#especially a top sport where prime is mid late 20s

[is-it-real]

If Lewis retires before Fernando then I will just deny any idea that Fernando will/could retire

[nflweeklyuk]

NFL Week 3 Predictions

Week 2 proved to be a return to at least my normal accuracy with an W11 L5 record on predictions. I’ll pick out a few highlights from my predictions as well as any stinkers (yeah you Saints) as we go. Week 3 predictions below. Enjoy!

Panthers 24 Texans 6

Spread: Panthers -8.0

Pick confidence: 85%

This is not what prime time is all about. Backup rookie quarterbacks vs good defenses. The Texans were middle of the pack in both passing and rushing stats through 2 weeks, but that was with Tyrod Taylor in for the most part. Davis Mills will get the start on Thursday and from what we saw Sunday, plus a short week, I don’t think we can expect too much out of the Texans offense regardless of opponent. Problem here is that the opponent has a defense that is crushing it this season. The Panthers lead the league in both pass and rushing yards allowed through two weeks, the Jets and Saints may not have posed the ultimate test but these are professional footballers. The Texans with Taylor would struggle to move the ball consistently here, that won’t be any easier with Mills at QB. On the other side, the Panthers have moved the ball well and Darnold looks a lot more comfortable with weapons around him and an offensive line that has only allowed 3 sacks through 2 weeks. I think there is still a ceiling to this offense so until I see them hit 30 points I won’t be predicting it. This should be a comfortable win and I don’t think the Texans make it to pay dirt.

Colts 17 Titans 31

Spread: Titans -6.0

Pick confidence: 80%

It’s unclear as to whether Wentz will start this game after spraining both ankles on the same play last week, I have therefore gone for a mid-point, with Wentz the Colts score 24, without they could well only put up 10! Either way I think the Titans run out fairly comfortable winners here. It did look like something clicked for the Titans in the second half last week. Teams who are losing don’t go ground game heavy, unless they’ve remembered who they are. Tannehill is a good NFL QB, he is not great. When asked to hit wide open receivers on play action because Henry is being a force of nature on most other plays, Tannehill thrives. It happened last year as well, it’s like the Titans buy the hype that they’ve suddenly uncovered a great in Tannehill and they then put it on him, they falter and then revert to the game plan that makes them a threat to anyone. I feel like this game will be the one where we see it from the off. Look for a couple of Henry TDs and I’m going for 2 strikes to AJ Brown here too. In the first half last week the Colts stayed with the Rams and even should have been up, they had 2 red zone trips that netted 0 points (downs and INT). Those kind of miscues sink you against good teams. It was also noticeable that Wentz was running for his life, now the Titans are not going to bring pressure like Donald and co but whoever is back there is unlikely to be comfortable all day. It does not bode well in this matchup, especially if the Titans shorten the game like they should with their run first offense. No Wentz, then the spread is a steal. With Wentz, spotting a division rival sat at 0-2 six feels less secure. I’d probably still take it.

Falcons 27 Giants 26

Spread: Giants -3.0

Pick confidence: 51%

The Falcons have been my nemesis with these predictions in the last couple of years. An offense that contains so much talent but produces so inconsistently makes the team hard to pick correctly. The Falcons put up a good fight against the Bucs until two pick sixes late took the game away from them. This week they face a Giants team coming off it’s best outing offensively for a while in a heart-breaking loss to a division rival. How do they bounce back? There are no excuses here for Daniel Jones not to follow up on a very good performance, or for the Giants running game not to find traction against a porous Falcons D. The Falcons have allowed a league leading 8 passing TDs through 2 weeks. So why am I picking the Falcons? Probably because we are about ready to write them off this season, and that is when they do a number on me…. I actually think there is too much talent offensively not to keep this game close. In close games the Giants turnover worries often prove to be the deciding factor. Until Jones can prove he can consistently avoid the killer turnovers with a string of low turnover games it is equally as hard to pick the Giants against teams with talent.

Chargers 31 Chiefs 35

Spread: Chiefs -7.0

Pick confidence: 65%

Shootout of the week? Nothing we have seen from the Chiefs D suggests that Justin Herbert and the Chargers won’t have their way with them for the most part. Can Herbert outduel Mahomes? I’m not going to back it until I’ve seen it, Mahomes has earned that. There are glimmers of hope for the Chargers, the one person to keep Travis Kelce in check in recent years? Derwin James. If he can lock down Kelce like he has previously then another Chief will have to step up. Can the likes of Demarcus Robinson and Byron Pringle make those third down plays Kelce does so routinely? Expect Ekeler to have success against the Chiefs and for the Chargers to succeed with a balanced attack. I’m calling 2 Mike Williams TDs in this one. The Chiefs have put up 27 and 35 points in the last two weeks against decent defenses so we know they will score. I think this game will be closer than the spread but ultimately I’m going to back Mahomes in this matchup, unless Herbert decides to go for 107 and 2 scores on the ground…

Bengals 20 Steelers 21

Spread: Steelers -3.0

Pick confidence: 55%

What Steeler’s offense will show up? The one where all the talent comes together and actually moves the ball? The one where more than 1 deep shot lands per game? We know what we will get from the Pittsburgh D and this will be a second tough out for Burrow and the Bengals after running into a Bears D that came to play in the second half last week, including 3 picks thrown by Burrow in 3 throws! How will the young passer bounce back against a better overall unit, even with Watt out? I don’t think we will see as many turnovers but I can’t see the Bengals going much over 20 in this game. It will then be up to the Steelers to put up 20+ to see this game out. I figure they get it done this week and hold on in the 3 horse race for the AFC North. I don’t see them staying in that race over the course of the season, at least based on what we have seen to date. The Bengals D has been friskier than most predicted, especially with Hendrickson improving the Bengals pass rush, and so it will present challenges for Big Ben. The Bengals stout run defense will likely see that this is not the Najee Harris breakout week. I think Ben does enough to get this done but this should be a tight defensive game, and in all honesty could go either way.

Bears 17 Browns 27

Spread: Browns -7.0

Pick confidence: 80%

The Bears turned the Bengals over 4 times in the second half last week, including a pick-six, and won the game by 3 points. Other than a touchdown on the first drive of the game the Bears offense contributed 2 field goals. The first after a Tee Higgins fumble at midfield and the second on a 4 play drive covering a whopping 5 yards after the third Burrow interception. Each team has 2 units and either unit winning the game for the team counts as a W, but this Bears offense is not firing and is not a unit I trust to keep them in games against top caliber opposition. Regardless of who is playing QB right now. The Browns on the other hand are playing well, especially on the offensive side of the ball. The game plan is sound, a heavy dose of Chubb and Hunt then let Mayfield carve up undermanned secondaries. It will help that the Browns get OBJ back this week, given Landry is not available. I’m confident the Browns take this one, will the Bears D play well enough to be able to cover the spread, they will need turnovers and I’m not sure this is the week they will come.

Ravens 33 Lions 24

Spread: Ravens -7.5

Pick confidence: 90%

Was last week the start of the Lamar Jackson MVP round 2 campaign? You cannot be anything other than amazed by the man when he does what he did to the Chiefs. The concern, 2 picks, one pick-six. I said in my season preview that deja-vu will be the story for the Ravens this year. Dominate the regular season with plenty of Lamar performances like we saw last week but ultimately come unstuck against a top tier opponent when the run game won’t be enough to play catch up. Although seeing Jackson and Henry do their thing last week may just change someone’s mind. The way to get at this Lions team is generally through the air, 6 scores through 2 weeks. The run D is stouter but to be honest I think that goes out the window against the Ravens, this is not a traditional rushing attack. The Ravens will eat up the yards on the ground but I think we start to see a bit more from the aerial attack in the next couple of weeks. Andrews and Watkins to each score would not be a surprise to me from what I have seen of the targets through 2 weeks. The Lions have sported a pretty balanced attack so far this year with success both through the air and on the ground. They have not had an easy start to the year with the 49ers and Packers in the first two weeks of the season. I fear we won’t learn too much more about the Lions again this week. We know they won’t challenge the 3 teams they’ve played so far this year, how will they fair against teams that are not supposed to be postseason locks? We should see some success against this Ravens unit but they just do not have the horses in this race. The fact that Baltimore has given up 33 and 35 so far this season gives me pause on taking the spread here, the teams putting up those points were the Raiders and Chiefs though. If the Ravens keep the foot on the gas then they should be able to cover the spread.

Saints 17 Patriots 20

Spread: Patriots -3.0

Pick confidence: 60%

Alvin Kamara 8 carries for 5 yards? C’mon. The Saints possessions against Carolina: Punt, Punt, Punt, INT, Punt, Downs, Punt, TD, Punt, Downs, INT. Wow. Next up a Patriots team that is pretty stingy on defense and has only allowed 23 points in the first two weeks of the season. OK, Jets, I get your point. One thing you can guarantee is that Belichick and co will have a plan for Jameis Winston. He has been turnover prone in his career and if anyone can exploit that it will be Bill Belichick. That means the best way for the Saints to walk out of this with a W is for them to go early and often to their star man Kamara. Anything like the first line of this blurb and we know who won this game. You have to figure we won’t see the week 1 Saints, but you also have to figure we won’t see the week 2 Saints again either. Somewhere in the middle will mean this is a closely fought contest. Mac Jones has acquitted himself well so far this season. He is playing the part he is being asked to, the Patriots MO. I do struggle to see where the points are coming from with this Patriots team. I figure in this one a defensive touchdown breaks the Saints, Jones and co then do enough to edge a tight one.

 Cardinals 31 Jaguars 21

Spread: Cardinals -7.5

Pick confidence: 95%

Trevor Lawrence is having to play from behind every week, the recipe for a rookie QB to go 4 TD 5 INT in the first 2 weeks. Given the prowess of the Cards offense you can only imagine a similar game script this week. For me this is an easy pick, it has my highest pick confidence that I will ever give, there is just a mismatch of talent here. The Cards D has given up yards and points so I’m sure the Jags will be able to move the ball enough to put up a couple of scores but it will not be enough to keep this game close. I expect Arizona to look at Chase Edmonds and Rondale Moore to get those guys going and part of the offense going forward, this looks to be a good game to do that. See my daily fantasy line-up! I figure Murray gets to hand the ball of a little more in the second half here as they protect him for bigger games to come. The Cards D might be a good play in daily fantasy or as a spot start, the game narrative lends itself to a few desperation INTs from Lawrence. The spread is no brainer for me here.

Washington 17 Bills 28

Spread: Bills -7.0

Pick confidence: 85%

You may have expected the Washington defense to be the best defensive unit in this game, it is not. The Bills have much improved and are getting great play from some young pass rushers and a big jump in performance from linebackers like Matt Milano. Expect this unit to come out pumped after bageling the Dolphins last weekend. Taylor Heinicke has played well but will have a tough time moving the ball consistently against this Bills team and therefore I see 20 points as the absolute ceiling here. The Bills offense still doesn’t look like it is clicking fully but Diggs got more action last week and that should continue to increase as this unit sorts itself out. I don’t see some of the fireworks we were expecting from them just yet but they will do more than enough to see off this Washington team. I have high confidence in this pick but the Bills offense is yet to show consistency so the spread could be tight and I’m less confident in that regard. The Bills are starting to run the ball  better, that may well open up the windows for Josh Allen to find his rhythm.

Jets 13 Broncos 23

Spread: Broncos -10.0

Pick confidence: 80%

The Panthers, Patriots and Broncos defenses represent a pretty tough opening slate for a rookie QB without much skill position support. I think we see another struggle for Wilson this week, maybe not to the tune of 4 INTs, but certainly struggles to move the ball and likely a couple of miscues. On the other side it was great to see Courtland Sutton come back with a bang (yeah he is on my fantasy team..) after missing time just as he was hitting his stride. The Broncos offense has moved the ball nicely under Teddy Bridgewater but this Jets defense is stout, only giving up an average of 22 points per game over the first two weeks. When you consider that includes defending field position that comes with 5 INTs from the offense we should look at this unit as a much improved one. I see this being a low scoring game, one in which the Broncos are not really under threat and ultimately run out comfortable winners. 10 points is a lot to spot any NFL team in terms of the spread, especially in what looks to be a low scoring game, I do have the margin exactly at the spread but 10+ point spreads should always come with some nervousness.

Dolphins 20 Raiders 26

Spread: Raiders -3.5

Pick confidence: 65%

Consider the relatively close scoreline and lower pick confidence here a nod to Brian Flores and the kind of coach he is. If anyone will get this Dolphins team to bounce back and play with pride then it is him. Ultimately though, the Raiders are the superior team here. Miami’s line is allowing far too much pressure on whoever is playing QB, 8 sacks in the first two weeks tells a large part of the story but there is rarely time to go through reads and find open receivers even when the sacks don’t rack up. This leads to a lot of short passes to backs and receivers, relying on YAC to generate offense. In comes a Raiders pass rush led by Maxx Crosby that has been brilliant through the first two weeks, that likely continues here and will be the determining factor in this game. Miami’s top flight corners will matchup and compete well against Waller and Ruggs and should keep this game closer than records and recent performances would suggest. Miami has a knack of making predictions look a little silly under Brian Flores so while my head tells me this should be a comfortable Raiders win and to take the spread here, my gut tells me it won’t be as easy an out as it should be.

Seahwaks 31 Vikings 30

Spread: Seahawks -2.5

Pick confidence: 51%

Game of the week potential right here. Kirk Cousins has been, again, quietly playing really good football. I would expect that to continue here but it should be in a supporting role to Dalvin Cook (or Mattison if Cook does not go) as run defense has been a problem for the Seahawks to the tune of 325 yard and 3 scores over the first 2 weeks. The Vikings haven’t faired too much better giving up yards on both the ground and through the air. We can expect the Seahawks to put up points and so it will be on the Vikings offense to go out and win this game for them. A heavy dose of Cook and some play action will provide success for this team, I think this is the week Justin Jefferson reminds us just how special a player he is. The Seahawks perennial offensive line problems don’t seem to have abated, even given the effort put in to do so. It has not stopped this offense scoring points but it always opens up the opportunity for the opposition to make splash plays when the game is on the line.

With Cook out, I've changed my pick so the Seahawks nick the W.

Buccaneers 27 Rams 24

Spread: Buccaneers -1.5

Pick confidence: 55%

On paper this is the game of the week. You could make an argument that it is the two best teams in the NFL going head to head here. The biggest question mark for me is the Bucs D in this game. They have given up plenty of yards and points over the last 2 games, averaging 27 per contest. The question being is that a result of game script, or a bigger issue? If the game is tight, which this one should be, will that lead to better stats for this defense? Matt Stafford and the Rams will certainly give us some clarity on that. I expect Cooper Kupp to go off again in this one. Will the rest of the Rams offense step up and help out enough to overcome a sizzling Bucs offense? I don’t think so. I’m going to go with the Bucs, they can seemingly move the ball at will whereas I’m not seeing exactly that from the Rams. Brady can change up who is the number 1 guy week on week, Evans last week, Brown the week before, there are too many weapons for Ramsey to take out of the game. This should be a very close affair but I trust Brady and the Bucs offense over the Rams right now. How many games are won by 1 point? Not many, although a couple already this year, so if you fancy the Bucs then take the spread.

Packers 30 49ers 27

Spread: 49ers -3.0

Pick confidence: 55%

Call this one a gut feel. Rodgers and co bounced back last week, albeit against the Lions, while there appeared to be regression in the 49ers offense with Jimmy G struggling. We have not seen the same type of play from the likes of Kittle and Aiyuk that we have grown accustomed to so far this year. The run game will be strong and will prove a challenge for A Packers defense that appears to be figuring new schemes out on the fly. The 49ers defense played well against a good Eagles unit last weekend but did also allow the Lions to claw themselves back into the game in week 1. I’m going to go with the offense trending in the right direction, yes offensive line issues for the Packers are a concern but I think Rodgers continues to get back on track here. The 49ers are thin at running back, again. How many times can Shanahan go to the well and have success? A close game and in truth could go either way but I’m siding with the Pack.

Eagles 23 Cowboys 28

Spread: Cowboys -3.5

Pick confidence: 65%

Another game with great potential here. I can’t figure out whether this is a lower scoring contest with running games taking over or a shootout with a bit of run and aerial explosiveness. Hurts has run well but has not yet consistently got his receivers into the game. This may be the week to do so as the Cowboys offense looks primed to be a consistently high scoring unit. Last week, in a relatively low scoring affair the Cowboys rushed for 180 yards, with Tony Pollard looking like the best back in the Dallas backfield. The Eagles can be run on and it would make sense for Dallas’ game plan to target that. Too much for Dak to do and the Eagles front might make life difficult for him. The best way to keep that in check is to run the ball, Dak’s chances will then come on play action. For the Eagles to win this game they need to have more success through the air against someone who is not the Falcons. DeVonta Smith has had this offense built around his skill set and he is going to have to step up and lead it, if he can then it will open up the offense for the two talented tight ends to go to work, giving Hurts some easier reads and simpler throws. I like what I saw from the Cowboys last week and think that is set to continue so am going for a Dallas win here. It should be close so I don’t have huge confidence in the spread.

[componentplanet]

Are Auto Shows a Goner in the Wake of Coronavirus?

NYIAS 2019 NY Auto Show interior glass palace

Another auto show bites the dust, temporarily. The New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) has been postponed from April to late August, hardly prime time for a car show, on account of concerns about the novel coronavirus outbreak. That makes three major auto shows called off recently: in China, the mid-February Beijing International Automotive Exhibition (Auto China 2020) was postponed from its April 21 opening date with no makeup date announced. The Geneva International Motor Show (GIMS) with public days March 5-15 was canceled in late February, the week before press days were to begin.

Now New York is a goner, at least from its customary dates starting on Good Friday, two days before Easter, and running 10 days, plus press days the Wednesday and Thursday before. The new dates are Friday, August 28 through Sunday, September 6, 2020 (Labor Day weekend), with two press days before the show opens. This is hardly prime time for an auto show. But it’s not easy to find two-plus weeks open for setup, media days, the show’s 10-day run, and teardown at a major convention center.

Javits Center, near the Hudson River, site of the annual New York International Auto Show. This year it’s in late August and early September.

Lots of Tech Shows Cancelled

Auto shows are not alone. Lots of other technology events were canceled, including:

Mobile World Congress (Feb. 24-27, Barcelona).

The annual developer conferences for Facebook (F8, May 5-6, in Silicon Valley) and Google (Google I/O, May 12-14, Mountain View)

SXSW (South by Southwest, March 13-22, Austin)

Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival (weekends of April 10 and April 16, Indio, Californa)

E3 (Electronics Entertainment Expo, June 9-11, Los Angeles)

There is some fear MWC may implode because of losses racked up by smaller vendors. Most attendees love Barcelona (other than the pickpockets), nestled at the eastern edge of Spain along the Mediterranean.

At the 2019 New York show, a Kia Niro concept car offshoot with a fabulous name: Kia HabaNiro.

The Threat to Auto Shows

The auto shows are a special case because they’re facing pressures unlike those experienced by developer conferences or conference/music festivals (SXSW, Coachella). There’s a growing angst about why auto shows exist at all.

Auto shows are three events in one. In advance of the shows are one or two days of press conferences, parties, and drinking, called the media and analyst days. Then there’s a day of insider previews or advance looks for some of the public and a formal dinner where dealers and spouses can dress up; this is often tied to a charity. Then there are about 10 days of public events.

One threat is that the public can learn a lot about new cars online including background information, plus pricing and shopping strategies. There’s less need to visit the dealer until you’re ready to buy. Also, as newer generations of kids grow up, cars seem less mystical, and auto shows less interesting, than they were for their parents and grandparents.

Also, automakers using marketing tools honed online to reach out to the most likely prospects and entice them with a $50 gift card for visiting the dealer and doing a test drive. For high-end cars, they may be “experiential marketing” events in the parking lot of a sports stadium where drivers race (so to speak) through pylon courses and eat a nice lunch under a canopy. The money for that has to come from somewhere and it may be from automaker auto show budgets.

Automakers at most major shows set up nice booths for the press days then turn them over to the dealers. If auto shows lose value in the eyes of automakers, dealers and dealer associations fear there’ll be less automaker support for future shows.

With the cancellations, there have been no major and only two mid-major shows this year, Washington and Chicago. The third, Miami, is skipping from November 2019 to February 2020 once Detroit’s North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) moved from January (last show in 2019) to June 2020 (planned for June 9-20).

All this came about because the Detroit show grew weaker, in part because luxury / sport brands (Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche especially) found little buyer support in Michigan, not surprising when you can get an excellent friends/family discount on a Cadillac, Lincoln, or GMC Denali upscale vehicle. Detroit also wound up losing its modest tech aura to the CES show the week before in Las Vegas. And the weather was often poor. Detroit’s Automobili-D tech exhibit wound up being less of a media draw than was LA’s Automobility focus, a sort of trade show/conference running parallel to the press days.

All this affects tech moving forward in this sense: Auto shows and CES are about exchanging ideas, poaching workers, and showcasing technology in a party town where there’s no snow. On that score, Detroit versus Las Vegas, it was Sin City 2, Detroit 0. The Los Angeles show does the next-best job of blending tech into its show. Interestingly, even as auto manufacturing in Michigan has not been growing, the state remains a center of innovation for all the world’s automakers, components suppliers such as Magna, and for smaller tech conferences not part of auto shows.

Detroit auto show in 2009, when the Europeans still took part wholeheartedly.

What’s Happening in New York

Tuesday, the New York show posted:

As a result of the ongoing health concerns from the spread of the coronavirus in the region, the New York International Auto Show has been rescheduled to August 28 – September 6, 2020. Press days are August 26 & 27, 2020. “We are taking this extraordinary step to help protect our attendees, exhibitors and all participants from the coronavirus,” said Mark Schienberg, president of the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, the organization that owns and operates the New York Auto Show.

“For 120 years, ‘the show must go on’ has been heavily embedded in our DNA, and while the decision to move the show dates didn’t come easy, our top priority remains with the health and well-being of all those involved in this historic event. We have already been in communication with many of our exhibitors and partners and are confident that the new dates for the 2020 Show will make for another successful event,” Schienberg added.

What happens to the temporarily moved New York show is uncertain. Most of the German automakers had already announced they would not be at the 2020 show in April, and several bailed the year before. This even though the three top sales areas for expensive cars are metro New York, LA/Southern California, and Miami. It’s not clear if automakers who committed, pre-coronavirus, to X-thousand square feet of exhibition space for April will continue with same-size plans for the August-September show. The final days coincide with Labor Day weekend.

Now read:

Top Cars of the 2020 Geneva Motor Show That Never Was

The Fastest Supercomputer on Earth Is Being Deployed Against Coronavirus

Coronavirus Takes Down Geneva, 2020’s Biggest Auto Show

from ExtremeTechExtremeTech https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/307432-are-auto-shows-a-goner-in-the-wake-of-coronavirus-and-experiential-marketing from Blogger http://componentplanet.blogspot.com/2020/03/are-auto-shows-goner-in-wake-of.html

[wikitopx]

The Hague is the third-largest city in the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam, and most notably the government's headquarters for the Netherlands.

However, what most don’t know is that The Hague is rich in history, culture, and especially, art — there are numerous museums and beautiful architectural structures worth visiting. Read our list to discover the top 10 things to do and see in The Hague.

[toc]

1. Escher in Het Paleis

During the 20th century, M.C. Escher was a prominent Dutch artist who applied mathematics and geometry to his graphic art. Because of this, his art has a beautiful symmetry to it that is very captivating to the eye.

Housed in what was once a royal palace, Escher in Het Paleis is a museum dedicated to the artist’s work. Explore over 150 of his most famous prints, in addition to woodcuts, mosaics, landscapes, and more.

The second floor has been converted to an interactive, optical illusion experience, so that visitors may ‘see things through Escher’s eyes.’ Since space was once a palace, there are many areas, including the ballroom, that maintain its regal charm, making it a popular venue for weddings and other special events.

Price: Budget

Opening Hours: 11:00am-5:00pm Tuesday-Sunday

Watch out for: photographs of his family life

Address and Telephone: Lange Voorhout 74, 2514 EH Den Haag, NL, +31 070 427 7730

2. Grote of Sint-Jacobskerk

With a height of just over 300 feet, Grote of Sint-Jacobskerk, or St. Peter's Church James, is one of the tallest buildings in The Hague. The church was built in the 15th and 16th centuries in a classically gothic style; It has incredible architectural properties, as well as beautiful interior features.

Notice the six-sided tower and bells, grand organ, elaborate stained glass windows, historical artwork, and numerous ornaments dedicated to the knights of the Golden Fleece. The Protestant church is open for occasional services and tours of the facility but is most commonly used as a location for special events.

Organize a party in the hall, perform a concert, plan a wedding reception or attend a festival.

Price: Budget

Opening Hours: Noon-4:00pm Monday-Sunday

Watch out for: special hours for events and services

3. Binnenhof

Built-in the 13th century, Binnenhof is a gothic castle located along the lake, Hofvijver. The collection of buildings is now used as the office of the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, as well as for the States-General of the Netherlands, and Ministry of General Affairs.

The structure is rich with Dutch heritage and is the oldest in-use House of Parliament in the world. Take a boat ride on the lake to get a waterfront view of the exquisite court, or get a close-up view from the mainland.

For a small fee, you can make a reservation for a guided tour of the interior. Roam the halls while learning about the exciting history that has taken place at Binnenhof.

Price: Budget

Opening Hours: 10:00am-4:00pm Monday-Saturday

Watch out for: most tours conducted in Dutch

4. Madurodam

Discover all the highlights and heritage of Holland at Madurodam. The park is a large miniature model detailing accurate replicas of important buildings and city areas in the Netherlands.

The park is organized into three parts: City Center, Water World, and Innovation Island. The City Center displays how the city looked in the past and how it transformed, Water World covers the port of Rotterdam and shows how watermills work, and Innovation Island demonstrates modern Holland.

See Dutch architecture, design, entertainment, sports, and culture. Madurodam is great for the whole family, but especially small children. After getting a close-up of mini-Holland, let the little ones run around and have fun on the playground.

Price: Mid-Range

Opening Hours: 9:00am-7:00pm Monday-Sunday

Watch out for café and terrace

Address and Telephone: George Maduroplein 1, 2584 RZ Den Haag, NL, +31 070 416 2400

Address and Telephone: Binnenhof 8A, 2513 AA, Den Haag, NL, +31 070 364 6144

Address and Telephone: Rond de Grote Kerk 12, 2513 AM Den Haag, NL, +31 070 302 8630

5. Mauritshuis Museum

Popular art museum Home to mostly Dutch Golden Age paintings, the Mauritshuis Museum is a cultural must in The Hague. See famous paintings, like the Dutch artist's Pearl Earrings Girl, Verm Vermeer.

There are also works by famous Spanish painter Diego Velasquez, as well as self-portraits from other prominent artists. Spend the day exploring the art on the walls, or attend one of their many programs.

On Mondays, guests can attend ‘Cup of Art,’ a short artist talk given by a member of the staff discussing a particular painting, artist, or subject. There are other monthly lectures that take place, in addition to learning opportunities for kids.

Challenge yourself to the arts by signing up for their short courses, or sit back and enjoy live jazz on Thursday night. Price: Mid-Range Opening Hours: 1:00pm-6:00pm Monday, 10:00am-6:00pm Tuesday & Wednesday, 10:00am-8:00pm Thursday, 10:00am-6:00pm Friday-Sunday Watch out for: family days on the last Sunday of each month.

6. Ridderzaal

The Ridderzaal, or Knight’s Hall, is the main building of the historic Binnenhof castle. This particular section of the gothic structure is reserved for special occasions regarding the Dutch monarchy and parliament, including royal receptions, conferences, and speeches from the throne of monarchs, which sits in the great hall.

Similar to Binnenhof, Ridderzaal offers private tours of the interior structure. However, the exterior is also noteworthy. The front entrance in the 13th-century gothic style has large towers, making it appear like a real-life fairytale castle. If luck is on your side, you may see the famous Gold Coach, the Dutch royal family’s carriage, arrive for an important event.

Price: Budget

Opening Hours: 10:00am-4:00pm Monday-Saturday

Watch out for: strict rules

Address and Telephone: Binnenhof 8A, 2513 AA, Den Haag, NL, +31 070 364 6144

7. Louwman Museum

The Louwman Museum prides itself on housing the world’s oldest private collection of classic and antique cars. Explore both cultural history and the history of innovation by discovering the different automobiles that have been created.

The collection features 250 motorcars, ranging from 1886 to the present day, and there is also an automotive art collection. Take a guided tour to learn about some of the most interesting means, before heading to the café to eat.

House of Lords is a restaurant on-site located in a museum square; It serves artisan's delicious food in a luxurious atmosphere. In addition to the museum plaza, there are many more great spaces, including balconies, great theaters, libraries, large halls, and a few conference rooms. Each of these spaces is available to reserve for a special occasion.

Price: Mid-Range

Opening Hours: 10:00am-5:00pm Tuesday-Sunday

Watch out for cool museum shop

Address and Telephone: Leidsestraatweg 57, 2594 BB Den Haag, NL, +31 070 304 7373

8. Museum Mesdag

Hendrik Willem Mesdag was a Dutch teacher turned artist during the late 19th and early 20th centuries — come here appreciate the work of one of Hague’s most prominent and influential artists.

Take a guided tour to learn about the life history of the great artist, as well as learn about his distinctive paintings and art style. There are workshops available to participate in, including drawing workshops, where you’ll learn about specific techniques and practice your skill.

Be sure to stop by the café and museum shop to pick up art books and literature, posters, stationery, and other Mesdag gifts.

Price: Budget

Opening Hours: Noon-5:00pm Wednesday-Sunday

Watch out for: classes are for adults, not children

Address and Telephone: Laan van Meerdervoort 7-F, 2517 AB Den Haag, NL, +31 070 362 1434

9. Familiepark Drievliet

This Hague amusement park is fun for the whole family! There are so many attractions to keep you entertained, including thrill rides, shows, and more. Take the family on one of nearly 20 family rides, including the Jungle River, Grand Prix Bumper Cars, Water Tower Slide, Ghost Museum, and Carousel.

For the little ones who may be too young to ride, there is an Old McDonald Tractor Ride, Jolly Jumper, Kindergarten Garden, and about ten other fun activities. For the thrill-seekers in the family, there are five deluxe rollercoasters sure to set your hair on edge.

For a calmer experience, participate in one of the few entertainment shows that take place daily. Whatever you decide to do, there's something for everyone at Drievliet!

Price: Mid-Range

Opening Hours: 10:00am-5:00pm Monday-Sunday

Watch out for: changing hours and closed attractions

Address and Telephone: Laan van’s-Gravenmade, 2495 Den Haag, NL, +31 070 399 9305

10. Panorama Mesdag

Dutch painter Hendrik Willem Mesdag, who has a museum dedicated to The Hague, is a very creative artist. In 1881, he painted an elaborate 360-degree panoramic of the fishing village, Scheveningen, and the adjacent sea and dunes.

The cylindrical picture is over 45 feet high and nearly 400 feet long. This is an incredible piece of art to watch, not only because of the beautiful drawing skills but also because images are an important part of Hague's history and culture.

There is a gazebo in the center where visitors can stand to get a panoramic view of the work, as well as appear as if they were in the picture themselves. Panorama Mesdag is quite the sight!

Price: Budget

Opening Hours: 10:00am-5:00pm Monday-Saturday, 11:00am-5:00pm Sunday

Watch out for: wheelchair access by appointment only

Address and Telephone: Zeestraat 65, 2518 AA Den Haag, NL, +31 070 310 6665

More ideals for you: Top 10 things to do in Koh Phangan

From : https://wikitopx.com/travel/top-10-things-to-do-in-the-hague-705601.html

[buddyrabrahams]

10 potential trade-up targets in the 2019 NFL Draft

The 2019 NFL Draft is approaching, which means all of the speculation, rumors and insider reports will come to an end and we’ll finally see exactly what each of the 32 general managers are thinking.

As part of that, we’ll likely see a flurry of trades, with many of those coming at the top of Round 1. But the jockeying won’t end there as teams contentiously wheel-and-deal in an effort to fortify their rosters. What players will they be trying to trade up for? We have an idea.

Here’s a look at 10 prospects who are most likely to be targeted in trade-up scenarios.

10. D.K. Metcalf, WR, Ole Miss

The overall feeling on Metcalf is mixed at best. Some have him projected to go in the top 10, others in the top 20, and more yet in the second round. It’s anyone’s guess where he eventually goes, but in the event Metcalf falls into the No. 20 range, someone is going to take a flier and not risk waiting for him to fall further. The Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers are all potential buyers in such a scenario, so keep an eye out for some late-Round 1 shakeups if Metcalf remains available at that point.

9. Jonah Williams, OL, Alabama

Jawaan Taylor is likely to be the first offensive lineman chosen in the draft, but Williams will be a close second. However, with a plethora of quarterbacks, edge rushers and even a top tier tight end, it’s possible Williams slips a bit and opens up opportunities for mid-round teams to move up into the top 15 for a shot at him. The further he falls, the more likely it is that a multitude of teams get involved, possibly even pushing Williams back closer to the No. 10 range. Either way, the Alabama product is a prime candidate to emerge as a trade-up option.

8. Clelin Ferrell, LB, Clemson

Ferrell may be just outside of the top group of edge rushers, who will all likely come off the board over the first 5-8 picks. That leaves him in the company of Florida State linebacker Brian Burns as potential mid-round options, where teams like the New York Giants, New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers may be hunting. And the closer he falls to the No. 15 – No. 17 picks, the more likely general managers are to stir knowing teams in that range may also be looking to land a quality edge rusher.

7. Quinnen Williams, DT, Alabama

Alongside Nick Bosa and Josh Allen, whom we’ll touch on later, Williams may become one of the most-targeted trade-up options in the 2019 NFL Draft. In any other draft, he very well could make the argument for No. 1 overall, but with some top-end quarterbacks and elite edge rushers, he may fall outside of the top 5. Of course, any needy team that sees him slipping to even the slightest degree could immediately pounce and take him around No. 5 or so, but in the off chance he falls even beyond that, trade talks will heat up substantially. Either way, expect a few teams to set their sights in Williams and attempt to move up for him.

6. Daniel Jones, QB, Duke

Jones is an interesting name because he was initially projected as QB4 in the draft, but as the three-day event approaches, some have boosted the quarterback’s stock and have him as high as QB2. One team may even have him as their top QB. How that shakes out remains to be seen, but it’s more likely the Duke gunslinger is QB3 in this draft and depending on what happens to Dwayne Haskins ahead of him, Jones could be left battling it out with Missouri’s Drew Lock later on in Round 1. If both Lock and Jones somehow slip by the Giants at No. 17, it will result in a feeding frenzy. Several of the NFL’s quarterback-needy teams could be looking to trade up from late Round 1 or early Round 2 for a shot at Jones or Lock.

5. Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State

Kyler Murray is considered by most to be QB1 in the 2019 NFL Draft, but even with his stock reportedly falling over the last several weeks, Haskins is still viewed as QB2 by the majority. And given the amount of quarterback-needy teams across the NFL, there’s little doubt the Ohio State gunslinger will become a draft-day trade target. Which team makes the most aggressive push remains to be seen, but if Haskins falls — especially if he slides by the Giants at No. 6 — you can guarantee phones will begin ringing off the hook. Even with other talent like Drew Lock and Daniel Jones available, Haskins likely settles into the 7-15 range, allowing teams lower in the draft order to take a shot at moving up.

4. T.J. Hockenson, TE, Iowa

When thinking about the 2019 NFL Draft, it’s hard not to focus on the quarterback class and the massive group of talented edge rushers. However, Hockenson is arguably among the very best players in this draft and could pique the interest of several teams up and down Round 1. Some of those teams include the New England Patriots, who lost Rob Gronkowski to retirement, the Detroit Lions, and possibly even the Denver Broncos or Jacksonville Jaguars. A mass interest come draft day could secure Hockenson as a top 10 pick, but that would absolutely require a trade up scenario. If the Jaguars and Lions aren’t confident in him falling, they could look to move up a spot or two. Meanwhile, other teams potentially interested in Hockenson may look to trade up ahead of Jacksonville and Detroit.

3. Josh Allen, LB, Kentucky

Allen is expected to be one of the first players off the board, which will potentially create a frenzy in the top 5 or possibly even in the top 3. And while such a universal talent would be appealing to all 32 NFL teams, some organizations like the New York Giants, Buffalo Bills and Atlanta Falcons are in dire need of just such a player. The Oakland Raiders, who sit at No. 4 overall, are also in the market for a quality pass rusher, so they could look to move up to secure Allen. However, other teams likely recognize that and could be inclined to move up ahead of Oakland if they view that as their only remaining shot to land one of the handful of elite edge rushers.

2. Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State

Similar to Josh Allen, Bosa is expected to go off the board early — even potentially at No. 1 to the Arizona Cardinals in the event they pass on Kyler Murray. However, if they don’t, it could create a wild trade scenario at No. 2 or No. 3, where teams further down in the draft order pay a hefty premium to trade up. Bosa is a player many believe to be the premier edge rusher available in the draft. Teams as close as the Raiders at No. 4 could look to move up, while the aforementioned Falcons, Bills and Giants could also seek to make a move. The Patriots could also explore a trade up, but Bill Belichick tends to be more prone to trade down. Plus, the draft capital required to move up that far is probably more than New England would be willing to part with.

1. Kyler Murray, QB, Oklahoma

If the Arizona Cardinals opt to stick with quarterback Josh Rosen and subsequently pass on Murray, he immediately becomes the most sought-after player in the NFL Draft. Teams could look to trade up to No. 1 for him or they could take a stab at the No. 2, No. 3 or No. 4 overall pick, where the San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets and Oakland Raiders reside. None of the teams from that trio are expected to target a quarterback, so all four of the top spots become prime targets. Even in the event the Cardinals do decide to take Murray, you can guarantee at least one team will still attempt to pry the No. 1 pick away from them.

from Larry Brown Sports http://bit.ly/2XvL4vN

[flauntpage]

Jayson Tatum is Learning on the Job

A few hours before he impersonated prime Paul Pierce by sucking all the oxygen out of Madison Square Garden with soul-shredding offensive combustion, the best 20-year-old basketball player in the world huddles inside his locker with a plate full of mouthwatering Italian fuel. Beneath a giant slice of garlic bread, generous spoonfuls of rigatoni border a few pink chunks of salmon oreganata. Jayson Tatum picks at his food, wearing short shorts that expose a pair of relatively new upper-thigh tattoos.

He’s taciturn, with hushed caution underlying every response. But, whether he enjoys the attention or still needs time to let it grow on him, Tatum's game demands it. By the end of the night, after he guides Boston to victory by scoring all six of their final points with less than a minute to go, it's hard not to think that even the most optimistic projections may have short-changed his developmental curve.

We’re one week into his second season, and Tatum is one of the most relevant and essential characters the NBA has. Last year's near-unprecedented playoff run, in which he dissected opponents with a reservoir of step backs, side-step threes, and furiously technical footwork that made defending him in space feel like one of the more fruitless duties in basketball, helped bring us here. And now, after four games, he leads the Celtics in points—he has four more than Kyrie Irving (on nine fewer shots)—rebounds, free throws, and minutes. But right now, in late October, the impressive-albeit-relatively-unreliable statistics he’s amassed carry less weight than how he looks tallying them.

I ask Tatum about a particular sequence from Boston's second game against the Toronto Raptors, when he appeared to course-correct in real time. His initial mistake came just a few minutes in, when Kawhi Leonard dropped a pocket pass to Serge Ibaka for an easy layup that should never have happened.

With Pascal Siakam—a non-threat from the outside—as his man, Tatum needed to impede Ibaka’s roll sooner than he did. “I knew I messed up when it happened,” he told VICE Sports. “So, nothing needed to be said. I should’ve been over there. I didn’t help. When it happened again, I was in the right place, right time.”

With just under five minutes to go in the second quarter, Tatum quickly realizes he's in a similar situation and drifts into the paint before Kyle Lowry can even think about threading the needle to a rolling Ibaka. Tatum ignores Siakam, who Irving picks up on a switch, and it's exactly what the Celtics want. Given where Siakam (who doesn’t play big) is on the floor—20 feet away from the rim, at the top of the key—there’s really no mismatch for Boston’s defense to worry about. Irving steals the ball.

“Once you make the mistake, you try not to let it happen again,” Tatum says. “Especially in the same game.”

Tatum is still prone to those defensive mistakes—be it with a late rotation along the back line, bungling a switch, getting beat backdoor, failing to box out, or over-helping off/fouling a quality jump shooter—but none of them can be attributed to poor effort. As someone who's responsible for a diverse collection of skill-sets and positions, from a possession-to-possession basis, the need to process information is constant. His wingspan and general awareness help make the learning process a bit more smooth than it'd otherwise be, though; physically, his on-ball progress is already evident in spurts.

“I think one of his key areas of emphasis has been core strength, so that he can play lower longer. Especially with the way the game is being called now, so you can’t wrap people and hold onto people, you’ve gotta be able to play low, you’ve gotta be able to play in a stance, so I think that’s the number one [area of growth],” Brad Stevens said before Tatum’s 24-point, 14-rebound performance against the Knicks. “You know, he’s always been a guy that can put the ball in the hoop and do a lot of positive things for your team, but he can get a lot better in a lot of areas and I think it all centers around that core strength.”

When you watch Tatum do things people his age don’t ever really do (that is, assume first-option responsibilities on a championship contender), it’s easy to overlook his development, how each day is a step towards some untold ceiling decorated with scoring titles, MVP consideration, and prestige as the most dangerous, fluid, and unruffled bucket-getter in the world. (Instead of Kyrie, Gordon Hayward, or even Al Horford, the Raptors stuck Kawhi on Tatum in crunch time on Friday night. That speaks volumes.) His isolations are way up in volume from last year—according to Synergy Sports, only eight players in the entire league have isolated more, so far—and his overall role is maturing from supplement to linchpin, with the second-highest usage rate on the team.

Even though he's missed 14 of his 19 three-point attempts this season—he shot 43.4 percent as a rookie—Tatum's individual potency refuses to lie dormant. He exists in two states: slow boil and merciless eruption, and is so comfortable in the mid-range, with a confidence that reinforces itself every time he drills a baseline fadeaway from behind the backboard, or uses the guile of a warhorse to casually draw fouls 18 feet from the basket. Tatum's shot selection is imperfect but necessary: There's no time like the present to let him explore all the dimensions of an offensive repertoire that foreshadows some kind of basketball doomsday. He's unhurried in the post, curling off a screen, in-and-out dribbling his way into a pull-up dart, or Euro-step-finishing at the rim. Everything he does looks so damn easy.

There are dozens of examples from the past four games alone, but just look how calm he is creating and then sustaining separation against arguably the most athletic wing defender in the entire league, as the clock nears zero. He doesn't rush.

There's more to offense than scoring, though, and for Tatum to reach his own summit he'll need to read defensive coverages and combine authoritative vision with unselfish decisions. He hasn't been asked to make plays for others in Stevens's offense, but that day, along with inevitable double and triple teams, will eventually come. Throughout his rookie regular season, Tatum did not complete a single lob pass as the ball-handler to a rolling big. But here he is on Monday night, setting Daniel Theis up with a perfect pass as the lone starter in a bench unit. Plays like this—where he takes his time, gets Terrence Ross on his backside, and baits Mo Bamba into no man's land—show how the game is slowing down for him.

Back inside Madison Square Garden's visitor's locker room, Tatum looks down at his plate. “I’m a lot more comfortable and relaxed than I was last year,” he says. “I know what to expect.” Now, when they square off against a Celtics team that already has so many different weapons ready to go off at any time, so too must every other team in the NBA. Tatum's growing pains won't last forever.

Jayson Tatum is Learning on the Job published first on https://footballhighlightseurope.tumblr.com/

[thrashermaxey]

Dobber’s Offseason Fantasy Grades 2018: Toronto Maple Leafs

Dobber's offseason fantasy hockey grades – Toronto Maple Leafs

  For the last 15 years (12 with The Hockey News, last year’s via pinch-hitter Cam Robinson) Dobber has reviewed each team from a fantasy-hockey standpoint and graded them.

The 16th annual review will appear here on DobberHockey throughout the summer. This is not a review of the likely performance on the ice or in the standings, but in the realm of fantasy hockey.

Enjoy!

  * * Buy the 13th annual DobberHockey Fantasy Guide here – always updated and you can download immediately * * 

  Gone – Matt Martin, Roman Polak, Leo Komarov, Tyler Bozak, Tomas Plekanec, James van Riemsdyk, GM Lou Lamoriello

  Incoming – Tyler Ennis, Josh Jooris, Adam Cracknell, Par Lindholm, Igor Ozhiganov, GM Kyle Dubas, and some other minor signing I can’t recall off the top of my head…

  Impact of changes – Bringing in John Tavares upgrades an already-talented forward group and gives the Maple Leafs two lines of high-end scoring threats. He is a 50 percent scoring upgrade to van Riemsdyk and his arrival also pushes the skilled Nazem Kadri down to the third line. Not only is Kadri an effective checker, but he can still put points on the board despite being given that role, which has the domino effect of giving Toronto a third threat.

You will note a lot of players leaving the team this offseason and not many coming in. That, of course, means that youth will again be served. Toronto now (finally) has a nice conveyor belt of prospects ready to be brought in each year and fill different holes. In this case, many of these prospects were probably ready a year ago, or in midseason.

Critics will be quick to point to the team’s lack of addressing the obvious need – defense. And this has been the source of many long, not-always-sober, conversations with friends over the past month or two. I always challenge them to find a defenseman who will solve the Leafs’ problems even a little bit – and how the Leafs will get that defenseman. The answer is – they can’t. None make it to free agency, and none are being offered up in trade. They need to be homegrown. This is why Toronto’s last two top picks were Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin. So instead, the team will do what it does best – score goals and rely on its goaltender. And despite what anyone argues, Frederick Andersen is a Top 5 goalie. Playoffs are another matter, but in fantasy hockey he is a young, reliable, safe guarantee.

One more thought on the Ennis signing. I saw many pundits and writers calling this a “great signing” and “nice to give him a chance at that price”. And I respond with this – this is not “a chance”. This is a “doomed to fail” contract. At such a low price point on such a deep team, Ennis is almost guaranteed to be scratched or buried on a checking line, where he’ll be useless. To truly be given a chance, he needs 10 games on one of the top two lines, and my money is on him not getting that. He is a spare part who will be improperly used…and I sure hope I am wrong, because I’ve always liked him (i.e. small, skilled).

  Ready for full-time – Andreas Johnsson dominated the AHL in his second full season there (54 points in 54 games), then he made a strong impression playing a couple of different roles for the Leafs during the regular season. After that, he had a pretty good showing during the tough NHL playoff hockey. This season he has to clear waivers in order to be sent down. Needless to say – he won’t. So he’s on this team no matter how terrible his camp will be, and it’s pretty safe to bet that it won’t be terrible. There are several options regarding who will play on Tavares’ other wing if you subscribe to the theory that Mitch Marner will be on one side. Johnsson is a candidate to play on the other side, though my guess is he won’t get that shot for a month or two. Still, that makes him worth of a late draft pick and hold on your bench for two months in most leagues. (Read Johnsson’s scouting profile here)

Par Lindholm finished fourth in SHL scoring last season and he is also strong at the faceoff circle and is responsible in his own end. He is penciled in as the fourth-line center because he turns 27 in October and he’s likely not crossing the pond to play for the Marlies. He’s a little on the small side so his work ethic will determine his success at the NHL level. (Read Lindholm’s scouting profile here)

Kasperi Kapanen also has to clear waivers in order to be sent down, so there’s no way that will happen. Last year he was ready to play in the NHL but the fact that he didn’t have to clear waivers factored into the decision to send him down. However, when he was called up as an injury replacement he quickly made himself irreplaceable and has solidified himself as a great checking-line player who can create offense and move up and down the lineup in whatever manner he is needed. As a result, you can probably expect his production to come in spurts in the year ahead. (Read Kapanen's scouting profile here)

Travis Dermott was recalled from the Marlies in mid-January and the Leafs couldn’t send him back down because he was head and shoulders better than the bottom two or three defensemen they had on the roster. Dermott saw careful, sheltered minutes and I would expect more of the same as he eventually works his way into the Top 4 perhaps as early as next season. (Read Dermott's scouting profile here)

Calvin Pickard and Garret Sparks are coming off ridiculously-good AHL campaigns that saw Sparks when the AHL’s goalie of the year award and Pickard playing nearly as well. Pickard has a solid 87 NHL games under his belt already (0.913 SV%) and both goaltenders could find themselves on new teams. A likely scenario is that one is traded, while the other takes the backup role if Curtis McElhinney stumbles early on. (Read Sparks' scouting profile here)

Igor Ozhiganov is a KHL defenseman who the Leafs have been going after for a long time. He’ll be 26 in the fall and it’s hard to imagine that he sees time in the AHL this season. He is a stay-at-home defenseman with good size and strength and could be just what the Leafs have been lacking.

  Toronto Maple Leafs prospect depth chart and fantasy upsides can be found here (not yet ready for mobile viewing, desktop only right now)

  Fantasy Outlook – The Leafs were tied for second in goals scored last season and they just upgraded JVR with JT. Furthermore, most of the key players on the team are in their early 20s and not even close to their prime yet. The prospect pipeline, after years of neglect, is finally doing well – especially from a fantasy standpoint. If one of the players I owned was traded to Toronto my first reaction would definitely be a fist pump.

  Fantasy Grade: A+ (last year was A)

    Pick up the 13th annual DobberHockey Fantasy Hockey Guide here (released August 1 and updated recently)

OR

Get the Fantasy Guide and the Prospects Report as part of a package and save$8.00 – here!

    Other Offseason Fantasy Outlooks:

  Fantasy Outlook for the Anaheim Ducks

Fantasy Outlook for the Arizona Coyotes

Fantasy Outlook for the Boston Bruins

Fantasy Outlook for the Buffalo Sabres

Fantasy Outlook for the Calgary Flames

Fantasy Outlook for the Carolina Hurricanes

Fantasy Outlook for the Chicago Blackhawks

Fantasy Outlook for the Colorado Avalanche

Fantasy Outlook for the Columbus Blue Jackets

Fantasy Outlook for the Dallas Stars

Fantasy Outlook for the Detroit Red Wings

Fantasy Outlook for the Edmonton Oilers

Fantasy Outlook for the Florida Panthers

Fantasy Outlook for the Los Angeles Kings

Fantasy Outlook for the Minnesota Wild

Fantasy Outlook for the Montreal Canadiens

Fantasy Outlook for the Nashville Predators

Fantasy Outlook for the New Jersey Devils

Fantasy Outlook for the New York Islanders

Fantasy Outlook for the New York Rangers

Fantasy Outlook for the Ottawa Senators

Fantasy Outlook for the Philadelphia Flyers

Fantasy Outlook for the Pittsburgh Penguins

Fantasy Outlook for the San Jose Sharks

Fantasy Outlook for the St. Louis Blues

Fantasy Outlook for the Tampa Bay Lightning

    from All About Sports https://dobberhockey.com/hockey-home/the-dobotomy/dobbers-offseason-fantasy-grades-2018-toronto-maple-leafs/

[wiersema1]

Those that know me best know that college football is truly my favorite sport. You know what gets me pumped for college football season? I absolutely L-O-V-E ESPN’s countdown of their Top 25 Games of last season. They do this every year in July and August as they prep for the upcoming season on the gridiron. When they started their countdown, I happened to catch the 23rd best game of 2016, #23 Florida St. at #10 Miami from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, FL.

By the way, have you seen the revamped Hard Rock Stadium? Hard Rock Stadium might confuse you, but this is the place that used to be known under the following seven names: Joe Robbie Stadium, Pro Player Park, Pro Player Stadium, Dolphin Stadium, Land Shark Stadium, and Sun Life Stadium. For the first time, it is finally a great looking park. They added a partial roof which must help against that scorching Florida sun. Anyway, it looks like a place I’d enjoy checking out a game.

Someday. But for now, I’m driving my son to closer stadiums. This Autumn…..Purdue in West Lafayette, Indiana where we’ll see the beloved Huskers of Nebraska at Purdue on October 28.

I know……..not too exciting but it’s all part of seeing each and every B1G stadium. So far I’ve been to games at Iowa, Michigan, Northwestern, Wisconsin, and of course Nebraska and Illinois. I’ve also been to Minnesota and Indiana on non-game days. So that leaves us with Ohio St., Penn St., Maryland, Michigan St., Rutgers, and of course, Purdue.

So here is the list of ESPN’s Top 25 games of 2016:

#25 – Florida St. 45 vs Ole Miss 34 – An offensive explosion. The QB’s in this one, Deondre Francois for FSU and Chad Kelly for Ole Miss inspired both teams to dream of the National Championship. Unfortunately for Ole Miss, Kelly was injured in his 9th game. They went 4-5 in his 9 starts but the offense wasn’t the problem for the Rebels. Their defense allowed 34.0 ppg! As for Francois, he played like a freshman at times, but a wonderfully talented freshman. Going into ’17, Francois is a Heisman contender and FSU is a National Championship contender, starting the season ranked #3.

#24 – Toledo 53 at BYU 55 – Brigham Young’s RB Jamaal Williams ran for 286 yards and 5 TD in this crazy 55-53 victory. This brought back shades of the ‘Wild Wild WAC’ days of yesteryear.

#23 – Pittsburgh 36 at North Carolina 37 – Both Pitt and UNC played in plenty of tight games in ’16. This one was no different.

#22 – Alabama 10 at LSU 0 – I don’t remember watching this one last year (or this year). Maybe I’m just all “Bama’d” out. Does this ten to nothing shutout surprise you? This was a typical SEC slobberknocker, I’m guessing.

#21 – N.C. State 17 at Clemson 24 (OT) – How many tight games did Clemson win in 2016? They won seven games by 7 points or less. They lost one. Spoiler alert! They finished as National Champions with a 14-1 record. That makes tight victories like this all the more important. When the Wolfpack took them to Overtime last October, it improved a shaky Clemson team to 7-0 with 4 tight wins. Most people were wondering what in the world was going on with them. I’ll tell you what was going on. They were forging bonds during tough, hard-fought wins that ultimately propelled them to legends.

#20 Central Michigan 30 at Oklahoma St. 27 – Games like this are what makes college football a special game. Remember this one? CMU threw a Hail Mary after Okie St. was penalized for throwing the ball out-of-bounds on a 4th down as time ran out. The refs wrongly gave CMU one un-timed down because of the Cowboys intentional grounding. So what do you think was gonna happen? Central Michigan caught the Hail Mary, the WR ran it all the way into the end zone after catching it in play and making an incredible run. CMU won! As for Oklahoma State?…….Talk about getting hosed!!!! They finished 11-2……I mean 10-3 doh! The NCAA referees acknowledged their mistake after the game but to no avail. You can’t open up Pandora’s box afterwards.

PS: A similar play happened here in Illinois in the IHSA high school state playoffs between Fenwick and Plainfield North. I know! What is wrong with these referees! If you don’t know for sure, get out the rulebook and consult with IHSA officials or Athletic Directors or somebody before you end up forcing a judge to sit through a courtroom case brought about by a lawsuit. In this case, Fenwick got hosed, losing 18-17 in OT! I can’t believe this really happened twice within a couple of months! Who got screwed more? I vote for Fenwick. They lost a playoff game whereas Oklahoma St. only lost a non-conference game that luckily, ultimately, didn’t derail their championship hopes. As for Fenwick, I’ll be cheering for them this Autumn.

#19 LSU 13 at Auburn 18 – Oh my God! Reliving these fantastic games is wonderful. Remember this one? In what turned out to be Coach Les “The Hat” Miles’ last game as LSU head coach, the Tigers (which one?) thought they threw a game-ending 15 yard TD pass. But wait! The officials reviewed it and determined that the snap on the last play was too late. The game clock had indeed just barely run out before the Tigers’ (which one?) center snapped the ball prior to the miraculous game winner. So who won? The Tigers……naturally. (ICYMI, Auburn’s ‘War Eagle’ won……naturally rather than the LSU “Geaux” Tigers. People wonder why our youth are so confused. I’m confused both reading AND writing this column. Whatever man, “This is the SEC!” I could probably delve into a whole sub-article here about academics in the B1G (Big Ten) vs the SEC but I’ll spare you.) Thanks Dutch!

#18 Ohio St. 30 at Wisconsin 23 (OT) – This was a solid B1G game. This column is getting too long so I’ll refrain from commenting on this one. Oh wait. I have a question for you: Is “Jump Around” a tradition? I mean, this tradition started based on a lousy 90s rap/crap/hip-hop song from 1992? Is that a tradition? Maybe the B1G is dumber, and closer to the SEC, than I thought. I know what you’re thinking……all my Wisky friends are enraged and throwing a fit right now, and possibly “unfollowing” the Dutch Lion concurrently.

#17 Florida St. 20 at Miami 19 – This one brought back memories of earlier games in this once national series but 2016’s edition was not a truly fantastic matchup. It’s good clean hate but it lacks the buildup of what it once was…..one of the greatest meaningful rivalries that the entire nation watched with eyes wide open. Did someone say “wide”, as in “Wide Right!”?

#16 Michigan 13 at Iowa 14 – Great game! Michigan had a perfect 9-0 record, ranked #2 going into Iowa City. Iowa was #1 (you’re dreaming again, of 1985!) In 2016 Iowa was unranked but primed for an upset of Jim Harbaugh. Is Iowa Jim Harbaugh’s kryptonite? Nonetheless, outside of the Hawkeyes current struggles, it was “Shades of 1985!” Seriously, it was eerie. Here’s a column I wrote last Autumn, detailing one of my all-time favorite college games that made me love the sport forever:

“How weird is it that Iowa beat Michigan 14-13 in almost the same way with almost the same score as when they beat Michigan 12-10 in 1985????

My favorite upset of the day was definitely Iowa over Michigan because it brought back so many memories of the epic 1985 #1 vs #2 matchup in Iowa City. It was October 19, 1985. I remember that day well for being 31 years ago. It’s like “Back to the Future”. I was a 10-year-old raking leaves on a cloudy, overcast, rainy October day in the Midwest.

The weather in Iowa City, IA was pretty much the same as Lake Zurich, IL on that day. You had CBS, you had Brent Musburger, you had Chuck Long quarterbacking one team while Jim Harbaugh QB’d the other. Boy, Chuck Long had an arm, huh! You could hear the pads popping the way they did in that era, especially when you had a wet field. For some reason, the pads “popped” differently back then.

You had Ronnie Harmon and Larry Station. I mean seriously, how GOOD was Ronnie Harmon! You had Jamie Morris. You had Bo Schembechler vs Hayden Fry! You had NO instant replay and Iowa’s #87 Scott Helverson got HOSED in the back of the end zone.

You had Rob Houghtlin, making 4 of 5 FG’s including the game winner for Iowa to win 12-10. He was allowed to use the tee. Do you guys remember that placekickers were allowed to use tees? I know, right?

You had that weird moment in time in which the QB could “complain” to the refs about crowd noise and the ref would actually STOP the game and tell the crowd to be quiet so that the QB could communicate with his teammates. I KNOW, RIGHT! Can you believe this actually was a rule for a brief moment in time?!? (I need to look into that further. Did the NFL impose that rule? For how many years? How subjective was it?) Harbaugh was complaining to the refs for parts of that game that made it drag. It was SUPER DUMB! What were the refs supposed to do? Do they penalize Iowa for….the fans being too loud? I want an ESPN 30 for 30 short about this strange story.

Nonetheless, don’t let that ruin your experience. It ended up being such a great day for the Big Ten, for College Football on CBS, for Ara Parseghian (God bless his soul as he just recently passed away) as the “color” man next to Brent. It was great for our Nation’s Heartland. Remember the struggles of the farming community in the mid-80s? Iowa’s farmers actually had an “ANF” logo on the Iowa helmets…..”America Needs Farmers”. I know, right!

Add it all up and it almost makes you want to become an Iowa fan……well, it wasn’t THAT cool 😉  I’m just kidding. It was really, really cool and near the top of my list of cool 80s college football memories.”

(For some reason, footage of this great game is hard to find. Stephen Barnett has most of the old great games posted as FULL games on Youtube.) Thank you Stephen. You’re a video God.)

1985 looks about the same as….

Iowa 14 Michigan 13 in 2016.

#15 North Carolina 37 at Florida St. 35 – I don’t think I watched this one live, unlike most of the games on this list. Now that the Bears drafted Mitch Trubisky, I have extra interest. Check it out and scout #10 in powder blue!

#14 Arkansas 41 at TCU 38 (2OT)

#13 Army 21 vs Navy 17 – This rivalry is so special. Lately, Navy wins almost every year. Not last year. Army broke a long, 14 game losing streak, winning 21-17. I watch it just to see the passion of the cadets and the midshipmen. Who cares who wins? Well, Army and Navy vets do. My buddy Bush is an Army guy. “Go Army, Beat Navy!” My buddy Thomas Sullivan Magnum, P.I. is a Navy guy. “Go Navy, Beat Army!”

#12 Tennessee 38 at Texas A&M 45 (2OT) – Another nutty game. Go watch it. You’ll see.

#11 Orange Bowl: Florida St. 33 vs Michigan 32 – I remember Michigan DE Taco Charlton ripping guys heads off. FSU won on Francois’s game-winning TD pass with 36 seconds left.

#10 Clemson 37 at Florida St. 34 – Fantastic game! The Tigers and Seminoles have such a long-lasting rivalry and it continues to play out better than ever the last few years. Both are National Title contenders as of late and they always seem to play tight ballgames. This is one of the newest great rivalries that isn’t getting enough hype. The winner of this game has won the ACC Atlantic Division Championship how many years in a row? The answer is 8. Every year since 2009. Each team has won 4 times. It’s probably gonna happen again in 2017, this time in Death Valley, South Carolina on November 11. Look for this year’s version to make next year’s Top 25……again.

#9 Alabama 48 at Ole Miss 43 – The Ole Miss Rebels seem to be the only team that can hang with the Crimson Tide the last few years. Last year, Ole Miss had a huge 24-3 lead, but then what happened? Oh, you know!

#8 Ohio St. 21 at Penn St. 24 – I was all geared up for this one. Good game in the 3rd quarter. Then all of a sudden the Chicago Cubs won the NL for the first time since 1945. All the local stations including ABC-7 (the only station showing OSU at PSU) decided they had to show the bozos celebrating in the streets. Ok. I’ll watch that for a minute or two. But ruin the entire, amazing 4th quarter comeback by PSU in Happy Valley? Call me furious! What a shame. Thanks for ruining an electric game atmosphere by showing people looting and pouring beers all over their idiot friends because their lovable losers finally won a league for the first time in 72 years. PSU! More like P-U. You stink!

#7 Notre Dame 47 at Texas 50 (2OT) – Good opening weekend capper on Labor Day weekend. Who is better, Malik Zaire or DeShone Kizer? Hmmmmm. Kizer threw for 5 TD. Zaire……he stunk more than Cubs fans. Who stunk more than Zaire? Head Coach Brian Kelly! If he had just declared Kizer the starter prior to the game, they may have avoided not only this loss but 7 others throughout that disastrous 2016 season. Coaches have off years too. Kelly admits he did a poor job in ’16. Another bad year soon and as the Hawk says, “He Gone!”

#6 Tennessee 34 at Georgia 31 – I’ve seen the end a billion times, but I’m still dying to watch the entire game that led up to that crazy ending. I have it saved on the DVR. Both teams’ fans were dumbstruck in the last minute. Spoiler alert…..not one but two Hail Mary’s!!!

#5 Louisville 36 at Clemson 42 – This game had one of the greatest buildups I’ve ever seen on television! Did you watch this? It was an ABC Saturday Night classic. Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit were there and ABC showed the traditional Clemson run down the hill and touching Howard’s Rock. What made this one unique was ABC had cameras outside in the street showing the bus that drove the players and Coach Dabo Swinney to the entrance gates above Howard’s Rock. Incredible intensity! (start watching at about 10 minutes in until at least the end of Louisville’s 1st series at about 21 minutes in) I felt like I was there. Honestly, the crowd and atmosphere brewed up one of the top experiences I’ve ever seen on TV. I had it saved preciously on my AT&T U-Verse DVR until those AT&T bozos screwed up and lost all my recordings earlier this Summer. Thanks AT&T! Rather, thank god for Youtube. I NEED to attend a Clemson night game someday to experience this in person. Nonetheless, this game at #5 on the countdown, will live in my memory, hopefully forever.

#4 Pittsburgh 43 at Clemson 42 – How many times was Clemson on this Top 25 list? The answer is five, with four in the top 10! That’s insane and hard to believe. That’s what makes them all the more important, knowing that they won the Championship. When DeShaun Watson threw a late interception on a bad pass into the end zone, I recall thinking, “DeShaun will just not be a good pro QB”. Then as the NFL Draft approached, I desperately wanted the Chicago Bears to take Watson 3rd overall. As it turned out, I’m really happy the Bears selected North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky. Meanwhile, Houston drafted Watson and the whole time since, I keep thinking about that Pitt interception.

#3 Michigan 27 at Ohio St. 30 (2OT) – Wow! This was a really great game. Double Overtime!! Incredibly tough defense throughout most of the game as regulation ended with a 17-17 tie. Ohio St. won 30-27 with some controversial measurements, penalty calls, LACK of penalty calls. Everyone was talking about Coach Jim Harbaugh’s ranting on the sidelines. Well, he’s a Bo Schembechler guy and after some of these referees calls, Jimmy is http://widgets.boxxspring.com/MjA1NSw0MDUzNzM1OA” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>bitter…..bitter!

I don’t blame Harbaugh. I would’ve been stretched to my limits if I was a Michigan man too. We’re already beginning to see shades of the “Ten Year War”! Depending on the length of the Harbaugh/Meyer Era, we have just embarked on what will likely go down as the “Ten Year War: Part 2”. So far, Urban Meyer leads 2-0. When will Harbaugh “put one on the board”? I’m betting on ’17. The game is in Ann Arbor on November 25.

  #2 Rose Bowl: Penn St. 49 vs USC 52 – This could’ve been the best game of the year. Every time I watch and re-watch I’m just amazed by this nutty game. Ultimately, Trace McSorley was a little too aggressive, throwing 3 interceptions and showing his sophomore inexperience as PSU’s first time starting quarterback as they were outscored 17-0 in the 4th quarter. Meanwhile, over on the other sideline USC sophomore QB Sam Darnold was proving why he’s a top option for next year’s NFL Draft. He threw for 453 yards and 5 TD in one of the all-time greatest Rose Bowls.

#1 National Championship: Clemson 35 vs Alabama 31 – ‘Bama hardly ever loses. But when they do, it’s so much fun to enjoy! Hunter Renfrow’s game-winner with 1 second left was the stuff dreams are made of. Congratulations to Watson, Renfrow, Dabo Swinney, and all of the Clemson Tigers fans who have waited since 1981 to experience that National Championship feeling all over again.

So there you have it. Another amazing season. What does 2017 have for us? It all starts this week. Pumped much?

A Summer Tradition: ESPN’s Top 25 College Football Games from last season! Those that know me best know that college football is truly my favorite sport. You know what gets me pumped for college football season?

[junker-town]

EA Sports should add these 20 classic teams to its NHL video games

Wouldn’t you want to play the 2001 Avalanche against the 1985 Oilers?

One of the coolest things about 2K Sports’ NBA 2K series is its use of classic teams. Over the years, they’ve included countless teams from basketball’s history into the game, allowing you to match, say, the Magic Johnson-led Lakers against LeBron James’ Heat.

Part of what makes this work so well is that the NBA is full of legendary players and teams. People still talk about Michael Jordan today even though he won his last championship nearly two decades ago. Who wouldn’t want to see how modern teams might stack up against those unbeatable Celtics squads from the 1960s?

This is something EA Sports should straight up steal for its NHL franchise.

One of the things I’ve noticed about EA Sports’ NHL games over the years is that they don’t quite seem to realize how a lot of hardcore fans operate. The game’s franchise mode has never gotten enough love, and any dedicated NHL follower can tell you about how the games’ ratings make little sense. It’s a good hockey game, but one that doesn’t recognize how deep into the roster-building and culture fans can be. Increasingly, if you want to enjoy NHL, playing online with friends is the way to go.

There are a number of ways the franchise could address this, but adding classic teams into the game would be an extremely easy one. EA Sports already has the rights deals in place with the NHL, NHLPA, and various other professional leagues for its game. Presumably it could expand that to add retired players into the game.

Given the rich history of hockey, there are countless teams that would be a blast to include in the game, especially when you consider how the sport has changed over the years. Could the high-flying Oilers of the mid-80s get stifled by the tough neutral zone play of the late-90s Devils? Now you and your friends could try to answer that firsthand in the game. It’s just one possibility out of countless others.

With that in mind, here are 20 teams from NHL history that we’d love to see in an upcoming game from EA Sports. Maybe it’s too late to include this in NHL 18, which is set to be released Sept. 15, but it would make for an incredible patch or addition to a subsequent edition of the franchise. Feel free to offer other suggestions in the comments!

1951-52 Detroit Red Wings

One of NHL’s first great teams behind Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay in their primes. The team also included future Hall of Famers Sid Abel, Red Kelly, Alex Delvecchio, Marcel Pronovost, and Terry Sawchuk.

1955-56 Montreal Canadiens

A great example of those dominant Montreal teams of the era behind Jean Beliveau, Maurice “Rocket” Richard, Henri Richard, Doug Harvey, Bert Olmstead, Bernie Geoffrion, Jacques Plante, and Dickie Moore.

1969-70 Boston Bruins

Led by arguably the greatest defenseman of all-time, Bobby Orr, and an in-his-prime Phil Esposito, nobody could match Boston’s star power in the early 70s.

1974-75 Philadelphia Flyers

The Broad Street Bullies were a force in the 70s behind Bobby Clarke, Bill Barber, and Bernie Parent. This was the first of back-to-back seasons in which Clarke led the NHL in assists.

1976-77 Montreal Canadiens

One of the most dominant seasons ever, the Canadiens won 60 games, led the league in goals for and goals against, and swept the Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final. They had nine future Hall of Famers, including Guy Lafleur and Ken Dryden.

1981-82 New York Islanders

Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, Clark Gillies, and Denis Potvin helped lead the Islanders to four straight Stanley Cups from 1980-83. This team was the best of the bunch, with Bobby and Trottier combining for 276 points.

1984-85 Edmonton Oilers

Voted the best team of all-time by fans earlier this year, the Oilers are a go-to example for why classic teams would be amazing. Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson, and Paul Coffey? C’mon.

1985-86 Hartford Whalers

You can’t do classic teams without including one of the most classic name/logo combinations in history. The Whalers were never great, but this 1986 team led by Ron Francis, Kevin Dineen, Ray Ferraro, Dave Babych, and Sylvain Turgeon pushed Montreal to seven games in the second round after sweeping Quebec in the first round. “Brass Bonanza” time!

1988-89 Calgary Flames

One of the last great Canadian teams before the recent run of dominance by American franchises, the Flames rode Doug Gilmour, Joe Mullen, Joe Nieuwendyk, and Al MacInnis to 54 wins and a Stanley Cup.

1990-91 Minnesota North Stars

One of the weirdest teams in history, the North Stars were 12 games below .500 in the regular season, but reached Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Penguins. The season didn’t end in glory, but a young Mike Modano helped turn in one of the craziest seasons ever.

1991-92 Pittsburgh Penguins

You couldn’t have classic teams without including Mario Lemieux at least once. The 1992 team wasn’t good defensively, but it didn’t matter with Lemeiux, Joe Mullen, Larry Murphy, Mark Recchi, Jaromir Jagr, Paul Coffey, Ron Francis, Bryan Trottier, Rick Tocchet, and Kevin Stevens. I imagine this team would be rather popular.

1993-94 New York Rangers

The 1994 Rangers caught lightning in a bottle under coach Mike Keenan. Led on defense by Sergei Zubov and Brian Leetch, this was a tough team to score against. They also had some big-time veterans in Mark Messier, Steve Larmer, and Mike Gartner.

1994-95 Quebec Nordiques

The Nordiques were on the brink of something special in the team’s final season before moving to Colorado, where it won the Stanley Cup in 1996. Maybe fans from Quebec would prefer not to remember losing young Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg right before they’d take over the league, but they’d be a fun inclusion.

1998-99 Dallas Stars

Was Brett Hull’s foot in the crease? Who cares, being able to play with him, Mike Modano, and Joe Nieuwendyk with Ed Belfour in goal would be great. Now you could also play with young Modano and in-his-prime Modano, depending on your mood.

1999-00 New Jersey Devils

The Devils weren’t always thrilling to watch, but their system worked to perfection in 2000 en route to a Stanley Cup. You’d get young Patrik Elias, Scott Gomez, and Petr Sykora, although the main attraction would be Martin Brodeur between the pipes.

2000-01 Colorado Avalanche

The team that finally ended Ray Bourque’s Stanley Cup drought, the 2001 Avalanche were loaded. Joe Sakic, Peter Forsberg, and Patrick Roy were still in their primes, plus they had young versions of Milan Hejduk, Alex Tanguay, and Chris Drury.

2001-02 Detroit Red Wings

There were a lot of Red Wings teams in this era to choose from, but we’ll go with the 2002 team that was loaded with experienced future Hall of Famers. Detroit’s top eight scorers were all over 30 years old, but all eight are legends: Brendan Shanahan, Sergei Federov, Brett Hull, Nicklas Lidstrom, Luc Robitaille, Steve Yzerman, Igor Larionov, and Chris Chelios. Next on the list? A young Pavel Datsyuk. Oh, and the goalie was Dominik Hasek. Jeez.

2006-07 Anaheim Ducks

The 2007 Ducks were an incredible group. They had a Hall of Fame top defensive pairing with Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger, plus Teemu Selanne was still at the height of his powers. Toss in younger versions of Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, and you got quite the team.

2008-09 Pittsburgh Penguins

Yes, you can still play with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, but it’d be fun to go back to the first great team of this era in Pittsburgh.

2009-10 Chicago Blackhawks

The team that ended Chicago’s 49-year Stanley Cup drought has gotta be on here. The Blackhawks were incredibly deep behind the young combination of Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews.

BONUS IDEAS: The 1980 United States and Soviet Union national teams

I have no idea if it would even be feasible to get the rights to Soviet jerseys and player likenesses, not to mention the amateurs on Team USA, but including the Miracle on Ice rosters would be extremely cool. The 1980 Soviet team is widely considered one of the greatest ever assembled, and its upset in those Olympics is arguably the biggest moment in hockey history.

[junker-town]

NHL Mid-Season Status Report: The road ahead for Western Conference playoff favorites

How will the weak West be won?

With the All-Star break behind us, the NHL will rev its engines and take off on Tuesday, hurtling full-speed down the final stretch to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

So it’s only right that we take a step back and assess where the playoff races are at, and how we got there. The first of our four status reports begins with the eight teams currently holding down playoff spots in the Western Conference. A few of them are just hanging on by a thread.

Read on to find out how the NHL Western Conference contenders got here and how they can hold off all comers down the stretch.

Central Division leaders

Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Wild (32-11-5, 69 pts)

Status: First in the Western Conference. First in the Central. Clear of the final Wild Card spot by 16 points.

Outlook: Well, Bruce Boudreau can still coach during the regular season! With Devan Dubnyk playing in Vezina Trophy form, more scoring depth than usual and a more robust defensive presence, Minnesota is the class of the Central and ready for a deeper playoff run than ever.

Second-half goal: Prove that the first half wasn’t a fluke. Minnesota’s remarkable win streak in mid-December happened because the Wild’s scoring finally caught up to the high play of their defending, special teams and goaltending. The key is to keep that coalescence going for another three months.

Trade Deadline plans: Now is the right time for the Wild to swing for an impact player, whether that’s a scoring forward or a playmaking defenseman. Bet that GM Chuck Fletcher will be busy trying to give his team an extra something before the playoffs.

Chicago Blackhawks (30-16-5, 65 pts)

Status: Second in the Western Conference. Second in the Central. Clear of the playoff bubble by 12 points.

Outlook: Even when Chicago doesn’t feel that strong, they still wind up near the top of the Western Conference with a playoff berth all but assured by mid-season. Marian Hossa hasn’t slowed down, while Jonathan Toews is starting to emerge from hibernation. This is a team primed to succeed in the second half.

Second-half goal: Keep integrating their young players with their established stars until you find a nice balance. Vinnie Hinostroza, Tanner Kero, and Nick Schmaltz have shown glimpses of their potential. Let them nail it down.

Trade Deadline plans: One of those youngsters will probably head elsewhere at the deadline when the Blackhawks acquire a forward. Like they do every season, with varying degrees of success.

Nashville Predators (24-17-8, 56 pts)

Status: Sixth in the Western Conference. Third in the Central. Clear of the playoff bubble by 3 points.

Outlook: Rounding into form. Nashville earned 18 points after the holiday break with seven wins in their last nine games before the All-Star Break. The reason? They’ve gotten back to good old Preds defensive hockey, dropping a 2.25 GA/G down after averaging about 2.75 GA/G before the holiday break. They’re rolling.

Second-half goal: Keep enabling the Arvidssance. How nice must it be for the Predators to rely on three forwards to score instead of one? Viktor Arvidsson is developing into a playmaking hassle for opponents, and Nashville should keep leaning into that.

Trade Deadline plans: But they could still use an extra hand up front. If there are goal-scoring wingers or centers to be had (see: Matt Duchene, Thomas Vanek, or Patrick Sharp) then Nashville should inquire.

Pacific Division leaders

Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

San Jose Sharks (31-17-2, 64 pts)

Status: Third in the Western Conference. First in the Pacific. Clear of the playoff bubble by 11 points.

Outlook: Nice to know that Peter DeBoer’s first run and near-Cup win as Sharks coach wasn’t a fluke This is the best team in the Western Conference until proven otherwise.

Second-half goal: Identify the biggest fish at the deadline and toss a mile-wide net at it. This could be the last shot for Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. Swing hard at Gabriel Landeskog, Matt Duchene or anyone else made available at the deadline who can make a real different in a playoff series.

Trade Deadline plans: See above.

Edmonton Oilers (28-15-8, 64 pts)

Status: Fourth in the Western Conference. Second in the Pacific. Clear of the playoff bubble by 11 points.

Outlook: Wow. The team that drafted Connor McDavid is suddenly a playoff contender two years later. Amazing. That’s selling Peter Chiarelli short, though: moves like the Hall-for-Larsson trade have helped the blue line, while Patrick Maroon and Milan Lucic are bringing an Oilers scoring edge most are unfamiliar with. Not to mention Cam Talbot’s play in net.

But let’s be honest. This has a lot to do with McDavid.

Second-half goal: Enjoy the ride and see where it goes. The window is just opening.

Trade Deadline plans: Edmonton could be a Kevin Shattenkirk player, but who knows if he’d agree to head to Edmonton over the East Coast. Especially if the Blues are battling the Oilers for a Wild Card spot by late February.

Anaheim Ducks (25-15-9, 63 pts)

Status: Fifth in the Western Conference. Third in the Pacific. Clear of the playoff bubble by 11 points.

Outlook: Well, that Randy Carlyle hand-wringing sure died down quickly. And so did the Cam Fowler trade talk. Just like last season, Anaheim’s special teams (both in the top 10) are carrying them even as their stars struggle to play well. And faith in John Gibson is paying off: he’s 8-2-0 since Christmas, and only Ryan Miller has a better save percentage than Gibson’s .938 in that span.

Second-half goal: Find whoever owns the Corey Perry voodoo doll and exile them to Mars. The man who once scored 50 goals on his way to a Hart Trophy hasn’t even hit double-digits yet.

Trade Deadline plans: This seems like the kind of team ready to make a depth-boosting trade rather than a swing for the fences. They’ll go bargain-hunting, and only for the right fit at the right price.

Wild Carders

Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

St. Louis Blues (24-20-5, 53 pts)

Status: Seventh in the Western Conference. Fourth in the Central. Claiming the first Wild Card seed by one point.

Outlook: Scuffling a bit, trying to find their identity without David Backes, Troy Brouwer, and Brian Elliott and knowing coach Ken Hitchcock is retiring after this season. Goalie Jake Allen is suffering the worst stretch of his young career (1-4-0, .837 SV% since Christmas). The playoffs are still within reach, but does anyone believe the Blues are Stanley Cup contenders right now?

Second-half goal: Pray that Jake Allen re-discovers his game and that someone not named Vladimir Tarasenko steps up and starts delivering points more consistently.

Trade Deadline plans: Get as much value for Kevin Shattenkirk as you can. The talented blue liner wants to hit the free agent market this summer, and why hold on to him if you doubt the team can make a run this season anyway? Best to cash in with the biggest fish on the deadline market when you can.

Calgary Flames (25-24-3, 53 pts)

Status: Eighth in the Western Conference. Fourth in the Pacific. Claiming the second Wild Card seed by one point.

Outlook: What a season of ups and downs in Glen Gulutzan’s first season behind the bench. Calgary survived Johnny Gaudreau’s injury, but enters the second half with three wins in their last 10 games. The good news is that Sean Monahan is heating up, Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Bennet are thriving in their assigned roles and the West is up for grabs.

Second-half goal: Get what you paid for out of Brian Elliott. The $2.5 million goalie has given them one good month: a 4-0-0 record and .919 SV% in December. Other than that? A 5-12-2 record with a .887 SV% and a 3.08 GAA.

Trade Deadline plans: ... Marc-Andre Fleury, anyone?