NHL: 2013-2014 Playoff Preview and Predictions

 

The NHL playoffs are back, and the first round match-ups are set. There are a lot of great match-ups this year, and it’s extremely difficult to pick who will come out victorious and advance. This is a look inside each match-up, and my predictions for the first round.

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

W2: Detroit Red Wings Vs. A1: Boston Bruins

Season Series: Detroit Red Wings 3-1

Boston:

The Boston Bruins nabbed their President’s Trophy yesterday with another impressive win. Boston steamrolled through opponents this year, applying physical strength and skill throughout each victory.The Bruins can beat you by scoring a plentiful amount of goals with their high octane offensive attack, or they can cling on to a 2-1 lead with their rugged defensive play and goaltending of Tuukka Rask. This team is built for a playoff push, and I don’t know if there is a team in the NHL that can compete with them in a 7-game series.

Detroit:

The Red Wings have been beaten and bruised all season, having injuries throughout the entire season, including major absences to their highly-skilled veterans of Datsyuk and Zetterberg. This was supposed to be the season where Detroit would crumble, however, young talent from their excellent scouting found their time in the light. Young sensation Gustav Nyquist emerged as a scoring threat during their playoff push, helping the injured Red Wings secure the final Wild Card spot in the East. Tomas Tartar and Justin Abdelkader, though not as consistent and lethal as Nyquist, demonstrated their importance on the ice and also helped the team. Bringing in Alfredsson helped the team offensively and on the bench, bringing his veteran presence and ability to get that goal when needed. Having Pavel Datsyuk back should help Detroit in their playoff series.

Key Player:

Boston Bruins: Zdeno Chara

Chara has been the Bruin workhorse for years now, and I wonder how much longer they can push their captain with 30+ minute games during the playoffs. If Zdeno Chara can continue to be as affective for long stretches and throughout another of their inevitable long playoff run, the Bruins will be set.

Detroit Red Wings: Jimmy Howard

Let’s face it, the Bruins are too dangerous of a team for the Red Wings. If there is one way for Detroit to steal a game or two, it’ll be in net. Howard has proven that he has the ability to steal games, and he will need to be at his prime in order to salvage wins against the Boston Bruins.

Prediction:

Boston Bruins in 5 games

I think this will be one of the quicker match-ups this year. This isn’t a bashing against the ailing Red Wings, but more so respect for the Boston Bruins.

 

A3: Montreal Canadiens Vs. A2: Tampa Bay Lightning

Season Series: Tampa Bay Lightning 3-1

Tampa Bay:

The big story in Tampa Bay this season was losing their franchise player Martin St. Louis during the trade deadline to the New York Rangers, while acquiring the Rangers’ captain Ryan Callahan in the process. Although, losing their captain didn’t stop the Lightning from having an excellent regular season. The solved their problem in net with Ben Bishop playing at an elite level, however, losing him days ago to an upper-body injury scares me a little. They didn’t have Stamkos for a long period this season, but he’s back and finding his rhythm.  Tampa Bay surprised me this year, and they should not be overlooked.

Montreal:

The Montreal Canadiens had an amazing start to the season. Their second half, however, wasn’t much to be happy about. They acquired the natural goal-scorer Vanek from the Islanders at the deadline, and he has fit nicely in their system. They have one of the most dynamic offensive-defensemen in P.K. Subban quarterbacking their lethal power-play and Carey Price is having a bounce-back season. They have young talent in Gallagher, Eller and Galchenyuk, who have really shown they can play. Montreal lost Galchenyuk for this series, which really hurts, and Eller is out with the flu, but should return for the 1st round of the playoffs.

Key Player:

Tampa Bay Lightning: Anders Lindback

Losing Ben Bishop is an absolute travesty for the Tampa Bay Lightning, and his status for the playoffs is unknown at this time. If he is in fact out, Lindback will have to show his stuff against a streaky team like the Montreal Canadiens, who can have huge offensive outbursts.

Montreal Canadiens: Daniel Briere

I know it’s strange to pick him as the key player when Montreal has players like Gionta, Vanek, Pacioretty, Subban, etc. But, veteran playoff talent is something that can get overlooked, and the man that needs to get that winning goal day in and day out, will fall on Briere’s shoulders. Being able to play in this type of environment is something that the Canadiens will not overlook.

Prediction:

Montreal Canadiens in 7 games

This was a close call for me. I don’t know if Bishop will be back and if he is, how healthy will he be? I just think Montreal will outlast in this series, and Price will have to steal that Game 7 for the clincher.

 

W1 Columbus Blue Jackets Vs. M1 Pittsburgh Penguins

Season Series: Pittsburgh Penguins 5-0

Pittsburgh:

It was just another year at work for the highly talented Pittsburgh Penguins. The one strange thing this year though, was a healthy Sidney Crosby, who finished with another 100+ point outburst this season. Marc-Andre Fleury came back with a strong regular season, but now he has to deal with the one thing that has haunted him for years: the playoffs. The top two lines are as lethal as they come, but it’s the bottom two lines that need to produce for Pittsburgh to excel in the playoffs.

Columbus:

It has been an incredible season for the Columbus Blue Jackets, and I personally love it. John Davidson, who turned St. Louis back into a high-powered team, is doing so there in Columbus. Players like Dubinsky, Atkinson, Anisimov, Johnson, etc., have all bought in to the system and have really produced. Veteran talent like Horton and Fedor Tyutin have really helped this team along, and Bobrovsky, after a somewhat sluggish start, is starting to show his Vezina-winning talent. Columbus has the talent to really show what they can do.

Key Player:

Pittsburgh Penguins: Marc-Andre Fleury

This is pretty much a given. Fleury has not been any where near solid in the playoffs. In fact, he has been absolutely terrible since his Stanley Cup years ago. It’s going to be on him to prove that he can be that elite goalie he has been during the regular season, or else the dominant Penguins can see an early exit.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Sergei Bobrovsky

The winner of this series will be a direct result of the play of the goaltender, so the key players will be Fleury and Bobrovsky. He has been electric since coming to Columbus, winning the Vezina last year and bouncing back hard the later half of the season, perfect timing for the playoffs. He will need to make those ridiculous saves in order to stop the lethal top lines of Pittsburgh.

Prediction:

Columbus Blue Jackets in 7 games

I’m picking the underdog, the sleeper, the dark horse. Fleury just hasn’t been someone I would have much faith in, and I think Bobrovsky will shine during a long series.

 

M3 Philadelphia Flyers Vs. M2 New York Rangers

Season Series: Tied 2-2

Philadelphia:

I thought the Flyers were a done deal the first quarter of the season. They seemed lost, frustrated and didn’t have a clue about what they were doing. But with their coaching change, they adapted and became a force in the Eastern Conference. Claude Giroux exploded and became a top scorer in the league. Steve Mason anchored the defensive end, allowing the Flyers to have an incredible transition game. They continued playing the gritty, tough, fast hockey the Flyers have always been known to play. They added Vinny Lecavalier, who has found his spot on the roster nicely. Wayne Simmonds and Scott Hartnell are back to their prime form, and the Flyers should never be overlooked.

New York:

The Rangers’ new coach Alain Vigneault could not have had rougher start to the season. The lack of patience with the New York fans became very noticeable, but all the sudden, after a bad 20 games, the magic was found. The Tortorella system of playing defensive hockey and blocking shots was over, and the high octane offense was now found. Secondary scoring, which has eluded the Rangers for years, has surfaced with players like Brassard, Pouliot and Zuccarello. Brad Richards has found his game, having a huge bounce back year. Ryan McDonagh, the biggest impact player this year, has found his offensive skill with the Vigneault system. The Rangers have a better power-play and basically are better all around with their new coach.

Key Player:

Philadelphia Flyers: Steve Mason

He has been the #1 guy in net for the Philadelphia Flyers and he will need to be against the Rangers. He had suffered an injury and missed the last few games of the regular season. However, he will be ready for the playoffs. He needs to be 100% and needs to be able to steal games for the Flyers, because the Rangers average over 33 shots a game.

New York Rangers: Rick Nash/Martin St. Louis

I have two key players for the Rangers because they both are game-changers that haven’t done much this year overall. St. Louis was acquired during the trade deadline and he has been mediocre at best. Nash produced over 25 goals, but wasn’t as dominant as he could be. The Rangers finally have secondary scoring. If the top guns can find the net, it will be tough to stop the Rangers.

Prediction:

New York Rangers in 6

I think all around the Rangers are the better team. They are as good offensively, better defensively and better in net. I think the Rangers will take this one in 6.

 

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

W1 Minnesota Wild Vs. C1 Colorado Avalanche

Season Series: Colorado Avalanche 4-1

Minnesota:

The Wild had an easier time making the playoffs this year as compared to last year. They are a much more confident team. Jason Pominville found his stride this year with the Wild, getting 57 points and 29 goals. Zach Parise and Mikko Koivu also had great seasons, along with Ryan Suter, being the anchor on the defensive end, yet also dishing the puck as good as anyone. It seemed like their goalie troubles would come back to haunt them, however they acquire Illya Bryzgalov this season, and has been stellar in net for them since coming to the Wild.

Colorado:

You can’t say much about the Avalanche franchise without mentioning the legend Patrick Roy. He is now coach and really surged the Avalanche in the right direction. They were the hottest team to start the season, and although dying off a bit, they still finished in the top of their division, and has played really well down the stretch. Leading scorer Matt Duchene (70 points in 71 games), will miss a good portion, if not all, of the first round due to a leg injury. This is rough, however, Roy has rallied the troop together and they have been playing well without him. Players like Landeskog, O’Reilly, Mackinnon, Barrie, etc., all have risen to the challenge, along with veteran talent Statsny. Varlamov has had a Vezina-like season, and this could be something difficult to get by.

Key Player:

Minnesota Wild: Zach Parise

He is the leader of this club, who has captained the New Jersey Devils and Team USA to amazing feats. He needs to be the leader and catalyst of this team for them to have a shot at winning this series. With tremendous talent, leadership and determination, he needs to lead this team to victory.

Colorado Avalanche: Semyon Varlamov

He has stolen games for this team, and he needs to be that guy in the playoffs. He has proven he can shine while facing adversity and off the ice distractions. He needs to use his poise and focus in order to make the big saves when his team needs him to. It’s going to have to fall on his shoulders.

Prediction:

Colorado Avalanche in 6

I think Colorado will outlast the Wild this year. They exemplify team effort and continuity. Patrick Roy knows what it’s like to play in the playoffs, and that will be the difference.

 

C3 Chicago Blackhawks Vs. C2 St. Louis Blues

Season Series: St. Louis Blues 3-1

Chicago:

The defending Stanley Cup champions didn’t have an “elite” like season like last year, however they had a respectable one. They have been slumping as of late, and along with the Blues, have suffered from key injuries. They lost arguably their two most important players in Kane and Toews late in the season, although they say they will “absolutely be ready” for the playoffs. This team has depth, goaltending, and defense. They play with a chip on their shoulders and they won’t stop working until the final buzzer. They are always dangerous.

St. Louis:

With being one of the most consistent teams for most of the season, St. Louis has stumbled into the playoffs. They have lost key players in Backes, Tarasenko and Oshie, three of their highest scorers on the team. Oshie suffered a head injury on a brutal hit by Minnesota’s Mike Rupp, and it’s hard to say when he will be back due to a head injury. Backes seems to be eyeing a Game 1 return, however, Tarasenko doesn’t seem to be making a comeback anytime soon. The Blues also acquired goalie veteran Ryan Miller during the trade deadline and had a magnificent start, only to be struggling the last couple weeks. It shouldn’t be all his fault, for the Blues have struggle as a team for quite some time now.

Key Player:

Chicago Blackhawks: Brandon Saad

He has emerged as one of the most talented wingers in the game. He needs to be during this series, and has to be the guy to get that go-ahead goal while Toews and Kane are playing through injury.

St. Louis Blues: Ryan Miller

This is why they got the guy. He was made for big game moments and it is his chance to do so with a great team in front of him. He needs to be the Ryan Miller of the 2010 silver medal Team USA Olympic team in order for St. Louis to have a shot to go deep in this year’s playoffs.

Prediction:

Chicago Blackhawks in 6

I think the playoff experience that the entire team has will help them in this one. I think St. Louis lost some of its luster and the injuries are too much for them to climb over.

 

W2 Dallas Stars Vs. P1 Anaheim Ducks

Season Series: Dallas Stars 2-1

Dallas:

It came down to the wire, but Dallas was able to make the playoffs. What emerged this season was a top line that may be the best in hockey, focused mostly on the play of Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn. The two have found chemistry that is just downright scary for opposing teams and they had a break-out season. Kari Lehtonen has had an outstanding season (33-20-10) and has faced a ton of shots, making his season even more extraordinary. The Stars are definitely an “upset” team, fully capable of competing in a 7 game series if they need to. They have a lot of talent on this roster, and could make things difficult for some teams down the stretch.

Anaheim:

One of the more dangerous teams in the league, Anaheim has been one of the more consistent teams as well. They too, have one of the most lethal top lines, however, they are more experienced than Dallas’. Ryan Getzlaf has been an offensive machine along with Corey Perry, being two of the best scorers in the league. Nick Bonino has been emerging as one of the higher skilled youngsters in league. They’re defense is great, they’re goaltending is great, and they have the energizer bunny known as Teemu Selanne eying his last Stanley Cup before he departs. If? Who knows? He can be playing until his 65. This team is seasoned and ready for a playoff push.

Key Player:

Dallas Stars: Kari Lehtonen

A lot of goalies are my key players, and for good reason. In the playoffs, stealing games is what wins championships, and Lehtonen has the skill and poise to do so. He has proven to be one of the more elite goalies this year, and he needs to be in order for Dallas to win this series.

Anaheim Ducks: Ryan Getzlaf

The leader, the captain, the offensive force is what is needed for Anaheim to be victorious. He has taken his team on his shoulders, and they need him to make the plays to keep their offense going.

Prediction:

Anaheim Ducks in 5

When it is all said and done, Anaheim is just too good and Dallas won’t have enough to compete with this team in a 7 game series.

 

P3 Los Angeles Kings Vs. P2 San Jose Sharks

Season Series: Los Angeles Kings 3-2

Los Angeles:

The Kings had a roller-coaster of a season, however came up with a another great record. It was led by their offensive wizard Anze Kopitar and their leader on defense Drew Doughty. The Kings have had trouble scoring at times, but they have one of the best goalies in the world in Jonathan Quick to help them out. They have found a flow and poise in their game that is needed to be a top contender in the playoffs. LA has plenty of veteran talent and experience on this team, and they could be looking at an underdog story like they did when they won the Cup a few years ago.

San Jose:

Dominance isn’t even enough to say about the Sharks this year. They have steamrolled opponents this year, leaving them helpless. Joe Pavelski had a break-out year, scoring 41 goals and finishing with 79 points. Thorton continues to be one of the elite passers in league, as he notched an incredible 65 assists. Marleau has been the consistent force in both passing and scoring, and all three helped the team claim another magnificent season. With Dan Boyle on defense and Antti Niemi (39-17-7) between the pipes, it’s no wonder why this team has dominated this year.

Key Players:

Los Angeles Kings: Drew Doughty

He was the most valuable player for Team Canada, separating them from early departure to gold medal winners in the Sochi Olympics. It will be up to him and his explosiveness to get the important goal late, and he is fully capable of doing so, as he has proved it throughout his career.

San Jose Sharks: Antti Niemi

Another goalie, but another goalie who is absolutely the most important player on the team. He needs to be on his A game in order for San Jose to win this series.

Prediction:

Los Angeles in 7

Sleeper pick #2. I believe San Jose will be bitten once again in the playoffs, and Jonathan Quick will shine to win this series in Game 7.

 

 

 

 

Goodbye Captain?

There have been rumors floating around the NHL-sphere about a possible trade concerning the New York Ranger captain Ryan Callahan. He has been reported to be asking for around $7 million a year in his contract negotiations, a price even the money-spending Glen Sather isn’t ready to splurge on.

From a prospective of a die hard Ranger fan, this calls for an outrage. The soon to be 29 year old vet has been the heart and soul of this Ranger team since coming up from the Hartford Wolfpack back in 2007. He was named the Rangers’ 26th captain back in 2011, and plays that “blue-collar”, hard-working type perfectly. He won’t dazzle you on the score sheet, but he will lay his body on the line for you every single game, something Ranger fans admired for years.

So why would Glen Sather want to dish out our beloved captain? It’s simple. Money. Approximately $7 million is a lot for a player like Callahan, and it would be smart to get SOMETHING in losing one of the most memorable Ranger players in recent history.

With that being said, it has been also clear that Callahan, though injured for some part of this season, hasn’t been playing with that energy Ranger fans know and love, along side being empty handed on the scoring sheet. Ryan Callahan needs to be that team player on the ice as well as off the ice and lower his asking price a bit and stay a Ranger. He is NOT a $7 million a year player, and we need his grit to be an affective team.

Looking at the Rangers now, we are finally buying in to the Alain Vigneault system of puck possession and playmaking, and I don’t believe the Ranger annual money splurge on a player who will disappoint in the red, white and blue is something we need AGAIN. We are a team, a young and fast team, who understand what it takes to score goals and win games. So this is now a plea to Ryan Callahan. Please lower your asking cost, because we need you to win, however we will understand the trade if that’s the amount you’re asking for. Let’s hope this can be resolved very soon.

–Eric Landro

New York Sports: An Inter-State Rivalry

 

I am a sports fanatic, and I firmly believe New York has the best fans in the world. We have two NY teams in the big four sports, so inter-state rivalries have been vicious for decades.

I am a Yankee-Giant-Ranger-Knick fan…. a big one. So my arch rivals have always been the Mets, Jets, Islanders and Brooklyn (previously New Jersey Nets). It’s something I feel I am so lucky to have, because not many states can experience such a passion filled rivalry like New York fans can.

This year, the New York Jets have pulled out all the tricks, and fought hard for a respectable 3-2 record thus far this year. They have a rookie quarterback in Geno Smith, who shows glimmers of excellence, and signs of turmoil, leaving Jet fans consistently on edge, but leaving them in a fun roller-coaster ride.

This blog is directed towards my fellow fans of my teams. For years, the Giants, Rangers and Yankees have been the juggernauts of their sports, leaving the other NY teams in their shadow, and leaving fans embarrassed and stressed. This year, however, there has been a shift in NY promise and praise, and as of right now, the Yankees, Giants and Rangers have slipped in their rankings, leaving my opposing fans salivating at the mouths, pouncing on a chance to get us back.

I’ll be completely honest, it hurts. It kills me, actually. However, I also love it. It’s part of the beauty of this rivalry. It’s part of the passion sports brings to us as fans.

In hockey, the Islanders have a youth core of years of high draft picks, and now find themselves at the cusp of an elite team in the NHL. The Rangers, however, have shown glimpses of elite play, but consistently shown mediocrity in their play. Islander fans have been waiting for this moment, and you know what, they have every right to. I hate them, but I respect the trash-talk. It’s what I live for living in New York.

 

Let’s talk about my ailing Giants, where EVERYTHING is going wrong. We have no offensive line, our defense is awful, and there’s literally no run game. When we don’t have a run game, Eli can’t throw. When Eli can’t throw, we need to rely on our defense. When we rely on our defense, we go 0-5, plain and simple. Jet fans have attacked and they should. We would do the same.

I hate baseball and the Nets and Knicks are both good so they won’t be mentioned in this. What I have to say is this. My fellow fans, we need to take the hit, like they’ve done with us. NY is a tough fan base… and I love the exchange.

This is why sports are what I live for. It brings out passion, something that people lack. It brings the best out of people, and it is so important to have. I live in the best state for sports, and I’m thankful for it.

So for now, I wear my Giant hat with pride, have my Rangers in my blood, and enjoy sports to the max. Bring the passion, bring the talk, bring the arguing (no stabbing please) and bring on the hate. This is the best time of the year, and I live for this!

 

–Eric Landro

Breaking Bad: A Journey at its End (Spoilers)

After six gut-wrenching years of Breaking Bad, it has come to end, leaving fanatics everywhere in withdrawal. It has been two days since the finale, and I feel now I was able to process everything that happened and give an honest opinion on what I felt about the final episode.

When I look at Breaking Bad, I don’t see it as just a television show. I see Breaking Bad as a journey. The metamorphosis of Walter White was something that really hasn’t been done before on television, or maybe I should say, to its perfection before. Bryan Cranston was absolutely brilliant, making Walter White a sheer and gritty reality to all of us.

When thinking about the finale of the show, many things came into mind. The Shield, The Sopranos, and Lost were all shows that made a huge leap in the television business with their finales creating much debate among viewers years after they had aired.

What made Breaking Bad different was simply this: it wasn’t an open-ended ending which left viewers guessing and it pretty much was a normal ending.

This was a show that needed closure. We needed to see the complete transformation of this character in order to completely be at peace with this show.

In terms of The Shield and The Sopranos, it left audiences everywhere salivating for me, yearning to see what happened to Vic Mackey and Tony Soprano. However, in these shows, their ending worked beautifully, using the trending cliffhanger ending so many story-tellers are using to their advantage to this day.

Lost, however, was sort of a mess in terms of leaving the viewers with so many questions. Lost is an example of a show that made me weary about a potential fail of a finale in Breaking Bad. But, Vince Gilligan was someone i put complete trust in, and he delivered a finale that left me satisfied and content. Was in mind-blowing? Not even close. But, it was poetically sound and beautifully done, allowing me to be able to part ways with a show that has left such a mark in my life.

What I loved about it:

The unleashing of Jesse Pinkman

Like very few, I always liked Jesse throughout the series. Many people were over him when every other episode he had an emotional breakdown. Listen, I get it, it was annoying for me too. But for me, Jesse was the candle in the wind for Breaking Bad. The chronology of the show had all the characters moving in the wrong direction, every episode inching closer into the shadows of pure evil. Jesse was the flame that was flickering constantly to stay alive and shed some light to the show. As a viewer, I was pulling for the kid. He had closure with Walt (that head nod between the two was better than any hug in my book) and he was finally able to unleash himself from the shadow of Walter White and the Neo-nazi psychopaths that held him in that lab. The only thing better would be if they played Lynard Skynard’s Free Bird while he’s driving away, screaming “I’m free, bitch!” But I digress. It was beautifully done.

Walt’s final genius plan

Walter White has always been a criminal mastermind, so for me, I was expecting something awesome when it came down to the last confrontation between Walt and Todd and his uncle’s crew. I was not expecting, however, such an amazing way to kill them all. Having that gun, which was teased to us at the beginning of season 5A, obliterate them with just a touch of his keys, was mind-blowing. It was such a relief seeing them die. I also loved the fact that Jesse was able to kill Todd after all the things he had done to him. That entire scene was amazing, and I loved every minute of it.

Skylar and Walt’s love still there

People want to see anti-heroes, darkness and death. It’s just what we need to see on TV nowadays. But, it is okay to see some good from time to time. When Walt met with Skylar and had that beautifully written conversation, we were able to see the love that was once always present, and him being able to see Holly was huge. And, we were able to see him finally admit why he was doing all of this to begin with. It wasn’t for his family, it was for himself. He was finally able to admit it not just to them, but to himself as well. I was so happy to see that exchange unfold, and I think the show benefitted from it.

The demise of Walter White

And finally, what we were all waiting for, the end of Walter White. He was able to secure money to his family. He was able to kill the men responsible for Hank’s death. He was able to save Jesse from death. And, what meant the most to him, he was able to die with his baby: his masterpiece meth. The song at the end was perfect. To see him fall to his back with the bullet in his stomach made you feel for the guy. But when you saw that smirk before his final breath, we were all able to let out a sigh of relief, that the man was able to do what he was able to set out to do since season 1: cook meth, get money for his family, and die.

Vince Gilligan made an iconic show for the ages, using his poetic powers to illustrate a story so dark and twisted with such grace and beauty. It was an amazing ride, and it will forever be talked about as one of the greatest shows of all time

Eric Landro

Leonardo DiCaprio: A Career That’s Been Robbed Of An Oscar

Leonardo DiCaprio has captivated us in role after role for over 20 years, being one of the most versatile and gifted actors of our time. The question though is simply this: Why has he not won an Oscar, the most coveted prize in acting?

Grant it, he has done the cheesy heart-throb roles in his early years, but even at a young age, we were able to see some of the best acting done by a teenager, and we saw him transform into one of the best dramatic actors in the history of film.

There are some cynics out there who agree with the Academy, dissecting every role he has been in and criticizing his fans for even thinking he deserves one. But I have a few roles where I think he deserved an Oscar.

1.  1993: What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?  Arnie Grape

Award: Best Supporting Actor

He was only 19 years of age when he was chosen to play Arnie Grape, a mentally challenged boy with a heart full of innocence, in Lasse Hallstrom’s What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. He played alongside Johnny Depp, who was his older brother in the role. The story revolves around Johnny Depp’s character Gilbert, a lost soul trying to find love and meaning in his life, but he is continuously distracted because he needs to take care of his obese mother and his mentally challenged brother Arnie. Although Johnny Depp starred in this role, DiCaprio stole the show with his performance. At such a young age, Leo was able to understand the mind of such a complexed character, obtaining the voice, thought-process, and mannerisms of a child who was born with a mental problem. He played it with such care that he completely transformed into the role, and really blew away audiences.

The winner that year for Best Supporting Actor was Tommy Lee Jones, for his role in The Fugitive. Don’t get me wrong, he gave a great performance, and was definitely worthy for his nomination, but I think the Academy could have shaken things up a bit, and give the award to Leo, who I think had the harder role, and definitely perfected it.

2. 2008: Revolutionary Road Frank Wheeler

 

Award: Best Actor

This is the role where many people will disagree with me, being such a simple character on the surface. But what really makes his performance so raw and so unbelievable, was the internal struggle that he was able to portray in front of the camera. The facial expressions, the yelling fits and tears were nothing short of acting at its best. DiCaprio plays Frank Wheeler, a man who who meets a girl, and has his whole life ahead of him. He wants to see the world, and see the beauty that life seems to conceal. But, like so many people, he gets sucked into the suburban life, and is trapped in the same routine: goes to work, pays the bills, stays at home with his wife and sees the same people, everyday. Kate Winslet plays his wife, who was also absolutely flawless in her role. As the movie progresses, we see a man slowly losing himself, becoming absolutely insane and reveals the dark empty soul that is covered in fake smiles and happiness. He becomes a man that is torn apart, and loses himself completely. I don’t want to spoil the ending, but we see his downfall, which is nothing short of pure sadness. Leonardo was simply brilliant, and even though many don’t think it was his best role, it is by far one of my favorites of his, and more than worthy of an Oscar. It wasn’t even nominated by the Academy.

The winner that year was Sean Penn for his performance in Milk, which is probably the one role that year I wouldn’t be completely upset won over Leo’s performance, because they were both spectacular. For me though, especially looking at Leo’s track record and seeing he has no wins, I would have given it to him that year, not just because of that, but because it was simply brilliant.

3. 2012: Django Unchained Calvin Candie

 

Award: Best Supporting Actor

Quentin Tarantino is known for many things (nonlinear story-telling), but what he has done most is his ability to get the most out of his actors, and nothing proves that more than Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance in Django Unchained. Leo plays Calvin Candie, a slave owner who took Jamie Foxx’s love interest as a slave, and Django (Foxx) visits him to get his girl back. For me, this is one of my favorite Tarantino films, but I must say, the movie seemed a bit slow, until DiCaprio came into the picture halfway through the film. It’s rare to see DiCaprio play the villain, but it’s safe to say he can now play just about any role. He plays such a kind-hearted person on the surface, but his calm demeanor and rich persona masks the true evil that surges through Calvin’s veins. He was so scary, so evil, that he made me cringe with every scene. DiCaprio was absolutely sensational, again completely transforming into the role, and leaving audiences in complete bewilderment of how diverse he can really be. It was absolutely extraordinary to see him unfold into this character.

The winner that year for Best Supporting Actor was Christoff Waltz for the same film, Django Unchained. This was the second time Tarantino had him in a movie and the second time he came away with the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. But for me, they got the wrong guy. Despite how mesmerizing Christoff Waltz was in this film (still deserved the nomination), I think Leo, who was again not nominated, deserved to win the award for two reasons. One, I feel Christoff Waltz is now type-casted as a German, which he speaks fluently. And two, I wasn’t nearly close to as interested in the movie as I was when Leo came on half-way through. Not to take anything away from Waltz as an actor (I think he’s sensational), but DiCaprio deserved the award for this movie, hands down.

Those are the roles I felt Leonardo DiCaprio deserved to win for. I think it is absolutely horrible he hasn’t won an Oscar yet, and he most certainly should have won by now.

Also, I think in 1995 he should have been nominated for his role in The Basketball Diaries, maybe not win, but definitely should have been in the running.

Maybe, before Leonardo DiCaprio retires, he will be able to put that Oscar next to all of his other prestigious accolades, and maybe the Academy will open their eyes, and see how incredible he really is.

 

My Personal 5 Favorite TV Dramas Of All-Time

TV has changed over the years, escalating in views and having actors and actresses salivating for roles on the smaller screen. Dramatic TV shows have flourished, and networks have blessed us with amazing characters and stories. These are my personal favorites that I was addicted to the most when they came out. (And sorry Doctor Who fans, just simply not interested in getting into it)

Firstly, these are honorable mentions of mine:

The Sopranos- (1999)

Dexter- (2006)

Game Of Thrones- (2001)

The Wire- (2002)

The Walking Dead- (2010)

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5. House M.D. (2004-2012) Fox

House M.D. just wasn’t an ordinary medical show, it turned the genre upside down and made one of the most mind-bending shows in recent history. It birthed one of greatest characters on TV (or anywhere for that matter) Gregory House, the modern day  Sherlock Holmes, solving medical mysteries only he can solve. Every week, it left viewers wanting to know more about the complexed mind of House and the ironic mystery of who he was. Each episode was a different mystery that needed to be solved, so a lot of people started to get bored with it. I, however, continually wanted to know more about the characters’ stories, which was perfectly intertwined behind each case House and his team needed to solve. Another major aspect of the show was House’s relationship with Wilson (his Watson), and how he was the only one who could be friends with Gregory House. The show lasted eight great seasons, and Hugh Laurie gave us a character so complexed, that only he could give us. Absolutely amazing show and highly recommend it.

Favorite Quote: “It’s a basic truth of the human condition that everybody lies. The only variable is about what.” — Gregory House

Favorite Episode: Season 4, Episodes 15 and 16: House’s Head/Wilson’s Heart

Favorite Supporting Character: Dr. James Wilson played by Robert Sean Leonard

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4. Lost (2004-2010) ABC

What made LOST so special was the fact it was so different from anything that has been done on TV. It seemed like it was an ordinary plane crash on a deserted island, with several survivors. But what happened after was story-telling to pure perfection. There was the mysterious “black smoke” swarming around the island, the cryptic hatch, the hidden symbols, the buried past, and most importantly, the twists and turns in every corner. The flashbacks were brilliant, leaving us in suspense every episode to learn about the characters. A good amount of people felt that LOST became a bit too crazy and weird towards the end, which I can understand. To me, there were some times where I wished they’d go back to the earlier seasons, but in all honesty it still was an amazing show. J.J. Abrams created a show so diverse from normal television, that it is going to me a show that I will remember for the rest of my life. It was a huge part of my life, and I fell in love with the characters, and became obsessed with finding out what the ending would ultimately be. If you haven’t watched it, or refuse to conform with the rest of us, do your self a favor and just conform, because it was a huge phenomenon for the ages.

Favorite Quote: “You know, Jack. You know that you’re here for a reason. You know it. And if you leave this place, that knowledge is gonna eat you alive from the inside out… until you decide to come back.” — John Locke

Favorite Episode: Season 1 Episode 7: The Moth

Favorite Supporting Character: John Locke played by Terry O’Quinn

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3. Breaking Bad (2008-  ) AMC

This show isn’t over yet and with only five and a half seasons under its belt, it makes my list. That should tell you how good this show is. Vince Gilligan made a show that had us rooting for the bad guy, simultaneously rooting also for the good guys. Never has that been done in a show and it’s absolutely jaw-dropping to see it unfold. Bryan Cranston (numerous Emmy winner for this show) plays Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with cancer and begins cooking crystal meth with one of his ex-students in order to leave behind enough money for his family before he passes. We begin to see the transformation of a decent man, turning into one of the most ruthless, disturbing characters of all-time. There were episodes where I could not believe what I was watching, completely losing myself into this show. Breaking Bad is simply put, a masterpiece; dissecting slowing into the characters it possesses and beautifully capturing the darkness that can consume a human-being. This show is an absolute powerhouse.

Favorite Quote: “You clearly don’t know who you’re talking to, so let me clue you in. I am not in danger, Skyler. I am the danger. A guy opens his door and gets shot, and you think that of me? No! I am the one who knocks!” — Walter White

Favorite Episode: (so far) Season 3 Episode 13: Full Measure

Favorite Supporting Character: Hank Schrader played by Dean Norris

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2. Sons Of Anarchy (2008-  ) FX

Like Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy is still going going on, which should show you how good this series is. I’ll start with the theme song, which is possibly my favorite theme song in any show ever. The show drew me in from the start. It’s about a motorcycle club who have the deal with the demons amongst the group, but also the demons hidden deep within themselves. The central character is Jax Teller, who has to deal with not knowing his father, former president of the club. He needs to decide which path to take; the path laid before him by his father, or the path by the current president and his volatile stepdad, Clay Morrow. Kurt Sutter created such a dark, complexed story that it has me constantly thinking about how the series will end, who is going to die, and whether or not Jax will transform into something so dark that it will shatter the club entirely. Sons of Anarchy has had a huge effect on me, and will always go down as one of my favorite shows of all-time.

Favorite Quote: “Finding things that make you happy shouldn’t be so hard. I know you’ll face pain, suffering, hard choices, but you can’t let the weight of it choke the joy out of your life. No matter what, you have to find the things that love you.” — Jax Teller

Favorite Episode: Season 3 Episode 13: NS

Favorite Supporting Character: Harry ‘Opie’ Winston played by Ryan Hurst

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1. The Shield (2002-2008) FX

Ground-breaking, fearless, edgy, raw; these are only a few words that I describe Shawn Ryan’s The Shield as. This was the first show I saw where I was immediately disturbed watching, covering every controversial issue in the mean streets of LA. Michael Chiklis plays Detective Vic Mackey, a morally corrupt cop who gets too deep into his actions. He is the ultimate anti-hero, where you find yourself wanting to get away safely one moment, and wanting to throw up for his actions the next. What stood out the most for me for this show, and I it’s number one on my list, is how real and dangerous it was, and nothing like it really came out at the time. It was such an emotion-filled roller-coaster ride, filled with twists and turns that only FX could give. The greatest achievement of this show was the finale. It was no fairy-tale ending, but it was a real ending, and now that’s what everyone wants in their stories nowadays. The Shield is my favorite drama of all-time, and I don’t think any show can top it in my lifetime, but I’m still young so we’ll see.

Favorite Quote: “The edge is where we live, all of us, all the time. People trying to convince themselves otherwise is just an exercise in self-deception.” — Vic Mackey

Favorite Episode: Season 5 Episode 11: Postpartum

Favorite Supporting Character: Detective Curtis Lemansky “Lem” played by Kenny Johnson

My NHL Team Rankings For 2013-2014 Season

With the NHL season inching nearer, I wanted to give you guys my ranking of the teams in each division for the upcoming season.

Metropolitan Division:

1. Pittsburgh Penguins

Just look at their line-up and you’ll understand why they’re ranked #1 in this division. No team can even come close to their superstar power, which already makes them elite in the entire league. The question is, of course, goaltending. Vokoun made things very interesting in the playoffs, and the Penguins now face the question of whether or not to sit their #1 overall pick goaltender, Marc-Andre Fleury, who has been wildly inconsistent in the playoffs. But with that aside, when you have Sydney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, James Neal, Chris Kunitz, Kris Letang, and company, there really isn’t much debate who holds the most intimidation in the league. I see them having another stellar season, being they are the Miami Heat of the NHL.

2. NY Rangers

Being a die-hard Ranger fan, I need to be blunt with my team. I put the Rangers at the #2 spot, because they fully have potential to be there, IF they do these things. First of all, I have no idea what to think about our offense because with a new coach things may take a while to get in full swing. Vigneault has been said to be offensive minded (although so was Torts) so by that, you would think things will click offensively and on the power play, which are the biggest keys for the Rangers success. Our blue line is deep, with a plentiful amount of young talent in their prime (McDonagh, Staal, Girardi), and the most talented goaltender in the world in Henrik Lundqvist. If we can find two scoring lines, and be able to find the best linemates for Nash, the Rangers have potential to make some noise this year.

3. NY Islanders

Even though they’re not filled with “studs” as we put it, the NY Islanders proved last year that a team can be dangerous the old fashioned way… just plain hard work. The Islanders are filled with young talent, proving to Islander fans that patience is a virtue. Last year, we saw the Islanders fight minute to minute with the high power Penguins, making them earn every goal they scored. With a natural born talent in Tavares leading the way, they have youngsters like Grabner, Okposo, Lee, Strome, Bailey, to create a possible force offensively. You have young defensive talents like Hamonic and MacDonald that proved they could skate with the best. You have Moulson continually swarming the net, and is always up there in goals. The biggest question mark however is goaltending, which ultimately is the most important position in hockey. They may not have enough for a Cup this year, but if they can get their hands on a prime starting goalie, this team can go the distance.

4. Washington Capitals

The Washington Capitals got hot last season at the right time, with Ovechkin going absolutely berserk in that late stretch, lifting his team from 13th place to 3rd in a matter of weeks. The Caps didn’t make any big splashes during the off-season, but they’re still an exciting and offensively gifted team with who they have. If Ovechkin plays to his elite potential, they will always have a fighting chance. He has an amazing center in Backstrom, who has shown at a young age he can make plays as good as anyone. They have players like Joel Ward, Jay Beagle, Troy Brouwer, Jason Chimera, that play a tough, physical game and they can also net a few. Perrault made his name in the playoffs last year, giving the Rangers a whole lot of trouble. They have veterans like Mike Green and Tom Poti on the blue line, along with Adam Oates dictating a strict defensive system, which has made Washington a tough competitive team. Braden Holtby is without a doubt a starting goaltender, but needs to me more consistent during the regular season. Washington, again, will be a dangerous team this year.

5. Columbus Blue Jackets

Columbus since the departure of Nash has built a much deeper and experienced team. They acquired Gaborik from the NY Rangers, who seems to score over 40 goals every other year. He didn’t score 40 last year, so this may be a bust out year for him. They have veterans like Vinny Prospal up front, and Fedor Tyutin on the blue line, which help a lot with the young talent in their line up. They recently acquired Nathan Horton from Boston, who can be an immediate offensive force in their line-up. They have Blake Comeau, a great 27-year old player and Artem Anisimov, who when is on, can be a sniper. They have Jack Johnson who has proven to be a stable backbone of their team, and also have a young Tim Erixon, who has a very high ceiling value. Sergei Bobrovsky who’s coming off a Vezina-winning performance last year, and if can continue his stellar play, Columbus can be turning heads in their new home in the Eastern Conference.

6. Philadelphia Flyers

The Philadelphia Flyers have been haunted by the Hextall ghost, failing to find that one goalie who can make the difference in the city of Brotherly Love. They spent a fortune on Bryzgalov, hoping he could be the answer to their goalie woes. He, unfortunately, was far away from an answer for them. They now find themselves with two goalies, who have potential to be starters. Between Emery and Mason, I feel Mason can maybe hold the fort down, possibly giving the Flyers a fighting chance. They lost Jagr last year, but they were able to sign another veteran in Lecavalier, which was a tremendous signing. Claude Giroux has another play-making magician on the ice, which should make him play better than he already has. They still have their tough guys, and picking up Streit this off-season was another smart move for them. Will the goalie tandem pan out? Or will Philly fans have to suffer through another disappointing season? Only time will tell.

7. Carolina Hurricanes

It’s been rough for the Carolina Hurricanes the past couple years. They hit the injury bug hard, their stud goalie Cam Ward has been inconsistent at times, and it always seems like they’re playing with half a team. An upside though, was that #1 line of Staal, Tlusty, and Semin, who dominated teams and were responsible for too much of their offense. The Hurricanes need to become deeper, and signing Jordan Staal was a step towards that. Having brothers playing on the same team is a rare but possibly dominate situation (Sedins). Let’s not forget the talented Jeff Skinner, who turned heads in the hockey realm at a very young age. He’s a game changer, and has to be for the Hurricanes to do any sort of damage this year. They need to stay healthy (Ward) and they need to start being consistent, or else Carolina will continue their struggles for another season.

8. New Jersey Devils

It’s so weird to place a franchise like the New Jersey Devils at the bottom of their division, but I just don’t see them escalating too high this year. The respect that comes with Brodeur may hinder their chances of being contenders, and the signing of Schnieder may not benefit them much until Brodeur finally steps down from his throne. After a long, brutal series with Boston, the world saw the aging Jagr struggle for every step, which made the signing not that great in my eyes. I don’t see him being a game changer anymore, and I feel he should retire. The Devils are in a rebuilding stage, so I think they are going to have their bad year for once, and come back stronger than ever.

Atlantic Division:

1. Boston Bruins

The Bruins made the headlines this off-season, getting rid of Nathan Horton, Jaromir Jagr and Tyler Seguin. However, they did come back with two key players in Iginla and Eriksson, who should fit in well in their system. They gave Tuuka Rask a nice fat paycheck, which was well deserved, player stellar all season and in the playoffs last year. They still have their studs in Bergeron, Marchand, Lucic, Krejci, and their captain Chara, who has been an absolute beast for years now. With his size and skill, he is such an advantage to have on your team. They have a youngster on the blue line Dougie Hamilton, who showed early that he was something special as a play-making defenseman. The Bruins are filled with speed, size and they attack with a continuous forecheck that kills defenses. Boston will find themselves on top of the division once again, and I believe will be real contenders for the Cup once again.

2. Detroit Red Wings

Moving to the East, Detroit will have to get used to the “Eastern” type of play, but that shouldn’t slow them down in the slightest. They signed Daniel Alfredsson and Stephen Weiss during the offseason, which are huge pick-ups for them. Despite being “older”, Detroit has great young talent in Nyquist, Andersson, and Abdelkader, who show a tremendous amount of speed, skill and confidence. Jimmy Howard has been continuously showing that he is part of the elite goaltenders in the league year in and year out, being the anchor of the team and performing with great calmness during the playoffs. Also, having Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg on your team doesn’t hurt your chances of making a big run every year. I feel that Detroit will have no trouble next year, and they’ll be a top contender.

3. Ottawa Senators

Losing Alfredsson is going to hurt the Sens, but they acquired Bobby Ryan during the offseason, which will boost their offense quite a bit. They got Corey Conacher from Tampa, who showed tremendous promise as a rookie last season, and I believe we have only seen the beginning from this guy. They should have a healthy Spezza next season, which has shown that him being healthy is a very important thing for this team to succeed. They have Michalek, who’s always been a key part of their offense, and Chris Neil, who is the heart of this team. But most importantly, they have maybe the most talented defenseman in the game, Erik Karlsson. He quarterbacks every play he’s on the ice for, and is such a powerful offensive force on the blue line. With all these players, and Craig Anderson being as stellar as he’s always been in Ottawa, the Sens could even find themselves in the Stanley Cup Finals this upcoming year.

4. Toronto Maple Leafs

No one left their season last year worse than the Toronto Maple Leafs, who seemed to be 2 minutes away from knocking out the Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs. Two quick goals chattered the hearts of thousands of Maple Leaf fans, making it one of the toughest losses in NHL history. But that being said, I believe that we’re going to see an angry, focused Toronto club coming into next season, especially with their acquisition of Jonathan Bernier in net, who I believe will get the starting position over Reimer. Shadowed by Jonathan Quick in LA, Bernier will have the chance to prove he is a starting goaltender in the NHL. Toronto still has a great core of players with Kessel, Kadri, Lupul, van Riemsdyk, and their captain Phaneuf holding it down on the defensive end. If Toronto can show as much passion as they did in the playoffs last year, they will be a tough competitor to all teams in the NHL this season.

5. Montreal Canadiens

When it comes to Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa, I feel all three teams have a chance to switch positions because I think they will be equally tough next year. I really don’t understand why Montreal did so poorly last season. I feel they have gotten younger, faster and more explosive the past two seasons. Maybe with a full season, Montreal will be turning heads in the Atlantic, or maybe the entire league. They still have their superstar P.K. Subban, who has continuously shown he is a marquee name in this league. They scooped up Briere in the offseason, and it looks like he is very happy being in Montreal, and he definitely has more juice left in his legs to be a perennial star. They have Carey Price, who can be filthy, he just needs to me more consistent. They have youngsters like Eller, Gallagher, Galchenyuk, Prust and Desharnais who show great poise and control. They have the speedy and skilled Gionta still, and have Plekanec who knows how to score. Montreal can in fact be a top team next year.

6. Tampa Bay Lightning

When you have the greatest scorer in the NHL in Stamkos, it’s hard to see them falling to #6 in the Atlantic, but I just don’t see them doing much again this season. Stamkos and St. Louis can’t be the only offensive forces on this team, and when it looked like Conacher could fill in as a great young scorer, they lost him in the offseason. So now what? They have quite a few unknowns on this roster, but I did like the signing of Filppula, who should add some play-making into the lineup. Ben Bishop, Anders Lindback and Mathieu Garon will be fighting for a starting position in net, which unless you’re the St. Louis Blues a couple years back, that isn’t something to be happy about. The Lightning, I feel, will again fall short in the standing, even with probably another top line in Stamkos and St. Louis on the line.

7. Buffalo Sabres

They have potentially the greatest goalie in the league, but that being said, he can’t do it all himself. Buffalo came off another disappointing season last year, and I feel they’re not going to do much better this year. The one upside about the Sabres is that they are getting younger, and they have a lot of potential weapons that could make some noise this year. Cody Hodgson has shown he can be a valuable asset to this team, and I believe he will have a good season. That have the big guy in the back end Tyler Myers, who if can fix a few kinks in his game, can be a huge game changer for them. Drew Stafford and Thomas Vanek need to be playing at superstar levels, along with Miller in net, in order for Buffalo to do anything this season.

8. Florida Panthers

The Florida Panthers are still very deep in their rebuilding stage, and I think it’s safe to say they are not a playoff team just yet. They have a lot of young talent, with Rookie of the Year Jonathan Huberdeau leading the way. I don’t think the acquisition of Gomez and Gilroy are going to do much for them this season, but who knows how things turn out. They still have Versteeg and Fleischmann, who are very capable offensive players. They also have Brian Campball, although aging, is still an amazing offensive defenseman in this game. They’re starting to gather the pieces, but they are still missing quite a lot to be a contender, especially in net.

Pacific Division:

1. Los Angeles Kings

Don’t let the sluggish start last year fool you, LA was one of the strongest teams towards the end of the season, and I think they have such a strong core group, that they will be the one of the top forces coming out of the West. I stress goaltending so strongly in this league, and LA has one of the best in Jonathan Quick. If he’s on his game, he can single-handedly win for this team. They have the youngster Drew Doughty in the backend, who has been such a value to them offensively and defensively. Dustin Brown, Jeff Carter, Anze Kopitar, Mike Richards, Slava Voynov, were all essential for that Stanley Cup winning team, and they all have the experience to win again. They are definitely going to be a tough team this season, and will be for some time now.

2. Anaheim Ducks

Losing Bobby Ryan was a big blow, being part of the #1 line in hockey for so many years. They have Selanne who we think can lace up for another year, despite his age. But aside from all that, this team is still so good, and I see them finishing at #2 in this division. You still have Getzlaf, who is a natural born leader, and Corey Perry, a super talented play-maker and sniper (both in their prime as well). Even though they lost Ryan, they acquire a young Jakob Silfverberg from Ottawa, who has a potential to explode in the NHL, having an amazing season last year. I like their young guys Bonino, Cogliano, Etem, and Palmieri who can really be difference makers for this team. Hiller and Fasth played at the top of their game last year and i expect more of the same from them. Anaheim still is a force to be reckoned with.

3. San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks are always among the best teams year in and year out, and they still have a majority of their players, so I feel they will have another successful season. Joe Thorton, getting up there in age, has shown no signs of fatigue and has continuously been a major part of this team, leading them to goals and wins. Patrick Marleau, one of the more consistent players of this team, will have to continue his consistency in order for the Sharks to make some noise this year. Antti Niemi has been stellar, being a Vezina trophy finalist (I think he should have won). I also really like Tommy Wingels, who has shown tremendous promise for the Sharks. The acquisition of Tyler Kennedy was a great move for them, and he should add some depth to their team. Add in Couture, Havlat, Pavelski, Torres and Boyle, the Sharks will continue to have success.

4. Vancouver Canucks

Goodbye Vigneault and Schnieder. The Canucks parted ways with their beloved coach and the more consistent goalie they have. They added John Tortorella as their coach, who wasn’t quite able to get the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Finals. But, I do think he will have a positive effect for Vancouver, if he is able to be respectful to the Vancouver media. Vancouver has always been a solid team though. Having both Sedins and Kesler (who needs to stay healthy) gives them an edge on offense right off the bat. Burrows has always been consistent, and Higgins could be a factor on this team, if he can finally find his stride that he’s capable of reaching. Luongo has always been solid in net during the regular season, but he needs to perform during the playoffs in order to get the respect from the tough Vancouver fans. I think Vancouver will have a decent season, and maybe make the playoffs, but I think they will not be as good as they were the past few years.

5. Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oiler fan base has had to be very patient for quite some time, but I think Edmonton is on the verge of becoming a very dangerous team, possibly in two years time. They have amazing young talent in Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall, Nail Yakupov, David Perron, and Jordan Eberle. These young guys have shown that they can play amazing at the NHL level, and they are probably only going to get better. Their defense isn’t that amazing, but they have a tremendous high ceiling value. Their biggest issue however is their goaltending, which has been a huge question mark for many years now. I do think Dubnyk is a decent goalie, but I feel they need to go another direction. In conclusion though, I do feel the Edmonton Oilers are on their way on being a powerhouse team.

6. Phoenix Coyotes

The Coyotes are not in a great position right now.  After their Cinderella Story run a few years back, the Coyotes haven’t been able to find the right combinations to make another run like they did before. They did snag Mike Ribeiro, who can be a big factor to this team if he plays to his full potential. Martin Hanzal has always been one of my favorite players, and he has fit nicely in this system. Keith Yandle has continually been one of the more elite defenseman, and is a huge asset to this team. Shane Doan is a natural born leader and Mike Smith is a premiere goalie. Other then that though, the Phoenix Coyotes just don’t have enough to make the playoffs this year. They have a lot more work to do before they can be a real threat in the West.

7. Calgary Flames

 

The Calgary Flames are not in any position to make a run for the playoffs, and they should focus on rebuilding their team within the next few years. My favorite player on this team is Dennis Wideman, who is a tremendous defenseman. Miikka Kiprusoff, I believe, still has some juice left and I think he can be one of the top goalies next year. Mike Cammalleri is such an offensive force, but Calgary just doesn’t have enough to make the playoffs, and won’t be for quite some time.

Central Division:

1. Chicago Blackhawks

 

It’s hard to not put the defending Stanley Cup champions as the #1 seed in the Central. They have probably the deepest lineup in the NHL, and, in my opinion, the best team in the league. You have Jonathan Toews, who has been more than just a leader for this team. Patrick Kane, who is a superstar, has been a highlight reel after highlight reel the past few years. When you have a supporting cast of Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa, Marcus Kruger, Bryan Bickell and Michal Handzus, you will be able to score a lot of goals. With Duncan Keith leading their superior defense, and Corey Crawford in the back end, you can understand why I feel they are the #1 team in the Central Division.

2. St. Louis Blues

 

The St. Louis Blues are always under the radar when it comes to being successful in this league the past couple of years. They don’t really have a star-studded crew, but they are the perfect definition of a team. David Backes has been doing really well as the leader of the team, and the players have been falling suit in his hard work. They have a great young team. T.J. Oshie, Alexander Steen, Patrik Berglund, and Alex Pietrangelo are just some of the young talent on this team. They got Derek Roy in the offseason, which is a great signing by them and he will have an immediate effect on this team. They have Brian Elliot and Jaroslav Halak as their goalies, and they have already proven they are difference makers. With a great coach and team, I believe the St. Louis Blues will finish second in the Central Division.

3. Minnesota Wild

 

There was a point last year where I thought Minnesota was able to knock off the President Trophy winning Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the playoffs. Josh Harding played extraordinary in the playoffs, filling in for the injured Backstrom. Minnesota has two very capable goalies, which is a good problem to have. Last year, they made the headlines with acquiring Zach Parise and Ryan Suter during the free agent frenzy a year ago. In the shortened season, it took a while for them to make a huge difference. But they were great towards the end of the season and playoffs, they became a very dangerous team. I think in a full season, you will see a Minnesota team that is very dangerous and very capable of making some noise in the West. This year, they acquire Matt Cooke and Nino Niederreiter, who are great acquisitions. Jason Pominville was injured last year, but he should be ready to go for this year, and I believe Minnesota will be one of the better teams in the West.

4. Dallas Stars

 

The Dallas Stars acquired Tyler Seguin from the Boston Bruins, which was an absolute steal in my opinion. Loui Eriksson is a very talented player, but I think Tyler Seguin was beyond an incredible move. Dallas has a very solid team, and I think they have potential of doing great things this year. They also got Sergei Gonchar, who may be older, but I think he can be a huge asset to the team. I’m a big fan of Alex Goligoski, who has been a very good defensive player for the Dallas Stars. Jamie Benn has become very popular around name in the NHL, and he is one of the more talented players in the last few years. I think if Kari Lehtonen can be a great goalie, but he is very inconsistent. Having Dan Ellis is a nice comfort, and I think Dallas will have a solid team in 2013-2014.

5. Colorado Avalanche

 

The Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers are similar in a sense that they are packed with young potentials. Gabriel Landeskog, who I think is too young to be captain of the team at the moment, has however shown he is one of the most talented young stars in the game. They have a Matt Duchene, who is becoming a star on and off the ice with his tremendous offensive skill, and also demonstrating classy acts outside the game of hockey. They acquired PA Parenteau from the NY Islanders, and he should do very well with the Avalanche. Ryan O’Reilly has also turned heads, being one of the more hard-working and skilled players in the league. They are going to be very good in a couple of years, but they need to improve in their goaltending and need a few more pieces to make the playoffs. They are almost there though.

6. Winnipeg Jets

 

The Winnipeg Jets aren’t in any position to make a run for the playoffs, but they do have some quality players who can make a difference on the ice. Evander Kane has been known to have some off the ice issues, but he has unquestionable talent on the ice. If he’s on his game, he can be a danger every game. The acquired Devin Setoguchi and Al Montoya during the offseason, who should be immediate differences for the team. They have great leaders in Olli Jokinen and Andrew Ladd, and they have Dustin Byfuglien in the backend, who is a powerhouse defenseman in the league. Even with many great pieces, I do not believe that Winnipeg will do much this year.

7. Nashville Predators

 

Nashville just doesn’t have enough to do much this season. They have Pekka Rinne, who has been a top goaltender for years now, and its fully capable of stealing games for the Predators. They have Shea Weber on defense, who has tremendous talent and a shot that can pierce basically anything. But, their offense isn’t very strong however. They have some strong players in Gaustad, Legwand, Matt Cullen and the rookie Filip Forsberg who should be a very good player in this league. Even with these players though, I don’t see the Nashville Predators doing very much this season.

 

This is my pre-ranking. Let me know what you think!

Movie Review: We’re The Millers

We’re the Millers was a movie I was dying to see, for only one reason…. Jennifer Aniston as a stripper.

Not only did that make me very happy while watching this film, I was pleasantly surprise at how funny it was. Jason Sudeikis was on the same level he has always been. He was witty, sarcastic and was dropping one-liners all over the place, which had me laughing throughout the movie.

But who stole the movie for me was Will Poulter, who played Kenny, the innocent virgin “son” in the movie. He was hilarious, playing the Michael Cera-type role from Superbad to perfection.

The movie is about David Clark (Sudeikis), is a dirtbag pot dealer who got robbed of all his money. His boss (Ed Helms) makes him go get a large supply of marijuana from Mexico, wanting him to smuggle it into the US, which he would be paid well for it.

David gets the idea that most “suburban” families in RVs don’t get asked too many questions at the borders, so he decides to hire Rose (Aniston), who is a stripper, Kenny (Poulter), who’s a neglected child who lives in his apartment, and Casey, a homeless girl played excellently by Emma Roberts.

They make believe they are family and get into all sorts of awkward, dangerous and funny situations to and from their pick up and back home.

It’s one of those funny R-rated comedies studios have been throwing out there over the years, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t make you laugh throughout. When you watch it, be aware of the scene where Kenny gets bit by the spider. Absolutely hilarious!

And, as an extra incentive fellas, Jennifer Aniston has never looked better. She really is the only woman who looks better as she gets older.

So if you’re looking for an enjoyable film filled with laughs, We’re the Millers surely won’t disappoint!

***1/2

—Eric Landro

Sons Of Anarchy: Possible Series Finale Outcomes (SPOILERS)

 

 

It’s August 4th. We waited 9 long months for Sons Of Anarchy to return, and we only have one more to go.

Season 6 will be premiering September 10th, and the Anarchy fanatics are starting to feel the reality of the end of the series, which is approaching in just over a year. In this article, I would like to share my thoughts on how the series can end. For me, I feel that Kurt Sutter has done a masterful job with this series, and me trying to skip ahead towards the end may not sit well with you fans. But let me assure, I trust Sutter and FX Networks to give us nothing short of a masterpiece series finale.

But what the hell, let’s look at the possible endings to this epic show.

Scenario A: The Happy Ending

Let’s be blunt here. No one in the right mind will want a happy ending. TV dramas have shifted over the years, creating worlds with realism and dark tendencies (The Shield, Game Of Thrones, The Sopranos, The Wire). People have become accustomed to the evil protagonists, anti-heroes if I may. Kurt Sutter has basically told us through this show that a happy ending is something so far out of reach for these characters. And we love every second of it.

But just for the sake of argument, let’s say he does go that route. This would probably show Jax ultimate killing Clay, and being able to save the club from the troubles that surround it. It would have Clay finally reaching his demise from Jax’s hand, maybe a stellar showdown in the streets of Charming, with SAMCRO on the sidewalk watching.

You would see Tig finally choosing the side we want him to choose, being the good soldier for Jax.

We’d have Tara making amends with Gemma, the Old Ladies finally finding warmth with each other, watching Jax kill the man responsible for the death of John Teller, with Abel at their side.

We would see Bobby proudly wearing the Vice President patch, totally content, knowing that SAMCRO has strayed away from gun dealing and muling drugs for the cartel.

Yes, what a wonderful sight that would be, ending with Jax on his motorcycle, riding down towards the sunset, with his life perfectly together.

If you haven’t thrown up yet, let’s continue to the more plausible outcomes for this dark, badass show.

Scenario B: Let’s Kill Them All

Let’s go to the opposite outcome, and see how it would be if Sutter wanted to make this the grisliest finale of any show.

Picture this: Season 6 begins with Tara in jail, with nothing but her crazy thoughts rotting away in her cell. We have Gemma, becoming more and more drugged out that she doesn’t know which way is up, so she grabs a gun and blasts herself in her face. We have Juice finally dying from the hands of Jax, for his betrayal of the club. Tig, being curious with Jax’s actions, sides with Clay, and they break Clay out and move to Ireland to start a new motorcycle club. We have that new bad guy of the show, Lee Toric, going nuts on the club. Killing Bobby, killing all the lesser known names of SAMCRO. Jax finally has a handle on him, and kills him too.

So then we go to the series finale, where its SAMCRO vs Clay’s new gang with Tig. It’s an all-out brawl. When everyone dies, and Jax and Clay are both near death, Clay admits he killed Tara and Jax will have to die with that knowledge.

Okay, maybe that’s a bit too dark. Let’s go with the most plausible outcome and my actual, real thoughts on the matter, with a few similarities of both scenarios above.

Scenario C: The Gavel’s Success of the Transformation of Jax

I believe, or more so hoping, that Sutter will transform Jax into the dark, evil, and ferocious leader that Clay turned out to be, turning his back on his father’s true vision of what SAMCRO stood for.

I feel season 6 will have two key deaths: Juice (mid-season) and Bobby (season finale).

I don’t know if you guys saw the newest teaser trailer, but in it you see Clay’s, Gemma’s and Tara’s face painted across the wall of a huge building. As the SOA ride their bikes next to it, the building explodes and their faces become demolished.

Automatically I began thinking of the possibility of foreshadowing, meaning that in season 6 these characters will die.

But the more I began to think about it, the more I felt it was more symbolic to their downfall as characters, not so much their demise.

I do believe that Clay and Tara will be dead by the end of series, but not by season 6.

For me, Juice is long due for his demise. Going behind the club’s back is a big no-no in SAMCRO. We see Jax growing wary and very on-edge with Juice, and I feel we will see him kill Juice, finally. He has always sided with Clay, and that’s something that doesn’t sit well with Jax.

Bobby’s death is a little bit more of a guess. We saw him take off his Vice President patch at the end of season 5, which shows he has had it with club, and more directly, with Jax himself.

His death with be the result of Jax’s complete transformation. I was surprised that Tig didn’t die at the end of season 5, which sort of threw me off guard because it illustrated that Jax wasn’t like Clay at all, and wasn’t able to kill a member. But when we see Tig questioning Jax with “How did you know they weren’t going to kill me right away?”, I began to think that Jax wouldn’t have cared either way.

Sorry, got off track. I think that Jax will kill Bobby in the series finale for who knows what. Maybe because Bobby will rat them out due to his distaste of Jax’s methods and the club’s direction. Maybe because he has become disloyal to the club or turns his back from the club completely. I have no idea.

But Bobby, aside from Opie, has been the club’s moral compass. Having Jax kill him will be like Jax killing the man he used to be, and finally turning himself into the monster that is Clay.

Moving forward, I can see Sutter killing Tara near the end of season 7. I can see hating Jax for the man he has become. Maybe she’ll finally kill Gemma, and Jax will go nuts and “accidentally” kills her, losing control of his actions and going over the edge. This will fuel the fire, which has already been going strong, to finally kill Clay. The only true soldier on Jax’s side will be Chibbs, who has been with him from the start.

I can see Tig siding with Clay, and within the battle, Chibbs being the only one who survives.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Again, this is me just thinking of things from the top of my head. This is going to be a crazy couple of seasons, and I can’t wait. Sutter hasn’t steered us wrong yet, so I trust him to make me appreciate this ending. It’s going to be a wild ride.

 

— Eric Landro