Category Archives: Opinions & Thoughts

Why Bobby Ryan Would Look Good in Black & Gold Next Year

Posted by Tyler Murry on

It’s no secret that the B’s could use some goal scoring following their embarrassing first round exit to the seventh seeded Washington Capitals this spring.  The Black & Gold scored just 15 goals in  the duration of the seven game series and if you are doing the math that is just over 2 per game.  That is not going to cut it and Peter Chiarelli has come to realize that a change needs to be made.

The B’s are reportedly in the market for a pure 30+ goal scorer and 25 year-old winger Bobby Ryan seems to fit the bill.  Ryan recorded 31 goals and 57 points last year as a duck and has netted at least 30 goals the past four years including a career high of 35 in the 09-10 season.  Ryan has been linked to the bruins in possible trade rumors over the past few weeks and has been on his way out since the beginning of last year.  Other names swirling are Zach Parise and Rick Nash to Boston.  Out of these three Ryan is the best fit for numerous reasons. Nash’s cap hit of 7.8 million automatically makes life difficult for the cap-stricken B’s and Parise is likely to command around 7 million this offseason. Parise and Nash would likely be the highest players on the B’s, which simply is not their style.  Chiarelli loves to find the diamonds in the rough and get guys cheap hoping they will grow into stars.  This makes Ryan that much more appealing due to his reasonable cap hit of $5.1 million.  In addition Ryan is much younger at age 25 than Nash (28) and Parise (27), and will improve even more as he begins to enter his prime.

Perhaps the most underrated reason that Ryan is perfect for the bruins is his efficiency while on the ice. last season he scored 31 goals in just 18:21 time on ice.  Parise and Nash recorded 21:29 and 19:05 TOI with similar scoring results.  In Boston, Claude Julien loves to roll all four lines meaning that few players will receive large amounts of minutes.  Players therefore need to capitalize on the time they get and Ryan can do that better than anyone else in the league.

Names like David Krejci and Milan Lucic have been floating around as possible trade chips due to their poor performances last spring. The next few weeks could decide where Ryan lands and that destination could very well land him in Boston this summer.

Follow me on twitter for all sports news and updates @Tyler_Murry

“I’m Coming Back.”

Posted by Clayton Collier on

“I’m coming back. Write it down in big letters. I’m not going out like this.”
-Mariano Rivera today on his possible season-ending ACL injury 

Those are the words of a true champion, of someone who doesn’t know the meaning of the word “can’t”. If you know him just as the all-time saves leader, then you do not know Mariano Rivera. Despite whatever resentment you may hold for the logo across his chest, one has to stand in shear awe of the pure talent that resides in the being of the man beyond the uniform. Yes he is the man who reached 608 saves on virtually one pitch, yes he is the man who has a career 2.21 ERA and WHIP under one. But the man we know as Mo, is also one of the few remaining gentlemen of the game. Despite his incredible abilities on the field, the drive and motivation, the pure heart for the game off the field, is what makes Mariano Rivera a true legend.

Whether it’s a three run lead in an April game, or Game 7 of the World Series, Mo always maintains the same presence on the mound, standing tall, delivering that pitch most have only dreamt about facing, while others wish they hadn’t. The cutter, Mo’s bread and butter. The lone pitch that has brought him twelve all-star nods, four Top-3 Cy Young finishings and two Top-10 MVP honors.

If there was a record kept for the number of bats broken by a pitcher, Rivera would undoubtedly be the all-time leader. His cutter somehow breaks at the exact point when the unfortunate batter at the plate believes they have a hanger to tear the cover off of, and instead it is their bat –and in 608 cases, the hope of a rally–, that is torn to shreds. What creates the bewilderment over Mariano Rivera’s cutter is not just how effective it is, but that everyone knows that’s what will be coming, the hitter knows it is going to be a strike, yet when their bat reaches the would-be point of contact, they find nothing but the wake of the baseball as it sails into the catcher’s mitt, untouched by anyone else, but Mo.

If not his raw ability, you have to appreciate his love and respect for the game. He isn’t like Jose Valverde or his teammate Joba Chamberlain, who get pumped up when they close out a game or punch out someone in a key situation. Mo walks off the mound, often does a humble point to the sky, shakes hands with his backstop and his teammates, and retires to the lockerroom. He is a man who never gets too high or too low, he simply goes out there and throws, no flashiness, no showboating; he just pitches.

As not a fan of the Mets or Yankees, Redsox or Phillies, but as a fan of baseball, one must respect, appreciate and admire Mariano Rivera. He has taken his God-given ability to throw a cut-fastball and used it to make himself into an icon, a pillar of the game today. That coupled with his humble personality, his gentleman approach to everyone, treating them as equals and not putting himself above others as so many athletes do today, and you have a man –not just a baseball player– that anyone, young or old should idolize and look up to.

Get well soon Mariano Rivera, baseball misses you.

***Originally posted on MetsMerizedOnline.com

Off and Running

Posted by Tyler Murry on

After a slower start than any other team in recent NHL history coming off a Stanley Cup win, the Boston Bruins are poised for a record-setting year.  Since starting off a dismal 3-7-0, the Bruins have posted and astounding 22-2-1 record.  During this stretch, the B’s went through the month of November without posting a regulation loss and are currently on a 7 game win streak while sitting atop the Eastern Conference.

A big credit to the hot streak has to be the phenomenal goaltending.  Both Tuukka Rask and Tim Thomas are on pace to have personal records shattered.  Thomas currently has a 1.81 GAA and a .943 S% while Rask has a 1.61 GAA and a .945 s%.  Last year Thomas was the guy, he posted big numbers and played the majority of the games.  Not so much this year as Rask continues to earn time between the posts for the Black & Gold.

“When there are not many shots, you have to find ways to stay sharp. It becomes a mental thing, but, in the end, good teams find ways to win,” said Rask after Thursday night’s win against the Phoenix Coyotes.

When Rask’s number has been called upon, he has stepped up and this versatility in net will be a vital advantage as the B’s approach the stretch run.

But the goalies can’t get all the credit for allowing just 64 goals against (Fewest in NHL).  In fact the Bruins are on pace to surpass the record set by the 03-04 New jersey Devils for the fewest goals against in a season of 164. Defense has been spectacular.  Team defense is stressed upon for the B’s and has become the team’s biggest obstacle.  Players like Tyler Seguin and Brad Marchand have stepped up each with a +25 giving the Bruin’s an edge in all three zones.

“We take pride in our defensive game without the puck,” said Bruins head coach Claude Julien  ”Confidence grows with each game, and we believe 99 percent of the time, we will get great goaltending.”

The next commodity that sets the B’s apart is their depth ant ability to roll four lines.  Depth has always been a strongpoint but this year the B’s have truly stepped up their game with nine players with 20 points or more (leads NHL).  All four lines are producing and as a result the B’s currently have 121 goals for this season second only the western conference leading Chicago Blackhawks.

“We have great depth throughout the whole lineup and that helps a lot,” said assistant captain Patrice Bergeron “You can’t say enough about the importance of that, because if one or two lines are off you still have others you can rely on. You look at the teams who have won the Cup, that’s a common denominator.”

No doubt the B’s have been great so far but can they keep it up?

“However, we know there will be challenges ahead, so we have to guard against overconfidence,” noted Julien.

If the B’s can stay grounded and put their head down and play their brand of hockey there is no reason why we shouldn’t see the Bruins roster engraved into the side of Lord Stanley’s Cup.

In depth Look at Rangers First Round Pick JT Miller

Posted by Tyler Murry on

Standing in at 6’1″ 198 lbs, Miller possesses the tools to be a great NHL player.  The left-handed winger possesses good speed and hands for his size.  That being said, he can still throw his weight around and be a difficult player to handle for opposing teams.

Miller was born in East Palestine, OH,USA and has played hockey in America his entire life.  In fact the young star has committed to play for D-1 University of North Dakota for the 11-12 season.

Without a doubt Miller has plenty of talent, however he is not NHL ready.  The Rangers knew this when they selected him with the 15th overall pick this past June and plan on developing him into an NHl player within the next few years.

In Depth Look at Flyers First Round Pick Sean Couturier

Posted by Tyler Murry on

Standing in at 6’4″ 197 lbs Sean Couturier is a force to be reckoned with.  Although he is not the biggest guy on the ice he is almost always the hardes working.

“At his size, he’ll be hard to pass up in the draft. He possesses a very good work ethic and he’s out there for every important face off. He’s very responsible in the defensive aspect of the game — a rare quality for such a young player in junior hockey.” said Central Scouting’s Chris Bordeleau

Couturier was born in Phoenix, AZ and spent the past year playing for Drummondville in the Quebec Makor Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).  The youngster put up 96 points in 58 games including 36 goals last year.

Sean Couturier plays the game hard and as Bordeleau mentioned, he is a hard-worker on and off the ice.  He spends time in the weight room and is 110% committed to his team’s success.  He also has a good defensive mind for the game and understands that hockey is more than just putting the puck in the back of the net.

It was no shock that a the Flyers were ecstatic to get a player like Couturier with the 8th overall pick last June.  As we already know, the Flyers have had a lot of turnover with their roster and this could be a perfect situation for Coutrier.  The Flyers will look for him to be a player of the future and although many think he is ready, he may not see too much time in a Flyer’s uniform.  Expect Couturier to perhaps play 20-30 games in Philly and spend the rest of the time playing elsewhere.  However it is certain that hockey fans will see the name Sean Couturier soon and for years to come.

In depth look at Islanders First Round Pick Ryan Strome

Posted by Tyler Murry on

For my next few articles I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the first round picks from the four NHL teams that we cover here at Trifecta Sports.  These players drafted will be a part of the future of the NHL and perhaps next generation’s superstars.  Today we will take a look at Islanders first round pick Ryan Strome.

Lets get right to it.

Strome is average sized at 6’0″ 177 lbs, but possesses good hands and top-end speed.  Strome has spent the past two years playing in the OHL with the Niagara Ice Dogs and was able to put up 106 points last year to put him third amongst all OHL scorers.  Not to mention he was voted the most improved player this past year.  He knows how to score and how to get to the “dirty areas” on the ice to put the puck in the net.

“He skates very well and has very good speed. He’s a creative playmaker who sees the ice very well. He goes to the net and battles in front. He is able to get to rebounds and loose pucks in front. He has good hands and has scored some goals off tip-ins in front.” said NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Edwards.

Ryan Strome’s hometown is Mississauga, ON and has spent his entire life playing in Canada. Strome was a natural from the time he first laced up the skates.

“My dad and my grandpa, who lives around the corner from me, took me to a pond in the hydro fields behind my house and threw me on skates and pretty much just told me to go” said Strome

However with all this going for him, many were shocked to see him selected 5th overall to the New York Islanders.  There are multiple reasons that he was not expected to go as high as 5th. in fact many projected he would be a mid first round selection.  This is due to the fact that he is not NHL ready quite yet and is a one year wonder.  In fact the year before he had just 13 points in 27 games.  Many teams worried that this season was a fluke.

I can assure you however that this was no fluke. After seeing some highlight reels on Strome, it is evident that he is a natural skater with great hands and hockey instincts.  He knows not only what is going on around him, but what will happen.  I’m not saying he will burst onto the scene as Jeff Skinner did last year, but with a year or two of development, Strome could be a great NHL player.

Who’s Going to Step Up for the Rangers?

Posted by Tyler Murry on

With an early first round exit after barely making the playoffs last year, the Rangers are searching for answer.  The first move the Rangers made was to sign star centerman Brad Richards.  However it won’t be Richards who will decide the Rangers fate this year.

The obvious answer as to who will step up and improve their play other than Richards, is Marian Gaborik.  Gaborik has struggled with injuries and should have a better year, but I believe these injuries will once again haunt the star winger this year.

So with Gaborik and Richards out, who’s left?  Look no further than Derek Stepan.  Stepan burst onto the scene in his rookie year this year and began the year with a bang, scoring three goals in his first game.  The big problem for the Ranger’s was supplementary scoring and Stepan can provide that and more.  The 21 year-old star put up 21 goals and 45 points last year and played many different roles.  He spent time at center, wing, on the penalty kill, and the power play.  The point is, Stepan can be used in various situation, which makes him a threat.

Most of the focus of the opposing team will be on Richards, which will allow Stepan to play under the radar in his sophomore season.  I wouldn’t worry about a “Sophomore Slump” with this young star due to his superb vision, speed, and versatility.

If Stepan is successful this year, so will the Rangers.  He played an average of 21:07 minutes per game, which leads all rookies.  They relied on him to produce and expect him to hit the score sheet quite a bit next season.

Plax Is Back!

Posted by Jonathan Bernardo on

Plaxico Burress last played in a NFL game in November of 2008.  Last night he made his Jets debut and made his much-anticipated return to the NFL after spending time in the slammer for a gun charge.  He showed no rust at all catching 3 passes for 66 yards including an amazing 26 yard TD grab with 51 seconds remaining in the first half.  Jets fans were excited to see him play and gave him a nice ovation when he caught a 20 yard pass on the Jets very first offensive play. 

Plaxico should continue to improve his chemistry with Mark Sanchez with practice time.  The Jets right now have a lethal receiving core with Plaxico, Santonio Holmes,  Derrick Mason, and Dustin Keller (TE).  With a strong running game, a great offensive line, and development from Sanchez this offense should be even better than last season.

Positives & Negatives: Recap: Jets 27, Bengals 7

Posted by Jonathan Bernardo on

Positives:

  • Mark Sanchez completed 12 of 20 (60%) passes for 173 yards with 2 touchdown passes.  His totals for the preseason are now 18 of 27 (67%) for 216 yards and 2 touchdowns.  He led 3 scoring drives (2 TD’s, 1 FG), including a 10 play, 99 yard drive that was capped off with a great pass to Plaxico for a touchdown.
  • Dustin Keller was involved.  He had 4 catches for 73 yards, including a 43 yarder on the 99 yard drive.
  • Plaxico looked great in his first game in almost 3 years.  He had 3 catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.
  • Santonio Holmes had 3 catches for 19 yards and a touchdown.
  • The first team defense had 2 interceptions (Leonhard and E. Smith).
  • Bengals starting QB Andy Dalton only completed 8 of 19 passes for 86 (2 INT’s).
  • Joe McKnight showed some flashes.  He had 36 yards on 7 carries and caught a touchdown from Greg McElroy.
  • McElroy impressed again completing 6 of 9 passes for 59 yards (1 TD).
  • Backup Tight End Jeff Cumberland continued his strong preseason.  He caught 2 passes for 43 yards.  Cumberland now has 8 catches for 120 yards in the preseason.  He should make this team now as a backup Tight End.
  • Newly acquired DE/OLB Aaron Maybin had a strip sack in the 2nd Half.  He might have made the team based on that play alone.  He will be a situational pass rusher for Rex Ryan if he makes the team.  If the Jets get anything out of him it will be a great success.
  • Chris Jennings had a tremendous 69 yard run in the 4th quarter.
  • Rookie NT Kenrick Ellis played great in the 2nd half.  He took up 2 blockers most of the time which freed up linebackers to roam and make tackles.
  • The Jets scored 17 points off Bengals turnovers and only allowed 50 yards on the ground.
  • The Jets only allowed 2 sacks the whole game after allowing 7 against the Texans.

Negatives:

  • The running games struggled in the first half.  LT started for the injured Shonn Greene (foot infection) and had only had 16 yards on 9 carries.
  • The Jets struggled on third downs.  At one point the Jets were 0 for 5.  They finished the game 5 for 17 (only 29%).
  • Nick Folk missed a 43 yarder in the first half.  However he did hit a 50 yarder later on in the game.
  • The Jets defense did allow a touchdown drive in the first half.

Team to Beat in the NHL

Posted by Tyler Murry on


With all players moving around in the offseason, its hard not to get excited about teams like the Washington, Los Angelas, and others.  However, I firmly stand by the fact that the previous champion of any league is always the team to beat.  Therefore the Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins are without a doubt the team to beat until proven otherwise.

How can they not be the favorite, the Bruins are perhaps to the most all-around team in the NHL, and have 17 of the 20 players on the Stanley Cup roster returning for the next season.  In fact the past two cup champs, Chicago and Pittsburgh, have lost 6-8 players from their respective clubs after each of their cup wins. Also, the players lost can be replaced by prospects such as Steven Kampfer, Jordan Caron, Zach Hamill, etc. or by offseason additions such as Joe Corvo. With all the talent in the Bruin’s system, they can be confident in rolling four lines and knowing that they will get the job done.

In addition they still have Tim Thomas who is coming off his best season with a record of 35-11-9 a goals against average of 2.00 and record-setting save percentage of .938.  Thomas’ save percentage of .938 shattered all-time great Dominic Hasek’s record.  If Thomas can play like he did in the 11-12 season, expect the B’s to be hoisting yet another Stanley Cup.

Also, it is inevitable that many B’s players will have breakout seasons.  For instance, Tyler Seguin scored just 22 points last year but appeared to settle in during the B’s cup run.  The 19 year-old kid will likely be playing second lind wing next year due to Mark Recchi’s retirement.  With the added ice time and Seguin’s talent, expect a breakout year for the rookie star.  Also, players like Rich Peverley and Nathan Horton whom struggled at times should have a breakout year as they started to settle in and contribute late in the season.

Repeating in any sport is difficult and at times on the brink of being impossible.  In fact the
 last team to repeat as champions in the NHL was back in the 1990′s as the Detroit Red Wings were able to accomplish that feat.  It will be difficult for the B’s to win again but they appear to be even stronger than ever with an improved roster and poised for another cup run.  Until proven otherwise, the Boston Bruins are without a doubt the team to beat in the NHL.