By The Numbers- Success in the Draft

One thing that each major professional sports league has in common is the yearly draft in which teams pick young players to add to their systems so that they can continue to build on their success and competition levels. However, while each of the four major sports league’s has its own version of the draft, they are not equal in terms of success. I have looked at a small sample size of draft picks for each of the four major sports, and will put into perspective just how the players chosen early in each draft can translate to long term prospects. For my sample size, I looked at a 4 year period between 2005 and 2008 in order to account for the time it takes for players in certain leagues to make it to the majors. I looked at 1st round draft picks 11-30 (or 32 for the NFL), as the early picks are often the most successful. However, I chose not to include draft picks 1-10 as those are generally the top players and the success of top draft picks could skew the data. By looking at these small sample sizes, you can see that the NFL and NBA draft players that are nearly always expected to play in their respective leagues, while the NHL and MLB have much lower rates of success relative to the NFL and NBA. While the numbers can be used comparatively in some ways, they really just tell you what works for each league individually. In my small collection of data, I looked at which players have played at least a few games in their respective leagues, and then took it a step further to see how many players had achieved some level of success by determining which players had accumulated about 3 seasons of play in their sport. What the data does not look at is individual success. This cannot determine the impact a player has had in the league, only if they have played a significant amount of games.

MLB:

The MLB has the lowest level of success when it comes to drafting and having players go on to play a significant number of years in the Major Leagues. I believe that this can be attributed to the long process that a player must go through to make it to the majors in comparison to the other sports. MLB players can be drafted about of high school or college, but it can often take several years of minor league play before a player is major league ready. This can make it more difficult, even in the early rounds of a draft, to predict the future success of a player.  Of the players taken in the drafts between 2005 and 2008, picks 11-30, only 75% played in at least 3 games for a Major League team and only 36% had “successful” careers of at least 3 seasons.

NFL:

The NFL at a first glance seems to have an extremely successful draft-success rate, but many things must be taken into consideration when looking at these numbers. NFL players are drafted out of college and are expected to go right from college into the NFL, with few exceptions. There are no minor league systems in place for players to continue to gain experience. Unlike with the MLB, NFL players are drafted with their abilities already pretty much known, especially in the first round. Even though I know that to be true, I was surprised to see that every player chosen in the first round of these drafts had at least some NFL experience to their name. Also the highest of the 4 leagues was the NFL’s 83% “3 year success” rate, Even given the expectations of NFL draftees, it is interesting to see that 83% of those drafted from picks 11-32 went on to play at least 3 seasons in the NFL. This is also taking into consideration the lower career span of the NFL, where for some players, 3 years can be the only good ones that they get.

NBA:

After the NFL, the NBA is the most successful in terms of numbers alone. This is surprising given that an NFL team contains a roster of 53 while NBA rosters are significantly smaller. However, while the number of players that make it to the NFL and play for several seasons are high, many of these players are role players, that often don’t put up many points and go in for small portions of a game. While there are a great number of “stars” in the other leagues, the NBA has few stars, and many utility players. One thing that seems like it has an affect on draft success in the NBA and NFL is that for the most part these players are drafted out of college and go directly into the major leagues without much minor league play, which can lead to more players receiving playing time.

 

NHL:

Surprisingly, the NHL has supplied the same number of players through the first round of the draft as the MLB, however they have more players that have gone on to play at least 3 seasons. The NHL, like the MLB, has a minor league system that allows players to prepare for the NHL. Since players are drafted out of high school, they are often given time to grow into their roles. However, the NHL minor league system is not quite like the one in baseball, and some players do make the immediate jump into the majors, although those are usually top 10 picks that are not included in this data. It is interesting to note that just over half of the players drafted in the first round of the NHL draft will go on to have “successful” careers of at least 3 years. That number makes it seem like it is pretty much a toss up for every player taken in the first round.

 

The data that was collected was from a small sample size of drafts, and an even small portion of the draft. So this doesn’t even begin to cover what goes into drafting players, or what it takes to be successful in each particular draft. In the MLB, finding a player that will play 3 seasons is a much bigger deal than it is in the NFL, where that is expected of most drafted players. What one league may deem a success, another may consider a failure. Some players are seen as sure things, while other are high-risk, high-reward types. Sometimes an all-star caliber player slips down in the draft, and years later someone that was drafted 22nd overall is having a more successful career than 19 of the 20 players drafted ahead of him. Even with all of the data and  information there is out there, nobody can predict exactly what will happen to a player that is drafted. Some leagues have data that seems to show a more successful draft formula, but that doesn’t show the whole picture. This data isn’t meant to be compared to other leagues as a determining factor of success, but to each league’s individual data year in and year out.

 

March Madness and Social Media

March Madness is one of the biggest sporting events each and every year. It is the highlight of the college basketball season, and basketball fanatics and casual fans alike get involved in the excitement. The single loss elimination tournament starts with 64 teams and continues on to the final round in order to name a champion. This year’s tournament was full of the usual stories of upsets, Cinderella runs, and close scores. Like with most sporting events today, many people took to social media to express opinions and interact about the tournament. Now I will look back on social media use during the NCAA tournament, both my own and other’s.

Biggest Stories:

The biggest story of the tournament, no matter what else transpires, is always who comes out on top. This year, UConn controlled the headlines, taking victories in both the men’s and women’t tournament.

Some other big stories included major upsets, as well as surprising runs by teams that weren’t expected to win much. Syracuse and Duke were both strong contender that were surprisingly bounced from the tournament early. Dayton was seen as the biggest Cinderella story this year, making it to the Elite 8 before being eliminated by top-seeded Florida.

Another big story that is important in the discussion of social media is the Bracket Challenge. Each season, millions of people compose brackets online, hoping to win a million dollars in the perfect bracket challenge. The challenge has people pick each game from the round of 64 all the way to the finals. It is such a difficult task that even out of millions of brackets, nobody even comes close to picking a perfect tournament bracket.

Interesting Trends on Social Media:

One of the biggest moments of March Madness comes after the final game, when a video known as “One Shining Moment” is played, highlighting the season, the tournament and the winning team. The video is also a major topic on social media, as made evident by the trending topic.

Social Media is a great way to learn interesting things that you might not know. Reporters, fans and media sites are constantly tweeting about different and obscure statistics, including new records that were set by a victory.

My Social Media Usage During March Madness:

With the Olympics, I was familiar with some of the sports, some of the athletes and I followed it pretty closely. I write this post coming in with a different perspective. I am not a basketball fan, and I had never really put a lot of focus into following the NCAA tournament in the past. This year, I made a point to pay attention to what was going on during the tournament so that I could keep up with social media. I made a bracket for the first time (which went very poorly), and I watched more basketball than I normally would have.  I did not post as much on social media, because of my lack of knowledge about the players and teams. I instead chose to observe the social media use of others.

Following March Madness and engaging in social media use was very different for me than my use of social media during the Olympics. This was helpful in writing this blog post because I was able to look at social media from the point of view of someone that is very involved in what is going on, and also from the point of view of someone who takes notice of what other people are saying on social media. It has showed me that no matter what form of participation one takes in social media, it is clearly becoming a major factor in both professional and collegiate sporting events.

Sports 4/13- A Week in Review

A busy week in the sports world as college championship games took place, some seasons are wrapping up while others are just beginning.

NHL

The regular season will come to a close later tonight as teams wrap up the final day of the 2013-2014 season. However, today’s games have been rather meaningless for most teams as the real excitement took place earlier in the week. All playoff spots have been clinched for days and playoff matchups were nearly all set before going into today’s action. The week was more exciting than today as teams that were battling for playoff spots and positions were able to clinch, and certain teams post-season dreams came to an end.

Some of the week’s Biggest Stories:

-Martin Brodeur may have played his final NHL game, and at the very least, his final game with the Devils, with whom he spent his entire NHL career.

-The Toronto Maple Leafs choked their way out of playoff contention in dramatic fashion over the last few weeks of the season, dropping their final 4 games and 12 of their last 14.

-The Flyers will play the Rangers in the playoffs for the first time since 1997, which should help to ignite a strong rivalry that has been heating back up over the last few seasons.

-The Boston Bruins have clinched the President’s Trophy as the team with the top record in the league.

MLB

While the NHL season has been wrapping up, the MLB season is just getting started. Finishing out the second week of a very long season, some stories of the season are starting to shape up. Injuries, hot starts, and instant replay have dominated the headlines of the first two weeks of the season.  With every team having played only about 12 games so far this season, the biggest stories are about the games and the players, rather than the teams and the standings, as it is still early.

Some of the Week’s Biggest Stories:

-Instant replay has made games a bit longer this season, and the still being implemented strategy is still taking some getting used to.

-Hot starts- Chase Utley is hitting .500 after 40 at bats this season, and leads the majors in BA, OBP, and SLG. Mark Trumbo leads the league in homeruns with 6 and also leads with 18 RBIs. On the pitchers side, Yu Darvish has pitched 15 innings without giving up any earned runs, giving him a 0.00 ERA.

-Injuries are starting to add up as some players are spending time on the disabled list, which can have major effects on the outcome of games. One of the biggest injuries to surface this week is the injury to Angels Josh Hamilton, who will miss quite a bit of time with a torn ligament.

NCAA Basketball

The big story this week really revolves around one team: UConn. Both the Men’s and Women’s NCAA tournaments concluded this week, with UConn winning in both tournaments, which is no small feat. The NCAA tournament featured many big stories, including a number of upsets, a Cinderella run by Dayton that came to a close, and some really big, close games. But the biggest story is always about the winner, and UConn came up big this week.

*Check back in the next few days for the post on March Madness and Social Media (the second in a multi-part segment on sporting events and social media)

NCAA Ice Hockey

Not as big of a topic of conversation as basketball, but equally as big an accomplishment, the NCAA Ice Hockey tournament also came to an end this week with the Frozen Four and Championship game. The game between Union College (NY) and Minnesota was a high scoring one, with Union coming out on top for their first NCAA tournament win. Philadelphia Flyers defensive prospect Shayne Gostisbehere won the tournament MVP honors, leading Union to its first championship title in school’s history.

NBA

The NBA season hasn’t wrapped up yet, but will enter its final stages this upcoming week, as the battle for the playoffs continues. Taking a back burner to the NCAA tournament, the NBA will take center stage again as the season concludes and the playoffs begin.

This week was a big one for sports, and things are going to get even more exciting from here on out with the NHL, NBA and MLB. Keep checking back for updates.

 

The Olympics and Social Media

The Olympics have come and gone, but the 2014 games will always live on through social media. Twitter especially has grown significantly since the last winter games in Vancouver in 2010, and because of that, we were able to see another side to the Olympics that made the Sochi Olympics bigger and better. I followed the Olympics very closely on social media this year in an attempt to observe some of the biggest trending topics, and see what stood out to me on Twitter and other social media sites. I took note of some of the biggest events, kept track of some interesting statistics and paid close attention to what was going on during the games. By paying close attention, I followed several new Olympic athletes on Twitter and I had several of my own personal tweets about the Olympics games to look back on. Now I am going to look back at social media usage during the Olympics, both my own and other’s, and look at some of the things that really stood out during these winter games.

Biggest Stories:

For me, the biggest event during the winter Olympics was Men’s Ice Hockey, and from what I could tell, many others felt the same way. Some of the biggest trending topics on twitter during the Olympics were about hockey, especially during the USA-Russia game in the preliminary round.  Canada winning gold in both men’s and women’s hockey was also a big story. Hockey gets the label of biggest winter event, because for most of the world it is the biggest winter event, and this is proven by the fact that the gold medal game is the last event of the Olympics before the closing ceremonies.

Another big topic of conversation about the games was some of the big name athletes and whether or not they were able to medal. Some US athletes came into the spotlight during these games while others more or less disappointed. Some of the big names such as Shaun White and Ted Ligety did not have as big of an impact as they were expected to have.

The political issues in Russia and the conditions of the games were a big concern before the Olympics started, and as the games went on, people all over the country had their concerns about how things were going to be outside of the games themselves. The games thankfully ended up going off without a hitch, and were successful for the most part, but one of the biggest stories as the games went on was whether or not things in Russia would be run smoothly.

Interesting Social Media Stats:

Team USA Hockey Forward TJ Oshie became a household name when he scored 4 shootout goals in an intense USA victory over rival Russia in the preliminary round of the men’s hockey tournament. His following on twitter showed just how popular he became in a matter of minutes as his number of twitter followers increased by over 45,000 in a matter of hours.  His name was a trending top on twitter for most of if not the entirety of the day that followed the victory.

By the last day of the Olympics, Sochi2014 had been a trending topic for every single day of the Olympics, and was probably the most mentioned portion of tweets at the Olympics. This was taken as a look at the number of mentions on the last day of the Olympics, with the number of mentions exceeding 1 million.

 

 

 

Following some of the Olympic centered accounts on twitter gave me insight into a lot of things that I didn’t know, and easier access to information. Team USA came in second to only host Russia in the final medal count.

My Social Media Usage During the Olympics:

Social media can often be very personalized. I learned a lot of new things about different athletes and facts about the Olympics because of some of the accounts that I followed. It is because of the winter Olympics that I started following certain accounts on twitter. I followed 8 new accounts on twitter during the Olympics, including 5 athletes, 4 of which were hockey players. I also followed 3 different Olympic related accounts in order to keep up with everything that was going on in the Olympics.

Patrick Kane @88pkane

USA Olympic Team @USOlympic

NBC Olympics @NBCOlympics

Ryan Miller @RyanMiller3039

USA Hockey @usahockey

Shaun White @shaun_white

TJ Oshie @OSH74

David Backes @dbackes42

In addition to following new twitter accounts, I also tweeted and posted on Facebook many times during the Olympics.I also wrote an in depth preview to the USA Hockey team, which can be found in an earlier post on this blog.

During the Olympics I tweeted/retweeted about the games about 57 times, and some of my most commonly used hashtags or trending topics included #Olympics, #USA, #USAHockey and #Sochi2014

Just a few of my tweets:

 

I made a point to pay attention to social media during the Sochi Olympics. Twitter played a big part in these winter games, and it will be interesting to see if it continues to be as popular of a form of social media in future Olympics games. I used social media a lot myself, and I would say that it definitely helped to make me more interested in sports that I wouldn’t otherwise be interested and it helped me to keep up with what I was interested in. I think that social media has made being a fan during the Olympics an even better experience, but I know that it does have its downfalls. With the games so far away in Russia, some of the events that aired on tape delay in the United States were already spoiled because of social media, because the immediacy of social media allows people to learn results before they get the opportunity to see the events on TV. Regardless of this issue, I think that social media has had a significant effect on the Olympics, but also that the Olympics have had a major effect on social media. It will be interesting to see how the use of social media plays out in the future with other major sporting events as well as with future Olympic games.

The Flyers Are Back

It’s time to get excited for the Flyers again! If you are a die hard fan like myself, it probably feels like it’s been ages since we last saw the Flyers suit up. Really it has only been 19 days. In those 19 days you might have forgotten a little bit about where the Flyers are at, so I’m here to remind you.

Standings: The Flyers entered the Olympic Break in 3rd place in the Metropolitan division, sitting 1 point behind the Rangers and 3 points ahead of Columbus. It is a close race in the Metropolitan division, and because of that every game will count in the final stretch.

Remaining games: The Flyers play 23 more games, with 14 of them coming at home in the final stretch. They have already had their difficult California road trip and they only have one more stretch of consecutive road games left at the very end of the season. That stretch will include 3 away games at Florida, Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh before returning home for the final game against the Hurricanes. It’s a good thing that they have a good final stretch of home games, because they have some difficult games in the final stretch, including 2 games each against the Rangers, Blues and Bruins and 3 games remaining against the rival Penguins, which is a pretty tough lineup of opponents, especially given how close the standings are.

Where they left off: The Flyers ended before the Olympic break on a high note, winning their final 4 games heading into the break, and 5 of their last 6. That was no small feat due to the fact that three of those games were against Western Conference powerhouses in Los Angeles, San Jose, and Colorado, with the two California victories coming on the road.

What to be optimistic about: After a treacherous start to the season, this team has played some really good hockey down the stretch. Most nights they all seem to be clicking really well. After entering the Olympic break in third place in the division because of a 4 game win streak against some tough competition, they should be feeling pretty good about themselves. They have proven that they are capable of going up against the best teams in the league.

What to be concerned about: As usual, the defense is a big question mark. Some nights, they play really well together and it looks like they might not be so bad after all, but sometimes there is one mistake and the whole thing falls apart. We have seen the team go up against the top teams in the league pretty successfully, but the question remains if they can do it on a consistent enough basis to go head to head in the playoffs.

Who’s hot? After a rough start, there isn’t anyone hotter in the LEAGUE than Claude Giroux. He had a rough start, but make no mistake about it, Captain Claude is a superstar. Add to that his two snubs from the Canadian Olympic team and you can bet that he will be out to show everyone that he is one of the best. There is also Steve Mason,  who has finally given fans in Philly a chance to be optimistic about goaltending, which has been a long time coming. Mason allowed only 3 goals in his final 3 starts before the break, and hopefully he can continue his hot streak as we enter the final stretch.

What to expect: After a rocky start that left everyone pretty much giving up on the season, the Flyers have turned their season around to the point where anything short of the playoffs will be a massive letdown. I don’t think we’re in store for a major letdown again this year. This is the team that has only missed the playoffs twice in almost 20 years. I think that this team will continue to play hard and put up points in the final stretch, and we will have playoff hockey in Philadelphia this year. Sure, with the standings this close, anything can happen, but the Flyers have played well enough since October to have earned those expectations.

What’s next: The Flyers take on the San Jose sharks for their second and final meeting of the season tonight at 7:00 in Philadelphia. Let’s go Flyers!

 

The Phillies’ Offseason Review

Need something to get your mind off of the cold, wet snow that we can’t seem to escape from anywhere along the Eastern seaboard? Well March is right around the corner, and with March comes spring, and with spring comes baseball. If you’re a Phillies fan, you might have been taking a break from the team this winter in an effort to get over the atrocity that was the 2013 Phillies. So as spring approaches (slowly but surely) you are probably finding yourself wondering, what have the Phillies been up to this offseason? The answer to that is: quite a bit. There weren’t any Cliff Lee sized shockers to come along this winter, but there are certainly some changes in the clubhouse for 2014, so I’m here to tell you what they are.

Who’s missing?

Well, you will be happy (or maybe not) to know that there will be a lot of familiar faces in the clubhouse in 2014. The noticeable absence will be that of Roy Halladay or “Doc” as he is so fondly called. Halladay called it quits this winter, after two years of injuries and decreasing velocity. You’ve got to respect the man for making the decision to go out on his own terms, just as you’ve got to feel bad for the one guy in baseball that probably deserved a World Series ring more than anyone else and had to retire without one. Doc will be missed by all of baseball, but especially by us Phillies fans, because even though these last two years were tough, we were lucky enough to see some of his best baseball.

Who did we re-sign?

Give me a CHOOOOCH! Carloz Ruiz was one of the bigger free agents that the Phils had to make a decision on after 2013. But rest easy, because the lovable catcher will be back for a few more seasons. Yes he is getting up there in age, but Chooch was the only viable option for the Phillies at catcher, because there is nobody in the system that is ready to come up, and none of the other free agents made sense in the lineup or against the payroll. 

There were a few other questions about tendering certain contracts, mainly with Kyle Kendrick and John Mayberry Jr., both of whom will be back this season.

Who are the new guys?

Well this is a trick question, because there are surprisingly (or not so surprisingly if you are familiar with the workings of Ruben Amaro Jr.) a few players that were signed this off-season that have actually played for the Phillies before. A long, long time ago. 

Okay, so who are the new-old guys?

Well, early in the offseason, the Phillies locked up Marlon Byrd, who you might remember having played for the Phillies over a decade ago. I was 11 at the time and he wasn’t that big of a deal, so I barely remember him. So that was when he was in the early stages of his career, and now he is in the twilight. So welcome back Marlon Byrd!

Another familiar name (and this one is really familiar, so brace yourself) being welcomed back is none other than Bobby Abreu. Yes, that Bobby Abreu. His deal is a minor league contract in which he has a chance to earn a spot on the team in spring training. So pay attention to see what happens with him. 

Now that we’ve covered that, who are the new-new guys?

Well with Doc’s retirement and the questions that surround the young guys, we’ve got ourselves a few new pitchers. First is what I have decided to refer to as the Cuban question mark, who is none other than Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, whom you might have already heard of because he was signed last season. Nobody really knows quite what to expect out of this guy, so that is something to keep an eye on during spring training. He could earn the 5th starter’s job, he could really impress and jump over Kendrick in the rotation, or he could be restricted to more of a relief role. Only time will tell.

The other new-new guy is actually kind of new-new-new, as he just signed with the Phillies last week, and I’m pretty sure I saw a photograph of him arriving to spring training still carrying a Pirates bag (You would think that a new duffel bag would come with the contract). That guy is A.J. Burnett. Apparently there was an issue with Hamels’ shoulder and he probably won’t be ready for opening day, so in comes Burnett. It’s unclear how related the two things actually are, but I think the Phillies needed Burnett regardless of any injuries. After (or between since he’s a righty) Hamels and Lee, Burnett will actually give the Phillies a solid top 3. It’s no four aces (or even 3 aces), but it’s a pretty solid top 3 for a team with a lot of other question marks.

So what will the starting lineup look like?

Well, there will be a lot of the same from 2013, but hopefully the lineup (cough, Howard) will be much healthier, which is a necessary factor for this team to have ANY chance to contend. With Howard, Utley, Rollins, Ruiz, and a pitching core with almost literally no depth, there is very, very little margin for error. These guys can still play baseball. That I am certain of. But that is if they stay healthy, and that is a big if.

1B – Howard

2B-Utley

3B-Asche

SS- Rollins

OF- Brown, Revere, Ruf/Byrd

C- Ruiz

Starting Pitchers: Lee, Hamels, Burnett, Kendrick, Gonzalez/Pettibone

What do we expect?

Well, we’re Phillies fans, so not much. I’m an optimist, but even I know better than to expect anything from the Phillies this year. The glory days are behind us. But (yes there’s a but) I will be hopeful. Which is very different from expecting anything. On paper, this team is old and injury-prone and not very deep, but they aren’t bad. Hamels and Lee are still going to be one of the top duos in the game. Burnett should give us a solid third starter. Maybe Kendrick will pick up his game to the level it was in the beginning of 2013 when everyone (briefly) thought he was good. And there is always the possibility that Gonzalez could end up reaching his potential. Everyone keeps saying that Howard is finally 100% healthy, so we are about to find out if it is age or injuries that have really been keeping him down these past few years. Utley looked good last year when he was playing, and if he can keep stay in good health, then that is one less concern. Like it has been for the past few years, A LOT would have to go their way for this team to come even close to contending, but never say never. So my answer is, don’t expect too much from the Phillies. Just try to enjoy some baseball and allow yourself to be just a little bit hopeful.

 

 

Team USA Olympic Hockey- Your Complete Guide

The Team

Forwards

David Backes- St. Louis Blues,

Backes was drafted in 2003 by the St. Louis Blues and has been in the league since the 2006—2007 season. He is currently the captain of the Blues. The center is one of 3 Blues on the US team, and will provide a strong defensive-oriented presence, likely on the third line. He also has the ability to provide some additional scoring. Backes appeared in the 2010 Olympics, scoring 1 goal and 2 assists in 6 games. Hails from Minneapolis, Minnesota and will wear the number 42.

Dustin Brown- Los Angeles Kings,

Brown was drafted in the first round of the 2003 draft by the LA Kings, and has suited up for the team since the 2003-2004 season. Now serving as captain of the Kings, Brown will provide leadership and a solid right wing agitator presence. Likely to play on the third or fourth lines, Brown isn’t a scoring machine, but can be a good defensive minded forward and will add a strong physical presence to the team. Brown played in 6 games in the 2010 Olympics, but did not score any points. He will most likely play a similar role in these winter games. Hails from Ithaca, New York, and will wear number 23.

Ryan Callahan- New York Rangers

Callahan was drafted in the 2004 draft by the New York Rangers and has played in the league since the 2006-2007 season. He is now the captain of the Rangers, and provides another leadership presence to a team with a great deal of it. Callahan is another two-way, physical player, the right-winger is also a candidate for a third or fourth line checking presence. One of he or Brown could switch to left wing to build a strong third line for the US team. Callahan played in 6 games in the 2010 Olympics, notching 1 assist. He hails from Rochester, New York and will wear number 24.

Patrick Kane- Chicago Blackhawks

Kane was drafted 1^st overall by the Blackhawks in the 2007 draft, and has played in the league since the 2007-2008 season. The dynamic right-winger will play on the first line and will most likely lead the US team in scoring. Kane is one of the top players in the NHL and he will be looked to to provide the team with goals. He notched 3 goals and 2 assists in 6 games for the United States in the 2010 Olympics, and a lot will be expected of him in these winter games as well. Hails from Buffalo, New York and will wear number 88.

Ryan Kesler- Vancouver Canucks

Kesler was drafted in the first round by the Canucks in 2003, and has been in the league since the 2003-2004 season. Kesler will likely center the top line for team USA, and provides the team with an all-around player that can provide both offense and defense. He is another returning player from the 2010 Olympic team, where he played in all six games and scored 2 goals for the US team. He is from Livonia, Michigan and will wear the number 17.

Phil Kessel- Toronto Maple Leafs

Kessel was drafted in the 1^st round of the draft by the Boston Bruins in 2006. He started his career with Boston in 2006-2007 before being traded to the Leafs prior to the 2010-2011 season. Kessel will likely play right wing on the second line, and will be looked to for his offensive production. He may be one of the team’s top goal scorers, and will be essential in the USA’s goal-scoring efforts. He played in 6 games for the United States in 2010, and scored 1 goal and 1 assist. He comes from Madison, Wisconsin and will wear number 81.

T.J Oshie- St. Louis Blues

Oshie was drafted by the Blues in the first round of the draft in 2005/. He entered the league during the 2008-2009 season and has consistently been one of the team’s top forwards. The right winger could join teammate Backes on the third line, but will more likely be used as a fourth line winger to provide energy and some possible scoring depth. This will be Oshie’s first Olympic appearance. He hails from Warroad, Minnesota, and will wear number 74.

Max Pacioretty- Montreal Canadiens

Pacioretty was drafted by the Canadiens in the first round in 2007. He entered the league in 2008-2009, but spent a few years going between the NHL and AHL, until finally sticking with the team in 2011-2012. Pacioretty has become a strong offensive player for the Candiens, but will likely play less of an offensive role with team USA. He will most likely skate as a 4^th line left winger, used to provide speed, and a strong physical presence. This will be Pacioretty’s first Olympic appearance. He is from New Caanan, Connecticut, and will wear number 67.

Zach Parise- Minnesota Wild

Parise was drafted in the first round of the 2003 draft by the New Jersey Devils, and started his career with the Devils in the 2005-2006 season before signing with the Wild as a free agent before the 2012-2013 season. Parise will serve as captain of the US team and will play left wing on the top scoring line along with Kesler and Kane. Parise can provide the US with a scoring presence on the wing, but also has a strong defensive side of his game. He scored 4 goals in 4 assists in 6 games in the 2010 Olympics, and will be looked to to provide that same scoring touch this time around. Parise is from Minneapolis, Minnesota and will wear number 9.

Joe Pavelski- San Jose Sharks

Pavelski was drafted by the Sharks in 2003 and started his career in the 2006-2007 season. He will likely center the team’s second line and will hopefully be there to provide an additional scoring presence. Pavelski has the ability to switch to wing if needed and can also play a defensive game. The speedy center has quietly developed into a top scorer in the NHL and will definitely be someone to watch in the Olympics. He appeared in the 2010 games and notched 3 assists in 6 games. He is from Plover, Wisconsin and will wear number 8.

Paul Stastny- Colorado Avalanche

Stastny was drafted by Colorado in 2005, and broke into the league for the 2006-2007. The two-way center will likely play on the team’s 4^th line, and will be used in more of a defensive role. Stastny can usually be counted on for secondary scoring, but will be put to better use as a speed and energy guy that can chip in on offense. He played in the 2010 Olympics and had 1 goal and 2 assists in 6 games. He is from St. Louis, Missouri and will wear number 26.

Derek Stepan- New York Rangers

Stepan was drafted by the Rangers in the 2008 draft, and entered the league for the 2010-2011 season. One of the youngest guys on the team, Stepan is a natural center that will be there to provide extra two-way ability and speed. He could play 4^th line center, but given the depth at the center position, he will most likely be used as an extra forward. This will be Stepan’s first Olympic appearance. He is from Hastings, Minnesota and will wear number 12.

James van Riemsdyk- Toronto Maple Leafs

van Riemsdyk was drafted 2^nd overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2007, right after team USA teammate Patrick Kane. It was the first time that two American born players were taken with the top 2 picks in the NHL draft. Van Riemsdyk entered the league with Philadelphia for the 2007-2008 season before being traded to the Maple Leafs prior to the 2012-2013 season. The left-winger will likely join teammate Kessel on the second line, and will add a scoring presence to a line that is going to be counted on for offensive production. This will be van Riemsdyk’s first Olympic appearance. He is from Middletown, New Jersey and will wear number 21.

Blake Wheeler- Winnipeg Jets

Wheeler was drafter by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 1^st round of the 2004 draft. He played college hockey for the University of Minnesota and then signed with Boston as a free agent prior to the 2008-2009 season. He was traded the the Atlanta Thrashers during the 2010-2011 season and was still with the team when they relocated to Winnipeg prior to the 2011-2012 season. Wheeler is a right winger that can be used as a power forward. He could see time on the 3^rd or 4^th lines, but will more likely be used as an extra forward. This will be Wheeler’s first Olympic appearance. He is from Robbinsdale, Minnesota and will wear number 28.

Defensemen

John Carlson- Washington Capitals

Carlson was drafted by the Capitals in the 2008 draft and entered the league during the 2009-2010 season. Carlson is a big shut-down defenseman that will likely play on the US team’s top pairing. This will be Carlson’s first Olympic appearance. He is from Colonia, New Jersey and will wear number 4.

Justin Faulk- Carolina Hurricanes

Faulk was drafted by the Hurricanes in the 2010 draft, and entered the league during the 2011-2012 season. Faulk will be one of the youngest players on a very young American defense. Faulk will likely either be on the third defensive pairing or suit up as an extra defenseman. He is a strong skater that is smart defensively, but still can help to provide some offense. This is Faulk’s first Olympic appearance. He is from St. Paul, Minnesota and will wear number 72.

Cam Fowler- Anaheim Ducks

Fowler was drafted by Anaheim in the first round of the 2010 draft, and he entered the league during the 2010-2011 season. Fowler is another in a group of young up-and-coming defensemen, and he will most likely be used as an extra defenseman, but could get some time on the third pairing. Fowler is a speedy puck-moving defenseman that has a strong offensive side to his game. This will be his first Olympic appearance. He is from Farmington Heights, Michigan and will wear number 3.

Paul Martin- Pittsburgh Penguins

Martin was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in 2000, and entered the league during the 2003-2004 season before signing with Pittsburgh as a free agent prior to the 2010-2011 season. Martin comes in as one of the few US players that actually played before the 2004-2005 lockout. He can play as a left or right handed shot, which brings versatility to his use on different pairings. He can make some offensive contributions, but will be more looked at for his smart defensive play. This is Martin’s first Olympic appearance. He is from Minneapolis, Minnesota and will wear number 7.

Ryan McDonagh- New York Rangers

Drafted by Montreal in the first round of the 2007 draft. He played college hockey at the University of Wisconsin before being traded to the Rangers in 2009. He first suited up for the Rangers in the 2010-2011 season. McDonagh will likely anchor the team’s second pairing, because although young, he has the ability to play a complete game. He is a big strong defenseman who can be fast and sometimes contribute offensively. This will be McDonagh’s first Olympic appearance. He is from St. Paul, Minnesota and will wear number 27.

Brooks Orpik- Pittsburgh Penguins

Orpik was drafted by the Penguins in the first round of the 2000 draft and he entered the league in the 2002-2003 season. Orpik is a defensive-defenseman and plays a physical game. He will not be counted on for much offensive production, and will likely be paired on either the 3^rd pairing or suit up as an extra defenseman. He appeared in 6 games for the US team in 2010, and registered no points. He is from Amherst, New York and will wear number 44.

Kevin Shattenkirk- St. Louis Blues

Shattenkirk was drafted in the 1^st round by Colorado in 2007. He entered the league with Colorado in 2010-2011 before being traded to St. Louis mid-season. Another young guy on defense, Shattenkirk is a speedy and offensively gifted defenseman who will likely play alongside McDonagh on the second pairing. This will be Shattenkirk’s first Olympic appearance. He is from New Rochelle, New York and will wear number 22.

Ryan Suter- Minnesota Wild

Suter was drafted in the first round by Nashville in 2003, and entered the league with the Predators in 2005-2006. He played with Nashville until signing with Minnesota as a free agent prior to the 2012-2013 season. Suter will play top minutes for the United States and will be the anchor and leader of a very young but very talented defense. The defense will go as Suter goes, so he is someone to keep an eye on. He played for the United States in the 2010 Olympics, and notched 4 assists. He is from Madison, Wisconsin and will wear number 20.

Goalies

Jimmy Howard- Detroit Red Wings

He was drafted by the Red Wings in 2003, and entered the league on a regular basis during the 2009-2010 season. He will likely be the third string goalie and most likely will not see playing time, but he is a goalie with a lot of great skill if he were to be called upon. This will be his first Olympic appearance. He is from Ogdensburg, New York and will wear number 35.

Ryan Miller- Buffalo Sabres

Miller was drafted by the Sabres in the 1999 draft and attended Michigan State University before joining the Sabres organization. He joined the league on a consistent basis in 2005-2006. He will likely be the starter in goal after a strong season for an abysmal Sabres team, but realistically it could go either way between Miller and Quick. Miller could get the nod because he led team USA in goal during the 2010 games and won MVP of the tournament. He is from East Lansing, Michigan and will wear number 39.

Jonathan Quick- Los Angeles Kings

Quick was drafted by the Kings in 2005, and entered the league on a regular basis in 2008-2009. He could start for the US team, but more likely be the backup. Having Quick and Miller is a good problem to have, and we will most likely see Quick in net at some point in the tournament, whether it be for relief purposes or if Miller struggles. This will be Quick’s second Olympic games, although he did not see playing time in 2010. Quick hails from Milford, Connecticut and will wear number 32.

Team Positives

Offense: The US team certainly has a great deal of offensive depth and will be one of the speediest teams to suit up at the games. This will come in handy as the rinks will be bigger than the ones used in the NHL. The four lines are all solid two-way players with a lot of scoring capability and smart defensive minded players.

Defense: Like the offense, the defense will be fast and agile. They have a good balance of defensemen that are good with the puck and big bodied stay at home guys. The defense should be able to help offensively for the most part, but their speed and smart defensive play will be their greatest strength.

Goaltending: The goaltending could end up being team USA’s biggest strength in this tournament. They have three very capable goalies, two of which are former Vezina winners at the NHL level.

Team Negatives

Offense: While depth and speed will give the team an advantage on the large ice, it might not be enough to go against some of the biggest powerhouses in the tournament. There are a lot of players that have the potential to provide secondary scoring, but in a short tournament, there may not be enough sure-things. The team lacks a consistent goal scoring sniper, which could prove to be problematic. The team could be fine, but if the top guys end up unable to score, it may be their downfall.

Defense: This team was built with speed and size in mind, but if anything is going to kill the USA defense, it will be their inexperience. The problem with having such a young and inexperienced team in a short tournament is that if one minor breakdown occurs it could mean the difference between winning it all and going home disappointed.

Goaltending: The goaltending could be this team’s biggest strength in that if the other positions falter, the goalies have the ability to pick up the slack, but the trouble occurs if they are unable to do that. There aren’t a lot of downsides to this goaltending tandem, but if inconsistency occurs, it could be bad for team USA.

Outlook

The USA team looks pretty good on paper. They have a great deal of speed and skill, which will work to their favor. There are certainly questions that remain about their ability to score consistently and their ability remain consistent in the defensive zone, but the team was put together pretty well. It is just a matter of whether or not they have the fire-power to go up against the skill of teams like Canada, Russia and Sweden. Another thing this team will have going for it is that they are hungry. The United States came so close 4 years ago just to have gold snatched away from them from the rival Canadians, and that could make them want it even more. I don’t think that gold is out of the question, but silver or bronze may be a more realistic expectation for this team. They should expect to medal, but even a 4^th place finish wouldn’t be out of the question. The reality is that this team is very up in the air. They could dominate, or they could falter.

Schedule

Thanks a lot Russia for being on the opposite side of the world. There won’t be very much “I’ll catch the game if it’s on” in these Olympic games. Most of the games will take place at weird hours- the middle of the night, the middle of the day, or in the case of the preliminary United States’ games: first thing in the morning.

February 13- 7:30 AM NBCSN- USA v. Slovakia

February 15- 7:00 AM NBCSN USA v. Russia

February 16- 7:15 AM NBCSN USA v Slovenia

 

My Top 10: Philadelphia Athletes

I’m going to write a series of top 10 count downs, and I figured that the best place to start would be with my favorite Philadelphia athletes. This list will only include athletes of my generation, not any of the greats that I have heard about. As I am not a big basketball fan, no 76ers will make the list, but I will give an honorable mention to Allen Iverson, who is my favorite Sixer.

10. Cliff Lee- There is just something very Philadelphia-likeable about him. It might have something to do with that time that he spurned the Yankees and chose to come to Philly for less money. Or it might be his attitude which comes off as both serious and hilarious at the same time. (Like at the all-star game when he just stared straight at the camera without any change in expression as he was booed by Mets fans). It also could have something to do with how good of a pitcher he is. For all of those reasons listed above, he cracks the top 10 on my list.

9. John LeClair- He was one of the centerpieces of the Flyers team that I grew up with, and he was one of the best on the team. Before Brayden Schenn, the number 10 belonged to John LeClair and it was probably one of the most commonly worn jersey’s in Philadelphia in the early 2000s. I have an autographed photo card of John LeClair’s and it is probably one of my favorite autographs/most prized possessions. He was one of my favorites when he played for the Flyers and he is still one of my favorites now. The only thing he has going against him is that he played for the Penguins. Ouch.

8. Brian Dawkins- I’m pretty sure he is on every Eagles’ fans list of favorite athletes. There was never anything to dislike about Dawkins. He was the definition of the Philadelphia athlete. He played the game the way we wanted him to and he loved doing it. He deserved better than he got when the Eagles chose not to resign him, but in the end it worked out okay, because he retired as an Eagle and had his legendary number 20 retired. Just as it should be.

7. Brian Westbrook- I was a bit conflicted as to whether or not I should have Dawkins or Westbrook higher on my list, but I went with Westbrook because he was the player that I claimed as my favorite back when he was on the team. His was the first Eagles jersey I ever owned, and I always wore it proudly. Like Dawkins, I think that most if not all Eagles fans loved having Westbrook play for the Birds, because he was a dynamic player that was fun to watch.

6. Eric Desjardins- Thinking about Desjardins makes me cringe at what the Flyers defense has become. For over a decade, Desjardins quietly led the Flyers defensive corps, and gave the Flyers a solid and consistent defensive presence for a long time. He always seemed to fly under the radar, but when it came down to it, there wasn’t a Flyers fan out there that didn’t like and respect Desjardins. He was one of my favorite Flyers growing up (as the ones that stick around always are), and looking back at the years we had with him makes me wish we had a Desjardins on our roster today.

5. LeSean McCoy- My favorite Eagle of all time also happens to be the best Eagle of right now, and also possibly the best rusher (at least one of the best) in the NFL today. Maybe my appreciation and love for Shady is based on the fact that he plays right now and that he had a magnificent year, but I think he is in a solid position to remain as my favorite Eagle for a long time. I wear my McCoy jersey proudly every Sunday, and I love watching him dart around the football field. The best part is that I think he still has a lot more in him, and I am looking forward to seeing that.

4. Cole Hamels- He is my favorite Phillies pitcher. I don’t know how you can’t love the 2008 World Series MVP that helped Philadelphia to its first championship in 25 years. The Phillies are special because they have so many players that have only ever played for the Phillies. Players like Cole Hamels, we had the pleasure of watching as they progressed into fantastic players. With Cole Hamels on a new contract, I just hope he sticks around so that the Phillies can have another lifelong player and that he can lead us into a new generation of great Phillies years. 

3. Claude Giroux- My two and three were really close, but Giroux gets third place just out of my unwavering loyalty to my number two. I hope the people appreciate Giroux for what he is: the kind of talent that really doesn’t come along often, and even when it does come around, it doesn’t always pan out (remember Eric Lindros). Watching Giroux play is special, and if the Flyers are to get that elusive Stanley Cup for the first time in over 40 years sometime soon, it will be Giroux that leads us there. He like most players on the list, isn’t only a talented player, but a Philadelphia athlete through and through. If you watch a lot of hockey like I do, you can see that Philly attitude in him. He plays off of the fans, and he always gets into the game. My advice is to appreciate Giroux when you watch him play, because he really is a superstar, and he absolutely could be one of the greats.

2. Chase Utley- I have this serious attachment to Chase Utley that can’t actually be explained. He is everything that you would want in a player. He is hard-working, extremely talented, and he has been the face of the Phillies for as long as they’ve been good. Chase Utley was once the best second baseman in the game, and he was once on track for a hall-of-fame career before knee problems seemed to put an end to that discussion. Many people think of Utley as a has-been, but that isn’t necessarily the case. The thing with Utley is that he has to stay healthy to be effective, but he hasn’t been able to do that consistently for a long time. But when he is on the field, he is still probably the best player the Phillies have. And believe it or not, I do believe that says more about him  than it necessarily does about the team. I believe Chase Utley is the kind of player that really should always be a Phillie. There are very few athletes that play for one team for their entire careers, because at the end, they just go where they can get a contract. I really hope that of all of the players that is still a possibility for that Chase Utley is the one that it becomes a reality for. Because seeing Chase Utley in any other jersey would just be wrong. We’ve got him for a few more years, and hopefully he can finish out his career here with the love and respect that he has earned over the years.

1. Simon Gagne- I don’t know if there is much more I can say about Simon Gagne that hasn’t been said already. He is my favorite athlete of all time. Hockey is my favorite sport, and Gagne was my favorite as a kid, and he is still my favorite now, and he will probably always be my favorite. He was always the kind of player that was really, really good, but never great. He was the player that came to the Flyers when I was just a little kid, and I grew up watching him play and rooting for him to win, even after he was on the Flyers. He loved being a Flyer just as much as fans loved him being a Flyer. Sometimes the players that are really good are the best because it is usually only the fans of the team that they play for that really respect and love them. The superstars are known by everyone, but the players that were just always there and always good and consistent with flashes of brilliance? Simon Gagne was that kind of player, so Flyers fans were the only ones that ever really got the chance to see how great he was. His is another story of what could have been a great career derailed by injuries, but Flyers fans were lucky enough to see and appreciate and fall in love with the classy and talented Simon Gagne, and I was lucky enough to go from a fan of his as an eight year old kid to a fan of his as a college student. Simon Gagne was the player that I grew up with. All of the other players on this list either came into my life later or left much earlier, but to me it feels like Gagne has been around forever, and that is why he is my favorite athlete of all time. 

The Legacy of Simon Gagne- My Favorite Flyer

Simon Gagne has been a fan favorite in Philadelphia since he first donned the orange and black. He is my favorite Flyer of all time. In fact, he is my favorite athlete of all time. For my generation, the number 12 has been and may always be synonymous with Simon Gagne. The Flyers of my childhood are familiar to all Flyers fans of the late 90s and early 2000s: Eric Lindros, John LeClair, Mark Recchi, Eric Desjardins, Keith Primeau. But none have had the lasting mark on our generation as Simon Gagne. He was the young guy during those early years, but as time went on, he was the consistent piece on a team that was changing. When all of those other guys went on to new teams or aged out of the league, Simon Gagne became the lone remaining piece of our childhood team. I think that if anyone looks back at the teams that they learned to love as a kid, one of the players that will always stick out is the player that was around the longest. The player that allowed you to hold onto your childhood and the team that you first knew. Maybe that is why I and so many others in my generation adore Simon Gagne. It is the kind of blind adoration and loyalty that people reserve for very few athletes. Think of the players that were once beloved, but because of a trade or a bad season, they become the enemy. For every Eric Lindros, Terrel Owens, Scott Rolen, or even Donovan McNabb that has ever passed through the hearts of Philly fans, there are very very few that never leave. The Brian Dawkins, Chase Utley and SImon Gagne’s of Philadelphia sports. These are the athletes that we put on pedestals; the players that, in our minds, can do no wrong; the players that we defend above the teams that they play for. It is very rare, and there are probably only a handful out of every generation, but for whatever reason, these players are the ones that we always find ourselves rooting for. Simon Gagne, for the decade that he played in Philadelphia, and the two and a half seasons that he spent away, and the part of the shortened season that he came back for (and was possibly the only good part about that shortened season), and for whatever comes next, he will always be the fan favorite.

I spent the summer wishing and hoping that the Flyers would bring back Simon Gagne. I remember the day that he was traded away after playing a key role in the Flyers’ magical Stanley Cup run in 2010. I remember being angry about it for the entire summer. He is the only player, before and since, that I have had such a strong reaction against my beloved Flyers, for trading away. It made it even worse that everyone knew that he really didn’t want to be traded. I had this whole plan to boycott the Flyers, and for a few months, I kind of did (it was the summer time, so it didn’t really last into the season). I rooted for the Lightning as my second favorite team while he was there, and for the Kings as my second favorite team when he signed with them. When the Flyers were ousted from the 2012 playoffs, nothing made me happier than seeing Simon Gagne lift the Stanley Cup over his head. It only hurt that he didn’t have that opportunity with the Flyers, which is where he always belonged. When I got a phone call from my friend last year informing me to check my computer, because Simon Gagne had been traded back to the Flyers, it was like Christmas morning. I jumped up and down in my dorm room screaming in excitement. Simon Gagne was back where he belonged. Last season didn’t go well for the Flyers. With the shortened season, they couldn’t make up enough ground to get into the playoffs, and for only the second time in my lifetime (that I have memory of), they were on the outside looking in. It wasn’t a fun time to be a Flyers fan, but having Simon Gagne back softened the blow. His presence had that ability, at least for me. Simon Gagne is, was and will always be a Flyer, no matter what other teams he may have briefly played for, or no matter where he ends up in the future. There will probably always be Simon Gagne jersey’s at Flyers games. 

I have had this tendency, every so often, to check twitter for updates on Simon Gagne. It surprised me that he didn’t have a team to play for. He isn’t that old, even by hockey standards, and his health problems seemed to have lessened over the last season. He isn’t the dynamic and dangerous player that he once was, but he was still able to contribute. So I waited and waited to see which team would become my new second favorite, but as more time passed, it seemed as though he might not sign anywhere. So yesterday, I saw on twitter that Simon Gagne had signed on as a hockey analyst for a television station in Quebec. This begs the question, is this the end for Simon Gagne? The further he gets from playing, and the more he gets into doing something else, the less likely it seems that he will play again. On one side, it would be nice to know that he got his Stanley Cup, and that he played his last NHL game as a Flyer. At the same time, a career like his never should have ended like this. Simon Gagne was a player that was really, really good, but never great, at least in the eyes of anyone other than Flyers fans. The sad thing is that if it weren’t for a career derailed by injuries, maybe he could have been. If Simon Gagne never plays another game in the NHL, we will be able to look back and be happy that at least we got one last season of him in a Flyers uniform. Simon Gagne may not be one of the greatest players in the NHL, and he might not even be on the list of greatest Flyers for many people, but he is very near the top of the list as fan favorites. And he will certainly always be at the top of that list for me. 

So here’s to Simon Gagne- The fan favorite, classy, French-Canadian that will always be the last reminder of the Flyers of my childhood. The only number 12 in my book. Thanks for all of the great goals, and wonderful memories that you gave to Flyers fans. Whether you ever play another game in the NHL again, you will always be my favorite Flyer. 

By the Numbers: Claude Giroux and John Tavares

As of the writing of this post, Claude Giroux and John Tavares have near identical stat lines over the course of their careers. Since they both played their first full seasons in 2009-2010, Giroux has 306 points and Tavares has 305 points, with Girous having played in 2 less games. You can make your arguments about Tavares being younger and about Giroux having played with better linemates on a better team, but these two players are of equal caliber. Yet for some reason, Tavares is often looked at as the better player. Analysts and fantasy owners place Tavares above Giroux, and yet the numbers show that these two players have been on pretty much the exact same level for their careers.

Their near identical point totals allow us to look at them from other aspects of the game. Tavares has scored 133 goals in his career, while in that same span, Giroux has scored 95 goals. This shows Tavares as the better goal scorer of the two, but that in turn makes Giroux the better playmaker. Regardless of which of those two things people believe to be a better commodity to have, their levels of play are still close enough that they would be considered the same type of player by most. They both play about the same amount of time per game, and each one of them contributes significantly to their respective team’s power play. However, Giroux is also used on the Flyers penalty kill at times, averaging about 1 minute and 15 seconds per game on the penalty kill, while Tavares is not generally used on the Islanders penalty kill, averaging only 11 seconds per game. While this is not the biggest of discrepancies, it does seem to favor Giroux as the more complete and defensive minded player of the two. Adding to that are the players’ plus/minus numbers, which also seem to point to Giroux as the better defensive player. The plus/minus stat must be taken with a grain of salt, however, as we must also take into account the state of both the Islanders and the Flyers over that span of time. The Flyers were a playoff team for 3 out of the past 4 seasons, while the Islanders only reached the playoffs 1 out of the past 4 years. A better team is going to have players with better plus/minus ratings, and for that reason we cannot weight that quite as much as some of the other statistics. When it comes right down to it, John Tavares and Claude Giroux are both very great players. They are both young, super star, first line centers and captains of their respective teams. Their career numbers are shockingly similar, and yet for some reason, people seem to have a tendency to rate Tavares above Giroux. The question is, why?

It is really a matter of opinion. If you look at the numbers, there is no real, solid argument to be made for either player being better than the other. So instead, people look at the intangibles. Some may say that while Giroux was playing for a perennial playoff contending Flyers team, Tavares was leading a young and struggling Islanders team, which some would argue makes him the better player. However, while Tavares was starring for the Islanders from the beginning of his career, Giroux was stuck lower on the depth chart behind Mike Richards and Jeff Carter in his earlier seasons, which could help to build a bigger argument for him as the better player. Giroux and Tavares are both great players, but why is it that Tavares is so often looked at as the better of the two?

The answer to me is pretty simple: Tavares has a better pedigree. He was a number 1 overall draft pick in 2009. Giroux was the 22^nd overall pick in the 2006 draft, looked over because of his small size. Tavares is looked at as a better player because he is supposed to be a better player. Not because he actually is the better player. Tavares has 2 inches and about 40 pounds on Giroux. Back in the 2006 draft people had questions about Giroux’s ability to compete against the big guys in the NHL. He has since silenced the critics, but he still isn’t looked at as a former number 1 pick, because he wasn’t one. The top draft picks are the ones that are expected to lead the league. Giroux doesn’t fit in with the Tavares’, and Crosby’s, and Malkin’s, and Kane’s and Ovechkin’s of the league, because unlike them, he wasn’t expected to be the superstar. The player that Giroux has become puts him in a league all of his own. He silenced the critics that said that he was too small to play in the league and put himself in the conversation of top players in the game. Twenty-one other teams didn’t pass on John Tavares, but twenty-one teams did pass on Claude Giroux. Tavares is a great player, but so is Giroux, and he deserves to be recognized for what he has accomplished, which is as much, if not more than John Tavares.