The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

If you're wondering what's the root of the Calgary Flames' struggles, look no further than their special teams. Last time I checked, the Flames ranked dead last in powerplay goals and penalty killing. Considering the increase in the amount of penalties called, that's a problem...Kris Draper is the latest addition of players who've decided to put on a visor after getting struck in the face by a puck. After hearing so many NHLers say they feel it's a player's choice to wear one, I've finally heard two players say they would support mandatory visors for new players: Draper's teammates Niklas Lidstrom and Steve Yzerman. Interesting though is Lidstrom took off his visor after wearing one for two seasons...The NY Rangers have 3 guys in the top 10 in scoring (Jaromir Jagr, Martin Rucinsky and Martin Straka), not bad for a team I didn't think would make the playoffs...When you watch the Leafs' highlight reels, you never stop hearing about how well Eric Lindros is playing. I never liked seeing a player's career get cut short for health reasons, even though I've had problems with him when he refused to play for the Quebec Nordiques when he was drafted way back when. I think his injuries have perhaps softened him up a little bit (by that I mean his character), and the man he is today wouldn't have pulled such a stunt at his entry draft. He's a changed person, for the better...There's been a lot of talk regarding hazing for rookies entering their new hockey clubs and whether or not there's a place for it. Rookie initiation, I believe, CAN be fun. It doesn't have to be humilating or degrading. But some people think initiations must always be disgusting and cruel. When I went to my Ottawa U frosh week, I was a little worried about what could happen. But immediately we were told we here to have fun and meet new people, have a good time and throw back a few drinks, and it's ok if you want that drink to be a coke instead of a beer (althought I don't remember anyone drinking coke). Bottom line, I felt welcomed and a good time was had by all. If there's a charter that needs to written on what hazing can and cannot include, so be it...I thought it was extremely hypcritical for a goon like Tie Domi to spew negative comments about the Atlanta Thrasher's Eric Boulton hit on Tampa's D Paul Ranger. Domi is the king of taking runs at players, include his past playoff hits on guys like Scott Niedermayer and Martin Havlat, both times completely unprovoked. In any case, Boulton received 6 games for giving Ranger a hairline fracture of his jaw and a concussion. This is one of those times I think a player should not be allowed back on the ice until the injured player is ok to return..In the past five games, Atlanta has 1 win and has allowed 25 goals...Last year's Hart Trophy winner Martin St Louis needs to step it up, recording only 3 points in 9 games. Did we get lazy after signing that big, rich contract Marty?...The Nashville Predators are now the only undefeated team left in the NHL...It's fun that hockey fans in Canada can get excited and debate Team's Canada's preliminary list of 81 players for the 2006 Olympic squad. If there was a player you thought was missed, trust me, they weren't going to make it anyway.