The Backcheck 05/29/11
• Vancouver and Boston makes for an intriguing final but I can't help but feel there's no way the Canucks won't be denied. Tim Thomas will have to be super-human for the Bruins to have a chance but all through the Eastern Conference Finals, I felt that both teams were competing for the right to lose to the Canucks. Add in what Manny Malhotra will bring to the team both skill-wise and in terms of emotional lift and I'll take Vancouver in five.
• I must say, I gained a lot of respect for Steven Stamkos after game seven. The gash on his broken nose was absolutely brutal. To say he was a boy who became a man might be a bit dramatic but it isn't entirely inaccurate.
• After Tampa's game six victory, word came out that Martin St. Louis delivered some inspiring words to his teammates, which they obviously took to heart. St. Louis clearly backed up his words with a big two goal performance. When the Hart trophy nominations came out, St. Louis was the one name that raised my eyebrows a bit. I now consider that nomination justified.
• There's was no excuse for the NHL not to suspend Nathan Horton for game seven. After Rangers coach John Tortorella got suspended a game for squirting a fan with a water bottle in 2009, Colin Campbell said the following: "It has been made clear to all of our players, coaches and other bench personnel that the National Hockey League cannot — and will not — tolerate any physical contact with fans." Tampa fans are partially to blame as well but it seems pretty cut and dry where the NHL was thought to have stood on this issue.
• I can't help but feel for the San Jose Sharks. Not only was the Canucks' tying goal in game five with 13.2 seconds left controversial because of a botched icing call, Vancouver won the game on perhaps the most flukey overtime goal I've ever seen. Vancouver just seems like a team of destiny this year.
• I have a lot of respect for Doug Weight and the career he had. There's something to be said about a player who devotes his final playing years to mentoring young players on a developing team rather than the relentless pursuit of another Stanley Cup. From what I've read, he'll make a fine assistant coach for the Islanders.
• Congratulations are in order to Brian Rafalski on a fantastically underrated career. Having won five Stanley cups, Rafalski was a quiet, understated but extremely important part of a lot of very good teams over the years. If nothing else, the NHL is now short one hideous-looking visor.
• The way the Hamilton Bulldogs lost game seven to the Houston Aeros was a crime. In 2011, professional sports leagues owe it not only to their teams but to the competitive spirit of their game to use the technology available to them to ensure the right calls are made. There's no argument justifiable enough to counter-act "getting the call right".
• One positive that came out of the Bulldogs' run was the character-building experience for a few players who could realistically make contributions to the Canadiens organization in the next few years. Ryan White, Andreas Engqvist, Aaron Palushaj and Gabriel Dumont should all be better for it, not to mention coach Randy Cunneyworth.
• If nothing else, the signing of Joonas Nattinen will provide good organizational depth at centre. He stands at 6'2", 183 lbs but at 20 years old, has the ability to fill out some more. He sounds like a smart two-way player and in reading up on him, sounds a lot like what the organization has in Andreas Engqvist.
About Will Martinez
Will Martinez runs the 'Hey, My Name is Will' blog and is a contributor for TheFranchise.ca. You can follow Will on Twitter @heymynameiswill
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