Massey's meaningless musings pt. 1

It's that time of year again folks.Those Gillette Fusion, Slap Stick and, bless those who use them, Bic razors can be ushered to the back of the hygiene line.
Playoffs are amongst us!

Five-o-clock shadows become month-long adventures. No honey, I did not miss a spot! Thats one side of the face still trying to catch up to the other.

Whether your a Canucks fan destined for a 3 week binge and a quick stubble jump if you will, or a Flames fan and your 9th place team forces you to join in the madness without really being deserving of it, we salute you.

May the fuzz be with you!

***
If you haven't already seen it, here's a video clip that will be sure to make all those who are bullied out there a chance to feel good

Good Guys 1 Insecure (insert naughty name here) 0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeunFjpudzg

Alex Giroux, Liam Reddox, J-F Jacques, Chris Vande Velde, Ryan O'Marra....

*YAWN*

How many draft picks do we need before we come to the conclusion that something just isn't working. Well I've got two words for you to ponder as you lay in bed tonight...

Rebuild Shmebuild.

Why not let's trade every productive player we have for a bunch of unknowns. As Steve Tambellini and the Oiler brass have failed to realize, owning first round draft picks are like blind dates. The anticipation is often better than the real thing (or so I've heard)

So we'll end up racking up ten draft picks in this year's less-than-spectacular draft. And you know what that gets us now and two years down the road. Jack. Not Jack the prospect but Jack SQUAT. The polite name for ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

Maybe it's time to live and succeed in the moment.
Maybe its time to manage and ice a team that makes you proud.
Maybe it's time for a little...(to steal a line from the great, though often delusional Charlie Sheen)

WINNING!

And in the meantime...I'll just shut my big yap.

Lights, Camera, Action. 2010/2011 NHL season destined for Hollywood ending

2010/2011 Projected NHL Rankings

Okay, before we begin, I will admit I'm an Oilers fan, who is living in hope. In the past off season, I've wished upon shooting stars, name dropped "Eberle" "Hall" and "Pjaarvi" in every argument possible, and done my best to forget what happened last season. I've waited 4 years for a playoff game, and an incredibly long time for even a meaningful game to be played at Rexall Place. While glorified magazines like "The Hockey News" have gone with their usual safe picks, going out on a limb to predict the Oilers will finish last in the Western Conference, I'm here to tell you the truth. As a matter of fact, it was only 1 year ago when pundits had the Copper and Blue in the running for the Northwest Division crown. A handful of injuries and uninspired play has changed many peoples' minds in thinking this team is not capable of going anywhere near the playoffs anytime soon.

This team will go as far as the young guys take them. It's a challenge they're more than capable of.

The sleeper pick this year is the Tampa Bay Lightning. Vinny Lecavilier and Martin St. Louis used to be household names around hockey circles. It was in the pre-lockout era that they won the Stanley Cup and were firmly establishing themselves as players that can carry a team. Since then, htey've become merely an afterthought. Being snubbed by the Olympic Team they've also been questioned whether they're in the twilight of their careers. This season will answer those questions as they bring the Lightning back to respectibility.

They may be a year or two away, but the Los Angeles Kings are a team ready to explode.

Chances are they won't get to the top but if I'm right I look like the a genius, get it wrong and I'm like 95% of prognosticators out there.

Most of these picks are likely going to cause you to shake your head, but then again so do results at season's end. Expect the unexpected. Expect teams who hung around in years past to take a tumble, teams like Calgary and Montreal. The goal of the playoffs still isn't realistic for the "Centre of the Universe"

Once all is analyzed to death, there is only one thing we can be sure of...unpredictability. This season is more wide open than any other season I've followed. Parity allowed teams like Colorado and Phoenix to make the unexpected jump to postseason play, while Calgary and Anaheim, superstars in tow, are on the outside looking in. Expect less 'surprise' teams this year than last, but there will be less of a gap between good and bad.


The Stanley Cup Final will not be one that brings ratings through the roof, but will feature two young exciting teams who are considered 1A teams in most circles.

The L.A. Kings will outlast the Buffalo Sabres in 6 games to capture their first Stanley Cup in team history. Bettman will be found clicking his heels, and thanking the heavens while pointing out to every critic just how brilliant he thinks he is.

And hey, if you want a history of how my predictions turn out, go down the page and you'll read in clear print "Chicago over Washington in 2009 Stanley Cup Final.

Hey, just saying.

Western Conference

1. Los Angeles- Infusion of youth finally will pay off as Kopitar and Co. ready to explode
2. Vancouver- Defensive upgrade, Franchise goalie, well-rounded offense has 'Nucks eying up top spot
3. Chicago- Major overhaul in offseason but core pieces still intact.
4. Detroit- Last year to make a run with Lidstrom in twilight of career.
5. San Jose- Will slip a little, but the Sharks know all too well what regular season success brings.
6. Colorado- No sophomore slump for this group of kids
7. Phoenix-The 'Yotes will continue to build on their strong foundation of youth, with or without support from hockey allergic residents of Glendale.
8. Edmonton- Need 3 rookies (Hall, Eberle, Pjaarvi) to play as advertised, Khabibulin to play even half of what he's capable of, and they need a four-leaf clover to help them over the injury catastropes of last season.
___________
9. St Louis-- Halak will narrowly miss another opportunity to carry his team through the playoffs.
10. Calgary-Recycled goods Jokinen and Tanguay isn't a recipe for bounce back year
11.Anaheim- Loss of Niedermayer will hurt. A lot.
12.Nashville- Low budget team will have trouble keeping up this year
13. Minnesota- Suffocating defensive style doesn't work nearly as well as it used to
14. Columbus- Defense core is green, goaltending a shot in the dark, and not enough offense to make up for it.
15. Dallas-Loss of Turco will be felt.

Easter Conference
1. Washington-Too fast, too skilled, too dynamic to not pile up the wins.
2. Buffalo- Ryan Miller and Tyler Myers carry a team that is also underrated offensively
3. New Jersey- Addition of Kovalchuk has them sitting pretty...10 years down the road? The jury is still out.
4. Boston- Goal-scoring was an issue last year, but the addtion of Seguin and Horton will help give them enough offense to get to the post-season.
5. Pittsburgh- Any team with the likes of Malkin and Crosby are a virtual lock to make the playoffs, but they're a little 'top heavy'. Supporting cast isn't as strong as it needs to be.
6. Tampa- Dynamic powerplay combined with Stamkos' push for 60+ goals and fresh new coaching has the Lightning as the darkhorse this year.
7. Philly-Lack of solid goaltending will make them slip a little in what is now a deep Eastern Conference.
8. Ottawa- Sergei Gonchar a huge lift to power play. An invigorated Jason Spezza can do wonders.
________
9. Montreal- Not quite good enough to be taken seriously, not quite bad enough to take a tumble
10. Carolina- Whether they make it or break it depends on if Cam Ward can turn things around after a bad year.
11. Toronto- Above average D, solid goaltending, but scoring will be a struggle
12. Atlanta- Life after Kovalchuk begins as team tries to forge new identity. This takes time.
13.NY Rangers- Bigger changes needed to move up standings. Those changes weren't made.
14. Florida- ten years and counting of non-playoff hockey for team in process of another massive rebuild
15. NY Islanders- Even franchise player John Tavares won't be able to right this ship just yet

Calder Trophy: Taylor Hall
Norris Trophy (top defenseman): Drew Doughty
Vezina Trophy (top goalie): Ryan Miller
Jack Adams Award (Top coach): Guy Boucher
Rocket Richard Trophy: Steven Stamkos
Art Ross Trophy: Sidney Crosby
Presidents Trophy (Regular Season Champion): Washington Capitals
Western Conference Champion: Los Angeles Kings
Eastern Conference Champion: Buffalo Sabres
Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings

Bleacher Buff

Pittsburgh Penguins win 2009 stanley cup

Pittsburgh 2 Detroit 1

• Penguins deliver Hollywood-esque performance in stunning Game 7 win over defending champs.

People jeered, laughed and guffawed in the faces of the Pittsburgh Penguins who going into Game 7 appeared desperate for any good will or positive thinking they could find. Different hotels, different path to the rink, different stalls, new pregame preparation. Amidst a game where no one was giving them a chance, the youthful energetic and resilient 2008 runner up relied on fate to get them through.

Score one for superstition.

As far as being superstitious I am one of the least among those who believe in it, but when the last second (and a long one at that) had finally ticked off the clock it was hard to argue with those who followed it through. What transpired in Game 7 was something you only saw in the movies, something that truly couldn't be made real without hours and hours of video editing, and an outlandish script deemed hardly believable by normal standards. This was supposed to be the reigning champions teaching the young kids down the block another harsh lesson on being a winner. As the previous three Game 7 underdog Cinderella's had taught us (Anaheim, Calgary, Edmonton) this penguins team, destined to win more cups in the future were expected to run out of gas and reload for next year, 3rd time was supposed to be the charm.

Virtually unbeatable at Joe Louis Arena with an 11-1 record, the Red Wings came into this game so confident of their chances they even checked a few days ahead of time to make sure the weather for their Stanley Cup parade would cooperate. But on friday night, the hockey gods appeared to be, just as majority of hockey fans were, tired of the winged wheel reigning supreme.

Brad Stuart gave up possibly his only turnover of the playoffs leading to Max Talbot's first goal to put the Pens up 1-0. It appeared as though their luck had run dry when Niklas Kronwall pasted Crosby into the boards, pinning his knee and sending him out of the game. All that was left was the hope that the path he took to the rink, the different hotel, the new way he ate his food, and his new dressing room stall would carry him through. Just minutes later, the hockey gods smiled down on the bad fortune as Talbot struck again, taking advantage of an awfully played angle by Chris Osgood. Many Pens fans waited anxiously for the time to come when the wings would explode for three goals in the same way that made them Stanley cup champions the year before.

With five minutes to go and up 2-1, Niklas Kronwall, let go a rocket from the right point that after deflecting off of two bodies appeared destined for the back of the net. An inch or two either way and the game would have been tied 2-2. The crossbar as if on cue, reach out and snatched the puck, deflecting it out of harms way

With 1 second left in the season, Nick Lidstrom pounced on a rebound and stared a wide open cage in the face only to have Fleury come across and rob him in a save for the ages. When the buzzer had finally sounded the relief on the faces on the fearless five that we knew had been bottled up inside of them...on the faces of Fleury, Crosby, Malkin, Staal and Letang, was obvious.

Through two months of playoffs they had played unfazed, undaunted, through the pressure as though this was nothing out of the ordinary. But superstitious is by definition done because of an irrational fear of what is unknown.

Friday night proved their fear wasn't irrational and that superstition may not at all be a myth. Those who were laughing at their tactics going into the big game we're now looking at the face of a champion.


*****

Sour Grapes?

For a moment I could understand how Kris Draper felt. In fact, I had the same feeling back in 4th grade when my favored Sharks lost in the prestigious Elizabeth school inter-mural floor hockey final. Filled with sadness and anger, I did what most 4th graders did at that time and put on my best pouty face, having no idea I was doing a first rate Kris Draper impression.

In a classic 'I'm not getting my own way' moment the four time Stanley cup champion could not bear to see a kid fulfill his lifelong dream and approach it graciously, instead accusing Crosby of taking too long before going over to the handshake line. Lost in this momentary 'snub' was the fact that Draper's teammate Chris Chelios who not only didn't shake hands with the captain two years ago but left the ice entirely without shaking a single hand. Sidney later came to the media and reiterated that there was no snub intended. I couldn't help but notice that Crosby never mentioned he would shake Lidstrom's hand the next time they end a playoff series. Detroit would have to get to the final again. Looking into the victorious eyes of King Sid, Draper knew he was passing the torch, that this may very well be his last chance to shine in the spotlight of the stanley cup final, while in the background you could hear the hum of "We are the champions, no time for losers" playing mercilessly in the background.
***

It's never too early to make prognostications for the 2010 Stanley Cup Final. For those of you who would rather skip the hype, excitement and long drawn out eight months of hockey, here's a brief look ahead at what to expect for the 2010 season.

Another star will shine, but this time it's Alexander the Great's chance in the spotlight. Spurred on by another 50 goal and dazzling playoff performance Ovechkin will carry his team to it's first Stanley Cup berth since 1998. This drive will fall short to a team who much like the Pittsburgh Penguins have risen from the dead of the NHL basement and loaded up on high draft picks. They made an all- star goalie look like a Beer League brother-in-law caught in a mid-life crisis, they plaed keep-away with a tired and slow Calagry Flames team, and lost to the defending champions.

You heard it here first

Chicago over Washington in 7 games crowning the Chicago Blackhawks as 2010 Stanley Cup champions.


BleacherBuff

Stanley Cup Prediction

PLEASE NOTE: WHEN THE FOLLOWING OCCURS IN DRAMATIC FASHION, BLAME CANNOT GO SOLELY ON BLEACHERBUFF EVEN IF HE DID RUIN IT FOR YOU, AFTER ALL, SOMEONE HAS TO GET IT RIGHT.





YELLOW AND BLACK WITH A LITTLE SILVER LINING

• Bruins will take Canucks in 6 games to win first Stanley Cup since 1972

Motor city repeat? Forget it. A shark revival?...not a chance. Canadian soil? Not this time around. Come June 2009 Boston's most raging party will no longer have anything to do with crumpets and tea as one of the NHL's 'Original Six' teams will return to their original ways, erasing 27 years of second fiddle.

Unlike the extremely boring panel of TSN analysts who went with the safe pick of the Detroit Red Wings defending their title, I balked and chose to go with a team that no one at the start of the year would have even considered. After all, what good is it if the Wings cast of veterans secure another (snooze) championship? The Boston Bruins are a team that has come out of nowhere, from zero to hero. In a world where rock bottom means the only place to go is up the Boston Bruins went straight to the top. They are a team built for the post-season complete with a lineup full of physical behemoths with more grit than a dentist's worst nightmare. Captain 'Big Z' Zdeno Chara, a player spurned by the Ottawa Senators, has established himself as a bona fide leader and intimidating prescence at the blueline. Phil Kessel, one year removed from a battle with cancer is finally starting to meet his sky high potential. Blake Wheeler was let go by the Phoenix Coyotes, a team who had lost patience with his slow development, but has since then came charging out of gates as a possible Calder candidate. Combine that with steady hands from Milan Lucic, Patrice Bergeron Marc Savard and the newly signed Tim Thomas and you're looking at a team that looks head and shoulders above a physically challenged Eastern Conference. It is a team who in spite of their supposed smooth ride to the top of the Eastern Conference have overcome their fair share of adversity, something that will serve them well when they begin their first round series with the Montreal Canadiens.

Rewind back to Dec. 1 2005, possibly the darkest day in Bruins history. Then GM Mike O'Connell (who was fired shortly afterward) trade franchise cornerstone Joe Thornton to the San Jose Sharks for Marco Sturm, Brad Stuart and Wayne Primeau, three average to slightly above average players, none who are still with the team. To overcome that kind of epic failure shows the smart drafting along with shrewd trading

This shot at a title ranks Boston among the worlds elite in the world of sports. The 'B's had not long ago worked their way down to 'back page' status taking backstage to the dynasty proven New England Patriots and the 2008 NBA champion Celtics. Being at a Bruins game usually meant you pulled some strings and found yourself a couple of the many free tickets going around in circulation that night, but now its cool to be fan again and the Bruins are a hot ticket in town. Winning a championship woud bewhat the NHL is waiting for and needs.

Many Leafs fans will cringe at my pick for Western Conference Champion, but may just enjoy that fact that Sundin will have the Stanley Cup taken away right in front of his eyes. For the 4th time in 5 years Canada's team will take another Cinderella ride to the finals only to fall short to a less banged up Eastern Conference opponent in the Bruins. Vancouver will take the Blues in 5, knock off the Wings in 7 and beat the Flames in 7 in a physically punishing series. Riding the backs of them will most certainly be Roberto Luongo, the Sedins' and Mat Sundin who won't have much left in the tank after that. Not bad for a franchise who has only made to the finals once in their 38 year history. The feel good story however will be written by a team who is in pursuit of gaining back the rich tradition they once had, on the backs of a kid who never thought he'd live past the year, on a Slovakian who never thought he'd ever get another chance and on a band of fans who are once again proud to wear the yellow and black.

Trade Deadline Analysis

2 big trades, same big problem in Oil Country

• Oilers trade underachieving forward Erik Cole to Carolina, acquire Kotalik, O'Sullivan but are too content where they are to be taken seriously as cup contenders
  

As has been mentioned far to many times, it has been clearly stated the Oilers were, at the deadline, looking for a winger to play with Ales Hemsky. GM Steve Tambellini not only did that, but in acquiring Ales Kotalik from the Buffalo Sabres, found what appears to be a clone of the slick winger. Same name. Same homeland. same style of play as they attempt to mesh their styles on the top line tonight in a clash with the Ottawa Senators (7:30 pm ET). Tambellini also dipped further into the trade waters nabbing Patrick O'Sullivan from the L.A. Kings for disgruntled forward Erik Cole.

Though these moves improve the team as a whole, it will not give the team a legitimate shot for the Stanley Cup. Slipping into 8th spot

Tambellini let everyone know that he wouldn't part with his youth core...which begs me to question, how do you justify three second line quality players who have combined for 29 goals this season?.

Sam Gagner, considered to be one of the most up and coming players in the game has taken a hard fall, amassing 23 points in 57 games. While the horridly low numbers speak for themselves Coach Craig MacTavish has given a vote of confidence to the 19 year old, saying he is happy with the way he is playing. If this is what Oil Country's future is, we're in deep trouble. After all, isnt the object of the game to score goals?

Robert Nilsson, a crafty winger who, next to Hemsky is considered the Oilers most skilled forward is hard pressed to beat out enforcer Zach Stortini in goal output. Looking at his stats, you'd wonder if you were checking the stat sheet for a 4th line grinder. Pointless in his last 7 games, Nilsson has been shown to the press box the last couple of games and it seems pointless to continue to hold onto hope that this kid will break out.

Dustin Penner, who was looked at to be the answer to Hemsky's problems has been nothing short of a problem in Oil country, coming to camp out of shape, having been called out twice in the media by his coach while showing a lacklustre work ethic. One embarrassing call-out by the coach should have been enough, but when Penner's play started to diminish a second time all the coach did was call him out a second time and leave it at that.


Not all the fault can go to the coach, and the point of this is not to make this a blame game but it is with this standard of mediocrity that has the Oilers in a mediocre position fighting for their playoff lives season after season. The player personnel can change and improve 'on paper' all it wants but so long as the 'good enough' attitude exists the copper and blue aren't going anywhere

"If we can get on a 4 or 5 game winning streak and then go .500 the rest of the way we should get in"MacTavish mused as he pondered 1-0 loss to the Blue Jackets, which had its share of puthetic effort.

If MacTavish, or anyone in the NHL had this theory on their way up to the NHL ranks, they would not have had a chance to be where they are today. These kinds of goals set by the coach will only result in a bevy of underachieving players looking to cut corners left right and centre. The expectations have been met. The results are just as everyone had envisioned they would be.

Hovering around .500, head above water. Just happy to have a chance.

At the end of the day one player was shown the door when many others should have also been given their walking papers. If things don't change, the pink slip will be handed to the man who didn't have a notion to hand it to his peers in the first place.


BleacherBuff

Making something out of nothing

• How long can the media ride this lame, stale, story out? Ask again in 6 months....it appears Mats Sundin is still trying to decide.
  

After 384 reports that Mats Sundin has spoken with the Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Detroit Redwings, 761 reports that he's still making a decision about a comeback and 544 reports on what he's been doing in his life i will say this in the least irritated way possible.

Time to give it a rest.

It was the most hyped comeback since Mario Lemeuix, even though Mats Sundin, fresh off six months of indecision, really had never left at all. Out of shape and out of words to say why it took him so stinking long to make a career choice, he stepped onto the Rexall Place playing surface for his first shift and lasted about as long as it should have taken to make his 'beaten to death' drawn out decision.

5 seconds.

As the game progressed, you could see the swede rise above the rust and contribute one shot on goal...quickly justifying about $500,000 of the $10, 000, 000 he will make this season. In the following 25 minutes, it appeared he was having a tough time deciding when his next shift should be.

Via a sound bit placed in Sundin's under-used equipment, let us go straight to what is (possibly?) a standard player-coach conversation..

Vigneult: Uh Mats its your turn, go out and make us proud
Sundin: Not ready yet coach
Vigneault: When is your expected return going to be?
Sundin: well considering that shift was about 5 seconds, i'm feeling a little winded...so...does Feb. 12th sound good to you?
Vigneault: Hey as long as it gets us to June, then do what you like bud... Would you like another pilsner with that? OH for MATS SAKE who rolled up the red carpet....?"
Sundin: forget the red carpet coach, i wanna be a team player...just give me a signing bonus and i promise ill be back by the 3rd period.

Oilers fans appropriately booed him each time he touched the puck. He was a player who spurned the Leafs a chance to stock up on the future, a player whose every action, move, step, laugh, was recorded by way the "Sundin Cam" Refusing to let the Toronto Maple Leafs be a trader, he quickly showed himself a traitor, eyeing up oodles of cash over loyalty and common sense. But through it all the media jumped on this story like it had secrets to immortaility, like it actually had what it sorely lacked...intrigue.

Consider this day by day report of the much deserved attention the Swede sensation has received:

November 7th- Sundin talks with agent
Nov. 8th-Sundin sleeps in until 11:30
Nov. 10th- Semi-retired Sundin considers full time retirement.
November 18th-returns from week vacation in Bahamas to declare he's far from making a decision
December 5th- Breaking news: Sundin took 14 minutes to walk to the corner store today, further showing signs his foot speed is no longer at NHL level.

Oh and I suppose he probably talked to his girlfriend, read a book, taped his hockey stick and did everything possible except the one thing everyone was waiting for him to do... make a choice.

This spring, Mats Sundin will again be a hero, Toronto media and hungry, attention driven journalists will be hoping that this story will play out in cinderella fashion. In a dream world, he will score 30 goals in the regular season, followed by 15 more in the postseason en route to carrying the Vancouver Canucks to their first ever Stanley Cup championship. 90% of fans will jump on the bandwagon for a player who never believed in being a rental player, and a team who fell for one of the most overrated sideshows the NHL has ever seen.

When spring comes around....I won't be one of them.



BleacherBuff

Jason Clermont signs with Riders

THE CAT CAME BACK

• Hometown hero Jason Clermont declares 'the place to be from' as 'the place to be' by signing with the Riders.
  

Like that business partner who bailed at last minute to join the competition, or that awfully questionable girl you dated who then dumped you after realizing good looks...Jason Clermont was for seven tantalizing seasons of teasing, trickery and touchdowns, the one that got away. It may well be the only signing GM Eric Tillman will ever get consensus agreement on so he may as well enjoy the fact he's made up for not one...but two gaffes.

" you familiar with Jeff Foxworthy and 'you might be a redneck' jokes? The red coiffed GM deadpanned, "well you might be an idiot if you passed on Jason Clermont twice. And we did."

Consider him third time lucky.

The ultra tough Regina born receiver, famous for taking hellacious hit after hellacious hit, will bring that gusto and needed size (6'2, 227 Lbs.) to an already deep receiving corp. In fact, he seems to be the perfect epidemic to a team that seemed to acquire injuries just by merely existing.

This deal comes with a particular amount of irony. While 98% of fans will speculate and be 98% right that the reason Clermont signed was all about coming home, there are some other underlying reasons. Back in 2006, Clermont faced the option of resigning with the B.C. Lions or going elsewhere, 'elsewhere' likely being Saskatchewan. Backed by unpopular demand, he signed 2 years plus an option to stay on with the Lions, choosing to continue splitting his life into many places and many ways while playing for a winner. The Lions were fresh off a Grey Cup championship, the Riders meanwhile were mired in a 17 year Grey Cup drought. Since then, the Riders won the crown in 2007 and have established themselves as a consistent force in the league.

In what became a daily facebook beak-off, one Lions fan remarked to me after Clermont decided to stay in BC ...

"I see Clermont signed for two years plus an option...I guess he really wants to win"

The comment had left a bitter taste in my mouth. Could Clermont be spurning the Riders' for greener pastures...just as many other established stars had done? The truth hurt.

The next two years as previously mentioned, tell the tale. This signing is a dawning of a new day, an indication of a new era, an era of winning, of great expectation and reputation. Something the Green and White have not been able to experience since the golden sixties. Jason Clermont came here not only for the home-cooked meals, family time, a permanent bed to sleep in to go along with hometown lore. He came here to be a winner.

If Clermont wanted solely to be with his family, and live in Regina where he works in the offseason, he wouldve been just as well off going full time as a Realtor at Royal LePage where he's employed. Professional athletes are driven by a desire to win. Completing a 7 year stint with he showed where his true colours were. Where he was born to play. The truth has never felt this good.

The Riders' receiving corp now looks better than ever along with their new addition, they sport the likes of Andy Fantuz, DJ Flick, Weston Dressler, Chris Getzlaf, Matt Dominguez and Adarius Bowman. With free agency looming for Flick, expect him to be the odd man out. Clermont was the piece in the puzzle Rider fans have been waiting for

"I wanted to be respectful and not try to leverage an offer between two teams and try to play them that way. I didnt want to put any undue pressure on any team"

In this case, no pressure was needed.