in a single matchup so I’d have to give them the edge in that department. But, the Red Devils counter with an all-star goaltending duo of Jonathan Quick and Pekka Rinne. I’d take Quick/Rinne over Niemi/Pavelec. The goaltending offsets the offense so whoever wins, I think they would win because of their play on special teams.
Tony: Who do you have playing for the Cup?
Barry: I’m going to go with the North Bay Warriors and the Hamilton Firestorm. I don’t think London has enough firepower to get past the Warriors. Buffalo without Sidney Crosby, Toronto without Perry and Lupul, I don’t see those teams advancing. North Bay and Hamilton have a lot of depth and they score an incredible amount of points every week. Both have top goalies in the league this year in Howard, Thomas, Fleury. Both have elite offensive defensemen who play finesse games. So I have North Bay and Hamilton in the Finals. But hey, ya never know, anything could happen.
Tony: Last question, if the Warriors and the Firestorm are eliminated in the first round, are you willing to take the blame?
Barry: WOW! No! Never take the blame. That’s how I learned. It’s always someone else’s fault. If they don’t make it they don’t have anyone to blame but themselves. Those two teams should do it. Both have elite players up and down the lineup and to me they are the deepest teams. They would have only themselves to blame.