SCOUTING REPORT
Jason Gregor
May 21 2012 10:49PM
Scouting isn't an exact science. Every scout has stories of a player they loved who never panned out, or a guy they weren't high on who played 10 years in the Show. There are rare exceptions, Sidney Crosby, where every scout ranks him #1 and labels him "can't miss."
Those players are very, very rare, and no player in the 2012 is a lock to be the next Crosby, but this draft class has a lot of very good to great players, and as usual not everyone has them ranked in the same spot.
I caught up with Mark Edwards from hockeyprospect.com and got his thoughts on a bunch of players, but we focused mainly on centres and D-men.
Hockeyprospect won't release their final rankings and complete draft guide until June, but Edwards chatted about who they liked, and why they recently ranked Alex Galchenyuk #1.
BEREZAN ON THE BATTLE OF ALBERTA
Jason Gregor
March 23 2012 11:56AM
At the height of the Battle of Alberta the Oilers and Flames were arguably the two best teams in the NHL, but sadly we only got to see them play in the Smyth final. Imagine how intense a Cup final would have been. It would have been crazy.
Fans and players of both teams have many great memories and some gut-wrenching ones as well. The "own goal" in game seven of the Smyth division final became memorable because it ended up being the series deciding goal, but most remember Steve Smith rather than the guy who got credit, Perry Berezan.
I caught up with Berezan prior to the final installment of the BOA and got his thoughts on the rivalry, past, present and future.
AROUND THE NHL: WEEK ONE
Jason Gregor
October 12 2011 10:55AM
It was quite a first week in the NHL.
Winnipeg welcomed back the Jets and gave Gary Bettman a standing ovation, an agent went ballistic over a two-game suspension, Sidney Crosby didn't play, Jaromir Jagr returned, the Sabres, Leafs, Capitals, Flyers, Red Wings, Predators, Sharks and Oilers were undefeated, Don Cherry looked foolish, the Blue Jackets, Flames, and Jets went pointless, thankfully Lowetide didn't change his ways and a few players inched closer to some great achievements.
CHERISH YOUR FATHER
Jason Gregor
September 29 2011 11:08AM
Eleven has been my favourite number since I can remember. I had short affairs with some higher ups like 17, 19 and 23, but 11 has always been the number that made me feel the most confident. It is strange how a lucky number can impact our psyche or our minds, yet today on the 11th anniversary of my father’s passing I have an eerie mixture of confidence and yearning.
Eleven years ago today, my father, William Arthur Gregor, passed away at the young age of 56. Dad had a massive heart attack in his car at a red light in Sherwood Park. He had quit smoking a few years earlier, wasn’t a heavy drinker or overweight, but sadly it was his time.
MORE IMPORTANT THAN STANLEY: PARENTHOOD
Jason Gregor
September 26 2011 09:51AM
Often we watch those who have accomplished the near-impossible dream and wish we had their life - millions of dollars, millions of fans and seemingly no real-life issues.
