I’m concerned, and for a variety of reasons. I’m concerned because saying you’re 29 plus two sounds even lamer than 29 plus one, and I might have to start admitting to the 3rd decade. I’m concerned because I’m a decent musician who played his first sold out show 10 long years ago. I’m concerned because I played my last sold-out show 3 years ago. I’m concerned what it says about my tastes when my favorite red wine switches to a screw cap. I’m concerned that I even have a favorite red wine. I could go on and on about this, but let's just skip to the point. What's most concerning of all is this:
My favorite team is on top of just about everyone’s pre-season poll, including mine.
Its proof positive of the mad, mad world we live in. One where insanely talented NFL wide receivers try to off themselves with pain pills, and dirtbag ex-NHL goons get it with party-hopping hottie politicians.
In honour of all of that concerns me right now, here’s my preseason picks for the East (with approximate point totals):
EAST
Atlantic
New York – 105pts – Lundqvist. Shanahan. Yagr. Watch for a stong 2nd half.
New Jersey – 100 pts – Any question Lamoriello learned the most from last year?
Pittsburgh – 90 pts – Goaltending talent will finally come through.
Philadelphia - 75 pts – Forsberg can’t stay healthy, goaltending can’t get it done.
Islanders – 60 pts – Alexei Yashin.
Northeast
Buffalo – 115 pts – Ryan Miller, 4 solid lines and a chance to feast on a weaker northeast.
Ottawa – 90 pts – Watch for a big drop off in Danny Heatley’s game.
Boston – 90 pts – Goaltending wealth, Rookie of the year Phil Kessel.
Montreal – 85 pts – The goaltending and smaller forwards won’t hold up.
Toronto – 70 pts – Rebuilding with a strong veteran presence is a recipe for disaster.
Southeast
Carolina – 120pts – The new Detroit, efficiency and skill throughout. MVP Eric Staal.
Tampa Bay – 110pts – Goaltending problem solved, too much talent for a 2nd down year.
Atlanta – 100pts – Most predictably improving team, this is years in the making.
Washington – 90pts – Much improved but still one year away.
Florida – 65 pts – Add front office turmoil to an over-rated roster, and this is what you get.
I am a Sabres fan, a Cubs fan, a Boilermakers fan, a Ti-cat fan and a Hamilton Bulldogs fan. I'm an obvious sucker for punishment. I believe that while playing them can be a tolerable way to kill 5 hours, there is nothing more painful than talking golf or watching poker. There's no excuse for fantasy football, no matter how bored or lonely you are. I don't consider you an athelete unless you can beat me in a race to the corner and back. I'm landlocked and terrible, but I carry on an irrational love affair with surfing. We are in the midst of one of the greatest horseracing years in decades.
