When Burke was being hired by Toronto, I have to admit that, as a pseudo-Habs fan, I was concerned. He had recently won it all with Anaheim. He brought the Canucks back into relevance before that. Plus, it spelled the end to the era fondly known as the "John Ferguson Jr. Super Happy Fun Time No-Trade Clause Extravaganza". For me, Fergie Jr. was the best thing to happen to the Leafs since Harold Ballard. Fortunately my fears were quelled as even ol' Burkie couldn't right the ship in TO (as an aside, perhaps he could've improved his team's fortunes had he won a g**-d**** lottery at some juncture, but I digress). Of course, Burke is staying on as a senior vice-president. Based on outward appearances, working alongside Burke at the best of times seems like it could be a nerve-wracking task. With the situation as tense as it probably is now, if I was in that office going forward, I'd probably keep a bottle and a web-slinger hidden in a bottom desk drawer somewhere.
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I'd just like to stop for a moment and get this thought out of my head: if the "gift" Gary Bettman has in mind for oft-suffering NHL fans is akin to a keychain and more meaningless scrimshaw painted on the ice, he can kiss my a**.
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The road to Cooperstown got a little bit longer for some as Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens were denied entry as first-time eligible candidates. I understand the rationale behind the decision. However, I have always felt that the Hall of Fame is the appropriate place for players who were the very best. Quite frankly, Barry Bonds would've been a top level player, steroids or no steroids. Roger Clemens would've achieved similar success. No matter how much juice you have flowing through your system, a certain degree of natural ability has to kick in and become the foundation for any degree of excellence one strives to attain. This is not to diminish the fact that the players of the "steroid era" will have that weight forever dangling from their necks. There will always be a stigma attached to them and their achievements. However, that natural ability - and in the case of a player like Mark McGwire, the ability to sell and be of service to the game - has to be acknowledged.
The way I see it, there were generations of players - including Ty Cobb, the very first player ever to be inducted into the Hall - who were very open and adamant about their disdain for people of color and their place in the game. Take a walk through that modest brick building in Cooperstown, New York and you'll see more than your share of racists, womanizers, criminals (up to and including murderers) and other undesirable people. Besides, if there is no room for Bonds, Clemens et al, who's going to go in and remove Gaylord Perry's plaque from the wall? Oh right... when he did it it was cute. There comes a point when this decision against certain players will go from making a stand to being self-righteous crap... and that day is coming sooner rather than later. Also, anyone want to explain to me how Craig Biggio doesn't get in?
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Closer to home, the Dieppe Commandos have made strides to solidify their lineup. Yesterday, they acquired 18 year old defenseman Jeff Krichew. Krichew had been a serviceable semi-regular with the Ramblers last season while playing Jr.B in Nova Scotia this season. With Krichew, the Commandos get a player who instantly brings a level of experience in the MHL and who certainly did not look out of place during his appearances with the Rams last year. He's better than a Jr.B dman and it's great to see him afforded this opportunity with Dieppe - particularly as they await the return of Justin MacDonald, who remains out of the lineup with mononucleosis.
In other news, a new old face is back in town as Alexandre St-Arnaud has rejoined the Commandos. St-Arnaud had spent the last season and a half as backup to Francois Tremblay in Val d'Or after spending the '10-'11 season as backup to Brandon Thibeau in Dieppe. The acquisition this past weekend of Philippe Trudeau from Cape Breton (a player who, ironically, was traded to the Eagles from Moncton largely due to Thibeau's early performances with the Wildcats) made St-Arnaud expendable. Commandos GM JF Damphousse has not indicated that any of his goaltenders are on the block as the MHL trade deadline looms (tomorrow night at 10PM), therefore it's safe to assume that unless something changes unexpectedly, look for the Commandos to go with a three goalie system for the duration consisting of St-Arnaud, Connor Wilkinson and Vincent Charest. The latest addition between the pipes for Dieppe certainly takes pressure off the other two netminders as well as workload off Wilkinson, which should bring some relief to Commandos management who, in addition to their starter this year, were forced into placing a seemingly never ending workload upon Jonathan Waye last season.
The newly constituted Commandos begin the post-trade deadline era on the road, as Dieppe visits the Woodstock Slammers in a 7:30PM start. Dieppe returns home two days later for yet another Sunday afternoon affair, this time against the Metro Shipbuilders at 2:30.
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The Phillip Danault era begins Saturday night at the Coliseum, as the Wildcats host the Gatineau Olympiques at 7PM. Also in the lineup will be one Dimitri Jaskin, also known as "that guy the Cats really, really, really, really missed please never leave again we missed you so much what did you bring us back????". Story goes that Danault will be on a line with euros Jaskin and Barbashev. As much as I've been wearing the sandwich board on the street corner in regards to this club, preaching doom and gloom and hellfire and brimstone and the return of Dallas Beaton, I can't wait to see what that line can do. In the words of that ill-dressed, opinionated guy who will be back on the air at taxpayer expense next Saturday night, let's go!!!!
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