as STs,

    

Up and coming teams to watch in the NHL

Josh Martin

Sports Editor

h, how I love fall. The changing
Oi: the colours, the Thanksgiving

turkey, the mashed potatoes and
stuffing with a side of gravy; along with
Halloween and all of its crazy antics (while
of course remembering to wear your
favourite outfit to school to impress that
certain somebody). Oh, and how could
I forget... the beginning of the Hockey
season!

We’ re already heading into the ladder
of the first month of school, and now with
the weather going back to what Vancouver
is all about it’s almost easier to get out of
bed and head to class, knowing that there
isn’t really a beach waiting for you, unless
you like to go to the beach in the rain (then
more power to you). Anyway, enough about
that, with the NHL season starting in only
a couple of weeks, it’s time to take a look
at the up and coming teams that are on the
rise and who are looking to make an impact
this year.

The San Jose Sharks have been doing
everything they can the past couple of years
towards becoming a legitimate threat in the
Western Conference which has worked out
in their favour except for one thing... they
can’t seem to get past the third round of the
playoffs. Last season they finished second
in the West with 105 points and a record
of 48-25-9. This year GM Doug Wilson
tried something different by shaking up his
roster in a positive way, trading offensive
star Dany Heatley (who had 26 goals, and
38 assists last year — not a very productive
season for the winger who’s cracked the
100-point plateau twice in his career) to
the Minnesota Wild for winger Martin

‘ Havlat (22 goals, 40 assists last season)
who is looking to rejuvenate his career on
a competitive team. A trade which benefits
both teams in a way of giving the respected
players, that both have similar playing
styles mind you, a fresh start in a new city.
Another great addition that I give Doug
Wilson credit for is acquiring defensive
juggernaut Brent Burns from the Minnesota
Wild in exchange for forward Devin
Setoguchi, prospect Charlie Coyle, and San
Jose’s 2011 first round pick. This specific
addition solidifies the Sharks defensive
corps in a tremendous way which will give

them depth, stability, and an offensive threat

on the blue line.

It’s only about time the Los Angeles
Kings become a power house team on the
West Coast, and this year I’m calling that
they’re going to have a breakout season.
Last April they finished seventh in the
standings with a 46-30-6 record and 98
points while losing to the San Jose Sharks
in six games of the first round of the

16

 

playoffs. However, in the offseason, GM
Dean Lombardi acquired star players Simon
Gagne from the Tampa Bay Lightning (17
goals and 23 assists last year), and first line

centre Mike Richards from the Philadelphia ~

Flyers (23 goals and 43 assists last season).
Both players are former teammates that
will be bringing that chemistry to the Kings
line-up alongside star Anze Kopitar who

is coming off an injury. This team is an
automatic threat with big name players

and rising stars, not to mention the young
goaltending tandem of Jonathan Quick

and Jonathan Bernier who are only getting
better and better each year with the help

of goaltender coach, former Stanley Cup
champion and Conn Smythe Trophy winner,
Bill Ranford. Watch for the Kings to race
out of the starting gates at full speed.

Even though the Winnipeg Jets
probably won’t make a huge impact this
year it’s still a huge deal to have another
Canadian team back in the league after
being absent for 17 years. The former
Atlanta Thrashers and now Jets finished
in the 12 spot in the Eastern Conference
last year with 80 points and a 34-36-12
record. Having the Jets back in the NHL
is a huge deal for the hockey world let
alone Canadian hockey fans and especially
“Winnipeg’ers.”

With only a couple of weeks away
until the beautiful season of fall is upon
us, here are three teams to keep an eye on
heading into the start of the NHL season.

Brent Burns

 

 

Busted: What’s wrong with Tebow?

   
   

By Eric Wilkins

im Tebow. Big, tough quarterback.

Strong runner. Cannon for an

arm. Proven winner in college.
Heisman trophy winner. One of the most
popular jerseys in the NFL. Six running
touchdowns, five passing touchdowns,
and over 600 yards in his first year in the

NEL... and he has only started three games.

By all accounts, such a resume for anyone
else would peg them as nothing less than

a legend in the making; Tebow, however,
seems to be viewed differently. The second
year QB out of Florida has entered this
year as the backup QB (yes... John Fox has
TWO No. 2’s) after spending time as the
alleged third-stringer in preseason, and all
of a sudden, for no real reason, the “bust”
label has been hauled out all over again.
Just like last year all the experts are again
ragging on his throwing mechanics, his
terrible reads, and constantly reminding us
of the fact that he played in a QB-friendly,
Tebow-tailored, spread offense in college.
The consensus seems to be that he should
just stop playing football...or take up the
ridiculous notion of playing fullback.

I really fail to understand the bust
label that Tim Tebow has carried seemingly
ever since he was drafted. It is hard to
comprehend how people’s rationalizations
that his lack of starts. and lack of support
from “the experts” adds up to being a bust.
Many quarterbacks have ridden the bench
far longer than Tebow before taking over
the reigns; the most recent example is

Aaron Rodgers, who watched Brett Favre
for three seasons—seems to have worked out
pretty well for him. To answer the abuse of
his throwing mechanics I would like to haul
out the name of Philip Rivers, who also
dealt with a good deal of criticism coming
out of college. Rivers has not changed his
throw too much, it’s still about as attractive
as a Monday nighter between the Seahawks
and the 49ers, but he seems to be doing
alright for himself as is evident by his three
Pro Bowl selections. I’m obviously not
saying that Tebow is a god, or even close to
being on par with these two, but one has to
admit that some of his performances have
been downright heavenly.

In closing it should be noted that in his
three starts at the end of last season Tebow
has looked quite comfortable, especially
in the game against Houston, in which he
threw for over 300: yards with a touchdown
and added one on the ground. He was the
lone bright spot on that miserable excuse
for a football team, (4-12 record) and by
all indications appeared to be well on his
way to silencing his detractors. However, it
should appear that the preseason, in which
Tebow was relegated to playing third-string
for the most part, is far more important than
I had previously thought (does this mean
my 4-0 Rams will win the Super Bowl?).
Tim Tebow has all the tools to succeed and
I strongly believe that one day, he will.

The only “bust” people will mention in
conjunction with Tebow in the future will
be the one of his countenance in the Hall
of Fame. ,