Monday, January 12, 2009
Critiquing the Critics: SI NHL "Experts" Roundtable
Sometimes I hate people. In this particular case, I hate the NHL writers at Sports Illustrated: Michael Farber, Darren Eliot, Allan Muir, and Jim Kelley. I'm trying to find some sort of bio on si.com for each of these guys, to get a gauge on the background, but it seems to be hidden, so, I'm going to say, they don't know shit. Well they had a roundtable discussion, meaning, they were emailed questions and they emailed some intern back who compiled it.
The first question is Mid-Season MVP. Who is it. I've made it known that our pick for halfway MVP was Alex Ovechkin (actually that was just me), but Evgeni Malkin came in a close, very close, second.
The guys at SI?
Farber: Ovechkin
Eliot: Zach Parise
Muir: Ovechkin
Kelley: Ovechkin
So 3 Ovie's and uhhhh, 1 Zach Parise? Honorable Mentions: Parise, Tim Thomas, Joe Thornton, Steve Mason, and Craig Anderson. Puke city. Not a single mention of Malkin, Jeff Carter, or Marc Savard. Parise, really? Wouldn't Clemmenson be MVP of that team? Whatever, moving on.
I can't even summarize this question it's so asinine.
2. The Sharks, Blackawks, Capitals and Bruins established themselves as contenders in the first half. Which of these teams (if any) is most likely to come back to the pack, and which team lurking in the weeds is primed for a second-half run?Really, just those teams huh. Not you know, like, the Red Wings, or say, the Flyers. I know the Hawks are a fancy pick, but they don't have what it takes to make the playoff grind, a team like the Ducks (a probably 4-5 match up) would physically mash them into the ground. OK, let's see what the "experts" said.
Farber: Capitals will fade. Canucks will move up.
Eliot: None will fade. Pens and Stars.
Muir: Caps will fall back. Canucks. Real original man.
Kelley: None, but then maybe the Hawks. Redwings? Anaheim. (This guy can't write a single straight thought).
Ok, so let's take these answers and blast them. They seem to think the Capitals have the best chance to fade out of the legit cup contenders category. I'm not sure why, most of the year they've been winning with half the roster of the Hershey Bears playing. Just comparing both rosters I see 12, maybe 13, full-time AHL players have been called up to the Caps at any given time. Yet they still sit in 2nd place in the East. What happens when they get healthy? They're going to suck? Please. Dallas Stars? Joke City, USA. The Canucks answer makes sense, a healthy Roberto Luongo and a fresh Mats Sundin could vault them ahead of Calgary for a top 3 slot in the West. I won't address the Pens until they fire Therrien. Kelley is a douche who doesn't deserve the time of day. Moving on.
3rd question: Under the radar player to look out for in the 2nd half.
Farber: David Krecji
Eliot: David Booth
Muir: Krecji
Kelley: Doug Weight
I like Krecji, and he's been lighting it up. But if you're on the east coast and have been following the rise of the Bruins, or paid attention to the end of last year, you knew he was going to be good. Fantasy hockey players know him by the ridiculous amounts of waiver wire pickups in the past month. David Booth, relegated to obscurity in Florida, finally overtook the points lead on that team from Jay Bouwmeester, a defenseman. He'll continue to be relegated to obscurity in Florida. Muir? 3 questions, 3 identical answers to Farber. Dick. Kelley, again, trying to be different, but really, Doug Weight won't even be on the Islanders in a few weeks, so unless you're trying to be sage and say he's going to make a difference for an actual team worth watching, you're answer is once again erroneous and worthless. I hate you.
Last question. Do they amend their original Stanley Cup Picks? Sticking or kicking?
Farber: Red Wings and Flyers. Sticking.
Eliot: Canadiens and Stars. Sticking.
Muir: Canadiens and Red Wings. Kicking. Devils and Red Wings.
Kelley: Flyers and Sharks. Sticking.
I love how their picks contradict question #2. Except Darren Eliot, who apparently thinks the Stars are going to turn it around and make a run. Yeah, ok. I think Farber's pick makes the most sense, but I'm not sure how the Bruins don't get a mention here, or the Caps for that matter, or hell even the Pens. Whats a Stanley Cup prediction without a Crosby reference?
So who do you think made the most sense out of these 4 guys? I'd have to say Farber, as if his answers are all that different from Muir's. What answers do you disagree with? Who do you think is the least idiotic? Who's the biggest blowhole who doesn't know what he's talking about?
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