End Of An Era In Detroit

Twenty Five years. let that number sink in for a second. Twenty Five years. That's how many years in a row the Detroit Red Wings have made the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Wings haven't missed the playoffs since 1989-90. In that time, the boys from Hockeytown have made the playoffs every year since, including Stanley Cup victories in 1997, 1998, 2002 and 2008. Now the run has come to an end.

Thanks to the Red Wings 4-1 loss to Carolina Tuesday night, coupled with wins by both the Bruins and Maple Leafs, the Red Wings will miss the playoffs for the first time in a quarter century. Before we go on with looking at what happened and what the Cup playoffs will be without Detroit, lets put this into a little bit of perspective.

When the streak came to an end thanks to the loss against Carolina on Tuesday, nine players who were dressed for the Red Wings weren't even born yet. During Detroit's incredible 25 year playoff run, they won the four Cups mentioned earlier, made eight conference finals appearances and took 14 division crowns over the course of that playoff run. And think about that run. Twenty five straight years of playing in the post season. Doing that in any sport is quite impressive. Detroit's playoff run was the longest current streak in the four major sports. Now that Detroit's run has come to an end, the longest playoff streak now belongs to the NBA's San Antonio Spurs, who's qualified 20 years in a row. The Pittsburgh Penguins now have the longest NHL streak, which is likely to be extended to 11 seasons this year. Detroit's run is tied for the third-longest in NHL history, behind the Boston Bruins (29 seasons from 1967-68 to 1995-96) and Chicago Blackhawks (28 seasons from 1969-70 to 1996-97).

What happened to the Wings this year? You'd think that in this year more so then any year in the past, would give the club extra incentive to try and make the playoffs. Not just for the streak. It is after all the final year of Joe Louis Arena. After all, its been the home of the Red Wings since 1979. Detroit will move into its new building, Little Caesars Arena starting next year, 2017-18. As for the play on the ice this year, there has been too much inconsistent play from the Wings to try and keep them afloat in the playoff race. Offense was a major issue. Several players didn't step up as expected and the power play was ranked last in the league much of the season. The defense struggled. Goaltender Petr Mrazek didn't perform to the level he did the first half of last season. You know its bad in Hockeytown when there's one team in the East with a worse record then the Wings, and in total, there's five teams who have less points on the year then Detroit.

You knew, somewhere along the line, this was bound to happen. As the old saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Just didn't exactly see it coming this way for Detroit. I would have seen it being something like a battle with somebody else in the conference for the final playoff spot in the conference and losing out on the last day of the season. But the fact that the Wings are out with about a week and a half to go in the year, and it being the final year of the Joe, make it sting a little more.

Still, nothing can take away from what the Detroit Red Wings did. Make the playoffs for twenty five straight years is quite the feet and the Red Wings organization should be very proud of that accomplishment.

Madness Of March Continues

Well another weekend down, another step closer to a national champion in College Basketball. So far, this NCAA Men's Basketball tournament has been able to live up to the billing. It truly has been March Madness. Great basketball has been on quality display over the last four days, giving fans what they crave, high drama and upsets galore during the tournament. We have our final four set for next weekend, and we will preview those final four games by the end of the week. For now though, lets take a look back at what that was going from the sweet sixteen and the elite eight.

One of the biggest stories to come out of the first couple of rounds of the tournament had to be Xavier. The Musketeers weren't expected to get very far in this tournament. But what did they do? They make it all the way to the Elite Eight by beating some very talented teams. IN the first three rounds, the knocked of Maryland, Florida State and Arizona, the last one coming in a nail biting two point win. The big reason why Xavier got to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2008 was because of Trevon Bluiett, who dropped 25 points and played out of his mind again. He scored 18 of his 25 points in the first half of the game. And Arizona had a lead with about two minutes left in regulation, but couldn't hold the lead and got knocked out. This is one of the reasons that its called March Madness because you just never know what's going to happen. The only problem is, they ran out of magic. Xavier, for as great a run as they had, would get blown out by one of the best teams in the country in Gonzaga, falling to the Bulldogs 83-59 in their elite eight faceoff.

And sticking with Gonzaga, they've had a bit of pressure on them as well. The Zags have never made it to a final four, they finished the season as regular season and conference champions and had one loss all year. But there was still that stigma. They've dominated most of the tournament and showed why they are a number one seed. They had finally started finding a groove from behind the three point line, to go along with the presence in the paint. They are going to the final four for the first time ever.

To stick in the theme of what Xavier has been doing, South Carolina has been doing the same thing. They have become only the 2nd seven seed to ever make the final four, joining Virgina in 1984 as the only seven seed to do so. They pulled off big wins over Duke, a twenty point win over Baylor and a seven point win over Florida to make the final four Duane Notice's breakaway right-handed jam with 11 seconds remaining sealed the Gators fate and moved the Gamecocks on to the big dance. Sindarius Thornwell stepped up for the Gamecocks, leading all scorers in this game with 26 points. Oh and there was the defensive pressure. The Gamecocks' constant pressure on the perimeter stifled Florida, who finished 7-of-26 from beyond the arc. That stiff defense has been the reason why South Carolina has gotten to their first final four ever.

Then we have the story of Oregon, who have pulled themselves into the final four after beating Michigan and Kansas over the weekend. Jordan Bell has been the driving force for the Ducks in the tournament. He has gotten his name into the record books, as Bell is the first player with at least 12 boards in five straight tournament games since Hakeem Olajuwon from 1983 to 1984. Oh and the 8 blocks he had in the win over Kansas were the most ever by Pac-12 player in NCAA Tournament game.

To round out the final four, North Carolina had the game of the tournament, beating out Kentucky 75-73, to reach the final four for the 20th time ever, the most in the history of the tournament. Luke Maye never has to take another shot and his name will live in infamy for hitting the game winning shot to move the Tar Heels back to the final four for back to back years. He sunk the game winning field goal with 0.3 seconds to go on the clock to end Kentucky's season. It wasn't just Maye hitting the game winning shot. Kentucky had no answer for Kennedy Meeks on the boards. The Tar Heels big man grabbed 17 rebounds, including five on the offensive end. Meeks also blocked four shots, doubling the Wildcats' entire output.

Still with all the action going on, it made for a very entertaining weekend of basketball.

Top Ten Greatest Centers

Playing center. One of the greatest skill sets of the bunch. Playing center in the National Hockey League. Most of the top scorers in the history of the game have played center, which shows how high the talent level truly is at that position. With this list, much like I did with goalies, I have to take two names off this list. Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky. The reason I'm not putting them on the list because those two guys were just that much better then everybody else that has ever played the game, or the position for that matter. Since they are considered by most hockey observers as the greatest, this is basically a look at the best of the rest. Now trying to compare guys from the era of say Stan Mikita to guys who play in the era of Sidney Crosby. So we are narrowing this list down to the last twenty eight years of service in the NHL to see who really is the best.

So here it is the greatest centers in the NHL over the last twenty eight years.

Honorable Mentions: Pierre Turgeon (Sabres 1987-88-1991-92, Islanders 1991-92-1994-95, Canadiens 1994-95-1996-97, Blues 1996-97-2000-01, Stars 2001-02-2003-04, Avalanche 2005-06-2006-07), Steven Stamkos (Lightning 2008-09-Present), Evgeni Malkin (Penguins (2006-07-Present), Mike Modano (Stars 1988-89-2009-10, Red Wings 2010-11), Doug Gilmour (Blues 1983-84-1987-88, Flames 1988-89-1991-92, Maple Leafs 1991-92-1996-97, Devils 1996-97-1997-98, Blackhawks 1998-99-1999-00, Sabres 1999-00-2000-01, Canadiens 2001-02-2002-03, Maple Leafs 2002-03), Pavel Datsyuk (Red Wings 2001-02-2015-16), Eric Lindros (Flyers 1992-93-1999-00, Rangers 2001-02-2003-04, Maple Leafs 2005-06, Stars 2006-07), Joe Thornton (Bruins 1997-98-2005-06, Sharks 2005-06-Present)

10. Mats Sundin (Nordiques 1990-91-1993-94, Maple Leafs 1994-95-2007-08, Canucks 2008-09: 1,346 Games Played, 564 Goals, 785 Assists, 1,349 Points, 1,093 Penalty Minutes)
Quiet leadership, smooth skating, great vision and a good shot. All terms that have been used to describe Mats Sundin during his outstanding career. And its not just one thing Sundin did that was better then anything else. He didn't have the hardest or most accurate shot. He didn't have blazing speed. He wasn't overly physical. He could just do everything well, he was one of the most well rounded players to ever step foot on the ice in the worlds best league.. He played 18 years in the league, the only one that wasn't considered a full season was his final year in Vancouver. But in the other 17 seasons, he never scored less then 20 goals in a year. As a matter of fact, Sundin hit 30 or more goals in a year every year but four in the league, including three of those years which he hit more than 40 goals (his career high was 47 scored in 1993 in Quebec). His lowest point total was 59 scored in his rookie year in 1991, and his high was 114 scored in 1993. From year two on till his year in Vancouver he scored at least 70 points in every season. Once he got to Toronto, Sundin took a while but became the face of the franchise and carried the team and the city on his back during the turn of the century. Its just kind of sad that he never really got a chance to win a Cup, he was that good of a hockey player and a very class act.

His number is retired in Toronto and his highest honor is being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012. Sundin made history in 1989 when he became the first European born player to be drafted first overall in the NHL Entry Draft. Sundin played in the NHL All-Star Game in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004, and he was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team in 2002 and 2004. IN 79 career games on the international stage, Sundin has managed 95 points. All this done between three Olympic games and 10 World Championships.

9. Ron Francis (Whalers 1981-82-1990-91, Penguins 1991-92-1997-98, Hurricanes 1998-99-2003-04, Maple Leafs 2003-04: 1,731 Games Played, 549 Goals, 1,249 Assists, 1,798 Points, 979 Penalty Minutes)
For a guy as big as he was, Ron Francis learned to play a much larger game. He was a model of consistency and durability, averaging more than a point a game in over 1,700 games in 23 seasons. He was a great passer, sitting second on the all time list behind only Wayne Gretzky. What made Francis go as an unknown for the early part of his career was that he was playing in Hartford for the first nine and a half years of his career. It kind of allowed him to develop his game to a new level. His skills as a playmaker were ALMOST on par with Gretzky, but not at that level He averaged at least 30 assists every year of his 23 years in the league, topping 50 or more 16 times in his career. He could score goals with some regularity as well. There were only three seasons in his entire pro career where he failed to crack the 20 goal mark. Talk about consistency, this guy had it. He always kind of got overlooked, especially early in his career because he just happened to play in an era with Mario, Wayne, Yzerman and Lafontaine among others. Still, he left an impression on the sport like few others have. He was a great defensive forward, who could skate and make plays. He was a very quiet leader, who let most of his play do the talking.

Francis has cared out a great career for himself. He won two cups with the Penguins in 1991 and 1992 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007. He sits 2nd on the all times assists list and 3rd in games played. He was selected to the NHL All-Star Game in 1983, 1985, 1990 and 1996. He won the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 1995, and the Lady Byng Trophy in 1995, 1998 and 2002. He was the first player ever to win the Selke and Byng trophy in the same year. Francis also won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2002. Class act and played at a high level. Great all around hockey player.

8. Sergei Fedorov ((Red Wings 1990-91-2002-03, Ducks 2003-04-2005-06, Blue Jackets 2005-06-2007-08, Capitals 2007-08-2008-09: 1,248 Games Played, 483 Goals, 696 Assists, 1,179 Points, 839 Penalty Minutes)
One of the first things that comes to mind when thinking of Sergei Fedorov is speed. One of the second things that comes to mind when thinking of Sergei Fedorov is strong defensive play. Fedorov could do a little bit of everything for the Red Wings, and he could do it at a very high level. He was a superb skater with great hands and the hockey intellect to create exciting goals, but was so defensively sound that he was regularly considered for the Selke Trophy. After his first full year with the Ducks, Fedorov's offensive numbers started to slip. But before that, in a full season, he never scored less then 25 goals or less then 60 points. He was a high scoring phenom right out of the gates in Detroit, a big reason why the Red Wings dominated in the mid to late 90s. Fedorov had the offensive touch that could put him in the elite in the games long and storied history. He also had the most defensive talent out of any forward playing in the 90's, just look at what he did in Detroit. In thirteen seasons with the Red Wings, he scored 20+ goals twelve times, had 30+ goals in nine seasons. Yeah, that's impressive numbers. Hell, he was so good on the defensive side of the game, that had he actually played defense, he might have been able to secure a Norris trophy or two, he was that good.

Fedorov did just about anything and everything you could in hockey. He was inducted into the hockey hall of fame in 2-15, not bad for a guy who's also won three Stanley Cups. He's also managed to be named NHL player of the year in 1994 by the Sporting News. but wait there's more. Fedorov was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1991. He was named to the First All-Star Team in 1994, the year in which he also picked up the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Lester B. Pearson Award. That same year he picked up the first of his two Frank J. Selke Trophies (an award which he won again in 1996). He also played in the NHL All-Star Game in 1992, 1994, 1996, 2001, 2002, and 2003 Not a bad career for a guy who was take in the 4th round of the draft in 1989.

7. Pat LaFontaine (Islanders 1983-84-1990-91, Sabres 1991-92-1996-97, Rangers 1997-98: 865 Games Played, 468 Goals, 545 Assists, 1,013 Points, 552 Penalty Minutes)
Its so sad that concussion issues cut down Pat LaFontaine in what should have really been the prime of his career. He was a solid defensive player, but that side of his game was overshadowed by his huge offensive upside. He scored 30 or more goals in almost every year he was in the big leagues, at least the ones he was healty enough to play in. His best year was in 1993 in Buffalo, when he dropped 148 points, but that year he finished 2nd to Mario Lemieux in the scoring race. Yeah that was just a great year for Mario. Anyway, we digress. LaFontaine had a skill and talent level that was above a lot of players in the league. While he may not have been the fastest guy in the league, he had a fantastic hockey sense. He had great vision on the ice, making the right pass at the right time. He had no less then 30 assists in any full year in the league. He grew nicely into the role of a top line center. When most people hear his name, they think of the Easter Epic, the goal he scored in the 4th overtime period of game seven in the 1987 playoffs against the Capitals. He had the skills to be a mega star in this league, and the numbers to prove it. But then again, he played during the time of Mario, Wayne, Yzerman and others so he was often overlooked for post season all star teams. Still he had a very impressive career never the less.

He has since had his number retired but the Sabres and has been elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2003. LaFontaine was selected to five NHL All-Star Games in his career, playing in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992 and 1993. He won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 1994 and was named to the NHL Second All-Star Team in 1993. it sucks that concussions took him down in the prime, he had the makings to possibly hang around in the elite after his big year in 1993. Still, besides what he was able to do on the ice, his off ice contributions to the community have been just as great. His charity work on Long Island and in Buffalo have been well documented, which make him a true giant away from the rink.

6. Adam Oates (Red Wings 1985-86-1988-89, Blues 1989-90-1991-92, Bruins 1991-92-1996-97, Capitals 1996-97-2001-02, Flyers 2001-02, Ducks 2002-03, Oilers 2003-04: 1,3376 Games Played, 341 Goals, 1,079 Assists, 1, 420 Points, 415 Penalty Minutes)
Adam Oates will go down in the books as one of the greatest passers to ever play the game. Sure he had his moments in the goal scoring department. His career high was 45, which he scored in 1993, which was also his career high in assists with 97 and points with 142. Boston finished that year with the best record in the division but were swept bu Buffalo in the opening round. The only two guys who scored more points then Oats that year were LaFontaine and Lemieux,  But a big reason for his big year that year was Oates being one of the NHL's greatest playmakers. He averaged no fewer then 30 assists in a year, with the exception of his rookie year and his final year. He led the NHL in assists three time, and finished in the top ten on 12 occasions. He is also the only player in NHL history to centre three 50-goal scorers, helping Brett Hull, Cam Neely and Peter Bondra reach the magic mark. Oates continued to score points at an elite level when he did not have star players as linemates, he just had that quietness about his game. He went out and di his job and did it very well. He never needed the acolades, they did come his way as his career went on but he still played the game at a very high level and had some pretty eye popping numbers along the way.

Oates had himself a pretty good career. He never did win a Stanley Cup, but still not a bad career for a guy who was undrafted and signed out of RPI college by the Red Wings in 1985. He was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012. He was elected to the Second Team All-Star in 1990–91, and played in NHL All-Star Game in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1997. Oates coaching career was decent, but I think a lot more people are going to remember him for how great a center he was. Only so few in the history of the sport had better vision on the ice then he did.

5. Sidney Crosby (Penguins 2005-06-Present: 707 Games Played. 338 Goals, 600 Assists, 938 Points, 552 Penalty Minutes)
They don't call him Sid the Kid for nothing. Crosby may very well be the best center in the game today, at least from an offensive standpoint. Sure there maybe better defensive forwards and there maybe more physical players, but when he's on his game, there's not too many guys that can match his offensive output and touch on the ice. Crosby has scored 20 or more goals in each professional season except two and both were injury shortened seasons. As a matter of fact, Crosby has cracked the 30 goal mark every year in the league except four, (two of them were 24 and 28 goal seasons in 2008 and 2015, respectively. He's not only a goal scorer, Crosby is just as comfortable setting one up as well. He has registered over 40 assists in each season he's been in the league, except for 2011 and 2012, years which again were cut short due to injury. Noted for his on-ice vision, passing ability, work ethic, and complete overall game, Crosby has been considered one of the best players in the world since he was drafted in 2005. He's also been noted, because of the flat blade he uses on his stick, Crosby has been given the nod as having one of the best backhand shots in all of hockey. Crosby also has some deceptive quickness to his game, he moves a lot faster then I think people realize. Crosby, when he was younger, drew a lot of comparison to Wayne Gretzky, much of which was deserved for how good an offensive talent Crosby is.

He's done just about everything there is to do in this game. Crosby has twice led the Penguins to a Stanley Cup title, in 2009 and again in 2016 (He won the Conn Smythe trophy as playoff MVP that same year). His trophy case has gotten full over the course of his career. Crosby was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 2006. Crosby has twice won the Art Ross Trophy, picked up in 2007 and 2014. Crosby has won the Lester B. Pearson Award/Ted Lindsay Award three times and the Hart Memorial Trophy twice. He's been named to the First All-Star Team four times and the Second All-Star Team twice. Crosby got elected to play in six NHL All-Star games, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, and 2017. Despite the fact that the guy has had to deal with quite a bit in the injury department, most notably concussions, he hasn't really been able to reach full potential since his early days. Still he's going to go down in the books as one of the greatest to ever lace up a pair of skates.

4. Mark Messier (Oilers 1979-80-1990-91, Rangers 1991-92-1996-97, Canucks 1997-98-1999-00, Rangers 2000-01-2003-04: 1,756 Points, 694 Goals, 1,193 Assists, 1,887 Points, 1,910 Penalty Minutes)
When the Moose was on the Loose, there was few forwards who were more intimidating then mark Messier. Also, there were few guys who were feared more as a leader then Messier. He had a mean streak to him and he loved to play the physical game, but there was always an offensive upside to Messier. He was a lot like Gordie Howe in that he could score a pretty goal, set up a pretty goal, or beat you up to clear some space for a goal to happen. He could do a little bit of everything. There were six times in his career where Messier broke the 100 point mark, his best year coming in 1990 when he dropped 129 points. He helped turn the fortune around for not one but two franchises. He started the turn for the Oilers against the islanders in 1984. His goal in game three turned the series and helped the Oilers on their way to their first title. He did the same thing in 1994 with the Rangers. His hat trick against the Devils in game six helped propel them, eventually, to a Stanley Cup title. With his all-around talent and his often punishing game, Messier established a wide cushion of space to work in during his 25-year NHL career. Messier possessed elite skill and speed, his game spiced with physicality and a mean streak, when required, like Howe's. His leadership quality was off the charts. Messier could put fear into your heart just by looking at you. That's just the way he was.

His list of accomplishments in the league are off the charts. messier was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007.He is a six-time Stanley Cup champion, five with the Oilers and one with the Rangers, and is the only player to captain two different professional teams to championships. Oh but wait there's more. messier played in the All-Star Game in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, and 2004. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1984, the Hart Memorial Trophy and Lester B. Pearson Award in both 1990 and 1992, he was named to the First All-Star Team in 1982, 1983, 1990, and 1992 as well as the Second All-Star Team in 1984. There are only a few players who can compare to the Moose as far as being an all around player is concerned he's just that damn good.

3. Joe Sakic (Nordiques 1988-89-1994-95, Avalanche 1995-96-2008-09: 1,378 Games Played, 625 Goals, 1,016 Assists, 1,641 Points 614 Penalty Minutes)
If there were two traits that really defined Joe Sakic during his career it was his leadership ability and his wrist shot. he had, by far, one of the most lethal wrist shots that have ever been unleashed on the game of hockey. Sakic is also the only player ever to score 100 points in a season for a team that finishes dead last in the NHL regular season standings, accomplishing this feat in 1989-90 with Quebec Nordiques. As proof of how classy a leader Sakic was, look no further then after the Avs 2001 Cup victory. Sakic passed the Cup off to Ray Bourque to hoist the Cup for the champion Avalanche. This was a change from the early points in his career. Throughout his career, Sakic was one of the top scorers in the league, but in his early years, he was criticized for not leading his team to playoff success. That all really started to change in 1996 when the team moved to Denver and captured their first Stanley Cup title. Sakic was the real leader of that team and it really started to show through. Sakic has also been a model of consistency in the modern NHL. Despite the lock-out seasons of 1994-95 and 2004-05 and this last season where injuries limited Sakic to only 44 games, he has produced eight 20+ goal seasons, four 30+ goal seasons, three 40+ goals seasons, and two 50+ goal seasons in 1995-96 and 2000-01.

Sakic was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012 and went in with those two Stanley Cup rings to his credit. There's more to his career then just that. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1996, as well as the Hart Memorial Trophy, Lady Byng Memorial Trophy and Lester B. Pearson Award in 2001. Sakic played in 13 All Star games in his career, and even managed to pick up All-Star Game MVP in 2004. He was named to the First All-Star Team in 2001, 2002, and 2004. Pretty good career I'd say.

2. Peter Forsberg (Nordiques 1994-95, Avalanche 1995-96-2003-04, Flyers 2005-06-2006-07, Predators 2006-07, Avalance 2007-08, 2010-11: 708 Games Played, 249 Goals, 636 Assists, 885 Points, 690 Penalty Minutes)
For a stretch during the early 2000's there was no better player in the sport of hockey then Peter Forsberg. He would take over games whenever he damn well wanted to, which was quite often in his prime years in Colorado. One of the biggest knocks against one of the best players in the game was that he didn't shoot the puck enough, which is why his goal totals looked a little low for a player of his caliber. Foresberg was, without a shadow of a doubt, a star forward with outstanding playmaking skills and great vision. Forsberg was a guy who possessed an excellent combination of skill and physical play. In the prime of his career, he was considered by many as the best two-way player in the world. He is capable of combining physical play and hits with skill and is responsible offensively and defensively. He had the skills that could make the guys around him a lot better, he always found a way to help other players step their game up. Then again, there was a down side to his game, it lead to a lot of injuries during his career, which really cut his career short. But the guy put up big offensive numbers, breaking the 100 point mark twice and averaging at least 40 assists in every full season he played.

Forsberg has two Stanley Cup Rings to his credit, 1996 and 2001 and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014. There's more to his trophy case then just that. Forsberg played in seven All Star Games in his career, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003. Forsberg won the Art Ross Trophy in 2003 as well as the Hart Trophy the same year. He picked up the Calder Memorial Trophy and was named to the All-Rookie Team in 1995. Forsberg was named to the First All-Star Team in 1998, 1999, and 2003. He could almost do it all, its just a shame his career wasn't longer.

1. Steve Yzerman (Red Wings 1983-84-2005-06: 1,514 Games Played, 692 Goals, 1,063 Assists, 1,755 Points, 924 Penalty Minutes)
The Captain. Say those two words in Detroit and people will smile and think immediately of Steve Yzerman. When little Stevie Y came into the league, he was all about putting up the points. He was ringing up the numbers like it was going out of style. Between 1988 and 1993, Yezerman never scored lower then 100 points. The biggest knock that could be made against him, at least at that time in his career, he was overshadowed by two guys named Lemieux and Gretzky. He would also serve as the longest captain in league history, holding down the C in Detroit for 21 years. All worth it. Yzerman did a fantastic job of being able to reinvent himself during the course of his career, He went from being the highlight reel scorer, to a defensive specialist and all around hockey player. He could do it all during his playing days, skate, pass, shot, defend. The only thing that wasn't really a weapon for Yzerman was being overly physical, but again that wasn't the nature of his game. I really only wish his prime had come a little later, because he then would have gotten the credit he deserved for being as great a hockey player as he was. But the fact that he was able to totally revamp his style of play halfway through his career and keep playing well, speaks volumes to just how great a player he truly was.

His list of accomplishments is quite long. Yzerman won the Stanley Cup three times in his career, 1997, 1998 and 2002 and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009. There's way more to it then that. Yzerman played in the All-Star Game in 1984 (first 18-year old to be selected to the roster), 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1999, and 2000 and was named to the First Team All-Star in 2000. Yzerman won the Lester B. Pearson Award in 1989, the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1998, the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2000, the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 2003 and still holds the distinction of being the longest-serving captain for a team in league history (19 seasons, 1,303 games). Nobody played the game the way Yzerman did. Still one of the greatest hockey players I've ever had the pleasure of watching.

So there you have it, the top ten centers of the last 28 years!

First Two Rounds Live Up To Hype

They don't call it March Madness for nothing. So far, the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament has lived up to its billing. By definition, an upset is an unexpected result or situation, especially in a sports competition. You have them all the time in this tournament, and this year was no exception. Seeing a #9 beat a #8 seed doesn't really count in my mind, because those seeds are so close to each other it can't REALLY be counted as such. With that being said, here's a look at some of the upsets that took place during the first two rounds of the tournament.

No. 12 Middle Tennessee 81, No. 5 Minnesota 72
This was the same team, Middle Tennessee, that pulled off the first upset of last years tournament as well. Last year, as a #15, Middle Tennessee knocked off #2 Michigan State. This year, they did it again to a Big Ten school, this time it was Minnesota. Reggie Upshaw and Giddy Potts, of Middle Tennessee, had 21 and 19 points, respectively to lead the charge for the Blue Raiders. All this happening after Minnesota jumped out to an early 7-0 lead. But Middle Tennessee stayed the course, and came back with a balanced, efficient offense. I was still a little surprised that Middle Tennessee was even a 12 seed, considering the fact that they won 40 games during the regular seaosn, but still they pulled out that big first round win.

No. 11 Xavier 76, No. 6 Maryland 65
Xavier has been down this road before. They have been in the tournament 11 times in the last 12 seasons and made the sweet sixteen now four times in nine years. They know what they're doing. Sure, they came in slipping, as they closed out the regular season on a six game losing streak. That didn't matter once the tournament started. They had hit the reset button at the start of the tournament. Xavier was down 50-47 with 13 minutes left when they rattled off a huge 14-0 run. Maryland had trouble adjusting to Xavier’s variety of man-to-man and zone defenses, and lost their tournament opener for the first time since 1997. Among the pertinent numbers were Xavier’s 34-24 dominance in rebounding and 30-13 gap in bench points. Trevon Bluiett was a big reason for the turnaround. HE went 1 for 8 in the first half, but closed out the game with 18 points. He was a big reason why Maryland got bounced and Xavier is moving on.

No. 11 USC 66, No. 6 SMU 65
It was a repeat of November all over again. USC beat SMU 78-73 back in November. But between then and now, USC had slipped and SMU had been on a roll, winning 26 of their final 27 games. That didn't matter once the tournament got started. USC trailed by 12 points in the first half, but for them, that’s only a minor convenience. They had rallied from double-digit deficits to win 12 games this season, so clearly this is nothing new. USC shot 58 percent the second half and slowed down SMU with the zone to pull even, and Elijah Stewart’s 3-pointer with 36 seconds left ended up being the game-winner. Stewart finished the game with 22 points, but none bigger then the three with time running down. The Mustangs’ Shake Milton missed a floater in the final seconds. SMU, using only six players, lost after leading for nearly 36 minutes.

No. 11 Rhode Island 84, No. 6 Creighton 72
Rhode Island had been ranked 23rd in the AP polls, but due to a rash of injuries, they looked like they might miss the tournament. That all changed thanks to a little eight game winning streak to close out the regular season. It helped punch their ticket to the big dance for the first time in 18 years. Rhode Island lead this game wire to wire, but that's not the only real surprise in this game. There were actually two surprises in this contest. Rhode Island had shut down Creighton's Justin Patton. Patton had come into the game ranked 2nd in the country in field goal precentage. Thanks to the defense of Hassan Martin, Patton missed nine of his 12 shots. Rhode Island Freshman guard Jeff Dowtin came in averaging 4.9 points a game, and scored 23. This is just one perfect example of anything can happen come playoff time.

No. 8 Wisconsin 65, No. 1 Villanova 62
Some had Villanova possibly repeating as champs. Either that or at least getting back to the final four. You now scrap those plans altogether. They were the defending champs, so in theory it should have been a cake walk. Somebody forgot to tell the Badgers that. The Badgers hit 53 percent Saturday. This, while Villanova was at 41 percent. With the score tied and the game on the line, Wisconsin had the vets to finish the job. igel Hayes and Bronson Koenig knew what to do and were a forced to be reckoned with in this game. First, Koenig’s 3-pointer pushed them ahead with two minutes left. Then, with the scored tied again at 62 and the clock dipping below 20 seconds, Hayes feinted his way to open space on the baseline, and made the layup that ended Villanova’s repeat run. The Wildcats’ star Josh Hart had two turnovers trying to score in heavy lane traffic in the final minute. Wisconsin pulled it off despite missing nine of 16 free throws, making six more turnovers and trailing late 57-50.

No. 7 Michigan 73, No. 2 Louisville 69
Go back to the Big East tournament, where Michigan was an 8th seed ins aid tournament. But they've managed to win seven straight games and now find themselves in the sweet sixteen. By getting there, they've knocked off one of the heavy favorites to get to at least the final four if not a national title game. They are now watching the rest of the tournament on TV like everybody else. Michigan got by on the strength of the three pointer in their opening game against Oklahoma State to start the tournament. It wasn't the three in this game, it was the inside game that did the work for Michigan. Moritz Wagner, the sophomore from Germany, went bonkers in this basaketball game. He finished the day with 26 points, which is off the charts. Hell the fact that Michigan shot 63% in the 2nd half and pulled away in this game says a lot. Nobody really expected Michigan to do that, but they did.

No. 7 South Carolina 88, No. 2 Duke 81
Duke was another one of those teams that was expected to be a heavy favorite in this tournament. Nobody told that to South Carolina. South Carolina outscored Duke in the second half and hung 65 points on them. Think about that for a moment. They hung 65 points in a half on Duke. South Carolina had five players score in double figures, four with at least 15 points. Part of what killed Duke in this game was the fact that they turned the ball over 18 times and Luke Kanard and Grayson Allen both went cold in the 2nd half. Duke had a ten point lead in this basketball game and blew it. Duke had been to five Sweet 16s in seven years, South Carolina never, in its current format.

Let The Madness Begin

It's that time of the year once again. one of the craziest tournaments in all of sports is about to get underway. March Madness has arrived! The field of 68 is now set and between now and April 3rd, we will have figured out who's the best college basketball team in all of the country. Ever since tournament play began back in 1939, this tournament has become one of the most thrilling championship chases in any sport. By the time we hit the final four, which is in Glendale Arizona, April 1-3, we will see who really has the best teams left standing. But in reality, it's not just about being the best, its also about having a little luck on your side. The journey to the desert is going to be filled with upsets, buzzer beaters, incredible performances and plenty of shining moments. Can Villonva repeat as the National Champions? We will find out in a couple weeks. Before we predict our Final Four and Championship game, here's a few notable nuggets to throw at you.

In the opening round, the number one seeds have nothing to worry about, because a sixteen seed has never beaten a number one seed. I'm sure there's a chance it could change but not this year. I don't see Villanova, Kansas, Gonzaga, and North Carolina having anything to worry about, because they will all move on. The question is, will all four of them reach the final four? There's only once in history that all four number one seeds have faced off in the final four, that was in 2008 (Kansas (champion), North Carolina, UCLA, Memphis). We will answer the question of this years top seeds will all make the final four a little later on, but first lets get back to some of the bracket number breakdowns.

If your a two seed in this tournament, you better watch your back, because there have been eight times where you've been knocked off by a 15 seed, it happened last year where Middle Tennessee beat Michigan State. So Louisville, Kentucky, Arizona and Duke need to stay on their toes. A three seed hasn't fared much better, as 21 times in the tournament they've been beaten by a 14 seed. So, yeah Baylor, Oregon, Florida State, and UCLA better keep an eye open. Of all the opening round matchups, the one that produces the most upsets is the six versus the eleven seeds. In the past, there have been 46 instances where the 11 seed knocked off the six seed. There is some hope for the lower seeds to go deep into a tounrament. Remember Florida Gulf Coast making it all the way to the sweet sixteen  in 2013, yeah they were a 15 seed, the lowest seed ever to get that far. The lowest seed to ever reach the elite eight was a 12 seed, Missouri did that in 2002. As far as the fianl four goes, we've seen an 11 a 10 a 9 and an 8 reach that far. Lowest seed to ever make the title game was an 8 seed, which has happened three times. the only 8 seed ever, whicch is the lowest total ever to win a title, was Villanova, who won it all in 1985. The other two teams, Butler in 2011 and Kentucky in 2014, came up just short. That's why they call this March Madness, because anything can and usually does happen in this tournament.

If past performances have been indication of anything, then the Pac 12 the ACC and the Big Ten have the best chances. ACC teams have 16 national titles, followed by the Pac-12 with 15 (but they haven't seen a tyitle since 1997 with Arizona and UCLA has 11 but they haven't won since 1996) and the Big Ten has 11 titles (last coming with Michigan State in 2000).

That's just some of what's gone down in the past, but that was then and this is now, so lets get right into it. It'll take way too long to break down every game. Instead we will preview any upsets from the first three rounds then break it down from the elite eight right through the title game.

First Round:
9. Vanderbilt def 8. Northwestern
This is the first time ever Northwestern is playing in the tournament, so there's going to be a lot of pressure. I know they have the better record, but Vanderbilt has the edge in big game experience. Plus Vanderbilt has a winning record in their last ten games, whereas Northwestern doesn't. Vandy gest the win.

10. Wichita State def 7. Dayton
The only reason I'm saying that this is an upset is because of the seeding. The Shockers are a 30 win team this year, how the hell they ended up as a 10 seed is really beyond me. Dayton is a good basketball team but the Shockers are a better one and they'll move on to the round of 32.

Round of 32:
6. Maryland def 3. Florida State 
Both teams had the same number of losses during the regular season, each losing eight games. Dwayne Bacon has been the leading scorer for the Seminoles, but there's is a little depth behind him. Sure there isn't much scoring punch in Maryland as far as depth goes, but I got a feeling its better then that of Florida State. I smell upset here with this game.

Sweet Sixteen:
N/A

Elite Eight:
N/A

Final Four:
1. Gonzaga def 1. Villanova 
Villanova will be in the hunt to be the first back to back champion since 2007 and 2008. The run ends here. Gonzaga has just one blemish on its record, and yet still has its share of doubters. Some feel this is the best Zags team ever, strong on both ends of the court and featuring quality size to go with the leadership of Nigel Williams-Goss (16.9 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4.8 APG). Is this the year the Bulldogs finally get to the Final Four? Or is another disappointing result as a high seed in the cards? They have to try to get by the defending champs, who are lead by Josh Hart (18.9 PPG, 6.5 RPG), who is top-five nationally in offensive efficiency, effective field goal percentage, 2-point field goal percentage and free throw percentage. I just think that, even though Gonzaga hasn't really been tested till the tournament but they have the edge because they will have played better. Villanova just runs out of steam here.

2. Kentucky def 2. Louisville
Kentucky is a very balanced team here and the fact that they are a 29 win team, compared to the 24 wins from Louisville. To be fair, Louisville is among the most efficient teams in the nation on both sides of the ball, something that can be attributed to their willingness to routinely go eight deep. Free throw shooting could be an issue, but it hasn't caught up to the Cardinals yet, as they have no real bad losses. With Kentucky, Malik Monk has shined as a freshman, averaging 21 points per game, and De'Aaron Fox, Bam Adebayo and Isaiah Briscoe are each averaging at least 13 PPG. The Wildcats rank among the top teams on both ends of the court. I know there's only three players on this team who don't have more then two years experience but this is the time of the year that the kids grow up quickly. That's what's going to happen here.

National Championship
1. Gonzaga def 2. Kentucky 79-73
As good as Kentucky has been up to this point, they are going to run into a better team in Gonzaga. The Zags have been a top team all season long. They've been in the top ten in the nation since week three of the season, and have been a top five team in the polls since week eight of the polls being released. To make this memorable run even sweeter if your the Zags is the fact that they will knock off the defending national champs in the process.

So that's how the tournament, at least as I see it, breaks down. Let the Madness Begin!

Can Marshall And Beckham Gel Together?

It's no secret that Brandon Marshall is a great wide receiver. He's been a major threat and the top target for every team he's played on so far. Denver, Miami, Chicago and the Jets have all experienced his talents. He's been THE guy on all four of these teams. Now, he';s got to change his attitude just a little. He has to get adjusted from being the top guy to being a role player, something that comes with the territory of being on a contending team.

In Marshall's first year with the Jets, he put up outstanding numbers. He was a big reason why the Jets were able to stay in contention all year for a playoff spot, but they came up just short.  Last year, Marshall had a solid year, but his numbers were down due to injury and subpar play from his quarterbacks. So the Jets let him go. Now he stays in the state and plays in the same building he has the last two seasons, just with the Giants. Now he has to adjust to life, at least for the next two years, as being a number two receiver. The Giants top target is still going to be Odell Beckham jr.

Now the question is, can Marshall adjust to his new role?

He's going to have to if he wants to win. See, going from his team last year in the Jets to what he's got now with the Giants, he's actually got a shot at a title. The Giants are better built for a title run then the Jets, who are a total and complete mess right now. Marshall has a quarterback who can throw, granted he is a little erratic at this stage of his career, but Marshall has the skills to still come down with the football. But there is one little catch, no pun intended. Marshall has to get used to a reduced workload with the Giants.

For Marshall to really be effective, he needs to have about 80 to 100 catches a year. That's not going to happen with the Giants, not with Odell getting 91, 96 and 101 catches in each of the last three years. Marshall will have to get used to not being the go to guy in the receiving game. And he will have to learn to keep his mouth under control about this situation. There's been a couple of incidents where his mouth has gotten him in trouble. First is if he doesn't get the ball enough. Once that starts happening, as good as he is, he could become a negative in the locker room. That's just Marshall, that's the way he's wired. The other is when the team starts to pile up losses. Remember what happened with Sheldon Richardson last year in the locker room after the loss in KC in week three last year? Yeah there's that for one example. Then there's what happened in 2009? Broncos coach Josh McDaniels suspended him for the rest of the preseason after a practice flip-out where he punted a ball away and knocked down passes.

Some say he really has changed over the last few years, and that might be all well and good. But the biggest thing is he has to understand that he's not the top target anymore, Odell Beckahm is. At least on this team and at this time. If Marshall can get that through his head and work well with Beckham, they can make a deadly one-two punch at wide receiver.

Top Ten Greatest Left Wingers

Oh the left wingers. One of the toughest positions on the lists of top tens to really be able to debate. But that's what makes doing lists like these fun, is to see who can come up with what and where. As with the other top ten lists we have done so far, this list is a little tough to make for all time, because its hard to accurately compare guys who played in the era of Bobby Hull, and compare him to guys who played in the era of Alexander Ovechkin. Even with that being said, some of the league’s most productive and colorful personalities enjoyed Hall of Fame careers on the left side. So let's come up with the list, which has been narrowed down to the last twenty eight years of NHL hockey. Here's the top ten left wingers in the last twenty eight years.

Honorable Mention: Kevin Stevens (Penguins 1978-88-1994-95, Bruins 1995-96, Kings 1995-96-1996-97, Rangers 1997-98-1999-2000, Flyers 2000-01, Penguins 2000-01-2001-02),  Daniel Sedin (Canucks 2000-01-Present), Ryan Smyth (Oilers 1994-95-2006-07, Islanders 2006-07, Avalanche 2007-08-2008-09, Kings 2009-10-2010-11, Oilers 2011-12-2013-14), Markus Naslund (Penguins 1993-94-1995-96, Canucks 1995-96-2007-08, Rangers 2008-09), Dany Heatley (Thrashers 2001-02-2003-04, Senators 2005-06-2008-09, Sharks 2009-10-2010-11, Wild 2011-12-2013-14, Ducks 2014-15) Henrik Zetterberg (Red Wings 2002-03-Present)


10. John LeClair (Canadiens 1990-91-1994-95, Flyers 1994-95-2003-04, Penguins 2005-06-2006-07: 967 Games Played, 406 Goals, 413 assists, 819 Points, 501 Penalty Minutes)
Mention his name and most hockey fans think of one thing: Legion of Doom! One of the most dominant lines that the game has ever seen, which had Eric Lindros centering Mikael Renberg and John LeClair. John got his start in Montreal, where he won his only Stanley Cup, which came in 1993. It was while playing on the Legion of Doom line where his career really took off. That line had a blend of size, speed, strength and goal scoring touch.  During those years with the Flyers, he scored 50 or more goals in three straight years, then followed that up with another two straight seasons of 40 or more goals. With those years, LeClair became the first American-born player to score 50 goals in three consecutive NHL seasons. With his size and grit, LeClair was made for the modern NHL game. He had the ability to win the battles in the corners and the speed to be dangerous on the rush. He could dish the puck as well as bury it. Sure, his scoring touch, but that didn't really come along until he was well settled in with the Flyers, as noted earlier.

He had a pretty good career on the international level as well, producing 18 points in 17 games between a World Cup of Hockey and two Olympic games. He won silver in 2002 at Salt Lake City. He has a Stanley Cup ring with the Habs in 1993, but wait there's more. LeClair was named to the NHL First All-Star Team in 1995 and 1998, while being named to the Second All-Star Team in 1996, 1997, and 1999. LeClair also played in the NHL All-Star game in 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000 .

9. Patrick Marleau (Sharks 1997-98-Present: 1,469 Games Played, 501 Goals, 568 Assists, 1,069 Points, 447 PIM)
What more can be said about Patrick Marleau that hasn't been said already. He's been pretty much the face of the Sharks franchise since the turn of the century. You've got some pretty big expectations to live up to if you're taken 2nd overall in the draft, as Marleau was in 1997. He put up solid scoring numbers early in his career, averaging somewhere around the 50 point range through the first half of his career. The Sharks showed their faith in him when they named him Captain in 2003  Marleau's numbers kept rising, and by the 2007 season he had passed Owen Nolan for the club record for goals, assists and points. A lot of the rejunivation in Marleau's play has been credited to being paired up with Joe Thornton, who came over in a trade from the Bruins in 2006. ironically it was Thornton who was taken ahead of Marleau in the 1997 draft.

Marleau has a solid hardware collection to his name. Won a World Championships gold medal with Team Canada in 2003. He also won a gold medal with Canada at the 2010 Winter Olympics (Vancouver) and the 2014 Winter Olympics. He won a World Cup championship with Team Canada in 2004, though he only played in preliminary exhibition games leading up to the tournament. Marleau played in the NHL All-Star Game in 2004, 2007 and 2009. and has been named a Lady Byng Memorial Trophy finalist in 2007 and 2014. He's got his name all over the Sharks record books, including being the teams leader in games played, goals, assists, points, power play goals, short handed goals, and shots. What makes Marleau good is that he has a nice blend of speed and skill. He can beat you witha good move or a good pass. He's just as comfortable making the pass as he is shooting the puck and he c an do both very well.

8. Dave Andreychuk (Sabres 1982-83-1992-93, Maple Leafs 1992-93-1995-96, Devils 1995-96-1998-99, Bruins 1999-2000, Avalanche 1999-2000, Sabres 2000-01, Lightning 2001-02-2005-06: 1,639 Games Played, 640 Goals, 698 Assists, 1,338 Points, 1,125 PIM)
When you think of power play specialists and great leaders, Dave Anderychuck is one of the first names that comes to mind. When he first broke into the NHL with the Sabres, he was known for being a power play specialist. His best offensive days were in both Buffalo and Toronto. His best season offensively was in 1993–94 when, with Toronto, he posted 53 goals and 99 points. By the time he got to New Jersey, he was able to flip the script on his career. Sure he was still able to put the puck into the net and find his way onto the score sheet but it wasn't at the rate it was early in his career. Instead he was able to turn himself into a very reliable two way hockey player. He became more defense oriented, which lead to a sort of second career almost. His leadership skills proved invaluable as he lead the Tampa Bay Lightning to their only Stanley Cup win in 2004. That was his last taste of glory, as after the year off from hockey due to the lockout his production wasn't the same and his career came to an end.

Andreychuk had himself a fine career during his time in the NHL. He played in the sixth most games played in NHL history with 1639. Andreychuk ranks 14th in NHL history with 640 goals and is tied with Denis Savard for 28th in league history with 1,338 points. He holds the record for most career power-play goals with 274.

7. Patrik Elias (Devils 1995-96-2015-16: 1,240 Game Played, 408 Goals, 617 Assists, 1,025 Points 549 PIM)
One of the slickest playmakers to come out of Europe and the best offensive player that the Devils franchise has ever had. He was taken in the 1994 entry draft but didn't crack the Devils until after the first cup run. His career really took off in 1999-2000 when he was put on the famed "A Line" with Petr Sýkora and Jason Arnott, which was one of the top producing lines in all of hockey that season. To cap off that year, he assisted on Arnott's Cup-clinching goal in double overtime in Game 6 against Dallas. During his career, Elias cracked the 20 goal mark ten times, including three seasons of 30 or more goals, and one 40 goal season. There were five occasions where he cracked 70 or more points including a career high 96 in 2000-01, which placed him 3rd in the league in scoring that year. He wasn't the biggest guy on the Devils, but he had quickness to him. Elias was a great playmaker, and slick hands around the net and great vision, as his assists numbers were usually pretty high, He may not have put up Jagr like numbers, but there were times where the Devils offense went as Elias did. He was one of the faces of the Devils for a long time, a good leader and a hell of a hockey player. Elias also had some solid success on the international stage, collecting 33 points in 40 games between one World Cup of Hockey, three World Championships and four Olympic Games for the Czech Republic.

Elias has the two Stanley Cup Rings on his mantle. Elias was named to the 1997-98 All Rookie Team and was a First Team All Star in 2000-01. He also played in the All Star game in 2000, 2002, 2011, and 2015. Elias holds several of the Devils club records, including career marks points, goals and assists in the regular season as well as the all time leader in playoff goals (45), assists (80), and points (125). Elias holds the Devils marks for hat tricks (8), shots on goal (3,201) and power play goals (110). Eliáš is the only NHL player to be awarded two penalty shots in overtime. Both occurred in separate games versus the New York Islanders, and in both cases, Eliáš missed the penalty shot.

6. Keith Tkachuk (Jets 1991-92-1995-96, Coyotes 1996-97-2000-01, Blues 2000-01-2006-07, Thrashers 2006-07, Blues 2007-08-2009-10: 1,201 Games Played, 538 Goals, 527 Assists, 1,065 Points, 2,219 Penalty Minutes)
You look up the word power forward in the dictionary, one of the first faces you will see is Keith Tkachuk's. He could do it all. He could skate, score, pass, hit and fight. He had a little bit of everything to his game. Tkachuk scored over 40 goals four times in his career, including two 50 goal seasons, all coming with Winnipeg. After his days with the Jets, he still had scored 30 or more goals four times. And you mention the words power forward to a hockey fan, Tkachuk's name is usually near the top of the list. Tkachuk was known for his aggressive, physical style while consistently scoring points. Tkachuk had more than 100 penalty minutes in 10 of his 19 NHL seasons, including three seasons with over 200 penalty minutes. Tkachuk was known for his goal scoring prowess, scoring 30 goals eight times, including two 40-goal seasons and two back-to-back 50 goal seasons, the latter of which he led the NHL in goals, with 52. That year, he became the first American born player to lead the league in goals. He had many different ways to beat you. He could throw a good hit, he could fight and he could beat you with a huge goal. He could basically almost do it all.

Tkachuk never got to a Stanley Cup and win a ring, but he did leave quite an impression on the league. He's second on the Arizona Coyotes franchise list for career game-winning goals, with 40. He also holds the Arizona Coyotes record for career penalty minutes with 1,508. Tkachuk was a Second Team All-Star in 1995 and 1998. he also played in the NHL All-Star Game in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, and 2007.

5. Ilya Kovalchuk (Thrashers 2001-02-2009-10, Devils 2009-10-2012-13: 816 Games Played, 417 Goals, 399 Assists, 816 Points, 516 Penalty Minutes)
Speed. That's one of the first things that comes to mind when people mention Ilya Kovalchuk. An excellent skater with impressive speed, quickness and acceleration have defined Kovalchuk during his career. Another aspect of his game that really set Kovalchuk apart was his outstanding puckhandling skills, scoring ability and playing a tough aggressive style of game. In 2001-02, he broke onto the scene scoring 51 points and finishing 2nd in Calder voting for Rookie of the Year, finishing behind Danny Heatley. 2003 was the year Kovalchuk broke the 20 goal mark, but his career really took off in 2004 when he lead the league with 41 goals. For five straight seasons he cracked the 40 goal mark including two years of 52 goals (2006 and 2008). After his last 40 goal year, he broke the 30 goal mark three more times, before leaving the NHL to go play in Russia. Besides his playing style, Kovalchuk is known for one other thing. It will be known simply as the contract. He had originally signed a deal with the Devils at the end of the 2010 season that was worth17 years and $102 million. The length of the deal broke the record for the longest contract in NHL history. The contract, however, was blocked by the NHL the next day on the grounds that it circumvented the league's salary cap. Arbitrator Richard Bloch heard the union's appeal, and ultimately nullified the deal.

Contract aside, Kovalchuk still had a great career. Not a hall of famer, or a Cup winner, he still carved out himself a fine career. He won MVP of the YoungStars Game in 2002 and was named to the All-Rookie Team that same year. He was a First All-Star Team in 2012 and a Second All-Star Team in 2004. Kovalchuk played in the NHL All-Star Game in 2004, 2008, and 2009. He tied with Rick Nash and Jarome Iginla for the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, with 41 goals in 2004. Speed, slick hands and a great shot will define his career.

4. Paul Kariya (Ducks 1994-95-2002-03, Avalanche 2003-04, Predators 2005-06-2006-07, Blues 2007-08-2009-10: 989 Games Played, 402 Goals, 587 Assists, 989 Points 399 Penalty Minutes)
As the old saying goes, good things come in small packages. That's exactly what you get with Paul Kariya. Despite his small size, he was a great playmaker, and the face of the Mighty Ducks franchise from the moment he took the ice in his first game with the team. When Kariya was first coming up, he drew compare to Wayne Gretzky for his skating style and his vision on the ice being Gretzky like. He had the playmaking skills, no doubt, but because the Ducks lacked offensive firepower during the early years of the team, Kariya was forced to shoot more. He had a knack for finding the back of the net with regularity, scoring 50 goals his 2nd year in the league. He cracked the 40 goal mark twice more in his career with the Ducks and broke the 30 goal mark four more times in his career. His passing skills were always on point, registering 50 assists or more in a season six times. One of the big moments that stand out in Paul's career came during the 2003 finals. During game six, he was knocked out cold by a hit at the blue line for Scott Stevens. He came back later in the hockey game and scored a goal over the glove side of Martin Brodeur to add an insurance marker for the Ducks to help force a game seven. That goal was a testament to how good a player he was. Some had questioned his heart, but that goal, and game, showed how much heart and desire he truly had.

One of the true highlights of his career would have been a Stanley Cup, but the Ducks fell short against the Devils in 2003, the closest he was able to get. But Kariya has still had himself a very fine career. He sits 3rd on the Ducks all time lists in the major offensive lists. Kariya was named to the All-Rookie Team in 1995, while being named to the First All-Star Team in 1996, 1997, and 1999. Kariya was also named to the Second All-Star Team in 2000 and 2003. Kariya won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in 1996 and 1997. He played in the All-Star Game in 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003. During those years, he won the Skills Competition Puck Control relay in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002, which spoke to how great a puck handler he really was.

3. Brendan Shanahan (Devils 1987-88-1990-91, Blues 1991-92-1994-95, Whalers 1995-96-1996-97, Red Wings 1996-97-2005-06, Rangers 2006-07-2007-08, Devils 2008-09: 1,524 Games Played, 656 Goals, 698 Assists, 1,354 Points, 2,489 Penalty Minutes)
Talk about another definition of a power forward, that's what you get with Brendan Shanahan. He was the poster boy for power forwards from the left side. He was a driving and punishing force on the ice, as well as now off it. During his career, he managed to score  50 goals twice, another four years of 40 or more goals and yet another six years of 30 or more goals. 1994 was his best offensive year, scoring 102 points, doing so while managing 211 penalty minutes. With a quick-release wrist shot and the ability to muscle his way into open space, the Devils took him 2nd overall in 1987. He quickly managed to make himself a big star in the league. He could score goals sure, but he also stood up for his teammates. Shanahan's play allowed for his teammates to elevate their game and play at a level they never knew they had inside them. He would stick up for his smaller teammates, which allowed them to grow their games. And it wasn't also what he did as a player that fans will remember him for. During the 2004-05 lockout, he brought together some of the biggest names in the game at a two day summit to help get the game better then it was before. A lot of those changes are still being used in the league right now. Shanahan had a hand in that.

So not only does he have a hand in the way the game is played now, he's got his name in the record books as well. Shanahan won three Stanley Cups, 1997, 1998 and 2002. Shanahan played in the NHL All-Star Game in 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2007. He was named to the NHL First All-Star Team in 1994 and 2000, while getting named to the NHL Second All-Star Team in 2002. Shanahan won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2003. Shanahan led the league in short-handed goals in 1994 and then led the league in powerplay goals in 1997. He is the only player with over 600 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013.

2. Alexander Ovechkin (Capitals 2005-06-present: 839 Games Played, 525 Goals, 441 Assists, 966 Points, 567 Penalty Minutes)
You want to talk about pure goal scorers, look no further then Alex Ovechkin. This guy just flat out loves to score goals, and shoot the puck too. Once he took the ice for the Capitals in his first game in 2006, his career took off and Ovie hasn't looked back. He doesn't just go after pucks, he hunts them down. And he's a big man too. At 6'3 and 239 pounds, that's a big man coming barreling down the ice at you, you best learn to move out the way. Once he gets a hold of the puck, he doesn't give it up easily until he fires it on net. His shot is hard and accurate. most goalies have said they have a hard time seeing the puck coming off his stick, that's how hard he shoots the puck. Ovechkin has scored at least 30 goals in ever season he has played in the NHL. He's hit 40 or more once, 50 or more six times and 60 or more once (his career high is 65 that he scored in 2008). He's got four seasons of 100 or more points. by the time all is said and done, Ovechkin will has his name at the top of every offensive record that the Capitals have. He's the king of the Russian goal scorers and the numbers are still climbing. Ovie has deceptive speed, a quick release. He can beat you with a goal and a good, solid hit.

The one thing that's missing from Ovechkins trophy case is a Stanley Cup. Otherwise he has Hall of Fame worthy credentials. He's the fifth fastest player in NHL history to score 500 career goals (801 games), and he's the only player in NHL history to be named to the NHL First All-Star Team in each of his first five seasons. Ovechkin was named to the First All-Star Team in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, and 2015 and the Second All-Star Team in 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2016. He has played in the NHL All-Star Game in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, and 2017. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2008, 2009, and 2013, while picking up the Lester B. Pearson Award in 2008, 2009, and 2010. He seems to be a lock for the Hall of fame when all is said and done.

1. Luc Robitaille (Kings 1986-87-1993-94, Penguins 1994-95, Rangers 1995-96-1996-97, Kings 1997-98-2000-01, Red Wings 2001-02-2002-03, Kings 2003-04-2005-06: 1,431 Games Played, 668 Goals, 726 Assists, 1,394 Points, 1,177 Penalty Minutes)
Out of all the hockey players I've ever seen play the game, there have been none quicker on their skates then Lucky Luc. Some of the things that Robitaille heard when he was younger was that he couldn't skate, was too slow, and didn't have a chance of making it. Well, by the time the dust settled, he had become the highest scoring left winger in the history of the sport and found himself in the Hall of Fame. There were only three seasons in his career in which Luc failed to score more then twenty goals in a year. He had an eight year stretch at the start of his career where he scored more then 40 goals each year, including two 50 or more goal years and a career high 63 goals in 1993. Luc also produced four seasons of 100 or more points. What made him so tough to play against was his quickness. He had the best opening strides to the puck I've ever seen a hockey player have. He also had one of the most accurate shots to ever come into the league. He could shoot a dime off the crossbar it was so accurate. Luc was that good that he really had nobody to compare against. He was one of the most talented hockey players I've ever watched.

Robitaille has three Stanley Cup titles to his name, one as a player with the 2002 Detroit Red Wings and two as an executive with the Kings in 2012 and 2014. HE's also added a few more titles to his name as well. He won the Calder Trophy in 1987 and was named to the All-Rookie Team that same year. Luc played in the All-Star Game in 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1999, and 2001. To cap it all off, Luc was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009. HIs record for goals and points by a left winger still stands today.

Dirk Joins Elite Company

Scoring, its the way to win games in professional sports. The NBA is no different from any of the other big four sports in that you need to score points in order to be able to win a game. When a player can hit 10,000 or more points in a career it means they've been a productive player in their careers. Same thing with 20,000 points. But when you hit 30,000 points in your career,that's hitting a magical number. Only five players in the history of basketball have hit that mark. That was until Tuesday night, when that club jumped to six members. Dirk Nowitzki joined that elite club, now sitting with 30,005 career points. He hit the magic number against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The other members of that elite 30,000 point club include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. Julius Erving scored over 30,000 points in his career, but that was combined between the ABA and NBA. Nowitzki is the first international player to reach that milestone. Hitting the 30,000 point mark further cements his legacy as basketball's greatest player born outside the United States. Now this leads to a big question. Does Dirk crack the top ten all time greatest players ever?

Before we answer that, lets take a look at something else. Dirk is 38 and so far, the 2016-17 season hasn't exactly been so kind to him. Dirk missed all but five of the Mavericks' first 29 games with an Achilles injury and came into Tuesday averaging 13.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, the former his worst mark since his rookie season. His numbers are down, but that I think comes with age and how long a career he's had. Dirk is 38 years old and has played over 1,500 games between the regular season and the playoffs. He's been the face of the Mavericks franchise for a long time now. So the wear and tear has started to break down the big German, There have been moments this year when Dirk has looked like his old self. He's had a few moments that have helped keep Dallas in the fight in the West. They are a game and a half out of the final playoff spot in the West (at the time of this writing).

But still if you look at his entire body of work, Dirk has had an outstanding career. Hitting the 30,000 point mark and becoming just the 6th player in the history of the game to do it is pretty impressive. He might not be at the level of a top ten player all time, at least not trying to compare him to some of the others who have played the game. There's no doubt that he's a top 15 player all time, that is safe to say. He might be just sitting outside the top ten right behind I'd say Hakeem Olajuwon.

So congrats to Dirk on hitting the 30,000 point mark. Not bad for a guy who was traded for Robert "Tractor" Traylor on draft night in 1998!

Jets In Rebuilding Mode?

It's one of those things that really make you kind of scratch your head. After finishing the year two seasons ago with a 10-6 record and just missing the playoffs, the New York Jets came up way short last year. They finished the 2016 season with a pathetic 5-11 record, well below the standard they had set the year before. Now, it seams as if the Jets are trying to re-invent the wheel. They have been cutting players left and right, freeing up a lot of cap space. The Jets have cut ties with Darrelle Revis, Nick Mangold, Breno Giacomini, Nick Folk and now wide receiver Brandon Marshall. In total, with those cuts, the Jets have cleared more than $45 million this offseason in cap space. Some of the moves make sense, while others don't.

Letting go Mangold, which really did hurt, and Giacomini made a little bit of sense because the Jets offensive line does need to be rebuilt. Getting rid of Revis, while he was a great player, makes the most sense. Revis has been a shell of his former self the last couple of seasons. Lest year was the worst one, as every time I turned around, it looked like Revis was getting lit up like a cheap cigar. So I'm glad they finally cut ties with Revis, he isn't really worth the headache anymore. He's not the player he once was and good riddance.

With Marshall, it leaves me a little bit surprised. I understand that he had a down year last year. In 2015, Marshall was named MVP on the team, as he set franchise records with 109 catches and 1,502 yards receiving. Then, last year, Marshall took a bit of a step back, as he had just 59 receptions for 788 yards and three TDs while dealing with a few injuries and inconsistent quarterback play. He was making $7.5 Million for next year, which is a lot of money for a step down in production. I still feel that Marshall can be a very dominant receiver in this league. He's too good. I know his age is getting a tad up there, but like I said with Nick Mangold, I still feel Marshall has enough left in the tank to be a good receiver in the NFL.

This whole team is just a mess. There was fighting amongst the players last year. Todd Bowles lost the locker room during the year, the players don't fully trust or even listen to him from what I've been hearing. Bowles has said that this team isn't in a rebuild. Really? Then what would you call it? The coaching staff has had changeover. Some of the players that have been dead weight, aka Revis, have been let go. Marshall is now gone. There's no quarterback on this team at all. I mean sure they have Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg, but neither of them really appear to be ready to fully lead an NFL franchise. Not only that, but whoever ends up under center for the Jets in 2017, whether its Petty, Hackenberg or somebody else, they don't have much to work with in the passing game. Eric Decker is back to being the number one target again. Decker is coming off a year in which he missed almost the entire season due to battling injuries, so there's no telling how effective he's going to be. Even when he's on his game, I still am not really sold on Decker being a legit number one wide receiver. As of now Quincy Enunwa and Robby Anderson are the other options in the passing game. Both are solid wide receivers, but they aren't top flight pass catchers yet.

I really hope Jets management really hopes it knows what its doing. Because if this turns into another taking year, and they don't show any hope at all like they are going to get better, then there will be a lot more unhappy Jets fans.